In Episode 73 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Leah Smithson. Leah Smithson is a Los Angeles-based artist using both traditional (paint, ceramic sculptures) and new media ( i.e. digital installations, virtual, augmented, and extended realities) to explore the human condition using portraits that mirror an emotional state or frame of mind, rather than the likeness of a person. She’s been interviewed and had her work featured in a variety of print and digital magazines including the LA Times. She's also exhibited throughout the US and abroad including the award-winning outdoor digital art exhibition Luminex, as well as collaborated with brands and tech giants, such as Apple, in public art installations.

Website Leah

Instagram

Tiktok

Twitter

In episode 72 of Art Talk, I will discuss a topic that is very relevant to art history as we have learned it: Turning A Blind Eye, for art lovers who visit museums, and recently also the Frans Hals exhibition in the National Gallery, and last but certainly not least for painters of portraits to think about.

Not talking about the presence of black people in paintings is a story that needs to be amended. That is telling the story of art through a lens that has ruled for a way to long time. Yes, art history was written mostly by men, men were artists, women were not allowed and we still see how those stories fill the brains of people. I believe we have to return to the sources and start rewriting a lot of art history to get the right view, and inclusiveness it needs. And for artists who paint portraits, Let’s paint the true stories because when you ignore the colour of someone's skin it is turning a blind eye. It is time to amend art history.

Ted Talk Titus Kaphar

Lecture Dr Patricia Simons

Contact Me

Please Consider Support for Art Talk At Patreon

In Episode 71 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Elizabeth Amisu, Academic, Author and Artist. We focus on her book The Dangerous Philosophies Of Michael Jackson, His Music, His Persona and His Artistic Afterlife. It was published 7 years ago, and we celebrate that milestone.

The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson is the first academic book that covers Michael Jackson’s art through his life from various perspectives. The book gives a portrait of the multifaceted artist Michael Jackson. Divided into three parts: ‘Art as Life’, ‘Life as Art’, and ‘Art beyond Life’, it covers Michael Jackson’s entire career. If anything, this book shows that Michael Jackson was an artist and entertainer and his work needs to be researched. In The Dangerous Philosophies, you will find connections to a wide variety of subjects and the author not only invites you to continue research with a specific subject but also gives lots of points and angles to start your own research.

Buy The Book Via

Bloomsbury

Amazon

Website Elizabeth

Contact Me

Please Consider Supporting Me on Patreon

In Episode 70 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with artist Amy Jobes. Amy is an artist who paints 'imaginary' impressionistic landscapes inspired by the nature she lives in. She is currently also one of the artist mentors of the VAA (Visual Artists Association).

Website Amy

Instagram Amy

YouTube Amy

Contact Me

Consider supporting Art Talk at Patreon

In Episode 69 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Maggie Sloan. Margaret (Maggie) is a painter who has, as she once told me, a love relationship with watercolour. She is a painter who paints nature and with that brings nature back into your home to create a form of calm and reconnection.

Website Art

Website Writings

Instagram

Facebook

Please consider supporting Art Talk on Patreon

In Episode 68 of Art Talk, I am analysing the Isms.

A few months ago, I was kind of attacked by an Instagram follower because I expressed my thoughts about a certain artwork that I did not find as compelling or ’good’ as everyone else was singing their glory over. I had my reasons.

It occurred to me that the person had very little knowledge about art or its history and just blurted something out that she had heard. 'Learn a bit about German Expressionism deary’ was her reply. I explained to her what it meant but it was to deaf ears. Apparently, I wasn’t allowed to express what my thoughts were, I had to blindly follow the majority who were clearly brainwashed by everyone saying it was refreshing, brilliant and extremely well done.

I decided to dedicate an episode of Art Talk to the isms because that is what the discussion was about and started with. As an art historian, I had to dive into the isms or the classification system that puts art into a confined area to make it easier for art historians to write about the arts. Artists were always leading, and the labels they got were not positive to begin with. In short, the labels, later isms had a very negative connotation to start with. My question was why would artists label themselves to start with?

