Your Art Deserves To Be Seen w/ Amie McNee

This set effectively summarizes and segments the detailed content of the interview into easily navigable chapters for viewers.

Timestamp	Summary
0:00	Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
1:16	Amy’s Confidence Journey
3:55	Embracing the Calling of an Artist
7:57	The Power of Journaling
12:49	Impact of Childhood on Creativity
15:47	The Seriousness of Art
20:38	Rediscovering and Embracing Childhood Creativity
22:22	Acceptance and Being Seen as an Artist
26:52	Transition from Self-Discovery to Helping Others
31:12	The Intersection of Art and Business
33:29	Protecting Creativity Amidst Success
37:20	Preparing for Success as an Artist
39:40	Titles and Themes of Amy’s Courses
42:03	Championing Your Own Work
43:31	Closing Remarks and Farewell

**** – (): 00:00.67

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Hey guys, welcome to the podcast. I’m very excited and very, very, very pumped to, um, to, to introduce someone to you who’s someone I have really looked up. Um, I think any artist so far on Instagram must have crossed her and her words and her energy on Instagram. So far, I have Amy Mickey on the podcast today. Welcome to the podcast, Amy.

**** – (): 00:26.88

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Thank you so much, Shuruka. I’m so glad to be here.

**** – (): 00:30.24

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I’m so happy to have you here. Let’s, you know, I don’t think you need an introduction specifically with, with the work that you write. I think if there are now it has happened to me, if somebody, um, you know, reshares your post and if I am looking at someone’s field and if there’s no credit also, I would know this is you. I, I would know this is you.

**** – (): 00:53.25

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): That is such a compliment to be to be known, even without credit. I love that. No one’s ever said that to me before. Thank you.

**** – (): 00:59.73

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): No, I’m sure a lot of people would agree. you know My team also, um who manages social media, we’re all a big fan of yours. And they also know, like anytime they’ll ah come across and be like, oh, this is Amy’s work, but nobody’s credited it. like We all know it so well.

**** – (): 01:16.33

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I’m so grateful. I get a few people who, I feel like they’re like my warriors out there on Instagram and whenever they see it, my work uncredited, they’re like Amy, they’re like hunt it down.

**** – (): 01:25.59

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): OK, tell me something. ben Were you always confident putting your voice out there um like this that you are today?

**** – (): 01:35.81

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): No, no, I think it’s a journey for all of us. I think very few of us are born just feeling comfortable taking up space in that way. And it’s been a very long journey of me getting comfortable, like putting my voice out there, knowing that my words have worth, knowing that I i deserve to be seen and that it’s generous to be seen. And it’s taken, you know, I would say it’s been a journey of maybe 10 years, 10 good years of just everyday practicing. Let’s put myself out there. Let’s let’s be witnessed.

**** – (): 02:05.34

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And because I do it so constantly, like I think over time I’ve just gotten used to it and I’ve i’ve realized that this is where I belong. And you know as artists, as writers, whatever it is we’re doing, we we deserve to be seen. And so finally now I feel very comfortable in using my voice and being witnessed with my words.

**** – (): 02:25.17

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that. i I imagine you, I know you as who you are today. I’ve worked with you with the courses. Of course, I followed your journey and you know, talking to you also. But I’m trying to imagine who the version of you who was, who, you know,

**** – (): 02:44.45

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 02:44.32

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): that part of you who evolved into this part of you because and I’m asking this because you know often we talk about the successes and we talk about oh I’m comfortable with work but sometimes I think um when I can place myself oh if Amy was like that and if she can do this there’s so another Amy who may be listening to this episode I’m like I am like that but I can become who Amy is today can you describe yourself

**** – (): 03:01.11

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah,

**** – (): 03:09.38

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): yeah beautiful. Yeah, so I had a i i’ve struggled so hard with the fact that I wanted to be a writer and the fact that I wanted to be an artist. I had so much shame. So for years and years i wanted I knew I wanted to be a storyteller, but I had this deep like deep shame and I thought it was so embarrassing that I wanted this. I thought it meant that I was a child that hadn’t grown up correctly. I thought it was deeply irresponsible. We are all plagued by this cultural narrative that, you know, you’ll never make any money. It’s time to it’s time to grow up and be in the big world. And I couldn’t i couldn’t get past it. And so I just held onto this shame that i something was wrong with me and that I wasn’t a functioning adult. And so I had this,

**** – (): 03:55.66

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah, I had to move through and I had to accept that my calling to be an artist was holy and it was needed and it was actually really responsible and the most adult thing I was ever going to do. Like the most adult thing I’ve ever done is embrace the fact that I want to take my art seriously. But it took a lot of narrative shifting because I truly like I did not like myself, Sharuka. I thought I was such a such a a fool.

**** – (): 04:22.66

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I felt so silly. I felt so embarrassed every day. And I would, you know, I’d work these jobs that were like, I would waitress so that I could write on the side and everyone else was, you know, getting much more money and in big world adult jobs.

**** – (): 04:35.56

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And they were like, what’s Amy doing? And I was like, I don’t know what I’m doing. Oh my God. It was so embarrassing. I think that’s the funny part about it. I was so embarrassed for so long and I ended up losing my work.

**** – (): 04:45.96

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Invise to Don’t say you right.

**** – (): 04:48.97

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah. It was so embarrassing. You know, what are you up to, Amy? Oh, I’m waitressing and I’m also trying to write books. And I was just so embarrassed to tell people about this. I was ashamed. It was deeper than embarrassment. um And I know everyone was very worried about me. I got into a lot of debt.

**** – (): 05:06.48

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I had to ask my parents for financial help. like It was just a mess. ah But the worst part about it was that I just did not like myself. I thought, what is wrong with me? And I really hit a rock bottom. I was incredibly depressed because, i again, I didn’t like myself. i I didn’t know why I was so committed to this idea of of storytelling and of being an artist.

**** – (): 05:26.20

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I lost my job, I lost a book contract, like everything was going wrong. I had so many rejections from publishing houses. And then I decided I would start journaling because I had nothing to do with my time.

