logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2025
17m 30s

You’re Not Lost—You’re in the Curiosity ...

Antrese Wood
About this episode

That “lost” feeling? It’s not a problem. It’s the process.

Today kicks off a special series I’ve been quietly building behind the scenes for a while now.

It’s called the CREATE Spiral, and it’s a new framework I’ve developed to help artists understand why we get stuck and how to move forward—gently, without shame, and without needing to have it all figured out.

In this first episode, we’re talking about the very first phase of the spiral: Curiosity.

If you’ve been in a fog, wondering why nothing’s exciting you in the studio anymore…

If you’ve felt disconnected from your work, unsure what you want to paint next…

If you’ve caught yourself saying, “Is this all there is?”—this episode is for you.

You’ll learn why this phase is not a detour—it’s a necessary (and powerful) part of your creative growth. And I’ll show you how to move through it in a way that invites clarity, energy, and momentum back into your practice.

Your Episode Map

Major moments, minute by minute.

  • [0:00–3:00] – Growth isn’t linear—meet the Create Spiral
  • [4:00–6:00] – Fear and uncertainty aren’t problems—they’re part of the path
  • [7:00–8:00] – Curiosity is your most underrated studio tool
  • [9:20–12:00] – That “blah” feeling? It’s a clue, not a dead end
  • [12:00–14:00] – You can’t rush clarity—give curiosity room to grow
  • [15:00–16:30] – Follow the tiniest spark—even if it makes no sense (yet)


📌 For Your Studio Wall

The words worth pinning up next to your easel.

“Clarity is a result of giving curiosity space and time to breathe.”

“Trying to rush curiosity is like yanking a seed out of the soil because you don’t think it’s blooming fast enough.”

“You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start exactly where you are.”


 What to Bring Into the Studio With You

Because listening is just the beginning.

If you're in that murky place where everything feels kind of blah, you’re not broken. You’re just in the curiosity phase—and that’s a vital part of your growth as an artist.

Try this:
Open a journal or sketchbook and finish the sentence:
👉 “I'm really curious about…”

Let that be your starting point.
Not what will sell. Not what looks impressive. Just what feels quietly alive for you right now.

Let it be messy. Let it be uncertain.
Let it be enough.

And if this episode hit home, come say hi on Instagram:
@savvypainterpodcast
I’d love to hear what your curiosity is whispering to you.

Support the show

And hey - if this episode hit home, do me a favor, leave a review on Apple Podcast or come say hi on Instagram: @savvypainterpodcast
I’d love to hear this episode resonated you. ❤️

Up next
Nov 13
When Your Studio Becomes a Storage Unit
What to do when decades of work are stacked against your walls and you can't remember the last time you made a decision about any of it.You know that feeling when you walk into your studio and see paintings leaning against every wall, flat files overflowing, canvases stacked so d ... Show More
30m 54s
Nov 6
Six Tools to Stop Treating Your Studio Like a Courtroom
What to do when you catch yourself in “courtroom mode”You named it. You know you're doing it. You can hear yourself cross-examining every brushstroke, cataloging evidence that you're not good enough, delivering a guilty verdict before the paint dries.But what do you do when you c ... Show More
17m 6s
Oct 30
Why You Can't Finish a Painting (And What to Do About It)
You look around your studio and see them everywhere — canvases turned to the wall, paintings shoved under the bed, works-in-progress stacked in corners. Each one started with complete conviction that this time would be different. But somewhere around the messy middle, you bailed. ... Show More
26m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
How to Drop Back Into Your Art - Ep 167
https://Art2Life.com - How do you reconnect with your artistic practice when you've taken some time out from it? This week, I'm digging into the three central challenges that can disrupt your flow: studio disconnection, the swift drop in self-confidence when you take time away fr ... Show More
21m 24s
Sep 2024
Your Art, Your Money, Your Life - Ep 142
<p><a href="https://art2life.com">https://Art2Life.com</a> - Your art is the most important thing in your life, so how can you possibly put a price on it? This week, I'm talking about how to value your art and your time and why outsourcing the tasks you don't love allows you to b ... Show More
33m 32s
May 2022
What to do if you Feel that your Art is not Improving ?
<p>We expect to improve our art every time we pick up a pencil, but sometimes we don't feel like we're improving at all. That's not something felt by just you, we all feel like that from time to time. It can be frustrating and demotivating, but don't worry because Sarah, Ping, an ... Show More
18m 14s
Mar 2023
Selling Your Art - Nicholas Wilton - Ep 71
https://Art2Life.com - It takes time to figure out what you love so much that you need to create it. The only way to do that is to dive into your own personal inquiry. It can take 20 years, or it can take a couple of years, depending on how you approach this. The questions you as ... Show More
34m 48s
Nov 2024
Re-Air: Three Powerful Mindset Shifts for Visual Artists
<p>In this episode of <em>The Artist Advisory Hotline</em>, Marina Press Granger revisits three transformative mindset shifts that every visual artist needs to thrive. If you've ever struggled with seeing your art as more than a hobby, doubted your worthiness of success, or felt ... Show More
35m 58s
Nov 2020
Do we have to like you to like your art? [97]
This week's episode was inspired by two different listener questions. Cathie asked whether likability matters when it comes to appreciating art (for example, does it matter that Gauguin might not have been the nicest person?). Meanwhile, Pam asked how much she has to reveal about ... Show More
1h 1m
Sep 30
Episode 5 – “Immersing” in Van Gogh
<p>To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our instagram: @artvirgins</p> <p>Show Notes:</p> <p> Do you get more out of an exhibition if you prepare a little beforehand? In this episode, we explore our visit to the Van Go ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 30
Episode 0: How I Met Your Co-host
<p>To make the most out of your listening experience, follow along with the episode’s Wingman post on our instagram: @artvirgins.</p> <p>Two clueless friends. Zero knowledge of art. A wild idea: start collecting. But where do you even begin?</p> <p>In this pilot episode, we intro ... Show More
11m 15s
Sep 4
Taking the fear out of inquiry-based teaching in the museum
In today's solo episode, host Claire Bown shares practical strategies for overcoming the most common fears about inquiry-based teaching in museums. From handling uncertainty and awkward silences to managing participation and time, she guides you through simple, actionable ways to ... Show More
23m 51s