Artini

Paris, Champagne & a Little Mayhem: Tammy's Anniversary Adventure

Grab your favorite drink - Tammy's back from Paris, and she's bringing the stories! In this episode of Artini, Kim and Tammy recap a 30th-anniversary adventure filled with champagne, art, rainy bike rides, and a few plans that went spectacularly sideways.

From a dinner cruise past the sparkling Eiffel Tower to the crowds around the Mona Lisa, Tammy shares the highlights, mishaps, and the Renaissance painting that stopped her in her tracks: Pietro Perugino's Combat of Love and Chastity. We talk about connecting with a painting, finding original art to bring home, and why a sold-out Disney day turned into one of the best days of the trip.

There's also a road trip to Normandy, a stay in a little castle, dining challenges with celiac disease, and some very Southern opinions about French seasoning. Come for the art, stay for the shenanigans.

Artini: Where happy hour meets art and art history.

EXPLORE THE PLACES & ART WE DISCUSS

• Eiffel Tower - sightseeing and the dinner plans the weather had other ideas about.
• Louvre Museum - Tammy's museum adventure.
• Mona Lisa - the painting, its protective display, and its home in the Louvre.
• Perugino's Combat of Love and Chastity - take a closer look at the painting that sparked our conversation.
• Bastille - the area Tammy mentions staying near.
• Bayeux, Normandy - the town visited during the Normandy portion of the trip.
• Normandy's D-Day landing beaches - historical context for the Normandy excursion; specific sites aren't named in the episode.
• Disneyland Paris - the planned visit that didn't happen!

LIKELY MONTMARTRE STOPS
Tammy describes these without naming them, so these are likely matches:

• Place du Tertre - the artists' square.
• Sacre-Coeur Basilica - the hilltop church with all those steps.

A little art-history housekeeping: Contrary to our speculation in the episode, the Louvre displays the original Mona Lisa, protected by a climate-controlled glass case.

Walter Anderson: The Islander Who Painted in Secret | Artini Podcast

He rowed a small skiff 12 miles offshore to a deserted barrier island, painted everything that moved, and secretly covered an entire room floor-to-ceiling with murals that nobody discovered until after he died. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, escaped from mental institutions by knotting bed sheets and leaving bird drawings on the walls, and cared so little about his own finished work that most of it survived only because he was a terrible housekeeper. Meet Walter Inglis Anderson - the man the South calls its greatest artist, and the rest of the country has barely heard of.

In this episode, Kim and Tammy dive into the Emmy-winning documentary "Walter Anderson: The Extraordinary Life and Art of the Islander" (dir. Anthony Thaxton & Robert St. John). They unpack the Gulf Coast watercolorist's wild life - from his classical training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, to his years rowing out to Horn Island alone with nothing but his paints and a sleeping bag, to the breathtaking "Little Room" murals hidden behind a locked door in his cottage. Along the way they get into the big questions: genius vs. mental illness, the ethics of posthumous discovery, and what it means to make art that you never intend anyone to see.

Grab a cocktail and come along for the ride - this one's a deep dive into one of American art's most beautiful, elusive minds.

Watch the documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTamoRXSn0M

Learn more about Walter Anderson:

• Walter Anderson Museum of Art: https://www.walterandersonmuseum.org
• Shearwater Pottery (still operating in Ocean Springs, MS): http://www.shearwaterpottery.com
• "The Horn Island Logs of Walter Inglis Anderson" (University Press of Mississippi)

Drink pairing: A Hurricane - born in New Orleans (Anderson's birthplace) and potent enough to survive a solo row to Horn Island. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

Follow the pod:
Instagram @artinipod
YouTube: /@ArtiniPod

#ArtiniPodcast #WalterAnderson #Artini #ArtHistory #HornIsland #MississippiArt #SouthernArt #ArtDocumentary #DrinkAndDraw

Pack your bags and grab a drink! In this episode of Artini, I’m recapping my recent trip through the winding canals of Venice and the ancient streets of Rome. I forgot to mention all food scene that puts chain restaurants to shame. The boys met up w friends in Naples. We're nursing the Italian hangover. XOXO

Connect with Kimberly Ratliff Art:

• KimberlyRatliffArt.com | Socials: @KimberlyRatliffArt

Venice Art & Landmarks:

• Saint Mark’s Basilica Tickets
• Museo Correr Official Site
• St. Mark’s Campanile Booking
• Venice Biennale 2026

Rome Tours & Sites:

• Eating Europe: Twilight Trastevere Tour (Meeting: Isola Tiberina).
• Colosseum Official Tickets
• Pantheon Entry Portal
• Vatican & Sistine Chapel (60-day window!)
• Vicus Caprarius - The Water City

Eat & Drink Like a Local:

• Arcicchetti Bakaro (Venice)
• San Giovanni Vini e Cicchetti (Best Espresso Martini—ask for Bruno!).

