Episode 229
#229 - Interview with artist Joanna Blair
I sat down with the extraordinary Joanna Blair. An internationally exhibited mixed media artist whose figurative paintings celebrate inner strength. Transformation, and the beauty of life's unknowns in between.
Joanna shares her deeply personal journey. From painting traditional oil portraits to discovering her true voice. Through mixed media, symbolism, and hidden treasures. Facing breast cancer during the pandemic profoundly shaped her art. Pushing her to create collections like Boldness of Resilience, and When One Door Closes, Another One Opens. All centered on hope, courage, and self-discovery.
We dive into how storytelling, technology (yes, even QR codes hidden in her paintings!). And a connection to nature have fueled her creative evolution. Joanna opens up about breaking free from societal expectations. Navigating international art shows without gallery representation. Why embracing "happy accidents" is crucial to authentic expression.
This conversation is a powerful reminder: Transformation is not something to fear. It's something to run toward, with your whole heart.
Check out Joanna newsletter and website at:
Follow her journey on Instagram:
And of course, you can find all the links for L.I.T.G, and where to listen at:
👉 www.linktr.ee/lostinthegroove
Transcript
Joanna Blair
ah happy accidents are a good thing um things that you'd never thought of yeah yeah things that you'd never thought of and you stand back and you're like oh look at that
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
They're splendid. Yeah, you later, you laugh you laugh your ass off about like, Jesus, where the hell was I at the time?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Hmm.
::Joanna Blair
totally
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
yeah o
::Joanna Blair
ah
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
So, ah honestly, like, I kind of ah read your profile. I kind of got an idea from your website. How would you describe yourself as an artist? Like, if you could just put it all into a ball, like, how would you describe it?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Because I feel like there's a lot to explore. That's what I'm getting the sense, right?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
There is.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, definitely, Dave.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Okay. Okay.
::Joanna Blair
yes Yeah, it's a funny thing. I sort of, um I suppose like a lot of artists, just trying to find your voice. You know, you kind of go all over the place.
::Joanna Blair
um And then I've sort of landed to where I am now. But ah these days, i started off just doing straight oil painting um and more, I don't know what you'd say, conventional painting.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Your Bob Ross phase.
::Joanna Blair
Yes. Yeah, that's it. That's it. um
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Happy accidents. but enough With the brush. o Totally unnecessary.
::Joanna Blair
But yeah, no, and now doing mixed media, a lot more expressive and yeah, I've sort of, what unlocked it for me was I've i've painted all my life.
::Joanna Blair
um But then during the pandemic, I did an online art course and um Milan Art Institute and that sort of really took my blinkers off and really opened up my don't know my creative I don't even know what you call it yeah yeah that's that's it
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Your chakra. There we go, your chakra. Ooh, I love those words.
::Joanna Blair
it's
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
um Ah.
::Joanna Blair
That's a great word, Dave. That's perfect.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Ah.
::Joanna Blair
um Yeah, and then after that, all ah every all of this sort of came out, um mixed media and a lot more symbolism and storytelling and all of that sort of stuff, and then sort of going even further, wanting to make it a lot more interactive with, you know, the
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Nature.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, and and even adding elements like hidden keys, like a hidden key and a QR code in each painting, sort of connecting to much deeper meaning again.
::Joanna Blair
And yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Damn! um Okay, wow.
::Joanna Blair
ah
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
First of all, like that that is attention to detail right there. Because that's like, it's so unnecessary, but yet so creative at the same time and ingenious.
::Joanna Blair
ah Thank you Yeah, no, that's it, Dave, because i thought ah don't want it to just be observed. I want it to be experienced. And um I think by putting a hidden key in there, it's fun, but also it makes you look at the painting because you can find the key.
::Joanna Blair
um And then the the QR code sort of leading, some of them lead to ah a poem or a piece of music or yeah, all sorts of things.
::Joanna Blair
So, yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Really like fabricating technology. You know, it's it's like almost of a way of taking something physical and giving it a digital element to it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, it's um one of my favorite things is, is those like interactive tattoos. And when I say interactive, I don't mean QR codes. I'm talking about like the ones that like make them look like stickers.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, or the ones that are um really, really good at like pastels. You ever seen those before? Like those very subtle pastel birds, you know, and it looks like just simple brushstrokes that.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
That. Is just. Genius, you know, you're kind of like manipulating. Your workspace. Wow. I threw a corporate thing in there, but yeah, workspace.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Your work environment, your work element.
::Joanna Blair
yeah no you're right you're right and that and that's what i think too because i think Yeah, a lot of paintings are just, yeah, you look at it and I don't know, but I just thought, how can I how can i really maximise this experience? How can I really get across, really speak to someone one off the canvas as well, you know?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
it's honestly like covering all like avenues. Cause I've said this so many times, right? When you sit down with an artist, the number one thing you walk away with is what they gave you because you are the best representation for what you're creating.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
So if you want to engulf or have somebody, you know, shine and be inspired by your work, There's got to be you in your work. And people are like, nah, I could tell. I'm like, you can tell if somebody's copying.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And doing the, you know, with the clickbaity and like, it's great.
::Joanna Blair
Very true.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
But where is the ingenuity, you know, in that? Like...
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, i ah I completely agree because, yes, and you do see I've been exhibiting internationally. I was doing four shows a year before the pandemic and, um you know, you get, yeah, yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Globally?
::Joanna Blair
um
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You, mommy asking, where do you live currently?
::Joanna Blair
I'm in Melbourne, Australia.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
i ok okay, okay.
::Joanna Blair
I'm a long way away.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
So you got a bit of a journey if you're going to travel globally, because I know that like, Europe is at least 20 hours.
::Joanna Blair
ah
::Joanna Blair
Oh, Dave. I love Australia, but oh, my God, you're in the air for six hours and you're still in Australia. When you're flying, it's like, oh, my God, it's such a long way away.
::Joanna Blair
It really is.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I mean, Australia is kind of the American outback, if you think about it. It's so it so funny. The amount of Australians I've run into, especially artists, like especially like when you're dealing with the outdoors, there's so much similarities.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, with ideas and like nature walks and like just experiencing like just being in those rural areas... It's just bananas and like how many places and obviously like you've been around the world is how many places you can don't go to and you're like Oh my god, I've thought about that too and they live here.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I live all the way there It's amazing
::Joanna Blair
but that's Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah, no, definitely. We, we have a lot of space down here.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ah A lot
::Joanna Blair
no, that, um,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ah So you found use like traveling the world for your art. Did you use that as mainly like inspiration or um sharing the work that you're doing? Like what exactly was that for you?
