Trust the Mark | Marlene Steele on Creativity, Courage & Beginning Again
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
Release Date: 07/02/2026
Trust the Mark | Marlene Steele on Creativity, Courage & Beginning Again
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
What if the masterpiece you're creating—whether it's a painting, a business, or your life—isn't finished yet? In this inspiring episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I sit down with contemporary mixed-media artist, furniture artist, creative educator, and DIY Paint retailer Marlene Steele as she prepares to close one remarkable chapter and step fully into another. After more than 30 years in the corporate technology world, Marlene is retiring to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist. But this conversation isn't simply about leaving a career. It's about learning to trust...
info_outline
The Art of Seeing Possibility | Kelly Huskins on Design, Healing & Creative Courage
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
What if your greatest creative gift is seeing what others overlook? In this inspiring episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I sit down with Kelly Huskins, artist, entrepreneur, YouTube creator, and the creative force behind Whimsykel Designs, a decoupage paper brand known for bold storytelling, expressive color, and imaginative designs that help artists transform ordinary pieces into meaningful works of art. Kelly's creative journey has taken her through stained glass, faux finishing, upholstery, interior decorating, painted furniture, product development, subscription boxes, retail...
info_outline
How Creativity Helped Me Begin Again | Lori Morgan on Grief, Reinvention & Building Tom & Chickpea
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
What happens when life changes in an instant? In this heartfelt episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I sit down with Lori Morgan, founder and creative force behind Tom & Chickpea, a beloved furniture painting and creative studio in Derry, New Hampshire. Lori's story is one of resilience, reinvention, creativity, and community. After the sudden loss of her husband Tom in 2017, Lori found herself navigating unimaginable grief while raising two young children. About a year later, she picked up a paintbrush—and that simple act became the beginning of an entirely new chapter. Today, Lori is...
info_outline
Your Life as a Work of Art | Diana von Welanetz Wentworth on Purpose, Grief, Creativity & Living Fully
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
What does it mean to truly live with intention? In this deeply moving episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I sit down with Diana von Welanetz Wentworth—New York Times bestselling author, speaker, life coach, media personality, former celebrity chef, and co-founder of The Inside Edge, a transformational community that hosted voices like Louise Hay, Ram Dass, Jack Canfield, and Mark Victor Hansen. At 85 years old, Diana radiates wisdom, presence, creativity, and joy in a way that feels both grounding and expansive. She describes herself as someone who is not winding down, but “composing the...
info_outline
Inside Women Create: Susan Harold on Creativity, Purpose & The Art of Coming Full Circle
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
What if the path you’re meant for… is the one you return to? In this episode, Susan Harold shares how decades in publishing led her back to a role that feels both unexpected—and exactly right. In this inspiring episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I sit down with Susan Harold—Editor-in-Chief of Where Women Create and What Women Create, and author of the stunning coffee table book The Art of the Studio. With over 30 years in magazine publishing, circulation, and editorial leadership, Susan has spent her career shaping creative storytelling and championing the maker community. In...
info_outline
Color, Calling, and Courage: Casey Alvarez on Faith, Creativity, and Building a Life Through Art
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
What if your creativity wasn’t just a talent—but a calling? In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, Dionne Woods sits down with artist Casey Alvarez, a Missouri-based painter, entrepreneur, and former Christian counselor who has built a thriving creative business rooted in faith, color, and purpose. From painting large European-style armoires on her farm in the Ozarks to shipping her work to 46 states, Casey shares how she transformed her love of creativity into a meaningful and sustainable career. But this conversation goes deeper than art. Casey opens up about: • How her...
info_outline
The Courage to Be Seen: ShenShen210 on Graffiti, Faith, and the Power of Vulnerability
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
What if your greatest creative superpower wasn’t talent—but vulnerability? In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods, Dionne sits down with groundbreaking portrait artist ShenShen210 for a conversation that moves from freight trains and graffiti culture to faith, purpose, and the courage to fully embody who you were created to be. Growing up in the Bay Area of San Francisco, Shen began painting at just 15 years old—eventually becoming known as one of the first female freight train graffiti artists on the West Coast. At a time when the street art world was...
