Ep. 187 Sarah Boston – Painter, Western Artist
Wes and Todd talk with Artist, Sarah Boston. Sarah discusses the various mediums that she works in, portraiture, painting, drawing from a young age, her connection to native culture, Charlie Russell, growing up in an artistic family, the Russell museum, taking art classes with Thomas Blackshear, routine, the A.R. Mitchell museum, the Broadmoor art experience, research and doing her due diligence to be historically accurate in her work, cultural & art appropriation, her family’s roots in Montana, pastels, graphite, the catalyst to becoming a professional artist, the art community of Trinidad, western art, grizzly bears, selling art, galleries, festivals, the Out West Art Show, her upcoming shows, pricing, art sales, curating “Resonance”, her motto, and her favorite Charlie Russell painting…
Ep. 186 Richard Alden Peterson – Photographer, Anti-Curator, Documentarian of the early San Francisco Punk Scene
Richard Alden Peterson, Photographer and Anti-Curator, discusses his introduction to photography, growing up in Santee California, writing for “The Door”, shooting renowned bands for the local rock station at fifteen, GO newspaper, Illusion Light Show, art activism, art in society, being attracted to all things counterculture, Mabuhay Gardens, the early San Francisco punk scene, Search & Destroy, Bruce Conner, Val Vale, City Lights bookstore, Dada & Surrealism, Victoria’s Secret & Xandria, commercial work, the evolution of the scene, Beatniks, Pink & Pearl Gallery, the diversity of the punk scene, Devo, what prompted him to move to Colorado, the formation of the Denver Tea Party, Heads of Hydra, protesting, and being an Anti-Curator…
Ep. 185 Kevin A. Johnson – Painter & Illustrator
Painter & Illustrator, Kevin Johnson, discusses his early engagement with art, comic books, Louisville, teaching himself to draw, the Army, creating and drawing during his time in the service, his journey after retiring from the Army, Comic Con, Full Sail University, the Colorado Springs art scene, Black Lion, taking time serious, Thomas Blackshear and mentorship, bBlack Art in America, the Solidarity Mobile Mural Project, social media, Flaten Art Museum, Rogue Gallery, pricing, and his advice to young artists.…
Ep. 184 Tania Kaaz - Analog Photography, pushing the limits of film emulsion
This week, Wes and Todd sit down with photographer Tania Kaaz. Tania discusses film photography, film soups, how she got started souping film, developing color film, the magic of film photography, sharing knowledge, Alter Analog, favorite subject matter, polaroid, her exhibition “Beauty Out Of Mayhem”, Heads of Hydra, inspiration, trauma & the healing of art, favorite photographers, bartering, and the importance of community…
Ep. 183 Monica Ong - Visual Poet
This week, Wes and Todd talk with visual poet Monica Ong. Monica discusses her early journey with art, getting her MFA from RISD, integrating poetry with her visual art practice, experimentation & play, her first book “Silent Anatomies,” her poem "The Attic," sculptural types of poems, her interest in astronomy, process & evolution of the work, the blurring of boundaries & thinking outside of the box, the importance of connection, design being rooted in the lyric and narrative, her family history and how it influences her work, Buddhism and her practice, routine, balancing family and work, being an example to her son and young people, phases of the making, creating a user experience, insomnia, curiosity & questions, identity, philosophy, her new book “Planetaria,” “The Star Gazer,” asterisms, her poem “Lunar Volvelle,” her micropress “Proxima Vera,” when it’s time to publish a book, being awarded a United States Artists Fellowship, her poem " Jade Insomnia," and the importance of support…
Ep. 182 Abigail Kreuser – Photographer, Curator, & Co-Owner of Auric Gallery
Abby discusses how she and her partner Gundega came up with the name for their new gallery, being a serial entrepreneur, her journey as a photographer, getting her B.F.A. at the Rochester Institute of Technology, moving back to the Springs after college, her beginnings in curation, her first gallery space, her upcoming solo exhibition, her documentary project “Lucere”, the Colorado Springs art community and its small business community, Curate Your Space and the services they offer, the decision and catalyst to join forces with Gundega Stevens to form Auric, the balance of their partnership, their exhibition calendar, advice for people thinking about starting a gallery, exhibitions that she’s proud of presenting, and current and upcoming shows…
Ep. 181 Kristen Egan – Mixed Media, Sculpture & Masks
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Kristen Egan. Kristen discusses sourcing gourds, carving masks, New Contemporary Folk Art, the area where she lives in Pennsylvania, sense of place, other materials she incorporates into her masks and sculptures, totems, the catalyst to carve gourds, air drying paper clay, repetition & referencing past work, birds, research, process, art show titles, Alfred University, being open to new experiences, foundation, Goggleworks, Arch Enemy Arts, Instagram, the compulsion to create selling art, commissions, production, pricing, perfectionism, evolution & experimentation, work/life balance, bagpipes, weird bagpipe experiences, procrastination, being a life long learner, and collectors previews.…
Ep. 180 A.L. Lummus – Painter, Sculptor, Advocate Artist
This week, Wes and Todd talk with A.L. Lummus, a.k.a. Amy Lummus. Lummus discusses the pandemic & how it affected her and her work, timing, Barbara Kruger, Mettle Martyr I & II, being an Advocate Artist, lessons learned in doing the work, “dog with a bone” syndrome, work/life balance, the thread that runs through the work, stories/narrative, art & carpentry, the genesis for Mettle Martyr, telling the story that’s hers to tell, asking the question “is it breathing?,” research & statistics, process, the Ft. Collins Mural Project, working big, kinetic sculptures, Firehouse Art Center, her show “Spit and Splinters,” her residency, and her motto…
Ep. 169 Topher Straus – American Impressionistic Landscape Artist – 2023 Check-in
This week, Wes and Todd do their annual interview with Artist Topher Straus. Topher talks about technology, Maui, charities, Sauvage Spectrum Winery, changes in his business model, World Heritage Sites, marketing & advertising, Vail International Gallery, the secondary market for his work, new gallery representation, Japan, traveling, new work, photo collages, the Design With Us competition, proven business tactics and goals.
