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. 156 Melody Epperson – Artist, Curator – Tree Tales
In this episode, Wes and Todd catch up with Artist and Curator, Melody Epperson. Melody discusses her recent solo show “Lifetime of Snapshots," Women’s Caucus for Art, receiving a PS You Are Here grant from Denver Arts & Venues, her public art installation “Tree Tales," engaging youth and community, challenges of facilitating the “Tree Tales” project, the various skill sets gained by the youth that participated, the future of the project, and advice to those interested in taking on a similar project.
Ep. 155 Chris Maynard – FeatherFolio, Sculpting & Carving Feathers
Chris Maynard discusses growing up in Washington state, growing up around art, the catalyst to become a full-time Artist and deciding to focus on feathers, feather structure, Argus Pheasants, snake skins, themes of his work, how he sources his feathers, the legality of acquiring feathers, challenges of carving feathers, tools for carving, routine, dancing, wasp paper, installations, his book “Feathers: Form & Function”, selling art, pricing, and galleries.
Ep. 154 Emilie Odeile & Ken Chapin – Wove World, Goodnight Moon
In this episode, Wes and Todd sit down with Emilie Odeile & Ken Chapin. Emilie & Ken discuss their background in the Arts, how they met and became Artners, how Ken designed and sold the world’s largest collection of knitting needles, Emilie looked for larger than commercially made knitting needles, how they work together, and what each brings to the table, “Goodnight Moon” the book, the catalyst for Emilie to want to knit “Goodnight Moon,” “One Story, Many Voices,”school field trips, the programming they are facilitating around “Goodnight Moon,” aging populations and age-friendly communities, literacy rates in Southern Colorado, Space to Create, and the work leading up to knitting “Goodnight Moon”.
Ep. 153 Kathryn Petroff – Oil Painter & Muralist
Michele and Eric discuss the history of Central City, the history of Washington Hall that houses the GCAA Art Gallery, the Central City Opera, Gaming and Casinos, living in a close-knit small community, the history of the GCAA, how the GCAA is governed, Vance Kirkland, the mission of the GCAA and what it facilitates, membership, funding, the Art Gallery and exhibitions, and the GCAA Annual Juried Art Show
Ep. 152 Jeff Dean – Sculptor - Metal Wall Art, Stone, Bronze, Wood & Clay
Michele and Eric discuss the history of Central City, the history of Washington Hall that houses the GCAA Art Gallery, the Central City Opera, Gaming and Casinos, living in a close-knit small community, the history of the GCAA, how the GCAA is governed, Vance Kirkland, the mission of the GCAA and what it facilitates, membership, funding, the Art Gallery and exhibitions, and the GCAA Annual Juried Art Show
Ep. 151 Gilpin County Arts Association – Michele Roussel & Eric Miller
Michele and Eric discuss the history of Central City, the history of Washington Hall that houses the GCAA Art Gallery, the Central City Opera, Gaming and Casinos, living in a close-knit small community, the history of the GCAA, how the GCAA is governed, Vance Kirkland, the mission of the GCAA and what it facilitates, membership, funding, the Art Gallery and exhibitions, and the GCAA Annual Juried Art Show
Ep. 150 Georgia Padilla – Multimedia Artist
Georgia discusses growing up in Colorado and Manitou Springs, CPTSD, living with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, art as a coping mechanism, anxiety, Dialectical behavior therapy, breathing beads, mental illness, her voice as an Artist and how she uses it, how art saved her life and how it heals, becoming a professional Artist, getting into Next Gallery and being awarded a Next Gallery scholarship, all the mediums that she works in, her relief work, commissions, Etsy, craft fairs, collaborating with her daughter Daemonia for their exhibition “Coloring Outside the Lines,” Autism Acceptance Month, Autism, inclusivity, neurodiversity, and her journey to meaningful connection with her daughter through art…
Ep. 149 Edward Mapplethorpe – American Photographer/Artist
Photographer, Edward Mapplethorpe, discusses his early life growing up in Queens, his father introducing him to photography, his brother Robert and Patti Smith, his introduction to the darkroom and how it solidified his path in photography, his education at SUNY Stony Brook, going to work for his brother Robert, collaborating with Robert, Robert predicting Edward would be an Artist, Tom Baril, leaving Robert’s studio and moving to Los Angeles, assisting Playboy photographers, the catalyst for his series “Undercurrents”, finding his voice, the “Transmographs” series, process, ideas, Analog vs. Digital, his “One” series, commissioned portraits, polaroids and light meters, film stocks, his love of the darkroom, his abstract work, chemograms, “Timezones”, “The Cube”, Screw Magazine and silly putty, and his thoughts on his legacy as Photographer and Artist…
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. 147 Kary Janousek – Photographer, Wet Plate Collodion
Wet Plate Collodion Photographer, Kary Janousek, discusses how she ended up in Fargo, the historic building that houses her studio, her start in photography, how her millinery business informed her photography business, the catalyst to explore wet plate collodion, cameras, the process of wet plate collodion, working large compared to small, positive and negative plates, chemistry, safety, history of wet plate collodion, sourcing chemistry and materials, the expense, lenses, clean plates and imperfections, why she likes photographing people, vulnerability, perspective, social media, the time she shot a wedding, and keeping your word.
