The Create! Podcast

Ekaterina Popova

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. hace 1 día

    From "Practical" Career to Full-Time Artist and Coach: Lacie Martinez on Motherhood, Grief, and Going For It

    How do you find the courage to step off the "practical" path and fully commit to your creative calling? In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat talks with painter and coach Lacie Martinez about coming back to her creative voice. Lacie shares how her background in apparel design and kinesiology shapes her vibrant, richly textured figurative paintings. We talk about the vulnerability behind her debut exhibition, which celebrated the unfiltered, deeply connective realities of motherhood, and how she turned personal loss into a calling to hold space for other women. Lacie opens up about taking the leap into full-time art and how she now helps others move past limiting beliefs and live in full alignment. Key Topics Discussed: Reclaiming her identity as a painter after years on a "practical" career path Finding her way back to the canvas and working through the fear of not being "good enough" The story behind her debut exhibition and the connective threads of motherhood Turning grief into purpose by hosting retreats and creating safe, uplifting spaces for women Navigating the transition into full-time art and helping others build their dream lives through coaching Programs & Community Art Is Abundance Live Coaching Program If you love what you make and you're ready for your work to support your life, this six-week live program is for you. Together we'll work through money mindset, preparing your work for sale, selling your originals, getting seen by the right people, and building multiple income streams, then turn it all into a clear action plan. Founding pricing is open through September 30. Join us this October: https://espopova.com/art-is-abundance-course Create! Substack Subscribe for more interviews, artist stories, and reflections: https://createmagazine.substack.com/ Connect with Lacie Martinez Website: https://www.laciemartinez.com/ Camp Conqueror Summer 2027 Retreat: https://www.laciemartinez.com/campconquerorawomensretreat Conquer & Crush 3 Month Challenge: https://www.laciemartinez.com/conquer-crush-3-month-challenge Substack: https://substack.com/@laciemartinez She Who Conquers Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-who-conquers/id1805457551 Art Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laciemartinez.art Main Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_laciemartinez_ Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacie_shewhoconquers/

  2. hace 1 día ·  Contenido extra

    Introducing: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing ⁠BENNY BLANCO: The Secret to Failing Your Way to Success from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Record producer, songwriter, and music executive Benny Blanco joins Jay for an unfiltered, hilarious, and deeply vulnerable conversation about redefining success, overcoming crippling phobias, and why embracing failure is the ultimate secret to unlocking your true creative potential. Benny pulls back the curtain on his chart-topping music career, sharing behind-the-scenes stories with artists like Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, and Britney Spears, while diving into his candid new book on mastering life’s setbacks. Together they explore how to overcome the fear of embarrassment, build emotional resilience, protect your mental health while chasing big dreams, and maintain a grounded, loving relationship under the spotlight. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Mazda crafts cars for people who do more than simply move. Visit Mazdausa.com to learn more. Consumer reports does not endorse products or services. PURPOSE10 for 10% at altrarunning.com/onpurpose. Free Shipping and Free 30-Day Trial. JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 01:58 Looking Back at the Songs That Started It All 03:07 Repeat “I Am a Failure” 04:18 Overcoming Embarrassment and Taking Big Swings 06:28 Early Lessons in Failure 08:20 Choosing Non-Traditional Creative Paths 09:51 Mom’s Dreams Vs Choosing Your Own Path 11:11 Turning Doubt Into Motivation 12:05 Ignoring The Haters and Finding Your Spark 13:39 Turning Small Steps Into Big Momentum 14:59 The Success Stool: Balancing Life’s 3 Pillars 15:37 The Power of Small Daily Habits 17:12 Relationships Need Watering Too 18:46 Facing Failure, Fear and a Phobia of Flying 21:45 Taking Micro-Steps to Conquer Deep Fears 23:04 One Task at a Time 24:04 Bruno Mars’ Journey 27:13 Authenticity vs. Imitation in Creative Expression 28:35 Late-Night Songwriting with Ed Sheeran 33:41 Trusting That It Will Work Out 34:19 Finding Your Unique Sound Beyond Influences 36:23 Unfiltered Vulnerability & Asking for Help 39:19 Celebrating Wins vs. Constant Over-Achieving 40:06 Standing Your Ground: Britney Spears to Julia Michaels 43:57 Grammy Perspective and Redefining Success 48:53 When a Failure Turns Into Your Biggest Win (“Diamonds”) 50:58 Mental Health Breakdown Amid Peak Success 53:06 Priority Management, Boundaries, and Emotional Check-ins 55:32 The Power of Saying “No” to Protect Your Peace 57:22 Why Benny Wrote His New Book 58:53 Benny Blanco on Final Five Episode Resources: Pre-order F*ck Failure | https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668205246?lv=shuf&bestFormat=true&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_13VQ1DN9JWKWJSK7YN2A&channelId=704&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_13VQ1DN9JWKWJSK7YN2A&plpRedirect=mhFallback Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/itsbennyblanco/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@itsbennyblanco YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqrBKQHQVEvD2Q9FP0DCP2g X | https://x.com/ItsBennyBlanco Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/itsbennyblanco/ Watch Friends Keep Secrets | https://linktr.ee/friendskeepsecrets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    Introducing: On Purpose with Jay Shetty
  3. 7 sep

    Intuition as Knowledge: Mastering Oil Painting to Bring Your Ideas to Life with Alonsa Guevara

