Beauty Within: Exquisite Art Reflecting Inner Strength & Resilience | Joanna Blair

FOR EPISODE LINKS & MORE INFO VISIT: https://samhorton.co/blog/ep59

What if your art could hold a mirror to your soul — revealing your strength, beauty, and purpose? In this soulful episode, internationally exhibited artist Joanna Blair joins Sam to explore the transformative power of painting, symbolism, and intuitive creativity as a path to personal healing and empowerment.

3 Powerful Benefits of Listening:

1. Discover how creative flow can reconnect you to your intuition and inner truth.
2. Learn how symbolic storytelling in art can empower and inspire transformation.
3. Gain insight into cultivating creative resilience through life's challenges.

Episode Summary:
In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, Sam sits down with figurative artist Joanna Blair to explore the journey of becoming a soul-led creative woman. From her early love of painting to navigating burnout, breast cancer, and artistic reinvention, Joanna shares how returning to her inner truth through painting unlocked a new level of freedom, expression, and resilience.

Together, they explore the role of feminine symbolism, intuition, and storytelling in art, and how creativity can be a mirror, a meditation, and a tool for healing. Joanna offers heartfelt reflections on overcoming self-doubt, following inner whispers, and embracing the vulnerability of sharing your inner world through your work.

Key Takeaways:

• Creativity is a lifelong conversation with the soul — and it’s never too late to begin.
• Lifes challenges can be a portal to creative transformation if you choose to listen and realign.
• Symbolism in art (like keys, butterflies, and flowers) can hold deep healing messages.
• Creative expression doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful — it just needs to be true.
• Art can be a meditative space for reflection, resilience, and personal empowerment.
• Following intuition often means saying yes to things that feel soul-aligned, even when they don’t “make sense” on paper.
• Joanna’s use of hidden keys and QR codes in her paintings offers an inspiring model of layered meaning and interactive art.
• Trusting your own voice — whether in paint, poetry, or decision-making — is a radical act of self-belief.

FOR EPISODE LINKS & MORE INFO VISIT: https://samhorton.co/blog/ep59

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introducing Joanna Blair
• 2:15 Joanna's Journey
• 8:01 Joanna's Art
• 11:32 Joanna's Transformation & Healing Through Art
• 15:57 Hidden Symbols and Meanings in Joanna's Art
• 19:04 Staying True to the Vision
• 20:08 Using Art to Channel Inner Wisdom
• 24:42 Creativity and Art as a Tool for Empowerment
• 26:34 Living a Creative Life
• 28:50 What More People Should Know about Art & Creativity
• 33:36 Connect with Joanna Blair

Transcript

Ep 59: Soul-led Creative Women

[00:00:00] So today I have Joanna Blair with me. Joanna is an internationally exhibited, self-represented artist celebrating inner beauty and growth through exquisite figurative paintings. Her work inspires transformation and empowers women to embrace new beginnings, realizing their inner strength and resilience.

So welcome Joanna. 

Oh, thank you Sam. It's my pleasure. Absolutely. Looking forward to this chat with you. 

Yeah. Awesome. So Joanna and I have quite a lot in common. Um, we're all about all things feminine flowers, butterflies, and women's empowerment. Um, so that's a bit about what we'll be talking about today.

But because Joanna's work is visual, um, I just wanted to give you Joanna's website so that you can get a feel for Joanna's Art as we're talking. Her website is joanna blair artist.com, so that's J-O-A-N-N-A-B-L-A-I-R [00:01:00] artist.com. So let's start with your journey, Joanna, tell us about why art and what's led you to paint symbols and representations of women's empowerment.

I. Yeah. 

Thanks 

Sam. Um, 

why art? Well, art, art has been with me all my life. I realized when I was about five that I really wanted to paint like viscerally wanted to paint. Okay. I think when you're that little, your parents are like, yeah, yeah, yeah. 'cause every 5-year-old wants to paint. Mm-hmm. Um, and it's sort of.

Um, through my primary school years and things like that. I was really serious about it. And, um, uh, I just, I don't know. I think just when it's. You and when you are really young, you sort of haven't had anything beaten out of you yet. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Um, so I, I think by the age of 12, I applied for an art school, sent some of my work in, and I got accepted.

