AART

In this episode of AART the Podcast, we sit down with Cammi Climaco, a celebrated ceramicist, multidisciplinary artist, and educator whose work defies traditional boundaries between craft, sculpture, and storytelling. Known for her deeply personal and often provocative ceramic pieces, Cammi brings a raw honesty to her art that explores themes of humor, vulnerability, identity, and human connection. From her early experiments in clay to her current multidisciplinary practice that merges ceramics, performance, and installation, Cammi shares her creative evolution and the philosophy behind her work. She discusses the role of teaching and mentorship in her life, how she navigates the balance between art-making and instruction, and the importance of building authentic creative communities. Listeners will gain insight into the world of contemporary ceramics and the emotional depth that clay can hold in the hands of an artist who uses it to tell stories both intimate and universal. Whether you’re an artist, educator, or lover of contemporary art, this conversation offers inspiration, humor, and a powerful reminder of why creativity matters.

🎧 Listen on: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

📍 Presented by: AART the Podcast – Conversations with artists shaping today’s creative landscape

SEO Keywords:
Cammi Climaco, ceramicist, multidisciplinary artist, ceramics podcast, contemporary ceramics, art education, artist interview, AART the podcast, modern ceramics, creative process, art and education, contemporary art podcast, teaching art, sculpture, mixed media artist, artist biography podcast

BIO
Cammi Climaco is a ceramicist, multidisciplinary artist, educator and erstwhile stand-up comedian based in New York. Cammi’s art moves between performance, sculptural and functional pieces and ruminates on the history of women in ceramics, finding joy in unreachable places and ancient love poems. Cammi was born in Cleveland, OH in 1971, the youngest of six children. Her father John Climaco ran a printing press at a printing company in Ohio and her mother Wanda was a homemaker who later cared for the elderly. Cammi received her BFA at Kent State University in Crafts and her MFA in Ceramics at Cranbrook Academy of Art. After college, Cammi spent some time in the corporate world from waitressing to selling furniture and recruiting executives, none of which satisfied her. Eventually her part-time teaching in ceramics led to her becoming a regular educator in her preferred medium. She has taught at the Pratt Institute of Art and Design and the 92NY in Manhattan and currently also teaches at BKLYN Clay. Cammi attended The Pottery Workshop residency in Jingdezhen, China. And she is the co-host of The Ceramics Podcast. Her work can be found in galleries and theaters in New York. Cammi lives in Queen’s with her parter, musician Cru Jones.

Cammi’s website: https://www.cammiclimaco.com/
Instagram @cammiclimaco

Favorite artists:
Marguerite Wildenhain
Maija Grotell
Lucie Rie
Eva Zeisel
Yoko Ono
Cara Benedetto
Sarah Allwine
Dini Dixon
Katie Coughlin

Cammi’s Playlist:
We Live in Brooklyn,
Baby/Roy Ayers
Ubiquity Sweet Tears/Nuyorican
Soul Tryon/Erykah
Badu Loungin’/Guru Kiss
From a Rose / Seal

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

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode of AART the Podcast, we sit down with Robin Antar, a celebrated rock sculptor known for transforming marble, limestone, and sandstone into thought-provoking representations of American culture and identity. With a career spanning over three decades, Antar’s work captures the textures of everyday life — from sculpted Levi’s jeans and sneakers to massive marble hamburgers — blending humor, nostalgia, and craftsmanship into striking stone realism. Robin Antar’s art challenges perceptions of permanence and fragility, exploring how solid materials can embody the fleeting icons of modern life. Her sculptures have been featured in museums, galleries, and private collections across the United States, earning her a reputation as a visionary who bridges the gap between pop art and fine art through the timeless medium of stone. In this insightful biographical interview, Robin shares her early inspirations, her artistic process, and how personal experience and cultural observation shape her creative practice. Listeners will get a rare glimpse into the world of a sculptor who quite literally carves emotion into stone, creating works that resonate far beyond their physical weight. Whether you’re an art lover, sculptor, student, or creative thinker, this episode offers an inspiring look at dedication, identity, and the enduring power of art to tell human stories. 

