In this episode, our guest is the talented queer hand poke tattoo artist Nicole of inktothewoods_! We talk about the nitty gritty parts of making a living as an artist and the pitfalls of romanticizing this creative path and career. Dreaming big comes at a price -- and most of the time, that entails wearing too many hats. This episode is for you if you are 1. someone who wants to want to earn a living with art or 2. someone who is curious about the behind the scenes in the life of an artist in this day and age. Enjoy!

This ep covers:

- Demystifying the life of an artist, response to the romanticization of this path

- How dreaming big has a price

- inktothewoods handpoke tattooing origin story and evolution

- Nicole's art journey from childhood, college life, to adult working life (traditional & digital drawing, comics, zines, poetry, stickers, handpoke tattooing etc.)

- form corporate, freelance, side gig work timeline, wearing several hats at multiple roles/work/day job, resigning from day job to being full time artist, to returning to the workforce while tattooing

- "Talking Bodies" signature ornamental abstract handpoke tattooing by inktothewoods

- Rewarding part of being a tattoo artist

- Dealing with burnout

- 2025 as the crash out year for artists

- Returning to full time job while doing art

- Expensive life lessons

- Reality of being an artist who earns a living from art

- Taking care of your mental health

- Delulu vs Seeing Life for What it Is

- Being okay with your dream transforming into something else

- Nicole's advice for young artists, creatives, and tattoo artists

If you appreciate this work, you can send tips here: Buy Me A Coffee

About our guest:

Nicole is a Marikina-based non-binary creative whose works focus on mental health awareness and body love. She is a resident artist at Tusok Studios (Manila) and Plyful Inks (Makati). She incorporates the gentle method of handpoke tattooing with meditation and inviting good energy. Her abstract ornamental pieces, which she fondly calls ‘talking bodies’, only ever aim to help folks feel more at home in their skin. On other days, she is an outdoor experience facilitator and hobby collector.

Instagram: @inktothewoods_

About the host:

Anna Dominique Santos (she/they) is a queer visual artist, art workshop facilitator, therapeutic art life coach, energy worker, Reiki and Akashic Records Reading & Healing practitioner, and meditation teacher from Bulacan, Philippines. She is also the creator of the Creative Portal Empowerment™ healing modality - made by an artist-healer, for artists, creatives, and those who need some creative push in their lives. For Anna, creation is a sacred act. She is passionate about inspiring others to explore this sacredness in their own unique journeys. Weaving together her spiritual practice into her art practice, she believes in the power of keeping our dreams and imagination alive to shape a better world. You can check out her energy-infused artworks, meditative art & painting workshops, and book your energetic consultations through these platforms:

@artbyannadominiquesantos

https://artbyannadominiquesantos.com/

This episode for those folks who are feeling anxious about the holidays and the occasional uncomfortable interactions that come with it! A reminder that family can also be the people you choose -- your ride or die. Sending much love to my fellow gremlins this holiday szn! Hang in there and stay safe :)

If you appreciate this work, you can send tips here: Buy Me A Coffee

About the host:

Anna Dominique Santos (she/they) is a queer visual artist, art workshop facilitator, therapeutic art life coach, energy worker, Reiki and Akashic Records Reading & Healing practitioner, and meditation teacher from Bulacan, Philippines. She is also the creator of the Creative Portal Empowerment™ healing modality - made by an artist-healer, for artists, creatives, and those who need some creative push in their lives. For Anna, creation is a sacred act. She is passionate about inspiring others to explore this sacredness in their own unique journeys. Weaving together her spiritual practice into her art practice, she believes in the power of keeping our dreams and imagination alive to shape a better world. You can check out her energy-infused artworks, meditative art & painting workshops, and book your energetic consultations through these platforms:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/artbyannadominiquesantos/

Facebook

https://facebook.com/artbyannadominiquesantos

Website

https://artbyannadominiquesantos.com/

With or without identity labels? Maria and I talk about navigating life as part of the A+ (aro & ace) in the LGBTQIA+ community -- an under represented population in the Philippines!! We believe that this is an important episode for those who have been curious about their own identity journey. We hope that you also learn a lot about yourselves through our experiences identifying as aromantic (me) and demisexual (Maria). Enjoy!

Note: This is a Taglish episode

This episode covers:

- Kinds of attraction (physical, sexual, romantic, aesthetic, sensual

- Split attraction model

- Defining aromanticism

- Anna's romantic relationship experiences that led up to aro realization

- "Hindi naman pala mabigat magmahal for me"

- Improved relationship with the concept of love with aro realization

- Love is everywhere

- Anna's pansexual realization

- Grieving that comes with aro realization

- Maria's demisexual identity

- Defining asexuality

- Ace being "turned on" in other ways

- Paradox of being a sex-centered world yet sex being taboo

- Ace frustrations false notions "you just didn't find your person yet"

- Sensual vs sexual attraction

- Jungkook as ace-coded

- Sensual attraction + being sensually attuned examples

- Sensually starved society

- Dating world for aromantic and demisexual folks

- Being left out if people learn that you're aro or ace

- Superpower as a demisexual person

- Concept of sex as can be defined by you alone

- Expanded connotation of sex as a demi/ace person

- Expanded connotation of love as an aromantic person

- Understanding the romantic nature of other people through aromanticism "that's how their love moves"

- Dissolved judgement on how love moves within me / within other people

- Notions that the lack of a certain kind of attraction = you're missing out

- What if being aro and/or ace also frees you?

- What queer is, beyond what is conventionally known as queer "queering" your way into the world

- Queer is a position - "out of the norm"

- Queer is disassembling assumptions

- Wider definition of "queer"

- Identifying the self with label or without label

About our episode guest

Maria Mison (she/they) is also! a host of the podcast Integrated Awakenings which focuses on accessible spiritual transmissions with a good dose of play. Also a long time collaborator of Anna, they enjoy multiple artistic mediums and it’s natural potential to better know the Selves.

Connect with Maria:

Instagram: @mariamison__

Website: mariamison.io

If you appreciate this work, you can send tips here: Buy Me A Coffee

Connect with Anna

https://www.instagram.com/artbyannadominiquesantos/

https://facebook.com/artbyannadominiquesantos

https://artbyannadominiquesantos.com/