Ep. 145 Steve Morrell – Figurative Painter
In this episode, Wes and Todd sit down with Painter, Steve Morrell. Steve talks about his current work, New York, moving to Colorado, advertising, copywriting, Chat GPT, NFTs, ADD, psychedelics, MDMA, LA, Miami, Art Basel, trampolines & models, nudes, voice, art in his youth, painting denim jackets in the '80s, street art, working large, commissions, color palette, pricing, prints, process, and abstract work.
Ep. 144 Billy Ludwig – Digital & Mixed Media Artist
Billy Ludwig discusses the art scenes in Miami and New York, Art Basel, art fairs, digital work, photoshop, mixed media, process Lucasfilm, compositing images, Star Wars vs. World War II, research, the importance of authentic representation in his work, getting flagged on Instagram, being invited to Okinawa, Japan by the Marine Corps, Vaudeville Phantoms, Galactic Samurais, art in his youth, having an addiction to ideas & being creative, music, the compulsion to create, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., emoting through art, abstract art, Thirteenth Floor, and rules.
Ep. 143 Adrienne Stein – Painter, Magical Realism
Adrienne Stein discusses her new work, social media, works in progress, Agnes Pelton, Hilma af Klint, New Mexico, being deliberate, color in the Southwest, Alaska, mushroom foraging, bones, pheasants, Pennsylvania, Atelier training, family/work balance, time management, importance of passion, being true to your voice, art education, gratitude, nudes, Ladew Topiary Gardens, still life, painting as offering, accountability, being married to another Artist, magical realism, being open to a paradigm shift, gallery representation, commissions, art in hotels, and her motto.
Ep. 141 Tricia Zimic – Sculptor, Porcelain – Painting & Etching
In this episode, Wes and Todd sit down with Sculptor, Tricia Zimic. Tricia discusses her first connection with Art, painting vs. sculpture, being a narrative Artist, etching, owls, painting, telling stories with animals, Meissen, Johann Joachim Kändler, Sins & Virtues, porcelain, process, Kintsugi, Chacma baboons, Albrechtsburg Castle, Hunterdon Art Museum, shipping porcelain, conservation, environmental art, hope, Wildflower Sculpture Park, legacy & time, making your art a priority, illustration, Troma movie posters, selling art, and handling rejection.
Ep. 140 Amy Laugesen – Sculptor, Ceramic and Mixed Media
In this episode, Wes and Todd sit down with Mixed Media Sculptor, Amy Laugesen. Amy talks about Crestone and the San Luis Valley, the horse as muse, her artistic journey, dyslexia, the support of her parents, working with children, passion, Bob Ragland, being a Mixed Media Sculptor, ceramics, her experience attending the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, clay, repurposing and incorporating found objects into her work, public art, cement fondue, sculpture conservation, collaboration, her great grandfather Bela Lyon Pratt, the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, collaboration, and being open to what unfolds in 2023.
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. 134 Melody Epperson – Artist, Curator – Vote NO Vote, Bell Projects
Melody Epperson talks about the women’s suffrage movement, the exhibition “Vote NO Vote” at Bell Projects, how her research inspires her art, her work surrounding women’s voting rights, some of the work represented in “Vote NO Vote”, little known facts and the sacrifice of women that participated in the women’s suffrage movement, Quakers, the League of Women Voters, curation, the Institute of Sociometry, media, the internet and dissecting information.
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. 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.