What happens to your creative practice when your body suddenly forces you to stop?

In this episode, Martha sits down with artist Sophie Smorzweski to discuss her "Kitchen Table" series and the profound impact of periods of illness on her work. Sophie opens up about navigating this at the age of 18, experiencing periods of isolation as "mini lockdowns," and how the kitchen table transformed from a symbol of confinement into a powerful site of healing and artistic recovery.

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In this month's Wellness Journal, Martha Lamont and guest co-host Damaris Athene break the silence around two of the most isolating feelings in the studio: jealousy and comparison. Unpacking Julia Cameron’s famous quote on the topic, they discuss handling the reality of rejections, projection and the 'compare-and-despair' trap, alongside the huge disconnect between a successful Instagram grid and a difficult lived reality.

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In this episode, we continue the conversation on motherhood through a deeply personal lens.

Eri, a Japanese artist living in Paris, shares her experience of navigating pregnancy while being confronted with unresolved parts of her own upbringing. As she describes it, it can feel like opening a dark box, one that asks you to face old patterns and question the kind of parent you want to become.

There are echoes of Eleanor’s story from Part 1, but Eri brings her own perspective, shaped by her life, her practice, and her cultural context.

Together, we explore what it means to challenge inherited ideas of parenting, and how those inner shifts can reshape not only motherhood, but how we show up as artists and individuals.

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In this episode, we unpack the role of criticism in an artist’s practice: how to receive it, how to give it, and how to keep creating through it.

When is feedback helpful, and when does it start to pull you away from your own voice? We talk about trusting your instincts, recognising useful critique, and those rare moments when feedback sparks a real shift in the work.

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Grab a pen, or a notepad… or open a notes app and give yourself a bit of space. As we go, I’ll be asking you some questions and I’d really encourage you to pause the podcast after each one… give yourself the time to actually sit with it… and respond. Even though this is a short episode, I would give yourself 30-60 mins with the pauses. If you would like to share your reflections please do email thehealthyartistpod.com. We will send the questions out on our newsletter and share them on substack. Please do share this episode if you feel another creative could do with a moment of pause and reflection.

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In this episode of The Healthy Artist, we’re exploring a feeling many artists quietly carry but don’t always speak about, this sense that making art can feel pointless, indulgent, or even unnecessary when there is so much difficulty happening in the world.

Together, we sit with that discomfort and look at where it comes from: guilt, productivity culture, attention, and the pressure to justify creativity. We also reflect on how making art can be reframed not as self-indulgence, but as something deeply human- an act of connection, agency, and meaning-making.

We reference ideas from Aimee McNee's ted talk which you can watch here.

If you’ve ever questioned the value of your creative practice, this is a gentle conversation to sit with.

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In this weeks episode we explore motherhood with Eleanor May Watson. Eleanor shares how her first child made her confront barriers she put in her own way in her practice and her journey in letting go and becoming a stronger painter. Eleanor bravely shares the struggles alongside the triumph, and we are beyond grateful for her honesty.

Follow her work at @eleanormaywatson and https://eleanormaywatson.co.uk/

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In this weeks episode Martha connects with Damaris on her residency in Stavanger. After catching up on their wellness this month they dive into the theme of "The Fear Of Being Seen", covering topics such as the ideas that fuel the work, how we approach writing personal statements and titles for artworks, social media and creative boundaries. Martha also shares details on the first London Meet-up that she is hosting with usual co-host Dan Curtis this weekend and offering The Healthy Artist have. You can check them out on www.thehealthyartist.com.