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.

Artist and curator Jessica Libor shares how she navigated art school pressure, developed her signature fairy tale aesthetic, and built a creative career on her own terms. A must-listen for artists looking to find their unique voice and stay true to their vision.

In her luminous paintings of smoke, shifting light, and dense Pacific Northwest forests, Kendra Larson invites viewers into a space where landscape becomes both emotional mirror and living system. Based in Portland, Oregon, Larson reflects on awe, folklore, environmental consciousness, and the thin boundary between the visible and invisible. In this thoughtful conversation, she shares how residencies, teaching, and gallery leadership inform a practice grounded in presence, wonder, and the quiet intelligence of place.

For Aunia Kahn, art began as a lifeline. What started as a deeply personal act of survival has grown into a vibrant, multidisciplinary practice grounded in symbolism, sanctuary, and transformation. In this intimate conversation, Kahn reflects on navigating chronic illness, rediscovering traditional media after years of digital work, and finding joy alongside resilience in a career spanning more than two decades.

What happens when you let your subconscious lead the way? Internationally acclaimed artist August Vilella shares how he went from self-taught painter to Art Basel, his accidental five year residence in Japan, and why showing up is the most important career move you can make.

Abstract artist Sharone Halevy shares how she built a thriving art career through commission work and direct sales—no gallery required. Learn about pricing strategies, building confidence, and finding your collectors.

Artist and educator Todd M. Casey shares insights on realism, mentorship, art education, and how to build a meaningful and sustainable painting practice.

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.

Painter Felicia Forte joins the Create Podcast to discuss creative flow, intuition, overcoming burnout, and building a sustainable studio practice. Discover her insights on painting, process, and artistic growth.

In this thoughtful interview, Romanian artist Andreea Alunei reflects on the intertwined experiences of motherhood, loss, and rebirth that shape her symbolic mixed-media paintings. Through humor, spirituality, and mythic imagery, Alunei explores life’s most profound uncertainties—turning vulnerability into strength and grief into play.

Richmond-based artist Elizabeth Coffey creates evocative mixed media paintings that explore identity, duality, and the tension between the seen and unseen. Working with lace, oil paint, and graphite, her work reveals layers of meaning through material experimentation and narrative depth.

Lauren Moses’ work bridges art, history, and music. Her layered paintings reimagine classical myths and allegories, capturing both beauty and tension. In this interview, Moses discusses her creative process, the influence of music on her art, and the ways her paintings invite viewers to reflect on inherited narratives and contemporary meaning.

In her enchanting creative universe, Sophia van der Bank—also known as Mrs. Helichrysum—invites viewers into Studio Black Stockings, a space where myth, femininity, and transformation intertwine. Through her dreamlike paintings and performative imagery, van der Bank explores the archetypes and rituals that shape our inner lives, blending humor and mystery to reimagine the feminine experience.

Lauren Cohen’s interdisciplinary practice spans painting, ceramics, and installation, exploring systems of power, identity, and belonging. Drawing from her New England childhood, she reconstructs domestic objects and maritime stories into dreamlike stage sets—blurring history and fiction to question what we inherit and what we can remake.

This September, Whitney Modern in Los Gatos presents Below the Surface, a solo exhibition by Sieglinde Van Damme. Bringing together works from all four of her current series, Van Damme creates a contemplative space where art becomes more than visual. It becomes an invitation to pause, reflect, and reimagine what else might be possible. With textured abstraction, personal reflections, and interactive elements, the exhibition offers a rare chance to experience art as both sanctuary and catalyst.

In this inspiring interview, artist Sharon Harms reflects on her transition from a celebrated career in graphic design to painting professionally, sharing how her background in visual storytelling continues to shape her work today.

Miniature paintings, slow travel, and a dream fulfilled—Dina Brodsky returns to Italy and captures its radiance in a luminous new exhibition at Paradigm Gallery.

Toronto-based artist Poonam Khanna transforms rainy cityscapes into luminous, dreamlike paintings. In this feature, she shares her creative journey, unique process using a “portable window,” and the emotional resonance behind her vibrant acrylic works.

In this intimate artist feature and Art & Cocktails podcast episode, Lauren E. Peters shares her journey with self-portraiture, identity, costuming, and creative longevity. From returning to painting after a hiatus to balancing art with a career in the arts, Lauren offers powerful insights into building a meaningful, sustainable practice.