Authentic Obsessions

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**Authentic Obsessions**

Inspiring stories and practical tips from artists, curators, photographers, and writers in hot pursuit of their lives. Guests reveal their creative obsessions, fears, joys, uncertainty, and the impact they hope to have, leaving you feeling less alone as you proceed down your own creative path. Acknowledge the mess and keep going!

Latest Episodes:

Chelsea Littman - Glass Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

Takeaways

1. There are endless possibilities if you’re paying attention to what [the glass] wants.

2. “I will stop underestimating the power of my drive and what I can accomplish.”

3. Stop being so hard on yourself.

4. Mountain biking and glassblowing are both good ways to look hard at yourself and know that there are only certain things you can control.

Mentioned in this episode

Follow Chelsea Littman on Instagram

Polpelka Trenchard Glass

The Tambourine Collaboratory

Joanna Manousis

Nicole Shaver - Geology Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

Mentioned in this episode

Follow Nicole Shaver on Instagram

Nicole Shaver

MARN, Milwaukee Artist Resource Network

Shirley Schanen Gruen

Penland School of Craft

The Darkroom

Susan Rothenberg Art 21 video

Ozaukee Washington Land Trust

Takeaways

1. Pay attention to the “oooh factor,” that genuine interaction with a place or object.

2. If the work starts to get stale or is stuck, put it in the blender to get out of the dip.

3. It's got to come from a genuine place otherwise it is kind of false.

4. Artists are strategic hoarders.

5. “The future belongs to those who are still willing to get their hands dirty.” – unknown

Kassandra Palmer - Framing Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

Takeaways

1. Our bodies are not machines.

2. Prioritize how things FEEL vs caring about how things LOOK.

3. Sometimes you can have a tricky relationship with things leaving the studio.

4. Language happens so fast, but art happens much more slowly and is open to interpretation.

Mentioned in this episode

Kassandra Palmer

Follow Kassandra on Instagram

Brenda Goodman

Frank Juarez

Frank Juárez - Art Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Takeaways

1. The beauty of art is that you’re always looking for a solution, and sometimes the solution isn’t always singular.

2. “Art is my savior and art is my destruction.”

3. Be willing to try even if you make mistakes.

4. “The trick for all this madness is for it to become part of your daily routine.”

Mentioned in this episode

Follow Frank Juarez Gallery on Instagram

Follow Frank Juarez on Instagram

Frank Juarez

Follow Artdose Magazine on Instagram

Artdose Magazine

Thea Kovac

Ricky Powell, “the Lazy Hustler”

Milwaukee Area Teachers of Art

Lenore Tawney

Zach Mory

Sketchbooks with Mel and Sandi Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

Takeaways

1. “If you are producing good work, you likely have a lot of bad work holding it up.” Sandi

2. “Just drawing what I saw in front of me grounded me and I just felt like I could breathe again.” Mel

3. “When you draw it, it becomes interesting, especially kitchen utensils.” Mel

4. “Get absorbed in the ordinary.” Sandi

Mentioned

Follow Melanie Chadwick on Instagram

Melanie’s website

Melanie’s workshops, postcard project and shop can be found on this website

Find Melanie on YouTube

Follow Sandi Hester on Instagram

Find Sandi on YouTube at Bits of an Artist’s Life

Sandi’s website

Amy Weil - Light Jun 22, 2021

Show notes

Takeaways

1. It’s ok to do a whole bunch of different things. That’s why we work in series - to do something with all these ideas.

2. Persevere even if you have a lot of anxiety, insecurity and self-doubt. Showing up is such a big part of being an artist.

3. “I allow the painting to take me to where it needs to go. I can never force the idea into the painting.”

4. Just trust the process.

5. Recognize that they are just thoughts and feelings – push through and learn to trick that inner critic.

Mentioned in this episode

Follow Amy Weil on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/circles_and_grids/

Amy Weil’s website https://www.amyweilpaintings.com/

440 Gallery Brooklyn, New York https://gallery440.squarespace.com/artist-amy-weil

Gowanus Studio Space Brooklyn, New York https://www.gowanusstudio.org/

Eva Hesse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Hesse

Ginnie Cappaert - Color and Books Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

Takeaways

We're just doing what we do hoping it speaks to somebody.
Saying "no" is one of the hardest but one of the most important things we can do for ourselves.
Just because you don’t like one of your own paintings doesn’t mean someone else won’t.
You need to believe in what you’re doing and keep at it.
None of it comes easy. It’s determination that makes the difference.

Mentioned in this episode

Follow Ginnie Cappaert on Instagram

Follow Cappaert Contemporary Gallery on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cappaertcontemporarygallery/

Follow Ginnie Cappaert on Facebook

Ginnie Cappaert’s website

Cappaert Contemporary Gallery, Egg Harbor, WI

Ninth Street Women, New York Times book review

Globe Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Jenna Freimuth - Patterns Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

Takeaways

1. The graveyard of ideas that never got finished is where all of the hang ups live.

2. Be open to the opportunity to bring people into your life. You meet the people you need when you need it.

3. Explore the invisibles that come with making work.

4. Navigate your own narrative.

4. Deadlines can help override the overthinking.

Mentioned in this episode

Follow Jenna Freimuth on Instagram

Jenna Freimuth’s website

The Wondermakers Collective with Mindy Sue Wittock on Instagram

The Wondermakers Collective website

Saint Kate the Arts Hotel

Lynda Barry’s website, The Near-Sighted Monkey

Syllabus: Notes from and Accidental Professor, by Lynda Barry

You’re Wrong About podcast

My Favorite Murder podcast

Armchair Expert podcast

Tranesca Ergonomic Grip Holder for Apple Pencil

Punch Neapolitan Pizza

Amy Jarvis - Eyes Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

Takeaways

1. Nature is like sketchbook in real time; it makes you feel like it’s going to be ok.

2. You have to interact if you want an audience. (You have to be a friend to get a friend.)

3. "You need to work with the medium that works with how fast you think and paint." (source unknown)

4. If you want to get to the next level, then it’s time to put the phone down.

5. The universe will rearrange itself to help you live out your dreams if they come from a sincere place.

Mentioned in this episode

Follow Amy Jarvis on Instagram

Follow Amy Jarvis on Facebook

Amy Jarvis website

Megan Woodward Johnson Artist Masterminds

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Steve White Yoga Pranayama video. Calming, centering and balancing breath work for the nervous system.

Tom Uttech

Gill Edwards - Vessel Shapes May 25, 2021

Show notes

Mentioned

Follow Gill Edwards on Instagram

Follow Gill Edwards on Facebook

Gill Edwards

Bloomsbury Group

Romo Group

Alice Sheridan’s Connected Artist Club

Nicholas Wilton’s Creative Visionary Program (CVP)

Elizabeth Blackadder

The Suffolk Coast

Takeaways

Consider writing your ideas on a giant piece of paper and tacking it up on the wall so they are front and center.
It’s not wrong to be a perfectionist, but it can stop you from progressing.
Dental tools, trowels, wooden butter pats, and a toilet brush all make lovely marks on a canvas!
“I believe that if I love what I’m doing then somebody somewhere will love it too.”

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