**** – (): 05:36.47

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I had moved in with my in-laws. I was incredibly low. And I was like, well, if I can do one good thing with my day, I’ll go out. I put a coffee on a credit card and I’ll journal. And so that literally started, I have the date.

**** – (): 05:48.15

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): It was April 16th, 2018.

**** – (): 05:51.11

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): wow

**** – (): 05:51.52

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And I’ve journaled every day since then, every single day.

**** – (): 05:52.07

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): remember

**** – (): 05:55.16

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): and journaling allowed me to change those narratives. So I would write on the page like, i’m a i’m what is wrong with me? Why do i why can’t I just grow up? like Why am I like this? why does No one even wants your writing aim. You’re not even good enough for this. I would tell these stories and put them on the page. But then I would i would witness them, and then I would rewrite them on the pages of my journal. And I would say things like,

**** – (): 06:19.24

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): You know what, you are doing so much better than you think. You are made to to make art. You are on the path. I refuse to live a life of mediocrity. I want to live a creative life and I’m going to live a creative life. And I just translated these horrible stories into stories of empowerment and that’s how I got here today. So I owe everything to that ashamed, embarrassed version of myself because she did the work and she allowed me to build like a life of my dreams.

**** – (): 06:46.24

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I, you know, you mentioned journaling and I think journaling has been life changing for me as well. And that is why I actually took your own course of journaling, because I started journaling, I think same time around, like you said, 2018 and 20, 2018, or I don’t know, yeah, li a little late than that, maybe mid year.

**** – (): 07:11.46

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And I used to, I used to be very, I used to live alone. I was ah staying in the main city. I was very, very lonely. I didn’t know, I knew I wanted to become an artist, but I had no clue how to become an artist because of course I was making art all all my life but I never thought myself as an artist but the moment I started started to think myself as an artist things switched and I was like I don’t know how to figure this out and so I saw a few people online and then I started to wake up every morning and just write something and I would draw something but it was just in early practice I was I would wake up early but what really changed it for me was when my mom passed away I’ve said this a lot of times on the podcast also

**** – (): 07:31.29

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Mm.

**** – (): 07:57.93

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): When my mom passed away, why two things that held me together. i we I think I have processed so much of grief, so much of life, so much of instability that even I think I feel today. um My mom passed away in 2020.

**** – (): 08:15.37

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): and before that I was journaling but maybe I would skip a few days and I still do one a day but it’s like I stopped breathing it’s become that but journaling was so powerful and when I joined your journal course it was just around that time I was still journaling journaling and you know I showed it to my partner I have these like thick books and they’re not journals to me anymore these

**** – (): 08:37.55

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Hmm.

**** – (): 08:37.70

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): You know, these are just how I have processed grief, my mom’s passing, talking to her every day. And I can’t like, I’m four, three and a half years into a passing now, but I feel like I would have not made it if I didn’t have, I won my dogs and to my, my journaling. If I didn’t have either of these, I don’t think I would have made it. Like I couldn’t even imagine how just writing three pages in the morning.

**** – (): 09:04.98

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): how powerful that is. how but If I meet anybody, I’m like, please wake up. Just just write three things. Just don’t even think what you just write three pages. Just do that if you can’t do anything.

**** – (): 09:17.21

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Well, it’s such beautiful testimony. I’m so, I’m so glad that you found the journal. And I think that we’re just not meant to process everything in our heads. Like we’re meant to get stuff out. We’re meant to see our thoughts, I think. And I think when we try and keep it all in our bodies and our, in our minds, like it’s, it’s too much and putting it on the page gives such relief. And yeah, there’s something mystical and magical about it. I absolutely, I i mean, I know without that practice, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It changed everything for me.

**** – (): 09:47.66

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): your mission is like you know you keep telling artists keep giving us reminders you know how to get more comfortable, how to put ourselves out there, how to be seen, like how to get comfortable with getting seen.

**** – (): 10:01.36

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I think a lot of us are, the problem is not that we don’t know how to get seen, it is it it is so hard for us to put ourselves out there.

**** – (): 10:02.18

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Mm.

**** – (): 10:09.25

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And art is vulnerability, art is personal. We feel scared of people’s rejection, people’s opinions. When you start putting yourself out there, first let’s start with you.

**** – (): 10:20.22

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Did you have fear of being trolled? Being also, I think the biggest one on online is if I know you, if I’m your family and you start writing something that’s completely personal and we feel like I’m exposing my life. I’m exposing myself. People will judge me. My friends will laugh at me or like, Oh, what is she writing? Oh, who is she? Did you, did you go through that?

**** – (): 10:40.71

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Oh my god, yeah. So I remember when I wanted to start, I wanted to start on Instagram to record my journey as an artist. and But I was like, I can’t because everyone’s going to see me.

**** – (): 10:52.97

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And they’re going to be like, who does she think she is? Like, oh, she’s ah she thinks she’s a writer.

**** – (): 10:55.45

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): He is.

**** – (): 10:57.82

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And I was so plagued by these imaginary, you know, thoughts of my friends and family that what I did instead was I i started Inspired to Write, which is my Instagram account.

**** – (): 11:08.53

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And I blocked every single person I could think of.

**** – (): 11:08.58

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 11:11.92

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And it took me like two or three hours. And I sat there and I was like, random boy from school, random, you know, cousin’s cousin, cousin. And I blocked every single person who would ever get me, get in the way of me being seen. Because sometimes we need to create safe places like that. Like what you just said, Sharuka, like being an artist is so vulnerable. Sometimes we deserve to say, no, you’re not allowed to witness me, not now.

**** – (): 11:37.40

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And so I created a space where I could become the writer that I knew I was, where nobody’s preconceived notions of who I was was going to keep me small, where nobody’s um you know imagined thoughts were going to make me feel scared of being witnessed. I wanted a safe place away from everybody who knew me. And so I made it for myself. And you know over the years, I started unblocking everybody, but nobody who knew me was allowed to see me in this like cocoon stage of taking up space.

**** – (): 12:04.48

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): i think a lot of ah A lot of artists should do this because we deserve that safety as we step into the identity as as artists.

**** – (): 12:08.93

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah. Yeah, no, I agree with that. And also, I think a lot of times it hinders because people will have opinions and sometimes we’re conditioned in a way that, okay, maybe they don’t like what you’re doing. And that’s their not that they want something wrong for us. It’s just that’s how they look at life. They look at creativity or whatever that means.

