July 30, 2025 • 38 mins
In this episode of The Artist Is In, I (Kat Collins) am thrilled to introduce abstract and collage artist Nina Boodhansingh for two distinct reasons:
- She is now my co-host for the podcast The Artist Is In! In addition to artist interviews, we’ll bring you our artist chats about anything and everything related to art (and sometimes, not).
- I get to interview her about her upcoming solo art show Chronically Chill at Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Glass Box Gallery.
We talk about Nina’s upcoming solo art exhibition and installation about a woman’s journey through life with mental (ch)illness and chronic pain. The show is humorous, real, educational, chaotic, and a bit serious. We also explore how living with invisible illnesses impacts our lives, both in art and in general. Growing up, Nina's creativity was influenced by making “cake art” with icing, and we discuss how a strong support system and pets help us cope. Nina shares how trusting her gut and embracing humor gets her through and holding bumblebees isn’t always the best choice.
If you’ve ever struggled or are struggling with mental illness, invisible illness, chronic pain, and trying to live a joyful, fulfilled, art life, this one’s for you.
🎤 About Nina Boodhansingh:
Nina Boodhansingh is an abstract painter, collage artist, curator, and co-host of The Artist Is In podcast. She is the former co-owner and Director of Midnight Gallery and a former Resident Artist at Kutztown University, The Cigar Factory, and The Banana Factory. Nina holds a B.F.A. from Kutztown University and an A.A. in Communications from Lehigh Carbon Community College. Her ethereal paintings and mixed-media works explore nature, the cosmos, and mental health, often blending introspection with wit and play. As a mentor, educator, and arts advocate, Nina is passionate about building creative community through both her practice and her voice on the podcast.
Learn more about Nina at:
Website: https://www.ninabood.com/aboutme
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nina_bood/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninaboodart#
Thanks for listening and share the podcast with your friends!
EPISODE CREDITS
Produced and Hosted by Kat Collins and Nina Boodhansingh
Edited and Mixed by Kat Collins Studio
Artwork designed by Kat Collins Studio
LINKS
Be sure to follow and tag us with #TheArtistIsInPodcast on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook: @katcollinsstudio @ninaboodart
Podcast: https://www.artistisin.com
Website: https://www.katcollinsstudio.com/podcast
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:00):
Welcome to The Artist is In, where creativity
doesn't stay inside the lines.
We're your hosts, Kat Collinsand Nina Buthansing, two artists
sharing real, unfilteredconversations about the creative
life.
SPEAKER_00 (00:13):
Whether we're chatting with each other or
interviewing fellow artists,we're here to explore the heart
of making art and what it meansto keep showing up.
Let's dive in.
SPEAKER_03 (00:25):
Welcome to The Artist is In, where creativity
doesn't stay inside the lines.
SPEAKER_00 (00:29):
I'm Kat Collins.
And I'm Nina Budhansing.
We're two artists, friends, andco-hosts inviting you into real,
unfiltered conversations aboutart, life, and everything in
between.
SPEAKER_03 (00:42):
This is our very first episode together, and
we're so glad you're here.
We thought it only made sense tokick things off by turning the
mic toward Nina and talkingabout her upcoming solo show at
Lehigh Carbon CommunityCollege's Glass Box Gallery.
Thank you so much for
SPEAKER_00 (01:09):
joining us.
So let's start
SPEAKER_03 (01:26):
with an introduction for Nina.
Welcome to The Artist Is In.
I am excited.
You are going to be a co-hostwith me now.
We're going to do this together.
And so for those who might notknow you yet, tell us a little
bit about yourself, who you are,what you do, what's your
favorite color.
No, I'm just kidding.
Whatever.
Whatever floats your boat.
SPEAKER_00 (01:47):
Favorite color is pink.
That I knew.
Kat, thanks for sharing thiswith me and inviting me to
co-host.
I'm very excited about this.
So a little bit about myself.
I am a painter and collageartist.
I'm also, as of right now, I amthe co-owner of Midnight Gallery
(02:09):
in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, I will bestepping down as the owner and
director and curator for goodreasons, though.
It's a bittersweet.
I've had a three-year run there,and it's been wonderful, but I
have decided to take a littlebit of a different direction in
(02:30):
my art career.
Just a bit of my educationalbackground, I went to LCC,
Lehigh Carbon Community College,also in Schnecksville.
I had received my associatesthere in communications for art,
and then I transferred out ofLCC and to Kutztown University
in Kutztown, PA, and received mybachelor's in fine arts with a
(02:53):
concentration in painting.
So that was back in 2010.
And then I actually got intohealthcare for a while and kind
of thought that my art careerwas over.
UNKNOWN (03:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (03:09):
And I think that was just me being 20-something and
not having any idea of what Iwas doing fresh out of college.
But from there, I continuedpainting.
Growing up, I always lovedworking with paper and paints.
And I thought about maybegetting into fashion.
(03:29):
So I had all these littlenotebooks that I would create.
I would make sketches offigures.
And then I would...
make clothing out of oldmagazine papers for these
figures.
And I was fascinated by thedifferent textures and the
colors.
So I think that's where my lovefor collage started.
(03:51):
And the love for painting camevery young.
My mom was a painter and acrafter, and I would just sit
and watch her make all of thesefun creations.
She even had a little craftstand at cottage crafters near
where we grew up.
And I remember she would makethese little felt purses for
(04:13):
different holidays and I wouldtake them into school and like
show them off and say, look whatmy mom made.
My mom's so cool.
And I always felt like I'm goingto be like that one day.
So I'm not making felt purses,but you know.
And another thing that reallylike stood out growing up was I
(04:34):
was always fascinated bydifferent All the different
colors that I could see and thatI could make with different
things.
And a big thing was I lovedeating cake growing up.
And I always wanted the cakethat had the big flowers in the
icing.
Because what I would do is Iwould sit off by myself and I
(04:59):
would scrape off all thedifferent color flowers.
And I would put each individualcolor...
in a little blob on a paperplate as if it were a painting
palette.
And I would use a knife or afork as a palette knife, and I
would blend the colors and makethese abstract frosting
paintings on my plate.
(05:19):
And I didn't really make thatconnection at the time of what I
was doing.
But I'd even ask my siblings andother kids, like, hey, can I
have that pink flower?
Or, oh, I need that yellowflower.
Can you...
That's quite creative.
I was just trying to like stealicing from kids so that I could
make these edible paintings, Iguess you could say.
(05:44):
So yeah, this goes way back tomy childhood.
And to this day, I'm justfascinated and inspired by
nature and the cosmos and Andyou can see a lot of that in my
work with the abstractlandscapes.
I even do abstract cityscapeswhere they represent a lot of
(06:06):
the paintings to me anyway,represent maybe other worlds
that we see in whether it be ourdreams or science fiction.
So I hold all of that very closeto me because it's almost like a
getaway.
I love that.
I could just...
It's kind of like when I look atyour paintings, I just want to
(06:28):
sit inside of them.
Go off to special little plates.
Again?
No?
SPEAKER_03 (06:34):
I totally get that.
SPEAKER_00 (06:36):
Yeah.
And then in the more recentyears, I've really gotten back
into collage.
And my collages, I feel like Ican be more free and loose with
and funny.
They're humorous.
And a lot of them...
A lot of the collages inparticular definitely reflect on
(06:59):
living with mental illness, suchas ADHD, anxiety, depression.
I've been struggling with all ofthat since a young age.
And then I also have somechronic pain disorders like
endometriosis and secondaryfibromyalgia and then I have a
(07:20):
hair pulling disorder calledtrichotillomania.
So there's a lot that I kind ofdeal with and to cope with it, I
should say one of the ways Icope with it is through my art
and I use my art to communicatewith the world.
SPEAKER_03 (07:40):
Yeah, so this show that you have coming up,
Chronically Chill, which I lovethe title, it's very deeply
personal for you.
Yes.
So can you talk about what theinspiration behind the show was
and why you decided to go sopersonal with this?
SPEAKER_00 (07:54):
So the show I have been thinking about for probably
10 years.
