Victoria Taylor-Gore's surrealistic, luminous paintings are imaginary places at the boundary of twilight and dreams. Seemingly devoid of people, her paintings pull you into their quiet mystery. Her paintings fill your mind with questions: Who opened the motel room door? Who left the suitcase by the neatly made bed? Who is in the car whose lit headlamp spills light through the open door of the motel? Where is this lonely motel? Where did the people go? Have they just arrived? Or, are they getting ready to depart? It appears that the inhabitant of the room has just stepped out of sight. Or, have they? Then you realize that perhaps you are the inhabitant of that room. You've become a part of Victoria’s painting and its mystery.

Victoria, who recently retired as the dean of liberal arts at Amarillo College, now devotes herself full-time to creating pastel and mixed-media paintings inspired by her love of film noir, the landscape of the high plains, and Route 66. Her use of exaggerated perspective creates a sense of unease and suspense. The open doors and windows invite movement between intimate interiors and dark, open exteriors – heightening your curiosity as to what lies either beyond or within. Her unique visual vocabulary is beautifully expressed in her evocative paintings of Quiet Surrealism.

I recently saw Victoria Taylor-Gore mentioned in Southwest Art magazine article. It was an exciting reminder of a conversation I had with her about ten years ago when I interviewed Victoria in a filmmaking and photography podcast I used to produce. At that time, a revolution in photography and video had appeared seemingly out of nowhere that allowed creators to produce high definition video of stunning cinematic quality with affordable digital DSLR cameras. It was an exciting development that encouraged creative experimentation. Victoria was an early adopter of this new video technology. She began experimenting with making videos using her collection of vintage toy cars, dollhouses, and figurines. Having seen her work, I invited her to be interviewed in that early podcast. In that first conversation, I learned that Victoria was inspired by film noir, surrealist artist Giorgio de Chirico, and filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock. Ten years later that inspiration continues to influence her art.

Mentioned in this episode:

Victoria Taylor-Gore website: https://www.victoriataylorgore.com

Victoria on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Victoria-Taylor-Gores-Page-342542963435/

Victoria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vtg60/

Listener websites:

Frank Walsh: https://frankwalshoriginals.com

Sarah Skinner: https://sarahskinnerwildlifeart.wordpress.com

About the Artful Painter:

The Artful Painter website: https://carlolson.tv

Donate to support the Artful Painter: https://carlolson.tv/donate

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Reading Essentials: https://carlolson.tv/reading-essentials

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

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. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Skip Whitcomb says the subject of a painting is the painting, not the subject itself! He reasons that the viewer will never see the actual subject. Therefore, we must make that painting as captivating and poetic as possible. It’s nothing more than paint on a canvas. This is what we attempt in its purest form. Skip states: “Once you internalize the language of painting, you never see the world the same way. It never leaves you. The veil of rational order is lifted and what hangs in the air are sensations of painted possibilities. On good days, some would call it poetry.”

Skip Whitcomb resides in Colorado. He has received numerous awards for his landscape paintings in oil and pastel. At the 2017 Prix de West Show in Oklahoma City, for example, Skip was honored with the Donald Teague Memorial Award, for best work on paper. Skip is an active member of the Plein Air Painters of America. In fact, it was at PAPA event at the Booth Museum of Western Art that I first met Skip.

In this episode of the Artful Painter, Skip shares his Five Principles of painting that each artist must master. His love of nature and geology are integral to his art-making. He is not a painter simply passing through the landscape of the American West, he lingers at each location, intently observing. Skip says his time outdoor painting is his opportunity to harvest ideas and concepts. Often visiting the same locations, these timeless places become like old friends who continue to delight you as you discover new things about them. Skip seeks purity of vision in his work.

