Ep. 176 Maria Sheets – Kiln Fired Stained Glass Paintings, Art Conservation
This week Wes and Todd sit down with Master Glass Designer, Painter, and Fabricator, Maria Sheets. Maria discusses her childhood growing up in a Russian Orthodox church, some of her Russian family history, her art education, her journey as an Art Conservator, how her experience in art conservation informs her glass work, her experience with the Museum of Biblical Art, starting her own art conservation business, working with liturgical glass, her start in doing her glass work, her grandmother, her family’s roots in art glass and ceramics manufacturing, resilience & optimism, art being her religion, Agnes Marin, Scottish Stained Glass, research & glass design, halo history, iconography, breaking the rules, the provenance of liturgical artifacts, weird things she’s been asked to create, social-political imagery, Judy Chicago, early female anarchists/activists, science, conserving & restoring art, living to open the kiln in the morning, material science, art safety, process, her latest exhibition “Out Of Our Hands,” artificial intelligence, and her basic rule of success.
Ep. 173 Ann Morgan – Abstract Painter, Melding the Traditional With Technology
Ann Morgan discusses painting big, technology informing her process, xeroxes, learning to paint at age 13, winning awards in her youth, AmeriCorps VISTA, getting her B.F.A. at Michigan State University, not painting for 20 years, always considering herself an Artist, her “Art Stuff" folder, the catalyst to start painting again, melding the traditional with technology, Artificial Intelligence, RunwayML, painting in oil, Her show at Next Gallery “Once When I Was You,” her process using A.I., painting in the dark, being bendy, A.I. prompts, borrowing imagery, what scares her about A.I., artist statements living in a simulation, pricing social media, art scammers her “Burn Series,” painting environments, and art being unapologetic joy.
Ep. 171 Christopher La Fleur – Painter, Pop Art
Christopher talks about the catalyst for starting his art business, the encouragement and influence of his father, his thoughts on art school, growing up in Greeley, Colorado, writing and science fiction, being a queertrepreneur, hope for the future, planning and producing events, Pop Art, SourCute, destroying artwork, nostalgia, people he would like to meet from the past, inspiration vs. exploration, therapy, vulnerability, Discotits, Jones Soda, naming pieces, idiogenesis, Art is War, routine, meditation, vegetarianism, rejection, selling art, pricing, merchandise, philanthropy, and goal setting.."
Ep. 170 May Pang – Photographer, John Lennon - “The Lost Weekend”
This week Wes and Todd sit down with Photographer, May Pang. May discusses her exhibition “The Lost Weekend." her time with John Lennon, some of the photos that are part of the exhibition, and the feature film documentary “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story."
Join us for a wonderful and remarkable conversation with May Pang.
Ep. 148 Samantha Johnston – Executive Director & Curator of the Colorado Photographic Arts Center
Wes and Todd sit down with Samantha Johnston, Executive Director & Curator of the Colorado Photographic Arts Center. Samantha discusses the structure of CPAC, funding, being an educator and becoming the Executive Director of CPAC, her engagement with photography in her youth, her BFA and MFA experiences, CPAC’s Veterans Workshop Series, curation and exhibitions, the mission of CPAC, community outreach, CPAC’s programming, membership, the history of CPAC, CPAC’s permanent collection, CPAC taking the reins of Month of Photography Denver, the changing landscape of photography, CPAC’s new space, portfolio reviews, exhibitions to check out during Month of Photography, and what photographer was the biggest influence in her youth.
Ep. 136 Lindsey Bell – Curatorial Director, Bell Projects
Lindsey Bell of Bell Projects, discusses the two-year anniversary of Bell Projects, the catalyst for starting a gallery during the pandemic, risk taking, the mission & vision of Bell Projects, the move from RINO to the City Park area, what art does for her, art exposure and experiences, the importance of being connected to the art community, the Mona Lisa, Van Gogh, performance art, climate change protests, her art education, highlights from the past two years, her “Parallels” exhibition, balance and the advice that she would give to her younger self…
Ep. 135 Jon Francis – Painter, Photorealism, Urban Landscape Oil Painting
Colorado Springs Painter, Jon Francis talks about his early introduction to art, Floyd Tunson, Colorado Springs vibrant art community, finding his voice, Knox College, teaching, the catalyst that made him start painting again, urban landscapes, process, the importance of quiet moments, photography, power lines, routine, the crossover of teaching and art, setting goals, compulsion to create, Boxcar conversations, pricing, painting Colorado Springs landmarks, gallery representation, commissions, being a storyteller, music, The Look Up Gallery, cars and chrome, and advice to aspiring young Artists.
Ep. 132 - Cody Kuehl – Artist, Curator, Gallerist – Kuehl Fine Art/A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art
Cody Kuehl talks about setting goals, how his 2021 shook out, Out West Art Fest, cost of doing art festivals, Art Fair Sourcebook, selling prints, how his style has evolved, creating a mural for the Greeley Stampede, Trinidad, selling prints, his routine, the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art, time management, archiving photos for the museum, curating shows at his gallery at the museum, and his vision for the gallery and collaboration with the museum on future projects.
Ep. 131 Nicholas Kremske – Photographer/Mixed Media Artist
Nick Kremske talks about Norwegian round wood stacks, his move from Minnesota to Colorado and what it did for his art, comparing the Denver art scene to the Minneapolis/St. Paul scene, the evolution from Photographer to Mixed Media Artist, his process, the changing landscape of photography, figuring out his process to make the work intriguing, getting out of personal constructs, photographing roadkill, following your ideas and concepts, how to be an Artist, finding your voice, Baldessari, commissions, the idea behind his show “The Way Home,” making your art life go, social media, selling and pricing art, and incorporating video into his exhibitions.
