Art + Magic

Ya'll know I love this topic, and this season I'm bringing a fresh perspective on all things artwork development with my art wife, Amanda Sandlin. In this episode we reflect on what our work used to be like, how it's changed and what that development process has been like. We also talk about our current inspiration, what we're thinking about and where we might want to take our practices next. If you're wanting to strengthen your work, there's a lot of gems in here for you!

Amanda and I get down on the TikTok strategies we've seen work, advice for finding your own formula, our successes and frustrations with social media, how we're relating to this platform and morrrre.

All things navigating the fine, blurry line between art and craft. We get into why craft is often perceived as less valuable, price point and context, expression v. product, the embrace of craft in the art world, deciding where your work fits, navigating making both art and craft, materials, and so much more. Regardless of which side you think your creations live in (and ESPECIALLY if you're trying to figure it out), this conversation will be important and applicable to you.

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The Andrea conversation continues! In this part we talk about:

- getting out of isolation

- financially setting yourself for ups and downs

- how trauma and mental health issues have influenced our work

- making art books

- art openings and how to talk to new people

- what to say no to

- much more!

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What didn't Andrea Guzzetta and I talk about? Nothing. And that's why this conversation is a two-parter!

A bit of what we covered in part 1:

-- Our mental health journeys as they relate to being working artists

-- Moneyyyy

-- Making feminine art in a masculine leaning art market

--Seeking Validation

-- Confidence

-- Finding your people

-- Pricing

-- and much more

Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next Thursday, 7/20.

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Starting back up by catching you up: why I took such a long break, imposter syndrome, TikTok, collaboration, having a hard time painting, business growth, mental health, playing the long game, working 3D and morrrre.

It's time for a super practical deep dive and today we're going all in on making prints of your work. Given the upcoming holiday season, I figured this was the perfect time to talk about this. Not to mention, I recently learned some big lessons about what can go wrong in the print making process that I hope ya'll can learn from.

I talk about:

-- Why prints may or may not do well in your business, and how to determine if you're 

-- What to consider when deciding the on the details of your print offering

-- The types of prints you can offer, and the pros and cons of each

-- My print horror story and key mistakes to avoid when getting prints made

As it's one of our most popular episodes to date (and a personal favorite), I wanted highlight this conversation with Pennylane Shen. It's also excellent compliment to the the Artwork Development Series that we just wrapped up (check out the past 3 episodes if you haven't yet). Much of what we've been discussing is distilled nicely in this interview, and as well as given a totally fresh perspective by Pennylane. If you've heard this one before, re-listening is a GREAT check-in to see how you're relating to her points and suggestions now v. then. If you're coming across this conversation for the first time-- you're in for a treat!

We talked about…

-- The two overarching factors that make for strong artwork and how to know if you’re hitting the marks

--Navigating experimentation and incorporating just the right dose of it

-- Why you need to bulk up the “meat and potatoes” of your work and ways to bring meaning and substance to the forefront of what you make

-- How to overcome the insecurity of being self-taught

-- The things to become aware of in your own self (or continued!) art education

-- Determining which way of selling your work is right for you: self-representation v. working with a gallery


BIO

Pennylane Shen is an artist consultant, curator and educator. Since 2006, her company Dazed and Confucius has offered personalized consultations, group workshops and business development with regular seminars held worldwide. Artist consultants Pennylane and David advise over 1000 artists each year. With a variety of services catered to the fine artist, Dazed and Confucius has quickly become the "one-stop shop" for artists navigating the fine art industry.

Pennylane holds a Master’s Degree in Visual Culture Theory from New York University and has lectured at various forums throughout Canada, the US and the UK. Her teaching experience includes Langara College and the NYC Crit Club. For more than a decade, Pennylane has worked in commercial galleries such as the Bau-Xi Gallery, the longest standing commercial gallery in Canada. In her hometown of Vancouver, BC Pennylane has curated for the Vancouver Mural Festival. An avid supporter of art and wellness, she sits on the board for the Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Foundation, collecting notable art pieces for hospital walls.

For the final part in this series, we're looking at our work and taking some inventory. In this episode I break down five areas of our work and practice we can look at if we want to further develop our art and make it stronger. Some of these things may be obvious and some may not, but either way I find that a check-list analysis of our practice can be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to pushing our work forward, and ensuring that nothing is underdeveloped or overlooked.

This is the third episode of the Artwork Development series. It's okay to listen out of order, but when you're done make sure you go back and listen to last week's episode, too!

While we can talk about all of the techniques for getting new ideas, ways to weed out our influences and different aspects of our work that might need attention, none of that will take us very far if we're being held up by any of these 5 blocks.

Developing our work requires us to take risk, know ourselves well, and have the ability to show up day in and day out. Unfortunately, there are some common (yet, not always obvious reasons) why we might have a hard time doing that. In today's episode, I dig into the 5 main things that tend to stand between us and our best work and how you can address them.

This is the second episode of the Artwork Development series. It's okay to listen out of order, but when you're done make sure you go back and listen to last week's episode, too!