::Joanna Blair
yeah no that um It started off in London. I got accepted into the London Biennale and it just kind of took off from there. I know.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ah wow.
::Joanna Blair
um So after that happened, the next thing i was contacted by Tokyo, oh we want you over here. And then it was Miami and Dubai. And, you know, it just went bananas from there. so the travel was to show my work. But, yes, circling back to your initial question, think,
::Joanna Blair
about copying and stuff like that, you know, at those shows, these are massive shows and you get to see a lot of work. And I think it's interesting to me how people can almost feel what you are feeling sometimes when when you're painting. Like I've had people say to me, oh, these are really happy paintings, you know, you're really happy when you're painting these. And I think, oh, I'm so surprised you can feel that.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, another work I've seen, I remember looking at a painting someone did and it was – I think it was even called Depression, but even without looking at the title, I could ah could actually viscerally feel how heavy and dark that painting was.
::Joanna Blair
And yeah, it's interesting.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Yeah. There's so many, it's interesting that there's so many different um elements to paint with. Like, I'm not a painter. I'm i'm like an ink and and and paper kind of person or, you know, like I have an iPad.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And with oil painting, it's so bananas because it's like almost every single person figures out a different formula of how to produce their oil paintings.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Because Newsflash takes freaking forever to dry.
::Joanna Blair
because
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, and it's like a pain in the ass. Like you can't have it like sitting in sunlight. like There's just like a lot of a lot of stuff for me as a dyslexic person. I don't have the time or patience to remember, know.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
But it's just, it's like one of those elements as an artist where you got to be good at this. Because if you're not going to be good at this, you can't really work well with the medium.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, you have to be at your best A game with oil painting, like 100%. Redo!
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, the advantage of oil in a way, though, is because it does take ages to dry you can just wipe it off. God knows I've done that enough times. You know, the rag with the tears.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
redo Redo!
::Joanna Blair
Oh, she goes, yeah, oh, God, what the hell is that? Yeah, the happy accident just didn't work out that time. Yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Hey, i mean, Bob Ross did it three times. I guess everybody can do three times, too. No. No.
::Joanna Blair
Oh, God. fetch um But yeah, no i find, yeah, acrylic you need to work fast with because that dries quick and once it's on, it's on. and um
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Now going back.
::Joanna Blair
But the the advantage of, yeah, that's it. That's it, Dave. But the advantage of oil paint that nothing else has is, i find anyway. because of the pigments it's made with, certain tones of it will push something visibly back and certain tones will pull it forward.
::Joanna Blair
So you can kind of get this push-pull in the painting that you can't get with any other, you know, with acrylics or pencils or, yeah it's, I'm only, yeah, even charcoal.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
or even charcoal.
::Joanna Blair
it's and ah didn't only learnt that in the last couple of years. I've stood in front of paintings. I ah remember at the Met Museum in New York, I was looking at whatever painting it was And I just was trying to work out how did they get it to look like they did where you had such depth and things that almost look 3D and trying to capture on your phone, just couldn't get it. And yeah.
::Joanna Blair
yeah And then when I did this course, that's when that sort of opened up all of that. And I was like, ah, right now I get it. ah So yeah, it just changes the way you kind of have to look with your artist eyes.
::Joanna Blair
Um, Yeah, the things that you're considering, you know, when I'm painting something, it's more about what shape is this? What tone is this? Where is it sitting in the painting? What do I want it to say?
::Joanna Blair
So it's kind of really bending your mind a bit, actually.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's got, yeah, it's got all of those, it's got all of those pieces. It's like almost where, when you, when you picture a landscape or almost a memory, you know, it's being able to get all of those elements shaped on onto a canvas.
::Joanna Blair
Thank
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, a lot of these pieces were made during a period where there was no photography. You know, you you literally had to have somebody, like, physically stand there, or you had to physically sit yourself in front of this shit-filled brook called the River Thames, you know, and paint it. that That takes a lot of skill, because keep in mind, like, things are moving, day is changing, Try to fight time with, you know, a little oil brush in hand, and you're 89 old, and...
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
it's going to take a while. It's going to take a minute.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, exactly, Dave. It's it's interesting you say that because a lot of the masters like Monet and those ones, um they started off their lessons, they had to sit in the Louvre and paint the Dutch masters. That's how they learnt it and stuff like that. But you're right, when you're outside and outside just, I'm not good doing outside because you're right, there's so many, the wind, the lights changing or worse, people are watching you.
::Joanna Blair
And then you get sub then you get conscious and then you just ah any ounce of talent just abandons you and you just start daubing. But...
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
There was some Mentioning of this there's an artist like a really famous famous pianist that like he does like tik-tok videos or whatever and like whatever fans come up to him And like search for it's singing along with him.
::Joanna Blair
but
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
He just walks away You know because like I could kind of understand like where you're coming from to like some artists is like I'm in my element I'm in my groove like Stop.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like, please don't, please don't disturb this. You know, like now I'm out. I got to leave. I think that's totally valid. You know, like you can't expect every single artist be like, yeah, let's do a jam session together.
::Joanna Blair
Dave, I think you're frozen at my end.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like, I don't think everybody works that way.
::Joanna Blair
I'm not sure what's happening. And I can't hear you.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Phew. All right. Sorry about that. We had a little bit of the internet glitch, maybe um intergovernment connections. But anywho, we are back. What were we talking about before? I like totally, i totally forgot. We were talking about, um oh, we were talking about oil paintings. You mentioned you were in Met and we were talking about Monet.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I think that's where we left off.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Yes, that whenever somebody tries to do a duet with him, he's like, hell nah, I'm out. Yes.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ah i said like I think I said this before, like it's totally okay. like There's just certain types of artists that are just, they just kind of got to be in their zone.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
and They just kind of have to be in their element. you know And
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
i just think that there's just a different way of how we process how to like making art You know, sometimes it's like an idea that pops in the head or it's just you start and you kind of are going in a different direction.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like, I don't think there's any right way.
::Joanna Blair
Yes. Yes. And then you were mentioning about the guy that's doing the piano TikToks.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Yeah, there are people that are great with people, you know, kudos to them. You know, I give them credit, but you can't fit.
::Joanna Blair
Oh yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I think this is a problem, too.
::Joanna Blair
I can totally relate to that.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You can't fit all artists in the same box.
::Joanna Blair
I remember i was painting, i was on this little trip in Tuscany and I was out in the middle of like out in the middle of nowhere in Tuscany.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
is something you got to learn is that everybody's going to work the way that they work.
::Joanna Blair
It's so beautiful. And I found this little spot outside this, you know, 800-year-old town, and I thought, perfect, and I was painting the view. And then I noticed this man standing a little way behind me watching. I thought, oh, no, just please go away. Because it's really hard to sort of, once you're conscious of that person watching you and, oh, geez. And I was struggling with the the painting anyway, so that that was really helpful then. Yeah.
