Ep. 205 Jes Moran – Abstract Painter using machine-sewn textile processes
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Colorado Springs Artist, Jes Moran. Jes discusses her engagement with art as a child, growing up in Wisconsin, altering clothes & studying apparel design, her compulsion to make, loving process, having an intentional art practice the past five years, creative ideas, some of the other creative pursuits that she explored before doing the work she does now, being self-taught, learning to trust herself, her process, being fearless, quilts, sewing, what art does for her, letting go, her older work, titles, negative space, abstract art, experimentation & exploration, finding her voice, writing, space, memories, family, vulnerability, self-doubt, routine, sacrifices, potato chips, color, her new work, her show at Auric in June, being seen & valued, the support of her family, the Colorado Springs art community, and her idea of perfect happiness.
Ep. 204 Gary Taxali – Canadian Contemporary Fine Artist & Illustrator
This week, Wes and Todd sit down with Canadian Contemporary Fine Artist and Illustrator, Gary Taxali. Gary discusses how his style doesn’t differ between his personal and commercial work, business sense, work/life balance, his early career and moving to New York City, being exposed to the fine art world in New York, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, transition from illustration to the fine art world, his early engagement in art, drawing at an early age in school, the support of his family, the importance of doodling and mark making, teaching at OCAD and how it informs his work, creativity and problem solving, voice and personal style, philosophy of his creativity, trusting yourself and the process, confidence, play being the essence of creativity, having the support of music, Mississippi Delta Blues, feeding his soul, the Russian Avant Garde, connecting to people through art, his style and how it has evolved, the Fleischer Brother, Mad magazine, how he found inspiration from Depression era America, his political art, the Library of Congress acquiring some of his work, not self-editing, …
Ep. 195 Cal Duran – Mixed Media Folk Artist
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Mixed Media Folk Artist, Cal Duran. Cal discusses his artistic journey, being woven, mentors, how he handles rejection, Meow Wolf, clay, honoring his ancestors, color, altars, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), spirit, Ojo de Dios (Eye of God), installations, Casa Bonita, and the mantra he lives by.
Ep. 194 Deborah Mitchell – Printmaker, Mixed Media Artist
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Printmaker, Deborah Mitchell. Deborah discusses the fire that destroyed her studio in 2020, her formative years in Massachusetts, travel and what it does for her and her art practice, motorcycles, her early work, her exhibition “Flower and Flame” at the Dahl Arts Center, and her idea of perfect happiness.
Ep. 193 Jessica Loving – Mixed Media Painter
This week, Wes and Todd talk with mixed media painter Jessica Loving about her creative journey and most recent exhibition, unraveling/becoming. Jessica shares how her introverted nature, world travels, and early art influences shape her large-scale work. She opens up about using light and shadow, personal transformation, and materials like tulle—and even her wedding gown and ring—to explore healing, shamanism, and the deeper meanings behind each piece.
Ep. 192 Sean Anetsberger – The Art Coach, Painting & Drawing
Sean Anetsberger, The Art Coach, discusses where his journey with art began, expressing himself through art, exposure therapy, how an incident in his youth affected his early art, painting & drawing, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, narrative, technology, expressing what comes to mind, his “Unnatural Series”, “saying yes more”, following your ideas, fears & action, memento mori, accountability, keeping his purpose at the top, the importance of Artists in society, dopamine, fragmentation, trauma & forgiveness, fear & failure, scaffolding as identity, Terence McKenna, truth, your calling being a secondary observer to your own mind, rigidity, thoughts, grief & regrets, ideas & notes, genius, originality, authenticity, scarcity mindset, his art coach offerings, creative intuition, action & artist block, exposure therapy, voice, importance of exercise, routine, things Artists could do better, manifestation, The Art Coach podcast, and his mantra that he lives by.
Ep. 191 Tiffani Erdmanczyk – Abstract Watercolorist
This week, Wes and Todd talk with Abstract Watercolorist, Tiffani Erdmanczyk. Tiffani discusses her earliest art memory, thinking outside the box, creativity, being an Architect, living in Seattle, moving to Colorado, her favorite Architects, exploring watercolor, being an Abstract Watercolorist, having sensory neuropathy, using salt in her watercolors, process, comfort & chaos, creating 8100 color patches, watercolor properties, teaching water color, texture, mentors, taking classes & workshops, group shows, getting into the headspace to create, NKollectiv, favorite Artists, pricing, commissions, her current exhibition “Drift”, Chat GPT, water, and balance over perfection.