Today kicks off the first of a three part series all about Artwork Development. This is a vast and important topic and ultimately, I think, the core of what we should be focusing on as artists. In this episode I say more about what artwork development is and why it needs our attention, and dive into The 3 stages of Style Development. 

Understanding the common points artists hit in their development allows us to identify where we're at in that cycle and take the next best steps for our work. I talk about feeling scattered, being overly influenced, feeling disconnected to our work and more-- as well as give you the behind-the-scenes story of my of style development.

If you're on social media at all, you're probably familiar with the incredible Sari Shryack. Acrylic and oil painter based in Austin, Texas, Sari is known for her disco ball paintings, still lifes and embrace of color and nostalgia. She's fascinating to watch from afar, which is why I was so excited to have her on the show and get the behind-the-scenes stories on her relationship to her work, social media, having her art widely copied and cultivating connections with her audience.

We talked about...

– Sari’s relationship to color, low bro media and kitsch, and the resistance to those things in the larger art world
– 90s imagery as a common language among peers
– Being taken seriously (or not) as an artist who's embraced social media, and Sari’s opinion on going this less traditional route
– What’s worked best for her on social platforms and how she balances content creation and art making
– The importance of relationships, connection and storytelling
– The story of the disco balls! Having them blow up and become widely copied, and Sari’s journey through it all

– Advice for creating your best work and growing your sales

-- Much more!


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If you resist writing your artist's statement, talking about your work with your audience or even just putting words to what you make for your own understanding A. you're not alone and B. I pretty much give you everything I have on the subject in today's episode.

I cover...

-- the different kinds of art writing

-- the areas you may need to develop more in your practice in order to help your writing

-- specific aspects of your work to consider writing about, or at the very least, understand for yourself

-- general tips about language, truth telling and structure

-- prompts to get you going

This episode is basically a mini workshop with a lot of info, and for that reason, I created a free guide to go along with it that includes all the tips and writing prompts I mention. 

For all you working artists, this conversation is a dose of validation and a resourceful pep talk that you're gonna love. Andrea Guezzatta doesn't hold back re: her opinions about the perspectives in the art world she doesn't jive with and the things out there disguised as opportunities that really aren't. She's also extremely generous and transparent when it comes to her income streams, pricing, secrets to success on Patreon, cultivating an engaged collector base and how she feels about painting cute shit. She was SO fun to chat with and listen to, and is definitely the kind of guest that leaves you wanting a part II.

We talked about...

-- Her fine approach v. painting things because they're cute

-- Viewing art as a skill set and a way to make money. And divesting from the often privileged perspective of academia.

-- A break down of Andrea's income streams

-- Charging a living wage and how to balance that with what your audience is buying

-- How she makes Patreon work for her

-- The need for more play and fun in the art world

-- How doing stand up comedy has influenced her art practice and given her confidence in the world

-- What to do when you feel stuck in your process

-- How she approached her recent solo show, Stratosphere (and the time and cost it took)
-- How she became a faster painter

-- SO much more

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I’ve been wanting to bring a curator’s perspective to this show for a long time and I’m so happy that I held out for Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy. Glitter-loving, down-to-earth and super fun to chat with, Angelik gives us some great insight into what it’s like on the curator's side of the exhibitions, the behind-the-scenes of putting together shows, how to connect with curators and navigate studio visits, and all things humor, cuteness and leisure.


We talked about…

• What she does an an independent curator
• Being independent v. working at an institution
• Subjectivity, compromise and the ways that curators do and don’t have power
• Her process for curating a show
• The aesthetics of optimism: why it’s been marginalized in the past and why it’s having a moment now
• Minimalism and privilege
• How to connect with and develop a relationship with curators
• Do’s and don’ts of studio visits
• Tips for artists moving forward
  

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If you're an artist who makes stuff, chances are you're going to go through periods of not making stuff too. This can weigh on us heavily, because we often feel like we need to be making in order to be in artist (but listen in for reasons why that's certainly not true). In this episode I talk about the different reasons we might go through such periods, the external expectations that need to be addressed, coping with the big bullies like fear, comparison, self-criticism and perfectionism, and suggestions for easing your way back into making (if that's right for you at this time!).

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Today’s conversation with Marisa Avila Sayler is a collaborative jam session on all things WORLDBUILDING in visual art. While Marisa and I make work that is very different, one thing that we have in common in our work is that we are each creating our own-- and we have A LOT of thoughts on the subject. 

For those of you who love all things fantastical, alternate reality, otherworldly, transcendent, surreal– this episode is for you. BUT even if this isn’t your home genre or main interest, this conversation gives way to a lot topics that are relatable to most any creative: the desire to create something new and better, to use art as a way grapple with the world around us, and to give ourselves a safe haven via our process. Whether we make otherworldly work or not, artists are constantly attempting to create their own world for themselves (the very cool and meta aspect of Worldbuilding that Marisa and I talk about!).

In this episode we discuss...

