Welcome to Studio Notes with Sasha DeWitt - a podcast for creatives where I'll be chatting with a variety of artists about their creative journeys as well as the nuts and bolts of what goes on behind the scenes when making artwork. This podcast is for artist and art lovers alike. I hope it'll inspire those who are thinking about pursuing art as a career as well as those who are already on their journey.

Episode Notes:

In this episode I interview Blue House co-founders, Binu Chaudhary, Karen and Parul to discover all the behind the scenes work that went into starting their wonderful art space and gallery that’s based in Esher. I would also like to congratulate them getting voted by the public as Best Esher Independent 2024 in the Love Elmbridge Business Awards.

In this episode we chat about:

- their individual journeys as artists;

- how they met;

- seeking out other artists post lockdown;

- a lot of tea, coffee and cake leads to dreams of an art space;

- happenstance around finding an empty space;

deciding to take the risk;

- winging it;

- gathering feedback to figure out how to grow and develop as a space;

- what Blue House offer gallery, workshop space, work space and more;

- the first time I met them and recognised the value of their space for artists and the wider community;

- breaking down barriers around galleries;

- defining for themselves what a working gallery is;

- involving the local community;

- the highs and the lows of running Blue House;

winning the Best Esher Independent 2024 business award;

- what’s next for Blue House.

Blue House website:

https://www.bluehouseartspace.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bluehouse_artspace/

Binu’s website & Insta:

https://www.binuchaudharyart.com/

https://www.instagram.com/binuchaudharyart/

Karen’s website & Insta:

https://www.karencrompton.com/

https://www.instagram.com/karencromptonart/

Parul’s website & Insta:

https://parulofthesea.com/

https://www.instagram.com/parulofthesea_art/

Welcome to Studio Notes with Sasha DeWitt - a podcast for creatives where I'll be chatting with a variety of artists about their creative journeys as well as the nuts and bolts of what goes on behind the scenes when making artwork. This podcast is for artist and art lovers alike. I hope it'll inspire those who are thinking about pursuing art as a career as well as those who are already on their journey.

Episode Notes:

In this episode I interview painter Rebecca Tucker.  She creates beautiful works of art that explore “the concept of examining organic and abstract forms, defined by negative space. Taking something that is not there, the space between things, and making that the subject of the paintings.”

In this episode we chat about:

Rebecca’s websites and instas:

https://www.rebeccatucker.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/galleryatnumber19/

https://www.instagram.com/rebeccatuckerpaintings/

https://www.instagram.com/rebeccatuckerprints/

https://www.instagram.com/rebeccatuckerportraits/

Mentions:

Turps Offsite Course - https://www.turpsbanana.com/off-site-programme

Carlsharlton Artists Open Studios - https://www.carshaltonartists.com/

Art Can - https://www.artcan.org.uk/

Episode Notes:

In this episode I interview Lisa Price who is an environmentally-focused abstract painter. She creates beautiful meditative paintings using handmade watercolours with pigments she forages herself.

In this episode we chat about:

Lisa’s website and insta:

https://www.lisamarieprice.co.uk/

@lisapriceart - https://www.instagram.com/lisapriceart

Mentions:

The Creative Act - Rick Rubin

Art Can - https://www.artcan.org.uk/

Crouch End Open Studios - https://crouchendopenstudios.org.uk/

Collage Arts - Wood Green - https://www.collage-arts.org/

Chloe McCarrick - https://www.chloemccarrick.com/

Welcome to Studio Notes with Sasha DeWitt - a podcast for creatives where I'll be chatting with a variety of artists about their creative journeys as well as the nuts and bolts of what goes on behind the scenes when making artwork. This podcast is for artist and art lovers alike. I hope it'll inspire those who are thinking about pursuing art as a career as well as those who are already on their journey.

Episode Notes:

In this fourth episode of season two I do a review of my journey in 2023. 