    A lot of us went to art school and never actually learned how to paint. We were told to go make something and figure it out, which is great, but it often leaves us limited by our ability to bring our ideas to life. If that's you, you're not alone, and this episode is a permission slip to learn something new if you feel stuck. My guest today is Alonsa Guevara, a Chilean American artist whose work has been exhibited internationally and featured in Forbes, Time Out New York, and VICE. I had the privilege of working with Alonsa and learning more organized ways to mix paint, organize color temperature, and more. On this episode, we talk about her evolution from conceptual work to more realism in her paintings, and she also announces her new course, Alive Nature, here for the first time. Focusing on florals, botanicals, and fruit, it spans seven modules and is built so a complete beginner can follow along. The waitlist gets first access and a discount. Doors open September 16 and close September 20. Links to join are below, and yes, I'm on that waitlist myself! Come find us on the Create! Magazine Substack too. That's where I share essays on galleries, pricing, and building a creative career you love. createmagazine.substack.com 🔗 Links & Mentions Join the Alive Nature Course Waitlist: waitlistcourse.com/alonsaguevara Follow Alonsa Guevara: @alonsaguevara on Instagram Visit Alonsa's Website: https://www.alonsaguevara.com 💡 Episode Highlights The Reality of Art School: Why many traditional and contemporary programs focus heavily on conceptual thinking rather than the technical craft of painting. The Power of Observation: How practicing through careful study and copying helps build an internal visual library for future original work. Decoding Color Temperature: Understanding how subtle shifts in temperature can make a painting feel alive rather than flat. Intuition as Knowledge: Redefining intuition not as random luck, but as accumulated technical knowledge and experience. Inside Alive Nature: A breakdown of Alonsa's brand new online course designed for all skill levels, with step by step guidance on botanical and fruit painting.

  4. 31 ago

    Laurén Gerig: Painting Place, Memory, and a Sustainable Studio Practice

    How do you translate the memory of a landscape into a rich, tactile painting? And how do you sustain a meaningful studio practice when life and work get demanding? In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat sits down with Lansing, Michigan-based visual artist and educator Laurén Gerig. Laurén shares her thoughts on place attachment, building expressive paint surfaces, and using poetry to set the stage for intuitive studio sessions. We also dive into the realities of balancing a demanding day job in academia with an active exhibition schedule, and how small micro-moments in the studio can help you overcome creative fatigue and keep momentum alive. In this episode, we talk about: Capturing the psychological bonds we create with landscapes and nature The tactile joy of thick mark-making, paint accumulation, and surface texture Using poetry as a studio ritual to transition into making work Navigating life as both a practicing artist and a university gallery director Making room for low-pressure, small-scale work like 20-minute charcoal drawings How running and stepping away from the easel can serve as the ultimate creative reset Connect with Laurén Gerig: Website: www.laurengerigart.com Instagram: @laurengerigart Stay connected with Create! Magazine: Subscribe to the Create! Substack for more artist stories and reflections: www.createmagazine.substack.com Submit your work for an upcoming issue of Create! Magazine: www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art

  5. 21 ago

    The Art of Letting Go: Ceramics, Sculpture, and Art as Life with Rebecca Casement

    Imagine pouring your heart into a massive sculpture, only to watch it crash to the floor. What if that disaster was exactly what your practice needed? In this episode of The Create! Podcast, host Ekaterina Popova talks with multimedia visual artist, curator, and educator Rebecca Casement. Based in Michigan, Rebecca creates affective, abstract sculptures and installations using ceramics, mixed media, sound, and textiles. This conversation explores her practice of pushing materials to their breaking point and why building instability into artwork mirrors life's unpredictability. Episode Highlights: The Beauty of Instability — why Rebecca intentionally builds heavy, precarious clay sculpture with a high likelihood of breaking in the kiln A Shift in Perspective — the story of a shattered personal sculpture that changed her entire artistic mindset Art as a Lifestyle — how to ditch the burned-out artist trope, protect your physical energy, and bring joy back into a daily studio practice Carried Together — inside her new collaborative project featuring 14 women artists exploring community and care About Rebecca Casement: Rebecca Casement is a multimedia visual artist, curator, and educator who creates affective abstract sculptures and installations. Raised in rural Michigan, she developed a habit of creative experimentation with materials that carries into her studio practice today. Focused on material language and history, her work is both emotive and honest. Rebecca holds an MFA in Studio Art and a Certification in College Teaching from Michigan State University. Connect with Rebecca: https://www.rebeccacasement.com/ Community & Opportunities: Join our Substack for fresh articles, longer-form insights, and community conversation. Submit your work to our current open call, The Artist's World, juried by Marina Press Granger, at createmagazine.com/call-for-art.

  6. 17 ago

    Creative Flow as Medicine: Art for Self-Care and Discovery with Leah Guzman

    In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat sits down with artist, author, and board-certified art therapist Leah Guzman to explore how creativity can serve as a sanctuary for healing, emotional expression, and personal evolution. Together, they unpack the pressure artists put on themselves, navigating creative burnout, taking intentional breaks from exhibiting, and why the physical act of making art is proven to lower stress and regulate the nervous system. Leah shares practical, low-friction habits to help you reconnect with your art practice without judgment or attachment to the final result. In this episode, we chat about: How art functions as emotional expression and healing during major life transitions. The neuroscience behind art therapy and lowering cortisol levels. Letting go of high-pressure exhibition timelines and career perfectionism. Simple studio hacks to eliminate friction and build a daily creative habit. Leah's upcoming Creative Soul Retreat and using body mapping, animal guides, and focus wheels to clear mental fog. Connect with Leah Guzman & Resources: Join Leah's 3-Day Creative Soul Retreat ($7) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.therapy.online https://www.leahguzmanstudio.com/creative-soul-society-membership Stay Connected with Create! Magazine: Subscribe to the Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com Official Website: https://www.createmagazine.com

  7. 10 ago

    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
  8. 4 ago

    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

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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.

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