I. Into the school until they found out that I [00:02:00] was only 12. Okay. Parents didn't know that I'd done before, so, so that was kind of, and at that point I could see that it was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. But you need to get a qualification. You need to think about your future seriously. And the art is nice, but you know, you.

You need to think more seriously about what you can do with yourself. And so going into my teenage years, I kind of went in and out of the art and mm-hmm. Yeah, so over my life, um, I have sort of, I have really sort of stepped in and out of it. And then in 20, 20 14, um, out of the blue, I don't even know how it happened, I, um, got contacted by London, um, the, the organizers of the Biennale over there and, um, you know, send us five paintings.

We are interested in you. And at first I thought it was a scam. I nearly deleted it, but, um, okay. [00:03:00] Something made me look at it and yeah, so I got accepted and off I went from there. Um, but it's interesting, you probably found this with your own art, with, um, the waves you kind of go through with it. Um. Yeah.

Sort of, I guess it's, it's such a personal thing. You don't realize when you're, when you're painting, like how much of your inner self comes out on the canvas. Yeah. Or people see things and you think, like in your painting, that you realize it's revealing really deep things about yourself that you didn't even really mean to reveal.

It just kind of comes out and, yeah. Um, so it, uh, you, you kind of have to develop a little bit of a thick skin when people are looking at your work as well. Mm-hmm. What they see and what you are seeing. Um, but yeah, the transformative side, I think, um, just letting yourself. I don't know, really speak your true, authentic self.

Um, [00:04:00] and, and when you finally give yourself permission to do that without guilt, without what will people think? Will this sell? Is this the, what the market wants? Especially once I started to sell an international level that really comes into play and the self-doubt and everything comes right up as well, because, you know, you're on the world stage now and it's like, oh my God.

Um, and at one point I started to paint the market, um. Which I think a lot of artists, it's, it's hard to, the temptation to do that is strong because you wanna start your living now and, um, you get to a point where you can actually really hate what you're doing. Mm-hmm. Burn out. Um, and I, and I did that.

That's what happened. I was doing four international shows a year, and in the end I was just, uh, by the time the pandemic happened, I just stopped. Mm-hmm. And that's when I kind of reprogrammed again. And that's where I think really the transformative side came into it. Um. Of thinking about what do I, what do I really, what am I trying to say?

What am I wanting to do? Like, [00:05:00] what's, what's actually in me that ibel that I believe in, that I want to convey and put out in the world And mm-hmm. Yeah. And you're saying, you know, you, you're the same as me, the love of florals and butterflies and, and I particularly love the butterfly because I think when you think of a caterpillar, there's squishy, pudgy little things that actually, yeah.

And then going through that chrysalis period that when they're in the cocoon and what they come out as, you just kind of, I love that concept of they become this beautiful thing. And 

um, and there can be many layers to that as well. You know, you can have a multi-layered cocoon too, so it's so powerful. I really love that.

I use the analogy all the time. So your parents weren't creative then, but you, you did love art from a very young age. 'cause I mean. You know, that's a, that's a big deal as well, right? That you knew that you wanted to be an artist pretty much. When you were five, you said, um, your parents weren't creative.

No, not at all. Um, they're very [00:06:00] conservative, although mom. Mm-hmm. Mom does draw a little bit here and there, but you know, it's just more because, oh, just 'cause I feel like it, which is fine. Nothing with that. Um, and more into mom and my grandmother, her mom, they were more into sewing and my grandmother used to do all the designs.

She, in 1940s, all the beading and all of that. So that was sort of the creativeness. Um, there. But yeah, no, my, my, my family was very, um. Don't risk. Mm-hmm. Don't, you know, get a job. Mm-hmm. How much money do you need? You know, as long as you can pay for yourself. You, you know, um, yeah. You don't have to like what you're doing as long as earning a link.

Yeah. That sort of thing. Yeah. Yeah. 

Pretty common, isn't it? Um, yeah. And I guess, you know, um, when you really, you know, say yes to creativity, there's a, there's a level of risk in terms of putting yourself out there, like you said, because it. It's, it's your inner world coming out onto the canvas. [00:07:00] So, um, a lot of people aren't prepared to take that risk.

