Hey 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 me: I’ve been graphic journaling my whole life . It made me wonder—how do we archive ourselves? How does documenting our emotions and experiences shape how we see ourselves over time? In this e...
Mar 12, 2025•10 min
Hey 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 we don’t have to trust what we think .. Creativity is like making a quilt—each piece feels disconnected at first, but when you step back, a pattern emerges. Michel Gondry o...
Feb 12, 2025•27 min
Hey 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:✨ Why I stopped accepting random walk-in tattoos✨ The five-year journey of Strangeland (from pre-post-pandemic chaos to now)✨ A special client who traveled from Las Vega...
Jan 31, 2025•18 min
In 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 journey has been nothing short of inspiring to witness. Mina’s story reminds me that creativity and passion thrive when you’re given the space to explore without pressure. She’s teaching me as ...
Jan 10, 2025•38 min
Hello 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 decided to turn a self-portrait into a two-color print. The process was both meditative and nerve-wracking—especially without a press, as I relied on a trusty wooden rolling pin ...
Dec 10, 2024•17 min
Hey 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 original podcast format—just audio. I talk about why recording on video didn’t quite work for me and dive into the recurring theme of self-doubt, which touches so many areas of m...
Nov 05, 2024•24 min
Hey 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 practice. I’m here in your inbox for this reason… to create a joyful connection with you by sending you the last episode of Balboa Park ! This one felt special because I found myself getting deeper into...
Oct 10, 2024•28 min
Welcome 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 so pressured by the video that I spoke so fast and the podcast is 4 minutes! is it better or worst? let me know! Anyway, I’m here today because I want to share something that struck me from a book I’m c...
Sep 26, 2024•4 min
Welcome 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 have a surprise ;) Content Recap: * Introduction * Updates on my recent activities and exhibitions * My thoughts on maintaining creative momentum * Reflections on dealing with artistic pressures * Balancing...
Jul 21, 2024•17 min
Hello, 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 up the creative nest , and graphic journaling to talk about my approach to tattooing, especially the fascinating challenge of cover-up tattoos . I felt inspired to di...
Jun 06, 2024•14 min
Hey my friend here’s another email for you with another episode of the podcast about "using creativity-observation as a way to self-knowledge” (at least I try!) Because finding ways to stay in contact with our emotions way is very important those days, because When the going gets tough, the tough get going no, wait wait… it’s more: When the going gets tough, the SOFT get going but I can’t explain more, If you want to know why/how tune into this BALBOA PARK Episode! and also learn what Taylor Swi...
May 09, 2024•17 min
to know more: nicozbalboastudio.com or subscribe to my newsletter to have all the episodes right in your inbox (+ bonus images): https://nicozbalboa.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicozbalboa.substack.com...
Apr 25, 2024•12 min
in last episode of the podcast we (I) talked about the difference between Creating AND Creating Content (are you an artist, do you have an artistic practice? and do you have/enjoy/struggle with social media? how to differentiate the 2 actions) and today I talk about “creation” and I will tell you all those things, habits, practices that make creating easier for me. maybe some of those are well known maybe not. Anyway I hope you’ll find this episode precious to nurrish your creativity! Enjoy this...
Apr 06, 2024•31 min
a new podcast episode in which I ask myself questions around creating content on social media. I’m not sure if I have the answers. this episode may interest you if you feel sometimes (often?) overwhelmed by posting on instagram and by the algorithm. it’s a short episode. thanks for walking with me in the (Balboa) Park. xxx Nicoz This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicozbalboa.substack.com...
Mar 30, 2024•16 min
hello my friend how are you today? it’s been a long time since I didn’t send an update about the writing/sketching of my next book. you didn’t receive any update because I didn’t manage to work on it and it’s quite frustrating. the think is that those days are full of stress in making Strangeland surviving and my only artistic activity are tattooing and (luckily) my Graphic Journaling practice. I’m dreaming of the days in which Strangeland will not need so much energy (and money) from me in orde...
Mar 11, 2024•23 min
as usual WELCOME TO BALBOA PARK how are you this Monday? you will understand those pictures once you will have listened to today’s episode. Today I talk about the WHY behind my judging. do you judge? but also are you afraid of being judged? this episode is for you. show notes: Show notes My website: https://www.nicozbalboastudio.com/ Graphic Journal Club: https://www.patreon.com/graphicjournalclub my sleeping Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/nicozbalboa Subscribe to my newsletter to receive...
Mar 04, 2024•19 min
hello hello welcome to the transcription of BALBOA PARK #19! here you can read the transcription of this episode AND see the Graphic Journal pages I talk about in this episode. the transcription is generated by substack and it’s a bit silly without “,” or “.” but I left it as it is. if it’s weird let me know and the next time I will rewrite it! enjoy: how are you today i'm for on my side i am very very very overwhelmed and busy because i am so much into paperwork for my STRANGELAND charity as i ...
Feb 26, 2024•20 min
Hey HAPPY VALENTINE’s DAY! here’s for you a new podcast episode! the theme: are you afraid of being judged, OR WORST, CANCELLED? Show notes My website: https://www.nicozbalboastudio.com/ Sanremo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanremo_Music_Festival Graphic Journal, take the class https://shorturl.at/vCKW7 Groupe de parole Trans https://strangelandqueer.wixsite.com/groupe-trans-lr Cancel culture (aka I’m all in for accountability while being against bullying) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancel_c...
