In this episode of The Artful Painter, I sit down with Western artist Nicholas Coleman to talk about what actually drives his painting process — it's not just technique, but also curiosity, memory, history, and places that won't let go of you.

Raised in the studio of his father, Michael Coleman, Nicholas grew up surrounded by Native models, reference materials, taxidermy, and the working realities of the art business. What stayed with him wasn't just technique — it was a deep respect for history and for the places that shaped it.

In this episode, we discuss his return to the Coors Western Art Exhibit, the tension between authenticity and trend-chasing, his recent exploration of African wildlife inspired in part by painters like Wilhelm Kuhnert, and why he sometimes ignores deadlines to get a painting "out of his head." We also talk about art school battles, conservation history, spaghetti westerns, and what happens when an artist receives a fifty-page contract connected to George Lucas. Have I got your attention now?

If you care about painting, place, and preserving something larger than yourself, this conversation will resonate.

Nicholas Coleman is certainly my kind of artist!

Links:

Nicholas Coleman

Website: https://www.nicholascolemanart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholascolemanart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicholascolemanart

Other Links:

Bloody Bozeman: The Perilous Trail to Montana's Gold: https://amzn.to/4rer2UQ

Henrik Coleman: https://www.henrikcoleman.com/

Mediocre Amateurs: https://www.youtube.com/@mediocreamateur

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this edition of the Artful Painter, I have the privilege of talking with s. m. chavez (Sean Michael Chavez). He is a native New Mexican artist known for his rich contemporary-western oil paintings that celebrate both the culture and landscape of the American Southwest. Born and raised in New Mexico, his work reflects a deep connection to the region's history and culture. Chavez is especially known for his depictions of vaqueros – figures that are deeply rooted in Southwestern and Hispanic history. Vaquero is Spanish for "cowboys."

Chavez's soothing color palette of beautiful grays and muted colors, coupled with strong design skills honed from his background in illustration come together to allow him to bring his figures and landscapes alive. His distinctive voice blends traditional Western art influences with a refreshingly contemporary approach.

It's no surprise then that Chavez has caught the eye of collectors of contemporary Western art. His work has been exhibited at major venues such as The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Albuquerque Museum of Art, The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, The Couse-Sharp Historic Site, and The Briscoe Western Art Museum, and soon the Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale of January 2026.

In this engaging interview, s. m. chavez shares insights into his artistic journey, discussing the influence of his New Mexico roots and the historical narratives that shape his work. He reflects on the challenges and joys of being an artist, the importance of authenticity, and the role of literature and history in his creative process (a word you will hear Chavez use frequently in our discussion). Chavez also touches on the balance between commercial success and artistic integrity, and the evolving nature of his career.

Links:

s. m. chavez

Website: https://paintingsofthewest.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smchavezart/

Other Links:

A Harvest of Reluctant Souls: Fray Alonso de Benavides's History of New Mexico, 1630: https://amzn.to/4beLYpt

Herb Jeffries in the movie The Bronze Buckaroo (1939): https://youtu.be/NMn21nICdro?si=PQMAUucUtkP6rEPZ

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

In each episode of The Artful Painter, the tagline (or show description) is: "Art lessons for artists, collectors, and people who love art." However, most of the episodes published so far have focused on artists and their stories. It's time to switch that up a bit and focus on collectors. In this episode I converse with two wonderful people I met a few years ago at a workshop hosted by the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. They are: Doug and Susie Haugen, art lovers who have a passion for art, art collecting, and forging friendships with living artists whose works adorn their walls in their Ackworth, Georgia, home.

Whether you are a collector or artist, you will be inspired by the Haugen's enthusiasm for supporting today's living artists. To me, one of the primary take-aways from this conversation is the importance of cultivating connections and friendships with artists and others who love art. Visiting artists in their homes, visiting galleries, and going to art shows are all a part of their joy of collecting. The bonds of friendship with living artists become an important part of the story behind each painting they display in their home.