::Joanna Blair
ah
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
e
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know it no on it like It applies to like practically everything right
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, I think so too, Dave. i um One of my friends, she's an artist and she works, she's got like a little studio space and it's got probably 15 other artists in there and nothing's closed off.
::Joanna Blair
and And I think, I don't even know how you do that, honestly.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
all that worry and that anxiety, it's just like, you know and the thing is, even where you're dealing with teachers, you know I can say for myself, like I'm um in auto tech school and where you have all these different teachers that are supposedly like, you know, in the automotive trade and things.
::Joanna Blair
i don't know how you do it. And the same with art lessons. I remember years ago, like years and years ago, i was having art lessons and I was, you know, they've got the model, ah muddle still life model, the woman,
::Joanna Blair
And then there's 10 of us with our easels. And and i think too, when you're being taught by somebody that loves to paint but doesn't really like to teach, they're probably supplementing the income.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And then you have those artistic teachers. Like I have one currently that is a race car driver. And this guy, like, his dad inspired him, and, like, he's built cars stuff, and, like, he's built engines.
::Joanna Blair
So the patience level with students is minimal. um And it was like Jaws to me.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And the way he talks about this is, like, you know, like, reading one of the lines from, like, Galileo.
::Joanna Blair
Like you'd be coming around and I was sort of the last one in the row. and And it'd make me really nervous because I could see him getting closer and closer. And it was like the...
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, just the way he expresses, like, the how things and everything operates.
::Joanna Blair
dennna denni and that's he's getting closer and closer like jaws and then suddenly he's on you and what the hell is this you know and you think oh it's just yeah I thought to myself gone
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You can hear the passion coming out of this man. Like, this is what he loves to do. and Is it a common thing? In my personal experience, it's not a common thing when you're dealing with teachers.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's like one in a few, one in a rare that like stand out of the crowd, but they do exist.
::Joanna Blair
yeah I think so because when I'm left to my own devices then if I stuff it up who cares just me or you you
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
but That is a real, that is a reality. They they do exist out there.
::Joanna Blair
you just be easy with yourself and let you the happy accidents that's how they happen and because you're not trying to conform you're not you know and looking at what's the others are doing oh i should be doing it that way or of that goes away um and yeah i
::Joanna Blair
Wow.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
i I hate to say this. i think the worst type of judges are professional celebrity judges.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, yeah, you're right.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And it's not because like they're not talented.
::Joanna Blair
And it's, they are few and far between.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You're talking about exceptionally really talented people.
::Joanna Blair
And when when you get someone, because I think you have to, the passion for teaching and passing on knowledge and allowing someone, especially if you can recognize the talent in someone, and just giving them the space to find their own style, find their own voice and encourage and
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's where... Who are the people that see talent? It's the audience.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, it's... You can have... like Maybe you could explain this better than I can, but you can go and put your art in any type of art gallery, anywhere.
::Joanna Blair
not disparage, not try and push them down to, no, it needs to be like this or, you know, their interpretation of what you're doing, you know, i think absolutely, absolutely.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It doesn't matter what the curator thinks. What matters is the people walking around in your and you could hear them, you know, cussing and like talking a little bit because you know that they're like getting that inspiration from that.
::Joanna Blair
They are few and far between, unfortunately. and And I think too, the sad part about that is, you know, even if you look a show at a show like um America's Got Talent or, you know, Factor or any of those kind of TV shows where someone will come on that actually has talent but gets so castigated by the judges,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
That's kind of like where, when you watch shows like America Got Talent, like it loses that. It's like, yeah, you hear the audience like, But it feels so much like you're putting this person in front of like these people that put them on such a high pedestal like yeah It's so unrealistic come on gotta take off your shirt and be there in a freaking speedo and be hot as shit in order to get those gold flake things whatever's coming down like I'm being real right now ah so true
::Joanna Blair
And I think you're just killing that person's dream in a lot of ways. You know, you don't know where that person could go to and their self-belief because a lot of it is self-belief too, I think.
::Joanna Blair
um You know, if you don't think you're any good or whatever, you can have the best talent ever. But if you can't see it or it's been drummed out of you, unfortunately, it tends to lie dormant, you know.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Mm-hmm.
::Joanna Blair
Exactly.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
e No, it's true. It's true because you know, I think all of us have our own tastes and styles you know, I Like I i could say for even from like myself like I'm very much type of person with people to know me. They're like I very much scream vintage.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's just me.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
That's just my aesthetic and that's okay, you know, I think like everybody's got their own twang going on and
::Joanna Blair
And I think if you think of somebody like Susan Boyle, when she won Britain's Got Talent as opera singer, you know, she was, didn't fit that mould at all.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You being able to appreciate something that's beautiful to you doesn't have to be beautiful to anybody else.
::Joanna Blair
she't I don't think she won it, but Lisa, I've able to see a ton. But yeah, I agree.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like, who gives a shit?
::Joanna Blair
um And and in in the art world, I think this is the benefit now.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like, am I dating you? Like, are you, like, related to me by blood? Because, honestly, I don't really want to deal with those people right now, I'm going to put you in the it crowd.
::Joanna Blair
Now is the best time to be an artist because you don't need a gallery. You can get on social media and you can attract your tribe, so to speak, and directly speak to your collectors. And that's why I've never been gallery represented because the gallery doesn't get to choose then is your art art or, you know, um do they think you have a future?
::Joanna Blair
It doesn't matter what they think because it's just what people think when they look at it. And I know from experience too, um even when I've looked at art, when I've purchased things, I'll look at something and think, oh, that's so beautiful.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Here, I have to show you something. So, this is a grinder, but it's an elephant grinder.
::Joanna Blair
I love that. erda um And I want it. And the person next to me will be like, hate that. That's the worst thing I've ever seen.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Wait, it's got a tray in its butt?
::Joanna Blair
It's so subjective.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And its head just comes off.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
So, this is a great example of, to me, this is freaking adorable. Like... Is this necessary? absolutely Absolutely not, but it's amazing!
::Joanna Blair
Thank you.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
That's a real grunge. Yeah. Yeah, I know. i feel you.
::Joanna Blair
Absolutely, absolutely. Plus, I don't know, just diversity and new things, interesting things. And yeah, you're right, though. um If everyone just liked the same thing, I mean, Jesus, imagine how boring and how mundane everything would be, you know?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I like weird things. Yes.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah.
::Joanna Blair
Oh, wow.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And honestly, like your own point, because to be honest, I keep on looking on your website and it's just, oh, but you kind of showcase that a lot with your work itself.
