The Create! Podcast

Ekaterina Popova
  • 4,8 (4)
  • Arts visuels
  • Chaque semaine

The Create! Podcast (formerly Art & Cocktails) is your space for inspiration, encouragement, and practical insight at the intersection of contemporary art, creative business, and mindset. Hosted by artist, coach, and Create! Magazine founder Ekaterina Popova, the show is designed to help you grow your art career, expand your creative vision, and build a sustainable, joyful life. Through candid conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, writers, curators, and thought leaders—as well as empowering solo episodes—you'll find tools, ideas, and stories that remind you that life itself is your canvas, and you have the power to create a career and future that truly supports you. Find us at www.createmagazine.co/podcast — where the conversation about art and business starts.

  1. -4 j

    Embracing Play, Shattering Art Rules, and Finding Creative Joy with Brandi Hofer

    In this episode, Ekaterina Popova welcomes back artist, muralist, author, podcaster, and educator Brandi Hofer to discuss the evolution of her multifaceted creative life. They dive into the realities of being a working artist and mother, why it is essential to embrace play without judgment, and how to quiet the self-doubt often picked up in traditional academic spaces. Brandi shares the story behind her viral, accessible portrait techniques, her monumental 3,082 square foot Truth and Reconciliation mural project, and her upcoming creative retreat in Portugal scheduled for June 2027. This conversation is an honest, approachable, and inspiring reminder to trust your gut and make space for genuine creative joy. Key Topics Covered Multifaceted Creativity: Embracing the seasons of your life and allowing your artistic interests to evolve. Shattering Art School Myths: Why tools like projectors are just another way to create, and how to let go of perfectionism. The Power of Play: Returning to your art practice without judgment and rediscovering the childlike wonder of making. Big Projects & Manifestation: Insights into Brandi's massive community murals and her upcoming 2027 creative retreat in Portugal. Balancing Motherhood and Art: Navigating family life, community building, and carving out space for your passions. Connect with Brandi Hofer Join the Retreat Portrait Class Website: https://www.brandihofer.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandihoferstudios

    Embracing Play, Shattering Art Rules, and Finding Creative Joy with Brandi Hofer

  2. 4 août

    Own Your Sales, Own Your Story: Economics of Art Fairs, Hidden Gallery Costs, and Bet-on-Yourself Career Strategies with Sharone Halevy & Alex Mitow

    What does it really cost to "get chosen" in the art world, and when does it make more sense to bypass the gatekeepers and bet on yourself? In this episode, we welcome back Sharone Halevy and Alex Mitow from The Superfair for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what art fairs actually are and why they matter for artists in 2026 and beyond. We strip away the smoke and mirrors of traditional gallery representation to talk about the financial realities nobody likes to admit out loud. From spending $6,000 on shipping for a dream international show only to surrender a 50% commission and fund your own travel, to Alex's story of sleeping in a Paris basement for three weeks while losing thousands on an exhibition that looked incredible on paper, we get real about the true price of "exposure". We also unpack why an art fair is one of the most powerful, concentrated feedback engines an artist can access, where a sale is just one small piece of the long-term value. We break down how to overcome the fear of representing yourself in a booth, how to turn casual visitors into loyal collectors, and why owning your narrative, your collector relationships, and your proceeds is worth more than waiting for permission. Plus, Sharone and Alex share an exciting look at what is next for The Superfair, including new fairs launching across the country. In This Episode: The Core of an Art Fair: What an art fair really is and the evolving role it plays for independent artists today. Beyond the Sale: Why real-time, in-person feedback at a fair is one of the most valuable career assets you can build. The Unspoken Costs of Gallery Shows: The reality of shipping fees, 50% commission cuts, and self-funded travel for international exhibitions. When to Be Paid vs. When to Invest: Be Paid: When a commercial business (like a restaurant, hotel, TV placement, or corporate collection) uses your artwork to enhance its own brand or revenue. Invest: When you are actively building your own collector community, retaining buyer contact information, and keeping 100% of your proceeds. Booth Strategy: Practical ways to overcome self-representation anxiety and turn casual passersby into long-term collectors. Dismantling Art World Gatekeeping: Why nobody "knows everything" about art, and why owning your story matters more than traditional validation. What's Next for The Superfair: Upcoming national launches and how artists can get involved this year. Listener Perk: Save $250 on Your Booth: Mention Create when applying or booking to receive $250 off any booth with The Superfair. Connect & Resources: Website: www.thesuperfair.com Book a Free Discovery Call: Schedule a 15-Minute Meeting with The Superfair Subscribe to Our Substack: Create! Magazine on Substack

    Own Your Sales, Own Your Story: Economics of Art Fairs, Hidden Gallery Costs, and Bet-on-Yourself Career Strategies with Sharone Halevy & Alex Mitow

  3. 27 juil.