– How we each view and define Worldbuilding in the context of visual art

-- Why we think there’s been an uptick in this kind of work and its current cultural relevance
-- Why content for children tends to be otherworldly in nature

– Worldbuilding as an act of freedom seeking and rebellion, and our personal reasons for engaging with this kind of work
– The in’s and out’s of the worlds that Marisa and I build. Why we’ve chosen the characters and elements that we have to create our Cosms (worms, slime mold, nostalgia, lucky charms, oh my!)
– How being self-taught v. formally trained has impacted the development of our worlds + work

-- The importance of retrospect and the role that's played for each of us
– The value of getting (the right kind) of feedback on your work

-- much more!

We're BACK and kicking off season four (finallyyyy!) with a discussion on the five main concerns I've been hearing about from artists recently. In having a lot of conversations with you all over the past month, there were some definite themes and struggles that came up on repeat. I wanted to put them all in one place so we could traverse the ground together and also to let you know: you're definitely not alone in these!

In this episode where we cover a wide range of topics such as...

• How to understand your own work better and the three components of your work you should be able to identify
• What to do if you feel disconnected from what you're making or worried that it doesn't have meaning behind it
• All things talking, sharing and writing about your work. What is too personal? How can we come up with interesting things to say?
• A practice I recommend for when you feel "all over the place"
• Important ways to compartmentalize and structure your studio practice
• Different ways to connect with other artists and find creative community
• How to know when it's time to lean into the professional side of things or stay focused on developing your work
• A whole lot more!

For this final episode in our mini series on style development, I wanted to talk about ways we might both: find new inspiration when we're feeling stuck *and* uncover substantial ideas that we'll actually be able to stick with (hi cohesion and consistency). I think pushing our work forward in unique ways requires a balance of playfulness and focused intention-- which I discuss in this episode. Where ever you're at in terms of finding your style, these 10 suggestions will surely bring you a lot closer to your next most honest and exciting work.

In the age of social media, we're likely to experience either being copied, finding ourselves too influenced by other artists' work, or both. This is a sensitive topic on both ends. Being copied feels horrible (what do we do when it happens?), and trying to move away from the voices of other's when you're developing your own can be a big challenge. As part of our continued discussion on style development, I wanted to offer some nuanced thoughts for both positions with the hopes of validating the feelings those who have seen their work replicated and shine some light on how you can weed out any elements in your work that aren't really your own.

I discuss...

-- Thoughts on being copied, ways to handle it and possible perspectives

-- The common things I see in work that is too influenced by others / how to tell if your work is too close to someone else's

-- Ways to move away from your influences and make your work more your own (no shame here, just ideas)

“UNIQUE: Style Development Workshop Series” is now open for enrollment!

If you feel caught between multiple styles and you’re craving cohesion or to solidify your “thing,” you’re not alone.  As part of the next three weeks where we’ll be digging into style development, I wanted to specifically address what to do when we feel scattered and without direction. In this episode I discuss…

-- The 3 stages of style development

-- When multiple styles can work for you and when it might be time to rein it in

-- Obstacles that the “scattered artist” often faces

-- Ways to identifying your “umbrella” and cultivate your style beyond just how it looks

-- Remedies and practical ways to focus your style

-- And more!

“UNIQUE: Style Development Workshop Series” is now open for enrollment!

Muralists, aspiring muralists and any artist interested in doing client-based work: look no further than this episode with Roxy Prima and Phoebe Cornog of Pandr Design Co. and Ladies Who Paint.  These women have been my go-to resource for murals since I discovered them (and I WISH I would’ve known about them when I first started with murals). I really wanted to bring you a practical episode that got into the details of being a successful muralist and these ladies did not hold back one bit. We discussed getting your first mural, pricing, outreach, contracts, taking care of your body, the proper boots and equipment and SO much more. I love their perspectives on the abundance of work available in the mural world and their focus on empowering women muralists- so needed!

We talked about….

All about Ladies Who Paint and being women in the mural industry

• How to get break into murals if you’re itching to start
• The importance of outreach: finding who to email, how to present yourself and more
• Normalizing 5 and 6 figure mural jobs
• The biggest mistakes they’ve made and learned from in doing so many projects
• Taking care of your body as a muralist: everything from equipment to proper shoes
• What to consider in your pricing, and all about discussing rates
• Much more!

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I love stories that showcase versatility in how humans find their way to art and make it their job. K’era is definitely one of those stories! Considering art her “second act,” she started with a career PR and later found her way to fine art, design and textiles. We get into what that journey has entailed, the practical side of licensing and getting her products into stores, owning the title of artist for herself and much more. I highly recommend this episode for that always-needed dose of “there’s no one right way to do it, there’s only your way.” Not to mention, if you’re interested in textiles, home decor and/or making functional products--you’ll learn a TON from K’era.

We talked about…

• Her winding road from working PR to becoming a working artist
• The power of PR, awareness and getting your work in front of people
• The practical steps K’era took to get her products into stores
• How K’era got into licensing and what she’s learned in the process
• Claiming ownership over the title of “artist” + and balancing design and fine art in her brand
• Advice for carving out your own artist route
• Much more!