SEO Keywords:
Robin Antar, rock sculptor, American sculptor, stone sculpture, marble sculpture, limestone sculpture, contemporary sculpture, pop art sculpture, AART the podcast, artist interview, sculptor interview, women in sculpture, fine art podcast, modern art, American artist, biographical podcast, contemporary art, art and identity, sculpture process, marble carving, cultural commentary in art

BIO
Robin Antar is an American rock sculptor who moves seamlessly between Realism and Expressionism. From hyper-realistic icons of American pop culture influenced by Robin’s wry sense of humor, her art explores personal and social trauma and conflict. Robin’s parallel and intertwining bodies of work span her 40-year career as an artist-observer of human nature with a broad lens on the American life. Robin was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1957, one of four daughters. Her father Leon Betseh was a retailer and her mother Linda, an oil painter. In 1973, the family moved to Brooklyn, NY, which proved to be a tough move for Robin as a shy teenager in the city. She began learning to carve in stone in school and in the family’s basement as a means of coping with urban life, using art as her emotional lifeline. In 1976, at the age of 16, Robin discovered she suffered from retrolental fibroplasia causing blindness in her right eye since birth. While her vision was compromised it became an integral tool among the techniques she used to create her art despite an absence of depth perception. After graduating with a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 1981, Robin set up a working studio in Brooklyn, creating abstract sculptures in a loose, intuitive style deeply rooted in her emotional experiences. Her themes address marriage, motherhood, divorce and trauma through a series of Conversations, Relationships and Meditation that reflect the process of releasing life’s traumas and their importance to survival, healing and positive change. Trauma has visited Robin in devastating ways with the loss of two of her three sons whom she has memorialized through her art work. A series of stone D-Knots were carved in honor of her youngest child, David, representing his struggles with the trauma of child abuse and addiction. His death at the age of 26 resulted in one of Robin’s most personal and powerful creations, David’s Knot in Flames, carved from a 1,500-pound block of Turkish marble. The sculpture is permanently installed at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, New York, where her son received treatment during his short life. A sculpture is memory of Leon is in progress, out of a 10,000 pound piece of carrara marble. Robin has a studio and showroom in her home in New Jersey.

Robin’s website - https://robinantar.com/
Robin’s Instagram @robinantar

Robin’s favorite artists:
Barbara Segal
Madaline Weiner
Carol Turner
C.C. Griffin
Carole Feuerman

Robin’s Playlist
Carole King
Country music

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

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this captivating episode of AART the Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with Genevieve Leavold, an acclaimed English contemporary abstract artist celebrated for her expressive, intuitive paintings that explore the balance between chaos and control. Through rich conversation, Genevieve shares the evolution of her artistic journey—from her early explorations in figurative work to her transition into pure abstraction that speaks directly to the subconscious. Listeners will discover how Leavold’s creative process, deeply rooted in mindfulness and emotional exploration, allows her to channel flow, movement, and the unseen aspects of the human experience onto canvas. She discusses her inspirations, artistic philosophy, and the meditative practice that guides her approach to color, texture, and form. This biographical interview offers a window into the world of an artist whose work transcends traditional boundaries, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with something beyond the visible. Whether you’re an artist, collector, or art enthusiast, this episode will inspire you to see abstraction as a universal language of emotion and energy. Join us on AART the Podcast—where art meets life, and artists share the stories behind their creative evolution.