In this episode of The Artful Painter, I have the privilege of engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Doug and Susie Haugen about their journey becoming avid art collectors. They discuss the growth of their collection, the significance of Western art (both traditional and contemporary), and the personal connections and friendships they've formed with artists. The Haugens share stories of their favorite pieces, the artists they've met, and the meaningful experiences that have shaped their collection.

Cozy up with your earbuds and a cup of coffee and listen to Doug and Susie's inspiring story. This one will make you smile.

Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaugen56/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susie.haugen

Booth Western Art Museum: https://boothmuseum.org/

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Artful Painter returns! It's good to be back in the saddle again.

My friend, Chris Kolupski kindly and patiently agreed to help me dust off my recording equipment and bring the Artful Painter back to life. Chris was originally featured back in episode 56 published back in 2021. That was a couple of years before we loaded up the wagons and moved to the Western Slope of Colorado.

In this edition of the Artful Painter, Chris Kolupski talks about his unique artist education experience he calls: "Paint Out West."

To me, Chris Kolupski is The Indiana Jones of Outdoor Painting – and for good reason! He's not only an excellent landscape painter and educator, he is an adventurer who loves painting the American South West. Of course, any adventure can certainly come with its own perils. Chris calmly takes these mis-adventures in stride. In this episode he shares the following experiences:

1. He crashed his car into a cow in the middle of the night in New Mexico!
2. Chris made daring attempts to rescue a camera that fell over a cliff!
3. He escaped prosecution after getting caught inadvertently trespassing while teaching a class.
4. In the middle of Navaho land, Chris founds himself on a horse that doesn't want him on his back
5. And then there's that time he got told off by a rude photographer in Arches National Park!

Tune in for a blend of humor, inspiration, and practical advice.

I'd like to welcome you to this edition of The Artful Painter!

Links:

Chris Kolupski

Paint Out West with Chris Kolupski: https://www.chriskolupski.com/page/30053/paint-out-west-on-demand Website: https://www.chriskolupski.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriskolupski/

Featured earlier on The Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/chris-kolupski-56

Other:

Artist JR Sanders: https://www.instagram.com/jrsandersart/

Books by Author Craig Childs:

The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light: https://amzn.to/4mXFnTt

House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest: https://amzn.to/4m9JiLK

Tracing Time: Seasons of Rock Art on the Colorado Plateau: https://amzn.to/4m8RonO

Virga & Bone: Essays from Dry Places: https://amzn.to/42nLRCE

Stone Desert: https://amzn.to/4npuDwY

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kami Mendlik's exquisite landscape paintings shimmer and vibrate with animated light and color. Her life-long journey of curiosity and keen observation of the natural world began when she was a young child. The Minnesota farmland she grew up on was fertile not just for crops, but also for a young mind curious about the wonders of the land that was her home. She was entranced by the beauty of nature's rhythm and harmony and its myriad colors.

Kami thinks of herself as a lifelong student. Each seeming advance of knowledge leads to more questions and a never-ending quest to answer them in her paintings. Her passion is the study of color. However, she does not keep what she learns to herself. Over the years she has taught well over 1,000 students a process to help achieve the illusion of light and vibration in their paintings.

Over ten years in the making, she has codified the lessons she has learned about color in a new book titled: Color Relativity–Creating the Illusion of Light With Paint. This gorgeous new book is due to be released towards the end of the summer of 2022. In this episode, Kami reveals that she has struggled with dyslexia. However, the challenge of dyslexia did not prevent her from developing a deep love of books, and the writing of Color Relativity. She opens up about what is involved in creating, editing, and publishing a quality art book.

If you were to observe Kami Mendlik painting outdoors or in her studio, just as she begins to make her colors dance, you might see a smile flicker upon her face, a slight inhale of a calming breath, and, then, with quiet abandon see her Surrender to the Process.