The first time I ever openlyshowed any type of work about my
trichotillomania was in mysenior exhibition at Kutztown.
I had one or two pieces aboutthe disorder in that show.
(08:17):
And that was really scary forme.
I definitely put myself outthere.
And then about five years later,I took that piece and I created
two other pieces in response toit.
And I showed it a small galleryin Bethlehem.
And that was kind of justdipping my toes in the water to
(08:38):
see how I felt about it.
And I called I called that smallseries, She's a Tricky Girl.
And the reason I called it thatis because a lot of folks with
trichotillomania, they callthemselves tricksters.
So it's kind of like trick forshort.
So that's why I called part ofthe show, She's a Tricky Girl.
(08:59):
And then I just kind of forgotabout it for a while.
And then I slowly startedthinking, I need to talk to
people about this more becausethroughout the My time of
learning about the disorder andunderstanding it more, I've
connected with a strongcommunity and I've found other
people that have the disorder.
(09:22):
And I want to be able to sharethat and educate people.
So originally, the show was justgoing to be about the hair
pulling, the trichotillomania.
And then I decided, well, I'mvery vocal about all the other
battles that I have.
So why not?
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03 (10:05):
And your title of your show plays with that too,
because I know in oneadvertising post I saw, you
called it chronically chillness,but the CH is in parentheses.
So it's the chronic illness, butyou're calling it chronic
chillness.
And I really love that.
It's direct if you catch it, butit's also the same time it's
inviting.
(10:25):
And what do you hope people feelor think about when they see the
work in the show?
SPEAKER_00 (10:30):
I hope people that...
see this show will understandmore about invisible illness
because these are all thingsthat aside from the hair pulling
which people honestly don't evenalways notice with me and a big
reason I think is because I dowear makeup to cover it up like
I I use eyeliner and I have todraw my eyebrows to cover up the
(10:54):
lack of hair on my face but Idon't I don't pull hair anywhere
else on my body so it's justit's just my Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
(11:27):
So this is a show to reallyraise awareness for mental
health and chronic illness, butalso to make people feel seen
and understood and comfortableand that it's okay if you're
going through these things.
A lot of people are goingthrough these things and we're
(11:47):
here to have thoseconversations.
SPEAKER_03 (11:50):
Yeah, absolutely.
I think art is a great way tocommunicate what's often
invisible, with the invisibleillnesses, with all of that.
And then, you know, I also useit to create emotion that we
don't say or don't speak of.
So yeah, there's somethingpowerful about that.
And then turning yourdifficulties into a way to
(12:11):
process it through art and thenshare that experience is
incredibly powerful.
And I think many people aregoing to resonate with this.
And I know for both of us, artis a lifeline for us when it
comes to mental health andhealing.
I know I deal with my own thingsas well.
I've got the fibromyalgia aswell, the chronic fatigue that I
(12:31):
have to deal with.
So it's a challenge.
What's your relationship likewith creating when things are
tough?
SPEAKER_00 (12:39):
It's tough.
SPEAKER_03 (12:41):
Pretty much.
Yes, that sums it
SPEAKER_00 (12:42):
up.
Yes.
I mean, there are days where Idon't want to get out of bed.
SPEAKER_02 (12:49):
And
SPEAKER_00 (12:50):
it could be because I'm having a lot of pain or it
could be because mentally I'mnot available.
SPEAKER_02 (13:00):
And
SPEAKER_00 (13:01):
I really have to push myself some days,
especially getting ready forthis chronically chill show.
I kept laughing with my husbandlike...
I like to make light of thesituation and I try to keep
things humorous because if Idon't, I might actually go
insane.
But I was joking with him, youknow, like loosely joking,
(13:23):
saying like, it's funny how I'vebeen preparing this show about
mental illness and my mentalillness is getting in the way.
Yeah, it's very appropriate.
Yeah.
And then there are other dayswhere it's like, I feel like I
could kick down doors and takeon the world.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (13:42):
Same here.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (13:45):
Yeah.
And it's like, well, why can'tmy body and my mind just always
feel that way?
SPEAKER_03 (13:51):
Right.
I know.
I definitely get that.
There are days I can show up anddo things and remember things.
And, you know, I haven't talkeda whole lot about it this year
with people, but I've had areally hard time this year.
SPEAKER_02 (14:05):
And
SPEAKER_03 (14:06):
I've dealt with a lot of physical pain this year.
And I've dealt with a lot ofwhat's called brain fog, which
basically means you don'tremember things.
I forget everything.
And I forget conversations fiveminutes later.
I miss appointments.
I feel very discombobulated.
I always am aware that somethingI should be paying attention to,
(14:28):
and I can't figure out how topay attention to it.
Yeah.
I mean, this show is incredible.
I can't wait to see it.
I'm so excited.
But some days, you know, eventhe thought of trying to do
something feels impossible.
SPEAKER_00 (14:44):
It does.
Yeah.
And I can fully relate to thebrain fog and forgetting things
and conversations.
And I'm very excited for theshow as well.
And I feel like my brain's beenfiring off 85 million times.
different ideas.
I'm like, how am I going to pullthis together?
And if I don't write it down, Iforget.
(15:06):
And then a week later, I'm like,oh yeah, I wanted to do that for
the show too.
Yep.
SPEAKER_03 (15:12):
I write it down and then I forget I wrote it down
because I don't look at it.
I'm like, well, that's notworking.
SPEAKER_00 (15:18):
Yeah.
I'll write it on five differentnotepads and I'll still
SPEAKER_03 (15:23):
forget.
I have a paper planner that Iwrite a to-do list in every day.
I've got a to-do list on myphone.
And I have a to-do list on a padof paper.
Do I look at any of them?
No, because I don't think to andI forget.
SPEAKER_00 (15:37):
And then I'm like,
SPEAKER_03 (15:37):
oh crap.
SPEAKER_00 (15:37):
You sound like me.
SPEAKER_03 (15:40):
Yeah, pretty much.
Yeah, we can relate really wellwith this.
Even when days are hardsometimes, I find I push myself
to make something.
Even if it's just I doodle.
Because sometimes I have to inorder to feel like I can
survive.
And then keep going with that.
(16:00):
And I think sometimes that'shard for us is the idea that we
have to keep pushing throughthis and keep going through
this.
SPEAKER_00 (16:07):
Yeah, I just started a little sketchbook because I
beat myself up if I don't workin the studio every day.
When I say I started a littlesketchbook, I mean I've only
drawn in it once.
But it felt good.
UNKNOWN (16:28):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00 (16:28):
Because even if I'm not making a collage or working
on stuff for a show or paintinga picture, you know, painting on
canvas, I can take the little,like, three-by-two-inch book out
and do a five-minute sketch.
And I'm like, okay, I wascreative for the day.
(16:51):
Do you feel
SPEAKER_03 (16:53):
– because I experience this.
I feel like there's thisconstant– pressure to be
endlessly productive or positiveabout how I feel, how I present,
how I create.
I have a studio I pay for now.
I feel like I have to be thereall the time to get something
done.
But with the chronic conditionsthat we deal with, there's days
(17:13):
I'm like, yeah, that's nothappening.
But then I beat myself up for itbecause it's like, well, I
didn't get in the studio.
I didn't do this.
I didn't do that.
And it's like, well, and then mywife reminds me, you've done a
lot.
Sometimes you just need tobreathe and just rest.
And I think we don't givevalidity to resting very much.
SPEAKER_00 (17:34):
Yeah, we definitely don't give ourself enough grace
or time to relax for ourselves.
I think we're kind of wired ascreatives to feel like we always
have to be creating something.
But we need to recharge.
Absolutely.
I had plans to work in thestudio.
(17:56):
All day yesterday.
And I didn't.
And I felt guilty about it atfirst.
SPEAKER_02 (18:02):
So
SPEAKER_00 (18:03):
I was like, oh, I'm going to go over to Easton and
pick up a piece of my artworkfrom a show.
And then I'm going to come homeand work all day.
But then I got a message from afriend and they said, hey, what
are you doing?