Keywords:
 Genevieve Leavold, abstract art, contemporary artist, English painter, biographical art podcast, AART the podcast, abstract expressionism, modern painting, creative process, art interview, mindfulness in art, painting techniques, contemporary abstract art, artist conversation, color and texture, artistic journey, visual art podcast, art and emotion

BIO
English contemporary abstract artist Genevieve Leavold is a self-taught painter who draws on her love of eastern philosophy and organic forms found in nature as foundations for her work. Her intuitive process has developed initially through deep observation of nature and subsequent abstraction of essential qualities of form and color from the worn, overgrown and overlooked parts of urban spaces where nature had re-claimed parts of the city. Genevieve was born in Frome, Somerset the fifth of eight children. Her father Lawrence Oliver Hatton-Brown was a builder and Janet was a stay-at-home mother and volunteered her time for costume creation and design at a local theater. She also fostered a creative childhood that Genevieve nurtured in nature. Upon leaving high school Genevieve attended the Theater College for Design, she also worked in the local theater in Frome, attended painting classes at the Central St Martins School in London, as well as being a PA in London. It was then that an opportunity to visit Belgrave in Serbia for six months which turned into an eight year residency launched her career as an artist. She says that this was the birth of her work, which focused on drawing and the abstract. She soon became commercial, establishing herself in Europe and beyond before returning to the UK in 2022. A full-time artist Genevieve is currently showing her work in the US and UK. She lives in Frome with her husband James, a business coach, and two cats.

Genevieve’s website: www.genevieveleavold.com
Instagram: @genevieveleavold

Favorite artists:
Mira Schendel
Flora Yukhnovich
Georgia O Keene
Joan Jonas
Marina Abramovic
Helma af Klimt

Playlist:
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
I Tokuni -Eivor
What else is There. - Royksopp
The Painter - Future Islands
Containing it - B of Bris
The sensual world - Kate Bush
Utopia - Goldfrapp
Play Dead - Bjork
Dumb. - Portishead

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

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode of AART the Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with Michelle Im, a Korean-American ceramicist celebrated for her deeply expressive, hand-built sculptures that bridge cultural heritage, identity, and material exploration. Known for her organic forms and poetic surfaces, Michelle shares how her Korean roots, personal experiences, and process-driven approach shape her artistic voice in contemporary ceramics. Listeners will hear Michelle discuss her journey from early artistic influences to becoming a recognized figure in the contemporary art scene. She opens up about working with clay as a medium of transformation and storytelling—balancing tradition with experimentation, and emotion with form. This intimate conversation dives into Michelle’s creative rituals, the tactile nature of ceramic art, and how she infuses each piece with a sense of humanity and resilience. Whether you’re an artist, art collector, student, or admirer of contemporary craft, this episode offers a thoughtful glimpse into the life and mind of an artist who continues to redefine what ceramics can express.

🎙️ AART the Podcast features biographical interviews with today’s most compelling visual artists, exploring their inspirations, struggles, and creative evolution through candid storytelling.

🔍 SEO Keywords:
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BIO
Korean-American ceramicist Michelle Im, aka RATxCHICKS,  was born in Atlanta, GA in 1984 to Kun Sook Im, a home-maker, and Jong Seong Im, an environmental engineer. She has one brother; Sewon Im, who is a financial consultant also living in the US. Her grandmother was a poet and calligraphy artist in South Korea. As a child the family moved around from Michigan to Boston and South Korea. Michelle returned to the US for college and since graduating with a degree in Biology and Art from The State University of New York at Buffalo, she has lived in New York City. She was named one of Ceramic Monthly’s 2022 Emerging Artists and is an award recipient of the American Craft Council’s 2022 Emerging Artist Cohort Program as well as a grant recipient of the Center for Craft’s Teaching Artist Cohort in 2023. Michelle was a Visiting Artist in Residence at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in 2022 and she was selected for a Distinguished Fellowship at Penland School of Craft during her winter residency in 2023. Before becoming a full time ceramicist, Michelle spent time in the service industry and since 2021 she has had her own studio in Queens where she lives with her partner, artist, John Almanza and her dog Inky. She teaches ceramics at Greenwich House Pottery in Manhattan, NY.