Links:

Kami Mendlik

Website: https://www.kamimendlik.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamimendlik/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kami.polzin

New Book: Color Relativity–Creating the Illusion of Light With Paint: https://www.colorrelativity.com/

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Greg Newbold is a fine art painter and illustrator based near Salt Lake City, Utah. Greg says that for him, "art is a soulful expression." His hope is that a piece of him comes out at the end of his brush onto the surface of a painting and connects with the spirit of the viewer.

Greg's compelling visions of the American West are distilled through the filter of his own life experiences. Building upon that, he applies his own unique creative filters of simplification, light, color, shape, and texture. This creative alchemy results in paintings that feature bold composition, strong value structure, sensitive color, and intriguing narrative.

Greg's evocative, contemporary paintings are eagerly desired by collectors from around the globe. Greg characterizes his approach to painting as Stylized Realism. Greg explains how his experience as an illustrator helped him develop a diverse vocabulary that he can draw upon for his oil paintings. He explains that doing the hard work of putting in the brush mileage he put into his illustrations and paintings allowed his unique voice to appear naturally.

Greg gained valuable insights into how many famous artists worked as he developed the illustrations in a series of children's books authored by his wife, Amy. The first of these books is titled, If Picasso Painter a Snowman. That successful volume was followed up by, If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur, which includes a recreation of Coolidge's famous Dogs Playing Poker painting reimagined as Dinosaurs Playing Poker. For each book, Greg did a deep dive into the methods of famous artists so that he could create the whimsical paintings used in each book. Greg is comfortable with both traditional and digital techniques. He embraces the use of technology where it makes sense to do so in his art.

Greg and his wife Amy are also active in encouraging youth in schools with their delightful lectures about art and art-making. Greg loves to award each student with their own copy of a Creative License. The students are encouraged to express themselves and create art in their own voice, in their own way. No one can tell them they have to do it just one way because now they have their own Creative License. Personally, I think no matter how young or old we are, we can all use Greg's Creative License!

Painting outdoors is an important component of Greg's artmaking. Even more important to Greg is also painting outdoors with others who are much better than he is. It is key to his artistic growth. Greg explains why he is drawn to painting landscapes inspired by the South West. He discusses how he develops a painting and how he upscales a painting from a study and the challenges involved in doing so. He talks about the materials he likes to use, and the effects his mark-making leaves on the surface of each of his paintings.

Just as the ancient cliffs of sandstone show evidence of the effect of the relentless forces of water and wind, so do the tactile, expressive marks upon the surface of a Greg Newbold painting give Evidence of Process.

Links:

Greg Newbold

Website: https://www.gregnewbold.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregnewboldart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gregnewboldart/

Other Mentions:

Brian Rutenberg: Episode 11 of The Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/brian-rutenberg-11

Brian Rutenberg's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnjLpl20hRnPxkQf5UvBMcw

Rose Irelan: https://www.roseirelan.com/

Priya Gore in Episode 70 of the Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/priya-gore-70

Bill Farnsworth in Episode 18 of the Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/bill-farnsworth-18

Len Chmiel in Episode 42 of the Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/len-chmiel-42

Len Chmiel in Episode 12 of the Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/len-chmiel-12

Frank Serrano in Episode 61 of the Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/frank-serrano-61

Paul Foropoulos in Episode 49 of the Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/paul-foropoulos-49

David Boyd, Jr. in Episode 13 of the Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/david-boyd-jr-13

Forty Illustrators and How They Work, by Ernest W. Watson: https://amzn.to/3mVpX4A (paid link)

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Priya Gore's extraordinary paintings of birds and wildlife are breathtaking. Her paintings are full of color, vibrancy, and energy. She says painting large allows her whole body to become fully engaged in the flow and gesture of painting. The process of painting is like a joyous dance, each lyrical movement breathes life into the birds that are often the subject of her art.

It was against improbable odds that Priya would become the artist she is today. She came from a large family in a small village in India. In India, she says much of your future is already decided before you are conceived – either you must become a doctor or an engineer. Though as a young child she had a deep love for art, she became an engineer. Despite the challenges of a highly technical career, she sought out time to sketch wherever her work took her.