I decided to dedicate an episode of Art Talk to the ism’s, because that is what the discussion was about and started with. As art historian, I had to dive into the ism’s or the classification system that puts art into a confined area to make it easier for art historians to write about the arts. Artists were always leading, and the labels they got were not positive to begin with. In short, the labels, later ism’s had a very negative connotation to start with.

In Episode 67 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Susan Hensel. Susan is a multidisciplinary artist, with a 50+ year career. Susan received her BFA from the University of Michigan with a double major in painting and sculpture and a concentration in ceramics. She combines a mixed media practice with embroidery across digital and manual platforms. She also makes sculptures and wall art using the colours and techniques of commercial embroidery. These artworks are designed on the computer and stitched out on the computer-aided embroidery machine.

She has a history, to date, of more than 300 exhibitions, 35 of them solo, twenty + garnering awards. In the coming two years, Susan has solo and 2-person and group exhibitions scheduled in Ellicot, MD; Bloomington, MN; Hopkins, MN; Duluth, MN and the Garrett Museum of Art, Garrett, Indiana. In recent years Hensel has been awarded multiple grants and residencies through the Jerome Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, Art to Change the World and Ragdale Foundation.

Apart from her own studio she also has a gallery.The focus of the Susan Hensel Gallery is on compelling objects, meaningful use of materials, and engaging sculpture. It is a gallery where experimental ideas and works of the hand join to create unique sensory experiences. Susan Hensel Gallery is a gallery/ workspace that presents 5-6 shows per year in an intimate space. The gallery is represented on Artsy.net.

https://susanhenselprojects.com/

https://susanhenselgallery.com/

https://youtube.com/@susanhensel1

https://www.facebook.com/SusanHenselProjects

In Episode 66 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Tammy Walters. Tammy Walters is a British Modern Contemporary Artist based in the heart of Lancashire UK. She is best recognised for her bold and illustrative equine and animal paintings. Her artistic development is deeply influenced by her passion for animals and her strong relationship with her family and her love of music. She is Influenced by artists Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Alphonse Mucha and Gustav Klimt and her love for Quentin Blake and his wonderfully whimsical illustrations.

Website

Instagram Fine Art

Instagram Illustrations

Facebook Page

Facebook Personal

Support Art Talk on Patreon

Contact Me

As you probably know, the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam had an exhibition about Vermeer. It had a huge press, marketing was full-stop on it, and tickets were sold out before the doors opened. So, Let’s Talk Vermeer!

In this episode, I want to discuss the documentary I have watched: Close To Vermeer and propose a way we might look at Vermeer’s art. With all the tech available, how deep should we go and demystify the mystic? In other words, if an old 'master' is declared a 'genius' when demystifying his methods, should it still give him that label of genius?

Then I will also discuss the discrepancy between his early works and later work that made him famous and the attribution of a painting; still up for discussion? These are discussions that art historians like, obviously, but often end in an endless yes, because, no because, or the expert, the expert decides it is not real or is real. Obviously, artists in that time and even before that were not even remotely thinking about something as copyright. Masters frequently used work from their fellow artists if someone commissioned them and pointed to a painting they liked and wanted themselves placed into it. Copyright is a very modern invention, rightfully so, btw. It has also to do with the values added to an artist and a work and that is what for many it is all about. The discussion is interesting for art historians, but not necessary if we do what I will discuss later.

Patreon

Instagram

Facebook

Contact Me

In episode 64 of Art Talk, I like to ponder on the psychology of collecting art. I am an Art Historian and a portrait artist, trained in drawing and painting life. Portraits are still very much wanted, but in my research I found different subjects like abstract, still life, cityscapes, digital art etc. striving for popularity. I wondered what the psychology of collecting art is and if that is topic-related or something else. Why do people collect art?

Enjoy Art Talk? Please consider support on Patreon

Instagram

Facebook

Contact Me