::Joanna Blair
Oh, my God, cool. Yeah, yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, there's like a little weird, like great example. think there was one. hold on.
::Joanna Blair
Oh, definitely, definitely.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
me find this. There's what?
::Joanna Blair
And I think, too, to surround yourself with things that you...
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Yes. It's like with little swimmers.
::Joanna Blair
love um prior to my art career taking up I was working as a makeup artist and I was freelancing so got to go into a bazillion people's homes because i was doing oh yeah that's it that's it and so going into people's homes and it surprising
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like these little... Yes. And it's like, when you look deeper, it's as if like the people in the back are so far ahead of everybody else in the front. It's like almost like I'm looking at it like... I'm like, oh my god.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
There's so many elements in this piece. It's bananas. And you know what?
::Joanna Blair
how most times, even really wealthy people, didn't really matter.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Honestly, kudos to the weird. I kind of like that. That is something that just...
::Joanna Blair
a lot of it's very generic, but every now and then you'd get to go into someone's home and you could really feel their personality.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It showcases you more than anything else.
::Joanna Blair
And like the like you were just showing me with your grinder and stuff like that, you get a real sense of them and they're surrounding themselves with stuff that speaks to them.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I love that piece. I love that piece. I'm sorry. I love it.
::Joanna Blair
And it's always... Yeah, that's it, David. It was always such a joy, those jobs, because, you know, people are not conforming and yeah, surrounding themselves with things that really mean something to you or just delight you.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, it's so crazy because whenever like, I love very artistic films. I love like, you know, even TV shows or things that have those elements.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And whenever you watch those shows and you know, it's so on purpose, that scene where you have those characters and you can clearly see the artwork and
::Joanna Blair
Oh, yes.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
That's on the walls. And I'm one of those people. They're like. Yeah I'm kind listening to characters. But I'm looking at that wall. I want to see what's going on on that wall. And you can see an artist. Like purposely putting.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Each of those pieces there. To set the whole like.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
i It just blows my mind away.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, it's interesting.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
That's just so.
::Joanna Blair
um
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ingenious and so in-depth like it's not only just a scene like somebody actually like curated the whole thing going on in the back over there just
::Joanna Blair
and And sometimes... ah thank you. um Yeah, and it's it's surprising what elements come out on the canvas, even subconsciously, Dave, like you were just pointing out there, that you don't even realise.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
oh
::Joanna Blair
And then you look at you think, oh, wow, yeah, okay Yeah, and I think it just comes down to that thing of just relaxing and letting your... letting yourself do you do just see what happens yeah and then that that side of you tends to come out yeah
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And I mean like you've had so many different avenues, you know, it's like I feel like you've explored a lot as an artist, you know you Look, I'm I'm of those people like for example, like I love we were talking about this earlier like Monet Monet has a beautiful style but when you take, you know, like Salvador Dali is a great example or you know Picasso get their crazy pieces but like i don't know like they have different time periods in their life where they like made you know with salvador dali he had his very like surreal era you know the the metal the the melting the chaotic scenes and i kind of appreciate that because it's like showing a showcase of like growth and it's like i'm moving on to something else like i'm still me but i want to try something else
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, yeah, you're right. I've worked on film sets and um yeah, that's exactly right. When you get a really good creative um artistic director and things like that, the attention to detail and, you know, what do we want this character to say and, you know, by what they're wearing, but also the surroundings. And as you said, you know, even thinking right down to the art that's on the wall and what that projects, you know, the the image that that projects in terms of what does it say. yeah, yeah absolutely.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's like the one performer i know for myself that the second a Whitney Houston song comes on, the volume is going up and everybody's just.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know and you just listen, right? And the thing is, because like each of her songs kind of plays a different role and in her life, you know, like from the very end to the very beginning.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, and they often advise you against that because, you know, you've you've got to have your you know, I've been told so many times, you need to look at a piece and know that it's a Joanna Blair.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And. Even like let's be real.
::Joanna Blair
And and if you're not careful, it can be a real trap because, yeah, it stops you exploring other things or trying different techniques or ah worst of all, you start painting to the market because that's what's selling.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Even though a lot of her music wasn't hers, you know, and she didn't do a lot, but still she was fantastic at what she did.
::Joanna Blair
And then it's a s slippery slope down, I reckon, once that happens because then you're doing it for commercial reasons, not because, you know, it's not your soul speaking anymore now. It's right. and I've got to pump this out.
::Joanna Blair
um and you And you see that with famous people too. You know, you look at somebody like Whitney Houston, you know, was sort of really pushed into that genre of, you know, and when I watched the documentary on her, I thought, wow, that's so sad. She wasn't really her, but she's so successful and there's such an entourage behind her and so many people depending on her performance and the money it creates that she's trapped now she can't get out of it and
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
oh
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
but that with new york that New York
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Oh, I love it. i'm I'm originally from New York here.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ah Did ah really it you know people don't realize that like even if you ah One song that comes to mind is like um girls ah Girls just want to have fun which
::Joanna Blair
oh she so was I mean just such an unbelievable talent wasn't she and um yeah no you look at that and you just think yeah just what could have been as well um but yeah you sort of see it across all sorts things sport and things like that where you know they're
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
She didn't originally write that song. That song was given to her. And the song was kind of creepy originally, how it was sang. and she's like, you know what?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
but This is a girl's song.
::Joanna Blair
they get legs, so to speak, and become successful, and then you're kind of trapped in that that success, you know.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
like i should do this. And she completely changed it. and like It's really cool. like You have those like mixers on like social media where like they put the two next to each other.
::Joanna Blair
But then there's others that will break out of it and, you know, just be like, bugger it, I'm just going to do this regardless.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And you're like...
::Joanna Blair
And um actually an example that I can think of, I mean, a famous model, Cindy Crawford, when she was really young, she did Playboy, and everyone was like, oh, it'll be the end of your career, what are you doing, da-da-da-da-da, and she –
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Damn, this lady was really smart. She took something that was weird and creepy to something really cool and fun, which is talent in and itself.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like, not everybody could do that.
::Joanna Blair
I admire her. She's a really savvy businesswoman as well and still going strong in in her late 50s.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like, gonna say that right now. Like, not everybody has that skill and capability.
::Joanna Blair
But,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Just, no.
::Joanna Blair
yeah, yeah. And I just thought, okay, yeah, yeah. And I just sort of look at people like that and I think to have the guts to go against what people that are more successful than she was at the time saying this will be career suicide.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Girl, you are killing me with the legends over here. Like, you're just one after the other. ah Yeah, Tina Turner, though. whoo
::Joanna Blair
And yet it had the opposite effect really.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Power horse.