No, you're right Sam. You're right. And, and it really is, um, am I making it fool of myself or, or I sometimes think, am I the only person that's gonna get this, but I'm talking about in this painting, like, will I be the only one that can actually see it? People look at this and think, what the hell is this?

Yeah. 

Yeah. But really it doesn't matter, does it? I mean, um. Everyone will interpret things in, in their own way. But I do think it's nice to, um, expand on the message within paintings and to say what was in your mind and what your intention was for a painting. I think that can really capture, um, capture, you know, um, interest, you know, in, in the work as well.

It can kind of turn people like they love it more because they've heard about what it means to you. So I think that's really special. 

Yeah, I agree with you. I agree with you. And, and it's when I have been exhibiting to be face to face with people [00:08:00] that, um, are really into art and have a conversation with them.

And it, it's so fulfilling to me because Yes, you know, you able to exchange the ideas, what they're seeing, what, what I'm, what my intention was with the painting and, um, yeah, definitely. 

Yeah. So. What, what has your journey been like in terms of, um, the themes that you've been painting? So when you sort of reached that burnout point, what were you painting at that time?

At that time, um, I was painting a lot of sort of nature scenes, a lot of, uh, sort of birds and water and things like that. Um Okay. Mostly in oil paint. I wasn't really, I wasn't doing mixed media mostly 'cause I didn't know how I was self-taught, so I didn't really know. I'd walk into an art store and I wouldn't know how to use half the stuff in there.

Yeah, sure. 

Um, whereas, yeah, then I started doing really expressive paintings. Um. I [00:09:00] did an online course actually, and that sort of really was an, um, an online art course in expressive mixed media, and it really just unlocked, unleashed, okay. This whole other set of ideas and ability to express myself that I just didn't know how to do before.

Mm. And that's when I started really leaning into the women and the florals and sure. All of that kind of stuff came in. 

So is that taking you from painting quite? Representational, like real life scenes versus something that comes from your imagination. Is that what you mean? 

Yeah, that's it, Sam. Um, and even before that, you know, my paintings, I always want them to be uplifting.

I, I, I love the quote by Remar when he said, you know, basically there's a lot of awful things in the world and you, you wanna paint, you would be looking at something pretty, was his words. But I would also say something beautiful and uplifting, you know? Yeah. My house. I, I want it to be something that I [00:10:00] love looking at and it's uplifting and I want that for people that buy my work where it's something that's inspiring and 

that's it.

You want it to make, make them feel something. 

Yeah. That's it. Something good. 

Yeah. Yeah. Something empowering. 

Yeah, exactly. Something empowering. Yes. 

Yeah. So in your own journey then, how has your art practice, you know, how has that helped you, um, embrace change and your own transformation and your own healing?

Yeah, sure. Um, it's. I think it's, it's had a, um, quite profound effect on my life actually, particularly recently. I got diagnosed with breast cancer and, um, you know, I'm really good, all the treatment and everything's done and what have you.

But, um, I found, um, and even, even before that, actually, even when the pandemic hit, uh, a lot of people found that period really hard. But I found just being able to. [00:11:00] Quiet and write down and just disappear into myself a bit, I think, and shut the world out. And I, I have a real love of beauty. I love beautiful things.

I love, um, and I, I love things that are peaceful and calm. Mm-hmm. Um, and I think. Gives me that where you just, on your canvas, you kind of disappear into it and throwing around ideas. And I'll often, um, these days what I do is I'll create the painting digitally on my computer first and I just find it's a lot easier to sort out problems digitally.

Sure. Rather 

than put on my canvas and now I think, God, how am I gonna fix that? 

Is that withdrawing it or with using reference images and doing a collage or how do you do that? 

Yeah. I often will do it with a collage. Mm. Yeah, it's much easier, isn't it? Because I'll see something and I'll think, oh, I love that.

And, you know, and combine the elements. And then that gives me like a bit of a roadmap to follow. Doesn't always turn out [00:12:00] that way on the canvas once you start painting. Yeah. But, um, yeah, so I, I find painting just gives me that piece and Yeah, just, just to sort of really look inside yourself and also, um.

To make me realize what actually is important to me and what's not. Yeah. Because, you know, when I'm thinking about how, what, what's the message I'm trying to convey here? 

