How do you get your mind out of it’s usual ruts to find new and exciting solutions and ideas for your creative work? It’s more than just looking for new inspiration. It takes a little mental remodeling. Find out more about this remodeling of the mind along with thoughts on learning design, embracing contradictions, and rising to the challenges that our art brings us. My guest Christine Dumont helps illuminate the reasons our brain gets stuck, offers steps to get ourselves out of our ruts, and sh...
Aug 26, 2023•54 min
Is making art, in essence, a selfish act, Or is it a generous act in that we are taking something of ourselves and putting it out into the world for others to enjoy? As it turns out it’s both and more. Come join me for this discussion of the role of generosity in our work, both for ourselves and others, the surprising way art encourages generosity in society, and some thoughtful views on how to adjust your ideas of selfishness to open ourself up to a more magnanimous and generous creative proces...
Aug 19, 2023•26 min
Are there things that you avoid doing or progression in your artistic career that you have not attempted because there are things you are uncomfortable with or just don't know where to start? Those are the kinds of things discussed with my guest, Meghana Giridhar, founder of Let’s Curate, an artist’s platform centered on a collaborative approach to selling art and connecting their artists with the best avenues for their creative endeavors. Join us as we discuss what holds some artists back, what...
Aug 12, 2023•56 min
Line is one of my favorite elements! It’s just so dynamic and has an inherent language that we’ve all come to recognize, although often unconsciously, that you as visual artists can use to direct the viewer and evocate emotion. The type of line, how it is applied or formed, or the way it travels across a surface or through space conveys all kinds of information making it one of the most communicative elements in design. Want to harness this power? Come join me for a quick but thorough overview o...
Aug 05, 2023•36 min
How often do you get into flow? Do you wish you could get into the zone at will? In this episode, Brett and I discuss the concept of flow, what it is, the many benefits it has for artists, how to get it on demand, and what to do when flow is difficult to achieve. There’s also something about a 70s waitress, walking funny, and Cheetos. But don’t let those distract you. It’s an information packed episode with maybe a dash or two of giggling so come join us in the podcast studio! Other Resources me...
Jul 29, 2023•54 min
What does making space mean for you and what kind of space do you need? Do you need more creative working space? Do you need more processing space? Do you need more personal space, more time for yourself, or more time for family in order to live a fulfilling creative life? In this episode, I get a little personal, maybe a little controversial, and expound upon the necessity of generous selfishness and how to make space for yourself creatively so you can make space and be there in other areas of ...
Jul 22, 2023•41 min
Come join Wendy and I for a colorful conversation full of surprising, alternate views about our identity as artists, and how to look at this astonishing artistic life we lead. Wendy opens up a view that is probably new to many of us, sharing the collaborative joy of a group of violence survivors she works with, the lessons that their struggles and success have to offer us, and her own gorgeously simple but profound thoughts on how to measure one’s daily success and accomplishments. - Contact my ...
Jul 15, 2023•58 min
intentional or have you not spent a lot of time considering them? This chat will give you a chance to consider pretty much everything about the design element of marks and mark making, with an eye to giving you a new appreciation for this humble but oh-so-important building block of visual art. I’m going to define what marks are, expand your idea of the possible different marks that can be made or found, go through the various ways you can use them, and talk about ways to mix and match types of ...
Jul 08, 2023•30 min
In this myth-busting episode, I discuss what we as artists really need to focus on and what we should understand about our materials and how what we do impacts the earth. Are you making conscious decisions about what you create and what you are comfortable working with in terms of the materials that express what you need to express while still being a responsible caretakers for this beautiful planet of ours? It is not an easy thing to figure out, but I’m going to try to help you understand the s...
Jul 01, 2023•42 min
How easily can you access your child side? Do you think can still see the world with childlike wonderment, a sense that everything around you is new and you are filled with curiosity? My guest on this episode, Layl McDill, approaches her unique sculptural work, and her way of seeing the world, through wonderment—a way of looking at what the world has to offer with a childlike curiosity. We talk about her lifelong focus on art, her child magnatism, her magical life as a working artist and expert ...