::Joanna Blair
Yes, Cindy Lofa.
::Joanna Blair
Right.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
i I got the opportunity to see Blondie live like two years ago. And um what's her name?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Debbie. Debbie Harry. She performed. And I feel like she's in her And.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
and I'm just standing there watching this 80 year old lady perform like as if she's 34, you know, and it was, it was incredible.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, that's it, Dave. i think so too. um Yeah, I think Tina Turner did that with one of her early songs too.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like some of these talented performers, they just can't quit that.
::Joanna Blair
It was it was a bit of a crap song and then she just did.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
That's just it. They just can't quit. They just keep going. And I'm like, you can put down the mic and they just don't want to, they just don't want to.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, wow, what an amazing life and amazing courage. Yeah, yeah. And, I mean, really when you you sort of forget that she was still flying in her 60s, you know, um Yeah, when I look at some of her stage performances, it's hard to remember that she's 65 or something.
::Joanna Blair
Really killing it and still the massive voice and yeah, same thing with her, you know, as an artist, her her drive and just willing willing to just do whatever it takes really inspiring
::Joanna Blair
Harry.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
mic Mick Jagger is... He's an alien brought from space, okay? Let's just... That man is unreal, alright? Like, he's older than Paul McCartney.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
He's older than Paul McCartney. It's... Alien. That's it. Alien. Done.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? It's that I can't not do it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
going.
::Joanna Blair
Why do you do it? I can't not do it. It's that, isn't it? And I mean, she was 38 when she first hit fame, Debbie Harry. She, you know, she wasn't super young. And I think that too sort of speaks a lot. You know, it's never it's never too late. I mean.
::Joanna Blair
Geez, Tina Turner was nearly 50, I think, when she sort of broke off, broke away from Arc Turner and went solo. And you just realise what's possible. And I think it comes back to that self-belief as well and just not being afraid to just do what you really want to do.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I think what we...
::Joanna Blair
And and as you said, Debbie Harry, 80 years old on stage and ah how many would have the guts, especially as a woman.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's so true, and I think what it leads to is there is no such thing as retirement if you're an artist, and that's what you're perceiving.
::Joanna Blair
It's one thing for Mick Jagger to do it, but as a woman to do it,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
it big It's not that you don't want retirement. It's that you're doing something that you love and you're passionate about, and you get to do that every single day. so Why do you need to retire?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
you know you could Obviously, people slow down. You know you don't have to like be a full working horse. But it leaves the question, do you really need to retire if you're an artist and that's what you're passionate doing, regardless if you're successful or not?
::Joanna Blair
yeah I know I know well and I also think of somebody like Karl Lagerfeld the designer you know like he he died like six months after his last right not even then I don't think six months after his last collection um they just yeah just keep on camp yeah and I think it's that thing of where when you when you're so used to tapping into that creative thing and that is ageless it never leaves you and um I think it just keeps coming It's the body that just wears out.
::Joanna Blair
The mind keeps thinking of things and the spirit keeps wanting to, you you know, i'll come up with an idea. Let's do this. Let's do that. Let's make some music this way or let's paint the painting that way or let's sing the song that way.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You need excitement.
::Joanna Blair
or It's still always there. It's just the body is running out of steam to keep up with that inside part of you. That's what it seems to me.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's so true. i mean, i think of, don't know if you've watched Doctor Who, but there was an episode where he brought Van Gogh to the future to see ah how people reacted to his work.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, that's it. And I think in terms of retirement, because you sort of think, well, then what would I what would i actually do with my day? you know, I love my parents dearly. I've still got them there in their eighty s but
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And he was literally brought to tears because, you know, not only like was he successful, but like he was one of the most successful artists.
::Joanna Blair
And they're happy as anything. But, you know, it's kind of like watch go to the supermarket on Thursday, go to the RSL on Saturday, which is fine.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And it's like,
::Joanna Blair
Like I said, they they absolutely it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's a lesson of life.
::Joanna Blair
But I can't imagine that for myself.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's where his problem was that he didn't have an audience.
::Joanna Blair
ah I can't imagine not having purpose and not.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
His problem was he wasn't alive long enough to be around his audience, you know,
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, and drive. For me, it's not because mum says to me, oh, just paint because you feel like it. And think, and then what? Have a room in the back of my house full of paintings that no one's ever seen.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
and
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
There's always that goal of success, like being famous and having all of that.
::Joanna Blair
um You know what i mean? Like to me, it's more, it's that competitive spirit a little bit, um not against others.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like, I think that's great, but I think your goal is to be the most successful version of an artist you are to yourself.
::Joanna Blair
I think about against myself, you know, like I think to myself, I want to see what I'm really capable of, like get to the end of my life and think.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Not to anybody else.
::Joanna Blair
Where did you get to? You know, did you have the courage to push this and to get back up when you fail? And, you know, you have a show that didn't go as well as you you expected it to and you keep going and keep altering course. like How can I get better? How can I improve?
::Joanna Blair
What's a better idea? you know, um for me, it's a bit of that as well.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I think a few, like literally, if, well, he, I think it was his brother or brother-in-law or something like that. There was a ah huge fan and like supported him for a long time.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, that is an example of, we have those people that raise their flag for us in our life and sometimes we don't notice it but they are around us you know when you you look around like those signs come you know and it it does it it makes you feel good you know you're like you're like oh wow i didn't really know you know and
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You feel appreciated, which sometimes feels very well needed, even if it feels selfish.
::Joanna Blair
Definitely, Dave. I think so too, because yeah, that that thing of competing against yourself, not not comparing. And this is where sometimes you have to be careful with social media because it's very easy to compare. How's this person doing? How's that person doing?
::Joanna Blair
And you can go down these rabbit holes that are so bad for you, especially mentally. um but yeah, you're right.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Cooking.
::Joanna Blair
Like, you know, imagine if Van Gogh had have lived.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
We're not going to say what kind of cooking.
::Joanna Blair
I mean, he never sold a painting in his lifetime and yet look where he is. And and he his paintings rose up not that long after he died. It started to get traction and...
::Joanna Blair
right.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It shows and sends a true message. You know, I think sometimes a a lot of the times when you deal with art, especially like we live in a time where you have like AI, you know, and you have AI art all this stuff that's coming out.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, no, that's it, that's it. And I think too that's where um the ability now to get your art out into the world, whatever it is, whether you're doing music you or art or writing, whatever it is that you're doing, cooking.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Here's the thing.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
No matter what type of computer you can feed, There's something about human beings and taking brushes or a digital pen or markers.
::Joanna Blair
yeah
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I don't I don't know whatever floats your boat.