In this episode I cover:

the Artistic Journey programme

⁠https://www.sashadewittstudios.com/artistic-journey-programme⁠

People Mentioned:

Jenny Nelson

https://jennynelson.com/

https://learning.jennynelson.com/blog/a-short-film

Rebecca Crowell

https://www.rebeccacrowell.com/ 

Jerry McLaughlin

https://www.jerrymclaughlinart.com/

Cold Wax Academy

https://coldwaxacademy.com/

Episode Notes:

In this third episode of season two I chat with Claudia Kennaugh. Claudia runs Art & People, a Bristol-based art advisory service that offers guidance to artists and collectors. 

In this episode we cover so many good and juicy topics such as:

Books Mentioned:

The Creative Act - Rick Rubin

https://www.bookhausbristol.com/product/the-creative-act/

Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert

https://www.waterstones.com/book/big-magic/elizabeth-gilbert/9781408866757

Claudia’s Website:

https://www.artandpeople.co/

Claudia’s Instagram:

@artandppl

In this second episode of season two I chat with Luisa Fernanda Niño. Luisa is a self-educated artist whose work I’ve always admired. She’s also someone who came to art later in life at 41. Prior to that she was writing.

Luisa initially believed that drawing was something almost magical that one either had or didn't have, but she took some drawing courses and gained confidence in her ability to learn. 

However, she was also starting this new venture into drawing and painting around the same time that there was an explosion of courses and dialogue around making artwork that sells. She opened an Etsy shop, but she felt this pressure to sell her work caused her to skip the important process of discovering what and how she was meant to create.

Between 2014 and 2019, Luisa dedicated herself to self-education in various art techniques, but she realised she was only scratching the surface. In 2019 and 2020, she delved into art history, watched documentaries, and distanced herself from social media influences. This allowed her to focus on creating art that felt authentic rather than solely thinking about selling it.

Luisa experimented with different art mediums, ultimately returning to watercolours. As her skills developed, she embraced more freedom in using her materials, shedding the restrictive rules she initially imposed on herself. 

She also started writing her newsletter, "The Studio Chronicles," which served as a platform for exploring her thoughts and connecting with others.

We chat about Luisa’s journey as a self-taught artist, emphasising the importance of self-education beyond technical skills to gain a deeper understanding of oneself as an artist and place in the art world. 

We discuss Luisa's current focus on solitude as a theme in her work, highlighting the beauty of being alone. Additionally, our chat covers the balance between the need for solitude and the desire for community. Luisa found a supportive artist community through her Patreon, where she shares real-time demonstrations of her work with various mediums.

Currently, Luisa is working on projects utilising zines or artist's books to combine her writing and artwork. In the coming months, she plans to further explore this intersection of creativity.

Website:

https://www.luisafernandanino.com 

Luisa’s video library on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/luisafernandanino

The Studio Chronicles Newsletter

https://luisafernandanino.ck.page/profile

Oil Pastel Freedom Class: https://www.luisafernandanino.com/shop-listings/oil-pastel-freedom-25 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/luisafernino/

@luisafernino

Welcome to Studio Notes with Sasha DeWitt - a podcast for creatives where I'll be chatting with a variety of artists about their creative journeys as well as the nuts and bolts of what goes on behind the scenes when making artwork. This podcast is for artist and art lovers alike. I hope it'll inspire those who are thinking about pursuing art as a career as well as those who are already on their journey.

Episode Notes:

In this first episode of season two I chat with Tracey Elizabeth Downing. We start off with her childhood and chat about people who helped encourage her artistically. (Big shout out to all those teachers out there who spot artistic qualities in youngsters!)

She then went to study fine art photography at college. It didn’t one hundred percent gel with her, she most wanted to paint, but she did enjoy learning about other artists on the course.

At a young age, she got married and started a family. During this time she lost herself in the role of mother and her art practice lapsed. After her marriage broke down, she started to find herself again as an artist while raising two young children.

Initially she got a certificate in person centred art therapy as at that time she knew she didn’t want to do just art, but wanted to work with people. After several years she went on to get her Master’s degree in Art Psychotherapy. She also remarried and had two more children.

She worked in art therapy for a further 8 years, then in 2015 she found out she had a rare spinal condition Tarlov Cyst disease. She left her job due to this chronic health condition. This is when she started to re-invent herself as a full-time artist.