**** – (): 12:31.58

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): But that does not mean that we have to think that way, but it does hamper on how we look at things. So I also like this idea, like you said, the cocoon way, you shape your thought process, not by the biases of how people around you look at things, then you how you actually look at things.

**** – (): 12:49.10

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Exactly, like it’s perfectly put, Sharuka, like we it’s we need to move those biases out of our way and just be self-made without all of their preconceived ideas of who we are. So we can become something new.

**** – (): 13:03.25

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Tell me a little bit more about your own childhood. How do you think that has impacted you today? How even that impacts you today, every day actually?

**** – (): 13:13.37

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah, my little inner artist, little Amy, she’s super, super creative.

**** – (): 13:13.35

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): How was the little Amy?

**** – (): 13:17.94

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah. and

**** – (): 13:20.73

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately, you know, always in her own world, lots of make-believe stories. I was very lucky to have parents who, whilst they definitely worried for me when I decided I wanted to be an artist, like they always, they never told me not to, you know, when I needed financial support, I was so lucky to have them.

**** – (): 13:41.72

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): and you know they’ve always been by my side encouraging the arts and so I’m so so grateful to have had them ah but it’s amazing that even with these parents who were like pro art like I had so much shame about it you know and when when we have parents who like really don’t want us to get into the arts like it’s it must be so much harder than I experienced and I felt like I went through the fucking like it was horrible for me so I even with these incredible parents I still think I grew up thinking that you know my art my artiness and my creativity-ness was for little Amy, only for little Amy.

**** – (): 14:14.67

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 14:16.45

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I think we think art is for children or they’re retired.

**** – (): 14:20.16

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 14:20.70

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And we don’t realize that it is like an adult activity.

**** – (): 14:21.10

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 14:24.10

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Art is for adults.

**** – (): 14:25.21

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): It’s also for women. It’s like, um, boys cannot get creative because, oh, they have serious things to do.

**** – (): 14:27.84

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yes, oh, love that.

**** – (): 14:33.60

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And if you are creative, that means you do, you’re not serious enough.

**** – (): 14:34.24

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 14:37.02

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): You just, you know, um, you just here to Spend your time and then nothing constructive. It’s not considered even constructive.

**** – (): 14:47.35

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yes, it’s seen as um decoration, like it’s nice, um you know, almost like these old ideas of what women are, ah like a decoration, it’s not they’re nice.

**** – (): 14:50.27

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 14:57.09

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): ah Yeah, I agree. I think I talk a bit about like, I want more men in my community because I think men have been

**** – (): 15:02.33

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 15:03.59

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): robbed of that vulnerability of of the arts because men aren’t meant to be vulnerable, um yeah which is such an important narrative that I’m so glad that we’re all working against.

**** – (): 15:05.31

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 15:12.46

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): ah like I want it gone. like i need We need vulnerable, creative men ah in our lives, and we need women to understand that the arts is so serious. that And we’re we we’re allowed to take creativity seriously.

**** – (): 15:21.64

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 15:25.91

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): the art The arts change the world. It’s an incredibly political thing to do to make art. it can you know make a huge impact in your communities, in your own body, in the people you surround you with, like art isn’t decoration, art is, you know, a tumultuous force.

**** – (): 15:44.76

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I think COVID did reminded that ah to a lot of us because while the world everything that was necessary, we thought mattered.

**** – (): 15:48.36

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yes.

**** – (): 15:53.69

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): We also realized like even though the doctors were doing the job, everybody was We needed so much more than just those. like Of course, they are the interest infrastructure. too And that is, we all recognize how important doctors, engineers, or all of these things are. What we don’t recognize is how important artists are. Because if we didn’t have music, imagine, like e every time this question comes to me, I’m like, if if there wasn’t music,

**** – (): 16:22.96

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): in COVID if there weren’t enough books, if there wasn’t even pretty things to look at. Imagine blank, blank spaces.

**** – (): 16:30.64

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): It would, it would have, oh my God.

**** – (): 16:31.89

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): You all would have lost hope by then.

**** – (): 16:34.95

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah, yeah, yeah, COVID was a beautiful reminder that, you know, art’s the point. wi What’s the point of this without art? There isn’t one. um So yeah, we need to shift that narrative.

**** – (): 16:46.88

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): It is not Dutch decoration, like art is the point of life.

**** – (): 16:51.47

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): there Was little Amy scared of being seen?

**** – (): 16:55.67

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): That’s a good question. I was never, I’m very introverted, so I get my energy from being alone, but I wouldn’t say I’m shy. um I think something actually that I’ve been really looking into right now is the shame of of liking to be seen.

**** – (): 17:10.53

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): So I think when ah a little Amy, she she liked to tell a story, she liked to put on a show.

**** – (): 17:12.69

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah

**** – (): 17:15.95

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And as I got older, I think I was like, oh, that’s not what I should do. I should be more modest. And it’s, it’s um you know, art should be made just for the sake of art or art should be made because I just want to make it for myself.

**** – (): 17:28.77

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): But the reality is, is that a big part of me makes art for the attention. A big part of me makes art to be seen and a big part of me wants to be witnessed and it is very vulnerable and it is incredibly hard to be witnessed in such a vulnerable state, but it is what I am after and I think we as artists need to lean into the fact that it’s not a shameful thing to say. Like I make art for the attention is a very controversial sentence, but I don’t want it to be because we’re human beings and we make art to connect with other people. And that connection is so beautiful, so pure. And so I i think that I’ve gotten, little a baby Amy got it. She was like, I want to put on a show. I want people to look at me. But as I got older, I was like, I’m not meant to want that. So I’m reclaiming baby Amy energy.

**** – (): 18:18.91

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that. You know, I believe this um ever since like now in my 30s. And somebody told me that and now started to really reaffirm this that in our 30s, we start to ah live for the child that we were while we were 13. And, you know, like you’re saying, I can connect, I’m trying to connect those thoughts. Like while i was when I was young, I was a very lonely child. And like you said, I always found energy.