Come meet up with us.
It's Sunday Funday.
I'm like, you know what?
It is Sunday Funday.
I work so hard during the week.
(18:25):
And at night, sometimes I just,that's what the weekend's for.
If you can have a weekend,
SPEAKER_03 (18:31):
just have a weekend.
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, it's okay that werest, that we have fun.
As
SPEAKER_02 (18:37):
we should.
And not
SPEAKER_03 (18:37):
always create.
But I think that's evenimportant being creative to have
those moments too.
You know, your brain needs thattime to catch up.
And that's with anybody who's acreative.
It's not just for people dealingwith, you know, chronic pain or
illnesses.
I think we all need to takethose breaks.
That's when your brainrecharges.
SPEAKER_00 (18:55):
That's very accurate.
And I actually think thatnon-creatives don't realize how
tiring and mentally drainingbeing creative can actually be.
Yes.
Yes.
Especially for me, if I'mworking on a really big project
(19:18):
or if I'm curating a show, onceI'm done, it's like a weight is
lifted and then I feel like halfdead for a couple of days.
I'm like, I can't think any, Ican't think anymore.
I'm tired.
Like I'm physically and mentallydrained batteries at zero.
And some people are like, well,what's so hard about having
(19:40):
artwork?
Well, there's a lot to it.
SPEAKER_03 (19:43):
There is a lot to it.
You know, there's a lot to beingcreative.
There's a lot to that goes intowhat we do that.
I don't think they're like,well, it's, well, you painted a
pretty picture.
I'm like, well, yeah, You knowhow much work that took?
That was a lot.
It's hard to describe becausethey don't equate just thinking
(20:05):
about it as a lot of work.
We're not physically sweatingall the time.
Although being menopausal, I dophysically sweat all the time.
Preparing menopausal.
SPEAKER_00 (20:16):
I'm not quite there yet and
SPEAKER_03 (20:19):
I'm
SPEAKER_00 (20:19):
just...
SPEAKER_03 (20:19):
Something to look forward to.
I always have.
Yeah, I do too.
And this has just gotten worse.
So yay.
SPEAKER_00 (20:25):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (20:26):
Yay for womanhood.
SPEAKER_00 (20:27):
And then being on an SSRI makes it even worse.
SPEAKER_03 (20:32):
Oh my God.
Yes.
The night sweats are the worst.
It's awful.
Not fun.
But yeah, no, I, yeah, I get it.
And then It's interesting, youknow, because I was reading a
book today.
Well, I've been reading it for awhile.
And one of the parts it wastalking about resting and
(20:52):
boredom.
And this artist was talkingabout how we should embrace.
She called it boredom.
I call it more being quiet orbeing still because that's very
difficult to do in our societytoday.
And we need those moments tojust pause and be okay with
that.
(21:12):
And just kind of step back alittle bit and say, okay, my
body needs to catch up with me.
I need to take a break.
I just did a solo show.
It just ended.
Which was very beautiful, by theway.
Well, thank you very much.
I appreciate that.
And I have to pick up the workFriday.
So technically it's not ended,ended, but you know, whatever.
It's officially ended.
(21:34):
But the exhaustion leading up tothat and having to remember how
to do everything you know, toget postcards made, to make sure
advertising is done, to makesure the work is all done and
framed and wired and all thatstuff.
It's a lot.
And when you're dealing withthings like we have, like with
(21:55):
fibromyalgia and I have chronicfatigue syndrome and I also have
massive anxiety, that on top ofit, every little thing I do
takes 10 times longer, you know,and it takes me three times as
long to recover from doing it.
Oh, yeah.
I get frustrated because I'mlike, this isn't how it used to
be for me.
(22:16):
And now I'm like, I'm annoyedand want to keep going.
And then I realize I have togive myself grace and say, no,
now you've got to take time.
SPEAKER_00 (22:24):
Yeah, I have a hard time taking time.
I want to go, go, go.
Then sometimes I move so slowbecause I have to.
And there was something else Iwas going to say and I just
blanked.
Talking about brain fog.
(22:44):
It's very appropriate.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's just gone.
Yeah.
I don't know.
Is it the brain fog?
Is it the ADB right now?
I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (22:54):
Any of the above?
Yeah, just all of it.
Yeah.
I think sometimes I get stuck inthe idea of comparing myself to
others and how much art they putout or how much, you know,
they...
I feel the same way.
(23:16):
And then I get stuck in my
SPEAKER_00 (23:29):
head thinking that people are judging me secretly.
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02 (23:36):
Because
SPEAKER_00 (23:37):
I worry that maybe they think, well, she runs a
gallery.
She's an artist.
She should be at these things.
And then I try to remind myself,I'm one person.
There are so many art events allthe time.
And we have to...
It's not selfish to putourselves first.
No.
Especially when we're puttingour health first.
(24:01):
But I do the same thing where Icompare myself to people on
social media.
I...
Nir had a heart attack when Isaw all of the work you had in
your studio the other daybecause I was like, man, I'm
failing here.
Oh, no, no.
No.
But these are the things we do.
(24:22):
Yes.
You know, we have to get out ofour heads.
I mean, I'll sit there and doomscroll on Instagram.
Instagram is like the worstbecause– You only see such a
small part of someone's life,and it's usually the best part.
Right.
It's the prettiest.
So it's going to look glamorous.
(24:44):
Mm-hmm.
And then there's me.
Here's a bee from my gardentoday.
SPEAKER_03 (24:52):
Those things are just as important, though, I
think.
SPEAKER_00 (24:54):
But that, especially right now, I mean, moments like
that keep me going.
SPEAKER_02 (25:01):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00 (25:01):
And it's tough when winter comes and I don't have my
garden to look forward tobecause I also not only do I use
my garden as inspiration for myart, but it just it keeps my
head above water.
I mean, there's other thingsthat obviously keep me going.
(25:22):
But I mean, having the garden,it's like if I'm having a poopy
day, I just go out there and Andsmell the flowers and hold the
bumblebees, which surprised me.
Which I think is
SPEAKER_03 (25:33):
crazy.
SPEAKER_00 (25:34):
They let me do.
Although, funny story.
Well, not so funny.
My sister and I went to seeShania Twain this weekend at
Hershey Stadium.
And beforehand, we went to theHershey Gardens, which is
beautiful.
And I was like, oh, look at allthese bumblebees.
I'm going to go hold one.
And I...
(25:54):
went to scoop one up instead ofjust putting my hand out like I
normally do.
And I got stung immediately.
And it was the first time sinceI was four years old that I got
stung by a bee.
No.
And I knew I wasn't allergicbecause I have so many
allergies.
So they had tested me in thelast seven years.
(26:17):
So I knew I wasn't allergic, butI was like, oh, no.
Like, what if something happens?
And...
My fingers started to swell andthen my hand and my arm started
getting really red and itchy.
SPEAKER_03 (26:30):
Oh, no.
SPEAKER_00 (26:31):
But thankfully, my sister is always prepared and
she had Benadryl.
SPEAKER_03 (26:35):
Well, that's impressive.
SPEAKER_00 (26:37):
So I was a little sleepy for the concert, but it
was so good.
SPEAKER_03 (26:41):
Yeah, that's unusual because they don't typically
sting.
SPEAKER_00 (26:44):
No, bumblebees only sting if they really feel
threatened.
So I guess he just really didn'tlike me for some
SPEAKER_03 (26:53):
reason.
He's like, I want my flower, notyou.
SPEAKER_00 (26:56):
Because they hold them all the time at home.
SPEAKER_03 (26:59):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (27:00):
I just let them crawl all over me.
It's crazy.
SPEAKER_03 (27:02):
That's funny.
SPEAKER_00 (27:05):
Yeah, I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (27:06):
I think it's important.
I was excited to talk about allthis today with you, just
because I don't think we talkabout this enough.
And talking about...
If I'm
SPEAKER_00 (27:22):
overwhelmed or I'm not feeling well, you know,
mentally or physically, my bodyalways gives me warning signs.
I know I have to just prepareand take care, like take care of
myself.