We watched the documentary Norman Rockwell: An American Portrait on Amazon Prime… behind that squeaky clean documentary, all those wholesome Thanksgiving tables and sleepy small-town smiles was a man battling anxiety, insecurity, perfectionism, government propaganda work during WWII, rumored infidelity, and the frustration of being told NOT to include Black Americans in many of his early illustrations. 👀

We unpack:
✨ why Rockwell secretly doubted his own talent
✨ how his art became part of the U.S. war bond machine
✨ the pressure of painting “the perfect America”
✨ why leaving The Saturday Evening Post changed everything
✨ and how he later created powerful civil rights pieces like The Problem We All Live With featuring Ruby Bridges.

Basically… America’s grandpa illustrator had some layers. And probably need a therapist and a nap. 🫠

Pour yourself a mai tai and join us for art history, hot takes, emotional damage, and vintage Americana with a side of scandal. 🍹

Watch the documentary:
Amazon Prime – Norman Rockwell: An American Portrait

More about Rockwell:
PBS American Masters – Norman Rockwell: Painting America

Civil Rights painting discussed in the episode:
The Problem We All Live With (Ruby Bridges painting)

KIM: Will be at the Haleiwa Art Festival June 13 & 14th

KimberlyRatliffArt.com

Tammy: Has work at The Marketplace in Panama City Florida

Big Eyes, Big Lies......

What if your biggest supporter… was also your biggest liar?

This months Artini, we’re sipping through the beautifully unhinged true story behind Big Eyes—where soft-spoken, wildly talented Margaret Keane painted those iconic, soul-piercing big eyes… and her husband Walter Keane said, “Thanks babe, I’ll take it from here.”

And by “take it,” we mean:
👉 her credit
👉 her voice
👉 her entire identity as an artist

We get into the charm offensive, the gaslighting Olympics, and the moment everything cracked wide open—in a courtroom scene so chaotic it honestly feels scripted (it’s not).

Also… what happens after you reclaim your name?
Turns out: peace, Hawaii, painting, and quietly outliving your hater.

🍸 This episode pairs best with something strong and a healthy distrust of anyone who says “we’ll put your name on it later.”

🎬 Watch the movie

• Big Eyes on Amazon Prime Video
• Rent/Buy via Apple TV

🎨 Explore the real artist

• Keane Eyes Gallery (official works + prints)
• Smithsonian American Art Museum (artist background + context)

⚖️ Real-life drama (quick dive)

• Search: Keane vs. Keane court case (for the iconic “paint it in court” moment)

🎧 Follow + stalk (in a healthy way)

• IG/FB: @Artini

Host: IG/FB/TikTok: @KimberlyRatliffArt

www.KimberlyRatliffArt.com

In this episode, Kim & Tammy dive into the world of Banksy, the mysterious street artist who has taken the art world by storm! In this episode, we explore the captivating allure of Banksy's work, from his iconic graffiti to the hidden messages that challenge societal norms. Discover why Banksy's art is more than just paint on a wall—it's a movement that sparks conversation and inspires rebellion.

• Unraveling the mystery: Who is Banksy?
• The impact of anonymity on art and culture
• How Banksy's work challenges societal norms
• The rise of street art as a form of activism
• Exploring the genius behind Banksy's most famous pieces

Whether you're an art enthusiast or just curious about the man behind the spray can, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the world of outlaw art. Perfect for anyone looking to understand the deeper story behind every stencil and the radical act of creativity that is Banksy.