Now she has a studio at the end of her garden, but has also been proactive in seeking out other spaces in which to create. In 2023 Tracey created “The Drawing Residency” after she negotiated to use another artist’s studio space for three months. She kept it very simple - chair, table, paper, pencil. She wanted to respond to the space as it was. From the blank, white, cold space she drew things she needed. She created an environment. She gave herself the space to imagine and think. She responded to the light. We chat about her dummy (pacifier) collection. The idea that she could do what she liked during the time was powerful. She was very protective of the time and space to create. The residency culminated with her doing a film about what she’d been up to. Overall doing the residency helped her re-connect with herself as an artist. She’s now considering how she can marry up painting and poetry as well as planning for an upcoming open studios and Brixton’s Urban Art Fair.

Mentioned:

Connected Artist Club

Turps Banana Correspondence Course

Katie Sollohub - drawing and meditation

Graham Hodson - Film Maker Photo Taker

On Connection - Kae Tempest

Studio Upstairs in Croydon

Sprout Arts

Open Studio Links:

https://www.carshaltonartists.com/

Brixton Urban Art Fair:

https://www.urbanart.co.uk/

To find out more about Tracey’s artwork, poems, coaching and workshops visit:

Website:

https://www.traceyelizabethdowning.com/

On Insta:

https://www.instagram.com/traceyelizabethdowning/

@traceyelizabethdowning 

Welcome to Studio Notes with Sasha DeWitt - a new podcast for creatives where I'll be chatting with a variety of artists about their creative journeys as well as the nuts and bolts of what goes on behind the scenes when making artwork. This podcast is for artist and art lovers alike. I hope it'll inspire those who are thinking about pursuing art as a career as well as those who are already on their journey.

Episode Notes:

In this sixth episode I chat with myself about my journey - okay, really it's a bit of a stream of consciousness ramble about how I started out as an artist and how I got to where I am today. Usually I write detailed notes, but this time - well, it's such a long, convoluted journey I don't know if I have the energy to write my own notes having just interviewed myself! Hopefully you'll give it a go. Just to note I do talk about health issues, grief and surgery so if you're not in a place where you can hear about that then feel free to skip. Other than that - I hope you enjoy it and make it to the end still awake! (Although I use podcasts to help me sleep - so if that's you - then this is the episode to encourage sleep.) 

To find out more about me:

Website:

https://www.sashadewittstudios.com

On Insta:

@sashadewittstudios https://www.instagram.com/sashadewittstudios

Also with big thanks:

This episode has been made possible with funding from the Arts Council England as part of a DYCP grant I received.

Welcome to Studio Notes with Sasha DeWitt - a new podcast for creatives where I'll be chatting with a variety of artists about their creative journeys as well as the nuts and bolts of what goes on behind the scenes when making artwork. This podcast is for artist and art lovers alike. I hope it'll inspire those who are thinking about pursuing art as a career as well as those who are already on their journey.

Episode Notes:

In this fifth episode I chat with Katie Sollohub. During this conversation we covered everything from anthropology to doing nothing and naps. Katie is an expansive thinker so it was really great to go on this journey with her as she spoke about her origins as an artist as well as several of the projects she has explored over the years.

Her journey encompasses drawing in childhood, quitting art college and studying anthropology. Coming back to do an art foundation course at twenty-four. Diving deep into still life after being told still life was “boring”. Exploring interior spaces and historic houses. Making connections between people and stories and places. Her work growing bigger - moving off the page and onto the wall and into performance. Moving on to start the Immersed swimmers project. How that grew over lockdown. What it turned into and where she is now.

Towards the end we discuss what happens next after a big project. We talk about the meditation and drawings sessions she offers. The importance of doing nothing. Our studio spaces and how we use them. Plus naps.

We wrap up the session talking about the courses she has on offer next year - so many really exciting ones.

To find out more about Katie’s fascinating projects and journey visit:

Website:

https://www.katiesollohub.co.uk

On Insta:

@katiesollohub https://www.instagram.com/katiesollohub/

To find out more about the courses:

Seawhites Studio:

https://emilyballatseawhite.co.uk

Atelier by the Sea

https://atelierbrighton.co.uk

West Dean College

https://www.westdean.org.uk

Also with big thanks:

This episode has been made possible with funding from the Arts Council England as part of a DYCP grant I received.