Creativity Chat

Katie Summerrow of Katie Max Fine Art is an Atlanta based expressive abstract fine artist. She became infatuated with art when she began to find her own unique style and develop her skills during her studies at The University of Georgia. Her works are remarkable for how they bring about nostalgia, memories and warmth. Katie’s pieces reach for ways to marry my understanding of color psychology with the deep emotions felt through music and lyrics. Seeking to bridge the gap between melodic and visual, she translate moments of time where our feelings are felt but not always tangible. The combination of active strokes captured, and gentle movement of color play creates a dichotomy between energy and rest, leading the viewer through the visual playing field. 

In today’s Creativity Chat, Katie talks about: getting her start with custom home commissions, leaping into doing art full-time, a Christmas gift-themed TikTok video going viral, learning new tools, diversifying her income, launching prints, including taxes on a website, getting her prints in Citizen Supply, leasing a studio space, quotes from “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron, not caring if everyone likes your art, and much more.

You can find Katie Max Fine Art in the links below:

Website: www.katiemax.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiemax.art/

For inquiries or submissions to be featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher

Shontay Lundy created Black Girl Sunscreen, a 30 SPF lotion infused with natural ingredients and formulated for women of color. Made with melanated skin in mind, BGS dries completely clear and protects melanin without the white-cast. In today’s Creativity Chat, Shontay talks about: the importance of finding your why, leaving your hometown, how one thing leads to another, grassroots marketing, expanding your network, raising capital, pitching to potential investors, weighing investment options, BGS being sold in Target, ways she’s utilizing her creativity outside of work, and much more.

For more information (or to purchase BGS), visit: https://www.blackgirlsunscreen.com/shop-bgs/

You can also buy Black Girl Sunscreen at Target:

BGS SPF 30 ($15.99): https://bit.ly/BGSSPF30

BGS Kids SPF 50 ($9.99): https://bit.ly/BGSKIDSSPF50

BGS SPF 45 ($17.99): https://bit.ly/BGSSPF45

BGS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlsunscreen/

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For inquiries or submissions to be a featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher

Jef Afonso is the Senior Vice President of Systems and Technology at an Atlanta-based fintech company. In this episode, he talks about what to look for in a mentor, bonding with your team outside of the workplace, learning from everyone around you, empathizing with others, the importance of preparation, showcasing your work, being adaptable/patient, and much more!

Jef's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-afonso-7643652/

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For inquiries or submissions to be a featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher

Cameron Harris started Breaking the Shackles, a non-profit that brings awareness to modern day sex slavery, in high school. Today, we talk about how the idea began, throwing annual benefit concerts, taking the non-profit to the University of Georgia, and hopes for the future. 

Breaking the Shackles Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_the_shackles/?hl=en

Venmo: @breakingtheshackles

"Creativity Chat sent me" :) 

Cameron's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameron_e_harris/?hl=en

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For inquiries or submissions to be a featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher

JaQwan J. Kelly is an actor, writer and producer known for his work Hulu's WuTang: An American Saga, Steven Spielberg's The Post and Blue Bloods. A Harlem native, his acting journey first began at the Harlem School of the Arts. He went on to obtain his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance from SUNY Purchase. Today we chat about switching from being a journalism major, getting into acting, booking his first commercial, collaborating with friends, and the genesis of "He, The People".

You can watch "He, The People" on Prime here: https://www.amazon.com/He-People-JaQwan-J-Kelly/dp/B08DL7Z57W/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=he+the+people&qid=1616647082&sr=8-1

JaQwan J. Kelly's imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5744298/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

JaQwan J. Kelly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaqwanjkelly/

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For inquiries or submissions to be a featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher

Ashley Akerson is based in Jackson, Tennessee, where she founded Ashley Nicole Pottery. Today we talk about the importance of slowing down, the ceramics community, starting without feeling ready, beginning seasonal collections, and using art as therapy.

You can buy Ashley's pottery here: http://ashleynicolepottery.square.site

Ashley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleynicolepottery/

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For inquiries or submissions to be a featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher

Topaz Adizes founded "The Skin Deep", a creative studio that has been exploring and reflecting the emotional experience of human life as it rapidly and dramatically shifts in the digital age since 2014. Through the interactive documentary project {THE AND}, an Emmy award-winning interactive documentary that brings you into the emotional space of real people's connections, The Skin Deep has filmed over 700 pairs in over 17 locations around the United States and the World. Today, we chat about making from what was formerly lacked, the importance of asking better questions, and being careful with the words chosen to describe ourselves.

Find "The Skin Deep" here: 

https://www.theskindeep.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_skindeep/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theskindeep

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5aVSlavh9cO8zwUUPUPTjv?si=gAY34zKdRQGMAnRM3iC4pQ

Topaz's Social:

Website: https://www.topazadizes.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topazadizes/

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For inquiries or submissions to be a featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher

McGee Nall enjoys writing for fun and for work. She is enthusiastic about journaling and knows how to write for a myriad of genres. We chat about the ending of Peter Pan being the launchpad for her writing career, the importance of being kind to the things you made when you were younger, and an iceberg analogy of the journalistic approach. (I think that's what it's called.) 

Find McGee here:

https://www.mcgeenall.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mcgeenall/

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For inquiries or submissions to be a featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher

Alyssa Gant-Black is the founder of YaYa Books, an online bookstore featuring literature written by Black authors and books that speak to the Black experience. Today we chat about: continuing a parent's dream, growing as a collective, amplifying black voices, the importance of mentorship, and starting before you feel ready. 

Find YaYa Books here: https://www.yayabooksllc.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/yayabooksllc/ 

Find Alyssa here: https://www.instagram.com/alyssabrianaa/ 

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For inquiries or submissions to be a featured on an episode, e-mail: [email protected] 

Kristin's instagram: http://instagram.com/kristinmwitcher