Breaking the Rules: A New Model for Creative Success With Maria Brophy
Release Date: 11/19/2025
Ep.19 | When Psychology Meets Art — Danielle Lazala on Color, Emotion & Space
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this episode of Decoding the Flow, host Drica Lobo sits down with Danielle Lazala, a multidisciplinary, self-taught Dominican artist and founder of DML Paintings. Danielle shares her journey from working in the field of psychology to building a full-time art career, and how her deep understanding of human emotion informs her use of color, composition, and visual storytelling. Together, they explore the emotional and energetic impact of art, the healing power of color, and how murals can uplift communities and transform public spaces. The conversation also dives into the...
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Ep. 18 | Building a Sustainable Art Career With Crista Cloutier
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this episode of Decoding the Flow, host Drica Lobo sits down with artist, educator, and mentor Crista Cloutier, founder of The Working Artist. Crista shares her journey from artist to educator and reflects on what it truly takes to build a sustainable, long-term art career—one rooted in clarity, commitment, and strong studio practice rather than hustle or shortcuts. Together, they explore the courage required to trust the creative process, the importance of defining success on your own terms, and the common traits Crista has observed in artists who thrive over time. The...
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Ep. 17 | Working With Interior Designers — Leticia Demeuse on Art, Space & Flow
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this episode of Decoding the Flow, host Drica Lobo sits down with contemporary artist Leticia Demeuse to explore what it truly means to work with interior designers and create art that lives inside real spaces. Leticia shares her journey from a background in advertising to building a thriving art practice rooted in intuition, emotional connection, and awareness. She reflects on the evolution of her work — from florals to large-scale abstract paintings — and how creating art for interiors has shaped both her creative process and her professional growth. The conversation...
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Ep. 16 | Nuyorican Roots: Art, Identity & Creative Flow With Erica Morales
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this episode of Decoding the Flow, Drica Lobo sits down with visual artist Erica Morales to explore Nuyorican identity — a cultural bridge between New York and Puerto Rican roots — and how it shapes creative flow, visibility, and artistic voice.owth. Erica shares her journey as a Nuyorican artist—rooted in both New York and Puerto Rican culture—and how her identity shapes her artistic voice and creative process. She reflects on how art became a therapeutic outlet during challenging seasons, the importance of flow states in creation, and why discipline and self-love are...
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Ep. 15 | I Interviewed Myself: The Truth About My Early Artist Journey
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this solo episode of Decoding the Flow, Drica Lobo opens 2026 by turning the microphone inward. Instead of a traditional introduction, she interviews herself — answering one of the most common questions she’s received over the years: How did your journey as an artist begin — and when did you really start making money? Drica shares the honest, nonlinear reality of building an art career, from creating without permission to navigating uncertainty, moving to a new country, and learning how identity, self-trust, and experimentation shape both creativity and income. This...
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Ep.14 | 2026: Who Are You Becoming Next? (My First Solo Episode)
Decoding the Flow
Summary As we stand at the edge of a new year, this episode is an invitation to pause. In her very first solo episode of Decoding the Flow, Drica Lobo reflects on the closing of 2025 and opens a gentle, honest space for becoming. Rather than focusing on resolutions or external goals, this conversation centers on identity, awareness, and the quiet decisions that shape the life we are creating. Drica guides listeners through reflective questions and simple practices to help identify what no longer belongs in the next chapter, how self-perception influences reality, and why focusing on how we...
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Ep. 13 | Turning Life Into Art With Deborah Liss (Creativity & Truth)
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this episode of Decoding the Flow, Drica Lobo sits down with Deborah Liss, a Brazilian writer and filmmaker whose life has been shaped by creativity from an early age. In this conversation, Deborah Liss shares her creative journey, from her early experiences with art and storytelling to her transition to the United States to pursue her dreams. She discusses the importance of authenticity in creativity, her latest projects including the book 'Baby Seeker' and her latest short-film 'Broken', addressing domestic violence, and the rituals that nurture her creative process. Deborah...