**** – (): 18:48.90

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): um by you know being alone making something just by myself having music on or reading a book or I would always make a mess I think I’m just someone who loves to make a mess and I would I had so much of shame um like you know if I’m a messy person um

**** – (): 19:02.47

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I love that.

**** – (): 19:09.91

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): It’s my creative process, like I would lay everything out and then I’ll look at things, touch and feel them. My work is very tactile. And then I’ll select, okay, okay this looks nice. And then I’ll put it off and I’ll put another embroidery. That is who I am. But if I even go in the kitchen, I love like.

**** – (): 19:26.66

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): cooking, let’s say, I find it another very therapeutic and healing a creative process. So I would lay everything down. So I felt while I was growing up, I felt very tortured, like ashamed that I was messy. And then while I started, when I started, you know, maturing, and when I started to be in my 30s, I was like, hell, I am messy.

**** – (): 19:45.61

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I, and I want to and I was so I was like, I think while in my 20s and early years, I felt like I had it to fit in I because I wasn’t social, or I was I would escape.

**** – (): 19:56.54

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I’m like, No, I don’t escape anymore. I choose to spend time with me and my creative time, then I choose to do it with someone else or being in a party or, or do some talk that I really wouldn’t find.

**** – (): 19:59.28

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Mm.

**** – (): 20:09.22

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Like, you know, it’s like, like you said, I have always for years and years, I’ve just every day I’ve written in my Journal, I want a more creative life. I want a more creative life I want a more creative life and I’m like, you know hell I’m when I was I was very I was small and my mom wanted me to learn dance and I would um I would train as a cut-top dancer and I I while now in my 30s I’m like I’m doing the same things everything that I wanted to do while I was 13 like yes, this makes sense like

**** – (): 20:38.08

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I love that.

**** – (): 20:39.83

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I’m just being seen, but not on how people wanted to see me, but to how I want to be seen.

**** – (): 20:43.76

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): e Yeah.

**** – (): 20:45.90

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I think that’s a yes.

**** – (): 20:46.21

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): On your terms.

**** – (): 20:48.05

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 20:49.49

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I love that. I think there’s definitely a distinction there because I want to be seen i want to be seen as Amy in all of my mess, in all of my like wildness, in all of my like rebellion and slight quirkiness.

**** – (): 20:55.35

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah Yeah.

**** – (): 21:03.00

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): like I want to be seen as Amy. I do not want to be seen as who you think you want me to be. I love that.

**** – (): 21:07.49

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 21:08.50

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Really beautiful. And I love that you’re messy. Mess is integral part of art and I think You know, we’ve been told, oh, if you’re going to make art, you better make it perfectly.

**** – (): 21:16.05

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 21:17.12

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): There better be no mess. And it’s like, no, like art is a human activity. It’s innately messy and it should be mass.

**** – (): 21:24.01

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah and I think what probably in my own opinion what the biggest problem with being seen is A lot of time, I think, as I’ve grown more comfortable with my own self as an artist, as a person, like you said, putting myself every day out there on how the way I am, like, you know, i the culture I’ve been brought up in, I fully try to embrace that today.

**** – (): 21:51.16

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): um I think so many in the young years, while we are scared of being seen, a lot of that also has is, we’re ah scared to be seen of who we are. Because a lot of times, we’re not we don’t have acceptance towards it. We’re ashamed of it. And maybe we’re ashamed of you know how our language is, ah how your accent is, or how your body looks like, or how your upbringing is like. And then there is a switch. and you’re like

**** – (): 22:22.17

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): This is who I am.

**** – (): 22:23.34

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah, it’s so much, it’s… It’s so hard to not be tolerant of yourself. And I think so at some point for a lot of people, it’s like, well, fuck this, this is who I am.

**** – (): 22:34.27

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Like accept me for who I am, um which is so beautiful. And I love this idea that the older we get, the more we just lean into, this is my voice, this is my body, this is my art. Witness me or don’t witness me, I don’t care.

**** – (): 22:46.64

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Like if you you can like me or you don’t like me.

**** – (): 22:46.74

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 22:49.29

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I think a big part of the artist’s journey is understanding that people won’t like you and it’s totally okay. people will misunderstand you and it’s totally okay.

**** – (): 22:56.06

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Absolutely. like

**** – (): 22:59.09

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I think a lot of the time when we’re trying to be seen, often we’re trying to control how people see us.

**** – (): 22:59.24

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 23:05.20

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Okay, if I’m going to be seen, you have to like me. If I’m going to be seen, you have to understand what I do. You have to understand my art. And it’s a fool’s quest because you’ll exhaust yourself because people won’t like you and people won’t get you.

**** – (): 23:17.94

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And that’s so okay. It’s so safe to be misunderstood.

**** – (): 23:20.80

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 23:22.60

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): That’s the artist’s point. Like all artists are divisive. If you’re not divisive, you’re not doing it right.

**** – (): 23:30.59

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): That was something why you started to put yourself out there. There was a point you were actually getting seen.

**** – (): 23:38.92

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Hmm.

**** – (): 23:39.83

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Sometimes I think there’s also this safety in the cocoon in the sense of in putting it in the void.

**** – (): 23:46.46

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Oh my gosh, yes.

**** – (): 23:47.91

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Because we know, even if I’m saying something, I know nobody’s reading it.

**** – (): 23:52.06

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Hmm.

**** – (): 23:52.31

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): or Only a few people are. But eventually, that starts to become, your words start to add more value, everything that you’re being watched, looked at.

**** – (): 24:02.85

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 24:04.02

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Your words are being listened.

**** – (): 24:06.02

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Hmm.

**** – (): 24:05.86

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): How was your shift, your journey, like while you just started to put your words in inspiredri inspired to write?

**** – (): 24:09.34

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Hmm.

**** – (): 24:13.10

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And then I’m sure in the beginning, it was, It was a void, but then that void started to get filled and now it’s big where your words multiply.

**** – (): 24:17.16

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): yeah yeah yeah

**** – (): 24:24.11

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): How how can you take us through a few of your feelings and how you got comfortable with growing like this?