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As I'm just completing a series of paintings that has taken me the longest and challenged me the most, I'm reflecting on what I had to do differently over these past eight months, what I've learned and what I'll be holding on to for the future. There's all kinds of tips in here, from weathering the pre-release feels to how to keep a long-term body of work cohesive. These lessons are applicable no matter where you're at and might be the thing to help keep moving when the going gets tough. 

Today’s guest is the amazing painter, illustrator and teacher, Lindsay Stripling (you might know her from her fabulous Lunch Club series on Instagram!). This is one of those conversations where we got to bounce around and touch on ALL of the things: style, social media, having studio practice, Lindsay’s story, the importance of boredom, story-telling, and so much more. I have to say, my absolute favorite part toward the end of the conversation where Lindsay broke down how she thinks about her work. She has a way of putting words to the mysterious intangible that I could’ve listened to for hours. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!


We talked about..

-- How she guides students to find their style

-- Getting away from the digital realm for inspiration
-- Ageism on social media

-- Keys for creating a consistent studio practice

-- Holding the titles of painter and illustrator at the same time, and thoughts on illustration v. fine art

-- The importance of reading for Lindsey and the in’s and out’s of how philosophy influences her work

Bio

Lindsay Stripling is a San Francisco based illustrator and teacher. Her work is always coming from a place of layering, texture and experimentation. She likes to keep things fun and explore themes of nature, time, memory, community and psychology. When Lindsay isn’t drawing or painting in her backyard in the Sunset, she can be found walking in Golden Gate Park or looking for a new book at the library. She’s taught team building workshops for Google, Pixar, Shutterfly and Nike and worked with clients such as  Adobe, Nike, Intercom, Mind Body Green, Bust Magazine, Spirituality and Health Magazine, St. Regis Hotel and more.

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We're back with another Q+A, and this one's loaded with practical realness. I talk about how to manage the financial unpredictability of a creative career, what do about deadlines and commissions when you're burnt out, how to overcome a fear of sharing your work, the artists I look to as examples of a healthy work/life balance, and lots of other fun stuff like what I'm reading and the point in time I realized I was even creative at all.

Want your question answered on the next Q+A? Email it to devonleewalz@gmail.com

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I’m super excited to get into the nitty gritty of navigating large-scale projects: from building the right portfolio and going after opportunities, to the process itself. This is all of particular interest for me because I’ve found that, beyond selling paintings to collectors, this aspect of being a working artist can seem especially mysterious.

I couldn’t have asked for a better guest to bring such honest and practical wisdom in this department than Nicole Mueller.  I was introduced to Nicole by listening to the podcast that she co-hosts, Beyond the Studio (highly recommend) and have since admired her passion for open discussion about being a working artist and her vibrant paintings. She didn’t hold back any details! This is a highly informative conversation that I got a *ton* out of.

We talked about…

-- The ins and outs of portfolio building

-- Getting opportunities for commissions, site specific installations and murals

-- The importance of being proactive and building relationships

-- What art consultants do, the benefits of connecting with them and how to find them  



BIO

Nicole Mueller is a San Francisco, CA based visual artist. Her work includes large-scale paintings, murals, and installations that mimic the effects of stained glass. Driven by process, her abstract works are highly saturated, built with layers of collage-like shapes. Her work explores the complexity of color, states of flux, dichotomies within painting, the transitional nature of being, and the threshold between interior and exterior, the tangible and intangible.

Mueller earned her BFA in Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD in 2011. Her work has been exhibited in California, New York, and Maryland. She has been an artist-in-residence at ArtPoint (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco), the Vermont Studio Center, and Proyecto'ace in Argentina.

She has completed public projects in collaboration with the City of Alameda, California Arts Council and Downtown Alameda Business Association, ArtSpan and the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco, as well as commercial businesses throughout San Francisco. In 2017 she was the recipient of the Mark M. Glickman and Lanette M. McClure Artist Award for emerging artists in California.

Mueller is also co-host of Beyond the Studio, a podcast that interviews working contemporary artists about their professional practices. The podcast received an Alternative Exposure grant in 2017 from Southern Exposure in San Francisco, with support from Facebook's Artist-in-Residence Program and the Andy Warhol Foundation. Beyond the Studio is a cultural partner of Art World Conference, and a fiscally sponsored project of Independent Arts & Media.

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The demand for content v. the pace of our process, the ever-changing algorithm, and questions about if growth on Instagram is even possible anymore-- I think these topics are on all of our minds right now. And I know so many of us are asking if investing our time into social media even worth it. In this deep dive episode I share my thoughts on the topic, how I'm dealing with Instagram in its current "climate," and the tips and perspectives that've been helpful to me. If nothing else- I hope you feel validated and less alone knowing that we're all wrestling with these issues!