Michelle on Instagram: @ratxchicks
Michelle’s website: https://ratxchicks.club/

Michelle’s Playlist
Wu Tang Clan
Talking Heads
The Velvet Underground
Kendrick Lamar
Richie Hawtin
Jeff Mills
Mike Parker
LSDXOXO

Michelle’s favorite female artists:
Christian Joy
Haylie Jimenez
Sydnie Jimenez
Kristy Moreno
Soojin Choi
Mary Cassatt
Joanna Powell
Eun Ha Paek
Sulo Bee
Shea Burke
…and many more.

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

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this inspiring episode of AART the Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with Madeleine Bunbury, a renowned English equine artist celebrated for her mastery in life-size oil paintings of horses. Known for her classical training and her ability to capture the spirit, movement, and personality of her subjects, Madeleine shares her creative journey—from her early passion for horses and art to becoming one of the UK’s most distinguished contemporary equine painters. Listeners will discover how Madeleine’s love for the natural world and equestrian culture shapes her artistic process, the challenges and joys of painting horses from life, and what it takes to maintain a traditional approach to art in a modern world. She opens up about her experiences painting in stables across England and Europe, her dedication to preserving classical techniques, and how her art bridges the gap between heritage and modern equine culture. Whether you’re an art lover, painter, equestrian enthusiast, or simply someone fascinated by creative lives, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the intersection of art, nature, and passion. Madeleine’s story is a testament to the power of devotion—to craft, subject, and tradition. Tune in to hear how she built her career, the insights behind her technique, and her vision for the future of equestrian art in the contemporary landscape.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.

✨ SEO Keywords:
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BIO
Madeleine Bunbury is an English equine artist who paints life portraits of horses and ponies. At just 28, Madeleine is aspiring to follow in the footsteps of her idol, George Stubbs, aligning with other great equine painters, such as Agasse, Munnings and Herring. Madeleine was born on the island of Mustique in 1995, one of four children; her mother Lotty is a fashion designer and her father Michael, a doctor. She grew up in an an island playground and from an early age sketching and painting was instinctive, and more accessible than riding ponies which she dreamed of. It was when she began her education at boarding school in England that she was able to indulge herself and become a horse-mad teenager taking every opportunity to ride. Her love of horses became the catalyst to her initial plan to become a veterinarian but she had to abort that idea once she failed the required science exams. It was then that she decided on a career in art with the confidence that this was something for which she had a talent. With the guidance of an artistic uncle and aunt, Madeleine spent three years studying traditional portraiture at the Charles Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy. It was to prove the launching pad for her to embark on a career as an equine artist and she was soon making a livelihood painting horse portraits. Madeleine can be found either in her studio in Fosbury, Wiltshire or traveling to horses across the UK and around the world. Her latest project is a series of 16 breeds of British native horses and ponies which, as well as producing very large paintings will also be a coffee book, and perhaps a documentary.

Playlist:
Eminem- Lose Yourself (Gets me out of bed and revved for the day)
Claude Debussy - Claire de lune (The first piece I learnt to play on the piano)
Chopin - Nocturne no.20 in C-Sharp Minor (so melancholy and beautiful to paint to)
Destiny's Child - Independent Woman (after various boyfriends let me down this is how I feel)

Favorite artists:
Isabella Watling
Daisy Sims
Hilditch Henrietta
Abel-Smith
Eleanor Cardozo

Madeleine’s website: https://www.bunburyart.com/
Instagram: @bunbury_equine_art


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

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this inspiring episode of AART the Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with Sarah Rossetti, a contemporary acrylic artist celebrated for her bold color palettes, emotional depth, and expressive brushwork. Sarah opens up about her artistic journey—from her early creative influences and self-discovery through painting, to developing a distinctive contemporary style that bridges abstraction and realism. Listeners will gain insight into Sarah’s creative process, her love for the textures and versatility of acrylic paint, and how she channels emotion, memory, and nature into her art. She also discusses the challenges of pursuing a full-time art career, finding authenticity in a crowded art world, and connecting with collectors and galleries who value expressive, original work. Whether you’re an artist, collector, or art enthusiast, this conversation offers an honest look at the artistic life—balancing creativity, business, and self-expression in today’s art scene. 🎧 Tune in to discover how Sarah
Rossetti turns everyday inspiration into captivating acrylic works that speak directly to the soul.