::Joanna Blair
job But yeah, no, and I think um it's so satisfying when someone else
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And just making something. You know, I i i would remember i was watching um this clip.
::Joanna Blair
really enjoys what you produced or it speaks to them on a deeper level and really means something to them that's what I really love about it where someone will buy a piece of your work because oh you know it reminds me of this or it's you know it's really uplifting or it's inspiring for me to look at or whatever it is that that for me is a huge driver of you know that you can put something out in the world that
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's really cool. They took a microscope and they zoomed into oil painting.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And it's like you can't see this, obviously, but you could see the very hairline strokes between like the – it's just so cool.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
But you can't see that with your naked eye. You can only see that through a microscope.
::Joanna Blair
someone else finds value in and or yeah, uplifting.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's crazy.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's the errors and the mistakes And the correct, see, this is something interesting. And I had somebody explain this to me. He said the problem with AI is that it corrects, but doesn't auto-correct.
::Joanna Blair
Thank
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
We humans, especially when you're like painting and you're in the zone, we correct and then we auto-correct and then we re-correct because they're like,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Okay, but when you're dealing with artificial programming you're dealing with just an algorithm, you don't get that same process.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
So it's weird, like people are like, oh my god, like there's going no differentiation, but there kind of is ah differentiation.
::Joanna Blair
Yes, you're so right because you when they do, there's a show out here called Fake or Fortune. Yeah, Fake or Fortune, whether a painting is original or not.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's hard to find, but it exists.
::Joanna Blair
And they do that. They'll put it under all these scanners and all that.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Okay.
::Joanna Blair
And you get to, isn't it? Oh, I know. and you get to see the changes of direction or parts of the painting that just didn't make it to the final bit of it that have been re-dos.
::Joanna Blair
And you're kind of getting an idea. a window into someone's thought processes, whoever created that, where they were heading with it. And yeah, I know, i know. it's fascinating.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Put it under a microscope. Yeah, put it under microscope and you'll definitely see the difference.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
hey
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I think also, you know, when we were talking about film earlier, a lot of the times where even though we have such great technology, we have CGI and all of these amazing, wonderful stuff. When there isn't physical art attached to it, it loses this almost raw and realistic element. Like, there's a movie Wicked. I didn't watch it. like i yeah But the way that they made those physical pieces throughout the film was kind of ingenious. Like, it still kind of felt like Wizard of Oz, because also obviously when the movie came out, they had to use physical pieces.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
But you have that added mix. It's interesting where you can almost instantaneously know the difference of where there's computer and real pieces, and then your brain is like, oh, okay, this is fine.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, yeah. And you can see that when you stand in front of an original, like I think when you look at a print of a painting and then when you get to stand in front of the original of it, it's a completely different experience.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
But immediately it's completely computerized.
::Joanna Blair
um and And I think, yeah, I agree with you.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Your brain is like,
::Joanna Blair
I think AI, well, I mean, I've seen some amazing AI pieces done, but yeah, when you, that process that goes into what a human goes through,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Something's off Something's weird, you know, you you feel triggered Wow, I cannot believe I use that word you feel triggered
::Joanna Blair
Yes, yes, absolutely. Absolutely. That human spirit is laid down into it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And they got her wrong.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
They got it wrong, which is... But, I mean, obviously it makes sense because they didn't have, you know, like the technology we have now. They found out that the way that they portrayed the iceberg was too big.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
So, my most icebergs, like the one that hit the Titanic, was very small. But most of it was underneath. It was like a hook. So, when the ship sailed through...
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Obviously they saw the ice, but they didn't see that how wide and massive it was underneath so But you're so right like they had to be able to imagine this and obviously they're gonna imagine like this huge giant But obviously this like completely not real but to us it makes perfect sense like the fact that the ship is sinking but it's completely light outside
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, and you don't get that um when it is completely computer generated. yeah It does feel flat. It hasn't got that, i don't know, kind of not jumping off the screen at you sort of feeling.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know what i mean But again, like it, it works with our minds to still allow us to feel real and in the sense of the moment.
::Joanna Blair
um And it must be hard on the actors. I remember watching a bit of the making of Titanic and that bit where they hit the iceberg. That's all green screen. And I thought for them to have to imagine what that would have been like and act around what they can't see because it's just green screen and i mean.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's really interesting because um
::Joanna Blair
Ah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
when you take like ah satire, for example, when you take like even certain jokes, you know, like I did comes up like even from friends and you put like scary easy put scary music behind it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It sounds like you're dealing with psychopaths. But the second you put like a laugh track there, it kind of makes it all kind of fit into place. It's so odd on how like it's the music that's setting the tone Of the environment.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Like you're feeling scared. Because they're putting. yeah you like Oh god But if you turn that off. You're just seeing a bunch of people. Just like sneaking around. and like oh this is weird.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
What are they doing? What are they sneaking around? You need that.
::Joanna Blair
Yes, yes, that's it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
and I get like
::Joanna Blair
That's it. and when and And I think too, when you add in layers of sound, which is why I sort of came up with the QR concept for with my paintings, when you can add sound to something and that in itself gives an emotional response and makes you feel something that you don't get without the sound, I think too.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I know we mentioned this before, that idea of the QR code with adding music, it's just, it's genius. Because that's kind of how we enjoy media and entertainment for, like, the longest period of time.
::Joanna Blair
it's yeah It's interesting once you start layering up all these visual effects with sound effects and all that kind of stuff, yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I think, I think I've seen this. ah Would it be Boundless? is Is that it? Yes?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's so interesting because like me looking at it right now raw, it kind of looks like a torn up wedding dress.
::Joanna Blair
you.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
But at the same time, like it's covered in flowers. It's almost like this gal like ran through either, like I don't know, a place that grows... I don't know the terms.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
A place that grows flowers. you know and just came out violently. like Just torn dress, like ripped to shreds. I like this. you know It's like...
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Fuck this man. gonna try something new. Let me run through these flowers I'm out here mean great title boundless so true.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, that's it. That's who Dave. I'm doing a painting at the moment and it's a this woman and she's running. Like, she's running toward, theoretical theoretically, running toward her her future, not away from.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Uh, was that kind of the idea? i hope I'm like not getting this wrong at all, but That was like my first interpretation just seeing this
::Joanna Blair
Probably on Instagram. Oh, yeah. Yes, that's it. That's her. Yeah, she's still in progress, but I haven't finished it yet. But, yeah, so... um The song that I've got that the QR code goes to is Lizzo's song, Good As Hell. Like, you know, like she's, it's really upbeat. It's really energetic. And, you know, she's running towards something so much better than what she's leaving behind. She's not running away from anything. and And I think you're right, that music can really infuse something with energy. Or or if I change the music, it could absolutely be she's running away from something terrifying. Yeah, if I change the music, you totally have that.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I'm going to guess you i'm go to guess you like flowers.