**** – (): 24:31.73

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I’m very, very grateful. I see a lot of creators today who have, you know, very few followers and then all of a sudden they’ve got like a million followers and it’s very intense. And so there’s no warm up. Where I’ve had um maybe, I don’t know if it’s a unique journey. I don’t know how common it is, but I have, I started like maybe 10 years, maybe to the day, Sharuka, 10 years, September, 2014. That’s when I started that account.

**** – (): 24:56.49

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): and it has been such steady growth so very incremental steady growth over 10 years of my audience and so I feel like I’ve grown with my audience in a very smooth way and I’m very grateful for that so I never had like a oh my god all of a sudden I’m being very very seen I’ve never even really gone particularly viral I’ve just slowly grapp grasped more and more beautiful readers and beautiful people that are in my life. And so I feel very blessed to have had a smooth transition. But there are times, you know, where, for example, someone will be in rude to me on a post. and I’m like, wow, my community is so big now that like, they’re not all, not everyone is nice in my community. And I have to sit with the feeling of being very misunderstood, or I have to sit with a feeling of, oh, my community aren’t all about me, you know, and that can feel

**** – (): 25:47.21

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): It can take me a minute or two to make me myself feel safe. um But I’ll just sit there and be like, Amy, you know, you’re in your beautiful cottage. You’re completely safe. People aren’t meant, you know, not everyone will like you. You know, so a practice that I like to do when I get a bad book review or someone’s mean to me is I like to like Google my favorite authors bad reviews.

**** – (): 26:08.61

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): We will all get bad reviews. People will always be addicted online.

**** – (): 26:11.86

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 26:13.14

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): It happens to all of us. We are not alone in this. um Yeah.

**** – (): 26:16.83

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 26:17.85

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): So I remind myself that this is a part of the journey and that most people are incredibly supportive and beautiful. And I’m held in, you know, I’m, I’m so, I have the most incredible readers and I’m just, I am so loved in that way.

**** – (): 26:30.49

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And I’m so grateful for that. So I try and lean into that reality too.

**** – (): 26:33.11

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that. So from your own journey of the little Amy to then taking your ownership, then slowly and steadily putting yourself everywhere out there. You found a way that works for you. You found your voice.

**** – (): 26:52.99

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And you you found who you were and you were okay being you know being seen the way that you were. How has then that journey took a bigger leap? Because I think I personally think specifically there’s one while you get comfortable in your own skin and okay with being seen and like not all of those things, that’s one stage. But then there’s a bigger jump when you’re like, okay, I figured this out. Now I’m going to help someone else, one, two, four, five, and then thousands and hundreds.

**** – (): 27:23.96

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): what What’s that for you? How did that happen? How did you first finding confidence in yourself, then knowing that you are now going your words and how you’re, it’s not just about you.

**** – (): 27:32.46

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Hmm.

**** – (): 27:36.15

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): It’s about other people who join you and you know, your courses and everything like that.

**** – (): 27:42.17

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): All I ever wanted to do was make art. All I ever wanted to do was tell stories. And I felt so ashamed about that for so long that the fact that I now get to tell stories and the fact that I now get to do what I love, to me, the idea of not telling other people that they can also do it would be so wrong. Because I was only ever told that it’s going to be you know basically impossible that you know you’re delusional and that you know it’s it’s silly what you’re thinking of doing and i want i can’t have anybody else think that way i want to be a voice against that voice i want to go around and to pick up any artist who’s feeling that horrible like feeling of self-doubt and say i you i’m taking you so seriously and i believe in what you’re doing and and what you’re your vision and your dreams are possible because that’s what I needed.

**** – (): 28:31.92

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And so I feel like I am in service to a past version of me and I’ve always wanted to like, yeah, to be, a i I’ve become the person that I needed myself to be. You know, I needed like me in the past and and this is the person I’ve become, and yeah.

**** – (): 28:42.07

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah. It’s also another thing, right? That we become the person we once thought we wanted someone to rescue us.

**** – (): 28:51.59

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yes, exactly.

**** – (): 28:51.58

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): We actually become that.

**** – (): 28:53.79

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): It really feels like that. um And so it feels like the greatest privilege in the world to get to be with other creatives and to encourage all of us. um I feel so, and people often ask like, why do you do what you do, Amy?

**** – (): 29:06.59

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And and it’s almost it’s hard for me to explain. like I just love artists. I love creatives. We are so incredibly important and we are so undervalued and it pisses me off. And so I have a fire in me, you know, that’s like, I want to get us together.

**** – (): 29:19.48

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I want us to feel okay. I want us to feel powerful again.

**** – (): 29:21.37

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah. I love that. OK, one important question. Another thing that once you start to grow is not often while you grow, your creativity may grow, in the sense of not your creative hours.

**** – (): 29:36.61

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): When you grow, a lot of did those non-creative hours start to grow more, like you know marketing, admin, sales, like all of these things.

**** – (): 29:43.95

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 29:45.97

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Because then it’s not about you. It starts to become a business. or you it’s It’s so much more.

**** – (): 29:50.26

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Mm-hmm.

**** – (): 29:51.49

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And a lot of people have a lot of resistance to towards it. I know I used to have it a long time ago, but I think now I embrace that part. But I still feel there are days where I’m like, you know what?

**** – (): 30:03.34

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I’m not going to do anything. I’m just going to be in the studio. or like But I also know this much this is as much a responsibility today then because I have commitments. I’ve committed people, their work, you know all of this.

**** – (): 30:13.61

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 30:14.52

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): But this strife, like you said, I also feel like, you know when I closed my first fashion business I think the first reason on why I did that was because when I came out from my fashion school I thought being in a fashion business meant running a fashion business meant was I would draw beautiful garments every day and I would be like this creative like because that’s what fashion school was about we would draw and then I would drape and then we would embroidery and all And when I started a business, I was like, I’m the one who’s hiding. I’m the one who’s telling the manufacturer. I’m looking at, you know, ah counting stocks and then making bills. I’m like, none of this absolutely includes designing or actually making something.

**** – (): 31:00.15

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And I think this is a strife, a lot of us specifically in the beginning, because the other side, a lot of people don’t tell about it is you will feel this right in the beginning, but things also get better when you grow.

