Ep 164 Angie Nordstrum Design on Curating for The Turquoise Iris Journal
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
Release Date: 04/25/2024
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Painting Identity, Intuition & the Courage to Become with Artist Michele Rogers
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, Dionne Woods is joined by Saskatchewan-based artist Michele Rogers, whose powerful portrait work honors Indigenous First Nations women and reflects her Métis heritage through stories of strength, memory, and generational resilience. Michele’s paintings give visual voice to grandmothers, granddaughters, and female warriors—women whose lives and legacies shape cultural identity. Her work is deeply intuitive and emotionally layered, rooted in storytelling rather than surface aesthetics. Through her art, Michele explores what it means to remember,...
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Get Messy, Get Free: Mixed Media Artist Jenny Grant on Courageous Creativity
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, host Dionne Woods sits down with Swedish mixed media artist Jenny Grant, whose imaginative art and creative philosophy celebrate the magic found in the mess. Known for her layered, tactile, and intuitive painting style, Jenny empowers artists around the world to embrace imperfection, trust the process, and rediscover the pure joy of creating. Once a physicist specializing in Optronics, she traded formulas for freedom — turning her lifelong curiosity into a thriving creative career built on courage and play. Through her global Café Flow – The...
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Uncovering the Work We’re Meant to Do with Juliette Crane
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, host Dionne Woods sits down with Juliette Crane, a full-time artist, author, and founder of The School of Happy Painting. Known for her whimsical abstract portraits, layered mixed-media techniques, and signature owls, Juliette has spent more than 15 years helping artists paint fearlessly and reconnect with joy in their creative process. After losing her job in 2009, Juliette rediscovered her purpose through painting — blending abstract and figurative elements to explore storytelling, emotion, and the beauty of imperfection. Her intuitive art...
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The One-of-a-Kind Creative: How BJ Massa Turns Pressure into Artful Possibility
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, Dionne Woods sits down with multi-disciplinary artist and Turquoise Iris Journal curator BJ Massa of Junk’d Up — a one-of-a-kind creative whose imagination knows no limits. Known for her surrealist face art, whimsical furniture, and intricate assemblage pieces crafted from vintage finds, BJ has spent a lifetime transforming forgotten objects into storytelling art. But as she reveals, motivation doesn’t always come easily...it’s something she builds. Dionne and BJ unpack the truth about self-motivation, creative discipline, and the...
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From Rural Roots to Soulful Healing: The Silver Bohemian Journey of Porsha Chalmers
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I’m joined by Porsha Chalmers - the artist, healer, and visionary behind The Silver Bohemian. Porsha’s story begins in a small rural town in Georgia, where she grew up as the oldest of four, daughter to farmers, and learned to create anything with her hands from a young age. After high school, she enlisted in the Marine Corps and served six years, a season that strengthened her courage and shaped the resilience she carries into every part of her life. It was there she met her husband, began building a family, and set the foundation for her...
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Canadian Artist Julia Veenstra on Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and the Square Foot Show
The Motivatarian Exchange with Dionne Woods
In this episode of The Motivatarian Exchange, I’m joined by Canadian artist and entrepreneur Julia Veenstra — a woman whose life and work are as vibrant as her canvases. Julia shares her journey from being a child whose natural artistic ability was quickly recognized, to becoming a mother of five, and an entrepreneur whose creative vision has opened doors for thousands of artists worldwide. We talk about her early influences, her fearless use of color, and the way her entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of The Square Foot Show, a global movement connecting artists and collectors....
info_outlineDionne Woods talks with Angie Nordstrum on the Paint Talks Podcast. Angie is a multi-passionate artist and maker who creates vibrant, colorful paintings on walls, windows, canvas, and clothes! Her mission is to create art that inspires and maybe even sets your soul on fire.
Angie’s love for art was ignited at age 10 when she showed her 4H projects at the Iowa State Fair. Angie studied Apparel Design in London and worked as a clothing and graphic designer for several years.
As a Curator for The Turquoise Iris Journal, Angie contributes articles about murals, window painting, wearable art and educates artists on how to work with businesses. Her work has also been featured in Better Homes & Gardens Do It Yourself and Creatives Kids magazines and The Denver Post. Angie is based out of the scenic foothills of Colorado when she is not galavanting around the globe.
Upcoming Events: East Boulder County Artists Open Studios April 27 & 28 in Longmont, CO, details here.
"How to Work with a Muralist" Workshop on May 7 - Register Here!
Fun Facts: My taco obsession averages 7 meals/week.