In this episode, host Anne van Damme sits down with Australian artist and educator Marni Killalea. Marni has spent over ten years mastering the art of massive, eight-foot pencil drawings. Recently, however, she has stepped away from the familiar grey tones of lead and into the vibrant world of painting women’s bodies.

The conversation explores the delicate balance between professional teaching and personal practice. As a visual arts teacher, Marni works with a diverse range of students, from 17-year-olds to retirees. She candidly discusses the her work as a teacher and her own desire to branch out and discover other art forms.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Accidental" Art Business: How a single $50 dog portrait commission on Facebook snowballed into a ten-year career, and why it took Marni nearly a decade to realize she was actually an entrepreneur.

• The Power of Scale: Why Marni gravitates toward six-to-eight-foot pieces and how she uses "timer-based productivity" (starting with just 10 or 20 minutes) to overcome the intimidation of a massive blank roll of paper.

• The Artistic Split Personality: Why Marni feels like a different person when she paints versus when she draws. We dive into her current exploration of "powerful feminine poses" and her move toward color.

• Methodical Creativity: A step-by-step breakdown of how Marni teaches—and uses—the ideation process: from brainstorming and sourcing reference images to technical exploration and finalized composition.

• Resilience and Rejection: Marni shares her refreshing take on the "rejection letter," viewing the act of applying for opportunities as a way to breed more opportunity, regardless of the immediate outcome.

• Protection of the Craft: Why Marni chooses to keep a steady teaching job rather than relying solely on art sales, allowing her the freedom to explore her "artistic voice" without the crushing financial pressure of commissions.

• The In-Person Craving: A reflection on the "anti-connection" movement against social media algorithms, and why real-time, in-person creative spaces are vital for the modern artist.

Marni concludes with a powerful piece of advice for anyone feeling stuck: start with ten minutes. By removing the requirement for meaning or "gallery-worthy" results, you allow the practice itself to become the meditation. Whether you are a painter, a songwriter, or a hobbyist, this episode is a deep dive into the discipline, patience, and joy required to live an authentic creative life.

Find Marni:
On facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marnikornelukartist/On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marnikillalea_art/
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Find out more about our host Anne van Damme (⁠@annevandammesongwriter⁠)
Listen to her music on ⁠Spotify⁠ or ⁠anywhere else⁠
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Learn everything about Amie McNee and her book We Need Your Art (⁠@inspiredtowrite⁠)
And ⁠The Inspired Collective⁠