Curator. Owner. Founder. Fashionista. Organizer.

There are an infinite number of ways to describe Irene Hernandez-Feiks, and on this week's episode, we explore those titles, and what they mean for Bay Area artists. Irene founded Chillin' Productions in 1998 and opened Wonderland SF in 2010 with her business partner and husband, Houston. We touch upon some deeply rooted issues in the Bay Area art scene like artist displacement, how to present your work as an artist and how to stay humble. Irene has built amazing relationships with thousands of artists, and we are fortunate to have her in the studio.

*Explicit language warning

In this week's episode we talk CENSORSHIP!

"It is not an obligation for all artists to create work that has sociological, religious or political meaning, but artists as a whole have been pushing the boundaries of what is deemed "correct" for centuries. Art has influence, has been proven to strengthen communities, stir up conversation and bring focus on topics that otherwise wouldn't even be talked about. It is not your obligation as an artist, solely to continue this mission, but as artists, we see the world in a different way, and are able to express our feelings, thoughts, insights and opinions into a very channeled and focused way, sometimes in the form of a painting, sometimes as a piece of performance art, sometimes as a sculptural work, sometimes as a complete body of visual art. To censor that freedom is to censor the very reason some artists exist. "

Delving into the second installment of our social media series, we cover the more-than-basic topics when navigating through the ever popular Facebook. Whether you love it or hate it, Facebook is continuing to be the platform many artists use to sell their work and market themselves. We discuss tips on how to maximize your post boosts, protect your private information and discover secret communities where you can find your people.

Andy Sciazko, published horror illustrator for Nightmare Soup: Tales That Will Turn Your Stomach (a majorly successful Kickstarter project with a goal of $25,000 and ended up having 772 backers and raised $32,371), joins us for Episode 13! Andy’s personal artwork, in many ways, is a throwback to comics of the 90’s, personal influences and the realization that not all artwork needs to be created within the confines of normality.

You've heard it before, "I'm an artist, but I have a 9 to 5 that I rely on." This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but to some, this formula could hinder the creative process. Find out some helpful insight into what it takes to balance a day job, the art life, a family, Netflix, a social life and everything in between.

Artists are forced to deal with rejection constantly, whether it's from a gallery or something even more personal, it never feels great. Join us as we tackle this issue head on and point you in the right direction. Rejection and criticism doesn't have to mean defeat.

This week's episode is a kick-off to a series of episodes all about social media! Whether you're a beginner to social media or a seasoned internet vet, this is a beefy foundational episode that is jam packed with value. Learn about 10 different platforms, internet safety, what and how to voice your unique story, and much more!

This is the first of MANY in a series we like to call "The Creative Pick-Me-Up," where we reveal to you certain things that inspire us, in a bite-sized episode! This week's Creative Pick-Me-Up is centered around Janelle Monae's "Make Me Feel" music video and song, which will be released on April's new album entitled "Dirty Computer." Take a listen!

This week, we touch upon some important steps for you to stay on top of your long term goals, short term projects and making the best use of your time! Find out the best way we know how to juggle our tasks and fit in what we need to get done! This is especially useful for your creative projects stacked on top of everyday life!

Ana Aranda is a published illustrator, commercial illustrator, award and grant recipient and part time instructor at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. "The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra," written by Marc Tyler Nobleman and illustrated by Ana Aranda, was published in 2017. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Ana and finding out more about her colorful history and training.