#115 INSA HOFFMANN
Sometimes the deepest work emerges when we stop trying to control it. In this Inspiration Interview, Nicholas sits down with Germany-based artist Insa Hoffmann, whose shift from representational work to letting paintings find themselves is transforming her entire practice.
Insa shares her collage meditation ritual, how she works with the “shy” parts of creativity, and why surrendering to a slow unfolding has brought new depth and freedom to her art. A beautifully honest conversation about transformation, courage, and trusting the work to reveal itself.
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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.
- Courage and Creation: 00:00
- Artistic Evolution: 00:51
- Deconstruction and Balance: 09:25
- Expression and Trust: 37:46
- Life, Light, and Courage: 44:05
- Fulfillment and Achievements: 52:53
Click here to download the transcript
*Please note that guest presenters are not necessarily Academy members available for commenting.
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A very insightful conversation about the unfolding process of becoming who you are truly meant to be. It is so difficult to find the words to describe this process and make it a reality for me a continually learning artist but Insa has expressed herself well.
I am grateful for her insights.
This conversation reached into my soul. The work itself is stunning. The process is tremendously inspiring. I am deeply grateful. I will surely watch this many times.
A very candid and inspirational conversation about the art process, the struggles, the wins, finding your way, letting go of some beliefs, the courage to move forward and continue the journey.
Thank you Insa and Nick.
Thank you Nick for allowing Insa to be a part of our awareness. She brings a current of confidence through her self inquiry as reflected in her work.
You both are inspiring as you convey the freedom as love is expressed through abstract painting. The openness and innocence of the unfolding process feels like a lifeboat as I venture into the unknown with my many forms of artwork.
Much appreciated!
I always love hearing from Insa, who is so articulate about the art life and process. I especially loved hearing about her direction and seeing her amazing studio. Thank you for this terrific interview!
So Inspiring, Insa and Nick. I love your integration of collage for the journey into abstraction in color. Your love of light in nature and letting yourself go, letting the PUSH diminish and the inner love take over! so many of us on this same journey no matter where we are on our Art Path!
Thank you Insa and Nick for this thoughtful conversation. Every second of it is insightful. Insa making the point of letting go but not giving up was music to my soul. Beautiful artwork, Insa!
Thank you for describing your process. Your work is beautiful and I love love love your studio !
Fabulous conversation with Insa. A deep thinker and amazing artist.
Completely inspirational. Wonderful Insa. Thank you so very much. Annie
This really resonated with me. I’ve been painting pure abstracts for a couple of years now. I have just come back from a week in Florence and took with me a small sketchbook, with some pages prepared with collage. I did wonder how I was going to approach making some work, which I always do when travelling. But I immediately found that I wasn’t fussing over details, but instead going for colours, shapes and so on – I was indeed ‘abstracting’ and the results were way more interesting than earlier travel journals.
Just a tip if anyone’s interested. I bought a really tiny tin with 12 pans which I filled with gouache before I left home. The sketches dried very fast, so I could keep going, and the opacity of the paint was really helpful.