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This is an extra special episode for me because working with Pennylane Shen over the past year has been a game changer for my art practice. Pennylane is an artist consultant, and she’s really one of the good ones out there providing support to artists who want to strengthen their work, develop their business, write their artist statement and much more. I loved getting to steal her for an hour to ask everything I’ve been wanting to and highlight the knowledge that she’s imparted to me in our sessions together.

We talked about…

-- The two overarching factors that make for strong artwork and how to know if you’re hitting the marks

--Navigating experimentation and incorporating just the right dose of it

-- Why you need to bulk up the “meat and potatoes” of your work and ways to bring meaning and substance to the forefront of what you make

-- How to overcome the insecurity of being self-taught

-- The things to become aware of in your own self (or continued!) art education

-- Determining which way of selling your work is right for you: self-representation v. working with a gallery


BIO

Pennylane Shen is an artist consultant, curator and educator. Since 2006, her company Dazed and Confucius has offered personalized consultations, group workshops and business development with regular seminars held worldwide. Artist consultants Pennylane and David advise over 1000 artists each year. With a variety of services catered to the fine artist, Dazed and Confucius has quickly become the "one-stop shop" for artists navigating the fine art industry.

Pennylane holds a Master’s Degree in Visual Culture Theory from New York University and has lectured at various forums throughout Canada, the US and the UK. Her teaching experience includes Langara College and the NYC Crit Club. For more than a decade, Pennylane has worked in commercial galleries such as the Bau-Xi Gallery, the longest standing commercial gallery in Canada. In her hometown of Vancouver, BC Pennylane has curated for the Vancouver Mural Festival. An avid supporter of art and wellness, she sits on the board for the Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Foundation, collecting notable art pieces for hospital walls.

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As working artists and/or aspiring ones, we tend to have a lot of questions about how people have made this gig sustainable, and what their path has looked like.  In this episode, Gracelee Lawrence provides a lot of those answers by giving us a generous look into her own behind-the-scenes. Not to mention, some very rich commentary on gatekeeping in the art world, commercialization, accessibility, creative community, committing to your art practice and much more (I could’ve listened to her for hours!).

We talked about...

• How Gracelee found her way to sculpture and digital fabrication
  
• How she approaches accessibility in her work, especially as it applies to her public art
  
• Her journey through art school and into making art a sustainable career
  
• Attending art residencies to support the making of her work (she did 20 residencies in 9 years!)
  
• Balancing making larger, more expensive work with making smaller work
  
• The fundamentals of gatekeeping in the art world *and* what’s been helpful for her to focus on instead
  
• How she protects her work from commercialization and being treated like a commodity
  
• How to find your creative community
  
• much more!

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If you’ve felt the need to overproduce work (particularly by Instagram), work at an unnatural pace or race to improve,  this episode will be salve for your studio practice. This conversation with Soleé felt just like two artists chatting over tea, because it was so honest and soothing. We unpacked dilemmas around scheduling studio time, being self-taught, chasing after a “career” (and what that even means), confronting imposter syndrome and much more. My favorite was the wisdom Soleé radiates when it comes to being in integrity with her creative energy. I think you’ll find it to be contagious.

We talked about….

• Soleé’s transition from jewelry making to painting
• Imposter syndrome
• Why she would and wouldn’t return to get her MFA
• Pacing yourself, honoring your creative energy and Soleé’s studio schedule
• The ways being off Instagram shifted her studio practice
• Thoughts on what a “career” as an artist actually means and Soleé’s personal career values
  Working with mystery in the process
• much more!
  

Bio

Soleé Darrell is a   born multidisciplinary artist who is based in Oakland, CA. Her work is purely intuition-driven. She explores the experience and depth of being a human in this world while connecting with other worlds through practice and meditation. Each stroke encompasses color, vulnerability, passion, texture, and complete faith in the universe. She uses layers of mixed media to symbolize the healing of wounds and maps the unknown paths we take in life. She is forever fascinated with the idea of things we can never know about our existence, and the self inflicted suffering that human beings can endure through generations of trying to figure it out. Her hope is to bring some optimism to the viewer and bridge the gap between the intuitive world and the physical world.

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Feel daunted by the commitment, consistency and delayed gratification required to create a series? I think that's very common. And I'm in the thick of it myself! Which is why I wanted to talk about why creating a body of work is so important for your artistic growth (and smart for your career), as well as the 7 things I've found to be most helpful within the process. This is a fun topic because, the truth is, a lot of depth and reward comes from investing our energy into projects that are more demanding and long term, but with that, comes more to consider--there's much to discuss!

This is episode is a preview of May's Patreon exclusive bonus episode. I wanted to give you a little taste of you can expect each month when you sign up.

If your inner critic has been extra loud or you've been feeling disconnected from who you are as an artist and what you're making, this deep dive is for you. I unpack  all things self-doubt, why artists are so susceptible to and what I've found to be most helpful when navigating it. Even if you feel okay in the inner critic department, there's some good discussion here about knowing your artistic values and how you can reconnect with your work.