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Finding Flow Through the Body with Mirela Mattos
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this grounding and expansive episode of Decoding the Flow, Drica Lobo sits down with Mirela Mattos, yoga instructor, wellness and meditation coach, and mother of six, for a deeply embodied conversation on mindfulness, breath, and living in flow. Mirela shares her personal journey of self-discovery through yoga and meditation, exploring how movement, breath, and presence become tools for navigating life with more awareness and ease. Together, they discuss how resistance can be embraced rather than avoided, how commitment and consistency build confidence, and why creative...
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What It Really Takes to Go Full-Time as an Artist With Sara Glupker
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this conversation, Sara Glupker, an award-winning full-time artist from Michigan, shares her inspiring journey of moving from part-time painter to professional creative. She opens up about the long path to becoming a full-time artist, the deep role of community support, and how authenticity has shaped both her work and her audience. Sara discusses the lessons learned through solo exhibitions, the emotional experience of showing her work publicly, and how managing expectations can make or break the artist experience. She also speaks about navigating the balance between family life...
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Belonging Through Art With Lorenzo Cardim
Decoding the Flow
Summary In this episode, Drica Lobo sits down with Brazilian visual artist Lorenzo Cardim, whose multidisciplinary work explores the human body as both medium and message. Together, they revisit the origins of his artistic journey, the emotional and philosophical foundations behind his sculptures and performances, and how cultural roots shape identity and creative expression. Lorenzo shares how living abroad expanded his sense of belonging, how the Notre Dame project deepened his relationship with architecture, and why artist residencies create fertile ground for vulnerability and connection....
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In this inspiring episode of Decoding the Flow, host Drica Lobo sits down with Maria Brophy — creative strategist, artist advocate, and author of the timeless book Art, Money, Success.
Together, they explore the powerful intersection of creativity and consciousness, and what it truly takes for artists to build aligned, abundant, purpose-driven careers.
Maria shares her decades of experience working alongside her husband, world-renowned surf artist Drew Brophy, and the essential principles that help artists thrive in any era — from defining success on your own terms to building genuine relationships with collectors, and daring to think outside traditional systems.
She also opens up about Drew’s near-death experience during COVID, and how love, gratitude, and resilience reshaped their perspective on life, art, and what really matters.
This conversation is equal parts practical and deeply soulful — a roadmap for artists who want to awaken their creative power and live from alignment, courage, and intention.
Key Takeaways
• Creativity and consciousness are inseparable on the artist’s journey
• Defining your version of success is the foundation of a thriving career
• Relationships with collectors are timeless and irreplaceable
• Thinking outside the box creates unexpected opportunities and visibility
• Adversity can transform your perspective and deepen your purpose
• Mindset shifts are essential for long-term success
• Gratitude elevates emotional state — and your results
• Practical steps can help artists transition from a job to full-time art
• Self-trust is the most important ingredient for any creative path
• Every choice you make should move you toward the life you truly want
Sound Bites
• “You have to know what success is for you.”
• “There’s probably 10,000 ways to do it.”
• “You have to trust in yourself so much.”
Chapters
00:00 — Introduction to Maria Brophy and Her Mission
01:43 — The Timeless Principles of Art, Money, Success
05:06 — Defining Success in the Art World
08:23 — Breaking the Mystery of the Art World
13:57 — Resilience Through Adversity: A Personal Journey
23:57 — The Turning Point: From Struggling to Thriving
26:45 — Journey to Financial Success
29:07 — Investing in Mindset and Purpose
32:38 — Transitioning from Job to Art
41:13 — The Energetics of Success
48:43 — Final Thoughts and Resources
50:10 — Embracing Your Creative Power
🔗 Resources & Links
Connect Drica Lobo: www.dricalobo.com | Instagram @dricaloboart
📖 Drica's Book: Decoding the Flow: Optimize Your Creative Power With Unshakable Confidence
Connect with Maria Brophy: https://mariabrophy.com/ | Instagram @mariabrophy
📖 Maria's Books:
Art, Money & Success by Maria Brophy
Covid, A Love Story by Maria Brophy