    Turning Creativity Into Wealth: Bonnie Christine on Pattern Design and Living Your Passion

    In this episode, I'm (host Ekaterina Popova) joined by Bonnie Christine, fabric designer, artist, and founder of a multi-seven-figure surface pattern design education business. We talk about what it actually takes to turn a creative gift into real income, how to get started in pattern design even with zero experience, why she believes we have a responsibility to pass on what we know to others, and how she's built her life around her passion rather than the other way around. Bonnie shares the full story, starting in her mom's quilt shop, teaching herself Adobe Illustrator with no design background, and working up the courage to cold call art directors until a company offered her a contract. In this episode: Turning a creative gift into real, sustainable income How to get started in surface pattern design, even with no prior experience Why passing on what you know is part of the creative journey, not separate from it Designing a life around your passion instead of the other way around Why she believes it only takes 10 seconds of courage to change everything Her "one thing a day" philosophy and the power of daily consistency What she's building now with Pattern+, Pattern Magazine, and Flowerie   Connect with Bonnie Christine: Website: https://www.bonniechristine.com Podcast: The Professional Creative Stay connected with Create!: Join our Substack for weekly stories, resources, and behind the scenes updates: https://createmagazine.substack.com Visit https://www.createmagazine.co for artist opportunities, open calls, and more

    Turning Creativity Into Wealth: Bonnie Christine on Pattern Design and Living Your Passion

  4. 20 juil.

    What Does It Mean to Feel Seen? A Conversation on Community and Serving Through Art with Artist The Tracy Piper

    What does it mean to feel seen? Five years ago, the Tracy Piper asked that question and turned it into SEEN, an ongoing portrait and storytelling project rooted in community and connection. In this episode, we talk about how the project began, how she has used her practice to serve the people around her, and what it takes to keep a personal project like this going year after year. Now in its fifth year, SEEN includes over 250 participants and five published volumes, with a new book and exhibition launching this July at Art Tower in Portland. In this episode: How motherhood led Tracy to start asking people what it means to feel seen The ritual behind SEEN, from open call to painting to exhibition Why the project is free to participate in What she's learned from five years and 250 stories Her new show and book launch in Portland this July Advice for artists building a sustainable creative practice Connect with the Tracy Piper: Website: www.thetracypiper.com Instagram: @thetracypiper   Call For Art We're currently accepting submissions for Issue No. 59, guest curated by Indira Cesarine of The Untitled Space, deadline July 31st. We're also celebrating our 10th anniversary with an art prize, deadline also July 31st. Learn more at www.createmagazine.co. We share regularly on Substack at Create! Magazine, www.createmagazine.substack.com

    What Does It Mean to Feel Seen? A Conversation on Community and Serving Through Art with Artist The Tracy Piper

  5. 9 juil.

    How to Find the Right Gallery Partner: Signs to Look For

    Getting a gallery to say yes can feel like the end goal, but it's really where the real work begins. In this episode, Kat breaks down what makes a gallery partnership actually work for both parties, from the signs a gallery is genuinely invested in your career to the economics artists rarely get straight answers on. She also shares the questions worth asking before you sign anything, and how to evaluate a partnership you're already in. In this episode: The signs a gallery partner is genuinely looking out for your best interest What to watch for early in a gallery relationship How commission splits, payment terms, and exclusivity actually work The questions worth asking before you sign How to evaluate a gallery relationship you're already in Mentioned in this episode: Follow Create! Magazine on Substack: createmagazine.substack.com Submit to the Create! Magazine 10th Anniversary Art Prize: www.createmagazine.co/prize This episode is sponsored by Hecho Lovely. Monica Mejia Davenport is a private painter, and Hecho Lovely is where that art becomes something you wear. Every piece is handcrafted from carefully chosen materials, carrying the same intention as her studio work. Discover the collection at www.hecholovely.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @hecholovely. Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. We read every one and will share our favorites on upcoming episodes.

  6. 1 juil.

