[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 28– I have Donated My Artworks/ アメリカ絵日記２８ー私の作品を寄付しました

 Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hi everyone!
This is Nisreen — how are you doing?

こんにちは、ニスリーンです！皆さんお元気ですか？

I’ve donated my original greeting cards and paintings to Artists for Climate Awareness (ACA), on view and available for purchase at Bloomington Fine Art Supply from December 4 2025 through January 29, 2026.

最近私は、オリジナルのグリーティングカードと、絵画を Climate Awareness (ACA)へ寄付しました。12月4日より、Bloomington Fine Art Supplyにて展示および販売が開始されます。

This special art sale is coordinated by Art for Earth and hosted by Bloomington Fine Art Supply, with 100% of proceeds benefiting ACA’s mission — to reverse environmental destruction and support the Earth’s healing.

Please stop by if you’re in or near Bloomington, or if you have a chance to visit!

この特別なアート販売はArt for Earthの取り仕切りにより、Bloomington Fine Art Supplyが開催しています。売上はすべて、環境破壊を食い止め地球の回復を志すというACAの活動のために寄付されます。

Bloomingtonおよび近郊にお住まいの方、またはお近くにいらっしゃる機があれば、是非お立ち寄りください！

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep6 Why All Artists Should Watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend /ポッドキャスト S3: Ep6 全てのアーティストが「Crazy Ex-Girlfriend」を観るべき理由

         Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen!
Welcome to the sixth episode of season three of my podcast — it’s lovely to be speaking with you again.

Today, I’d like to talk about one of the most underrated dramas in TV history: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend! This American musical TV series was created by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna, and it aired from 2015 to 2019. Bloom herself plays the lead role.

The show has a playful, comical tone and is packed with original musical numbers. I have to say, this seemingly light-hearted romcom is a must-watch — especially for artists. And by “artists,” I mean anyone who expresses themselves through creative work: drawing, singing, dancing, writing, or any other form of art.

In this episode, I’ll break down the reasons why I think so into five key points. I’ll avoid spoilers until the final section — and don’t worry, I’ll give you a warning before we get there!

Please find the episode below, available in video on YouTube or audio on Buzzsprout. It's also on Apple Podcasts , Spotify On YouTube, I also share my process of drawing the thumbnail art for this episode!

YouTube

Buzzsprout

Visual Diary 27– Huge Problem with Tiny Cloth

 One cultural difference I can never get over is how people in the West use the same cloth to clean countertops and to wipe their wet hands. I know this sounds petty, but every time I see it, my inner Japanese obāsan dies a little inside. (lol)

If you’re not familiar with why, it’s because in Japan there are distinct terms—and distinct cloths—for different purposes: tefuki for hands, daifuki for the table, fukin for dishes, and zōkin for the floor or ant dusty surfaces. Think about it: the cloth is already dirty after wiping the counter—why would you then use it to dry your freshly washed hands or, worse, your dishes? To me, it feels extremely unhygienic.

This cultural difference even stirred controversy in my marriage. My husband complained that there were too many different names to keep track of. Our solution? We bought a brightly coloured towel used only for drying hands—a visual signal to him not to use it for anything else. Problem solved (mostly).

[Bilingual post] My Artwork is Featured in Goddessarts Magazine!/ Goddessarts マガジンに絵を載せていただけました！

 My artwork is featured on page 24 of the 19th issue of Goddessarts Magazine!  Please have a look!

https://www.goddessartsmag.com/magazine/issue19

私の絵をGoddessarts Magazineの19号に載せていただけました！24ページにありますので是非ご覧になってみてください。

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep5 How to Visualise Autumn Song/ポッドキャスト S3: Ep5 秋の詩を描く方法

        Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to the fifth episode of Season Three of my podcast. It’s lovely to be speaking with you again.

Today, I’d like to try something a little different, and share a little about the process of drawing the thumbnail art to this podcast. It was inspired by the poem Autumn Song by the French poet Paul Verlaine.

When we look at the history of art, we often see connections between the visual arts and other forms of expression, such as literature, music, and dance. I’d love to explore those intersections here, and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

* The thumbnail for this episode is my drawing.

Please find the episode below, available in video on YouTube or audio on Buzzsprout. It's also on Apple Podcasts , Spotify 

YouTube

Buzzsprout

[Bilingual post] I’m a Finalist in the Goddessarts Prize/ Goddessarts 賞のファイナリストになりました！

 I woke up to the wonderful news that I’m a Finalist in the Goddessarts Prize with the theme “Goddesses”! ✨ Thank you so much Goddess Arts Magazine.

My artwork will be featured alongside the other finalists in the Finalists’ Exhibition online, opening next week.  I’m so excited to share this!

Goddess Arts MagazineによるGoddessarts 賞のファイナリストに選ばれたとのお知らせをいただき、とても喜んでいます！来週から、私の絵も他のファイナリストの方々と一緒にオンライン展覧会に掲示していただける予定です。ぜひご覧になってみてください。

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep4 Learn How to Grieve with Art/ポッドキャスト S3: Ep4 アートで学ぶ「失う」ということ

       Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to the fourth episode of Season Three of my podcast. 

As many artists and art lovers know, art is not only about aesthetic delight—it also offers profound insights into how we can face life’s challenges. Today, I’d like to share three paintings that explore loss and grief, and reflect on the lessons they can teach us. I hope you enjoy this journey.

* The thumbnail for this episode is my drawing named Sorrow.

Please find the episode below, available in video on YouTube or audio on Buzzsprout. It's also on Apple Podcasts , Spotify 

YouTube

Buzzsprout