But I know I have to justprepare and take care of myself.
And there are some days where Imight feel really awful.
And let's say mentally I'll feelawful.
(27:45):
And I force myself to go in thestudio and either just pick up a
tube of paint and slap somepaint on canvas, even if it
doesn't become anything, just sothat I can go through those
motions and remind myself of whyI'm here and what I love to do.
(28:06):
But if I'm physically notfeeling well with like pain,
like I get, I get chronicmigraines and usually my warning
signs are the warning signs of amigraine for women are actually
really scary because I gettingling in my face and it'll go
down my face into my neck andshoulder.
(28:28):
And then I get numbness in myarm.
And sometimes I even have eyepain, but I have a whole, I
guess you call them likemigraine remedies.
I mean, I have prescriptionmedication, but sometimes you
just feel awful where you needsomething else.
So I always make sure I have anice pack ready.
(28:49):
Peppermint oil actually reallyhelps me.
I mix it like right in with likeAquaphor so it's not too strong.
And then I'll put that like onthe areas that are more painful.
UNKNOWN (29:03):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00 (29:04):
I also have my medical cards, so I use a THC
lotion, which has helpedimmensely for the neck and
shoulder pain.
So I always have pretty mucheverything on standby.
I don't know.
I don't want to go off on atangent here.
No.
No.
SPEAKER_03 (29:24):
But I get
SPEAKER_00 (29:25):
it.
You know, the other things thatI do to make sure that I'm kind
of keeping myself in check, whatI'm feeling...
under the weather is doing smallthings for myself like the other
day I'm like I have to paint butI just don't feel well mentally
so I was gonna go to the dinerand get myself a waffle the
(29:51):
diner was closed so I called upmy sister and she was like come
over bring some peaches and I'llmake the waffles and it's like
little things like that and thenThen I went home and I painted
and I felt really good.
So I went from feeling likecrap, but keeping myself in
(30:12):
check and reminding myself ofthe things that mattered and got
myself a little treat becauseeveryone deserves a treat, even
if it's every day.
Sometimes a few times a day.
Sometimes a few times a day.
And also- not only like thetreating myself, but caring for
(30:37):
the things around me reallyhelps for those listening that
don't know.
I have a dog.
She's five years old.
Her name is river.
She's the most amazing thing.
Well, I don't know.
There's some other reallyamazing things in my life.
Also like my husband, but,
SPEAKER_03 (30:56):
but
SPEAKER_00 (30:56):
everybody knows like, I love it.
What was that?
I said that's secondary.
But she brings me so much joy.
And she's my little studiobuddy.
She hangs out in the studio withme all the time.
She has a little love seat thatshe curls up on.
And when it's hot, she crawlsunderneath and lays by the fan.
(31:18):
But she also helps me getthrough.
Sometimes I'm like, I don'treally want to I don't know if I
feel like working in the studiotoday, but I'll come upstairs
and she's in there lounging.
So I'm like, all right, well, Iguess I'm going to hang out with
her.
SPEAKER_03 (31:33):
She helps me.
Yeah.
No, that's fantastic.
I have three cats and I lovethem.
It's such amazing thing that Ilaugh at least once a day
because of them.
Oh, yeah.
They keep me in better spirits.
Sometimes I yell at them, too,and I'm not happy with them,
(31:56):
especially when somebody vomitsand I step in it kind of thing,
you know, which has happened,unfortunately.
But it's just having pets Ilove.
There's something definitelyabout it.
It definitely helps.
They don't come in my studiobecause I've tried cats in my
studio before.
Number one, they shed like crazyand they get into everything.
(32:18):
Oh, my gosh.
My one cat used to chew on mypaintbrush as I was painting.
Which made it challenging.
SPEAKER_00 (32:23):
That sounds about right.
SPEAKER_03 (32:25):
So they don't join me in the studio because it
would be chaos most of the time.
But they're here now while I'mdoing podcasting.
They sleep next to me.
So they kind of all go aroundme.
And on the days I don't feellike doing anything, they just
kind of hang out with me andcurl up with me.
You know?
And I love that.
SPEAKER_00 (32:44):
They really are the best.
They are.
They are.
And I secretly don't trustpeople.
people that don't like animalswell i guess it's not a secret
anymore not anymore
SPEAKER_03 (33:00):
so much for a secret but i think a lot of pet lovers
feel that way so i don't thinkthat's that's too much of not of
a secret though yeah i alwaysdistrust because i'm like why
are you suspicious of animalsyeah you know yeah no i get that
completely so
SPEAKER_00 (33:19):
yeah And we can learn a lot from them.
SPEAKER_03 (33:21):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
They rest when they need to, eatwhen they need to, go to the
bathroom when they need to.
SPEAKER_00 (33:29):
And they're curious.
SPEAKER_03 (33:31):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (33:31):
They're always exploring.
And I try to remind myself that.
SPEAKER_03 (33:36):
Gotta explore.
Yeah.
I think that's one of the thingsthat keeps me going when things
are hard is I'm always curious.
You know, I'm always wanting tosee what's next.
Always looking for something toexplore with.
And just keep my mind going, youknow, even if I physically can't
do something at that moment, youknow, it's maybe I'll journal
(33:57):
for a minute.
Sometimes my hands don't work.
So I'll watch TV, which I don'talways recommend because I don't
do that very often, butsometimes you just got to veg.
SPEAKER_01 (34:09):
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (34:10):
Just to get through it and then come back to
everything, you know, it's a,Definitely more of a challenge
for me now because I have toforce myself to drive to my
studio.
I can't just wander downstairsto my basement in pajamas
anymore.
But actually, I like it becauseit makes me consciously think
about being creative and itforces me to get out there.
(34:34):
So even if I go for a shorttime, it's like this excitement
in me.
Yeah.
That wants to get me out there.
And then community is such a bigthing, I think, for artists.
And having a support system.
You know, you and I could not dothis without a support system.
SPEAKER_00 (34:51):
No, we couldn't.
SPEAKER_03 (34:54):
Thank God for spouses.
I will say that.
SPEAKER_00 (34:56):
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (34:57):
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (34:59):
But the community is a big must.
SPEAKER_03 (35:03):
And it matters having somebody that believes in
you.
Yes.
You know, even when you'restruggling, they remind you of
the good things.
SPEAKER_00 (35:12):
That's what I love.
Mm-hmm.
Sometimes I'm like, can you, canyou just tell me that again,
dear?
All
SPEAKER_03 (35:20):
right.
Well, before we wrap up Nina,when and where can people see
the show that's coming up?
SPEAKER_00 (35:26):
So chronically chill will open the end of August.
I don't have the exact date.
It'll be around the 25th whenthe students are back in session
and it will run mid to lateSeptember and It's at the Glass
Box Gallery at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College in
(35:46):
Schnecksville.
It's inside of the RothrockLibrary.
So you can always go on theirwebsite, Lehigh Carbon Community
College's website, and thegallery hours should be listed
on there.
They change summer versus falland winter semester.
But also, the openingreception...
(36:07):
to the public is Thursday,September 4th from 6pm to 8pm.
So that is set for the openingreception.
And if you want to bringfriends, family, it is also
going to be a little bitinteractive part of the
installation.
So I would highly recommendeveryone come see it, please.
(36:31):
And I do hope I hope it cantravel.
I would love for this show tocontinue and grow and travel to
other locations.
That
SPEAKER_03 (36:40):
would
SPEAKER_00 (36:40):
be amazing.
SPEAKER_03 (36:41):
I highly encourage everybody to come see it.
If you can, we'll link all theinfo on the show notes to where
it is and whatnot.
And I want to thank Nina forjoining me one to be
interviewed, but also to be mycohost going forward with this
podcast.
Cause as we both have mentioned,In this episode, we can't do
(37:03):
things alone.
Exactly.
Especially when we struggle withinvisible illnesses that make
things tough at times.
And so having that support, I amtruly grateful to do this with
you, Nina.
SPEAKER_00 (37:14):
Thank you.
