Creative Perspectives Podcast

Part 1 of my interview with renowned painter Hash Akib.  Widely known for his bold brushstrokes, striking compositions and wonderful use of colour and light, it was a real pleasure to sit down and talk all things art.

Don't be fooled by Hash's down to earth and softly spoken demeanour, he is full of passion for art, creativity and painting. He has carved out a unique path driven by his love of art, as well as at many points going with the path less travelled (hence "the quiet rebel")

We get stuck into a wide range of topics, and Hash's approach and perspective is enlightening and fascinating. Amongst many things we discuss

• Hash's story and path to professional painter
• How he started painting with his immediate and fast approach
• Bold brushstrokes, strong colour
• His current business model and how it's evolved
• Finding confidence and a voice as an artist, and leaving other peoples opinions at the studio door
• The role of social media vs real world
• Developing a style the joys and pitfalls.
• Staying engaged with your work and inspired to keep painting. Staying passionate
• Influence versus derivative
• Process of painting and creativity. Finding a clear message and editing out the excess noise 

You can find Hash at all the links below:

HashAkib.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/hashpaints/

https://www.facebook.com/hashpaints/

Painting Portraits in Acrylics Book

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This is what I have found to be true in my experience. It may not resonate with everyone but I hope it may help some people and shed a little light on these areas.

Another short one, taken from the series of advice points I gave to a young artist just starting out.

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I interview painter, Peter Keegan, who's passion for painting, art and community are totally infectious and up lifting.  Peter is not only a fantastic painter, but also runs (with wife Kim) the Courtyard Art Studio in Bucks.

We talk about Peter's road to where he is now. How he has carved out his path as an artist, from a youngster who clearly had a little something extra to internationally renowned tutor, sought after portrait artist and art school owner.

We cover a lot in this episode:

• The passion for portraiture and painterly approach that is born out of the challenge
• Building a thick skin as a working artist
• Looking back at pivotal moments in his career and the little seeds that are slowly growing great oaks!
• Creating opportunities and grabbing them fully
• Working from life
• How style develops
• Turning comparison into a positive creative curiosity and how to bring this into your own work
• Saying yes, working out how after
• Encouraging, supporting and teaching others, why its so important
• Oil painting materials and process
• Running a creative business and the joy and freedom that can bring
• Now dwelling on the past and learning to keep moving forward
• The importance of art community and connecting with like minded people
• Taking creative risks

You can find Peter at all the links below:

http://www.peterkeegan.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PeterKeeganArtist/

https://www.instagram.com/peterkeeganartist/

https://www.askanartistpodcast.com/

https://www.thecourtyardartstudio.com/

Find me at:

www.tomshepherdart.com

instagram.com/tomshepherdartist

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Another super inspiring and very interesting guest. Helen's story is one of commitment, persistence, overcoming adversity and turning a very negative experience into a hugely positive one.

Helen has a wonderful attitude of exploration, creativity and remaining open to life's opportunities. For me this has a allowed her to carve out a unique path, that has now lead to Living Liberte.  Born out of a previous abusive relationships, Living Liberte is a Social Enterprise that is educating young people on how to create healthy and happy relationships, of any sort.  

Amongst many topics we discuss:

• Making a big life shift, letting go to move forward
• Finding a new purpose
• Persistence and commitment whilst allowing freedom to explore your passions and see where they lead
• Creating space emotionally and mentally and what can happen when you do
• Being open
• Creative exploration and learning, and how this can affect your life
• The nature of abusive relationships
• How they can affect you, how to find your way through them
• Helen's own journey through this and how Living Liberte was born!

A wonderful episode that I know will uplift and inspire!

You can find Helen and Living Liberte at the links below:

living-liberte.com

Facebook/livingliberte

Instagram/LivingLiberte

Twitter/LivingLiberte

Find me at:

www.tomshepherdart.com

instagram.com/tomshepherdartist

www.patreon.com/TomShepherdArt

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In this episode I talk about my own experiences & struggles with mental health, what my triggers are, how I deal with it and how my painting and my art has had a hugely positive impact on all these things!!

I also invite fellow artists, Alicia the DawgPainter & Martin Aveling, to write some words about their own experiences with mental health and the role art has played for them.

Both artists give very different, but equally insightful and thought provoking angle on this topic!  

My co-host Peter also gives wonderful insight into the topic, coming from a more scientific point of view but also as someone who has helped many people through his teachings of meditation and dealing with stress.