Yeah. 

Um, yeah. So that's how I find, 

yeah. I mean, for me it's, you know, um, it's starting a conversation with your soul, right? It's being able to quiet, write down, shut out that noise that exists in our everyday lives and tune inwards so, so powerful.

Yeah, and I, I think, um, you know, a lot of upbringing and a lot of school, um, certainly my generation, it, it really is it you really. Turned away from that, you know, oh, you're gonna be the starving artist and this and that and the other. It's kind of really ignored [00:13:00] or discouraged in a lot of ways. I, I've sort of found it, it does courage to, as you say, listen to your soul and.

What you really love to do. 

Yeah. But it does sound like, you know, in your own journey that you always kind of at tuned into that voice. You know that that artist, because you were still kind of dabbling. Do you know what I mean? Whereas I think for a lot of people, um, I. They don't even dare to dabble because of this, you know, restriction in terms of, um, skill level.

Um, you know, and when you're not encouraged, if you don't have parents that are creative or arty, then you know, it's a big leap for a lot of people. So, um, yeah, it sounds like you've always, you've always tuned into that voice, which is really powerful. 

Yeah. Yeah. No, I, I agree with you Sam and I, I think, um.

Yeah, just to not squash it, just to not squash it just to. Let it bubble up and then I'd [00:14:00] sort of start on it again, and yeah, then you'd kind of be sidetracked and go down other roads and then come back to it again And yeah, it's, it's interesting to, even myself when I just look back on it, as you say, it's sort of always bubbled along there and, yeah.

Yeah. So cool. 

So I've seen on your website that you, um, use a lot of symbols and hidden meanings, and you like to tell stories in your art. Tell us a bit about that, that side of your work. 

Yeah. No, probably the most, um, I. Obvious part of it is at the moment, well, I choose flowers when I, when I've got an idea in my head, what, what is it that I want this painting to say?

Then I'll research what flowers symbolize, um, those meanings and things like that and design them into the painting. Um, but I. This series, um, that I'm working on at the moment, um, called when One Door Closes, another one Opens, um, I've put hidden a hidden key into each painting. Um, and [00:15:00] they're those beautiful.

I chose those beautiful regency keys 'cause they're a work of art in themselves. Mm-hmm. And I just love the idea that a key, because I think it's true of everyone, you're kind of born with all these talents and abilities and things. You don't know that you have them, that's the worst part. You don't, you kind of don't know that you have them until, unless you listen to that voice or, um, you know, you pay attention to what it is you love doing.

But I think a lot of people don't realize what actually is. Locked inside them, so to speak. So I love that idea of the key of unlocking your potential and what lies ahead for you if you'll, if you'll just open that door. Um, and I've also done, um, in this series, uh, I've embedded a QR code in each painting as well.

Just a small one. You've gotta try and find 

Oh, okay. Interesting. 

Um, and with that I've linked it to things that are to do with that painting. Like one, one of the QR codes goes to a poem by Maya Angelou and it's Oh, how 

beautiful. 

Yeah, I love [00:16:00] her. Um, and her poem is Still, I Rise. And, um, just the way she speaks and her power is with her words and talking about, you know, you can knock me down, you can.

Try and mash me into the dirt or whatever, but I'll still rise that, you know, you're amazing. And I'm another, another QR code goes to a, a song, um, it's, uh, Lizzo song, um, good as Hell, which is basically in, you know, song. She's talking about relationships, you know, and leaving something that no longer serves you and.

Don't let someone dim your shine and you know mm-hmm. Craft yourself and reclaim your power. But I think that's true of a lot of circumstances, not just a relationship and, mm, I wanted, wanted to add that extra layer in of just remember that you're amazing, you know? 

Yeah. That's so cool. I love that. That's really fun.

And I also love the combination of poetry and art. I've been playing around with it myself. Do you write your own poetry or do you kind of find the inspiration from [00:17:00] others? A bit of 

both really. Mm-hmm. Bit of both. The last series beyond, um, boldness of Resilience. I wrote the poetry myself. 

Okay. 

Um, but I thought, oh, for this series I thought, oh, what?

Something that's a bit more 

Yeah. 

Compelling. So I'd still do the story, so to speak, but yeah. Um, with the QR codes, I thought, oh, get them to go to something that's fun expected. Yeah. 