Mentioned in this episode:

Skip Whitcomb website: https://www.skipwhitcomb.com

Plein Air Painters of America: https://pleinairpaintersofamerica.com

About the Artful Painter:

Donate to support the Artful Painter: https://carlolson.tv/donate

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

The Artful Painter podcast: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carl.olson.9847

https://www.facebook.com/carlolsontv/

Reading Essentials: https://carlolson.tv/reading-essentials

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

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. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

John Budicin is a painter taught by nature. He lives in California – his home since he moved from Italy when he was eleven years old. His painter’s eye, heart, and mind is filled with the lessons and experiences of his many years of painting outdoors. John is drawn to the golden hours of the setting sun, and the subtle colors of the rolling California hills muted by atmospheric haze as they recede into the distant horizon. It is the dance of light and shadow of the warm glow of a late afternoon that catches his eye and compels him to paint.

John Budicin is a Signature Member of Plein Air Painters of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, the California Art Club, and Oil Painters of America. In this episode, John talks about his approach to painting, his process, and what inspires him. He shares his thoughts on the apparent rise in popularity of outdoor painting. John also shares exciting and inspiring stories of his some of his outdoor painting adventures. Above all, John reminds us to be humble students of nature. If you let it teach you, you will become a better artist as you absorb nature’s lessons.

Mentioned in this episode:

John Budicin website: https://www.johnbudicin.com

Mark Rittorno website: https://markrittorno.com

Plein Air Painters of America: https://pleinairpaintersofamerica.com

Wayne Thiebold: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Thiebaud

Len Chmiel: https://lenchmiel.com

https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter/len-chmiel-an-authentic-nature-12

Beth Cole: https://bethcolehandmade.com

Fredrix Red Lion Polyflax Primed Canvas (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/37njsON

About the Artful Painter:

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

Carl Olson, Jr. website: https://carlolson.tv

The Artful Painter podcast: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carl.olson.9847

https://www.facebook.com/carlolsontv/

Reading Essentials: https://carlolson.tv/reading-essentials

Hand-made Artist Sketchbooks by Carl Olson: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter-sketchbooks

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

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. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you.

Anne Blair Brown describes herself as a contemporary impressionist. She is drawn to impressionism because it is an interpretation of a moment in time. Light is the subject of her paintings. The light that imbues her paintings radiates a feeling of warmth. Light glows in an open doorway, shadows accentuate warm afternoon sunlight, and, dapples of light dance upon a picnic table in the summer shade of an old oak tree. Anne's play of light is found in her rural and urban landscapes, her figurative work, and her intimate interior spaces. As you peer into Anne’s paintings, you begin to sense it as if it were your own memory. Her broken brushstrokes begin a story that only you as the viewer can complete. The sense of place and memory Anne suggests in her beautiful paintings becomes your story.

In this edition of the Artful Painter, Anne freely shares her thoughts on her process of creating light-filled, impressionistic paintings. She talks about her joy of teaching and how we as students can most benefit from artist workshops and training. Anne discusses, too, her experiences with showing her work in galleries.

Get out your pen and notebook and prepare to take notes! Other artists have told me that I need to talk to Anne Blair Brown. I’m glad I took their advice! I’m happy to share this conversation with artist Anne Blair Brown with you in this episode.

Mentioned in this episode:

Anne Blair Brown's website: http://anneblairbrown.com/

A Painter's Journey: http://apaintersjourney.com/

Trey Finney: http://treyfinney.com

Dawn Whitelaw: http://www.dawnwhitelaw.com

David Boyd, Jr.: https://davidboydjr.com

Charles Movalli: https://charlesmovalli.org/home

Kim English: http://anglinsmith.com/artists/kim-english/

Colin Page: https://www.colinpagepaintings.com

About the Artful Painter:

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg 

My Artful Painter Sketchbooks: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter-sketchbooks

Carl Olson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.creative/

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Bill Farnsworth, a fine art artist and illustrator residing in Venice, Florida, likes to start a story in his paintings, and let the viewer finish it.

Imagine this scene: Your feet are tired from walking the beautiful streets of the Mediterranean island of Elba. Your palette is thirsty. Just ahead you see bright umbrellas signal the presence of a small street cafe. You decide it’s time to enjoy a refreshing drink under the cool shade of the cafe umbrellas while you rest your feet. As you approach to claim your seat - though you cannot see them - within the doors of the tiny cafe, workers clean and tidy up its cramped interior. You hear the sounds of clinks and clatter as they replenish and stock the pantry and refrigerator with the latest goods that arrived just before you eyed the cafe and decided to stop there. For just a moment you imagine you have lived here all your life. It is this story within a story that artist Bill Farnsworth seeks to imbue within his oil paintings.