If you don’t already know Lauren Hana Chai, I’m honored to be the one to introduce you to her because her work is brilliant. I had a ton of fun connecting with her and we hit on a lot of ground in this conversation: the ins and outs of how she’s arrived at the work she’s making now, all about her show last year at Thinkspace (from making the connection to the prep itself), how she manages her income streams and mayyybe even the story behind the DMT trip that influenced her recent work.

We talked about….

-- transitioning themes in the work

-- how Lauren connected with Thinkspace and approaches email outreach

-- Lauren’s DMT experience and how its influenced her work

-- How and when Lauren went full time and her different income streams

BIO

Lauren Hana Chai is known for contrasting her traditional Korean upbringing with her modern American life and including a personal story or cultural narrative to accompany each piece. As the first in her family born in America, she was raised by her South Korean grandparents in Hawaii. She moved across the Pacific to San Francisco to study at the Academy of Art University. After some time following the technique-based curriculum, Lauren says she relished breaking the rules and mixing abstract elements into the work. Her current series places side by side traditional elements, such as Korean folk art and Buddhist temple architecture, and modern elements such as interracial relationships or sexually charged figures. She has been featured in NBC News, KBS World Radio, Houston NPR, and the Honolulu Star Bulletin.

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Season 3 is finally here! And we’re kicking things off with one of the most transparent episodes I’ve aired yet (Really though. This one’s on the vulnerable side for me.).

My good friend Amanda Sandlin joins me in co-hosting a conversation about the big “artist myths” that’ve haunted her and I over the years. Amanda has been such a supportive, bright light for me these past months (not to mention a brilliant painter and writer) and I wanted to let you be a fly on the wall to what we’ve really been talking about. If you’ve been feeling extra self-critical or have caught the comparison bug, I think this conversation will feel like one giant exhale.

We talked about…

-- Being/ not being the artsy kid and how that affects us now
-- Our relationship to being self-taught, and why we would or wouldn’t get our MFA
-- How we manage our studio schedules and conflicting feels on not “waiting for inspiration”

-- ALL the thoughts on artist statements

-- Real talk on being full-time, having other part time work and selling (or not selling) out your collections

-- and seriously...SO much more.

I can’t believe we’re even here right now. So I thought I’d honor the moment by divulging the details of my art life from this past year. It’s a bit vulnerable to share what I’ve been doing in real-time, but I think there’s some good lessons here.

In this episode I share what happened, what I’m celebrating, what I would’ve done differently in 2020 and the takeaways I’m carrying into 2021. And I’m answering some fun questions you sent in along the way (re: selling online v. with galleries, my dream podcast co-host and more!).

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How do we break away from our influences? How do we come up with something totally original out of thin air? Hasn’t everything already been done? All valid questions that I had a ton of fun answering on today's q + a all about style development.

I discuss the concept of “originality," as well as the four main reasons artists have a hard time cultivating their own style and practical things you can do now to develop a style that has substance.

Shoutout to Hannah of @hannah.andersson.art for today’s question

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NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT

Unique: a 4-week style development workshop series

Today I have a super real talk for you all about the realities of working your way into being a full time artist (one of our favorite topics here-- I know!).  Our guest of honor is Marisa Avila-Sayler.

Marisa has been an artist and navigating the journey of being full time for 20 plus years. As such she brings a refreshing dose of realness when it comes to the practicalities of being a working artist, how to discern what's right for your own path, and what’s happening in schools and in the art world. We also jam on failure, process, permission to make what you love and much more. This one was as informative as it was mega inspiring.

• Marisa’s journey with her art career
• Balancing life with studio time
• Networking and finding opportunities as an artist
• The contradiction between growing as an artist and growing an art business/brand
• Making bad art, accepting failure and painting what makes you happy
• Unlearning lessons from art school

About Marisa Avila Sayler

Marisa Avila Sayler is a Los Angeles native who works in drawing, painting, and sculpture using both traditional and experimental media. She earned a BFA from the Atlanta College of Art in 2005, and an MFA from California State University, Fullerton in 2009. An artist since childhood, Marisa has always supported her art practice with more traditional career paths, namely education. Her teaching and educational field experience ranges from art exploration

with special needs preschoolers, to traditional undergraduate drawing and painting instruction, to doctorate-level lecture, curriculum design, and administration. Since 2018, Marisa has focused solely on her studio practice with occasional guest teaching, workshops, and visiting artist lectures. She has exhibited in numerous Los Angeles galleries, institutions such as the Torrance Art Museum and the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA, and her work is in private collections all over the world. Outside of the studio, Marisa and her spouse of 16 years are guiding their two exceptional young children in the art of being explorers of this universe.

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Taylor Lee Nicholoson is BACK and I’m honored to have her be the first return guest on our show. It’s no coincidence that I keep coming back for convos with this woman-- she puts a ton of thought and intention behind her process and the evolution of her work, and it shows. This time around we’re diving into all things sculpture, performance, anxiety as a playmate, pivoting your business model as needed, the difference between content and style, and so much more.