Ep. 130 Topher Straus – American Impressionistic Landscape Artist – Annual Check-in
opher talks about what has changed in his world, new gallery representation, changes to his brand and business model, his routine, the new additions to his National Park series, advertising, his book “Aloha Love”, charities, press, snowscapes, the Topher Straus Art Walk and some of his new endeavors.
Ep. 129 Christy Lynne Seving – Mixed Media Artist
Mixed Media Artist, Christy Lynne Seving, talks about what it means to her to be a Mixed Media Artist, ADD, her work being biographical, exploration of processes and materials, encaustic, the thought behind her new show “A Matter of Perspective,” working intuitively, poetry, philosophy behind creating, anxiety, numbers, the catalyst to becoming a full-time Artist, drawing faces, how portraits informed her abstract work, her creative routine, selling art, pricing, Next Gallery, mentorship, and the benefits of making art and how it heals and grounds.
Ep. 128 Brett Andrus – Narrative Figurative Painter
Wes and Todd sit down with Painter Brett Andrus. Brett talks about his early exposure to art, his art education at the Savannah College of Art & Design, growing up in Colorado Springs, opening an art gallery, the Colorado Springs art community and scene, the visual artist mythos, Odd Nerdrum, the importance of mentors and mentorship, Lee Price, honoring the viewer, being a full-time Artist with a day job, curating your life, cityscapes, alleyways, models, Bosky Studio, business of art, pricing, art appropriation, narrative, painting with integrity and honesty, originality, Bosky backdrops, Virtu Collective, and being grateful.…
Ep. 127 Arlo White – Hypnotic Turtle, Raw & Real
Arlo White of Hypnotic Turtle Radio Circus talks about the history of Hypnotic Turtle, the thought behind the name, college radio, soundscapes, discipline, bands, opening for Enuff Z’Nuff, Poet Rock, Diablo Montalban, parking lot shows, new music, Wulfhound, his radio show, guests interviewed, John Sinclair, The MC5, Mark Mothersbaugh, variety shows, musical grenades, Larry Norman, riffing, flyers, collage, wrestling, the Hypnotic Turtle DreamBox, and all the things Hypnotic Turtle rock arts collective encompasses.
Ep. 122 Nicole Grosjean – Sculptural Illustration, Jewelry, Fan Art
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Nicole Grosjean. Nicole talks about growing up and exploring art in the mountains of Colorado, winning an art scholarship to the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, sculpture, galleries, working with a ceramicist as a production artist, deciding to do paper art, process, incorporating LED lights in her work, finding her voice, inspiration, finding community, social media, fan art, jewelry, Guillermo del Toro, pocket watches, pricing, how she sells her art, exploring new materials, Illustrator & Photoshop, challenges in business, prints versus originals, overcoming challenges, commissions, fairy fossils, and making the work for yourself.
Ep. 121 Gail Folwell – Sculptor, Designer, & Illustrator
Gail Folwell talks about her early career as a graphic designer, the catalyst for diving into sculpture, transitioning into doing sculpture full time, commissions and public art, being a professional, diversifying your business, manifesting success, airport art, the XOX Project, being and staying optimistic, affecting change through art, her Pro Football Hall of Fame commission, process, being a project manager, editions, pricing, Handle the Art hardware, and the hustle that you need to have for a successful art life.
Ep. 120 Thea Clark – Multi-disciplinary Artist – Jewelry, Sculpture, Installation, Fiber Art, Mixed Media Collage
Thea discusses working as a dancer and actor before becoming a maker, making jewelry and its evolution of her work to fine art, the subculture of art jewelry, experimenting with materials, incorporating cyanotypes, the catalyst for working on a larger scale, the transition of exploring identity to environmental issues with her work, thinking of materials metaphorically, isobar maps, Arctic Explorer Louise Arner Boyd, the difference between the thought behind American and European art jewelry, her recent show “Do/Undo” at the Hunterdon Art Museum, upcycling materials for assemblage, and where her current work his headed.
Ep. 118 Christy Lynne Seving & Josh Davy – Next Gallery
Christy Lynn Seving and Josh Davy from Next Gallery talk about the roots of Next, Next’s core mission, being part of the 40 West Arts District, membership, mentoring Artists, the benefits of being part of an Artist owned and operated gallery, dispelling the myths of Artist co-ops and collectives, what Next offers Artists, and the future of Next Gallery.
Ep. 115 Danielle SeeWalker – Artist, Author & Activist - Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta citizen of Standing Rock
Danielle talks about where she grew up, her work and how art is her journal, art as medicine, painting murals, storytelling with her art, finding and exploring her voice, issues affecting the Native population, her beadwork, winter counts, The Red Road Project, climate change, 7th generation, Indian boarding schools, Creative Nations Center & Collective, and her book “Still Here: A Past to Present Insight of Native American People and Culture.”
Ep. 114 Gundega Stevens – Owner/Curator - G44 Gallery
Gundega talks about growing up surrounded by art, getting her degrees in Art History, interning and working at the Milwaukee Art Museum, opening G44 and the early challenges she faced, moving to the new location in downtown Colorado Springs, thoughts on curation and getting into the zone to curate a show, the evolution of the vision for G44, advice to new collectors, Curate Your Space, advice to Artists on how to approach a gallery and being a story-seller.
Ep. 113 William Stoehr – Face paintings; Erasing the stigma of addiction through art.
William talks about his life before retiring as President of National Geographic maps to become a full-time Artist, the catalyst for painting his large faces, finding a mission for his art, addiction and stigma, art and neuroscience, process, his hybrid digital painting, NFT’s, the future of art, Picasso and Cubism, intuitiveness and intention, self-portraits, and how art can move you.