Ep. 116 Dan Cameron – Acclaimed Curator, Art Writer, & Artist
Dan talks about his path to becoming a Curator, some of the exhibitions he’s been proud to curate, the rural art space that he’s helping to facilitate in Chiloé, Chile, how art is looked at in the Americas, the monetization of contemporary art, art fairs, art and the pandemic, his curation process, collecting ephemera and his archive, art appropriation, how art and artists are fundamental in terms of preparing us for the future, his collage and assemblage work, writing about art and what excites him for the future of art.
Ep. 109 Gered Mankowitz, FRPS – Iconic Photographer of Rock and Roll Royalty.
Wes and Todd sit down with Iconic Photographer, Gered Mankowitz, FRPS. Gered talks about Peter Sellers and the catalyst that sparked his interest in photography, the importance of his father’s guidance, his early history, finding his voice, his foray into working with performers and bands, working with film, process, the series Icon: Music Through The Lens, and shares stories of photographing Marianne Faithfull, Jimi Hendrix, Duran Duran, Bing Crosby and the Rolling Stones.
Ep. 107 Elle Naef – Content Producer & Strategist at PBS 12, Co-Founder & Producer of Head Room Sessions
Elle talks about Headroom Sessions and its mission, jaw rock, ReCreative Denver, Denver Creative Movement, her start promoting and managing bands, the wall of death, curating playlists, Tom Jones, rock and roll moments, Girls Rock Camp, being a Producer at PBS 12, Generation GRIT, Colorado Inside Out, puppets, her favorite PBS shows growing up, and activism.
Ep. 102 Sarah Larsen – Intuitive Art
Sarah talks with us about the mediums she works with, process and exploration, the catalyst that got her back into art, juried exhibitions, being the conduit of the art, creating for the process, love, Scrupulous OCD, line art, fear and failure, intuitive art, mental health, loss, and the healing power of art.
Ep. 101 Devon Dikeou – American Artist, Editor and Publisher – zingmagazine, Founder – The Dikeou Collection
Wes and Todd talk with Devon Dikeou. Devon talks about her work, exploring the in-between, her “Mid-Career Smear”, zingmagazine, and the Dikeou Collection.
Ep. 100 Howard Harris – Photographer, Dimensional Photographic Images, Techspressionism
Wes and Todd talk with Howard Harris about his early art experiences, attending the Kansas City Art Institute, analog and digital photography, securing a patent for his layered artwork, visualization, galleries, Techspressionism, and seeing beauty wherever you are.
Ep. 099 Megan Morgan – Tusche Wash Painting & Oil Pastels On Burlap
Wes and Todd talk with Megan Morgan. Megan talks about the catalyst of using oil pastels on burlap, tusche wash painting, process, drawing, the language of art, art education, being a visual learner, interpreting art, her system of working without a studio, pricing, and advice for aspiring artists.
Ep. 098 Harrison Love – Painter, Illustrator, Bright Futurism
Harrison talks about positivity, living in Belgium, influencers, making art for the future, Bright Futurism, art and the pandemic, Contecht, autonomous storytelling, NYC Art Movement, his families art legacy, the Rhode Island School of Design, finding his voice, process, sales and commissions, and pricing.
Ep. 097 Valerie Savarie – Altered Book Artist, Book Sculpture
Wes and Todd talk with Altered Book Artist, Valerie Savarie. Valerie talks about how she got started sculpting books, working parameters, making art for yourself, process, inspiration, old books, commissions, public art, Edward Gorey, collaboration, pricing, Valkarie Gallery, and advice to aspiring Artists.
Ep. 096 Hayley Richardson – Director, Dikeou Collection
Wes and Todd talk with Hayley Richardson, Director at the Dikeou Collection. Hayley talks about her education and path to becoming the Director at the Dikeou Collection, background of the Dikeou Collection, Zing Magazine, Devon Dikeou, collecting, and the importance of networking and internships.
Ep. 095 Brenda Stumpf – Contemporary Sculptor and Painter
Wes and Todd talk with Contemporary Sculptor and Painter, Brenda Stumpf. Brenda talks about growing up in a family of makers, quitting art school, Cy Twombly, poetry, mythology, trusting your intuition, process, finding beauty where you’re at, the Colorado art community, connection, cautionary tales, integrity of the work, and advice to aspiring Artists.