The Create! Podcast

In this special bonus episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat (Ekaterina Popova) sits down with artist and curator Victoria Fry, founder of The New Visionary Art Collective, for a grounded and nourishing conversation about creativity, intuition, and building a sustainable creative practice and career. Together, they explore the importance of making art for pleasure separate from career expectations, balancing multiple creative roles, and staying connected to intuition and inner joy. Kat also shares insights from her 100-Day Painting Challenge and reflects on how daily practice can transform both studio work and mindset. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with why you make art, and create from a place of trust rather than pressure. Topics Covered: • Making art for pleasure, not performance • Balancing creative business with studio practice • Letting go of perfectionism and expectations • Daily practice as devotion and self-trust • The role of intuition and the inner child in artmaking • Creating sustainable momentum as an artist Links & Resources: Create! Magazine https://createmagazine.co Paint With Kat https://paintwithkat.com 100-Day Painting Challenge https://www.paintwithkat.com/challenge Visionary Art Collective https://www.visionaryartcollective.com Connect with the Podcast: Subscribe to the Create! Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen. Leave a review to support the show and help more artists discover these conversations. About the Host: Ekaterina Popova is an artist, educator, and founder of Create! Magazine, an international platform supporting contemporary artists through publishing, education, and community.

In this solo episode of the Create! Podcast, host Ekaterina Popova explores why maintaining a personal art practice is essential not only for artistic growth, but for mental and nervous system regulation, resilience, and overall well-being. Whether you are a professional artist navigating deadlines or a creative seeking to reconnect with your practice, this episode breaks down the neuroscience behind why our brains need art. Kat shares research-backed insights, practical studio strategies, and mindset shifts to help you build a sustainable creative routine, even with a busy life. This episode is both grounding and actionable, offering permission to create imperfectly and consistently, without pressure or performance.   Join the 100 Day Painting Challenge: https://www.paintwithkat.com/challenge   In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why art-making is a powerful tool for nervous system regulation. How creative flow quiets the inner critic and reduces anxiety. Why habit and process matter more than finished results. Simple ways to lower friction in your studio and make starting easier. How to separate the creator from the editor to protect your daily practice.   Key Takeaways: The Science of Art Research from Drexel University found that just 45 minutes of art-making led to a significant drop in cortisol levels for 75 percent of participants, regardless of skill or experience. Silencing the Inner Critic Entering a creative flow state—a concept popularized by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi—quiets the Default Mode Network (DMN), the part of the brain linked to rumination and self-judgment. The "Bad Art" Rule Strong bodies of work are built by allowing yourself to make "bad art" and prioritizing consistency over perfection. The focus should be on habit formation rather than a final product. Mise en Place for the Studio Borrowing from the culinary world, preparing your materials and workspace in advance (even if just a simple setup) reduces friction and makes it easier to begin your next session. Creator vs. Editor When you are in the studio, you are the creator; judgment and editing come later. Separating these roles prevents the pressure to produce "portfolio-ready" work from paralyzing your practice.   Memorable Quotes: "When I say come home to your art, I mean physically altering your brain chemistry to reduce stress, silence your inner critic." "The nervous system does not give a crap... it cares about the process, it cares about the meditative act of art making." "The key isn't necessarily finding more time is protecting the time that you have and prioritizing your own work over everyone else's." "At its core, [art] is a survival mechanism for sensitive people. It's the way we process life." "Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." — Andy Warhol (referenced in episode)   Mentioned in This Episode: Your Brain on Art (Book) Atomic Habits by James Clear Drexel University Cortisol Study   Connect & Resources: Join the 100 Day Painting Challenge: https://www.paintwithkat.com/challenge Website: https://www.createmagazine.co Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com

