Massachusetts-based artist Sarah Valinezhad speaks with Create! Magazine about her research-driven practice centered on Iranian women's lived experiences, the emotional weight of interior spaces, and why she sees painting as an act of witnessing rather than representation.

Suzanne V Paddock didn't set out to become an animal painter, she arrived there through grief, isolation, and a household that grew to nine cats and a dog. In this interview, the Virginia-based oil painter talks about what her pets have taught her about trust and social dynamics, how a devastating loss during the pandemic realigned her sense of purpose, and why the most meaningful moments in her work are the ones that are easy to overlook.

San Francisco Bay Area artist Chelsea Tikotsky paints the moments we almost miss, golden light on water, a shift in the sky, the quiet magic of a landscape at dusk. Working primarily with a palette knife, she builds richly textured oil paintings that move between serene landscapes and lush botanicals, each carrying its own emotional register. In this interview, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her practice, the literature and films that inspire her botanical work, and what she hopes to explore next.

Studio artist Robyn Palescandolo (signed R Palesca) finds the extraordinary in everyday objects, painting with a quiet intensity rooted in minimalism and classical technique. In this interview, she reflects on her years running a painting retreat in rural Italy, the tension between precision and spontaneity in her work, and what draws her back to figurative painting next.

In this interview, Bucharest-based artist Alexandra Niculescu reflects on the influence of Calea Victoriei, the emergence of her "Arcs of Hope," and how painting became a space for transformation, healing, and resilience.

Alice d'Apolito paints visual diaries on wood, populating them with an alter ego, a childhood rabbit, and five pet snails. In this interview, the Italian global nomad talks about whimsy as emotional architecture, the slow philosophy of snails, and what it means to build a dream studio without walls.

Nicole Shannon's practice began at a jeweler's bench and has since expanded into an inquiry spanning painting, sculpture, writing, and research. In this interview, she reflects on Creative Wayfinding, the tension between fragility and possibility, and what it means to use creativity not just to make art, but to navigate life.

Andrea Mitchell has spent decades at the intersection of visual art, somatic therapy, and energy healing. Working in collage, watercolor, stained glass, and mixed media from New York City, she builds layered works that ask viewers to sense what they cannot immediately see. In this interview, she talks about intuition as a creative tool, color as a carrier of frequency, and why the best art — like the best healing — unfolds at the pace the viewer is ready for.

For Bay Area painter Ali Hall, the California coastline is both subject and sanctuary. Working in atmospheric abstract realism, she transforms ocean horizons and shifting skies into softened, immersive memories shaped by light and emotion. What began as a personal return to painting during a period of recovery has evolved into a deeply intentional practice centered on restoration, reflection, and connection. In this conversation, Hall shares how acrylic layering, intuitive mark-making, and creative wellness workshops all stem from a desire to create moments of stillness in a fast-moving world.

Under vast prairie skies and shimmering northern lights, Nicki Ault finds her deepest sense of belonging. Based in Saskatoon, the contemporary Canadian painter creates luminous landscapes that act as visual love letters to the Earth. Guided by intuition, memory, and a profound emotional connection to the natural world, Ault translates late afternoon light, boreal forests, and endless grasslands into paintings filled with warmth and humanity. In this heartfelt conversation, she reflects on discovering her identity as a Highly Sensitive Person, embracing spontaneity in the studio, and reaching major milestones that affirmed her path as a full-time artist.

In Becoming Feral, artist Darcy Whent examines the instability of memory, the pressures of domestic expectation, and the liminal space between girlhood and womanhood. Through autofiction, overwhelming patterns, and hybridized protagonists, her paintings navigate the psychological terrain of inheritance, emotional labor, and the instinctive self pushing toward transformation. This intimate interview offers a deeper look into the narrative structures and symbolic motifs that shape Whent’s evolving practice.

An inspiring interview with Bojana Ilic, also known as BOJITT, a Serbian-born, U.S.-based artist and designer whose expressive abstract paintings have reached international acclaim—literally to the Moon via The Lunar Codex. She shares how emotion and storytelling shape her creative process, the influence of her move to the U.S., and how she’s merging tradition with modern expression to empower women through art.

In this colorful and heartfelt interview, UK-based artist Lucy Stevens invites us into her latest body of work, Blackbird—a deeply personal series inspired by her walks in nature, daily rituals, and love for birds. Learn how her connection with the natural world and creative journaling practice have shaped her evolving studio process.

Deirdre Sullivan-Beeman creates lush, symbolic paintings that blur the line between myth and memory. In this in-depth interview, she reflects on the impact of 3rd Wave Feminism, dream symbolism, and how her heroines navigate identity, power, and the unknown.

Painter Claire Elliott reflects on her deep connection to gardens, the concept of plant blindness, and the tension between nature and control. In this interview, she shares the evolution of her practice, the inspiration behind her striking botanical paintings, and how she captures the wild, overlooked, and mysterious life of plants.

Artist, writer, and poet Jocelyn Ulevicus explores themes of femininity, loss, and healing through her expressive floral paintings. In this interview, she shares how her creative journey has evolved, the deeper meaning behind her work, and why flowers serve as a powerful metaphor for transformation and resilience.

Discover Full Circle, Geraldina Khatchikian’s powerful solo exhibition at Arte Fiera 2025 in Bologna, Italy. Showcasing 20 circular abstract paintings, a new jewelry collection, and her first installation, this exhibition explores themes of transformation, resilience, and self-discovery. On view until the end of the month at Giulio Veronesi Gioielli. Photos by Giacomo Maestri.

Kentucky-based artist Jeremy Booth captures the timeless spirit of the Wild West through striking minimalism, blending bold shapes and strong contrasts to bring Western iconography into contemporary fine art.

In this interview, we sit down with Spring Break Jake, a Bend, Oregon-based painter whose work blends vibrant tropical imagery with darker, macabre elements. Through his art, Jake explores themes of mental health, masculinity, and vulnerability, challenging societal norms while using layers of texture and symbolism to convey deeper emotional narratives. Discover how his unique journey as a self-taught artist shapes his work and inspires others to embrace their own complexities.

In this interview, Super Future Kid shares insights into her creative journey, from her post-Berlin Wall upbringing to how it shaped her vibrant, playful style. She delves into the significance of color, the central figures in her work, and how she balances elements of pop culture with deeper existential themes. Join us as we explore the world where reality and fantasy intertwine in her surrealist art.