Wild World of Arts

RIVETING interview with GRAFFITI ARTIST PIONEER Robert Gomez aka Dytch66, a dynamic artist who seamlessly blends graffiti, fine art, murals, and illustrations into captivating creations. While growing up on the westside of Los Angeles, his artistic journey began with the anarchist influences of punk rock, hip hop, surf, and graffiti. Embracing his artistic calling in high school, the persona known as Dytch66 was born.

As time progressed, Dutch66's pursuit of growth and artistic freedom led him to delve deeper into his arts education through years of immersive training in fine art and illustration. This experience expanded his skillset and brought new opportunities in production, film, and outdoor media, launching his career as a seasoned artist. Although his mediums have changed, graffiti remains at the forefront of Dutch 66's creative expression.

“Through this whole experience my graffiti has evolved into a surrealistic style, with elements of photorealism and three dimensional art.“ ~ Dytch66. 

Driven by this artistic growth, Dytch66 went on to establish his own mural company, collaborating with businesses to create captivating artwork. His background in production has given him the ability to efficiently complete projects, solidifying his position as a successful business owner.

This fusion of graffiti, production, fine art, and film has created a unique synergy that distinguishes Dytch66 as a standout artist of his generation. His remarkable talent and visionary approach leave an enduring impact on the creative landscape, inspiring and captivating audiences around the globe.

Join us for an INCREDIBLE interview with Melanie Rose Prince—an artist, natural light photographer, musician, healer, and creative professional who views her life as an extension of her art. With a deep sensitivity to energy and emotion, Melanie curates the symbiotic, multi-sensorial world around her. In this interview, she shares her evolution as an artist, her ability to feel into the spirit of her subjects, and how she uses alchemy to transform pain into creativity.
Arriving in Idyllwild in the summer of 2020, she quickly became part of the community, volunteering and joining the local music scene. She is best known as ‘Rose’ in the harmonic indie acoustic duo Rose & Bones.
Melanie’s journey has been shaped by her connection to nature, spirituality, and overcoming chronic pain and trauma. As a Reiki Master, doula, space healer, folk herbalist, and holistic chef, she blends creative, spiritual, and healing practices into all her offerings.
Professionally, Melanie bridges art and business, supporting artists and healers with brand growth and messaging. She coaches creatives and wellness practitioners to fully step into their dharma, while consulting on strategies to materialize ideas and share their big magic with the world. Known for her intuitive communication skills, she transforms abstract ideas into crystal-clear marketing content.
Melanie believes that “a rising tide lifts all ships” and is committed to creating harmony, leading with curiosity, and seeing the beauty in all things.
Websites:
Melrose Creates – Explore my work in branding, photography, and creative direction: melrosecreates.com(http://www.melrosecreates.com)
Photography Portfolio – View my latest photography sessions and full gallery showcases: melrosecreates.pixieset.com (http://melrosecreates.pixieset.com)
Socials:
Instagram: @melrosecreates – Dive into my world through a blend of branding, photography, and lifestyle content. Check out my reels, grid, and story highlights for a behind-the-scenes look at how my art and life intertwine.    
Facebook: Melanie Rose Prince – A space for deeper reflections and updates on my latest projects, including occasional long-form posts.
Rose & Bones Instagram: @rosebonesmusic – Follow my journey as a musician, currently focused on songwriting, solo performances, and new collaborations. Though the duo is on hiatus, this space captures my musical evolution.

Arthur Tobias - MASTER Potter, Artist, Educator and Historian. 

Our fascinating conversation with Arthur covers a wide range of subjects including his work as a teacher, sculptor, writer, historian, and now Master Potter in Idyllwild. We weave through the history of 19th century firearms, and discuss Arthur’s book Cylinder Scenes, about American firearms and banknote engraver WL Ormsby.  We touch on Dostoevsky’s novel the Demon, The Trial by Franz Kafka, and reflect on the “mind virus” that often runs rampant in societies.  Arthur talks about his years as a teacher, and his true passion for inspiring and educating young people.