That's so fun. That's really good. So. As you kind of go on this artist journey then, and as your work evolves and you create, you know, all these different collections and things, you know, how do you, how do you stay true to your vision?

Yes. It's, um, it's funny, it's sort of when I, when I just relax and I'm not really thinking about anything, suddenly I'll see something or whatever. Like, um, that would just be an ahha moment, I think. Oh. Yeah, that speaks to me. And, um, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do a series [00:18:00] about that and it's interesting how, um, serendipity kind of happens, like with the boldness of resilience collection, um, that I did late last year.

It was kind of art imitating life. I didn't really even know that it was, and that's when I got diagnosed with breast cancer. And then when I looked at what I was painting mm-hmm. That whole. Don't, don't let something defeat you. You know, get back up, but keep going forward. Mm-hmm. Everything's okay. And that's, that's what that series was about.

And then when I sort of came to the end of that and I was thinking about the next collection and. I can see that when one door closes, another one opens, just has flowed on from that. Where, um, 'cause once I got diagnosed, I remember walking back to the car and I was, um, one of my, one of the careers I had before art was, uh, working as a makeup artist and I had my own makeup school and all of that.

And I loved makeup and all of that sort of stuff. 'cause that's before I had the belief that art could actually get me anywhere. Okay. So that was kind of an outlet for that. And, um, but you know, when [00:19:00] you've done something and you, you're kind of over it, but you keep doing it because, well, you know, it's, it's successful and you Yeah.

All that sort of stuff. And I remember walking back to the car after the, after my diagnosis and I thought, right, that's it. That's the end of make up. Yeah. Okay. Um, now we're gonna go full. Even though I had been exhibiting internationally and all of that sort of stuff with my art, I still kind of had this little belief that I had to keep going with this other stuff and, yeah.

Um, so yeah, that for me was that door closing and then this whole other one opening and then just going down that road. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah, it's interesting how they. It's almost like the universe gives you the message when you're ready for it, you know? 

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. But the, the more you can stay in tune with that and get, receive those messages and trust those messages, I think my own journey, you know, like learning to trust that intuition that's always been there has been a huge part of my own journey.

Um, yeah. Have you struggled with that as well, in terms of trusting those [00:20:00] signs? 

Yeah. That's it, Sam, because they're, it's such a quiet voice. Especially when you're not used to listening to it. You know, it took me a long time, the same, um, whereas now I'm really in tune with it. But when I look back, um, and you are not trusting your own judgment as well, I think, where you think when someone else is saying, oh yes, but da da da, and you kind of listen to everyone else except that voice and Mm.

When you do start listening to that voice, you realize. How true it is and how right for you it is really does know, I think. Do you find that? 

Yeah. It's like building a muscle. I think, you know, like the more you do lean into it and the stronger, um, that it gets. Um, but it's, it's a journey, right? And, but it's beautiful to take art on that journey, you know, to watch yourself evolve as an artist on that journey.

Um, because, you know, I think. You know, all of a sudden you just start [00:21:00] growing and it's not because like you've slowly kind of nailed this particular skill or that particular skill, it's actually just allowing the creativity and those, you know, the universe. To flow through you and to allow those messages to come through you and through your art.

I really believe that because obviously yes, there is some kind of skill base that you, you know, develop over time as an artist, but I don't think that's when you have the breakthroughs. I think when you have the breakthroughs, that's when you're allowing things to flow, um, and you're really allowing kind of the creativity to just come through.

You. Yeah. Would you agree with that? 

Yeah, a hundred percent. A hundred percent. Is that just relaxing and Yeah, putting all thoughts out of your head and just as you say, let that flow. And you're right, you can really feel it when you're in that flow. It just is coming to you effortlessly and yeah, it's surprising.

Yeah. And that's when the ideas come, isn't it? I find. Do you find that? 

Yeah. I mean, because quite often I don't even [00:22:00] really realize that I've had. You know, the, the flow journey, I think through a painting sometimes is a reflection piece, you know, in terms of, it's not until after you've finished it that you've gone, oh, right, okay.

You know, I let that just happen, that part, and look at what I've been able to achieve here. I've never done that before and it's because I was in flow when I was doing it. You know, against that sort of conversation you have with yourself afterwards. 

