In this raw, honest, and deeply inspiring episode, I sit down with Ricky K. Meyer who is a fine artist, muralist, art teacher, and Army Veteran whose creative life is as layered and textured as what he paints. From childhood cartoons to oil painting portraits, from military service to thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Ricky's path to art has been anything but ordinary and that's exactly what makes his work so alive.

Whether he's capturing the human experience in expressive watercolor illustrations, working in the traditional depth of oil portraits, or transforming entire walls into monumental works through his mural collaboration Beautifully Savage, Ricky brings equal parts spontaneity and intention to everything he creates. He teaches, he prints, he commissions, and he leads an urban sketching group, all fueled by a singular dedication to art as a way of seeing and being seen.

Ricky K. Meyer is the rare artist who makes things beautiful in every dimension, on canvas, on walls, and in the lives of the students he teaches.

In this conversation, Ricky invites us into:- His art journey as a professional artist- How his time as an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker shaped his artistic eye and creative resilience- The founding of Beautifully Savage, his mural and art installation co-collaborater with scenic designer David Utley- What it's like to work at large scale, with completed murals- His approach to teaching from workshops and studio classes to leading Durham Arts Council drawing sessions and an urban sketching group- How he balances multiple creative lanes in fine art, prints, commissions, markets, murals, and education, all without losing the thread

Ricky's story is a powerful reminder that art isn't just something you make, it's something you live, teach, and leave on the walls of the world.

Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more inspiring conversations with artists who share their creative journeys and the stories behind their work.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.comYour support helps amplify these essential creative voices.

Connect with Ricky K. Meyer: Website – www.richardkmeyer.com Beautifully Savage Murals – www.richardkmeyer.com/beautifully-savage-murals Instagram – @evictus1989 | @beautifullysavagemurals2025 Facebook – Richard K. Meyer

Host April Paige: Website – www.AprilPaige.com Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art Email – [email protected] Facebook – April Paige Fine Art YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA Call/Text – 941-586-6550

#ArtistAnticsWithApril #RickyKMeyer #MuralistArtist #BeautifullySavage #FineArtist #ArtTeacher #MuralArt #WatercolorArt #OilPainting #VeteranArtist #DurhamArts #NorthCarolinaArtist #CreativeProcess #CreativeConversations #ArtistsOnYouTube #richardkmeyer #richardkrismeyer

In this vibrant and wide-ranging episode, we sit down with the remarkable Alyssa Noble — dance artist, choreographer, arts marketing consultant, and community builder whose work is as multidimensional as the stages she's graced. Based in Durham, NC, Alyssa has spent over a decade weaving together movement, storytelling, and community advocacy into a creative life that refuses to be contained by a single title.From evening-length dance productions to founding her own marketing consultancy, Alyssa brings the same core belief to everything she does: that art, community, and authentic connection are not separate pursuits, they are the same work, expressed differently. Whether she's choreographing a performance, producing RECITAL's annual joy-centered variety show, or helping a small business finally feel seen online, Alyssa shows up with strategy, soul, and an unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion.Alyssa Noble is proof that when artists bring their full selves to the work, on stage and off, entire communities are transformed.In this conversation, Alyssa invites us into:Her journey as a dance artist and what drew her to movement as her first creative languageThe founding of A&A Dance Company and what collaborative choreography has taught herRECITAL the annual joy-centered variety show she co-produces for working artists in Durham, and why it mattersHow her background in journalism and the arts fuels her approach to marketing and digital storytellingWhy she founded A. Noble Creative Solutions in 2023 and what it means to champion artist through marketingHer philosophy of impact-focused, inclusive community building Alyssa's story is a powerful reminder that the most meaningful creative work happens when we build for each other and not just for ourselves.If you're local to Durham, go out and see RECITAL on November 1st. Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more inspiring conversations with artists who share their creative journeys and the stories behind their work.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.comYour support helps amplify these essential creative voices.🖼️ Connect with Alyssa Noble:🌐 Dance Website – www.alyssanobledance.com🌐 Marketing Website – www.anoblecreativesolutions.comRECITAL Durham Website - recitaldurham.com 📸 Instagram – @ascho3 | @RECITAL_Durham | @aandadanceco🎙️ Host April Paige:🌐 Website – www.AprilPaige.com📸 Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art📧 Email – [email protected]📘 Facebook – April Paige Fine Art▶️ YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA📱 Call/Text – 941-586-6550#ArtistAnticsWithApril #AlyssaNoble #DanceArtist #Choreographer #CommunityBuilder #ArtsMarketing #DurhamArts #IndependentArtists #RECITAL #ArtAndCommunity #WomenInDance #CreativeEntrepreneur #ArtistWelfare #CreativeConversations #TriangleArts

In this grounded, forward-thinking, and genuinely refreshing episode, I sit down with Malique Booker, a real estate professional, entrepreneur, and founder of GroupLoop. We discussed his platform that is built on one powerfully simple idea: people want to connect, but life keeps getting in the way. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Malique brings over 15 years of sales and relationship-driven experience to everything he builds and what he builds always starts with people first.Malique isn't just a businessman, he's a creative thinker who sees opportunity where others see obstacles. From navigating the intersection of business and personal relationships to rethinking how technology can support real-life community rather than replace it, his approach is hands-on, human-centered, and deeply intentional. GroupLoop isn't just a product, it's a living experiment in human behavior, design, and what it actually takes to get people to show up for each other.💡 Malique Booker is building something rare, a life and a business where clarity, creativity, and community are not just goals, but the foundation.In this conversation, Malique invites us into:His journey from real estate and sales to founding a tech platform rooted in human connectionThe origin story of GroupLoop, what he observed, what frustrated him, and what made him believe there was a better wayHow small design decisions can determine whether people follow through or fall off and what that teaches us about human behaviorThe creative process behind building a product in real time with testing, adjusting, and learning directly from the people using itHow business and personal relationships overlap, and what he's learned about navigating both with integrityHis mindset around money, opportunity, and thinking differently to open doors most people don't realize are there✨ Malique's perspective is a powerful reminder that the most creative act isn't always making art but sometimes it's building a life that feels intentional from the inside out.👇 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more inspiring conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives who share their journeys and the stories behind their work.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.comYour support helps amplify these essential creative voices.🔗 Connect with Malique Booker:🌐 GroupLoop – Available in the App Store📸 Instagram: @maliquebooker🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malique-booker-577aa72b/🎙️ Host April Paige:🌐 Website – www.AprilPaigeFineArt.com📸 Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art📧 Email – [email protected]📘 Facebook – April Paige Fine Art▶️ YouTube – April Paige Fine Art📱 Call/Text – 941-586-6550#ArtistAnticsWithApril #MaliqueBooker #GroupLoop #EntrepreneurMindset #CommunityBuilder #TechForGood #RealEstateEntrepreneur #HumanConnection #MindsetAndMoney #IntentionalLiving #CreativeEntrepreneur #RaleighNC #BuildingCommunity #CreativeConversations #ThinkDifferently

In this insightful and passion-filled episode, I sit down with modern quilter Charles Cameron, whose background in engineering brings a distinct, structural sensibility to the world of quilting. Charles's work lives at the intersection of precision, whimsy, and craft, where analytical thinking and artistic instinct meet on the same cutting mat.For Charles, quilting isn't just fabric and thread, it's a system: a study in color value, proportion, and the quiet math that makes a design work before a single stitch goes in. He brings an engineer's eye to a maker's craft, treating every quilt as both a creative expression and a problem to be solved.Whether he's balancing color values across a pattern or finding the right tool for the job, his process is deliberate and endlessly curious. He reminds us that creativity doesn't require choosing between logic and intuition, it often lives exactly where the two overlap.🧵 Charles's approach to quilting is a powerful reflection of what happens when a technical mind meets a tactile art form, and what's possible when you stop separating the two.In this conversation, Charles invites us into:The unexpected crossover between engineering and quilting, and how one discipline sharpened the otherHow he thinks about color value and why it's foundational to strong quilt designThe tools of the trade he relies on, and how the right tools change what's possibleLocal quilting groups and guilds worth getting involved with, and why community matters in a craft like this✨ Charles's perspective is a beautiful reminder that creativity often finds you through the discipline you already know, and that curiosity is what turns a technical skill into an art form.👇 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more inspiring conversations with artists who share their creative journeys and the stories behind their work.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.comYour support helps amplify these essential creative voices.🖼️ Connect with Charles:📸 Instagram: @feltlikesweetsEmail [email protected] 🎙️ Host April Paige:🌐 Website – www.AprilPaige.com📸 Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art📧 Email – [email protected]📘 Facebook – April Paige Fine Art▶️ YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA📱 Call/Text – 941-586-6550#ArtistAnticsWithApril #Charles Cameron #FeltLikeSweets #ModernQuilting #QuiltingJourney #QuiltEducator #EngineeringMeetsArt #CreativeProcess #QuiltersOfInstagram #ArtAndCraft #ArtistsOnYouTube #InspirationAndArt

In this interesting and passion-filled episode, I sit down with the multi-talented Dee Bushrod, an international quilter, educator, and speaker whose work transforms photographs into striking, pixel-based quilt designs. Dee's art is rooted in craft turned obsession, drawing from 18+ years of quilting, a self-taught beginning on a secondhand sewing machine, and a discovery that would change the direction of her creative life: the pixel quilt.For Dee, quilting isn't just about stitching fabric, it's about translating an image, a memory, or a face into something tactile and lasting. She is inspired by bold, brave, inspirational public figures of all sorts. Billie Elish, Post Malone, Sinead O'cconor, Amy Winehouse, and more. Whether she's designing a custom pattern from a cherished photo or piecing together her next striking creation, her process is meticulous and joyful. She reminds us that creativity can be both focus and momentum, a way to fully show up in the present.🧵 Dee's approach to quilting is a powerful reflection of what it means to find your specific passion within a craft, and then go all in.In this conversation, Dee invites us into:Her journey as a quilter, from teaching herself to sew for her daughter to becoming internationally known for pixel quiltsThe stories behind her famous quiltsThe free and paid tools she uses to turn an ordinary photo into a pixel quilt patternWhat it's like teaching and speaking to quilt guilds worldwide✨ Dee's perspective is a beautiful reminder that creativity often finds us through the thing we least expect and that staying curious is what turns a hobby into a calling.👇 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more inspiring conversations with artists who share their creative journeys and the stories behind their work.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.comYour support helps amplify these essential creative voices.🖼️ Connect with Dee:🌐 Website: pixelquilts.com📸 Instagram: @pixelquilt📘 Facebook: Pixel Quilt🎵 TikTok: @pixelquilt🎙️ Host April Paige:🌐 Website – www.AprilPaige.com📸 Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art📧 Email – [email protected]📘 Facebook – April Paige Fine Art▶️ YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA📱 Call/Text – 941-586-6550#ArtistAnticsWithApril #PixelQuilts #QuiltingJourney #ModernQuilting #QuiltEducator #CreativeProcess #QuiltersOfInstagram #WomenInCraft #ArtAndCraft #ArtistsOnYouTube #InspirationAndArt

In this rich and rooted episode, we sit down with the multi-disciplinary artist Ana Carolina Hurant, a visual artist whose work weaves together encaustic painting, cyanotype printmaking, and botanical drawing to explore identity, land, and lineage. Carolina's art is very grounded, drawing from her South American heritage, her relationship to the natural world, and a deep curiosity about what plants carry of culture, memory, and belonging.For Carolina, art-making isn't just about technique, it's about excavating the layered histories that shape how we see ourselves. Whether she's building up and scraping back wax in her encaustic pieces or capturing the impression of a leaf through sunlight in a cyanotype, her process is physical, intuitive, and deeply tied to place. She reminds us that creativity can be a form of land stewardship, a way of honoring what sustains us.🌿 Carolina's approach to art is a powerful reflection of what it means to hold two cultures and two roles, mother and artist, that have become part of her work.In this conversation, Carolina invites us into:Her journey as a botanical and encaustic artist and how her South American roots shape her sound as a visual storytellerThe role of land, plants, and indigenous heritage in her creative processThe tactile, process-heavy materials, including wax, resin, light-sensitive iron salts, that bring her work to lifeHow motherhood and identity intertwine with her art✨ Carolina's perspective is a beautiful reminder that art thrives when we let our histories, our hands, and our environment shape what we make.👇 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more inspiring conversations with artists who share their creative journeys and the stories behind their work.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.comYour support helps amplify these essential creative voices.🖼️ Connect with Ana Carolina Hurant:🌐 Website: www.artbyanacarolinahurant.com📸 Instagram: @carolinagrl306📧 [email protected]🎙️ Host April Paige:🌐 Website – www.AprilPaige.com📸 Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art📧 Email – [email protected]📘 Facebook – April Paige Fine Art▶️ YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA📱 Call/Text – 941-586-6550#ArtistAnticsWithApril #AnaCarolinaHurant #EncausticArt #BotanicalArt #Cyanotype #LandAndIdentity #IndigenousHeritage #WomenInArt #MixedMediaArtist #CreativeProcess #ArtAndMotherhood #ArtistsOnYouTube #InspirationAndArt

In this rich and revelatory episode, I sit down with the extraordinary Sara Koenig, a mixed-media visual artist whose layered works weave together history, photography, text, and abstraction into something that feels both ancient and deeply personal. Sara's creative process is as textured as the works themselves, rooted in curiosity, memory, and an unwavering belief in the power of shared human story.For Sara, making art isn't separate from living, t's a tactile diary, a space where vulnerability becomes visual and history becomes something you can touch. From digitally altering open-domain imagery to building depth through paint, monoprints, rice paper, and found objects, her process is one of continuous excavation and renewal. And remarkably, she brings this same depth of presence to her work as a physician specializing in addiction and mental health in Cary, NC, a healer in every sense of the word.🎨 Sara's art is a living archive of human experience: layered, honest, and unflinchingly alive.In this conversation, Sara invites us into:Her journey as a mixed-media artist and what drives her layered visual languageHow a childhood steeped in books, art, and curiosity shaped the way she sees and createsHer materials and process, from wood and large-scale canvas to inks, mulberry or rice paper, and found objectsThe intersection of medicine, mental health, and making art as a form of renewalHow themes of memory, narrative, and vulnerability live inside every piece she creates✨ Sara's perspective is a profound reminder that art is not decoration, it is documentation, excavation, and transformation all at once.👇 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more inspiring conversations with artists who share their creative journeys and the stories behind their work.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.com Your support helps amplify these essential creative voices.Connect with Sara Koenig: 🌐 Website: https://sarakoenigart.com/📸 Instagram: @sarakoenigartist🎙️ Host April Paige: 🌐 Website – www.AprilPaige.com 📸 Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art 📧 Email – [email protected] 📘 Facebook – April Paige Fine Art ▶️ YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA 📱 Call/Text – 941-586-6550#ArtistAnticsWithApril #SaraKoenig #MixedMediaArt #LayeredArt #MemoryAndArt #ArtAndHealing #WomenArtists #ContemporaryArt #AbstractArt #CreativeProcess #ArtistsOnYouTube #MixedMedia #ArtAndStory #CreativeConversations #AuthenticCreativity

In this rich and multifaceted episode of 'Artist Antics with April', I sit down with writer, poet, artist, and music collaborator Steven Finn—a creative whose work spans literature, sound, and visual art.

A native of Rochester, New York, Steven’s journey has taken him across the country, from Virginia to California, Texas, and now North Carolina. All shaping a body of work rooted in movement, connection, and lived experience. His creative voice flows through poetry collections, collaborative music projects, and visual art exhibitions, reflecting a deep curiosity about human expression in all its forms.

Steven’s work explores rhythm and storytelling across mediums, whether through the written word, lyrical contributions, or artistic collaboration.

In this conversation, Steven shares:• His journey as an author of poetry collections like 'Connections and Connecting in Alaska: Excerpts from the Last Frontier'• How storytelling evolves across poetry, music, and visual art• His experience contributing to projects like 'Stories in the Key of Erotica'• His work in the music world, including collaborations on hip hop and R&B projects such as Sir Los: B-Side Project, My Affiliates The Entourage, and Madame J: Platinum Pearls• His perspective on creative versatility and staying open across disciplines, as well as helping others when he can

Steven’s perspective is a reminder that creativity doesn’t live in just one lane, it expands, adapts, and connects through every medium we’re willing to explore.

Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more inspiring conversations with artists sharing their creative journeys and the stories behind their work.

Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.comYour support helps amplify these essential creative voices.

Connect with Steven Finn: Email - [email protected]

Host April Paige: Website – www.AprilPaige.com Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art Email – [email protected] Facebook – April Paige Fine Art YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA Call/Text – 941-586-6550

#ArtistAnticsWithApril #StevenFinn #PoetryAndMusic #CreativeWriting #PoetLife #MultiDisciplinaryArtist #HipHopCollaborations #RNBMusic #ArtAndStorytelling #CreativeJourney #ArtistsOnYouTube #CreativeConversations

In this inspiring and down-to-earth episode, we sit down with Sheetrock Artist, John Olexa—an artist whose creativity transforms ordinary walls into bold visual statements. With nearly 20 years of experience in sheetrock artistry, Jon has built a unique path that blends craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and a relentless drive for personal growth.Based in the Raleigh area and a father of four adult children, John brings both life experience and creative passion into everything he does. While working full-time as a supervisor for a patient chart retrieval company, he continues pursuing his artistic vision and entrepreneurial goals on the side—proving that creativity and ambition can coexist in powerful ways.Beyond his artistry, John is deeply committed to education and self-development. He has earned licenses in Life & Securities and is currently completing coursework from all eight Ivy League schools, with only two remaining. His journey is a testament to perseverance, curiosity, and the belief that it’s never too late to keep learning and evolving.🎨 John’s ultimate goal is to bring his artwork to the world on a larger scale—creating custom company logos on walls and becoming an “Artist of the Stars” within the world of interior design.In this conversation, John shares:• How he discovered and developed his passion for sheetrock artistry• The balance between working a full-time job and pursuing entrepreneurship• His commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth• The vision behind turning walls into large-scale artistic experiences• His dreams of working with high-profile clients and interior designers✨ John’s story is a reminder that creativity can thrive in unexpected places—and that dedication, discipline, and vision can turn even unconventional art forms into something extraordinary.👇 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more inspiring conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives sharing the stories behind their journeys.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.comYour support helps amplify these essential creative voices.🖼️ Connect with John Olexa:📧 Email - [email protected]🌐 Website – https://blinq.me/wt9Pah9mJVKaDB00um8B🎙️ Host April Paige:🌐 Website – www.AprilPaige.com📸 Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art📧 Email – [email protected]📘 Facebook – April Paige Fine Art▶️ YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA#ArtistAnticsWithApril #JohnOlexa #SheetRockArt #InteriorDesignArtist #CreativeJourney #EntrepreneurMindset #WallArt #CustomArt #ArtistsOnYouTube #CreativeConversations #RaleighArtists #ArtAndDesign #ModernArtistry #ArtisticEntrepreneur #CreativeInspiration

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Kevin Crispin—an actor, speaker, and advocate whose work lives at the intersection of storytelling, mental health, and human connection. With a background that spans both the arts and the corporate world, Kevin brings a rare and powerful perspective to conversations that truly matter.Originally from Monticello, Illinois, and a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a degree in theatre, Kevin’s journey has taken him from the stage to leadership roles in business—including positions as a customer support manager, global project manager, senior operations manager, and chief of staff for a national veterinary company. But beneath the titles and achievements lies a deeper calling.Inspired by a transformative peer counseling retreat in high school, Kevin found his voice not just as a performer—but as a speaker dedicated to creating space for honesty, healing, and understanding.Through his lived experiences with anxiety, OCD, and depression, Kevin brings authenticity and vulnerability to every room he enters. His work explores how mental health shows up in the workplace—and how we can begin to navigate it with empathy, grace, and courage. As the creator of the HEALING THE WRIST presentation, Kevin uses storytelling and metaphor to break down complex emotional experiences, inviting audiences to not only understand anxiety—but to feel seen within it. He continues this important dialogue through his podcast, Behind Beautiful Things, where deeper conversations unfold around the human experience and what it means to truly show up for ourselves and others.In this conversation, Kevin invites us into:- The journey from theatre to corporate leadership to public speaking- How personal mental health experiences shaped his purpose- What anxiety can look like beneath the surface- The role of storytelling in building empathy and connection- And the powerful question we all must ask: Can I be that person of grace and kindness? Kevin Crispin reminds us that vulnerability is not weakness—it’s a bridge. A bridge to understanding, to compassion, and to a more human-centered world. Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to hear more meaningful conversations with creatives and thought leaders who are shaping culture from the inside out.Support the channel – https://pay.artistanticswithapril.com. Your support helps amplify these important voices. Connect with Kevin Crispin:https://www.kevincrispin.com/Podcast Website: www.sadtimespodcast.comApple Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/behind-beautiful-things/id1476330255Spotify Podcast Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/1NO6loAXghvNbTscrRP39b?si=dxjVVSCvSdKfu_sACuUm6gAmazon Music Podcast Link: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/541a1196-6628-4ea7-b2ea-1af1fc249fd8/behind-beautiful-things?ref=dm_sh_e6lYgADBQDgRYhsnSPddECCAGInstagram: @behindbeautifulthingspodcast Host April Paige: Website – www.AprilPaige.com Instagram – @april_paige_fine_art Email – [email protected] Facebook – April Paige Fine Art YouTube – @AprilPaige-AAWA Call/Text – 941-586-6550#ArtistAnticsWithApril #KevinCrispin #MentalHealthMatters #HealingThroughStory#AnxietyAwareness #OCDSupport #DepressionRecovery #CreativeVoices#EmpathyInAction #KindnessMatters #SpeakersOfYouTube #ArtistsInConversation