SEO Keywords:
Sarah Rossetti, contemporary acrylic artist, acrylic painting, contemporary art, modern artist, painter interview, artist biography podcast, creative process, art career, abstract art, realism, acrylic techniques, contemporary painter, AART the podcast, artist interview

BIO
Sarah Rossetti, aka 'Invader Girl', is a Contemporary Acrylic Artist painting evocative scenes of war, law enforcement, veterans and, more recently, horses. Sarah was born in Nonnweiler, Germany in 1987, the oldest of five children—she has a younger sister and two younger brothers. Sarah’s other young sister Lisa was tragically killed in 2004; a traumatic event that would impact Sarah in different ways. Her father John was a communications specialist in the Air Force, stationed in Germany where he met his wife Regina. As a military family they moved around and whilst in Germany her parents divorced and Sarah stayed with her mother who moved the family to the island of Guam, eventually helping her in the bar business that she operated. It was there that Sarah met the military personnel whose war stories would leave an impression that has influenced the art genre she specializes in today. Those graphic stories would create powerful images and inform the style of art that has become her trademark. Sarah did not feel at home as a student and once she graduated high school in Guam she bucked the idea of college, preferring to find her own way untutored as an artist. She endured a struggle with alcohol that she eventually won and, realizing that she needed a new direction, she moved to the US in 2017. She married Phil, a retired navy CMC, and after a spell in Alexandria, the couple found their home near Haymarket, which accommodates a large studio. For the time being, Sarah is not represented and prefers not to show her work in galleries. Instead she has a website and takes commissions, and has an impressive work rate of 3-4 paintings a day. 

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

Sarah’s website: https://www.invadergirlart.com/
Instagram: @_invadergirl_

Favorite female artists:
L. M. Hankins
Ashley Gessler Davis

Sarah’s Playlist:
Storm - Josh Vietti
Greed - Godsmack
The story of OJ- Jay Z
Rekt - Rob Bailey
Nice n Easy- Frank Sinatra
Scherzo for Piano no 2- Frederic Chopin
Pink Moon- Tash Sultana
The Ballad of londinium- Daniel Pemberton
23- chayce Beckham
Mftr- Pusha T
Fortunate So - CCR
Young and Free - Dermot Kennedy

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step into the world of contemporary landscape painting with Maria Josenhans, a celebrated Canadian artist known for her expressive brushwork and immersive plein air landscapes. In this inspiring episode of AART the Podcast, Maria shares her journey as a painter dedicated to capturing the poetry of the natural world — from the sweeping coastal vistas of British Columbia to the intimate stillness of forest interiors. Host Chris Stafford delves into Maria’s artistic process, creative influences, and the emotional connection she builds with the environment through her art. Listeners will discover how she balances spontaneity with structure, her approach to color and light, and the discipline behind working outdoors in ever-changing conditions. Maria also reflects on the role of observation, intuition, and patience in shaping her practice and how she translates the fleeting beauty of nature into enduring works of art. Whether you’re a landscape artist, an art enthusiast, or someone who finds peace in nature’s beauty, this episode offers a captivating look into the mind and methods of one of Canada’s leading landscape painters. 🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube to hear how Maria Josenhans continues to paint her way into the heart of the landscape and the imagination of her audience.

