The American painter and sculptor René Romero Schuler creates powerful images that speak to the complexities of the human condition and the spirit that connects all human beings. René did not have any formal art training but since a small child felt that she was always meant to be an artist. She endured a difficult childhood and those real life challenges are imbued in her work illustrating her appreciation for the struggles and triumphs of humanity. René was born in Chicago in 1968 to parents Maryanne, a retired nurse and Rocky, who René describes as a bit of an enigma, though always in sales. René and her siblings grew up in Chicago, though she spent a year and a half in Quito with her grandparents. By time she reached her teenage years her home life was becoming difficult with a troubled relationship with her mother and an intrusive fear of her father. At the age of 14 René ran away from home and lived rough pulling on all her resources and determination. She eventually found work as an artist, painting murals in commercial properties. When she was 17 René moved into her own apartment and worked a variety of jobs from waitressing to bartending. By collaborating with a variety of artists around Chicago, René was gradually becoming a full-time artist with her own studio and plenty of commissions. In 1999 she met her future husband and for a while the couple lived in New York before René was drawn back to Chicago to focus on her art. It was here that she was able to reconnect with her contacts in art galleries and establish herself as a professional artist. René is represented by galleries across the U.S., Canada and Europe, She has had major exhibitions throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia, and has work included in the permanent collections of numerous museums and institutions. René now lives in Monterrey, CA with her husband Rick and two sons Ian and Owen.

Rene’s links: 
https://www.reneromeroschuler.com/ 
https://www.instagram.com/reneromeroschuler/

Some favorite female artists:
Maryann Kolb
Kelly Reemsten
Bisa Butler
Joan Brown
Annie Leibovitz
Tamara de Lempicka
Helen Frankenthaler
Louise Bourgeois
Tracey Emin 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
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Email: [email protected] 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

This week the American impressionist painter Ellen Howard. Ellen says: "My art is centered around living a faithful life and trusting in the unfolding of the great tapestry of life. As an avid explorer and traveler, I’m curious about the transitory elements of nature and love discovering quiet unexplored areas. Seeing the light move across the land, cascading off a mountain range, streaming through the leaves, dancing on the top of the waves, and creating a beautiful ray of warmth in the sky and clouds is pure serenity; where I find my center and solutions through art for life.” Ellen has been a professional artist for 15 years since she raised her two children Rachael and Jonathan and attending a range of art classes covering a variety of subjects and mediums. Her work has been shown extensively across the country and in a number of publications.  Ellen was born in Summit, NJ in 1965 to parents Joyce and Jim Guter. Her mother was a nurse who dabbled in watercolors as a hobby, and her father was a musician and high school band director. Ellen grew up with her younger brother Mark in NJ and Massachusetts but her parents divorced when she was just 14. Ellen immersed herself in swimming, running track and dancing with her friends as she navigated her teenage years. She graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Marketing and Human Resources and at the age of 24, moved to San Fransisco where she embarked on a career in finance which, she says, stood her in good stead for running her own business. It was here that she met her husband and started a family. Now a full-time professional, Ellen divides her time behind the easel in her studio or in plein air. When she is not painting she is giving classes and workshops in the US and Europe. Ellen lives near San Fransisco with her husband Mark and two dogs. 

Ellen’s links: https://www.ellenhowardart.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ellenhowardart/

Some os Ellen’s favorite female artists:
Adrienne Stein - painter

Kim Lordier - pastelist Jill Carver - painter 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
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Email: [email protected] 

