The Transformative Effect of Saying Yes to the Painting Within You with Erika B Hess
Episode 105
19th May, 2025

This week, I’m joined by the fiercely honest and endlessly generous Erika B Hess. Erika is a painter, Artistic Director of Visual Arts at the Chautauqua Institution, and the creator of the brilliant podcast I Like Your Work. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, curated countless shows and publications, and—quietly but powerfully—helped build an entire support system for artists navigating the messy middle of their careers.

In this conversation, Erika reflects on growing up in a rural landscape without a clear roadmap to becoming an artist, her years in New York’s cutthroat art scene, and the profound shift that came with motherhood, grief, and an unflinching reckoning with herself. She shares the moment her paintings stopped being something she controlled and became something she listened to, and what it takes to build a life and career with real intention.

We talk about learning to say no, scheduling downtime as an act of self-respect, and the surprising magic that happens when you let go of something good to make space for something great. If you’ve ever tried to balance caregiving with creativity, craved more time in the studio, or longed for permission to step away from the noise—this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.

What We Learned from Erika B Hess

1. Bravery is about truth, not scale
   Art doesn’t have to be big, shiny, or sellable—it just has to matter to you.
2. Let go of “good” to make space for “great”
   Sometimes moving forward means saying no to perfectly fine opportunities so you can embrace the extraordinary.
3. You can’t do it all on your own
   Building a creative life requires support—whether that’s family, community, or professional help. Asking is part of the practice.
4. Motherhood and grief change the work
   Erika’s palette shifted from bright colours to murkier depths, mirroring the emotional landscapes she was navigating.
5. Downtime is an act of self-respect
   Rest isn’t wasted time—it’s fuel for creative breakthroughs and longevity.
6. Make the weird paintings
   The work that feels risky, uncomfortable, or “too much” often holds the most transformative power.
7. Careers—and lives—aren’t linear
   Progress is puddled, layered, shifting like water. The path doesn’t have to be straight to be meaningful.

Erika’s story is a reminder that the most powerful art doesn’t come from forcing—it comes from listening. Her honesty about burnout, bravery, and the hidden cost of “doing it all” is a gift for anyone navigating the tension between ambition and sustainability.

If you’ve ever needed permission to rest, to ask for help, or to release something that no longer serves you—consider this your sign.