In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Ekaterina Popova sits down with Anna Denning, a multimedia artist and the founder of the NeuroArts School, to decode the powerful science behind creativity and healing.  Anna shares her fascinating background—growing up with a psychotherapist mother who used drawing to analyze and soothe emotions—and how that evolved into her expertise in "Neuroesthetics," the study of how aesthetic experiences influence the brain. Together, they discuss her collaboration with Colette Baron-Reid on the "Art of Manifesting" book and how "intentional synchronicity" can help you co-create with the universe. Whether you are an artist facing creative blocks or simply looking for a way to process the noise of the outside world, this episode offers accessible tools to regulate your nervous system and manifest your desires through art.   IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: • Defining NeuroArts: How art therapy and neuroscience combine to balance hormones and emotions.  • The Science of Manifestation: Using "intentional synchronicity" to switch on your brain's reticular activating system and spot opportunities.  • Practical Self-Care: Why you should "start small" with tiny paper to overcome overwhelm and perfectionism.  • The Witch's Wound: Anna's research into healing deep, unconscious wounds through the NeuroArts membership.  • Daily Rituals: How simple practices like doodling before bed or lighting a candle can shift your mindset.    QUOTES FROM THE SHOW: "Art is not just create something beautiful, a beautiful picture. It's also a very powerful tool to work with your mind, to calm down, to balance your emotions." — Anna Denning   "When you're concentrating on something and trying to bring something positive into your life, you're also switching on the reticular activating system in your brain that helps you to look for opportunities." — Anna Denning   "I always advise my students or people who start drawing, start really small, just take a tiny little paper... and just start drawing." — Anna Denning   CONNECT WITH ANNA DENNING: YouTube: Anna Denning Arts (Weekly mini-classes and candle drawings) Instagram: @AnnaDenningArts  NeuroArts School and A.M. Method Teacher Training www.annadenning.com   CONNECT WITH CREATE! MAGAZINE: Website: https://createmagazine.co Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com Instagram: @createmagazine Love the episode? If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a review and share it with a friend! Don't forget to subscribe to https://createmagazine.substack.com for more resources, interviews, and opportunities for artists.

In this insightful conversation, Kat sits down with celebrated realist painter, author and educator Todd M. Casey. Known for his bestselling books The Art of Still Life and The Oil Painters' Color Handbook, Todd opens up about the winding road that shaped his artistic life, from studying at MassArt to discovering the atelier system and developing a deep appreciation for classical training. He shares refreshing honesty about navigating art school, finding mentors, resisting social media pressure, and staying connected to the curiosity that fuels meaningful work. Whether you're a painter refining your technique, a creative searching for direction, or an artist feeling overwhelmed in a content-driven world, this episode offers clarity and grounded wisdom for your path ahead. What We Cover • Todd's early years discovering art alongside his brother and studying at MassArt • How returning to foundational training transformed his approach to painting • What traditional art education gets wrong, and what artists actually need to grow • Why guidance and consistent mentorship are essential for developing strong technique • The double-edged sword of social media for artists: visibility, burnout, and boundaries • How curiosity, awareness and everyday life become the fuel for new ideas • Navigating commercial expectations, artistic identity and pivoting when your work evolves • The importance of resisting fear-driven creativity and choosing work that feels true • Todd's upcoming books and teaching philosophy About Today's Guest Todd M. Casey is an artist, author and teacher whose work blends classical realism with a contemporary, introspective approach. Born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, he studied at MassArt, the Academy of Art University, and eventually trained under Jacob Collins at the Water Street Atelier. His paintings and teachings emphasize discipline, observation and a deep respect for the craft of oil painting. He is the author of bestselling books The Art of Still Life and The Oil Painters' Color Handbook, with two new books forthcoming in 2026 and 2027. Todd teaches at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art and through online programs offered worldwide. Links & Resources • Follow Todd M. Casey: Website / Instagram / Patreon • The Art of Still Life and The Oil Painters' Color Handbook • Learn with Todd: Online workshops and mentorship • Explore Create! Magazine: https://www.createmagazine.com • Support independent art publishing on our Substack: createmagazine.substack.com Want More Conversations Like This? Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a fellow artist who needs a dose of real-world wisdom and encouragement.

In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat sits down with painter and creative mentor Felicia Forte for a deep and refreshing conversation on creative flow, intuition, burnout, and finding your true pace as an artist. Felicia shares how she moved through a major creative block, rebuilt her relationship with painting, and allowed a slower, more intuitive rhythm to guide her back to the work. She speaks openly about dropping the hustle, choosing resonance over pressure, and trusting the quiet seasons where ideas grow underground. This conversation is full of warmth, honesty, and wisdom for anyone navigating their own creative path. In this episode, we explore How Felicia rebuilt her painting practice after burnout The difference between hustle driven output and intuitive flow Using intuition, resonance, and curiosity as your compass Why creative blocks often have internal roots The power of slowing down and listening to yourself Reframing mistakes as discovery Balancing ambition with compassion for your present season Allowing a body of work to unfold without forcing it Supporting artists through creative coaching and technique programs Connect with Felicia Website: https://www.feliciaforte.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/feliciaforte Connect with Create! Website: https://www.createmagazine.co Substack: createmagazine.substack.com Instagram: @createmagazine Submit Your Work to the Women's International Edition Create! Magazine is thrilled to announce the open call for our 2026 Women's International Edition. This annual print and digital issue highlights exceptional artists whose work contributes meaningfully to today's creative landscape. This year's edition is curated by Sonia Borrell, an internationally respected art collector, curator, and advisor known for her thoughtful global perspective and dedication to supporting artists. This special issue celebrates artistic excellence, clarity of vision, and the dynamic practices shaping contemporary art today. Submit your work: https://www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art