Yeah. Totally. Totally. Yeah. I'm the same. I'm the same.

Or especially, yeah. Or it comes out way better than you thought it would. Yes. Wow. Look at that. Oh 

yeah. That's the best face, um, you know, a piece of hair I've ever done. Yeah, I know. It's, I know it's funny, isn't it? Because you know, like. There is a repetitive element to it definitely, and some kind of boredom that can set in when you're just trying to get something done.

But actually the best bits are in when you've entered that flow state. [00:23:00]

It's definitely, definitely, 

so, obviously not everyone you know has the desire or the drive to become a professional artist. Um, but how important do you think creativity is as a tool for everyday people to thrive and, you know, feel, uh, feel more empowered in their lives?

Yeah, I think it's really important because I think it's easy to get bogged down into the day-to-day and work and family and dramas, you know, whatever's going on. And I think if. Yeah. If you don't put any expectations on yourself that it has to be this or it has to be that, or, um, it really does. It's almost like a meditative thing, I guess.

Mm. Um, and a discovery thing, because as we've just saying, you know, you, it's surprising what does come out on the canvas. It's like when, even when people journal, when they just let their mind relax and just write whatever is in their mind, it's surprising what comes out in the words and mm-hmm. [00:24:00] Think art can do that too.

And it, it's, it's a way of decompressing, um, just getting back to yourself. Mm-hmm. You know, and just realizing what speaks to you and what you love to do. And it's kind of like, I find I get a lot of ideas in the shower as well. It's that thing where you just didn't just relax, you're not anything, and then you'll think, oh, and I think art can do that too, when you're in that motion of just creating stuff or it that comes to you as well, or the an answer to a problem that you've been grappling.

Yeah. Suddenly comes to you or an insight that you think, oh my God, I never realized. And you can feel it in yourself that that actually is the right answer or, and I think art has that ability. Yeah. Just even if you just doodling, you know, gives you that. That's so 

true. But I mean, you know, art aside, you know, I think that.[00:25:00]

Um, creativity can be an approach to life, right? I'm sure there are other areas of your life where you, um, take a more creative, um, stance or view or expression, you know? Tell us a bit about the other creative elements in your life as art aside. 

Yeah, I think it's, um, I think it's, for me, creativity in terms of when a problem comes up or looking at it.

From all the angles, like, how can I go at this? What are, what are the possibilities? Um, rather than just, there's only one way. I think that ability to sort of think outside the box and look at more points of view, listen to other points of view as well, you know? Mm-hmm. Kind of in that, whether you agree with them or not.

I think it's good to broaden your perspective. Um. Uh, I read a lot as well. I find reading particularly, I really love to read a lot of it's biographies of very successful people, particularly ones [00:26:00] that have come from nothing. Mm-hmm. Really risen and, um, I think that's a form of creativity as well. Mm-hmm.

Really expanding out your mind and, you know, it is just really seeing things. Yeah. Um, taking notice even when you're on a walk or something like that, like I'll notice. The sun might be shining on a tree and the, the chips of the leaves are fluorescent green or something. Mm-hmm. That is a form of creativity, just noticing things.

Yes. Beauty around you in this most mundane of things where you, yeah. I don't know. And I 

can tell that you put a bit of creativity into your wardrobe as well. 'cause that is a beautiful top, um, that looks like it's being, um, very creatively made by somebody else, I'm sure. But, um, yeah, and it's the way we.

Dress our homes as well. You know, all of these things, they all have a place. Right. Would you agree with that? 

Yes. Thank you. Uh, yes, I do. Sam, uh, um, yeah, over the pandemic, I think like everyone [00:27:00] else, you know, painted the house and redid the furniture and all of that. You're right, it does come out in all of that as 

well.

Yeah, it's a way of living, I think. So what do you wish more people knew about creativity and art? 

Um, I think that you don't have to be gifted. You don't have to be able to draw. You don't have to. No one else has to like it. No one else even has to see it if you don't want to. You know? I think just to, um, yeah, I, I, I think, I wish people more people knew that that it, it doesn't have to be.