Beginning with a 1971 Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, concentrating in ceramics and drawing, Art set up studio in an old shed on his parents' rural acreage, building a kiln, potter's wheel and other tools. Craft fairs and one-man exhibitions supplemented with wholesale and consignment sales and occasional work driving farm tractors kept him in beans and rice. His teaching life began formally in 1976 as Traveling Artist for the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock, followed by an eight-year stint as arts instructor with the state reform school system. He also returned to school, working on a Masters in Sculpture at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, studied animal and human anatomy, and began doing portrait busts in clay.

In 1985 Art relocated to Los Angeles where he initially continued doing portrait busts and expanding his figurative and non-figurative vocabulary, adding metals and glass, while supporting himself working as a packer at an art-glass gallery and assisting another sculptor doing large scale installations. Bronze casting, etching and lithography classes at the Otis Institute and associate degree work in computer tech at Los Angeles City College were part of the mix.

The late 'Eighties saw Art teaching visual arts classes for grades 6-12 in a private school in downtown L.A. The 'nineties saw him starting a computer graphics lab and teaching art at the Harvard-Westlake School in the San Fernando Valley, participating in one-man and group shows in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, and earning a doctorate in education at UCLA. Following his hooding, Art worked as an independent researcher for the Getty Education Center, The Annenberg Foundation and the Los Angeles Unified School District, assessing educational programs in the arts. In the new century, as an adjunct professor at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson, Art taught visual and performing arts curricula to teaching-degree candidates, while still chairing and teaching in the visual arts department at Harvard-Westlake. At the same time Art managed to re-invigorate his studio work and returned to his first love, clay.

The new century also saw Art begin his writing and publishing career, with dozens of journal articles on visual arts education, the design and decoration of 19th century firearms and a book on the work of American firearms and banknote engraver W.L. Ormsby. It has been called by one reviewer the essential work on the topic.

 In 2017, retired from high school and college teaching, Art and wife Debra relocated permanently to their vacation home in Pine Cove where Art has been fortunate to find a welcoming community and a position as Master Potter at Mountain Pottery Idyllwild. He now works daily in his studio to keep the pottery's shelves full and gives free lecture/demos once a month and occasional talks at the library. A recent presentation entitled The Strange Death of Vincent van Gogh was delivered to a packed room. A major journal article on cowboy cap-guns and a magazine piece about Art's beloved 1968 MGB sports car were published in 2023. 

LINKS:

http://coltcylinderscenes.com/

https://mountainpotteryidy.com/

Bonnie Reynolds has seen Idyllwild change and grow over the last 53 years, since she moved here from Los Angeles as a young mother. She has worked at the Red Kettle, one of the oldest restaurants in Idyllwild, for the past 40 years. Bonnie's art can be seen at the Red Kettle, and she sells them as fast as she paints them! John and I have a fun conversation with Bonnie, as she tells us her life story and how her love of Idyllwild has helped her create a life of art, memories and fun during the course of the last 50 years. Bonnie is currently working on her autobiography which we look forward to talking with her about when its out.

BONNIE'S WORK

https://perrysredkettle.com

WYLLDWOOD GALLERY

https://www.wylldwood.com

Join us for this entertaining conversation with local artist Sebastian Vale. We ebb and flow through the connection Sebastian finds when weaving his passion for art into his passion for nature. He talks about how he healed his color blindness, and transitioned from being an actor in LA, to a small town artist living a life of creativity and inner peace.

Sebastian Vale’s artwork can be found in many Idyllwild shops and in his storage unit and folded to prop up the short leg of wobbly tables throughout Southern California.

His best seller is a mini zine of animal funnies that has sold over 25,000 copies for zero cents, an unorthodox yet proven price point.

LINKS TO SEBASTIAN'S WORK:

www.SebastianVale.com

@ValeSebastianVale

YouTube link for the Arting With God book video:

 https://youtu.be/SeOaSrtzbJE

REFERENCES FROM EPISODE: 

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield       

@hunkydoryrecordsidy

GALLERY LINKS:

@wylldwoodgallery

www.wylldwood.com

If something deeper calls you as an artist, and you are still roaming in the dark, please tune into this fascinating discussion with artist, educator, gallerist, and student Julianna Poldi. Born and raised in the foothills of Idyllwild, Julianna Poldi first studied painting at UC Santa Barbara in the late 80’s. In 2003, Julianna graduated with honors from John F. Kennedy University in Berkeley, CA with a Master of Fine Arts, in Arts and Consciousness, from the School of Holistic Studies.