You can't see it, but I have ahuge smile on my face right now.
And I am just over the moon thatyou have invited me to co-host
with you.
And I really appreciate theinterview today this has been
really lovely good I love
SPEAKER_03 (37:37):
chatting thank you I love chatting our goal is you
know to pretty much just be twoartists talking and you get to
join in the conversation whenpeople listen so it's very
exciting our plan going forwardis to release every other week
sometimes it will be artistinterviews sometimes it will be
us chatting and we'll kind of goforward from there we'd love to
(37:58):
hear how this episode resonatedwith you So send us a message,
share with a friend, let us knowhow art and healing intersects
with your life and how it helpsyou as well.
So Nina, if you want to take usout.
SPEAKER_00 (38:11):
Thanks for joining us for our very first episode of
The Artist Is In.
We'll be back in two weeks withmore conversations about the
creative life, the honest,messy, soul-filling kind.
SPEAKER_03 (38:23):
Until then, keep showing up however you can, even
gently, even slowly, even whenit's hard.
SPEAKER_00 (38:31):
Because you're an artist and the world needs your
voice.
See you next time.
Welcome to The Artist is In, where creativity
doesn't stay inside the lines.
We're your hosts, Kat Collinsand Nina Buthansing, two artists
sharing real, unfilteredconversations about the creative
life.
SPEAKER_00 (00:13):
Whether we're chatting with each other or
interviewing fellow artists,we're here to explore the heart
of making art and what it meansto keep showing up.
Let's dive in.
SPEAKER_03 (00:25):
Welcome to The Artist is In, where creativity
doesn't stay inside the lines.
SPEAKER_00 (00:29):
I'm Kat Collins.
And I'm Nina Budhansing.
We're two artists, friends, andco-hosts inviting you into real,
unfiltered conversations aboutart, life, and everything in
between.
SPEAKER_03 (00:42):
This is our very first episode together, and
we're so glad you're here.
We thought it only made sense tokick things off by turning the
mic toward Nina and talkingabout her upcoming solo show at
Lehigh Carbon CommunityCollege's Glass Box Gallery.
Thank you so much for
SPEAKER_00 (01:09):
joining us.
So let's start
SPEAKER_03 (01:26):
with an introduction for Nina.
Welcome to The Artist Is In.
I am excited.
You are going to be a co-hostwith me now.
We're going to do this together.
And so for those who might notknow you yet, tell us a little
bit about yourself, who you are,what you do, what's your
favorite color.
No, I'm just kidding.
Whatever.
Whatever floats your boat.
SPEAKER_00 (01:47):
Favorite color is pink.
That I knew.
Kat, thanks for sharing thiswith me and inviting me to
co-host.
I'm very excited about this.
So a little bit about myself.
I am a painter and collageartist.
I'm also, as of right now, I amthe co-owner of Midnight Gallery
(02:09):
in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, I will bestepping down as the owner and
director and curator for goodreasons, though.
It's a bittersweet.
I've had a three-year run there,and it's been wonderful, but I
have decided to take a littlebit of a different direction in
(02:30):
my art career.
Just a bit of my educationalbackground, I went to LCC,
Lehigh Carbon Community College,also in Schnecksville.
I had received my associatesthere in communications for art,
and then I transferred out ofLCC and to Kutztown University
in Kutztown, PA, and received mybachelor's in fine arts with a
(02:53):
concentration in painting.
So that was back in 2010.
And then I actually got intohealthcare for a while and kind
of thought that my art careerwas over.
UNKNOWN (03:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (03:09):
And I think that was just me being 20-something and
not having any idea of what Iwas doing fresh out of college.
But from there, I continuedpainting.
Growing up, I always lovedworking with paper and paints.
And I thought about maybegetting into fashion.
(03:29):
So I had all these littlenotebooks that I would create.
I would make sketches offigures.
And then I would...
make clothing out of oldmagazine papers for these
figures.
And I was fascinated by thedifferent textures and the
colors.
So I think that's where my lovefor collage started.
(03:51):
And the love for painting camevery young.
My mom was a painter and acrafter, and I would just sit
and watch her make all of thesefun creations.
She even had a little craftstand at cottage crafters near
where we grew up.
And I remember she would makethese little felt purses for
(04:13):
different holidays and I wouldtake them into school and like
show them off and say, look whatmy mom made.
My mom's so cool.
And I always felt like I'm goingto be like that one day.
So I'm not making felt purses,but you know.
And another thing that reallylike stood out growing up was I
(04:34):
was always fascinated bydifferent All the different
colors that I could see and thatI could make with different
things.
And a big thing was I lovedeating cake growing up.
And I always wanted the cakethat had the big flowers in the
icing.
Because what I would do is Iwould sit off by myself and I
(04:59):
would scrape off all thedifferent color flowers.
And I would put each individualcolor...
in a little blob on a paperplate as if it were a painting
palette.
And I would use a knife or afork as a palette knife, and I
would blend the colors and makethese abstract frosting
paintings on my plate.
(05:19):
And I didn't really make thatconnection at the time of what I
was doing.
But I'd even ask my siblings andother kids, like, hey, can I
have that pink flower?
Or, oh, I need that yellowflower.
Can you...
That's quite creative.
I was just trying to like stealicing from kids so that I could
make these edible paintings, Iguess you could say.
(05:44):
So yeah, this goes way back tomy childhood.
And to this day, I'm justfascinated and inspired by
nature and the cosmos and Andyou can see a lot of that in my
work with the abstractlandscapes.
I even do abstract cityscapeswhere they represent a lot of
(06:06):
the paintings to me anyway,represent maybe other worlds
that we see in whether it be ourdreams or science fiction.
So I hold all of that very closeto me because it's almost like a
getaway.
I love that.
I could just...
It's kind of like when I look atyour paintings, I just want to
(06:28):
sit inside of them.
Go off to special little plates.
Again?
No?
SPEAKER_03 (06:34):
I totally get that.
SPEAKER_00 (06:36):
Yeah.
And then in the more recentyears, I've really gotten back
into collage.
And my collages, I feel like Ican be more free and loose with
and funny.
They're humorous.
And a lot of them...
A lot of the collages inparticular definitely reflect on
(06:59):
living with mental illness, suchas ADHD, anxiety, depression.
I've been struggling with all ofthat since a young age.
And then I also have somechronic pain disorders like
endometriosis and secondaryfibromyalgia and then I have a
(07:20):
hair pulling disorder calledtrichotillomania.
So there's a lot that I kind ofdeal with and to cope with it, I
should say one of the ways Icope with it is through my art
and I use my art to communicatewith the world.
SPEAKER_03 (07:40):
Yeah, so this show that you have coming up,
Chronically Chill, which I lovethe title, it's very deeply
personal for you.
Yes.
So can you talk about what theinspiration behind the show was
and why you decided to go sopersonal with this?
SPEAKER_00 (07:54):
So the show I have been thinking about for probably
10 years.
The first time I ever openlyshowed any type of work about my
trichotillomania was in mysenior exhibition at Kutztown.
I had one or two pieces aboutthe disorder in that show.
(08:17):
And that was really scary forme.
I definitely put myself outthere.
And then about five years later,I took that piece and I created
two other pieces in response toit.
And I showed it a small galleryin Bethlehem.
And that was kind of justdipping my toes in the water to
(08:38):
see how I felt about it.
And I called I called that smallseries, She's a Tricky Girl.
And the reason I called it thatis because a lot of folks with
trichotillomania, they callthemselves tricksters.
So it's kind of like trick forshort.
So that's why I called part ofthe show, She's a Tricky Girl.
(08:59):
And then I just kind of forgotabout it for a while.
And then I slowly startedthinking, I need to talk to
people about this more becausethroughout the My time of
learning about the disorder andunderstanding it more, I've
connected with a strongcommunity and I've found other
people that have the disorder.
(09:22):
And I want to be able to sharethat and educate people.
So originally, the show was justgoing to be about the hair
pulling, the trichotillomania.
And then I decided, well, I'mvery vocal about all the other
battles that I have.
So why not?