SEO Keywords:
Maria Josenhans, landscape artist, Canadian painter, plein air painting, contemporary landscape painting, landscape art, AART the Podcast, artist interview, art podcast, painting nature, art inspiration, creative process, landscape painter interview, fine art, painting outdoors, artistic journey, visual artist

BIO
Maria Josenhans is a landscape artist working both outdoors and in her studio. An artist for nearly four decades, Maria's work plays back and forth between representational and abstract as she allows each painting to find its own unique path. Maria was born in New Jersey, one of two daughters to parents James and Janet. Her mother was a librarian, and her father an engineer and keen photographer. Maria had an early introduction to the art of photography in her father’s dark room and developed an interest that shaped the early part of her career. As a child her mother introduced her to Scottish Highland dancing, which still today is a passion that she shares through teaching and adjudicating. Her talent for painting was discovered in High School where her teacher Mrs Erich would prove influential in guiding Maria into a career as an artist. From 1982-86 she studied at the Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts), in Philadelphia, PA and graduated with a BFA in Illustration with Honors. In 1994, Maria studied Large Format Black & White Photography with Paul Caponigro. Her early career in photography and illustration was spent in New York before she moved to New England. Once she met her Canadian husband her path changed course and she turned exclusively to painting. In 2000, they moved to the west coast of Canada where Maria has enjoyed a climate that allows for year round plein air painting. She has always been a nature lover, and she is also a student of Zen Buddism. Maria currently lives in Burnaby near Vancouver with her husband Marcel and their new dog Basil.

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

Maria’s website: http://www.mariajosenhans.com/about/
Instagram: @mariajosenhansart

Women artists whose work Maria admires:
Pat Steir
Lois Dodd
Joan Eardley
Joan Mitchell
Helen Frankenthaler
... and many many many more.

Maria’s Playlist:
Philip Glass (particularly solo piano)
Domenico Scarlatti, sonatas
Moby Beck (mutations)
Jeff Beck
Bob Dylan
Patti Smith
Neko Case
KD Lang
Pasty Cline

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Dive into the vibrant world of contemporary figurative painting with Michele Byrne in this inspiring episode of AART the Podcast. Michele, an acclaimed figurative Plein Air painter, shares her artistic journey, from her early inspirations to the techniques that bring her captivating outdoor scenes to life. Listeners will discover Michele’s unique approach to capturing light, atmosphere, and emotion directly from nature, as she explores the intersection of realism and expression in her art. In this biographical interview, Michele discusses her creative process, challenges, and breakthroughs, offering a rare glimpse into the life of a professional painter devoted to the Plein Air tradition. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, emerging painter, or simply curious about the stories behind the brush, this episode is a rich exploration of artistry, passion, and dedication. Tune in to hear Michele Byrne’s insights on figurative painting, landscape art, outdoor painting techniques, and the inspiration behind her evocative Plein Air works. This episode is perfect for those who love contemporary art, Plein Air painting, and the journey of artists turning vision into vibrant canvas reality.

Keywords:
Michele Byrne, figurative Plein Air painting, Plein Air artist, contemporary figurative painting, landscape painting, outdoor painting, art podcast, AART the Podcast, professional painter interview, artistic process, painting inspiration, plein air techniques, modern landscape art, painting stories.

BIO
Michele Byrne is a figurative Plein Air painter known for her social scenes and palette knife work. Michele is originally an East Coast girl, born in 1959 in Reading, PA, she spent her childhood growing up in the countryside. She was, she says, a tomboy enjoying the outdoors, but her real passion began as a small child drawing and painting, showing an early talent that was recognized by her teachers. Her parents, Sam and Fay, encouraged her artistic leaning and as the third of three children she was encouraged with art classes and given the freedom to follow her passion. At the tender age of eight, Michele decided she loved art so much that she wanted to become an artist. From 1977-1981 she attended Kutztown University in Pennsylvania from where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Communication Design, and Minor in Illustration/Painting. While she only took one class in mechanical drawing it was to prove invaluable in learning perspective, which has helped her with painting buildings. As a graphic designer, Michele made her way to New York but it wasn’t long before she realized she wanted to be her own boss. While marriage and raising a family would take over her life, once she divorced she discovered a freedom to pursue her career as an artist. Michele has held numerous exhibitions and solo shows, winning awards around the U.S. She is also a sought-after instructor offering plein-air workshops both online and in person across the United States, Mexico and Europe. Michele is also the author of two books entitled The Art of Conversation. In 2020, Michele moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico and is an active member of its flourishing art community. She has two sons, Colin and Seamus who have inherited her artistic gene.