WE TALKED ABOUT…

• Changing directions and mediums with your art
  
• Themes of anxiety
  
• The importance of content and themes in your work
  
• Pivoting your business model

About Taylor

Taylor Lee is an artist that draws attention to anxiety and hyperreality through exaggerated kitschy/campiness. She juxtaposes laughter and pathos to create mood-whiplash, challenge perceptions of reality, and offer anxiety-ridden millennials like herself the catharsis of feeling “seen.”

Taylor creates surreal content such as stop-motion GIFs and microfilms, sculpture, illustrations, performances, and installation for immersive experiences in both digital and physical spaces. When she's not building a paper-mache TV or another face vase, you can find her telling ghost stories…but more on that in October.

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DAN LAM. What a pinch-me-moment it was to have her on the show. SO many interesting topics got touched on in this conversation: how and why beauty is easily dismissed in art, Dan’s thoughts on a recent negative comment and the issue of gatekeeping in the art world, the stigmas she’s protesting (like fun! and psychedelic use!), how she’s dealt with copying, advice for creating strong work and tons more.

It was powerful to talk to someone with so much experience who’s holding down very healthy and important perspectives for the whole art community. In fact, I almost titled this episode “Dan Lam is Awesome,” (true story) because that was how I walked away feeling from our chat. I know you all are going to appreciate it as much as I did.

WE TALKED ABOUT…

• Dismissing beautiful work
  
• Balance and self care
  
• Destigmatizing psychedelics
  
• Gatekeeping in the art community
  
• Copying vs Influencing
  
• Advice for artists

BIO

Dan Lam’s work straddles the line between numerous dichotomies. By navigating the
realm between attraction and repulsion, organic and inanimate, seriousness and
playfulness, soft and hard, Lam conjures up her idiosyncratic vision. As a result, the
work strikes a deft balance between seemingly disparate concepts, subsequently
inspiring a range of emotions and ideas from the viewer.

Known for her bold and unique sculptures, she rose to popularity and prominence
through social media, particularly Instagram. Her body of work ranges from gallery
exhibitions to large scale installations to brand collaborations. She exhibits in the US
and internationally.

Lam was born in the Philippines while her family was immigrating from Vietnam to the
United States. She was raised in Texas where she received her Bachelor in Fine Arts
from the University of North Texas in 2010. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in
2014 from Arizona State University.

Lam currently resides and works in Dallas, TX, USA.

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I’ve been wanting to weave plant medicine and psychedelics into the conversation for a while now and I can’t think of someone I would’ve rather done this with than Erin Loree (who’s luscious abstract paintings are to DIE for, by the way). I’m eternally grateful for her openness and wisdom. Not to mention, I had the BEST time talking with her.

In our conversation, Erin shared about what it’s been like for her to speak about ayahuasca publicly, how she’s navigated the topic within the exhibition world, the correlations she’s found between healing, ceremonies and the creative process itself, how she uncovers meaning in her work and tons more. Whether you’re interested in plant medicine or not, there are beautiful perspectives for all artists in what she shares-- and some fascinating stories about her adventures in the jungle, too.

About Erin

Erin Loree is Canadian painter based in Toronto. Her work explores themes of transformation, inversion, and duality, with an emphasis on the process as a journey of discovery. She completed her BFA at OCAD University in 2012 and has since exhibited nationally and internationally in Toronto, Montreal, New York, San Francisco, and the UK, with a recent solo exhibition at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound. Loree was awarded the Robert Pope Artist Residency at NSCAD University in Halifax and has participated in residencies in Toronto and in the Peruvian Amazon Jungle. Loree’s work has been featured in YNGSPC.ca, MOMUS.ca, CBC Arts, the Toronto Star, Beautiful Decay, Booooooom, and Huffington Post. She is represented by Peter Robertson Gallery in Edmonton.

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In this first Q+A, we're talking all things career advice, winding roads, navigating multiple gigs while being highly sensitive and much more. 

If you're itching to make the leap from day job to artist or want advice on how to fast track your growth and progress, I think you'll find solace in this discussion. You'll also get the behind-the-scenes of my own (non-linear and highly risky) path to being in biz.

A huge thank you to everyone who sent in questions! If yours didn't get answered, it's been saved for future episodes. 

For this episodes Q's, big shoutout to:

Beate Munch

As an astrology fanatic myself, I’ve been dying to bring you an episode where creativity and meets the stars. In this episode, astrologer, writer and artist, Emmalea Russo, shares how she sees astrology as an art in and of itself. We also discuss how she approaches astrology through a lens of divination, and the areas of the birth chart that are particularly ripe with creative fodder (my favorite!). I’m hoping this conversation can serve as inspiration for your explorations--there’s tons to jump off of here!

We talked about…

-- Emmalea's journey to astrology

-- Ancient astrology vs Modern astrology

-- Engaging with astrology as divination

-- Specific houses and planets that might be of particular interest to artists

-- Much more!