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. 175 Lyndy Bush - Contemporary Southwest Oil Painting
This week Wes and Todd sit down with Painter, Lyndy Bush. Lyndy discusses Southern New Mexico, suburbs, Borderlands, Las Cruces, her artistic mother, inspiration, seeing herself as an Artist, her education, leaning into Art, her compulsion to create, Math & Science, Colorado, oil painting and metalsmithing, the old masters, layering & glazes, her art being autobiographical, routine, process, painting flowers, being a full-time Artist with a full-time career, what Art does for her, plein air, books, abstract painting, her greatest achievements, CHAC, Women’s Caucus for Art, Georgia O’Keefe, Frida Kahlo, Picasso, podcasts, pricing, and some of her art philosophy.
Ep. 166 Josh Davy – Sculptor
This week Wes and Todd sit down with Josh Davy. Josh discusses Next Gallery, oil painting, getting back to making things for fun, pushing himself, glass blowing, symbolism, bridges, cathedrals, connection, Christianity & religion, empathy & grace, being human, robots, process, photography, artist talks, his exhibition “Lost Along the Way, faith, prayer, prison, failure, technology & artificial intelligence, pricing, and services he offers Artists.
Ep. 165 Clay Ross – Abstract & Impressionistic Artist - Curator & Gallerist, The Look Up Gallery
This week Wes and Todd sit down with Colorado Springs Artist, Clay Ross. Clay discusses growing up in Colorado Springs, his journey as an Artist, being color blind, the “ache” to make art, working in acrylic, his two series, being a cheerleader for his community, True North Art Gallery, mixed media, abstract work, cityscapes, his current exhibition, Colorado Springs pride, light, pricing, selling art, Yobel, and The Look Up Gallery.
Ep. 162 Allyson Sheumaker – Executive Director, A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art
In this episode, Wes and Todd sit down with Allyson Sheumaker, Executive Director of the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art. Sheumaker discusses how she landed in Trinidad, Colorado, the history of Trinidad, A.R. Mitchell’s early years, stories of Mitchell, Mitchell’s work as Curator of the Trinidad History Museum, Harvey Dunn, Mitchell’s legacy of being king of pulp western magazines, Mitchell’s love of Trinidad and it’s history, being recognized for his artistic abilities in his youth, what people will experience when they visit the museum, how the museum came to be, ghost stories, vision for the museums’ future, Kuehl Fine Art, and things to do when you visit Trinidad.
Ep. 160 Annie Decamp – Painting, Mixed Media
This week Wes and Todd catch up with their friend Annie Decamp. Decamp discusses her recent exhibition at Kuehl Fine Art in Trinidad, her health scare, stepping away from encaustic work, surviving a home invasion, her current work looking at and away from trauma, PTSD, healing through art, the loneliness of trauma experiences, laughing and love, evolution and direction of her work, abstraction, hands perfection, and imperfection, working on new skills, figurative work, sketching, connecting with her Dad through painting, art classes, teaching, Yard Art, changes she has implemented in her business model, and learning how to slow down and go with the flow.
Ep. 159 Mick Burson – Multidisciplinary
Mick discusses bath houses, living on the road, murals, graffiti, exhibitions, growing up knowing he was going to become an Artist, mentors, painting trains, painting for people in the backseat, his parents, Waco, and how it plays into his work, pursuing degrees in Art, sketchy painting scenarios, being arrested, what compels him to create, painting walls, horses, the Richard Levy Gallery, being a conduit for creation, impulse, acquiring materials through connection, sculpture, orphaned work, matches, journeys, selling art, business, pricing, retirement, and sobriety.
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. 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. 123 Brian Tryon & Andrew Bailey – The Garfield Art Gallery/Up&Comers
Wes and Todd sit down with Brian Tryon, Photographer, Photography Instructor and Founder of the Garfield Art Gallery and Andrew Bailey, a young photographer from Colorado Springs. We talk about how the Garfield Art Gallery came to be, what Brian facilitates through his photography program at Community Prep School, Brian’s photographic work, how he became an instructor at Community Prep and what he teaches his students about running a gallery. Then we talk with Andrew Bailey about his photographic work, how he landed an exhibition at the Garfield Art Gallery, the thought behind the “Up & Comers” show, the work of the other Artists involved and about his plans for the future.
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.