Feb 14, 2024•25 min
new podcast episode! you can listen to it or read the transcript down below (in the transcript some pictures to illustrate what i’m talking about, so you might scroll through the transcript anyway before listening) + the show notes are at the end of the transcript: Hello, good morning, good night, good evening. Whenever you are listening to this podcast, I am Nicoz Balboa and this is Balboa Park. I am a trans man. I'm Italian and I'm living in France for more than 20 years. I have a teen daughte...
Jan 31, 2024•22 min
Hey happy Sunday! how is it going? here’s a new episode. you can also check out the transcript on the podcast page if you prefer to read! SHOW NOTES: down here all the links and images that I quote or talk about in this Episode : > Wendy MacNaughton the amazing: 30 day drawing habit here’s some of my pages: >Royal Academy Saturday Sketch Club , here’s some of my live drawings: the movie Paint in wich Owen Wilson incarnate Rob Ross the Documentary Wisconsin Pride , video down here: drawing ...
Jan 21, 2024•35 min
Hello everyone and welcome to Balboa Park episode 15. if you don’t want to listen, you can read a automatic retranscription down here: If it's the first time you happen to listen to this podcast I am Nicoz Balboa. I am an Italian French based trans man and I do tattoos and graphic novels and graphic journaling classes on Patreon. Before we start remember to activate the notification wherever you are listening this podcast or subscribe to substack to receive it in you inbox: and maybe you can als...
Jan 11, 2024•40 min
Welcome to episode 14 of Balboa Park and the first episode of 2024. OMG. If you don't know me, I'm Nicoz Balboa. I'm a trans man, Italian, living in France. I have a teen daughter. I am a mom. I do tattoos and graphic novels that are published in Italy and in France. And in this podcast, I talk about the creative process, my creative process as a way of knowing my soul. So 2024, short episode, let's set a goal. Let's pick up a (graphic) journal around you. Look at a notebook, a composition book,...
Dec 31, 2023•7 min
🎄💕✨🦞🎁 Welcome to Balboa Park. I am Nicoz Balboa. I am a trans man living in France and I'm Italian. I'm a mom because I have a -teen- daughter. I am a tattooer and I do graphic novels. And in this podcast I like to talk about my creative process in a broad way as a way of knowing myself. Welcome to episode 13 of Balboa Park. I'm in my bed which is my studio, until the day I will have a real microphone, what I find is like I use this wired headphone and I'm in my bed because it's the space wh...
Dec 25, 2023•16 min
I’ve been stumbling on my old artworks for few days. it started with a random facebook memory and then it opened the pandora box! it all started with this image, that happened as a facebook memory form 9 years ago : while, even if scrolling through social media, I was in my living room drawing this one: and I felt like I’ve changed and matured so much as an artists because now I’m able to draw raw and less figurative things! so, while I carried on with the “facebook memories” I found this portra...
Dec 19, 2023•30 min
Hi. Hello. Welcome to Balboa Park episode 11! Wow. Every time I record a new episode I say “wow” but the thing is that every time I'm surprised that I’m still recording :) And also like the past two episodes, it was so difficult to edit the podcast because I have a very very old computer (from 2012 bought second hand in 2020) and I don't know very well about all the ways of editing a podcast. So I'm using this website called Riverside in the free option. And it's very cool because I can edit fro...
Dec 14, 2023•18 min
0.0 introduction, and podcast overview 00.29 background and artistic practice 01.07 working spaces: Strangeland and home studio 03.21 importance of solitude for creativity 05.07 creating a nest-like space for creativity 10.02 the impact of environment on creativity 12.29 balancing distractions and creative focus 16.52 finding comfort and inspiration in creative spaces 18.00 Rituals and preparation for creative flow Welcome to BALBOA PARK! you can listen to the episode or read it down here: Hello...
Dec 10, 2023•19 min
Show notes: Mystery Tattoo Club: https://mysterytattooclub.com/ Trognette: https://www.instagram.com/trognettetattoo/ Angela Di Paolo: https://angeladipaolo.fr/ My website: https://www.nicozbalboastudio.com/ Graphic Journal Club: https://www.patreon.com/graphicjournalclub Substack: https://nicozbalboa.substack.com/ Strangeland : https://www.strangeland.fr/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicozbalboa.substac...
Dec 01, 2023•36 min
my website: https://www.nicozbalboastudio.com/ Show notes: Loic Suberville https://www.instagram.com/loic.suberville/ Zoe Bean Tattoo http://zoebeantattoo.com/ Eight of Sword tattoo Brooklyn https://8ofswords.com/ New Moon studio Brooklyn https://www.instagram.com/thenewmoonstudio/ Keepsake tattoo studio South Orange NJ https://www.instagram.com/keepsakestudiosnj Sweety Tattoo https://www.instagram.com/sweetytattoo/ Cairo Nevitt https://www.instagram.com/cairo_leon Strangeland https://www.strang...
Nov 19, 2023•29 min
SHOW NOTES: George Gurdjieff P.D.Ouspensky In Search Of The Miraculous Simon Sinek the Why Ted Talk my website nicozbalboastudio.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicozbalboa.substack.com...
Nov 13, 2023•22 min
SHOW NOTES: down here the graphic mindful meditation I talk about in this episode * and all the useufl links: * my publisher Oblomov * Lucca Comics & Games * to see some of my tattoos * my book Play With Fire * my book Transformer (the one who won the award) * Graphic Journal Club infos on my website * Graphic Journal Club directly on Patreon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nicozbalboa.substack.com...
Nov 07, 2023•34 min