**** – (): 31:04.99

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 31:12.49

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Your time will come back to you because you will have more people who can pitch in with you.

**** – (): 31:17.20

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 31:17.24

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Now, let, what, who how is it for you? How was your journey?

**** – (): 31:20.54

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah. You have said so many beautiful points in there. um I think you’re right. um It does get easier. I mean, we ebb and flow in terms of like, you know, how hard and how easy it is.

**** – (): 31:31.08

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): But definitely I feel like it’s like basically up ah in terms of ease.

**** – (): 31:33.54

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 31:34.81

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And I get to do more art, the more of the hard yards I’ve put in business wise. But yeah, business is a huge part of being an artist. And I think sometimes that catches people by surprise.

**** – (): 31:45.68

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And you get a lot of angry creatives out there who say, I didn’t realize I had to be a content creator as well as an artist.

**** – (): 31:50.97

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 31:52.07

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And they’re pissed. um And I i want to to have empathy for that because like it is a lot. We have to do a lot. We’re essentially entrepreneurs. We’re business people as creatives. um But I also want to lean in into the fact that business can be an art.

**** – (): 32:08.09

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Marketing can be an art.

**** – (): 32:08.59

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah, absolutely.

**** – (): 32:10.97

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I mean, I love, I love business and there are parts of it I really don’t like. Like I’m not super great with taxes and whatever.

**** – (): 32:16.41

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 32:19.60

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I’ll get them done, but then they don’t light me up. But there are parts of business that make me a better storyteller. And, you know, there are parts of writing that make me better at business.

**** – (): 32:25.62

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 32:28.16

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Like they come together in a very beautiful way.

**** – (): 32:29.37

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that. Yeah.

**** – (): 32:31.83

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um And so I do want to encourage the artist who feels almost angry or bitter or resentful at the business part of it, um that this is a part of the game. Like when we choose to make art, we also choose to champion that art. We also choose to market that art. Like this is a part of it. Like we get to make art, but then we have to put it out there and back it and believe in it and put a price on that. And that’s really hard, but it’s also very beautiful and it’s part of the artist’s job.

**** – (): 32:59.91

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um And I think it’s a really holy part of the job. I love it.

**** – (): 33:03.97

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that. Okay. Now, my question is, um is there anything that you do, while you know, I think, as we start to grow as artists, as people,

**** – (): 33:16.37

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): get put ourselves out there, get more seen. Do you have any practices, anything that helps you keep that cocoon alive or you know this invisible layer to protect your creativity?

**** – (): 33:29.06

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Because sometimes too much information, too many things happening, it does get in the way. The heart and soul of anything that we do is afraid.

**** – (): 33:34.96

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): It does, yes.

**** – (): 33:38.21

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): What do you do?

**** – (): 33:40.34

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I think this is an excellent conversation that we need to be having because so many artists prepare for failure, but they never prepare for success.

**** – (): 33:46.97

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): request.

**** – (): 33:47.45

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): So it’s like, how are you going to have boundaries in place to make sure your art practice is protected? How are you going to know like, What do you want to do? Who do you want to work with? Or who you do you not want to work with? No one’s preparing for their inevitable success. We’re all just preparing for the failures. And so when when artists do get successful, you see a lot of people getting very overwhelmed very quickly because they’ve never thought about this not once.

**** – (): 34:10.10

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): they’ve never dared to, they’ve been superstitious about it, or they never thought it was going to happen. So you get almost like these very shocked artists who are very suddenly successful, and they’re not prepared. And so I think all artists should prepare for their success.

**** – (): 34:23.37

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): So, you know, to keep that beautiful sacred layer around our art, I have very, very specific times in my day where I write my stories, and there can be no business, nothing else happens in those times.

**** – (): 34:34.46

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um If I feel like I

**** – (): 34:35.47

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): So I’ll use someone who blocks time.

**** – (): 34:38.36

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah, so ah my mornings are always for writing.

**** – (): 34:41.78

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): OK.

**** – (): 34:42.24

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um Every day, doesn’t matter. um you know It doesn’t matter what else is going on in the business. I could have a huge thing on, but the mornings, I never plan anything in the mornings, because that’s my time to write.

**** – (): 34:52.72

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): That’s my art time. It’s sacred. And so you know Beyonce could be like, I want to do a collab with you. I have no idea why I chose Beyonce. But like it’s not you can’t do it in the morning, because that’s my time.

**** – (): 35:04.38

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um And so I protect my writing that way.

**** – (): 35:06.12

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 35:08.40

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Um, because I always want it to be my priority and I always want it to, um, yeah, come before the business stuff.

**** – (): 35:17.66

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah. Oh, love.

**** – (): 35:20.24

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Um, but we’ve got a, sorry.

**** – (): 35:22.92

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Again, you were saying something.

**** – (): 35:24.92

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): No, I was just going to say, we’ve got a, we’ve got to, you know, think about so many different things when it comes to our future success, like boundaries, like Who do you want to work with? Or who do you not want to work with?

**** – (): 35:35.02

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): How long, how many hours do you want to work? How many hours do you not want to work? um How are you going to make sure that your success is something you actually want to live in? Because a lot of artists get to a success, you know, and they don’t want it anymore.

**** – (): 35:42.72

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah you

**** – (): 35:47.07

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): But it’s like, but it’s because it’s not the life they wanted. So what is a life you’re actually going to enjoy? Because, you know, maybe you just want to live, you know, in a forest in the woods, writing books, um you know, connecting with your people online, but you never want to go on a tour.

**** – (): 35:58.28

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah. Yeah.

**** – (): 36:01.07

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): You have to know that because you’re going to need to tell your publishers immediately.

**** – (): 36:03.00

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 36:04.68

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): You’re going to need your boundaries and you need them in immediately but no one’s ever prepping for this.

**** – (): 36:05.26

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 36:09.63

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): So design your beautiful successful creative life in your head and think about the steps you need to take to get there because there’ll be specific steps you need to take.

**** – (): 36:09.92

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 36:19.23

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that. No, I think this is, I also read this somewhere, which is very popular that a lot of times the fear is not of the failure. The fear is of the success.