In 2010, Julianna opened Two Arts Studio on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she began teaching the method she developed and shares in her new book Abstract Painters Guide. Julianna opened GOLDEN PINE GALLERY on July 4, 2020, in Idyllwild, California. She currently curates over 30 local and regional artists, and coaches painters across the country online and in person. In the winter season, Julianna teaches group workshops at the Desert Art Center and private lessons in her studio at Backstreet Arts District in Palm Springs. Her 3 1⁄2 year old wolf-dog companion Luna is her other part-time job.

Our discussion takes us down the pathway to consciousness and healing that Julianna has discovered and teaches in her abstract art coaching workshops and classes.  We delve into the mysteries of her process as an artist, and discover through Julianna’s methods how consciousness can evolve through art. We also discuss how she came to practice an ancient Japanese Healing art called Jin Shin Jyutsu.  

Overall this is an exquisite examination of the complexities and mysticism often embodied by an artist - told by the fascinating and deeply connected painter and entrepreneur Julianna Poldi.  

“Beyond my perception of good and bad, only love exists.”  

LINKS TO JULIANNA POLDI GALLERY AND WORKSHOPS/BOOK

 www.jpoldi.com

AbstractArtCoach.com

GoldenPineGallery.com 

LINK TO WYLLDWOOD GALLERY AND STUDIO 

https://www.wylldwood.com/about

In this episode hosts John Marin and Michelle Katz reveal the entertaining and inspiring story of Michael Brown, painter and owner of Hunky Dory Records in Idyllwild. From bartender to record store owner and painter this episode will empower anyone who has ever had a dream of being an artist and owning their own business.

Michael Brown takes us on his riveting and often humorous journey of growing up in a small town in Wisconsin, falling in love with music, moving to Palm Springs, and realizing the dream of owning his own record store one day. As a child he was always drawn to art and spent much of his youth listening to punk music and drawing.

We take a dive deep into the bravery it took to open a record store during the pandemic in the small mountain town of Idyllwild California. His journey continued when Michael and husband John decided to then open up an art gallery and studio in March 2024 so they could finally have a place to paint. He has deepened his journey as an artist and takes us to where he is at now artistically and spiritually, dropping some very wise words about how to be happy right here, right now.

LINKS:

https://www.hunkydoryrecordsidy.com/

www.wylldwood.com

@hunkydoryrecordsidy

@michaelbrownartist

In this episode Michelle Katz asks podcast host, painter, and gallery owner John Edward Marin about how he ended up in Idyllwild. They explore his process as a painter, and delve into several of his pieces hanging in the Wylldwood Gallery, and around town. This episode touches on spirituality, sacred geometry, scrying, politics, vortex towns, and John's passion for the healing arts. In this episode we break down three of John's paintings, including a powerful portrait of RFK Jr. which sparks a riveting conversation about the Independent candidate and his impact on the US. We also discuss his painting "Shattered" and how each life has a "before" and "after" - the idea that there is a moment where one's worldview is shattered and life after that is never the same. Join us for a wild ride through the ins and outs of being an artist in the idyllic artsy town of Idyllwild.

LINKS TO PAINTINGS:

Shattered

⁠https://www.wylldwood.com/john-edward-marin⁠

Large Landscape

⁠https://www.wylldwood.com/current-istallations⁠

RFK Jr.

⁠https://www.instagram.com/p/C6jnLk0Jc5U/⁠

GALLERY LINKS

 ⁠https://www.wylldwood.com⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wylldwoodgallery/⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/wylldwood.studio.and.gallery⁠

JOHN'S SOCIAL MEDIA

⁠https://www.instagram.com/johnedmarin/⁠⁠https://fineartamerica.com/art/john+edward+marin⁠