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Canadian based Romanian Hyperrealist Artist Sinziana Iordache specializes in detailed graphite drawings of luxury watches. Sinziana’s produces photorealistic and hyperrealistic drawings with each meticulously placed stroke, every shade and tone carefully chosen. Her artworks reflect not just timepieces but the epitome of horological elegance.  Sinziana was born in Constanta, Romania in July,1986, the only child of Elena Chris, an accountant and web designer, and Ion Iordache, a consultant and trainer in security management. While she was still a toddler, her family moved west to Resita near the Serbian border—her father was serving as a captain in the military—and where she says she had a very happy childhood. Her mother’s interest in precision art appealed to Sinziana from an early age and she would easily amuse herself for hours. Education began at the Traian Vuia High School and Politehnica University, Timisoara studying architecture before Sinziana moved to Canada in 2007 following her mother and step-father who had emigrated in 2003. Sinziana attended the Ryerson University in Toronto where she studied Interior Design which would become the catalyst for her starting her own business. Nowadays she is a partner at Unfold Creative Studio and spends much of her time outside the business on drawing luxury watches, which can be time consuming. It can take 150 hours to draw one watch. Sinziana lives in Toronto with her partner, the artist Alex Sauret and her cat.
 
Sinziana’s links:
https://sinzianaiordache.com/
'https://www.instagram.com/sinzianaiordache
 

Some of Sinziana’s favorite artists:
Elizabeth Waggett (painting, drawing)
Kit King (painter) CJ Hendry (hyperrealist)
Golsa Golchini (painter)
Vanessa Hogge (ceramist)
Karen Konzuk (jewelry)
Heather Knight (ceramist)
Gaby Wormann (mechanical art)
Carla Grace (wildlife painter)
Zai Divecha (paper artist)
Lauren Williams (textile artist)
Julia Ibbini (paper art) 

Host: Chris Stafford
@theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube

Email: [email protected] Produced by Hollowell Studios

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

On this new season of AART our first guest is the cinematographer Sarah Thomas Moffat. Sarah’s work has spanned across all genres from docs, factual and commercial with a focus now on scripted. Her productions have aired worldwide, including on CBC, History Channel, CTV, Hulu and Netflix. Sarah was the first woman to run as a Racer-Cam Operator on the Canadian reality competition show Amazing Race Canada. She has won multiple awards across genres including film festival awards for Best Cinematography. along with three CSC nominations.  Sarah’s parents emigrated from Scotland to Canada shortly before Sarah was born in Toronto. As a child she developed an interest in still photography through artistic parents which led to Sarah studying Film, Radio, TV Broadcasting at Centennial College, Ontario. She describes herself, at that time, as focused and determined when she realized that this was her calling and she could make a career as a cinematographer. Sarah is a dual citizen of Canada and the UK. She is a member of IATSE, a CSC Associate Member, an ASC Vision Mentee Alumni, and Illuminatrix DOP based in London. 
 
Sarah’s links:
https://sarahthomasmoffat.com/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3511986/
https://www.instagram.com/sthomasmoffat
 
Some of Sarah’s favorite female artists:
Mandy Walker
Eva DuVernay 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
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Email: [email protected]

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Hi I’m Chris Stafford host of the AART podcast about women in the visual arts and I wanted to let you know  lyou that I will be back in the New Year with a new season and we have a wonderful line up to kick off Season 3 starting in January with Jeanne Tyson the Los Angeles-based cinematographer and filmmaker. Her work includes narrative and documentary features, shorts, and series, and has been featured in film festivals worldwide. Jeanne has been the Director of Photography for ABC’s Gray Anatomy for the past two seasons and will shortly begin shooting Season 22.
 
Also in January the Toronto based Romanian Hyperrealist Artist Sinziana Lordache who specializes in Detailed Graphite Drawings of luxury Watches. Sinziana’s produces photorealistic and hyperrealistic drawings with each meticulously placed stroke, every shade and tone, carefully chosen, her artwork reflects not just timepieces, but the epitome of horological elegance. 

If you’ve been a listener to the show you will know we have 90 episodes across seasons 1 and 2.  And season 3 will offer another great selection of talented creative women from across the spectrum of visual arts.
 
I’m thrilled that this podcast has been so well received and given me the opportunity to introduce you to so many brilliant women artists and I look forward to another season. Keep in mind that Season 3 will be bi-weekly. The reason for that is so I have more time in post production.  So I hope you’ll stay with me, follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram and on YouTube Just look for The AART Podcast. We also have a new email address and that’s [email protected].
Please share this podcast with anyone you think will enjoy the show and tell them they can listen won any podcast app.
 