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03 (10:05):
And your title of your show plays with that too,
because I know in oneadvertising post I saw, you
called it chronically chillness,but the CH is in parentheses.
So it's the chronic illness, butyou're calling it chronic
chillness.
And I really love that.
It's direct if you catch it, butit's also the same time it's
inviting.
(10:25):
And what do you hope people feelor think about when they see the
work in the show?
SPEAKER_00 (10:30):
I hope people that...
see this show will understandmore about invisible illness
because these are all thingsthat aside from the hair pulling
which people honestly don't evenalways notice with me and a big
reason I think is because I dowear makeup to cover it up like
I I use eyeliner and I have todraw my eyebrows to cover up the
(10:54):
lack of hair on my face but Idon't I don't pull hair anywhere
else on my body so it's justit's just my Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
(11:27):
So this is a show to reallyraise awareness for mental
health and chronic illness, butalso to make people feel seen
and understood and comfortableand that it's okay if you're
going through these things.
A lot of people are goingthrough these things and we're
(11:47):
here to have thoseconversations.
SPEAKER_03 (11:50):
Yeah, absolutely.
I think art is a great way tocommunicate what's often
invisible, with the invisibleillnesses, with all of that.
And then, you know, I also useit to create emotion that we
don't say or don't speak of.
So yeah, there's somethingpowerful about that.
And then turning yourdifficulties into a way to
(12:11):
process it through art and thenshare that experience is
incredibly powerful.
And I think many people aregoing to resonate with this.
And I know for both of us, artis a lifeline for us when it
comes to mental health andhealing.
I know I deal with my own thingsas well.
I've got the fibromyalgia aswell, the chronic fatigue that I
(12:31):
have to deal with.
So it's a challenge.
What's your relationship likewith creating when things are
tough?
SPEAKER_00 (12:39):
It's tough.
SPEAKER_03 (12:41):
Pretty much.
Yes, that sums it
SPEAKER_00 (12:42):
up.
Yes.
I mean, there are days where Idon't want to get out of bed.
SPEAKER_02 (12:49):
And
SPEAKER_00 (12:50):
it could be because I'm having a lot of pain or it
could be because mentally I'mnot available.
SPEAKER_02 (13:00):
And
SPEAKER_00 (13:01):
I really have to push myself some days,
especially getting ready forthis chronically chill show.
I kept laughing with my husbandlike...
I like to make light of thesituation and I try to keep
things humorous because if Idon't, I might actually go
insane.
But I was joking with him, youknow, like loosely joking,
(13:23):
saying like, it's funny how I'vebeen preparing this show about
mental illness and my mentalillness is getting in the way.
Yeah, it's very appropriate.
Yeah.
And then there are other dayswhere it's like, I feel like I
could kick down doors and takeon the world.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (13:42):
Same here.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (13:45):
Yeah.
And it's like, well, why can'tmy body and my mind just always
feel that way?
SPEAKER_03 (13:51):
Right.
I know.
I definitely get that.
There are days I can show up anddo things and remember things.
And, you know, I haven't talkeda whole lot about it this year
with people, but I've had areally hard time this year.
SPEAKER_02 (14:05):
And
SPEAKER_03 (14:06):
I've dealt with a lot of physical pain this year.
And I've dealt with a lot ofwhat's called brain fog, which
basically means you don'tremember things.
I forget everything.
And I forget conversations fiveminutes later.
I miss appointments.
I feel very discombobulated.
I always am aware that somethingI should be paying attention to,
(14:28):
and I can't figure out how topay attention to it.
Yeah.
I mean, this show is incredible.
I can't wait to see it.
I'm so excited.
But some days, you know, eventhe thought of trying to do
something feels impossible.
SPEAKER_00 (14:44):
It does.
Yeah.
And I can fully relate to thebrain fog and forgetting things
and conversations.
And I'm very excited for theshow as well.
And I feel like my brain's beenfiring off 85 million times.
different ideas.
I'm like, how am I going to pullthis together?
And if I don't write it down, Iforget.
(15:06):
And then a week later, I'm like,oh yeah, I wanted to do that for
the show too.
Yep.
SPEAKER_03 (15:12):
I write it down and then I forget I wrote it down
because I don't look at it.
I'm like, well, that's notworking.
SPEAKER_00 (15:18):
Yeah.
I'll write it on five differentnotepads and I'll still
SPEAKER_03 (15:23):
forget.
I have a paper planner that Iwrite a to-do list in every day.
I've got a to-do list on myphone.
And I have a to-do list on a padof paper.
Do I look at any of them?
No, because I don't think to andI forget.
SPEAKER_00 (15:37):
And then I'm like,
SPEAKER_03 (15:37):
oh crap.
SPEAKER_00 (15:37):
You sound like me.
SPEAKER_03 (15:40):
Yeah, pretty much.
Yeah, we can relate really wellwith this.
Even when days are hardsometimes, I find I push myself
to make something.
Even if it's just I doodle.
Because sometimes I have to inorder to feel like I can
survive.
And then keep going with that.
(16:00):
And I think sometimes that'shard for us is the idea that we
have to keep pushing throughthis and keep going through
this.
SPEAKER_00 (16:07):
Yeah, I just started a little sketchbook because I
beat myself up if I don't workin the studio every day.
When I say I started a littlesketchbook, I mean I've only
drawn in it once.
But it felt good.
UNKNOWN (16:28):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00 (16:28):
Because even if I'm not making a collage or working
on stuff for a show or paintinga picture, you know, painting on
canvas, I can take the little,like, three-by-two-inch book out
and do a five-minute sketch.
And I'm like, okay, I wascreative for the day.
(16:51):
Do you feel
SPEAKER_03 (16:53):
– because I experience this.
I feel like there's thisconstant– pressure to be
endlessly productive or positiveabout how I feel, how I present,
how I create.
I have a studio I pay for now.
I feel like I have to be thereall the time to get something
done.
But with the chronic conditionsthat we deal with, there's days
(17:13):
I'm like, yeah, that's nothappening.
But then I beat myself up for itbecause it's like, well, I
didn't get in the studio.
I didn't do this.
I didn't do that.
And it's like, well, and then mywife reminds me, you've done a
lot.
Sometimes you just need tobreathe and just rest.
And I think we don't givevalidity to resting very much.
SPEAKER_00 (17:34):
Yeah, we definitely don't give ourself enough grace
or time to relax for ourselves.
I think we're kind of wired ascreatives to feel like we always
have to be creating something.
But we need to recharge.
Absolutely.
I had plans to work in thestudio.
(17:56):
All day yesterday.
And I didn't.
And I felt guilty about it atfirst.
SPEAKER_02 (18:02):
So
SPEAKER_00 (18:03):
I was like, oh, I'm going to go over to Easton and
pick up a piece of my artworkfrom a show.
And then I'm going to come homeand work all day.
But then I got a message from afriend and they said, hey, what
are you doing?
Come meet up with us.
It's Sunday Funday.
I'm like, you know what?
It is Sunday Funday.
I work so hard during the week.
(18:25):
And at night, sometimes I just,that's what the weekend's for.
If you can have a weekend,
SPEAKER_03 (18:31):
just have a weekend.
Yeah, absolutely.
You know, it's okay that werest, that we have fun.
As
SPEAKER_02 (18:37):
we should.
And not
SPEAKER_03 (18:37):
always create.
But I think that's evenimportant being creative to have
those moments too.
You know, your brain needs thattime to catch up.
And that's with anybody who's acreative.
It's not just for people dealingwith, you know, chronic pain or
illnesses.
I think we all need to takethose breaks.
That's when your brainrecharges.
SPEAKER_00 (18:55):
That's very accurate.
And I actually think thatnon-creatives don't realize how
tiring and mentally drainingbeing creative can actually be.
Yes.
Yes.
Especially for me, if I'mworking on a really big project
(19:18):
or if I'm curating a show, onceI'm done, it's like a weight is
lifted and then I feel like halfdead for a couple of days.
I'm like, I can't think any, Ican't think anymore.
I'm tired.