info_outline
Grow with Integrity: Why Every Creative Needs a Strategic Guide with Erin Schlarb
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
What happens when calm strategy meets courageous vision? In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, Dionne Woods sits down with Erin Schlarb, founder of Hemlock Strategy and Design and the strategic guide behind many of Dionne’s most successful launches, websites, and digital expansions. Erin works as more than a website designer — she is a thoughtful partner to creatives, artists, and small business owners who want clarity, integrity, and confidence in their digital presence. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, she serves with intention, helping clients understand what...
info_outline
A Creative Life by Design: Motivation, Lists & Letting Go with Michelle Allen
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, Dionne Woods sits down with Michelle Allen, the artist and creative force behind the globally recognized brand Allen Designs, for a heartfelt conversation about building a creative life by design. From the unexpected way cat clocks changed her life and career, to her love of list-making, bike riding, and creative structure, Michelle shares how motivation evolves over time—and what it really looks like to let go when burnout creeps in. Together, Dionne and Michelle explore the tension between discipline and play, productivity and rest, and how...
info_outline
From Dreaming to Doing: Andie Hamilton on Motivation, Color & Becoming an Artist
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, Dionne Woods sits down with Dallas-based abstract artist and photographer Andie Hamilton, the creative force behind Andie in Color. As a young girl, Andie dreamed of becoming a photographer and fashion designer. Today, she is fully embracing every layer of her creative life—using bold color, expressive abstraction, and intuitive storytelling to shift spaces, spark emotion, and encourage women to be seen. In this honest and motivating conversation, Dionne and Andie talk about the journey from imagining a creative life to actively living one. Andie...
info_outlineWhat if the masterpiece you're creating—whether it's a painting, a business, or your life—isn't finished yet?
In this inspiring episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I sit down with contemporary mixed-media artist, furniture artist, creative educator, and DIY Paint retailer Marlene Steele as she prepares to close one remarkable chapter and step fully into another.
After more than 30 years in the corporate technology world, Marlene is retiring to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist. But this conversation isn't simply about leaving a career.
It's about learning to trust yourself.
Creating from intuition.
Finding sanctuary in the creative process.
And believing that the next brushstroke matters—even when you can't yet see the finished picture.
Together we talk about:
✨ Overcoming imposter syndrome as an artist
✨ Trusting your intuition instead of waiting for perfection
✨ Creativity as a pathway to hope, healing, and faith
✨ Why taking one small action creates momentum
✨ Building a creative community that encourages growth
✨ Discovering intuitive painting later in life
✨ Finding the courage to leave a successful corporate career for a life of creativity
Marlene also shares the story behind her Trust the Mark creativity card deck, designed to help artists quiet self-doubt, spark curiosity, and confidently take the next creative step.
One of my favorite moments from our conversation came when she shared the words she returns to over and over again:
"If you don't like it... it's not done."
Those seven words aren't just about painting.
They're about life.
Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, creative dreamer, or simply standing on the edge of a new season, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that growth doesn't require certainty—it simply asks us to keep showing up.
Because sometimes your next mark changes everything.
Connect with Marlene Steele
🌿 Website: Colorful Contemporary Art by Marlene Steele | United States
📷 Instagram: @marlenesteeleart
📘 Facebook: Marlene Steele Art
▶️ YouTube: Marlene Steele
📧 Email: marlene@marlenesteeleart.com
Learn More About Marlene
• Creator of the Trust the Mark creativity card deck, designed to inspire curiosity, creative confidence, and self-trust.
• Teaching Start Small, Leave Confident furniture painting workshops at Front Street Artist Studios in Dayton, Ohio.
• Developing new intuitive paintings inspired by sanctuary, hope, and imagined landscapes.
• Preparing to transition from a 30+ year corporate career into a full-time creative practice.
🎧 If this conversation encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe to The Motivatarian Exchange, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's learning to trust the next step in their own journey.