As a 1980 graduate of The Ringling School of Art and Design, Bill Farnsworth has spent more than 34 years as an Illustrator and Fine Artist. Born in Norwalk Connecticut in 1958, Bill spent most of his life painting landscapes of rural areas, while supporting himself and family as an illustrator. He has illustrated more than fifty books for children. Bill's extensive illustration experience provides a rich vocabulary for creating his beautiful, emotion-filled fine art paintings. He is a Signature member of The Oil Painters of America, and The American Society of Impressionists. He is also a Fellow in The American Society of Marine Artists. Bill is also an active member of Plein Air Painters of the SouthEast - having served a stint as its President.

In our conversation today, Bill explains how he endeavors to paint what he loves and to convey that honestly so that viewer can feel it as well. Bill talks in-depth about the importance of painting on location and the importance of being a keen observer of the scene and life that happens in that place. The result? Heartfelt paintings emerge that are full of emotion.

Mentioned in this episode:

Bill Farnsworth's website: https://billfarnsworth.com

Plein Air Painters of the SouthEast: https://pap-se.com

Plein Air Painters of America: https://p-a-p-a.com

Bringing the Outside In PAP-SE Event at the Booth Museum: https://boothmuseum.org/event/exhibition-opening-gallery-walk-reception-and-panel-discussion-plein-air-painters-of-the-southeast/

David Boyd, Jr. : https://davidboydjr.com

About the Artful Painter:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

My Artful Painter Sketchbooks: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter-sketchbooks

Carl Olson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.creative/

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Phil Starke's goal as a painter is to suggest light. In this episode, he explains how he achieves this goal through simplification. When you view Phil’s paintings you see that they glow with light, atmosphere, and texture. He explains that if you can focus on what is important you can paint with a stick and it should work.

Phil’s interest in painting began in his youth in Germany where his father was stationed while serving in the military. Regular field trips to the great museums of Europe exposed Phil to the great painting masters. Later, Phil chose an advertising track at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. However, Inspired by his art instructors at the Academy, he developed a passion for oil painting. When he graduated from the American Academy of Art, Phil chose to pursue becoming a professional fine art painter.

Phil has lived in a number of locations including the American Midwest, the West and Southwest. In each place he has resided, Phil has found beauty that he was compelled to paint. A recent move took him from Arizona – a land of tans and muted gray greens – to North Georgia where the rolling hills and mountains are covered with vibrant green trees and vegetation. Barely settled in to his new home, he has already begun to explore the beautiful backcountry of Georgia including its rural farmlands and the multitude of creeks and rivers that flow through the countryside.

In this episode you will hear that there are no secrets – Phil Starke does not hold back in sharing what he has learned about painting.

Mentioned in this episode:

Phil Starke Fine Artist – American Landscape Artist: https://www.philstarke.com

Phil Starke Studio - Art Instruction - Videos - Books: https://philstarkestudio.com

Easel Insight Membership: https://www.easelinsight.com

About the Artful Painter:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

Artful Painter website: https://theartfulpainter.com

Carl Olson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.creative/

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Michelle Jung – methodical and keenly observant – creates expressive oil and mixed-media paintings that speak to the heart. When you first walk into a room with her paintings displayed on a wall you may see an expansive seascape, an intimate floral scene, or a quiet landscape. As you move in closer to her paintings, what was once clearly in focus begins to melt and break apart into gorgeous abstraction. Her painting process begins with thoughtful slowness. She then moves in quickly with her brushes and puts down deliberate, confident strokes of paint. Layer by layer she builds her painting. The result is an impressionistic portal into a world of light and dark, intriguing abstraction, and multiple planes of perspective that arrests our eyes and profoundly stirs our innermost emotions. As you stand before one of Michelle’s seascapes, you not only see the waves roll in and break upon the rocky shore – you hear the crash of the waves and smell the salt in the air.