She eventually settled in Australia where she currently resides. The Australian wilderness and its unimaginable landscapes, tropical rainforests, and diversified wildlife inspired her to paint. Now as a new mother, she has finally left her engineering career to pursue as she calls it - "a new bold and beautiful phase" of her life as a full-time fine art painter.

When you see Priya Gore's beautiful, animated paintings, you easily sense her exuberance. In your mind's eye, you can see her before the canvas with her brushes applying each dab of paint with a graceful, flowing gesture – imbuing her painting with A Dash of Wilderness!

Links:

Priya Gore

Website: https://www.karibufineart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karibufineart

Jerry Mishler: https://jerrymishler.com

John Pototschnik: https://www.pototschnik.com/

Artful Painter Podcast: John Pototschnik - Paintings That Speak to the Heart https://youtu.be/dD6Kuvy9rmg

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Craig Stephens is an artist who delights in painting everyday things. I started following Craig after a chancing upon his Instagram account. I was instantly drawn to his small oil paintings of french fries, toy dinosaurs, peanut butter sandwiches, sneakers, hamburgers, and other everyday objects. I knew this was a painter I wanted to talk with!

Craig Stephens was born in Sacramento, California in 1963. He received his B.A. in art studio in 1993. During his undergraduate years, he had the privilege of taking classes from Gary Pruner, Roy DeForest, David Hollowell, and Wayne Thiebaud. He began teaching high school art classes in 1996. I'm pretty sure that in high school I would have loved having Coach Stephens as my art teacher!

Craig spent over twenty years teaching high school kids, most of whom had never held a paintbrush intending to paint something realistically. Naturally, they would wonder what to do. This got him started on thinking about what he does when he paints. The result? A new book titled: The Beginner's Guide to Oil Painting: Simple Still Life Projects to Help You Master the Basics.

Inspired by artist Duane Kiser's painting-a-day practice, Craig has completed a small painting on nearly a daily basis since 2006. When asked why he paints French fries, toy dinosaurs, avocados, or dead astronauts on old paint can lids, he says: "I started to realize that painting could be the whole idea. What you paint doesn't really matter." Thus, he paints whatever is at hand - not because of the object itself, but rather, because he is Drawn to Form.

Links:

Craig Stephens

Website: https://www.craigstephensart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigstephensart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craigstephensart

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphHbYc6lKnUBY-yKtW4Tyg

Book: https://amzn.to/38RXtFa (paid link)

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kim Lordier is an extraordinary pastel painter whose works are cherished by collectors from around the world. Her path to becoming a full-time painter took flight in unexpected ways. Beginning with earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree she became – a flight attendant! Soon, though, she returned with firm resolve to making fine art her life's work.

For the first two decades of her painting career, she focused primarily on the landscape – both from life in and in her studio. Filled with rich color, her landscapes demonstrate her unique spirit of mark-making. In time, her love of horses began to fill her paintings. Fascinated with the strength and grace of the horse, Kim conveys their power and gentility by painting them in their surroundings. Her work has been showcased on the cover of Art of the West, PleinAir Magazine, Southwest Art, The Pastel Journal, Western Art and Architecture, and Fine Art Connoisseur. Kim is a Signature Member of the California Art Club, the Pastel Society of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and a Distinguished Pastelist of the Pastel Society of the West Coast. A coveted workshop instructor, Kim leads workshops across the country.

Kim's pastel paintings certainly arrest the viewer's heart with shimmering light, texture, and beauty. Kim Lordier's paintings capture the spirit of nature with deep reverence and allow the viewer a beautiful glimpse into her artist-heart that reflects An Inner Strength.