Like I'm physically and mentallydrained batteries at zero.
And some people are like, well,what's so hard about having
(19:40):
artwork?
Well, there's a lot to it.
SPEAKER_03 (19:43):
There is a lot to it.
You know, there's a lot to beingcreative.
There's a lot to that goes intowhat we do that.
I don't think they're like,well, it's, well, you painted a
pretty picture.
I'm like, well, yeah, You knowhow much work that took?
That was a lot.
It's hard to describe becausethey don't equate just thinking
(20:05):
about it as a lot of work.
We're not physically sweatingall the time.
Although being menopausal, I dophysically sweat all the time.
Preparing menopausal.
SPEAKER_00 (20:16):
I'm not quite there yet and
SPEAKER_03 (20:19):
I'm
SPEAKER_00 (20:19):
just...
SPEAKER_03 (20:19):
Something to look forward to.
I always have.
Yeah, I do too.
And this has just gotten worse.
So yay.
SPEAKER_00 (20:25):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (20:26):
Yay for womanhood.
SPEAKER_00 (20:27):
And then being on an SSRI makes it even worse.
SPEAKER_03 (20:32):
Oh my God.
Yes.
The night sweats are the worst.
It's awful.
Not fun.
But yeah, no, I, yeah, I get it.
And then It's interesting, youknow, because I was reading a
book today.
Well, I've been reading it for awhile.
And one of the parts it wastalking about resting and
(20:52):
boredom.
And this artist was talkingabout how we should embrace.
She called it boredom.
I call it more being quiet orbeing still because that's very
difficult to do in our societytoday.
And we need those moments tojust pause and be okay with
that.
(21:12):
And just kind of step back alittle bit and say, okay, my
body needs to catch up with me.
I need to take a break.
I just did a solo show.
It just ended.
Which was very beautiful, by theway.
Well, thank you very much.
I appreciate that.
And I have to pick up the workFriday.
So technically it's not ended,ended, but you know, whatever.
It's officially ended.
(21:34):
But the exhaustion leading up tothat and having to remember how
to do everything you know, toget postcards made, to make sure
advertising is done, to makesure the work is all done and
framed and wired and all thatstuff.
It's a lot.
And when you're dealing withthings like we have, like with
(21:55):
fibromyalgia and I have chronicfatigue syndrome and I also have
massive anxiety, that on top ofit, every little thing I do
takes 10 times longer, you know,and it takes me three times as
long to recover from doing it.
Oh, yeah.
I get frustrated because I'mlike, this isn't how it used to
be for me.
(22:16):
And now I'm like, I'm annoyedand want to keep going.
And then I realize I have togive myself grace and say, no,
now you've got to take time.
SPEAKER_00 (22:24):
Yeah, I have a hard time taking time.
I want to go, go, go.
Then sometimes I move so slowbecause I have to.
And there was something else Iwas going to say and I just
blanked.
Talking about brain fog.
(22:44):
It's very appropriate.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's just gone.
Yeah.
I don't know.
Is it the brain fog?
Is it the ADB right now?
I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (22:54):
Any of the above?
Yeah, just all of it.
Yeah.
I think sometimes I get stuck inthe idea of comparing myself to
others and how much art they putout or how much, you know,
they...
I feel the same way.
(23:16):
And then I get stuck in my
SPEAKER_00 (23:29):
head thinking that people are judging me secretly.
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_02 (23:36):
Because
SPEAKER_00 (23:37):
I worry that maybe they think, well, she runs a
gallery.
She's an artist.
She should be at these things.
And then I try to remind myself,I'm one person.
There are so many art events allthe time.
And we have to...
It's not selfish to putourselves first.
No.
Especially when we're puttingour health first.
(24:01):
But I do the same thing where Icompare myself to people on
social media.
I...
Nir had a heart attack when Isaw all of the work you had in
your studio the other daybecause I was like, man, I'm
failing here.
Oh, no, no.
No.
But these are the things we do.
(24:22):
Yes.
You know, we have to get out ofour heads.
I mean, I'll sit there and doomscroll on Instagram.
Instagram is like the worstbecause– You only see such a
small part of someone's life,and it's usually the best part.
Right.
It's the prettiest.
So it's going to look glamorous.
(24:44):
Mm-hmm.
And then there's me.
Here's a bee from my gardentoday.
SPEAKER_03 (24:52):
Those things are just as important, though, I
think.
SPEAKER_00 (24:54):
But that, especially right now, I mean, moments like
that keep me going.
SPEAKER_02 (25:01):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00 (25:01):
And it's tough when winter comes and I don't have my
garden to look forward tobecause I also not only do I use
my garden as inspiration for myart, but it just it keeps my
head above water.
I mean, there's other thingsthat obviously keep me going.
(25:22):
But I mean, having the garden,it's like if I'm having a poopy
day, I just go out there and Andsmell the flowers and hold the
bumblebees, which surprised me.
Which I think is
SPEAKER_03 (25:33):
crazy.
SPEAKER_00 (25:34):
They let me do.
Although, funny story.
Well, not so funny.
My sister and I went to seeShania Twain this weekend at
Hershey Stadium.
And beforehand, we went to theHershey Gardens, which is
beautiful.
And I was like, oh, look at allthese bumblebees.
I'm going to go hold one.
And I...
(25:54):
went to scoop one up instead ofjust putting my hand out like I
normally do.
And I got stung immediately.
And it was the first time sinceI was four years old that I got
stung by a bee.
No.
And I knew I wasn't allergicbecause I have so many
allergies.
So they had tested me in thelast seven years.
(26:17):
So I knew I wasn't allergic, butI was like, oh, no.
Like, what if something happens?
And...
My fingers started to swell andthen my hand and my arm started
getting really red and itchy.
SPEAKER_03 (26:30):
Oh, no.
SPEAKER_00 (26:31):
But thankfully, my sister is always prepared and
she had Benadryl.
SPEAKER_03 (26:35):
Well, that's impressive.
SPEAKER_00 (26:37):
So I was a little sleepy for the concert, but it
was so good.
SPEAKER_03 (26:41):
Yeah, that's unusual because they don't typically
sting.
SPEAKER_00 (26:44):
No, bumblebees only sting if they really feel
threatened.
So I guess he just really didn'tlike me for some
SPEAKER_03 (26:53):
reason.
He's like, I want my flower, notyou.
SPEAKER_00 (26:56):
Because they hold them all the time at home.
SPEAKER_03 (26:59):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (27:00):
I just let them crawl all over me.
It's crazy.
SPEAKER_03 (27:02):
That's funny.
SPEAKER_00 (27:05):
Yeah, I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (27:06):
I think it's important.
I was excited to talk about allthis today with you, just
because I don't think we talkabout this enough.
And talking about...
If I'm
SPEAKER_00 (27:22):
overwhelmed or I'm not feeling well, you know,
mentally or physically, my bodyalways gives me warning signs.
I know I have to just prepareand take care, like take care of
myself.
But I know I have to justprepare and take care of myself.
And there are some days where Imight feel really awful.
And let's say mentally I'll feelawful.
(27:45):
And I force myself to go in thestudio and either just pick up a
tube of paint and slap somepaint on canvas, even if it
doesn't become anything, just sothat I can go through those
motions and remind myself of whyI'm here and what I love to do.
(28:06):
But if I'm physically notfeeling well with like pain,
like I get, I get chronicmigraines and usually my warning
signs are the warning signs of amigraine for women are actually
really scary because I gettingling in my face and it'll go
down my face into my neck andshoulder.
(28:28):
And then I get numbness in myarm.
And sometimes I even have eyepain, but I have a whole, I
guess you call them likemigraine remedies.
I mean, I have prescriptionmedication, but sometimes you
just feel awful where you needsomething else.
So I always make sure I have anice pack ready.
(28:49):
Peppermint oil actually reallyhelps me.
I mix it like right in with likeAquaphor so it's not too strong.
And then I'll put that like onthe areas that are more painful.
UNKNOWN (29:03):
Mm-hmm.