Though Michelle’s interest in art goes back to her childhood, it wasn’t until she turned 40 years old that she started painting. Long before starting painting, Michelle received her bachelor’s degree in art history from the Colorado State University. For a time she worked in several art galleries. That experience led to her gaining solid skills selling art. Later, she honed her business acumen when she started and managed an insurance agency. However, her love of art began to assert itself - she keenly wanted to learn how to paint. She began taking workshops from accomplished representational artists. At age 47, Michelle returned to school to earn her MFA in painting. She consistently practiced painting outside and in her studio. The result? Michelle Jung is an award-winning oil painter whose work has been exhibited in a number of group exhibitions and shows. She is a signature member of the American Society of Marine Artists as well as the California Art Club. She is also a member of the Salmagundi Club and The Guild of Boston Artists. Her example shows it’s never too late to start painting!

In this episode, Michelle explains her process of painting and how deep observation, along with outdoor painting and sketching, form the foundation for painting from memory her larger studio works. In our conversation, she talks about her thoughts on composition, shares information on the materials she uses and experiments with, and reveals the surprising reason for her choice of aspect ratios of her paintings. She also shares with us her unique approach to marketing her art and brand. Michelle is not only an accomplished painter, she is also a collector of fine art. Now that’s someone who truly loves art!

Mentioned in this episode:

Michelle Jung Website: http://michellejungstudios.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellejungart/?hl=en

Documentary - The Price of Everything on HBO: http://www.thepriceofeverything.com

Energy Energy Design: https://nrgdesign.com/work/michelle-jung-fine-artist/

Len Chmiel: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter/len-chmiel-an-authentic-nature-12

Brian Rutenberg: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter/brian-rutenberg-abstraction-is-a-process-11

About the Artful Painter:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

My Artful Painter Sketchbooks: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter-sketchbooks

Artful Painter website: https://theartfulpainter.com

Carl Olson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.creative/

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Virgil Elliott is one of only 24 artists worldwide to be certified by the American Portrait Society. He is a highly sought fine artist, portraitist, teacher, lecturer, art show judge, and writer. Virgil has spent his career at the forefront of the revival of representational art. His atelier is located in Penngrove, California.

Virgil’s education in the arts began at a very early age under the guidance of his mother – a school teacher and an amateur artist. His training continued with the now sadly defunct Famous Artists School correspondence course that featured art instruction by famed illustrators such as Robert Fawcett, Albert Dorne, Austin Briggs, Steven Dohanos, Harold Von Schmidt and others. By his late teens, he was an accomplished draftsman and competent oil painter.

Unfortunately his training in the fine arts at the colleges and universities he attended led to disappointment and disillusionment. The art education program at these institutions centered on modern art styles that did not embody the style and craftsmanship of traditional representational art that Virgil was keenly interested in. Resolved to become a better artist following the traditions of the Old Masters, he endeavored to teach himself from that point onward. He sought out old manuscripts to study and traveled to view Old Master paintings in museums around the world. He applied himself to constant practicing his drawing and painting skills.

Eventually, the lessons Virgil learned over the years were distilled, refined, clarified and compiled into his authoritative book: Traditional Oil Painting: Advanced Techniques and Concepts from the Renaissance to the Present. It was a project that spanned over twenty years. His book was finally published in 2007 by publisher Watson–Guptill. Earlier this year, an updated version of Traditional Oil Painting was released and published by Echo Point Books.

It’s an honor to have the opportunity to share this in-depth conversation with Virgil Elliott. His firm conviction and devotion to the pursuit of quality in creating art is evident from the very start of this impassioned conversation.

Mentioned in the show:

Virgil Elliott’s Website: https://virgilelliott.com

Traditional Oil Painting Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/959891544070003/

Book: Traditional Oil Painting: Advanced Techniques and Concepts from the Renaissance to the Present: https://amzn.to/2XObLNu

Book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values, by Robert M. Pirsig: https://amzn.to/2KX3aTr

Andrew Tischler’s Creative Endeavor podcast episode featuring Virgil Elliott: https://andrewtischler.podbean.com/e/episode-2-virgil-elliott/

About the Artful Painter:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

Artful Painter website: https://theartfulpainter.com

Carl Olson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.creative/

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kathie Odom lives in Knoxville, Tennessee – not far from the beautiful Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I first met Kathie and her husband Buddy almost two years ago at the Plein Air Painters of America workshop hosted by the Booth Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. She is an exuberant painter and enthusiastic student. Her paintings are filled with light and texture that capture the nostalgia and beauty of homes, buildings, farms, and landscapes scattered along smaller, less-traveled roads bypassed and unnoticed by hurried motorists barreling down crowded interstates. Her artistic vision helps us slow down and take note of the beauty of wherever she finds it. It's the landscape near her home that captures her heart. Scenes close to home are what she yearns to paint.

