slow inside

Leah Tumerman makes paintings on canvas, murals on walls, and drawings on paper. Her work explores what it means to be a woman through the lens of sisterhood and community, identity and belonging. And sometimes, loneliness. In this conversation, some things we talk about are: The struggle between fitting in and standing out The decision to never quit The loneliest period of her adult life Healing from an incredibly intense trauma and Her call to arms as a woman and an artist

Kesha decided she wanted to be an artist when she went to NYC at 15. She's making art ever since. In this conversation we talk about: What it’s like when no one understands your art and how to keep going in spite of it How Kesha survived being broke while attending fancy art school Losing her creative voice and what she did to find it again Being a full-time artist (while holding down a day job) and How Kesha wants to flip the art world on its head: making it accessible to all and meaningful for everyone

Jeweler and watercolor maker, Kim Wildthorne, is a mother, thinker, doer and creative problem solver whose “heart manifests in the world with humility, sensitivity, and gratitude.” Kim brings beauty, intention, and integrity into the world through sustainable made jewelry and eco-conscious watercolor paints. In this interview we talk about her struggles as she transitioned to life as a full-time artist, the courage to become an artist, how to sell your work with integrity and grow your business authentically, the sacrifices she’s made to stay an artist, and how to hold on to the core of who you are in a world of instant feedback, advice, and criticism.

Karen Walrond is a bestselling author and the creator of the award-winning blog, Chookooloonks. She’s a TEDx Speaker, a certified Daring Way facilitator, and part of One.org, a grassroots organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease in developing countries. Her mission is to help you look for, and find, the light. This is Karen’s story from a 5-year-old told she had no aptitude for art to a woman whose entire life is about making it. Some things we talk about her first blog, her first book, and her first time making money from her art 3 questions to ask to figure out exactly out who you are using art to speak up and creativity to make change the value of diversity and the beauty of difference when to share your creativity with those you love (and when to wait) and how Karen launched herself and into the paid world of public speaking and a career in creativity

In this very candid interview Alisa Burke, painter & mixed-media artist, talks about everything from miscarriage and how art pulled her through what was one of the hardest years of her life to the challenges of being a full-time artist, what happened when she got really brave and put herself out there, how to find your own creative voice amongst the millions of others, and what it took for Alisa to leave the world of a steady paycheck and health care and leap into the world of art, dreams, and freedom.

Andrea Pippins is a successful illustrator and author who didn't take any art classes until her senior year in high school. She applied three times to the Tyler School of Art at Temple University before being accepted. Today Andrea has clients around the world including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Lincoln Center and Free People. Her work has been featured in O: The Oprah Magazine, Family Circle and The Huffington Post and she’s the author of three books including the coloring book, “I love my hair” and her newest book, Young, Gifted, and Black. This is Andrea’s story from just starting out to freelancer to living back on her mom’s couch to being a full-time successful artist living in Sweden with her husband and baby boy. In this interview, we talk about • The best thing to do when just getting started • Exactly what she does to stay grounded and creative under tight deadlines • Dealing with rejection (again and again and again) • How going natural changed her idea of beauty • The one question she wished she'd been asked as a teenager • How to share your work (and then let it go)

Fear researcher, author, and productivity expert, Roanne Van Voorst used to be an overworked academic scared of dogs, flying, public speaking, risk-taking, and heights. Then Roanne started putting her research into action. Now she works four hour days producing more than she ever has. She’s written six books in the last six years, including Fear! Extreme athletes on how to reach your highest goals and overcome stress and self-doubt. She’s created two in-depth online training programs, and she flies around the world speaking publicly. In her off time she climbs mountains. And she has a dog. In this interview we talk about: The two things you NEED to know about fear Roanne’s personal system for getting more done in less time – without sacrificing rest or renewal A step-by-step process for overcoming almost any fear and How to live a more creative, courageous life

Catherine Rains is a collage artist and painter. She began making art at 33-years old to help relieve the stress of her full-time job. Over the last two decades, Catherine has built a strong following and an extensive portfolio. Her work has been shown in galleries, art shows, and is in private collections around the country. Here is the story of Catherine’s journey: from making art while working, to becoming a full-time artist, getting breast cancer, divorced, returning back to work, and eventually becoming, once again, a full-time artist. In this interview we talk about: • her daily routine: how she made art every day while working full-time • the 3 core things to focus on when building an art business • the exact phrase Catherine used to manifest her dream job • overcoming breast cancer and divorce while navigating an art career and • the most important strategy for making money when starting out

Grace Chin makes art that is both political and pretty, useful and ornamental. She makes beautiful wreaths that surround strong personal and political statements like “smash the patriarchy, hope fiercely, nevertheless she persisted, I believe you," and "take care." Grace graduated with a BFA in printmaking from the University of Kansas in 2012. Before starting her career as a full-time artist, she worked for a while at a toy store until she decided that she wanted to pay her rent doing what she loved. Grace went on to do just that. In this interview we talk about her story from making art to studying art to leaving art to making it again, as a full-time gig how to make art when you’re feeling stuck the dance between hope and resistance, fighting and joy using creativity to imagine a better world and using art to change it, and how you never have to compromise who you are to do what you want to do.

Alisha Sommer is a freelance writer and photographer who is, at heart, a storyteller. She is a mama of three, a lover of wine, words, and light. She began her own business at home, as a young mom, wanting to know if writing could become a job and money could be made from stories. Now, nearly ten years later, she earns a living from her creativity. But it’s been a slow build that’s required patience, perseverance, and consistency. In this interview, we talk about that slow build. And we also talk about: finding oneself after parenthood the truth of writer’s block and how to move through it being a black artist married to a white man, living in a white suburb, having grown up in white neighborhoods and how to define who you are and build a business that you love