Here I am talking to Brian Rea, illustrator of the New York Times MODERN LOVE column, author illustrator of books DEATH WINS A GOLDFISH, and AVOID THIS. I keep asking about humor, as I tend to do. We talk body hair, shading with lots of line, and his word paintings.
Go to @FreeBrianRea on Instagram!
Ep 6 and 7 - Mariam ElNaggar
My friend Mariam is a scientist during the workday and an artist at all other times. She’s also my friend who I met at the weekly Indianapolis Artist Lunch several years ago. Mariam has been interviewed on CNN for her Etch-a-sketch prowess, she travels the globe teaching people about robots, and can’t help but make art about built around puns. In Episode 6 we talk about being on a first name basis with TSA agents and exploring volcanic islands. In Episode 7, we actually talk about her art, but admittedly not enough. No worries, we plan on recording an episode soon to talk about art and television.
Pop Tarts
12 Days of Cagemas. Tribute to Nick Cage, of course!
After running an inpromptu marathon. As people do!
Episode 5- Gordon James
In this episode, I get to talk with Gordon James, multiple award winning illustrator of several picture books, fine artist, ex-Hallmark employee, and soon to be graphic novel illustrator.
We talk about the advantages of working in a studio space around other accomplished artists, Gordon's winding road to success, why he likes oils over acrylics, and the affect of having other artists in your family blaze a trail for you. Enjoy!
Gordon's Instagram is HERE. His website is HERE. Take a gander at some of the things we talk about!
One of Gordon’s fine art paintings. Check out the portrait page at his site too if you’re in need of one of a member of your family! We should all be so lucky as to have a painting of ourselves by Gordon!
Chris Sickels of Red Nose Studio Fame
This week I get to talk to my pal Chris Sickels, of Red Nose Studio fame. He's won more awards than you can shake a stick at, and let me tell you, that can really get on another artist’s nerves. I manage to rise above my petty jealousy and remain friends with him anyway. Chris has illustrated five picture books, created many memorable magazine illustrations, built worlds in order to make beautiful book covers, and managed to stick more than a toe in stop motion animation (I'd say at least knee deep, or maybe even crotch level, but that sounds much too naughty for anything to do with Red Nose Studio!).
So here we are talking over a beer (on my end) and a cold glass of Greefield, Indiana's finest tap water for Chris.
Make sure you take a look at images of his work at his website. For the collectors out there, he occasionally puts one of his creations up for sale there, but they rarely last long.
Follow him on Instagram here.
An illustration about the Academy Awards, for the New York Times, in 2019.
The latest picture book Chris has illustrated.
Rebel with a puppet making cause. ;)
Episode 3- Annie Wong, aka @HeadExplodie
I talk to Annie Wong (website), also known as @HeadExplodie on Instagram.
Annie and I talk about her road to being a professional artist, fart art animations, meeting a hero, and sharing work online. She makes fun work about topics that we aren't used to seeing animated, many from a feminine perspective. And other animations that are simply fun to watch.
I had a great time talking to her, and I hope you come out of this having learned about a new artist, and the path she took to get where she is today. For cool and eye-opening behind the scenes views of her process, you can check out her Patreon!
Part of the ice cream animation that Paul Reubens has shared.
When Love and Farts meet.
Typical Day in the Studio ( Sorry, Annie ;) )
Ep.2 - Dorota Pankowska
I do a Friendly Interrogation of Dorota Pankowska, an art director, inventor, designer, and brand owner. I've been impressed with Dori for about about a decade, and I was excited to talk to her and pick her brain. She gives us tips on getting things produced in China, how she invents whimsical new twists on well known items, and getting convinced to take a job in a Paris advertising agency because of a personal street art project that she did years before(!).
You can find her at @DoriTheGiant on Instagram, and her beautiful website- DorotaPankowska.com. Her products for sale can be found at WaskStudio.com.
Friendly Interrogation - Episode 1
Blind Fox
For my first episode, I’ve chosen to post an interview of Blind Fox, an artist from Boston. She creates murals, installations, and fine art. We talk about two specific works she’s completed for commercial spaces- a 6 foot by 8 foot portrait of Dolly Parton, painted on a background of thousands and thousands of guitar picks. The second piece we talk about is a very large, colorful drip painting on a lobby wall.
I’m very grateful to Blind Fox for sharing her experiences and insight with me. I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did making it.
A six foot by eight foot painting of Dolly Parton on a background of 15,300 guitar picks.
Some of the guitar picks glued to the plywood “canvas” for Dolly to be painted on to. Spray can for scale.
The lobby at Fort Point. Colorful drip streaks with puddles of paint left on the floor. Kinda nice, amiright?