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

Michele's website:
https://www.michelebyrne.com/
Instagram @michelebyrneart

Women artists whose work Michele admires:
Ann Gale
Aimee Erickson
Zoe Frank
Mary Cassatt
Berte Morisot
Gene Kloss
Georgia O’Keefe
Elaine De Kooning
Frida Kahlo

Michele’s Playlist
Pink Floyd,
Neil Young and Reggae Music Buddha Bar
Healthy living podcasts
Jay Shetty,
Chase Jarvis,
Eckhart Tolle (newest Fav is Dr. Joe Dispenza on meditation and manifesting what you want into your life)

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Join us on AART the Podcast for an inspiring conversation with Vinnie Bagwell, a renowned sculptor and representational-figurative artist. In this biographical interview, Vinnie shares her journey as an accomplished sculptor, exploring the intersections of storytelling, history, and the human form through her remarkable figurative art. Discover how she captures emotion, movement, and cultural narratives in her sculptures, bringing history and identity to life in three dimensions. From her early inspirations to her professional milestones, Vinnie discusses the challenges and triumphs of creating representational sculpture in today’s art world. She offers insights into her creative process, the importance of public art, and her mission to preserve African-American heritage and stories through figurative art. This episode is a must-listen for art enthusiasts, sculptors, collectors, and anyone interested in the transformative power of art. Dive deep into Vinnie Bagwell’s world and learn how sculpture can convey stories that words alone cannot.

Keywords for SEO:
Vinnie Bagwell, sculptor, figurative sculpture, representational art, contemporary sculpture, public art, African-American artist, sculpture interview, art podcast, biographical artist interview, storytelling in art, figurative artist, art inspiration, AART the Podcast.

BIO
American Vinnie Bagwell is a sculptor and representational-figurative artist who has become a pioneer for African American women in her field. Her works of public art have become her raison d’etre as she strives to give a voice to underrepresented and enslaved Africans. Vinnie was born in Yonkers, NY in 1956 and grew up in the Town of Greenburgh with her sister. Her parents, Edward and Viola Bagwell were both artists in their spare time. As a child she showed a gift for drawing and developed a passion for painting in high school. She graduated from Morgan State University in Maryland with a BS in Psychology. Vinnie spent some time in car sales, which she said taught her communications skills. In 1993, she began sculpting completely self taught and with ambition and purpose it wasn’t long before she was making a name for herself. Vinnie’s first public artwork, “The First Lady of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald,” located at the Yonkers Metro-North/Amtrak train station was commissioned in 1996. She has since won numerous public-art commissions and awards around the United States. Connecticut commissioned a seven-foot bronze of Hartford educator Walter “Doc” Hurley, which is the first public artwork of a contemporary African American in the state. In 2012, Vinnie created a 24” bronze, “Liberté,” for the inaugural exhibition at the Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. She is also a journalist and co-authored the book: “A Study of African-American Life in Yonkers From the Turn of the Century”. Vinnie is the Co-founder, vice president, and executive director of the Enslaved Africans’ Rain Garden whose mission is to honor, dignify, and restore the humanity of enslaved Africans in America by transforming them from objects to subjects through art in a public garden in Yonkers. Vinnie lives in Yonkers with her miniature French Bulldog Rio. She has a daughter, Pierre, who is a mid-wife and artist. It was seeing her magnificent 7 foot statue of the abolitionist Sojourner Truth at the entrance to the Walkway Over the Hudson that introduced me to her work.