**** – (): 36:26.90

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Success. People are so afraid of success, they’re afraid of their friends not liking them anymore, they’re afraid of making people feel small, they’re afraid that money will destroy them, they’re afraid that they won’t like their art practice anymore.

**** – (): 36:37.49

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 36:39.98

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I i know, I work with thousands of creatives and I know they’re all way more sick get scared of success than they are of failure.

**** – (): 36:43.19

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 36:46.53

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And so we need to look at those fears and we need to unpack them. If you’re afraid that money is going to ruin you, well, then what steps can you take to make sure that you have a good relationship with money?

**** – (): 36:53.22

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah you fine yeah yeah i love that

**** – (): 36:56.67

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): If you’re afraid that it’s going to ruin your art practice, you need to protect your practice now, not just when the offers roll in. Now, there’s a lot of preparing we need to do for our inevitable success.

**** – (): 37:08.95

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And I always look at it like, um I think artists should behave very similar to athletes.

**** – (): 37:20.62

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): You need to prepare for the game before, even before, you know.

**** – (): 37:21.29

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yes.

**** – (): 37:26.15

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Like, you even know you’re ready for a game. You live that life before that game even comes in the picture. Like, it’s like you have to have that discipline, that dedication, the respect, like, and take yourself.

**** – (): 37:38.56

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that spirit of our athletes. I think it’s just, and I feel like there’s a lot of overlap.

**** – (): 37:41.41

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Me too.

**** – (): 37:44.42

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Oh, I agree. but One of my most famous posts is actually that artists are not like athletes, but and because I was talking about how artists don’t win gold. ah We don’t have a first place, which i which is true, but in so many ways and contrary to that post, we are so like athletes.

**** – (): 37:54.08

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yes, absolutely. Yes. Yeah. up yeah

**** – (): 38:01.27

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): We need to invest in our recovery. We need to invest in our warm ups. We need to invest in our mental game, like prep ourselves, take ourselves seriously. Athletes take themselves so seriously. Why are artists?

**** – (): 38:11.69

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Absolutely. And it’s like both of them sound as unreasonable to the world. as like And I’m like, I love the spirit when like, you know, when they say they have a game, and they have to go to practice every morning, every evening, we are at it.

**** – (): 38:17.72

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I know.

**** – (): 38:26.29

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yes.

**** – (): 38:28.91

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Three years they know there’s going to be another game three years and they They do it like a job every day and they eat accordingly, wake up accordingly.

**** – (): 38:34.89

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 38:37.01

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And I have a friend who’s an athlete and he’s like, oh, I have a game that I need to appear for in 2026. And he’s like, even from today, I wake up as I go.

**** – (): 38:46.76

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yes, I love that.

**** – (): 38:49.51

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I was like, this sounds very much like vegan artists. I feel like it does not matter if I have a show or I don’t. I wake up every day and I want to make art.

**** – (): 38:56.94

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): little

**** – (): 38:57.12

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I have to make art. I have to write. um I can then do anything else later. But then these things, nick and even if I don’t do it, it’s not like it’s going to be easy. like I feel like I’m getting out of breath.

**** – (): 39:08.69

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): like This is the reason I do everything else.

**** – (): 39:09.03

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yes. I love that. I absolutely love that. You’re right. like we just We need to channel that the discipline and the commitment and how serious these athletes take themselves.

**** – (): 39:19.35

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): like Artists need to do the exact same thing. um I love that he was prepping for something in 2026. We need to prep for 2026. What’s happening in our art lives in 2026?

**** – (): 39:27.33

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 39:29.33

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Let’s prep for it today. Let’s treat our bodies and our minds and our art today because we have a huge future ahead of us.

**** – (): 39:31.16

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 39:36.63

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): um One question related to the next question.

**** – (): 39:40.88

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Of course.

**** – (): 39:41.92

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love how you name your courses. I think they speak to you. ah you know oh Write your fucking book, the journaling code.

**** – (): 39:47.30

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): ah

**** – (): 39:51.82

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): It’s selling without selling out. like And then the new book that you’ve just published is now available. We need your art. Do you want to talk about it?

**** – (): 40:01.11

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): we need Yeah, I would love to. Thank you for getting me the opportunity. and So she’s on just for pre-order right now. So she comes out early next year in March. um So speaking of preparing early, I’m preparing early for this baby and I’m going to be, you know, backing this piece of art for six months, trying to get pre-orders in.

**** – (): 40:13.44

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): The last one.

**** – (): 40:19.35

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um I’m going to be the biggest champion because, like, I need to be the biggest champion of this book because she’s mine. um So we need your art. um and And then the subtitle is Stop Fucking Around and Make Something.

**** – (): 40:30.69

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 40:30.99

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Little bit cheeky, little bit cheeky. um So yeah, she’s ah a creative manifesto, essentially. So whether you’re in a slump or you’re, even if you’re like very far into this road, but you’re just feeling a little, earth or if you’re a beginner, this book is about reawakening the creative fire in you, because what you’re doing is very important. And it’s about reminding you why what you’re doing is important. It’s about navigating all of these creative blocks, perfectionism, procrastination, imposter syndrome,

**** – (): 41:01.81

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): recognizing that this is a hard fucking journey but it is yours and you absolutely have what it takes to move through it. So it’s really just like a creative bible and I want artists to have the support and the reverence they deserve and that’s what I feel like I did in this book.

**** – (): 41:19.08

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that. I love that. I am going to I’m going to get my pre-order as soon as get I get off the call.

**** – (): 41:24.60

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): i Thank you. Thank you.

**** – (): 41:27.51

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): um

**** – (): 41:27.96

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): So I think that it’s coming out. It’s coming out basically everywhere. But um for ah India, you can order through the UK and the UK are the only ones.

**** – (): 41:36.11

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Okay.

**** – (): 41:37.15

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): They’re the only ones that get the swear word in the title. Everywhere else took out the swear word so you can get the the naughty cover.

**** – (): 41:41.42

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): oh umm going jile but That’s also something I want to mention. Like, you know, a lot, a lot, a lot of times your book is being published along with like, you know, by penguin and mouse, it is one of the biggest publishing house.

**** – (): 41:55.89

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): But a lot of times I think even as artists, sometimes we feel like if we get a bigger publisher or a bigger gallery, our work is done.