You can find Alicia at the links below:

Instagram/DawgPainter

DawgArt Website

You can find Martin here:

Instagram/AvelingArtworks

Aveling Artworks Website

Find Peter at:

Activated Chi Meditation

Welcombe Radio:

You can find Welcombe Radio at the link below. Please check it out and show some support on the Facebook Page. The Art Show is 11 - 12 every Saturday morning (UK time)

Welcombe Radio Website - listen here

Find me at:

www.tomshepherdart.com

instagram.com/tomshepherdartist

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Part 2 of a fantastic inspiring interview with Emily Lamb.  

We cover loads of topics about life as an artist.  In particular Em's more nomadic lifestyle and using art to be of service to the world in some way, as well as:

• Activism, conservation and what it means to be vegan in this day and age
• Artistic obsession and pursuits
• Going beyond technical painting
• Finding a balance of technical and creative
• The importance of sketchbooks
• Moving towards working from sketches more, and photos less
• The care free, "fuck it space"
• Breaking down barriers and leaning into challenges

You can find Em's work below:

EmilyLamb.co.uk

Instagram.com/EmilyLamb_art

Find me at:

www.tomshepherdart.com

instagram.com/tomshepherdartist

www.patreon.com/TomShepherdArt

YouTube - TomShepherd Art

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My monthly slot on Welcombe Radio's Saturday morning Art show.

A simple question. "What I should I paint?" 

Not such a simple answer!  On this show I talk about the various ways in which we can find inspiration as we move forward with our painting.

You can find Welcombe Radio at the link below. Please check it out and show some support on the Facebook Page. The Art Show is 11 - 12 every Saturday morning (UK time)

Welcombe Radio Website - listen here

Find me at:

www.tomshepherdart.com

instagram.com/tomshepherdartist

www.patreon.com/TomShepherdArt

YouTube - TomShepherd Art

facebook.com/TomShepherdArt/

Great to get a very different perspective on the current art market from successful Gallery Owner, Mark Hatwood

Mark owns a booming Art Business down in Cornwall, UK, in the form of the Harbour Gallery. As well as other businesses British Contemporary.Art and ArtRehome.com

This interview if full of fantastic advice for any artist looking to sell work, especially online and through galleries.

In this episode, we cover:

• Mark's journey to gallery owner and approaches to success
• Social Media, website and selling online
• State & direction of growth of the current Art Market
• The importance of good working relationships & partnerships
• Why go with a gallery?
• What to expect from a good gallery
• As the artist, you're the one who gets to choose how you are treated
• Percentages - what & why?
• How to think about pricing
• Simple approaches of trust and respect, in all aspects of art business and partnerships

Mark has a wonderful book out called "The Artist's Handbook" Guide to Galleries and Digital Promotion, available on Amazon at the link below.

Amazon.co.uk/ArtistsHandbook

Find Mark here:

Hatwood.com

The Harbour Gallery

BritishContemporary.Art

ArtRehome.com

Find me at:

www.tomshepherdart.com

instagram.com/tomshepherdartist

www.patreon.com/TomShepherdArt

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Interview with artist and art marketing expert, Andrea Kendall. Creator of Spark "Your Art". A website and resource to help artists, of all kinds, to get inspired and to tackle the often stressful area of marketing.

A very inspiring and hugely informative episode for all artists! Amongst many, many topics we discuss:

• Finding your voice as an artist
• Self confidence and feeling your work has value
• The importance of an art gang
• Step by step guide to starting out with showing, marketing and selling your work
• Solid processes to set goals and get them achieved
• Pros and cons of different social media platforms and how to use them
• Time management and giving your creativity the space, time and respect it deserves

Find Andrea at:

SparkYourArt.biz

SparkYourArt Instagram

AndreaKendallArt

Find me at:

www.tomshepherdart.com

instagram.com/tomshepherdartist

www.patreon.com/TomShepherdArt

YouTube - TomShepherd Art

facebook.com/TomShepherdArt/

A fascinating & inspiring interview with Emily Lamb.  

We cover loads of topics about life as an artist.  In particular Em's more nomadic lifestyle and using art to be of service to the world in some way, as well as:

• Finding your path, and getting in alignment wth your true calling.
• Learning to trust, let go, and surrender.
• Facing the darker side of life but always coming back to the light, and using art to channel this energy.
• The allure of Africa, and the role of art in conservation and animal activism.
• Flow state, creative freedom, facing fears and challenging yourself. 

All this and plenty more, and this is just part 1!!!

You can find Em's work below:

EmilyLamb.co.uk

Instagram.com/EmilyLamb

Find me at:

www.tomshepherdart.com

instagram.com/tomshepherdartist

www.patreon.com/TomShepherdArt

YouTube - TomShepherd Art

facebook.com/TomShepherdArt/