Links:

Kim Lordier

Website: https://www.kimfancherlordier.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klordierart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.lordier

Olmsted Gallery: https://www.olmstedgallery.com/paintings/kim-lordier

Donation Acknowledgements:

Dan Siegel: https://www.dansiegelmusic.com/

Priya Gore: https://www.karibufineart.com/

Tom Brown: https://www.tombrownwatercolors.com/

Vianna Szabo: https://www.viannaszabo.com/

Amy Evans: https://www.amyevansart.com/

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Brian Buckrell is a full-time Canadian painter. After a long, successful career as a Professor of Veterinary Medicine, he made the decision to switch to a career doing one of the hardest things known to humankind: painting fine art.

The transition wasn't easy - especially doing so much later in life while in his sixties. He admits there were times he felt like quitting. However, he stuck with it. Brian doggedly continued developing his painting skills. Recognizing the importance of learning the fundamentals of the craft, he attended many workshops and enrolled full-time at the highly acclaimed Jeff Watts Atelier. Buckrell's determination and dedication to the craft finally paid off.

Today, despite challenging health issues that both he and his wife, Cathy, have to deal with, he enthusiastically creates bold, beautiful, expressive paintings of the great outdoors that they so much enjoy together. Because of the joy viewers experience in seeing his art, Brian's colorful paintings grace the homes of many collectors around the world.

Acrylic is Brian's medium of choice. Modern innovations and developments in acrylic paint provide an exciting medium and playground for Brian to explore and experiment. It allows him to paint quickly what he loves to paint in the way he wants to paint. And, most of all – have fun! Now in his late seventies, Brian Buckrell proves that it's never too late to paint and have the Freedom to Play.

Links:

Brian Buckrell

Website: https://www.brianbuckrell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbuckrell/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianbuckrellArt/

Books:

Alla Prima - Everything I Know About Painting – And More, by Richard Schmid https://www.richardschmid.com/Alla-Prima-II-By-Richard-Schmid-p/skuap.htm

Conversations With Nature Oil Painting in the Tradition of Plein Air, by Kevin Macpherson https://amzn.to/35WBtIl (paid link)

Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color, by Kevin Macpherson https://amzn.to/3Jp2AKE (paid link)

Landscape Painting Inside and Out: Capture the Vitality of Outdoor Painting in Your Studio With Oils, by Kevin Macpherson https://amzn.to/3qebLWv (paid link)

Mentions:

McMichael Canadian Art Collection: https://mcmichael.com

Draftsmen Show (YouTube channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfvIqreCk628yB9mp3e_ABQ

Barry John Raybould's Virtual Art Academy: https://www.virtualartacademy.com

ACDSee Photo Editing Software: https://www.acdsee.com/en/index/

ArtRage Vitae: https://www.artrage.com

Procreate app: https://procreate.art

Watts Atelier of the Arts: https://www.wattsatelier.com

Gabor Svagrik's Concept to Canvas Podcast: https://anchor.fm/gaborsvagrik

The Artful Painter Episode 50 Featuring Gabor Svagrik: Show Notes: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/oberg-smith-whitcomb-young-50

Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4-eQotveTmk

The Artful Painter Episode 33 Featuring John Lasater: Show Notes: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/john-p-lasater-iv-33

Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IX46SGKkQ8E

The Artful Painter Episode 21 Featuring Skip Whitcomb: Show Notes: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/skip-whitcomb-21

Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7gRitYn0xL8

Greek Artist Paul Foropoulos: https://foropoulosstudiosoffinearts.com/about

The Artful Painter Episode 49: Paul Foropoulos - Painting Along Life's Path: Show Notes: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/paul-foropoulos-49

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EEED_X-Ep6U

Painting the Old Dairy King in Delta, Colorado (on YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs6Mqx2mrXw

The Artful Painter Episode 64 - Robert Henri - A Secret Identity: Show Notes: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/robert-henri-64

Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZyCIi_PeQUk

Sarah Burns Studio YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFPLTtIjOex_23jvGEUET8A

About the Artful Painter:

Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/

This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.