I hope you will join me for season 3 in 2025.

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On the season finale of Season 2 our guest is the Chinese Sculptor Lirong Luo.  Lirong says: "Most important for me is to create my artwork freely and show people what I am ready to show and what is interesting for me to show the world.”  Lirong’s sculptural work is influenced by Renaissance and Baroque techniques, an interest she developed while studying art in Beijing under the tutelage of Sun Jia Bo. This influence is evident in the life-like quality and grace of her figures, often women, captured in motion. Their poses are elegant, elongating their bodies, and Lirong’s attention to detail in skin folds and garment drapery imbues them with a sense of vitality. The dresses and garments of her sculptures often appear windswept, creating a compelling dichotomy between realism and a fantastical element. But her early life was not easy. Growing up in a small village in China, Lirong's path was filled with hard work and a determination to prove without anyone to show her the way that a Chinese woman could become a successful international artist. In this episode, she shares her story of resilience, her vision and artistic process, and how she created her own path in the art world. Lirong was born in the Hunan Province in 1980. Her parents, Huaifu Luo and Aiyu Guo are both farmers. She has a brother, Liping Luo. In 1998, Lirong entered the Changsha Academy of Arts in Changsha, Hunan, and from 2000-2005 she studied sculpture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing graduating with honors. Lirong met her future husband the Belgian sculptor Arnaud Laroche while they were students together and once Lirong graduated the couple decided to move to Europe. They first lived in Paris where Lirong worked in a chocolate factory before moving to Belgium. It was here that she established a studio and in 2014 held her first exhibition. By 2017 Lirong had hit the big time and now her work can be seen in galleries in France and Belgium. Lirong lives in Beersel, Belgium with her husband Arnaud Laroche and their daughters Olivia and Maya.
 
Lirong’s links:
Instagram: @luo_li_rong_art 
https://www.instagram.com/luo_li_rong_art/?hl=en
Facebook:  LUO Li Rong
https://www.facebook.com/p/LUO-LI-RONG-100044201991035/

Lirong’s favorite female artists:
Camille Claudel
Kiki Smith
Beth Cavener 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
Email: [email protected]

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This week the Russian-born Illusion Body Artist Vika Bren. Vika says: “At the heart of my work is the fascinating interplay between reality and illusion. Each piece I create is a visual journey, where things aren't always as they first appear. My illustrations and paintings often feature subjects that seem to shift, transform, or disappear depending on the viewer's perspective.”  Vika’s talent has attracted millions of followers on social media making her something of a rock star in the world of body art illusion. But her versatility as an artist is no surprise given her lifelong flair for creativity.  Vika was born on New Year’s Day, 1989 in Moscow. She is the oldest of five children whose parents Marina and Dimitri were both architects and also talented artists. When Vika was still a toddler the family moved to Israel and from the age of seven to eleven she had a private art teacher. After that she said she has been completely self taught. Once she left school she tried her hand at graphic designing but soon realized that this would not fulfill her artistically. During the Covid pandemic, Vika saw the opportunity to develop her art work online and even through two wars she has managed to establish herself with a global reputation. Through the daily threat of rockets and background of sirens, Vika works in a converted garage, which has become her studio. She will be a visiting artist at Art Basel Miami Beach on December 6, 2024. Vika lives in Shavei Zion, Israel with her partner, the musician Assaf, and daughters Yahel and Lia.
 
