#107 ELLEN DIETER
Get ready for a heart-opening conversation between two of our own, Nadine Johnson and Ellen Dieter. In this special interview, Nadine chats with Ellen, an artist known for her fearless use of color and deeply personal storytelling through paint. This isn’t your average art talk. It’s an intimate glimpse into Ellen’s world, from her studio rituals to the landscapes that inspire her and the emotional truths behind her work. We are thrilled to invite you into this warm mix of wisdom, honesty, and creative inspiration.
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Click the chapter icon (the bulleted list inside the video player) to see and select any part of the video.
Chapters and timestamps are also listed below for quick reference.
- Artistic Foundations: 00:00
- Friendship & Collaboration: 00:36
- Artistic Journey & Growth: 02:27
- Life in Paris & Return: 06:27
- Artistic Resurgence: 09:38
- Creative Worlds & Emotions: 34:30
- Artistic Process & Music: 36:13
- Breaking Rules & Storytelling: 37:24
- Artistic Goals & Blocks: 44:19
- Current Exploration & Future: 49:28
Click here to download the transcript
*Please note that guest presenters are not necessarily Academy members available for commenting.
Inspiring interview. Thank you both so much!
Thank you both for all the great reminders, inspirations, big shoves to get going. My biggest problem is self destructive behavior, helping doing something for someone, exhausting myself, just not taking myself and my creative needs seriously.
Onward!
Love, Pam Johnson
What an incredible inspiring interview thank you both. Very special.
Thank you Lynda! It was so fun to do.
I loved this interview. Nadine’s style of asking questions was so warm and invited authentic and honest responses. I love hearing about artist journeys and this one was both engaging and inspiring. Thank you both. I loved every moment of it.
I’m so glad you loved it, Sharon!
Thank you Sharon, so glad you enjoyed listening to us!
Ellen and Nadine, thank you very much for sharing this. Your talks are very recongnizable and helping. I did CVP in 2024 and this year I am in the Academy and listening to many talks.
Wunderful experiances!
So happy you liked it, Jeannette!
Hi Jeanette, thanks you! Isn’t the Academy great, so much content in here!!!
Thank you Ellen and Nadine for this wonderful conversation. So much resonated, even though I have only been painting for a few years .. I feel so inspired for all of us. Yes, showing up for soul every day on the page .. in the studio is the most fab act of rebellion!!! Love it so much!
not quite comfortable with being Anonymous, so though I’d pop in here and say thank you so much Ellen Nadine. xoLindy
Thank you, Lindy! I am so thrilled you loved our interview!
Thanks Lindy! so fun!
Ellen and Nadine, wonderful interview! I like what Nadine said about just showing up to paint. It seems so simple but we sometimes think there’s a shortcut to getting better, selling more work, etc. but it all comes down to putting in the time by showing up to paint. I recently read The 12 Week Year, a must read- and set some intentions for my art. When it came to setting actionable items to reach my intentions, I realized it all came back to just showing up to paint. Everything else will take care of itself in due time as I follow the next right thing. Thanks for a timely reminder of this, ladies!
Thank you for that Rita. On your recommendation, I just took that book out of the library. It’s an audio book which is perfect for me as I love to listen to audio books when I walk. Which is part of my daily routine! I am very excited to hear this. 12 weeks from today is right after Labour Day which is always a significant time of year. Thank you!
thank you Rita. Nadine is full of wonderful gems of wisdom! I don’t know that book but will look it up. It has been my experience too that showing up is key to anything we want to accomplish. One foot in front of the other. I had a freind that would say, look at your feet, see where you are and be there and then take a step….
Thank you both for sharing so many things that we all feel. I’ve taken CVP twice and enjoyed these inspirational talks in the academy. I decided to leave the academy this year but after these conversations I know how much I’ll miss them. I identify with self destruction. When I try to paint, my head is always ahead of my hands. I know it’s like this for most of us but for me it’s so disappointing. Looking at your journal pages they seem so fresh and simple, I always feel like mine have to be acceptable and complete, so in come the destructive thoughts. My heart is filled with joy when I see your work and hear your conversation, it makes me want to try again. It’s one thing for me to know what is stopping me and another thing to accept it. I always drop back into what I know. I can’t not be creative, it’s where I find the most freedom. You remind me of what I continue to want to do, I just need the courage to accept disappointment and start from there. Failure isn’t fatal unless you stop trying. I know that, I just need to embrace it.
Oh my gosh Ellen, your work is so wonderful! It inspired me to get more wild with my color! This is a wonderful interview Nadine. Truly inspirational, thank you both. ❤️
Thank you, Jen!
Hi Jen! that makes me so happy! Thank you so much. Yes, get wild and enjoy!
I am so glad you enjoyed our interview, Nancy!
Hi Nancy, thank you for your kind words. I want to reply to your comment about the journal. I feel like mine is a mess, if you were to see it in real life, you would see that. I do believe these screens add something to the work that makes it look a bit more together. I totally undetstand how you feel too, it was a big step for me to share. I was shocked at how many people reacted to it when I did share on social media. Acceptance of ourselves is key, and not always the easiest to do. I love the saying “dance like no one is watching”, We can use this feeling in our painting process. Be easy on yourself, one step at a time.