Kathie’s development as a fine art painter was remarkably fast. She’s only been painting since 2009 – when at the age of 50 – she took her first painting workshop that was a gift from her husband. Ten years later, she was featured on the cover of the January 2019 issue of Southwest Art magazine and has been published in several other journals. She is a member of the Salmagundi Club, the American Impressionist Society, the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast, the Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville, and Oil Painters of America.

You are in for a treat in this fantastic conversation with Kathie Odom in this episode of the Artful Painter.

Links for Kathie Odom:

Web: https://kathieodom.com/

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

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

About the Artful Painter:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

My Artful Painter Sketchbooks: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter-sketchbooks

Artful Painter website: https://theartfulpainter.com

Carl Olson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.creative/

David Boyd, Jr. is a Georgia-based artist who is compelled to paint Southern Impressionism.

Boyd lives in the small rural town of Newnan, Georgia–located several miles south-east of Atlanta. Not only is Boyd a fine art painter, he helps run his family-owned and operated art gallery located in the beautiful, old downtown square of Newnan.

A very young David Boyd decided early on that he wanted to be a hired assassin, and if that did not work out–a race car driver. Fortunately, Boyd came from a family who provided him a rich, nurturing environment that steered him towards the visual arts rather than become the next James Bond. His father–David Boyd-is a renowned illustrator known for his work for comedian Jeff Foxworthy. His mother, a school teacher, has a love for music and dance. With their loving influence, his life of crime was averted and now Boyd is one of the finest painters in the South. He’s a signature member of Oil Painters of America as well as the American Impressionist Society.

Boyd paints outdoors and is also an avid photographer. He uses plein air painting to capture a feeling, and he uses photography to capture a moment. He then takes his plein air paintings and photos to his studio and combines these into larger works.

Boyd says: “I was fortunate to spend many weekends with my grandparents in rural Georgia, where the woods and old rusty cars and tractors were my playground. Today, when I see the rusting memorabilia of the rural south, I feel a deep sense of nostalgia.” Boyd is compelled to paint the remnants of a different time that has long since given way to the modern world. Old cars, decaying buildings, old store front and road signs, rusting trucks and tractors become the focus of his beautiful paintings. Boyd seeks to preserve Southern American life in its current state of decay–in what he characterizes as “landscapes of rust.”

I want to acknowledge the role that the Booth Museum had in introducing me to David Boyd, Jr. and his art. In previous episodes of the Artful Painter you’ve heard me gush about the Booth Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. I’ve enjoyed many of the exhibits there, and attended workshops, demonstrations and lectures. While doing so I’ve gotten to know the Booth Art Academy Manager - Kent Mullinax. A few weeks ago he reached out to me and asked: “Do you know David Boyd, Jr.? He would be a good guest for your podcast… he’s the best in the business… you will love David. He’s a great artist and even better person."

Well, how could I possibly pass that recommendation up?

And so, in this episode of the Artful Painter, I’m happy to share with you this delightful conversation with David Boyd, Jr.

Links:

David Boyd, Jr.

Website: https://davidboydjr.com

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

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

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

Searching Goodwill for art book deals: https://youtu.be/9yelWldYRZ8

Amazing art book from 1839: https://youtu.be/fuRwv9WgzC0

About the Artful Painter:

Artful Painter website: https://theartfulpainter.com

Subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIo1YmQXnMm21b-Slkr69Tg

Send me an email: https://carlolson.tv/contact

My Artful Painter Sketchbooks: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter-sketchbooks

Carl Olson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.creative/