**** – (): 41:56.10

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Mm.

**** – (): 42:03.06

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Mm.

**** – (): 42:04.46

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And oh, I don’t have to do look at you. up even before or you’ve opened, you’re talking about your art, you’re putting yourself out there. Even though you have somebody who could, you could easily ah leave it out to them and you would, you know, you would be like, okay, we are here to do a job.

**** – (): 42:18.18

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Mm.

**** – (): 42:21.20

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): But I think this is something that I really want to mention a lot of times as artists, we think like, Things will only happen when somebody big is going to come into the picture and I wouldn’t have to do. But the contrary to that is you when keep on doing what you do, it does not matter who’s with you or not.

**** – (): 42:38.16

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): And often people come to you because of that.

**** – (): 42:41.12

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Exactly.

**** – (): 42:40.94

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Like, you know what I mean?

**** – (): 42:42.64

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Yeah, no, I love that. Thank you for seeing me in that. Like for me, you know, if I think this book is good, why wouldn’t I back it? If I wrote this baby, like I’ve got to back it.

**** – (): 42:52.02

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Yeah.

**** – (): 42:53.92

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): If I want you to read my book, I have to be its champion. And so for me, it’s like an act of It’s an act of service to myself. like It is my job as the author to to get behind this baby and to promote it in any way I can.

**** – (): 43:07.25

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um And I know a lot of people don’t don’t want that to be their job, but but I really believe that if you made it, you back it, you champion it. like That’s your job.

**** – (): 43:14.08

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): i love that spell

**** – (): 43:14.69

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um No matter who’s behind you, no matter what you know publishing house has picked you or what gallery you’re at, um you’re the artist and this is your job.

**** – (): 43:21.99

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 43:22.20

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): So for me, I take that very seriously because I love my creations and I want other people to love them. So I’ve got to I’ve got to go out there and tell people about it.

**** – (): 43:31.37

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love that Amy. Thank you so much. I really appreciate this conversation and thank you so much for your time. I’m going to grab my copy and I will make sure that we send out a newsletter, link it everywhere and promote on the roof like shout

**** – (): 43:46.74

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Thank you. turuka

**** – (): 43:47.31

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): out it for you because you. I think I greg give so much credit is because I absolutely love um what you write every day getting in the morning and looking at your posts. I think just going through that it just feels like I think it’s like a realignment reminders that sometimes we don’t even know we need. So we as much as you know, I’m going to say we need your art I need your art and I’m sure like but anyone who’s listening to it would would definitely do the same.

**** – (): 44:16.28

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Thank you. I’m honestly, I can’t tell you how much that means to me. Thank you. Thank you so much.

**** – (): 44:20.08

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): um um um This is truly, with all honesty, that you you should truly believe in. Okay, one last thing.

**** – (): 44:27.86

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Thank you. sir

**** – (): 44:28.03

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I’m sure people already know this, but where can people find find you, support you? where How can, if you also want to put it out, where can they buy the book, pre-orders, and any other information you want to share?

**** – (): 44:38.05

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): yeah

**** – (): 44:40.77

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Amazing. So you can find um me on Instagram, which is at inspired to write. And then for this book, baby, you can just type in we need your art into Google, we need your art.

**** – (): 44:51.06

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): And I want you to say it over and over again, because we literally do. um And you can buy it on Amazon, or you can pre order it from like a local bookstore, like whatever it feels good for you. She’ll be everywhere.

**** – (): 45:02.58

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): um I just want her in your hands. I want you to feel the support.

**** – (): 45:05.04

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I love how you recognize her as she.

**** – (): 45:07.88

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Oh, she’s a she.

**** – (): 45:11.06

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Little things.

**** – (): 45:11.42

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): I always gender my books. I’m not sure why. Yeah, I want her in your hands. I want you to have the support you deserve. So we need your art. Just pop her into Google and go find her.

**** – (): 45:22.37

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): Perfect. Thank you so much, Amy. I truly appreciate this.

**** – (): 45:24.95

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Thank you, Taruka.

**** – (): 45:25.61

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): I hope to see you soon again on the podcast and I hope to celebrate more wins.

**** – (): 45:28.03

**** – (): Amie

**** – (): Of course, I would love to. Thank you so much. So grateful.

**** – (): 45:32.84

**** – (): charukaarora

**** – (): So grateful. Thank you.

.

Charuka Arora is the founder of the Arts to Hearts Project and Host of the Arts to Hearts Podcast. She is also an acclaimed Indian artist known for her contemporary embellished paintings. Her unique blend of gouache, collage, embroidery, painting, and drawing explores the intersection of art, culture, heritage, and womanhood. Through her work, she tells stories of female strength and encapsulates them in pieces that can be treasured for generations.

Charuka’s work draws inspiration from Hindu mythology, recognizing women as vessels of Shakti, the cosmic energy. She beautifully portrays powerful goddesses like Durga Maa riding a tiger or lion, symbolizing their unlimited power to protect virtue and combat evil.

Through her art, Charuka invites us into the world of women, showcasing their beauty, strength, and resilience. Her creations not only exhibit exceptional talent but also serve as an inspiration and a symbol of hope for those challenging societal norms.

Arts to Hearts Podcast is a show delving into the lives and passions of renowned artists. From running creative businesses and studio art practices to cultivating a successful mindset, Charuka Arora engages in heartfelt conversations with her guests. Experience your personal happy hour with your favorite artists right in your studio.

Through candid discussions, Charuka and her guests reveal the joys and challenges of a vibrant creative life, both within and beyond our studios. Get ready to be inspired and uplifted as you tune in.

Amie McNee

Amie McNee is an author, educator, and advocate for artists and creatives. Amie McNee helps artists and creatives thrive by offering her books, courses, workshops, and a dedicated creative community with her partner, James. Their mission is to dismantle the limiting narrative surrounding creatives, allowing them to become the artists the world needs. Stepping up as an artist is incredibly brave and generous and deserves to be taken seriously. When not working on her books, she can speak, teach, and write love letters online to creators of all mediums and art forms. She encourages creatives to remember that their art is needed, no matter who they are or how they want to contribute.