It doesn't have to be anything. It doesn't have to look like anything. Mm-hmm. I mean, I've seen some of the most beautiful things in the abstract art, you know? Um, so I think just that as well, you know, don't worry about what anyone else thinks or says, or whether they like it or not, or whether [00:28:00] even understand what you, what you're doing.

Just yeah, let it be for you, a gift to yourself. Mm-hmm. 

And I guess the thing that that came to mind when you just said that was that even if you are calling yourself an artist and you are, you know, creating beautiful paintings to sell and all this sort of stuff, most of the time there's a lot of fudging involved in it, right?

There's, there's kind of like, you know, you are always continuing to push that, um, boundary of kind of the unknown, um, in, in your art practice, right? And you're always coming up against. Against things that you have no idea how to approach. Would you agree with that? 

Yeah, definitely Sam. Definitely. Um. A hundred percent you'll come up with an idea and I'll think, how, how am I gonna portray this?

And you start trying to get it on the canvas and you're just looking at it thinking, oh my God. Or someone will say something, um, you know, oh, like. Oh, her, her arm is too long or 

Yeah. 

Do good thing. And [00:29:00] you think, oh my God, 

it's, yeah. Yeah. I always end up with two long fingers and you having to repair them.

Yeah. It happens all the time. So, um, for all the women who want to feel more empowered in their everyday lives, what powerful message or question would you like to leave them with today? 

Um, I would say. Just listen to yourself. Like, I know we say it, it's easy to do. And art is an avenue of doing that, whether you're looking at it, whether you have a piece on your wall that reminds you of that, or whether you just let yourself indulge in doing a bit of art or whatever yourself.

I, I think, um, you know that everyone has greatness within them. They really do. And I think. We're all born with it. It's just whether you've got the courage to, to let it out, you know? Mm-hmm. Don't, don't worry about what anyone else says. Don't [00:30:00] worry about what anyone else thinks. Um, you know, and I, I think of famous examples, um, I mean, JK Rowling, Harry Potter author, and she made it obviously super, super famous.

But I think of her in the beginning, and I think all those knock backs, I've heard anything from 12 to 30 knock backs. But let's say it was 12 and I just think. Imagine if she had have just stopped at the fourth rejection, or mm-hmm. Some, I'm sure probably family and friends were like, oh, Joanne, you know what, like, yes, it's a little book you've got there, but don't worry about it.

Just write for if you want to, you know, and I, I kind of think a lot of people would be surprised what's within them if you just. Put the, drown the noise out. Push the noise aside and just, you know, do what you love doing. Like really find that thing and do it. 

Do it. 

Yeah. 

And cultivate that self-belief, right?

Because that's the thing, that's what holds you up [00:31:00] when you're being rejected or the world isn't quite seeing it the way you do. You know, it's this, um, inner self-belief. Um. Which you have to cultivate and grow over time, I believe. Would you agree with that? 

Yeah, I do Sam, and I think the other thing I would say is get back up.

Yeah. Will you fall? Yes. Will you fall a thousand times? Probably 10,000 times. Just get back up. Whatever made you fall. Don't do that again. That's the ladder just don't do that again. How else can I go at this? Yeah. If you really love what you're doing, then you know you've got your ladder on the right building.

Um, because there's a lot of buildings you can put that ladder on and you could be successful at them, but do you love what you're doing? Mm-hmm. You wanna get to top of that building and mm-hmm. You're happy. Um, 

yeah. Do you love that book? Do you love that painting? Do you love Yeah, exactly. 

Yeah. Does that person, when you, when you're around them, make you feel good?

Or do you have to pick yourself back up again when they leave? You know, that sort of, definitely. 

Yeah. Absolutely. Cool. Well, how can people get to know you better, [00:32:00] Joanna, and get a real feel for the work that you're doing? 

Uh, well, you've already mentioned my website. Mm-hmm. But I'm on Instagram, Joanna Blair artist.

Mm-hmm. Also on Twitter or X as, um, Joe Blair artist, I'm on there as well. And Facebook, Joanna Blair. 

Yeah. 

So 

awesome. Thank you so much for coming and chatting with me today, Joanna. I really loved our conversation. Thank you so much. 

Oh, my pleasure, Sam. I truly enjoyed it. Thank you so much for having me as your guest, true privilege.

Thank you.