#58 The World of Podcasts

In this episode I talk about what a podcast is, where you can find them, and how you can listen to them. I also give a few examples of podcasts I like to listen to, as well as a few art-related podcasts that I’ve found interesting.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Here are a few links to some good art-related podcasts:

I interviewed artist Laura Horn in episode #57. She also has a podcast called Laura Horn Art. Her episodes are about how she manages different aspects of her business. 

Danielle Krysa hosts the podcast The Jealous Curator: Art for Your Ear. She posts weekly interviews with artists. Danielle has also published a few books and they’re worth seeing here on her website.

Paul Blais is the host of The Potter’s Cast. He is a potter and has created this podcast to service the community of ceramic artists and potters by interviewing experts in that field and in business.

The Savvy Painter podcast helps you learn from other artists and get new ideas.

While She Naps by Abby Glassenberg is one of the first podcasts I started listening to. She interviews artists in the world of fiber arts.

You can find many other podcasts through iTunes, Castbox, Spotify, Google Play, or Stitcher. 

Apple Podcasts (iTunes app)
Castbox app

#57 Laura Horn: Australian Artist, Instructor, and Social Media Master

Artist Laura Horn lives near Adelaide, South Australia, where she creates wonderful artwork, online classes, and most recently, an art podcast that she produces with her husband. Actually, she produces the classes with him too. They’re a great team when it comes to producing content related to her artwork, because he is a photographer and has the photo and video skills, and she’s the artist who has a great vision for her business. Laura also has a cohesive look to her artwork and shares her knowledge with her online community.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Laura Horn

Melting Pot
Delicate Botanicals
Botanical Abstract
Neutral Ink Series
Minimal Magic Class
Abstract
Large acrylic botanical abstract
Laura in the studio

Laura’s website is laurahornart.com.

You also can find her on Instagram and Facebook.

Laura’s online classes are listed on her website here.

Laura took online classes from and was inspired by these artists:

Connie Solera, 21 Secrets

Tamara LaPorte, Life Book

Mati Rose

Faith Evans

Laura uses this program to schedule her Instagram and Facebook posts: later.com.

You can find other good business and art tips from Laura on her blog here.

You can find The Laura Horn Art Podcast here.

Here are some great business and art tips she talked about in this episode:

  1. Art journaling is a great way to start making art. You can try out new materials and techniques in a small space, and work out things just for yourself.
  2. She suggests selling smaller pieces at outdoor markets and larger works on canvas in cafes.
  3. I think one of the most important things she said in terms of being a working artist is to make art all the time.
  4. Try to give your artwork a cohesive look when displaying at a show or café.
  5. Dedicate time to reflecting on your work to figure out what colors and images you like to use, and what processes you like to make.
  6. After you paint, analyze whether you felt uplifted and inspired by what you did to see if that’s something your want to do more of.
  7. Consider setting up a Facebook group for your classes.
  8. Create your classes so that if people want to take more than one, the content will build on one another.
  9. One of her great Instagram tips: use a post scheduling program such as later.com and do all your social media updates on your laptop.
  10. Have a regular habit of posting to social media.

#56 Telling Your Art Story

This episode talks about how artists tell a story through their art. They can tell it visually, or with words, or with a title. I also talk about how they can tell their own story, through their website, social media, or in person.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

This is a collage I did that tells the story of a time when my grandmother received letters from a friend who was serving in France during WWI. I told this story through a 16-collage series.
These are assemblage pieces created by Michael deMeng (Episode 55). What story do you think they tell?

#55 Michael deMeng: Assemblage Artist and World Traveling Instructor

Michael deMeng is an assemblage artist living in Vancouver, British Columbia. His 3D creations tell a story, often based in mythology, but can also include the story of the original object or where it was found. He uses discarded objects and puts them to new uses, giving them new meaning. He also travels all over the world teaching art classes, particularly Oaxaca, Mexico, and New Orleans. In his classes he encourages his students to try new things and create something of value.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Michael deMeng (the one on the right)

This is the Lilith art piece that he talks about in our podcast conversation.
The Tin Man
Rhino MDXV
These are the sculptures taught in his Holy Rollers class. The base is a Hot Wheels car, and the wheels are not altered so that they can still be raced down a Hot Wheels track.
Plumed Serpent
Duality

You can find Michael deMeng’s artwork and class schedule at michaeldemeng.com. 

He also can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

In our interview, I talked about one of Michael’s videos — The Island of Dead Dolls in Mexico. These videos are a creepy treat. Click here for the link to Part 1 and Part 2.

Here are some great takeaways from this episode:

  1. The 3D artwork that Michael makes is called assemblage, or ASSEMBLAGE, and he says it. He uses discarded objects and puts them to new uses, giving them new meaning and a unique story.
  2. There are benefits to teaching one day classes and to teaching multi-day classes. In one day, a student can get close to finishing a whole project, and for a few days they can take their time and not be so rushed when learning new techniques.
  3. Taking destination art classes are a great way to get away from your busy life and just concentrate on art-making for a few days.
  4. If you are hosting a destination art class, let the location motivate what you create. For example, when Michael teaches in New Orleans, the classes take on a theme that is appropriate to that area.
  5. Try to incorporate your interests into your artwork, like Michael has done with his interest in mythology and comparative religions.
  6. Michael makes his art by choosing the object first and making the story second. He has taken things that have a past and given them a new birth.
  7. When partnering with another instructor to teach a class, keep the portions that you’re teaching separate from the other teacher’s. You don’t want to have the students paint over something that the other instructor has just taught.
  8. At the end of Michael’s classes, he reviews each person’s piece so that others can learn from what everyone has done. He does this to encourage students and let them know that they have done something of value.

Michael deMeng talked in this episode about the story that comes with his artwork. I’ll be talking about how you can tell your art story in my next mini business episode #56.

P.S. Below is the sculpture I made in Michael deMeng’s 2008 class “Shadow Box Tarot Cards.”

#54 What is a CV and Why Should Artists Have One

A CV, or curriculum vitae, is a one-page list of an artist’s education and professional accomplishments. All artists should have one, so they are ready with it when applying for an art exhibit, public art, or art-related job. In this episode I’ll tell you why every artist needs one, and what should be included in it, including all the art shows you’ve been in, any awards, scholarships, residencies, art group memberships, and publications.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.