Daring Creativity Podcast: "Dare to Find Your Creative Home - Carina Lindmeier"

Host: Radim Malinag
Guest: Karina Lindmeier
Release Date: August 4, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Daring Creativity. Daring Forever., Radim Malinag welcomes Karina Lindmeier, an award-winning illustrator from Austria known for her vibrant and contemporary digital art. The conversation delves into Karina's journey as an artist, balancing commercial work with personal artistic freedom, the significance of genuine community connections over social media metrics, and the parallels between creative disciplines like DJing and cycling with the artistic process.

Karina's Background and Artistic Journey

Karina's Early Influences: Karina attributes her creative inclinations to her upbringing. Growing up in a small village in Austria with a creatively supportive mother, she was encouraged to pursue her artistic interests from a young age.

"I grew up with a very creative mom... I went to graphic design school and wanted to become a graphic designer." [09:43]

Transition from Graphic Design to Illustration: After internships in graphic design, Karina realized that a conventional desk job wasn't fulfilling her creative needs. This realization led her to explore illustration, allowing for more personal artistic freedom.

"I decided, nope, that's not the way I want to end up sitting in front of my computer all day... I wanted to find something that is more creative." [09:43]

Balancing Artistry and Commercial Work

Identifying as Both Artist and Illustrator: Karina emphasizes the importance of seeing herself as both an artist and an illustrator. While illustration often involves paid work with specific briefs, being an artist provides her the freedom to create without restrictions.

"I consider myself as an artist because I feel like I have to create something for my own artistic freedom and career, with no rules, no restrictions." [04:16]

Avoiding Burnout: She discusses the challenges of staying true to her creative voice amidst commercial pressures, highlighting the risk of burnout when trying to conform to trends for client acquisition.

"Sometimes you will burn out and kind of burn yourself down and also your creativity because at one point you have to stop." [09:00]

Importance of Community Over Social Media Metrics

Genuine Connections vs. Followers: Karina shares her perspective on prioritizing authentic relationships over chasing social media metrics. She values meaningful interactions and true connections over the number of likes or followers.

"I don't care about numbers or followers, I care about connections... I feel like we have to step back now from this heavy influencer thing." [19:56]

Early Online Community Experience: Her initial foray into sharing art online via Instagram helped her build a supportive community, which was crucial for her growth and confidence as an illustrator.

"I found a very nice community on Instagram with the Still Life challenge to explore... It was a secure environment where I could solely focus on just exploring and trying out new things." [27:11]

Creative Process and Personal Growth

Developing a Signature Style: Karina discusses the evolution of her artistic style, which became more defined during the pandemic. Engaging in weekly challenges allowed her to experiment and ultimately hone her unique approach to food and still life illustration.

"I found the pandemic really helped me... I started exploring new brushes on my iPad without any client restrictions." [24:25]

Embracing Change and Patience: She believes in the transient nature of feelings and the importance of patience and consistency in nurturing creativity.

"Everything is temporary... if you feel like you're not getting close to where you want to go, the feeling will go away. But you just have to find your way to get there." [50:31]

Transition to Food Illustration and Still Life

Passion for Food and Connection: Karina explains her deep connection to food as a medium for illustrating joy, energy, and community. She views meals as intimate experiences that foster connections between people and cultures.

"Eating and having a nice meal with someone is the highest form of treating yourself... It brings people together and it's something that brings me joy." [30:04]

Integration of Artistic and Personal Life: Her love for food illustration seamlessly blends with her personal life, enhancing social gatherings and dinner parties through her artistic touch.

"I love to implement some colors and arrange the food in a nice way when hosting friends." [28:56]

DJing as a Creative Outlet

Parallel Between DJing and Illustration: Karina draws similarities between DJing and illustration, emphasizing the importance of energy, selection, and creating enjoyable moments for the audience.

"Playing music is about the energy and the moment, just like creating illustrations for an audience." [40:34]

Navigating Public Feedback: She shares experiences of handling unsolicited feedback and maintaining focus on her passion despite external opinions.

"People are sometimes so weird when they're just coming to make a comment... It's all about balance." [43:07]

Cycling and Creativity

Cycling as a Metaphor for Creative Process: Karina likens cycling to the creative journey, where persistence and overcoming challenges are essential. Cycling teaches accountability, resilience, and the ability to focus amidst adversity.

"Sometimes I have a bad day and I have to remind myself to take it slow and steady... it's about dealing with problems head-on." [47:34]

Mental and Physical Synergy: She highlights how cycling helps in processing thoughts and emotions, providing clarity and fostering a strong connection between mental and physical well-being.

"When you have a problem in your life, you feel it while you're on your bike... you have to deal with it." [49:05]

Overcoming Doubts and Building Confidence

Community Support: Karina emphasizes the role of a supportive community in overcoming self-doubt and building confidence. Engaging with fellow creatives provides reassurance and shared experiences.

"Meeting incredible people made me feel more secure and confident... It's all about passion and creativity." [36:39]

Embracing Vulnerability: She advocates for opening up about insecurities and challenges, fostering trust and mutual support within the creative community.

"Sharing your problems is liberating because you create and trust in others and yourself." [38:19]

Conclusion

Karina Lindmeier's journey epitomizes the essence of daring creativity—embracing authenticity, fostering genuine connections, and continuously evolving her artistic expression. Through illustration, DJing, and cycling, she demonstrates how diverse creative outlets can harmoniously intersect, enriching both personal growth and professional endeavors.

Radim Malinag wraps up the conversation by expressing admiration for Karina's work and her unwavering commitment to creativity, leaving listeners inspired to embrace their own creative paths with courage and authenticity.

Notable Quotes:

• "I grew up with a very creative mom... I wanted to become a graphic designer." [09:43]

• "I don't care about numbers or followers, I care about connections." [19:56]

• "Everything is temporary... you just have to find your way to get there." [50:31]

• "Eating and having a nice meal with someone is the highest form of treating yourself." [30:04]

This episode serves as a testament to the power of authenticity in the creative journey, encouraging listeners to prioritize personal fulfillment and meaningful connections over conventional measures of success.