Creative Connections with Mandy Jakich

Available Episodes

5 of 182

Kirsty Nixon - Contemporary artist
Kirsty Nixon is a contemporary New Zealand artist living in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Her vibrant, light-filled paintings celebrate the untamed beauty of Aotearoa New Zealand — from the windswept beaches of the North Island to the soaring mountain ranges of the South.Drawing inspiration from the land, sea, and native birdlife that surround her, Kirsty’s work invites a quiet moment of reflection — a breath of peace amidst the noise of modern life. With an instinctive eye for colour and composition, she transforms everyday encounters with nature into uplifting works of art that feel both familiar and extraordinary.Kirsty has been a practising artist since 1997 after a career in graphic design and advertising. In this episode Kirsty talks about how working in advertising led her to having a nervous breakdown of sorts which turned out to be the catalyst for taking a break and finally choosing to become a full time artist.We talk about:how art initially provided an 'out' for her socially and continues to nourish her mental health and well beingKirsty's positive connection with NZ artist Tim Wilson and what she gained from his influenceHow her work has evolved over the years and even gone full circle in some waysHer strategies for dealing with imposter syndrome and a lack of confidence at times and getting through periods where she has felt discouraged or unmotivated.Kirsty talks us through her painting style and the different series of works she makes, from the well known NZ native flora and native bird landscape works and her 'roadie' series, to more graphic works incorporating different colour palettes and pattern. https://www.creativeconnections.nz/post/kirsty-nixon-contemporary-artistSupport the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:25:40
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1:25:40
Sarah Ritchie - Fibre artist and author
Sarah Ritchie is a New Zealand fibre artist living in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.Sarah specialises in creating framed works in natural fibres such as New Zealand wool, bamboo and cotton, showcasing her passion for texture, colour, and non-toxic creativity - drawing inspiration from the breathtaking beauty of Aotearoa New Zealand.In this episode Sarah unpacks her fibre art process for us: from her preferred fibres to use and the tools she uses to her technique , use of colour and the ideas behind her work.Sarah is an absolute power house, or as she says, a “purpose-driven multi-passionate”! As well as being a practising artist Sarah teaches needle felting workshops; she has created a range of needle felted painting kits; she has curated a collection of merchandise and a range of prints featuring her original needle-felted fibre paintings; she has written 4 non friction books, she is a business mentor, a member of an art collective, a photographer and a facilitator; all while working full time in graphic design and advertising.With a background in business, graphic design, advertising, and human resources Sarah has a sound understanding of what it takes for artists to run a successful, sustainable business and imparts much of her knowledge and experience in this episode. We talk about identifying your why, identifying and reaching your audience, aligning to your purpose, different ways of monetising art, creating a business plan, strategic thinking and dealing with 'failure'.Support the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:37:35
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1:37:35
Ceara Lile - Textile artist
Ceara Lile is a fibre-based mixed media artist who grew up in West Auckland. She creates abstract textile collages layered with meaning, memory, and emotion as well as eco inkless hand printed fabrics. She now lives in Keri Keri in the Far North of Aotearoa NZ with her partner Mario.From an early age, Ceara has been captivated by textiles, drawn to their textures and versatility. Her work takes the form of abstract, collage-based fibre sketches, where these materials serve as both her medium and her tool. Caera creates layered backdrops, using these elements to build a rich foundation, then draw over them—playing with color and form to evoke places, emotions, and relationships. At the heart of her work is a deep fascination with the human experience, particularly the ways in which we seek connection and belonging, both in physical spaces and within society. I loved meeting and talking to Ceara. She shares how she got back to creating after a break away travelling after completing a fashion degree. We discuss how her love of maths and her fashion degree has informed her work, the process of abstract art and how abstract works often have a 'teenage stage' before reaching a satisfying completion and the mathematical problem solving that is often part of the abstract process. Ceara goes into fascinating detail about her inkless printing process, from collecting rusty iron and bark and creating pigments to how she chooses the leaves and how each leaf responds to the dying process. We also talk about her 2 other series of works, changing Landscapes and The Venn Of Us, which are fabric collages using repeated shapes and hand stitched lines.Ceara explains the ideas and the meanings of the codes that appear on her fabric collage works, we go to the craft versus art conundrum and her shifting attitude of "it's just clothes" to seeing her work as art and herself as an artist.https://www.creativeconnections.nz/post/ceara-lile-textile-artistSupport the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:29:21
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1:29:21
Jane Shriffer - Abstract painter
Jane Shriffer is an abstract painter living and working in Wānaka in the south island of Aotearoa NZ. Jane paints intuitively, layering colour and texture, making her marks with a palette knife.In this episode we have a fantastic chat about Jane's experience studying painting at Dunedin School of Art as an enthusiastic 18 year old only to leave university with her degree and not return to painting for 10 years. She shares how she got back into painting through immersing herself in lthe local art scene, the things she did to grow confidence in herself as an artist and how she managed that dreaded imposter syndrome.We discuss how Jane's unique and highly recognisable abstract painting style came about and how her work has evolved over the years. Jane talks about her influences, her organic approach to colour and the joy colour brings, making that first mark, how she knows when a painting is finished, and a pivotal moment in her career that got her thinking more seriously about her work. We touch on the time she overheard someone saying "my 5 year old could paint that", how she feels about people trying to recreate her work, the different ways people respond to the colour pink, the joys of abstract making, how she comes up with the quirky titles of her paintings and what they express to her.https://www.creativeconnections.nz/post/jane-shriffer-abstract-painterSupport the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:41:18
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1:41:18
Katie Blundell - Multi media artist
Katie Blundell is a contemporary New Zealand artist, living and working from her studio in Clevedon, south east of Auckland. Focusing on the human experience, her work is both personal and universal. Katie approaches her practice through different media depending on what ideas she is wanting to express, primarily focusing on on printmaking, painting, drawing, photography and sculpture. In this episode we talk about:her beautiful gallery/studio space in Clevedon where she teaches, creates, mentors and exhibits her work and how she manages the space and the variety of work she doesher experience studying at Elam art school from the age of 18her unique technique of combining woodcut printmaking and painting to create what she calls relief paintings and how this developedThe Women At Work portraiture exhibition she is working towards showcasing several Aotearoa artists Katie admires including Jacqueline Fahey, Linda Tyler and Judy Millar, which she is finding slightly terrifying but deeply gratifyingWe discuss her "In My Opinion" videos on Instagram where she expresses her ideas, opinions and vulnerabilities, and how she manages all the things she does in a week while still prioritising her art practice.Women Art WorkOctober 17th 2025 opening night from 5pm, October 18th and 19th 10am - 4pmat Katie's gallery and studio 331 North Road in Clevedon https://www.creativeconnections.nz/post/katie-blundell-multi-media-artistSupport the showNgā mihi, thanks for listening! Follow CREATIVE CONNECTIONS on InstagramLearn more about Creative Connections and see images of each guests work and relevant links on our blog
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1:26:35
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1:26:35