Vika’s links:
Website: https://vikabrenart.com/ 
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@VikaBren
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/vikabrenart?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=d7b8a77d-9ef6-467a-ba90-fcbec1ee71de
 
Vika’s favorite artist: Dain Yoon
 
AART Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: [email protected]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

This week the American ceramic artist Heather Knight.  Heather says: "With my work I hope to bridge modern design and the natural world by paring down the essence of things to repetitive textures and basic form.” Heather’s all-hand built creations become unique pieces of art of the finest heirloom quality. Heather was born in Houston, TX in 1977; the second youngest of ten siblings in a blended family, which she describes as chaotic. She attended numerous schools as a child and after discovering ceramics in high school she eventually blazed her own trail by choosing colleges with arts programs. However, in 1999, Heather left the College of Charleston to pursue cooking, then later in 2006 she graduated from the University of North Carolina, Asheville with a BFA in Ceramics. After spending time as a chef, Heather returned to art and decided to turn it into a business. She opened Element Clay Studios in Asheville, NC in 2007 and established her style, which is widely recognized for its striking combination of modern textures, patterns and shapes by nature. Heather now lives in Savannah, GA with her two sons Caleb and Oliver.
 
Heather’s link:
https://www.elementclaystudio.com/#/
@elementclaystudio 
https://www.instagram.com/elementclaystudio
 
Heather’s favorite female artists:
Giselle Hicks
Pamela Sunday
Valeria Nascimiento
Ariele Alasko 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: [email protected]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

The American cinematographer Christina Dobre was drawn to cinematography through her combined interests in storytelling, photography and psychology.  She say: she strives to create emotionally-driven imagery that helps us to feel, to connect and to heal. Her first professional production as a crew member was the 2013 drama CREEDMORIA about a teenage girl growing up in a dysfunctional family. It was a story she says that resonated with her. Christina was born in New Jersey in 1995, the middle of three children; she has an older sister and younger brother. Her father Dumitru was an immigrant from the Communist state of Romania - he emigrated to the US as a teenager and eventually became a Public Service Electrician. Her mother Donna is a nurse and instilled in Christina diverse values which have shaped her personality. an early interest in photography that she picked up from her father began the foundation to her career and by the time she attended Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hill, PA, Christina knew that story telling through film was her calling. In 2019 she graduated Fordham University in New York with a BA in Communications with a focus on Film Studies. Her determination to break into the industry was soon rewarded with a variety of productions from commercials to music, including THE KING for Sarah Kingsley, and narrative shorts, like AT NIGHT that was screened at an Academy Qualifying Festival.  Christina also advocates for women in camera through online education and by sharing her experiences as a woman in camera with her filmmaking community on social media. Christina was accepted in the ASC Vision Mentorship Program for 2024-25. She lives with her partner Johann Beute in New York.
 
Christina’s links: https://christinadobre.com/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5992321/
Instagram: @christinadobre
https://www.instagram.com/christinadobre
 
Some of Christina’s favorite women artists:
Polly Morgan
Rina Yang
Kira Kelly
Kate Arizmendi
Alicia Slimmer
Barbie Leung
Kat Castro
Charlie Gillette 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: [email protected]

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This week the French underwater filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin. Nathalie has produced and directed 12 critically acclaimed underwater documentaries that have received numerous awards at international festivals and been distributed globally. She has also contributed to more than 200 feature films, documentaries and productions as a director of photography, underwater cameraman and divemaster.  She is known for her 2013 Sustainability at Sea, the 2015 TV Mini Series Ascension and the 2021 Secret of the Whales. Nathalie is also in demand as a speaker and expedition leader.  She says: “The more I travel around the world, the more I realize the multitude of small actions we can take to change the health of our immediate environment.”  Nathalie was born in the north of France in 1970.  Her natural curiosity for the planet and the environment has guided her since childhood to become an explorer and to produce images that have an impact on educating and informing a wider public. Nathalie graduated from the University of Montreal in 1992 in Movie Studies, by which time she had already decided that she wanted to leave her native France and settle in Canada.  Nathalie’s mission is to push the limits, to go deep within yourself and share the riches and fragilities of our earth through 360° exploration. Nathalie has been inducted into the Women Diver Hall of Fame and The Explorers Club. She lives in Montreal with her partner.
 
Nathalie’s links: https://nathalielasselin.com/en/
Instagram: @quapixnat 
https://www.instagram.com/aquapixnat/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0489811/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
 
Nathalie’s favorite female artists:
Maroesjka Lavign
Gayle Kabloona
MissMe 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: [email protected]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.