    They Can't Take This From You: Coming Back to Your Practice, Again and Again

    In this solo episode, Kat gets honest about a lesson she's still relearning 15 years in: protecting her own art practice. An inspiring gallery visit and a painful past experience resurfacing reminded her of what matters, how to protect it, and understand the value of our art and personal relationship to it. What You'll Hear The artist's date that reminded Kat to get back to the pure joy of art Her past solo show cancellation, and what resurfacing it taught her Why not every gallery experience is a bad one, and how to find the right partners How her first sloppy 100-day challenge changed her relationship to painting Chasing validation vs. finding satisfaction in showing up   Join the Challenge Kat's Spend More Time With Your Art Challenge starts July 15, 2026. It's a 21-day commitment to showing up for your own practice, open to any medium. It is not a painting course (though three of Kat's own painting examples are included), it's about reclaiming your relationship with your art, one small commitment at a time. Join Spend More Time With Your Art → Loved this episode? Send Kat a DM on Instagram or email info@createmagazine.com, she'd love to hear from you.

  7. 24 juin

    The Burnout Fix: Create Leverage, Force Multipliers, and What to Focus On to Move the Needle in Your Art Career (ft. Superfair)

    If you have ever felt like you are running a marketing agency instead of an art practice, you are not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Alex Mitow and Sharone Halevy, the dynamic duo behind Superfair, now in their 11th year as one of the most artist-forward art fairs in the country. We talk about what they are witnessing in real time across the artist community, why burnout is at an all-time high, and what actually works when you strip away the noise. We cover: Why social media has aged and what that means for your practice The concept of force multipliers and how to find yours What artists are doing that is getting in their own way Why in-person connection is the ultimate leverage point How to come back to life creatively when you are running on empty What it actually looks like to exhibit at an artist-forward art fair LINKS AND RESOURCES Book a free 15-minute discovery call with the Superfair team (mention Create! Magazine for exclusive listener discounts): https://calendly.com/d/cqt2-fkf-54v/15-minute-discovery-meeting Learn more about Superfair: https://www.thesuperfair.com Celebrate ten years of Create! Magazine with our first ever Annual Art Prize, open now through July 31: https://www.createmagazine.co/prize Submit to our current open calls and stay up to date on everything Create!: https://www.createmagazine.co Join us on Substack. Articles are free for your first seven days, and your support keeps us sharing artists, career tips, and resources with the community: https://createmagazine.substack.com CONNECT WITH SUPERFAIR Website: https://www.thesuperfair.com

  8. 18 juin

    The Art of Creative Loitering: A Permission Slip to Slow Down

    What if the missing ingredient in your creative life isn't more productivity, but more loafing? In this solo episode, Kat shares a personal update from her summer and an honest reflection on burnout, rest, and the radical act of doing less. Drawing from the book Writing, Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd, she introduces the concept of creative loitering, and makes the case that your imagination actually requires aimless, unstructured time to do its best work. Kat reads from the chapter "Creative Loitering," explores why slowing down is not laziness but a prerequisite for original thinking, and shares how she has been building more space into her own life, from beach reads and Paris Review issues at the hair salon to long European-style dinners and mornings with no agenda. This episode is an invitation to reclaim your human mind, protect your creative energy, and trust that stepping back is sometimes the most productive thing you can do. In this episode: Creative loitering: what it means and why it matters for artists and makers Excerpts from Writing, Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd and Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life  by Ajiri Aki The analog bag trend and other small ways to reduce scrolling and add presence Join the conversation on Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com Share what you're reading, how you're resting, and what you'd like to hear more of on the show. Follow Kat: Instagram: @ekaterinaspopova | @createmagazine

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À propos

The Create! Podcast (formerly Art & Cocktails) is your space for inspiration, encouragement, and practical insight at the intersection of contemporary art, creative business, and mindset. Hosted by artist, coach, and Create! Magazine founder Ekaterina Popova, the show is designed to help you grow your art career, expand your creative vision, and build a sustainable, joyful life. Through candid conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, writers, curators, and thought leaders—as well as empowering solo episodes—you'll find tools, ideas, and stories that remind you that life itself is your canvas, and you have the power to create a career and future that truly supports you. Find us at www.createmagazine.co/podcast — where the conversation about art and business starts.

Informations

  • Création
    Ekaterina Popova
  • Années d’activité
    2018 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    455
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © Create! Magazine LLC
  • Site web de l’émission
    The Create! Podcast

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