We are proud to release the latest installment of Suggested Donation Podcast with artist, teacher and founder and director of the Sadie Valeri Atelier: you guessed it...Sadie Valeri. Sadie was so generous with her time and her thoughts, and we are grateful that we are able to share this super-fun conversation with you. Sadie's atelier was founded by a grassroots network of artists sought her out after following her outstanding blog which documents her own journey to learn classical drawing and p...
Apr 30, 2015•2 hr 5 min
We sat down at the Grand Central Atelier's Eleventh Street Arts Gallery to record a much anticipated conversation with artist James Gurney. Our discussion traces his journey from boxcar hopping with Thomas Kinkade and an assortment of hobos to the success of his Dinatopia books to his wildly popular blog Gurney Journey. Through it all, James never stops sketching. We had fun talking shop, and hearing amazing stories from one of the most widely requested guests to be featured on Suggested Donatio...
Mar 25, 2015•1 hr 25 min
We were recently joined by artist David Kassan and his friend Johnny Walker for a fun conversation at the Salmagundi Club. David is coming off of the success of his Kickstarter campaign to fund his Parallel Palette. David discussed his work, inspiration, roots and his Kassan Foundation. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed speaking with this widely admired and talented contemporary figurative painter. David Kassan, "Antonio Lopez Life Study" 16 x 14 http://www.davidkassan.com http...
Feb 24, 2015•1 hr 38 min
We were lucky enough to sit down with the executive chef and co-owner of two of NYC's most celebrated restaurants, Chef Nick Anderer of Maialino and Marta, both part of the Danny Meyer empire. We sat down in the private dining room at Maialino to discuss cuisine, craft and art. Chef Nick was in college focusing on art history on a semester in Rome when he first recognized his desire to find a career in food....
Feb 12, 2015•57 min
Edward, Tony and Jay talk about what 2014 was like doing the podcast, answering some listeners questions (criticism) and the all important what's in store for 2015. Edward makes Tony uncomfortable by saying nice things about one of his paintings and more. Tony Curanaj " Oblivion", Oil on Canvas 2014 Tony Curanaj " Oblivion" Detail, Oil on Canvas...
Jan 22, 2015•54 min
Amidst protests, police sirens and a booming party below us, we sat down to record a conversation at the Salmagundi Club with one of our favorite artists and dear friend, Michael Grimaldi . Michael has joined the lineage of great artists who teach at the Art Students League of New York, and has become a sought after anatomy instructor, teaching over dissections at Drexel University. He made the unusual choice to dedicate himself to drawing in recent years, and we explore his motivation for this ...
Dec 23, 2014•1 hr 21 min
We sat down with a friend and one of our favorite painters, Marc Dalessio. Marc primarily paints portraits and landscapes, and has become known for his large and small landscapes paintings executed on site. He is a sought after teacher, and an international man of mystery. We had a fun evening recording a conversation in the Salmagundi Club Library, where Marc told us about his training in Florence, his experience drawing around riots and tear gas, and most importantly, his motivation for painti...
Dec 02, 2014•1 hr 38 min
We are honored to have been joined by a legend in the world of contemporary figure painting, Steven Assael. Steven has been a central figure in the realist painting world for decades, instructing at the School ofVisual Arts and at the New York Academy of Art. His work is represented by the prestigious Forum Gallery in New York City.We explored Steven's introduction to art, and what continues to inspire his outstanding paintings. The conversation goes very deep into Steven's philosophy, ranging f...
Oct 28, 2014•2 hr
We sat down at the Salmagundi Club with our friend, the tremendously talented Michael Klein to talk about his roots in small-town North Dakota, his life in small-town Argentina, his video magazine, Instructional Documentary, his faith and, of course, his outstanding paintings. You can view his paintings, or purchase his excellent instructional videos through his website: http://www.michaelkleinpaintings.com The Last Sticks 32"x55", oil on canvas Floral Interior, 31"x38", oil on linen, 2008...
Oct 07, 2014•1 hr 27 min
In a departure from our focus on painters and painting, we were honored to sit down with two-time Oscar nominated film-maker Bill Plimpton. Bill is a legend in the world of independent film, having produced six animated features and over 40 short films! We had a fun discussion about his oeuvre, and the art and business of film-making. We found lots of common ground between our disciplines and also had the chance to revisit our past in the animation field, in which Bill is a titan. We hope you en...
Aug 26, 2014•1 hr 18 min
We are excited to share our awesome discussion with one of our favorite artists, Anthony Waichulis. Anthony paints breathtaking Trompe L'Oeil paintings, runs the Ani Art Academies, and has released a series of instructional DVD's entitled "The Language of Drawing" and "The Language of Painting", both long-term projects designed to share his rigorous training with a larger student base. Anthony is a huge talent at the vanguard of the realist resurgence, a big personality, physically imposing, and...
Jul 14, 2014•1 hr 39 min
Vincent Desiderio is one of the leading figurative painters of our time. His work is featured in collections including the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim Museum, The Walker Art Center among many others. He is a senior critic at the New York Academy of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Vincent has a reputation as one of the leading intellects in figurative art, and he did not disappoint. We are honored to have him join us on Suggeste...
Jun 04, 2014•1 hr 34 min
We are joined by George O'Hanlon from Natural Pigments for an in depth geek-out on artist's materials. George walks us through his view on the state of the artist's materials business, and the differences in what we are using now versus what artists of the past used. George is very thoughtful and knowledgeable - to learn more you can sign up for his "Best Practices" lecture, which Tony had just completed before we sat down for the recording. Tony also tests Ted on his materials awareness. Check ...
May 15, 2014•1 hr 36 min
JACOB COLLINS Jacob is a seminal force in the realist movement. He has taught and mentored countless artists, and inspired many more through his beautiful painting. His commissions include a Supreme Court Justice, a U.S. President, and his “Eastholm Project” which was a conduit to the forming of the Hudson River Fellowship. He has been featured in numerous interviews and articles, including a profile in "The New Yorker." In the late nineties, he founded the Water Street Atelier and has been at t...
Apr 15, 2014•1 hr 32 min
Hey Folks, In this episode of Suggested Donation we sit down with the amiable Patricia Watwood. We talk about her solo show "Venus Apocalypse", education, influences and her perspective as a female artist. We divided the conversation into two parts because two is twice as nice. Huzzah!!!! Patricia Watwood, "Venus Awakes" oil on canvas, 38x34 inches, 2011 Manet, Olympia...
Mar 13, 2014•37 min
Hey Folks, In this episode of Suggested Donation we sit down with the amiable Patricia Watwood. We talk about her solo show "Venus Apocalypse", education, influences and her perspective as a female artist. We divided the conversation into two parts because two is twice as nice. Huzzah!!!! Patricia Watwood, "Venus Awakes", oil on canvas, 38x34 inches, 2011 Manet, Olympia...
Mar 13, 2014•41 min
Graydon Parrish, "Sean", oil on canvas Hey friends, In this episode we talk to the very talented artist, historian and educator Graydon Parrish about growing up in Texas, searching for a proper artistic education, his work with color theory and the future of classical art. There are even NYC police sirens! What more can you want?...
Mar 04, 2014•59 min
Tony and Ted uncomfortably take the mics for the first time!!! Hello friends! Ted and I met each other 20 years ago in New York City train tunnels doing grafitti. We talked about how much we loved to paint amongst the rats and grime and realized that we were big art nerds. We started this podcast as a way to talk about the arts, share our opinions and interview interesting artists about their craft. Yes, we are still big art nerds. Enjoy our ramblings! Tony...
Feb 15, 2014•55 hr 41 min