SPEAKER_00 (29:04):
I also have my medical cards, so I use a THC
lotion, which has helpedimmensely for the neck and
shoulder pain.
So I always have pretty mucheverything on standby.
I don't know.
I don't want to go off on atangent here.
No.
No.
SPEAKER_03 (29:24):
But I get
SPEAKER_00 (29:25):
it.
You know, the other things thatI do to make sure that I'm kind
of keeping myself in check, whatI'm feeling...
under the weather is doing smallthings for myself like the other
day I'm like I have to paint butI just don't feel well mentally
so I was gonna go to the dinerand get myself a waffle the
(29:51):
diner was closed so I called upmy sister and she was like come
over bring some peaches and I'llmake the waffles and it's like
little things like that and thenThen I went home and I painted
and I felt really good.
So I went from feeling likecrap, but keeping myself in
(30:12):
check and reminding myself ofthe things that mattered and got
myself a little treat becauseeveryone deserves a treat, even
if it's every day.
Sometimes a few times a day.
Sometimes a few times a day.
And also- not only like thetreating myself, but caring for
(30:37):
the things around me reallyhelps for those listening that
don't know.
I have a dog.
She's five years old.
Her name is river.
She's the most amazing thing.
Well, I don't know.
There's some other reallyamazing things in my life.
Also like my husband, but,
SPEAKER_03 (30:56):
but
SPEAKER_00 (30:56):
everybody knows like, I love it.
What was that?
I said that's secondary.
But she brings me so much joy.
And she's my little studiobuddy.
She hangs out in the studio withme all the time.
She has a little love seat thatshe curls up on.
And when it's hot, she crawlsunderneath and lays by the fan.
(31:18):
But she also helps me getthrough.
Sometimes I'm like, I don'treally want to I don't know if I
feel like working in the studiotoday, but I'll come upstairs
and she's in there lounging.
So I'm like, all right, well, Iguess I'm going to hang out with
her.
SPEAKER_03 (31:33):
She helps me.
Yeah.
No, that's fantastic.
I have three cats and I lovethem.
It's such amazing thing that Ilaugh at least once a day
because of them.
Oh, yeah.
They keep me in better spirits.
Sometimes I yell at them, too,and I'm not happy with them,
(31:56):
especially when somebody vomitsand I step in it kind of thing,
you know, which has happened,unfortunately.
But it's just having pets Ilove.
There's something definitelyabout it.
It definitely helps.
They don't come in my studiobecause I've tried cats in my
studio before.
Number one, they shed like crazyand they get into everything.
(32:18):
Oh, my gosh.
My one cat used to chew on mypaintbrush as I was painting.
Which made it challenging.
SPEAKER_00 (32:23):
That sounds about right.
SPEAKER_03 (32:25):
So they don't join me in the studio because it
would be chaos most of the time.
But they're here now while I'mdoing podcasting.
They sleep next to me.
So they kind of all go aroundme.
And on the days I don't feellike doing anything, they just
kind of hang out with me andcurl up with me.
You know?
And I love that.
SPEAKER_00 (32:44):
They really are the best.
They are.
They are.
And I secretly don't trustpeople.
people that don't like animalswell i guess it's not a secret
anymore not anymore
SPEAKER_03 (33:00):
so much for a secret but i think a lot of pet lovers
feel that way so i don't thinkthat's that's too much of not of
a secret though yeah i alwaysdistrust because i'm like why
are you suspicious of animalsyeah you know yeah no i get that
completely so
SPEAKER_00 (33:19):
yeah And we can learn a lot from them.
SPEAKER_03 (33:21):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
They rest when they need to, eatwhen they need to, go to the
bathroom when they need to.
SPEAKER_00 (33:29):
And they're curious.
SPEAKER_03 (33:31):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (33:31):
They're always exploring.
And I try to remind myself that.
SPEAKER_03 (33:36):
Gotta explore.
Yeah.
I think that's one of the thingsthat keeps me going when things
are hard is I'm always curious.
You know, I'm always wanting tosee what's next.
Always looking for something toexplore with.
And just keep my mind going, youknow, even if I physically can't
do something at that moment, youknow, it's maybe I'll journal
(33:57):
for a minute.
Sometimes my hands don't work.
So I'll watch TV, which I don'talways recommend because I don't
do that very often, butsometimes you just got to veg.
SPEAKER_01 (34:09):
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (34:10):
Just to get through it and then come back to
everything, you know, it's a,Definitely more of a challenge
for me now because I have toforce myself to drive to my
studio.
I can't just wander downstairsto my basement in pajamas
anymore.
But actually, I like it becauseit makes me consciously think
about being creative and itforces me to get out there.
(34:34):
So even if I go for a shorttime, it's like this excitement
in me.
Yeah.
That wants to get me out there.
And then community is such a bigthing, I think, for artists.
And having a support system.
You know, you and I could not dothis without a support system.
SPEAKER_00 (34:51):
No, we couldn't.
SPEAKER_03 (34:54):
Thank God for spouses.
I will say that.
SPEAKER_00 (34:56):
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (34:57):
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (34:59):
But the community is a big must.
SPEAKER_03 (35:03):
And it matters having somebody that believes in
you.
Yes.
You know, even when you'restruggling, they remind you of
the good things.
SPEAKER_00 (35:12):
That's what I love.
Mm-hmm.
Sometimes I'm like, can you, canyou just tell me that again,
dear?
All
SPEAKER_03 (35:20):
right.
Well, before we wrap up Nina,when and where can people see
the show that's coming up?
SPEAKER_00 (35:26):
So chronically chill will open the end of August.
I don't have the exact date.
It'll be around the 25th whenthe students are back in session
and it will run mid to lateSeptember and It's at the Glass
Box Gallery at Lehigh CarbonCommunity College in
(35:46):
Schnecksville.
It's inside of the RothrockLibrary.
So you can always go on theirwebsite, Lehigh Carbon Community
College's website, and thegallery hours should be listed
on there.
They change summer versus falland winter semester.
But also, the openingreception...
(36:07):
to the public is Thursday,September 4th from 6pm to 8pm.
So that is set for the openingreception.
And if you want to bringfriends, family, it is also
going to be a little bitinteractive part of the
installation.
So I would highly recommendeveryone come see it, please.
(36:31):
And I do hope I hope it cantravel.
I would love for this show tocontinue and grow and travel to
other locations.
That
SPEAKER_03 (36:40):
would
SPEAKER_00 (36:40):
be amazing.
SPEAKER_03 (36:41):
I highly encourage everybody to come see it.
If you can, we'll link all theinfo on the show notes to where
it is and whatnot.
And I want to thank Nina forjoining me one to be
interviewed, but also to be mycohost going forward with this
podcast.
Cause as we both have mentioned,In this episode, we can't do
(37:03):
things alone.
Exactly.
Especially when we struggle withinvisible illnesses that make
things tough at times.
And so having that support, I amtruly grateful to do this with
you, Nina.
SPEAKER_00 (37:14):
Thank you.
You can't see it, but I have ahuge smile on my face right now.
And I am just over the moon thatyou have invited me to co-host
with you.
And I really appreciate theinterview today this has been
really lovely good I love
SPEAKER_03 (37:37):
chatting thank you I love chatting our goal is you
know to pretty much just be twoartists talking and you get to
join in the conversation whenpeople listen so it's very
exciting our plan going forwardis to release every other week
sometimes it will be artistinterviews sometimes it will be
us chatting and we'll kind of goforward from there we'd love to
(37:58):
hear how this episode resonatedwith you So send us a message,
share with a friend, let us knowhow art and healing intersects
with your life and how it helpsyou as well.
So Nina, if you want to take usout.
SPEAKER_00 (38:11):
Thanks for joining us for our very first episode of
The Artist Is In.
We'll be back in two weeks withmore conversations about the
creative life, the honest,messy, soul-filling kind.
SPEAKER_03 (38:23):
Until then, keep showing up however you can, even
gently, even slowly, even whenit's hard.
SPEAKER_00 (38:31):
Because you're an artist and the world needs your
voice.
See you next time.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.