The Artist Is In

Guest: Shiri Phillips

In this episode of The Artist Is In, painter Shiri Phillips joins Kat for a vibrant conversation about what it means to live—and create—with color at the center of it all. Trained in art history and rooted in graphic design, Shiri eventually traded digital grids for thick, expressive brushstrokes and a palette that pulses with energy.

We talk about her unique process of building paintings with precision and emot...

Guest: Courtney Barnard

In this episode of The Artist Is In, I talk with intuitive abstract expressionist Courtney Barnard about painting as a form of inner truth-telling. For Courtney, art isn’t about external expectations—it’s about listening inward, honoring what needs to be said, and letting it pour onto the canvas. We explore how creativity becomes a declaration of self, how we choose who we are through what we make, and why th...

Guest: Sean Carney

In this episode of The Artist Is In, I sit down with painter and educator Sean Carney, whose creative drive is as relentless as it is inspiring. Sean doesn’t romanticize the process—he simply has to paint. It's a need, an obsession, a daily practice that grounds him and gives shape to his days. We talk about what it's like to be pulled to the canvas (or in his case, wood) again and again, not for recogni...

Guest: Deborah Slahta

In this episode of The Artist Is In, ceramic artist Deborah Slahta joins me for a grounded and powerful conversation about process, patience, and the quiet courage it takes to let go. From the tactile rituals of working with clay to the unpredictable dance of heat and glaze in the kiln, Deborah shares how her practice has become both a discipline and a release. We talk about the space between control and surren...

Guest: Jennifer Small

In this episode of The Artist Is In, abstract artist Jennifer Small shares the quiet transformation that changed everything—when she stopped trying to paint what things looked like and started painting what they felt like.

We talk about her evolution from realism to abstraction, the beauty she finds in the ordinary, and how letting go of expectations opened space for a more expansive, honest way of creating. Jen...

Guest: Rachel Coleman of Shy Fox Studio

In this episode of The Artist Is In, fluid artist Rachel Coleman shares how a return to creativity helped her heal after trauma—and how letting go of control became the most powerful part of her practice.

We talk about growing up in her mother’s ceramic shop, the moment she rediscovered painting, and why fluid art felt like the only medium that could hold her emotions. Rachel opens up about how...

What happens when we stop gripping the outcome and start trusting the process? In this solo episode, host Kat Collins shares a personal story from her painting practice and reflects on the transformative power of letting go. This is an invitation to soften your grip, reconnect with your intuition, and remember why you create in the first place. 

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In this short trailer episode, host Kat Collins—abstract painter, storyteller, and founder of Kat Collins Studio—invites you into the heart of The Artist Is In, a podcast about the real, raw, and beautiful truths of creative life.

This is a space for artists of all levels, and anyone curious about what it means to make art with heart. Expect soulful conversations, honest reflections, and the kind of stories that live behind the brus...