Banksy and the Rise of Outlaw Art: AppleTV

@KimberlyRatliffArt @TammyBruceArt

www.KimberlyRatliffArt.com

On this SOLO SHOT episode of Artini 🍸🎨, host Kim Ratliff jumps into the glittery, chaotic, sometimes head-scratching world of NFTs 🤯🖼️—inspired by Netflix’s documentary Minted 📺💥. From overnight crypto-fame 🚀 to the dramatic NFT cooldown ❄️📉, Kim spills the tea on how digital tokens flipped the art world upside down. She chats about big wins for artists 🌍✨, blockchain mysteries 🧩⛓️, and the not-so-fun stuff like authenticity drama 🕵️‍♀️ , “wait…what just happened?” moments, where NFTs stand now 🧐⏳ and whether they’re a revolutionary chapter in art history—or just a very expensive screenshot 🖱️😂. Cheers to art, tech, and a little digital chaos! 🥂💻🎉

Got an Artis to suggest? Let us know: [email protected]

Artini Music is registerd with Pixabay, free, legally allowed to use it. "Cheerful-electro-swing"

Socials: IG/FB @Artini

Watch us on Youtube (uploaded, when we figure that out!

www.KimberlyRatliffArt.com

Socials: IG/FB @KimberlyRatliffArt

Order of the Squirrels Podcast with Kim Ratliff and Rhea Yap

keywords NFTs, Minted, digital art, blockchain, art history, Kim Ratliff, art market, royalties, Christie's, Beeple

This episode is a Solo Shot with Kim Ratliff 🥃, diving into the endlessly fascinating life of Yayoi Kusama — the artist who turned childhood hallucinations, mental illness, and relentless obsession into one of the most recognizable visual languages in contemporary art. 🔴

From her traumatic upbringing in Japan, to her rise (and erasure) in 1960s New York, to her radical nude performances, anti-war protests, and deeply intimate relationship with artist Joseph Cornell, Kusama’s story is equal parts brilliance and survival.

I talk about:

• Her lifelong experiences with schizophrenia
• The Infinity Net paintings and obsession as therapy
• Why she left NYC and voluntarily lives in a psychiatric hospital today
• How she outlasted the art world that tried to ignore her

All while connecting the dots (yes, those dots 🔴) between art, control, and staying alive.

📺 Watch the documentary discussed in this episode:
Kusama: Infinity (2018) — available on Amazon Prime Video
👉 https://www.amazon.com/Kusama-Infinity-Yayoi/dp/B07C7K7V8F

Grab a drink, stare into the infinite void, and try not to dissolve completely. 🍹✨

Share your thoughts, questions or requests!

SHARE, Subscribe and like ArtiniPod with your art friends bc Sharing is caring! 🤗🌺

Buckle up, buttercup—we’re diving into the wild, surreal world of Salvador Dalí, the man who turned melting clocks into a lifestyle choice. From his eccentric childhood to his explosive rise in the Surrealist movement, we unpack the art, the ego, the mustache… and the muse who ruled his life, Gala. Expect dreams, drama, and a little delicious Dalí-level weirdness. 🥸✨

Whether he’s collaborating with Disney, stirring up Surrealist scandals, or painting the subconscious like it owes him money, Dalí delivers. And we’re here for every flamboyant second. 🌪️🍭

Book: "Steal Like and Artist"

Dali's Disney Animation

** He was also asked to do a sequence for Hichcock! We left that part out! Sooorryy! xoxo

Grab your tequila (or your paintbrush) — we’re diving headfirst into the kaleidoscope life of Frida Kahlo, the woman who turned heartbreak into high art and pain into pure magic.

In this episode, we sip and spill about Frida — both the Oscar-winning film with Salma Hayek and the Amazon Prime documentary that digs deep into the real Frida behind the flowers. Expect wild love stories, unapologetic self-portraits, monkeys in the house, communist cameos, and more tequila than a cantina at closing time.

We’ll talk about her explosive relationship with Diego Rivera (the ultimate “it’s complicated”), her fearless bisexuality, and how she made her suffering into something vibrant, political, and shockingly modern. Between her surreal self-portraits and that iconic brow that launched a thousand T-shirts, Frida reminds us what it means to live out loud.

So mix yourself something strong, settle into your favorite chair, and join us for a night of laughter, color, and chaos — because if Frida taught us anything, it’s that beauty doesn’t come from perfection… it comes from passion. 💋🎨🔥

Frida, the movie on Amazon Prime Video

Frida, the documentary on Amazon Prime Video

Cheerful-electro-swing from Pixabay, free

Got an Artis to suggest? Let us know: [email protected]

Artini Music is registerd with Pixabay, free, legally allowed to use it. "Cheerful-electro-swing"

Socials: IG/FB @Artini
Watch us on Youtube (uploaded, when we figure that out! ;-D

www.KimberlyRatliffArt Socials: @KimberlyRatliffArt
Order of the Squirrels Podcast with Kim Ratliff and Rhea Yap

www.TammyBruceArt.com Socials: @TammyBruceArt