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 emotion, how growing up by the Mediterranean shaped her relationship to light and color, and why her personal motto, “Color is life,” is more than just a phrase—it’s a philosophy. Shiri shares how trusting her gut, embracing joy, and letting go of control helped her find her true creative voice.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to live more boldly, this one’s for you.

🎤 About Shiri Phillips:

Shiri Phillips is a painter in Omaha, NE. She studied at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media and received a bachelor’s degree in Art History. Drawing inspiration from the nuances of Impressionism and the structured elements of graphic design, her artwork mirrors a harmonious blend of these influences.

Impasto painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Phillips uses thick strokes of color and places them with precision on canvas, creating a graphic-like or pixelated look. Her art is defined by the deliberate use of upbeat colors to convey an emotional and physical response. Inspired by the vibrant surroundings she found growing up on the Mediterranean and the Southern Californian Coast, Phillips is driven by the philosophy of “color is life.”

Website: https://www.shiriphillips.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shiriphillips

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiriphillipsdesigns

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EPISODE CREDITS
Produced, edited, and mixed by Kat Collins Studio
Artwork designed by Kat Collins Studio

LINKS

Be sure to follow and tag us with #TheArtistIsInPodcast on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook: @katcollinsstudio

Podcast: https://www.artistisin.com
Website: https://www.katcollinsstudio.com

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 the act of creating is enough to claim the title of artist. This is a conversation about voice, vulnerability, and the quiet power of trusting your own instincts.

🎤 About Courtney Barnard:

Courtney Barnard is an intuitive abstract expressionist painter who acknowledges and validates people’s experiences through her work. She helps create connections and community with her topics and encourages people everywhere to feel and heal.

She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with honors, from West Chester University. After some time away to start a family, Courtney returned to painting with a renewed purpose. Having hit rock bottom emotionally and physically, painting became not just something she enjoyed, but a way to heal. Through meditation and journaling, combined with her art practice, Courtney unlocked a new way to express emotions and connect with those going through similar experiences. It has become her mission to help those struggling with trauma recovery to feel validated and part of a bigger healing community.

Website: https://www.courtneybarnardart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneybarnard_art

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Support the show

Thanks for listening and share the podcast with your friends!

EPISODE CREDITS
Produced, edited, and mixed by Kat Collins Studio
Artwork designed by Kat Collins Studio

LINKS

Be sure to follow and tag us with #TheArtistIsInPodcast on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook: @katcollinsstudio

Podcast: https://www.artistisin.com
Website: https://www.katcollinsstudio.com

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 recognition, but for the pure love of the act itself.

Sean also shares how teaching has deepened his understanding of painting—how guiding others through the process sharpens his own instincts and keeps him connected to the joy of discovery. Whether he’s alone in the studio or in a room full of students, Sean shows up with the same energy: present, passionate, and always ready to paint. This episode is a testament to what happens when you follow the creative pull all the way in.

🎤 About Sean Carney:

Sean Carney is a representational painter based in New Jersey. His work explores the intersection of Pop Art and Photorealism, focusing on iconic automobiles as symbols of progress, ambition, and American culture. Through bold compositions and meticulous detail, Carney captures the essence of these vehicles—rendering reflections, curves, and chrome with a sense of stillness and reverence.

Carney holds a BFA in Studio Arts with a concentration in painting from New Jersey City University. He also studied at Montserrat College of Art and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His paintings have been exhibited extensively throughout the East Coast and internationally, earning recognition from collectors and curators for their technical precision and conceptual depth.

He has presented solo exhibitions at venues including Cerulean Arts (Philadelphia), the Arts Council of Princeton's Solley Gallery, Exhibit B Gallery, and Princeton University. In 2016, Carney received the Mercer County Culture and Heritage Purchase Award, and in 2018 he completed a residency at the Princeton Public Library through the Arts Council of Princeton.

Carney's most recent solo exhibition, Philly Scenes, was featured at Borrelli’s Chestnut Hill Gallery in Philadelphia in 2024.

Website: https://www.carneystudios.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carneystudios/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeanCarneyNj/

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening and share the podcast with your friends!

EPISODE CREDITS
Produced, edited, and mixed by Kat Collins Studio
Artwork designed by Kat Collins Studio

LINKS

Be sure to follow and tag us with #TheArtistIsInPodcast on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook: @katcollinsstudio

Podcast: https://www.artistisin.com
Website: https://www.katcollinsstudio.com