I’m a trans and neurodivergent visual artist who love to talk about the inconfortable feelings. In my newsletter & podcast BALBOA PARK I share all the things that make me grow as a human AND as an artist hoping that some of them may resonate with you and save you some time
and you can read it on my Substack account!
go subscribe : https://nicozbalboa.substack.com/
You will start receiving updates right in your inbox. You can also log in to the website to read the full archives and other posts as they are published.
1. Why this, why now
I’ve been blogging since 2005 and I’ve been sending mails to mail from mailchimp since 2018.
unfortunately blogging at some point became obsolete and readers become more active on facebook and then instagram (and so did I). but I’ve missed the idea of having a space out of the *meta* world to write and tell my community what’s going on.
and sending my newsletter with mailchimp feels to much corporate to me. and I don’t want to use it anymore.
so I’m migrating on substack… to have a place from where sending you mails that will also look more like a sort of fancy blog.
and BALBOA PARK is also a PODCAST that you can listen to:
Substack , Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon music, Audible
or you can just received it in your inbox once you have subscribed!
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BALBOA PARK Podcast Episodes
- BALBOA PARK #35 - Self Archiving: A Lifetime of Graphic Journaling 12 March 2025Hey My Friend,I just dropped a new episode of Balboa Park, and this one is extra special.Recently, I was organizing boxes my father sent me after selling his house. Inside, I found journals from when I was 8, 12, and beyond. As I flipped through them with my friend, she pointed out something that shook […]Nicoz
- BALBOA PARK #34 - the Anxiety Attack That Changed My Creativity 12 February 2025Hey everyone,I just released a new episode of Balboa Park, where, to ease anxiety, I dive into a Graphic Journal Practice while I have some reflections on creativity, self-knowledge, and the strange ways our brains work when we make art. This time, I talk about the tension between instinct and control, and how we sometimes […]Nicoz
- BALBOA PARK #33 - 5 Years of Strangeland: What I’ve Learned About Hustle, Rest, Creativity & Running a Tattoo Shop on My Own Terms 31 January 2025Hey there, my friend,January is usually tough. But this year, I decided to do things differently. Instead of pushing through exhaustion, I gave myself permission to slow down. No more forcing myself to keep Strangeland open every day. No more feeling guilty for taking a break.In the latest episode of Balboa Park, I reflect on:✨ […]Nicoz
- BALBOA PARK #32- Why You Should Respect Your Art and Support Your Creative Passion 10 January 2025In this episode of Balboa Park, that I recorded on my phone IN THE PARK, I reflect on what it’s been like to support Mina’s creative journey as a musician. From her first steps into music, nervously playing the theme from The Last of Us, to performing live at STRANGELAND, to designing her own shows—this […]Nicoz
- BALBOA PARK #31- Out of My Comfort Zone (and Into Linocuts!) 10 December 2024Hello there!This week on Balboa Park, I took a detour into the world of linocut engraving—part experiment, part therapy. 🎨 It started as a playful escape from my usual artistic routines and ended up being an ode to imperfection and patience.Inspired by a past series, Spit on a Stranger (yes, the Pavement song 🎶), I […]Nicoz
- BALBOA PARK #30 - Birkenstock, Self-Doubt and Balance 5 November 2024Hey everyone,Welcome back to Balboa Park! I’m Nicoz Balboa, a tattooer, artist, trans man, and a mom living in France. If you've been following along, you know this podcast is a space where I reflect on my creative journey as a way of exploring self-reflection and personal growth.In Episode 30, I’m getting back to my […]Nicoz
- BALBOA PARK #29 - The Art of Doing It All & Doing Nothing: How Rest Fuels Inspiration 10 October 2024Hey friend,In this weird week when news from the world are scaring and sad, I'm really put hard work into choosing joy in everyday life as a way of respect for those who are losing life, love & everything in wars and occupations. I want to actively practice gratitude for my family and my art […]Nicoz
- Balboa Park #28 - How Self-Doubt Fuels Creativity (Rick Rubin's Insight) 26 September 2024Welcome to episode 28—we’re back after an unannounced summer break! I realized while living it that I needed a break. :)And today, for the first time, I’m recording this podcast in video, not just audio, still from my little studio—which is my bed… I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or not, I felt […]Nicoz
- BALBOA PARK #27 - From Art Exhibitions to Ethical T-Shirts: Catch Up with 27 club 21 July 2024Welcome to Episode 27 of Balboa Park!here for you another episode of the podcast!if you don’t like to listen to the podcast here for you all the content I talk about translated into a newsletter. And if you do like to listen to it, well scroll through the newsletter to see the images AND to […]Nicoz
- BALBOA PARK #26 - the creative process behind covering an old tattoo 6 June 2024Hello, my friend. Welcome to Episode 26 of Balboa Park podcast & newsletter. (content is the same, minus the images for the audio version, and you can choose if you want to read the mail/substack post or listen to my voice -CW strong italian accent!-)Today, I’m shifting gears from telling you about painting, drawing, setting […]Nicoz