About Emmalea

I invited Jaclyn to be on the show not just because she’s one of my best IRL art friends, but because she’s a wonderful example of how to make a living as an artist by diversifying your offerings and income streams. Jac has embraced the fact that she loves so many styles, projects and mediums, and made that work FOR her. From live art and wedding invitations, to chalk board signs and digital art, to custom portraits and luscious oil paintings-- she literally does it all.  You’ll love this conversation if you feel limited by picking just one style or offering (or want to get creative with your cash flow!).

We talked about….

• The evolution of her work as an artist
  
• The willingness to say yes
  
• Pros and Cons of diversifying interests as an artist
  
• Getting started with building a portfolio
  
• Lessons on working with clients (and the importance of a contract!)
  
• Continuing your learning and improving your skills as an artist
  

About Jaclyn

Jaclyn Florescio is an eclectic artist from Southern California.   She considers herself a “Jac of all Trades,” because of her deep love for all art! Her work incorporates a mixture of illustration, graphic design, and lettering which is the perfect combination for any kind of project from wedding invitations to logo design.   She is known for her colorful, story-telling  illustrations, and is inspired by everything: music, food, nature, culture and people. Her versatility has given her opportunities to work with different clients, from couples to corporate businesses to celebrities.

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I kind of pinched myself when Maya agreed to this interview.  I first came across Maya Freelon with the release of her Art on Fire video, which she released in response to the murder of George Floyd (and countless other black lives). I then rapidly dove into her colorful world of tissue paper artwork, and became fascinated with her messages and the deep history behind her medium.

In this convo we get a behind the scenes look at her experience of the art world, how she stuck to her guns in her work despite discouragement from professors, and we unpack her powerful video that calls out racism, by which I found her. Maya came fully equipped to this chat with experience and wisdom, and made room for zero BS. This one is guaranteed to light a creative fire under you in more ways than one.

We talked about….

-- Maya’s current thoughts on the galley system in the time of COVID

-- Super real talk on the pro’s and con’s of the artist/gallery relationship

-- Ways for artists to build their own “cred” outside of the system

-- Anger and isolation stemming from injustices and racial tensions

-- Maya’s identity as a black artist

-- Using accessible materials to challenge racism in the art world

-- Advice for artists to stay true to themselves and their art

About Maya:

If you’ve been wondering how someone might make the leap from their day job and land celebrity buyers and big time collaborations while being wildly unapologetic in following their joy, look no further than this conversation I had with artist and designer, Rachel Burke of @imakestagram. I loved getting the back story on her unique, nostalgic and joyful creations and the long journey she’s been on with them. And I especially loved hearing her approach to brand, story, repping her own creations and what it’s been like for her to switch it up with painting, too.

We talked about….

--How Rachel built up her fashion line +  how wearing one of her own pieces in public started it all

-- Taking the leap from her design job to going all in on her own business

-- What Rachel credits to big celebrities like Kesha and Drew Barrymore finding and buying her pieces

-- The BTS details of collaborating with Disney

-- Navigating saying “no” to big offers

-- Killer advice for styling, branding and storytelling

-- The vulnerable update on her first ever series of paintings

-- And more!

LINKS

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I found that what Lanecia shared about choosing life, moving through grief, being honest and claiming art for herself was exactly what I needed to hear in this moment.  I’m in love with the depth of thought behind her work (which you’ll get to hear!) as well as her perspective on the ways art makes us better humans in the world.

We talked about…

-- How Lancia creates with patience and mindfulness, and let’s her work “become” in it’s own timing (and the practicality of working with deadlines within this process)

-- What led to her transition from minister to artist, and how her background plays out in her vocation now

-- How Lanecia moved through the grief of losing her daughter, both on and off the canvas, as well as advice for others working through grief.

-- How both creating art and engaging with art makes us better humans

-- How Lancia has fiercely directed her own art education and her favorite resources for doing so

-- much more!

And! Be sure to check out the show notes on this one. Lancia shared a WEALTH of educational and inspirational resources, and I linked them all up for you.

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Links and Mentions:

This is both a soothing and super relevant conversation for the current times. Oakland based artist, Madeleine Tonzi, is a painter and muralist.  Originally from the high desert of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Madeleine’s work is both a reflection of the past, present and future, in which she extracts the essence of moments to create mystical and surreal landscapes.  Through a distinct color pallet, soft natural elements and rigid architectural forms, she places emphasis on environments laden with both freedom and boundaries that which shape our navigation through this world and highlight the importance of preserving that which is sacred.  

We talked about...

--Madeleine's work: honoring the sacred, home, the desert and portals as a metaphor.

--Navigating being an empathic artist

--How she creates her pieces based on mood and the shifts in the work 

--The art “movement” of our time that Madeleine (and I!) feel to be a part of

--Thoughts on weaving spirituality and esoteric themes into one’s work

---Entering the mural game as a woman and advice for starting out

--The juicy details of her experience working with Meow Wolf

-- And more!

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LINKS + MENTIONS