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

vinniebagwell.com
@vinniebagwell

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Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Join us on AART the Podcast for an inspiring biographical interview with Ingrid Christensen, the renowned Canadian still life and figurative oil painter. In this episode, Ingrid shares her artistic journey, exploring her passion for oil painting, her techniques in still life and figurative art, and the stories behind her most captivating works. Listeners will gain a rare insight into her creative process, from early influences to her evolution as a contemporary painter. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, an aspiring painter, or simply curious about the mind of a dedicated artist, this episode offers an intimate look into Ingrid’s world of Canadian fine art, oil painting techniques, and figurative expression. Discover how she balances tradition with modern influences and how her work resonates with collectors and galleries worldwide. Tune in to learn about Ingrid Christensen’s artistic philosophy, her approach to composition, color, and light, and the inspiring lessons she has learned along her creative path. Perfect for fans of contemporary painting, art interviews, and artist biographies, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the visual arts.

Keywords:
Ingrid Christensen, Canadian painter, oil painting, still life painting, figurative art, contemporary Canadian artist, painting techniques, art interview, artist biography, fine art, visual arts, art podcast, AART the Podcast

BIO
Ingrid Christensen is a Canadian still life and figurative oil painter. Ingrid was born in 1964 in Golden, British Columbia—a small town in the mountains in western Canada. She is the third of four children with an older sister and between two brothers. Ingrid’s parents, John and Ella Anderson, were German immigrants who arrived in Canada after WWII and eventually made their way to running a motel. As a child, Ingrid was not exposed to the art world but she was keen on drawing, and is self taught as an artist. After high school, further education took her away from growing up in a small town to Vancouver where she earned a BA at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This was followed by a BEd from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. Upon graduating, Ingrid spent a few years in teaching but eventually realized that this was not her calling. Once she married, she set off on bigger adventures; to Australia and New Zealand, and later to Japan, and Thailand where she learned the art of silversmithing. Upon returning to Calgary the couple started a family. It was then that Ingrid began her journey in painting; first in watercolors then later in oils, which is her preferred medium. Her art has won both national and international awards and has been highlighted in International Artist, Avenues, and Arabella magazines. Ingrid has written articles about art and creativity for Artsy online magazine. She says she is, first and foremost, a painter of light. Her work is an ongoing exploring of light's ability to elevate even the most mundane object into the glowing subject of a painting. When she is not painting, Ingrid is teaching either online or with in-person workshops. Ingrid has two sons, Zac and Ben, and is married to film producer David Christensen. She lives in Calgary, Alberta. 

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

Ingrid’s website: ingridchristensen.com
Ingrid on Instagram: @ingridchristensenartist

Ingrid’s favorite female artists:
Cecily Brown
Zoe Frank
Jennifer Pochinski
Erika Seguin
Joanna Logue
Claudia Rilling
Lisa Golightly
Amy Dury
Amy Brakeman Livezey
Lucy Stopford
Cathy Chin (@realandplastic)
Mary Beth Mckenzie
Karen Silve Natalia
Tomas Segovia

Ingrid’s Playlist:
Aruna Chandra/Mashti, Deep Dive Corp.
Kidz of Tibet/Kleintierschaukel, Badau
It’s a Beautiful Day (Reprise)/The Kiffness, Rushawn, Jermaine Edwards
Cassiopeia/Dan Bay
Poseidon/Dan Bay La Rubrique
September Fields/Frazey Ford
Heart of Glass/Lily Moore
Righteously/Anna Ash
Chaise Longue/Wet Leg
Downtown Train/Tom Waite
Never Going Back/Fleetwood Mac
Adriatica/Opez
Hallelijah (I’m a Dreamer)/Luther Dickinson, Amy LaVere
Sweet Dark-Haired Man/Joan Shelley
Walking on Broken Glass/Annie Lennox
Not Fair/Lily Allen
You Know I’m No Good/Amy Winehouse
Hello (feat. Dragonette)/Martin Solveig, Dragonette

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

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: [email protected]
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved