Welcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists.

My guest today is Dennis Kardon. 

Dennis is a Brooklyn-based painter known for his influential work 49 Jewish Noses and his most recent solo shows at Lubov Gallery and Massimo De Carlo. He has exhibited widely in the US and abroad, received major career grants including a Guggenheim Fellowship, and written for top art publications such as Artforum, Artnet and Hyperallergic to name a few. 

I sat down with Dennis at his studio in the Brooklyn Navy Yards during a massive rain storm a couple months ago and we had a great conversation. Dennis talked about his studio routine, his approach to painting and decision-making. He discussed consistency, abstraction, learning from other artists and his writing practice. Then we talk favorite mediums, brushes and studio tools before Dennis shares some great advice for young artists.

I really enjoyed meeting Dennis, I think his paintings are great, his writing is great and I think this episode is great too. So kick back, relax and enjoy my conversation with Dennis Kardon in the rain.

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!
 
If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
insta: @isaac.mann

guest: Dennis Kardon
www.denniskardon.com
insta: @denniskardon

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music.

Welcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists.

This week on ARTMATTERS, we get back to our conversation with Brooklyn-based artists Krista Louise Smith and Elliot Purse. Like last time, this conversation explores their differing personalities, creative processes and the dynamics at play in the lives of a working artist couple. 

Today we discuss balancing introversion and extroversion, setting boundaries, maintaining focus, the emotional role of color, the importance of decisiveness and the imperative of mutual support.  

Krista Louise Smith has exhibited her work internationally in New York, Rome, Bucharest, and Seoul, with shows at CARVALHO PARK, Nicodim Gallery, and Half Gallery. Holding a BFA from OCAD University and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art, she has been awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) grant, the Ruth Katzman Prize, and is a three-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation for the Arts Grant. In August 2023, her practice was highlighted in Artnet News' “Up Next” by arts writer Katie White.

Elliot Purse’s art explores masculinity, cultural symbolism, and the body through charcoal and paint. Influenced by sports and pro-wrestling, he reinterprets male power, blending classical techniques with modern critique. With an MFA from The New York Academy of Art and a BFA from the University of Illinois, his work has appeared at the Norton Museum, the Flag Art Foundation, and the Spring Break Art Show.

Enjoy my conversation with Elliot Purse and Krista Louise Smith!

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!

If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
insta: @isaac.mann

guest 1: Krista Louise Smith
www.kristalouisesmith.com
insta: @kristalouisesmith

guest 2: Elliot Purse
www.elliotpurse.com
insta: @elliotpurse

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music. 

Welcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists.
This week on ARTMATTERS, I'm sending some belated Valentine’s love to all my listeners! In the spirit of the season, I spent my February 14th hanging out at the shared studio of artists Elliot Purse and Krista Louise Smith. It was the perfect way to mark the holiday, exploring the unique dynamics of working side by side with your spouse in the studio.

In this week’s conversation, we discuss studio schedules, collaboration, writing applications; dealing with creative blocks, impatience, studio meltdowns; personal boundaries, critique and feedback; and balancing art and personal life. I had a great time speaking with Elliot and Krista, And don’t worry—I wrapped up the conversation before I could ruin their dinner plans.

Elliot Purse’s art explores masculinity, cultural symbolism, and the body through charcoal and paint. Influenced by sports and pro-wrestling, he reinterprets male power, blending classical techniques with modern critique. With an MFA from The New York Academy of Art and a BFA from the University of Illinois, his work has appeared at the Norton Museum, the Flag Art Foundation, and the Spring Break Art Show.

Krista Louise Smith has exhibited her work internationally in New York, Rome, Bucharest, and Seoul, with shows at CARVALHO PARK, Nicodim Gallery, and Half Gallery. Holding a BFA from OCAD University and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art, she has been awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) grant, the Ruth Katzman Prize, and is a three-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation for the Arts Grant. In August 2023, her practice was highlighted in Artnet News' “Up Next” by arts writer Katie White.

Enjoy my conversation with Krista Louise Smith and Elliot Purse!

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!

If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
insta: @isaac.mann

guest 1: Krista Louise Smith
www.kristalouisesmith.com
insta: @kristalouisesmith

guest 2: Elliot Purse
www.elliotpurse.com
insta: @elliotpurse

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music. 

Welcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists.

Today we continue our conversation with Julie Harrison, a New York-based artist whose decades-long career has spanned drawing, photography, video, painting, and performance.

In this episode we discuss framing and exhibiting works on paper, the overlap between drawing and collage, overcoming creative blocks, exploring new tools, building community and the importance of art history. We also talk laziness, playing tricks with materials, and not waiting for perfection.
 
Harrison’s work has been exhibited at MoMA, the Museum of Arts & Design and the Neuberger Museum, with reviews in The New York Times, Hyperallergic, and The Village Voice. Harrison is a recipient of NEA and NYFA grants, she has published with Granary Books and held residencies at the Nordic Arts Center and Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Harrison also founded the Art & Technology B.A. program at Stevens Institute of Technology, where she taught for 18 years.

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!
 
If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
 insta: @isaac.mann

guest: Julie Harrison
www.julie-harrison.com
insta: @julie_harrison_nyc

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music. 

Welcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists.

This week, we’re joined by Julie Harrison, a New York-based artist whose decades-long career has spanned drawing, photography, video, painting, and performance.

In this episode we discuss Julie’s transition from grayscale to color and back again, her interest in scientific imagery, archiving and selecting reference materials, drawing techniques, early artistic influences and her career path. We also discuss her transition to painting in the 1980s, graduate school, the importance of mentorship and the intersection of challenge, doubt and curiousity at play behind her practice.

Julie’s work has been exhibited at MoMA, the Museum of Arts & Design and the Neuberger Museum, with reviews in The New York Times, Hyperallergic, and The Village Voice. Harrison is a recipient of NEA and NYFA grants, she has published with Granary Books and held residencies at the Nordic Arts Center and Cold Spring Harbor Lab. Harrison also founded the Art & Technology B.A. program at Stevens Institute of Technology, where she taught for 18 years.

Enjoy this conversation with the artist Julie Harrison.

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!
 
If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
insta: @isaac.mann

guest: Julie Harrison
www.julie-harrison.com
insta: @julie_harrison_nyc

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music. 

Welcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists.

On this week’s episode we are once again joined by the iconic painter Eric Fischl.

Eric Fischl is an internationally acclaimed American artist known for his profound influence on figurative art. Born in 1948 in New York City, Fischl’s work captures the uneasy undercurrents of American life. His journey through art education took him from Phoenix to California, where he earned his B.F.A., and later to Chicago and Nova Scotia for teaching and early exhibitions. Fischl's art, which explores the dichotomy between appearance and reality, has graced over a thousand publications and is housed in prestigious collections worldwide, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Musée Beaubourg. Beyond painting, Fischl has ventured into sculpture, drawing, and printmaking and collaborated with literary luminaries like E.L. Doctorow and Jamaica Kincaid. He also founded "America: Now and Here," a multidisciplinary project fostering dialogue about American identity. A Fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fischl resides in Sag Harbor, NY, with his wife, painter April Gornik.

In last week’s episode Eric and I discussed ideas of success and failure, Eric’s practice bridging painting and photography, the current state of the art market and his support for a return to regionalism.

Today we discuss the role of the artist, the universal vs the specific, artists from the past including Bonnard, Beckmann, Rodin and Lucien Freud, Eric discusses challenges in the studio and creative blocks, and his new series of work that utilizes VR technology.  

Enjoy the show.

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!
 
 If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
 insta: @isaac.mann

guest: Eric Fischl
www.ericfischl.com
insta: @fischlstudio 
 

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music. 

Welcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists.

Happy New Year! I’m thrilled to kick off 2025 with a milestone celebration of our 50th episode. I am also extremely excited to say this special episode features a great conversation with the iconic artist Eric Fischl.

Eric Fischl is an internationally acclaimed American artist known for his profound influence on figurative art. Born in 1948 in New York City, Fischl’s work captures the uneasy undercurrents of American life. His journey through art education took him from Phoenix to California, where he earned his B.F.A., and later to Chicago and Nova Scotia for teaching and early exhibitions. Fischl's art, which explores the dichotomy between appearance and reality, has graced over a thousand publications and is housed in prestigious collections worldwide, from The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Musée Beaubourg. Beyond painting, Fischl has ventured into sculpture, drawing, and printmaking and collaborated with literary luminaries like E.L. Doctorow and Jamaica Kincaid. He also founded "America: Now and Here," a multidisciplinary project fostering dialogue about American identity. A Fellow of both the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fischl resides in Sag Harbor, NY, with his wife, painter April Gornik.

In the first part of my two-part series with this legendary artist, we explore a fascinating range of topics. From Fischl's studio soundtrack—moving from youthful anthems to reflections on mortality—to the intricate dance between photography and painting, he shares how fleeting moments captured in photographs evolve into compelling works on canvas. The discussion touches on the challenges of maintaining creativity, the impact of early success, and the role of failure in art-making. We also delve into the shifting art market, from regionalism to global recognition, and Eric’s advocacy for a return to regional significance, where artists can find universal meaning through local context.

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!
 
If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
insta: @isaac.mann

guest: Eric Fischl
www.ericfischl.com
insta: @fischlstudio 

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music. 

🎉 Special Bonus Episode! 🎉

Welcome to episode 49.5 of ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists—a special teaser leading up to our milestone 50th episode!

We’ve got an incredible guest lined up for Episode 50, someone whose impact on contemporary art is legendary. I can’t wait for you to hear our conversation. Stick around until the end for a sneak peek—you might recognize the voice!

Episode Highlights:

• A sneak preview of Episode 50’s guest (any guesses?)
• Big news about new, limited-edition ARTMATTERS merch 🎁
• How you can - and should! - join our growing Patreon community for exclusive perks!

Thanks for being part of the ARTMATTERS family—your support means everything. Episode 50 drops January 2nd. Mark your calendars, and happy holidays!

👉 Support the Podcast: Join on Patreon
👉 Shop Merch: Click Here 


Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music. 

Welcome back to ARTMATTERS: The Podcast for Artists:

Today we conclude our 3-part conversation with the artist Jeff Way. Jeff has lived and worked in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood since 1969. Featured in the 1973 Whitney Biennial and a subsequent solo exhibition, Way’s work has been shown at institutions like the New Museum, the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston, and the ICA Philadelphia. His innovative Chalk Line Paintings, begun in the late 1960s, explore the grid through layered lines of raw pigment, a technique he revisits in his most recent Eccentric Squares series. Jeff’s solo exhibition, Then and Now: 1970 to 2024 opened earlier this year with Storage Gallery in New York and was featured in The New York Times and the Brooklyn Rail.

In this week’s episode, I talk with the Jeff about his journey through expectations and his artistic growth, favorite exhibitions and the importance of continuity, and the ways in which teaching often intersected with his practice. We also discuss  his advice for young artists and what makes a good critique.

Enjoy this conversation with the artist Jeff Way.

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!
 
If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
insta: @isaac.mann

guest: Jeff Way
www.jeffwayart.com
insta: @jeffwayart

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music. 

Today on the podcast we continue our conversation with Jeff Way, an artist who has lived and worked in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood since 1969. Featured in the 1973 Whitney Biennial and a subsequent solo exhibition there, Way’s work has been shown at institutions like the New Museum, the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston, and the ICA Philadelphia. His innovative Chalk Line Paintings, begun in the late 1960s, explore the grid through layered lines of raw pigment, a technique he revisits in his recent Eccentric Squares series. With works in major museum collections, including the Whitney and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Way continues to push the boundaries of color, form, and dimensionality.

In part two of my conversation with Jeff Way, we delve deeper into the influences and processes that have shaped his artistic career. Jeff reflects on the importance of community and collaboration, sharing how these connections have impacted his work over the years. We discuss his early successes, the confidence they inspired, and how he’s navigated both praise and criticism throughout his career. With thoughtful reflections on his legacy, Jeff offers a candid look at the highs and lows of a lifetime dedicated to art. 

You can now support this podcast by clicking HERE where you can donate using PATREON or PayPal!

If you're enjoying the podcast so far, please rate, review, subscribe and SHARE ON INSTAGRAM!
 
If you have an any questions you want answered, write in to [email protected]

host: Isaac Mann
www.isaacmann.com
insta: @isaac.mann

guest: Jeff Way
www.jeffwayart.com
insta: @jeffwayart

Thank you as always to ARRN, the Detroit-based artist and instrumentalist, for the music.