::Joanna Blair
you
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Hey! Honestly, i think that's really cool because you really get a way of being able to interpreting these flowers because you see them in real life.
::Joanna Blair
yeah
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And it's cool because some flowers, you look at them and they have like red and then there's yellow. you know or like there's a hint of lavender and there's purple.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, I'm out of here.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And you're like, ooh.
::Joanna Blair
I'm going somewhere much better.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's nature's way of mixing. It's like, it's nature's ombre.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's weird, you know, because like red and yellow, like mustard and ketchup.
::Joanna Blair
no, I always love to hear people's thoughts, Dave. No, absolutely. Yeah, she's hoiked up her dress and she's on the move and...
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's like, no, no, no, hear me Hear me out. works. Mm-hmm.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, whether it's a relationship that just, you know, it doesn't serve you anymore and you're sort of, you know, right, I'm i'm done, I'm going.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
it works um And, you know, sometimes like it it does have like a really, I think one great example is like when you look at a cardinal, you know, and I feel like a lot of the times like what gets wronged is they're not that red.
::Joanna Blair
And, yep, the future. i always like i always think the future is so much brighter. Like, you know, and the eyes forward, keep moving forward. Don't look back. um And the flowers, yeah, absolutely.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's like they're always this bright, like I lived in New York.
::Joanna Blair
and also they're symbolic. i always sort of have an idea and then I kind of research what flowers will sort of speak to that as well.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I remember like they have this beautiful burnt orange, like red color.
::Joanna Blair
So there's that layer to it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And it's really cool. Whenever the sun hits on them, there's like almost like this like sheen that comes off.
::Joanna Blair
Yes, I am a bit of a gardener, Dave. I must have been. I've got a huge garden.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I don't know how to explain this any other way, but they have the most fascinating like color as a bird.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, I've got it in one. Yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
But the thing is like in real life, they're quite dull. Unless you have a light like a light shining on them. You know what i mean? It's like... You gotta play with the light.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I hope I'm making...
::Joanna Blair
yeah
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Oh my god, too much weed. ah You gotta be able to like...
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, and the garden's really helpful because sometimes, you know, something will flower and when I really look at it in detail, I think, I never would have thought to put those colours together the way Mother Nature does sometimes.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
See where the light goes. Because that also changes... There I go. It also changes the colors. You're gonna be using. Right? Okay. hey There you go. Yes.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Yes.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ah You but you started I'm looking at this now like you started with all of them being white
::Joanna Blair
Yes, that's true. That's true.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Yeah boundless because what I'm looking here is like ah Okay, so you started with like a clean s slate and you okay I'm trying to like go through this thought progression So it's like you start with a clean slate and then you figure out which flowers Gonna make okay
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
e i honestly i i think it i think again sometimes taking bold leaps and trying different things is sometimes the most healthiest thing that you can do for yourself the thing that i've realized along the way it sometimes can come with pain and suffering like
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, definitely. No, you're spot on, Dave, because, and I think that's a benefit of painting too, where you can kind of romanticize something that, like you said, you see it in real life and it's like, meh.
::Joanna Blair
But then you can paint it in such a way that it's like, oh, wow, that's stunning or that's so beautiful. Yeah, so you've got the ability to manipulate and place things and, yeah, harmonize things, we create that visual harmony as well.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
We make decisions and they come with consequences, like especially when you are trying to survive and being an artist. And I like I said this so many times. It's like. If you can find a balance so you can enjoy and love your life.
::Joanna Blair
what's that, the
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
What is holding you back? Like, figure out the way to be financially stable and be able to keep yourself sane of mind so you're not like, oh my god, another bill, what the hell am I supposed to do?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, balance those things out.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, because originally she was going to be pretty pale, like a softer ah softer version, I guess.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
And it's like, if you're able to do what you love, like, by all means...
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, you can see that in the you know the first stages of it and And I was going to kind of go in the duck egg blue because it's quite a calm colour. But then as I got going, I thought, no, and I started to think about what song I wanted to put it with. And I thought, no, she needs more.
::Joanna Blair
She's running.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Title.
::Joanna Blair
She needs a bit more oomph, bit more energy. So, yeah, the brighter colors are starting to make their way in there now. Yeah.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
There's so many doors that can be opened. I mean, it's...
::Joanna Blair
Thank you.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, the problem is is that you want the gold at the end of the rainbow. Guess what? The greedy leprechaun already stole the gold.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, it's you're going... To need to be able to explore and try new things Because the thing is if you get yourself stuck in that rut and you get yourself fixated on It's just gonna lead you to just absolute chaos and like You want to say
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, and it's, um I think, something that I've realised too, which is what my series that I'm doing at the moment, the series um is called When One Door Closes, Another One Opens. And sometimes, yeah, something really awful will happen and you think, oh, my God, it's devastating.
::Joanna Blair
you know it's You know, it's laying you flat or you just think the world is over.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
you want to say you want to be better at what you do
::Joanna Blair
It feels like that at the time. and then as you go forward and move through it and you come out the other side of it and then something really amazing happens sometimes
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Show that you can be better at what you do, you know, and it's like it's okay to like admit when you fuck up, you know, or like you don't do the right things like it's It's okay, you know, I can feel like I'm gonna beat yourself up about I
::Joanna Blair
or something really an opportunity comes up or better person comes along or you think of something that's so much better than ah tracks that you've run on before and it only happened because that awful thing happened it wouldn't have happened without that so I really love that concept of you know when one door closes i think to myself just hold tight because something so much better will come to you and another door will open and it will be better than what you're walking away from you know
::Joanna Blair
you
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's so true. It's so true.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Pivot.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I know.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's just you gotta to keep you just gotta keep on going. before Before we wrap up, I want to talk about... um with Vogue because you were mentioned on Vogue's gallery and specifically that piece um Was that was yet your intention or they just picked that out at at of random You did why did you choose that one i'm just curious
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, that's it, Dave. That's it And that's one of the reasons why I have the hidden key in each painting, because to me it's kind of like and unlocking that potential within yourself and and also unlocking...
::Joanna Blair
Opening other doors, because you're right, there's so many other doors, and just having the courage to just open it, just see what happens. Worst thing can happen is nothing, or it's not what you thought.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's really cool, it's a really interesting piece
::Joanna Blair
All right, well, don't do that again. Pivot, open the next door. You know, you just never know, and you're right, that thing of just getting stuck in that one spot, and time goes fast, you can be stuck in that spot for way longer than you realize, and you look back, and you think, God, I haven't moved the
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
yes
::Joanna Blair
a decade, you know I'm still where I was a decade ago, roughly, or, yeah, so I agree, I think just, yeah, don't be frightened of change, go and open the doors, see what happens, see what happens, you know, nowhere soft than where you'd be now, you know, and you've always got choice, you can always pivot, you can always pivot, you never, i always think that, like, you always have choice, you know, i okay, that didn't work, all right, what did I do, okay that, don't do that again, right, what's next,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
i thought i find it so fascinating because I've been throwing this idea around with like a bunch of people that I know, which is there's this theory, and I think this is so true.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Consciousness... is not physically attached basically like Kind of like how Wi-Fi works. There's these non-physical cables that connect from our minds to this other nether or whatever it is and Whenever we get these ideas They're coming from that other place through those cables
::Joanna Blair
No, I chose that one. Yeah.
::Joanna Blair
I'm just trying to think which piece it was.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I don't know but I'm gonna go on cables if you come through the cables and They get uploaded to your brain like they get uploaded to your mind.
::Joanna Blair
The big hair.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, that's right. I'm just remembering the piece now.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's like our consciousness is not in here physically like our souls Are tethered in from whatever these cables Things are and like looking at this piece.
::Joanna Blair
um Yeah, just ah that idea, like she's got that huge hair vertical. I think that's the piece, isn't it? That's the one in both. um yeah that idea of just being open to ideas and kind of to me it feels like it gets downloaded to you sometimes I feel like it's not it's not my idea it's kind of like ah download and then it's you know then you're running with those ideas and that that just is unending like this that that download from the universe sort of thing
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
and like that's why like I was looking at that with like vogue. I'm like This is really deep You know, like I've thought about this and like, you don't really think a lot of people think about this.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You just don't.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I think we should all meditate.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, no, i totally am on the same page as you with that because that's what I think too. I think it's and you need that's when when you're relaxed and you're not stressing about things, that's when your cables are right open and that's when you're open to receiving things and when you're not focusing on a problem and just think,
::Joanna Blair
the solution will come or the idea will come when you're just at ease. And I think that's why ah don't meditate. should, but um I think that's a reason why meditation,
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Biology?
::Joanna Blair
yeah um I sort of do, but not in the traditional way, but I think that's when why meditation works so well because you're turning your mind off to all the noise and just letting yourself get those downloads.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
What is this star?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Physics. Laws of...
::Joanna Blair
And and I think so too.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Okay, gotcha.
::Joanna Blair
I think that's where intuition comes from, where, we've lived a bazillion lifetimes.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
It's infinite.
::Joanna Blair
We come into this body, this physical apparatus, like a car, really. To me, it's like when you're born, you're given a state-of-the-art brand-new car. It's up to you. you never You'll never get another car.
::Joanna Blair
You've got to look after this one. um And and i think that's why as you get older, within yourself, you don't feel older.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I think also one thing that we we don't tend to look on is even when people pass, a lot of the times their legend continues with them.
::Joanna Blair
Your body looks older, but, you know, you hear people that say, my first profession was nursing, and, um you know, you get older.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
You know, we talked about Van Gogh earlier, but in many ways, like they're not physically here, but they still kind of are here, you know?
::Joanna Blair
some patients that be like, yeah, I feel like I'm 38, you know, 75 or something. And that side of you never ages. And, um yeah, I think it's it's a fascinating thing, the whole consciousness thing.
::Joanna Blair
and even even when you die, I mean, when you think of how much energy it takes for cells, you we're made up of trillions of them and the law of, um lore of um not chemistry, what's the other one?
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
it I think it's just a great example of what it comes down to It's where we think that this is the only time that we have because we're physically attached.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
you know And I think the whole idea of when it comes to artistry and creativity, where these ideas are flowing through is simply of a way of our souls or our conscious, whatever you want to call it,
::Joanna Blair
success anyway it doesn't matter it's the law of not psychology um physiology no physics sorry i had a senior's moment the laws of physics say that energy can neither be created nor destroyed it just changes form and that's
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
is connecting to the world around us. Like it's our way of connecting, you know, it's sort of like our, it's a way of communication. Is that, yeah, it's a way of communicating with other people around you.
::Joanna Blair
That's what I think that consciousness is. Yeah. You know, you're in this body, that consciousness is your physical apparatus and yeah, you are connected to the ether and to whatever that massive mind in the universe is.
::Joanna Blair
Um,
::Joanna Blair
Yes.
::Joanna Blair
yes
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ah I know, and you it's like the ultimate rabbit hole of rabbit holes because it just can go on and on and on It's never ending! But honestly, Joanna, I think like overall you're your work is impeccable.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
I mean, just from beginning to end, i mean, there's just so many places go. First all, your website is like really detailed out. You're just like, speaking of rabbit holes, you're like, oh, there's another tab. Oh my God, there's another one.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
ah But ah yeah, first off, what is your website and your socials so these wonderful people can find you?
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And you, you know, you hear of, um, some people when they're some in tune with each other, know what the other person is going to say before they even say it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
My pleasure. Easy.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
easy
::Joanna Blair
Um, and I mean, you see it in nature too, where they've, they've discovered like one species will be miles from another species and yet they can still, they've realized they can still communicate. They don't really know how they're doing it.
::Joanna Blair
Um, but yeah, I think so too. Um, it It is that that communication and it's so fascinating.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Love it.
::Joanna Blair
so fascinating.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Love it. And we were talking about earlier, you do have a new piece that's coming out. um Any details as to when that is coming out?
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, that's it. That's it. That's it.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
Exciting.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
So in short, you make sure to keep yourself busy. 100%.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
What was it, John? It's been an absolute pleasure to have you on. um To anybody out there, if you want to check out more of the podcast, you can find us at Lost in the Groove Pod everywhere and anywhere you listen to podcasts.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
So with that, we'll catch you on the next one. Peace out!
::Joanna Blair
Oh, thanks so much, Dave.
::Lost in the Groove Podcast
and
::Joanna Blair
I really appreciate it. um but My website is joannablaireartist.com. And yep, and Instagram is joannablaireartist.
::Joanna Blair
um Yeah, and if people are interested, I've got a newsletter um My email subscribers have the early access to all my work before the public. I only released in four-day releases. So after that release, the originals and the prints, the originals usually sell, but the prints never are released again after that four-day release. So, yes, that's all all those details are on my website.
::Joanna Blair
Yep.
::Joanna Blair
Yeah, that'll be our end of this month, end of April, twenty ninth of April they're releasing. So, yes, I've got a couple more pieces to finish. Yeah, getting to the pointy end of it now.
::Joanna Blair
Definitely, absolutely.