Jun 24, 2023•52 min
Do you think you have issues with preciousness? Does your sense of preciousness bring you joy or is it a detriment? I’ll talk about ways this sometimes skewed sense of value can get in our way and what to do with it, but also a bit about how to embrace preciousness in an encouraging and meaningful way. I share some of my personal struggles with this including cautionary stories and how I work through or with those moments preciousness threatens to limit or paralysis me. So come join me for this ...
Jun 16, 2023•36 min
Do you as an artist focus on just one medium or one genre of work and really, really stick to that and master it? Or do you have a lot of different interests and have a hard time focusing or getting anything accomplished? Brett Varon joins me, as a guest this time, to discuss being a very focused artist compared to crazy people like me, Sage, who have multiple mediums and genres going all the time. Come along with us as we explore what it really means to be a focused artist, the advantages and d...
Jun 10, 2023•42 min
How often do you think about contrast in your creations? What is your definition of it? Join me on this first design focused episode discussing the wonderful and crazy principle of contrast. It might not be what you think it is and the many ways you can use it to better communicate through your work may even be quite surprising. My idea is to talk about design on the first episode of the month, something we can revisit throughout the month, just little bits at a time, making learning or relearni...
Jun 03, 2023•30 min
Show Notes : This might be a truth-seeking kind of episode because, first of all, you’ll want to identify how you handle limitations. Do you rally against them or walk away feeling defeated? Do you give up and move onto something else? On the other hand, can you recall some instances where things didn’t go anything like you expected and yet, you ended up with a piece you absolutely loved or an approach that has now become a standard in your repertoire of techniques, maybe even a defining style? ...
May 27, 2023•36 min
How important is it to you to finish most, if not all, the projects you start? And how do you know when it’s “done”? Brett Varon joins me for an adventurous chat on the subject of finishing art pieces. As it turns out, you don’t need to! Not necessarily. But if you want help finishing more work, we have a myriad of ways to accomplish that. We’ll explore the purpose of completing your work, why and when you might be better off leaving things incomplete, the fascinating world of non-finito, and ou...
May 20, 2023•45 min
How do you handle the fear that comes with trying something new, unfamiliar, or risky? In this episode, I share my own present fears about a new direction with my own art, how to properly acknowledge fear for what it is for and to you, and ways to work through it when it is stopping you from something you really want to do. This is a short one that might need to be revisited but it will get started on considering not only how you handle your own fear but how to support others as they face their ...
May 12, 2023•16 min
Who am I creating art for and why? Who do you think about when you think about selling or sharing your work? Are they individuals or a faceless crowd? Yes, I venturing into a conversation that revolves around selling but even if you don’t sell, considering the value of your work, even if it’s just to show to online viewers or give to family and friends, can really help increase the joy you get out your creative process and your artistic life. I think you’ll also be surprised at some of the fault...
May 05, 2023•35 min
Could you use more community in your artistic life? Have you discovered the wide range of connections available to you as an artist on and off line? My guest in this episode is Megan Skelton, a self-taught urban sketch artist known for her whimsical and cheery watercolor and pen depictions of city life. Although she hasn’t been on her artistic path long, she has already achieved her top two artistic dreams and beyond while also cultivating a very full and active community life both on and off li...
Apr 29, 2023•53 min
Did you know your artistic mind needs a special kind of downtime to be its most creative? Do you give your imagination the right circumstances to play, innovate, and recharge? And how comfortable are you just doing nothing because that is largely what it takes to recharge the creative mind. In this episode, I talk about a particular kind of downtime we NEED as artists called unfocused time. I define what it’s not, why you need it, and how to achieve it so that your imagination and creative think...
Apr 22, 2023•36 min
How do you deal with change? How do we plan for and work with change that steers our creative journey in unexpected directions? Although we don’t have all the answers, my guest today, Joseph Barbaccia, an artist illustrator with a unique style and fascinating approach that is not unlike translating paint strokes into clay strokes has been through a lot of change in his creative life. He shares his insights along with taking us on some side trips that include things like talking about your work w...
Apr 15, 2023•54 min
Do you strive for perfection in your creative work only to find it sucks the joy out of the process or keeps you from accomplishing more in your life? Perfectionism, for all that we are feed the idea the we need to be as perfect as possible, can get in the way of attaining your version of success, if not be down right ruinous for you and your art. In this episode, I discuss the ways perfectionism presents itself, why it’s problematic, why we do this to ourselves, and ways to combat it so you can...
Apr 08, 2023•42 min
Who is your audience and what is your relationship with them? What are you providing or sharing with your audience and what do you need from them? A co-host artist’s chat, Brett and I work through everything from who we create for to whether we need an audience to why audience size is irrelevant and more. We really dig down to the essence of the value of what we do for the wider world as well as for the enrichment of our own lives. Gain new and surprising perspectives on what you do for others w...
Mar 31, 2023•43 min
Do you consciously look at the world through your lens as an artist? In other words, do you stop to consider how you are seeing things and make a conscious effort to look at the world without bias or expectations and with intention? Doing this takes vigilance and practice, but most importantly, it takes awareness of the issues that stop you from seeing the world as it really is or what it could be. In this episode, Sage outlines how the brain interprets visual information, discussing the way it ...
Mar 25, 2023•39 min
Practice, iteration, discipline, commitment… do these concepts bring up a sense of dread or conjure images of tedious repetition when associated with your artistic process? Well, we might just change your view on that after listening to this episode. In “Transformational Practice”, I speak with Ginger Davis Allman, the head guru and creator of The Blue Bottle Tree, an essential informational and tutorial resource for polymer makers of all levels. We talked about what practice really means for va...
Mar 18, 2023•46 min
What do you do to keep your Muse well-fed and happy? We know we need to feed it, know that inspiration is important to our creative endeavors but what do we actively do to ensure that happens on a regular basis. That's what this little chat here is all about. I'll help you see your muse as something that is within your control to bolster and talk about the many ways you can do that even when its hard because of time constraints or a lack of motivation. So grab a cup of something exciting and yum...
Mar 10, 2023•21 min
How do you feel about critique? Do you welcome it? Do you avoid it? What does or would the purpose of critique be in your artistic process assuming you would want to take advantage of all the wonderful things it can do for you? Sound serious? Well, we’re not! There is a ton of fun and silliness to be had around this sometimes scary subject. Since Brett and I have been critiquing and being critiqued all through our lives, and since we both love it for various reasons, I thought we’d do this one t...
Mar 03, 2023•48 min
Are you looking for a challenge aimed at helping you develop a more singular focus or are you looking for ways to make your art more accessible and desirable for galleries, shows, publications, wholesale, etc? My guest Deonne Kahler and I talk about the process of creating a series or themed body of work and the advantages and challenges of taking on this type of project. We also touch on ideas and skills that could just add some fire and focus to your present your artistic process. Deonne Kahle...
Feb 25, 2023•49 min
Do you prefer to primarily work in one medium and technique that gives you an easily identifiable style but makes you feel like a one trick pony, or do you have a variety of interests that might make your style and voice a bit difficult to pin down, but you wonder if you should focus more? Or are you somewhere in between? In this episode, I aim to help you idenfity how many grooves (aka focuses) your path can handle with an eye to getting past preconceived ideas you may have from what you see ot...
Feb 18, 2023•30 min
How do you feel about AI creating “art”? Is it something you’d want to explore, or have already? Or would you prefer to completely extricate it from the halls of the artistic world, never to cast it’s algorithmic shadow on us again? In this rollercoaster of an episode we explore AI from multiple angles. Bringing my good friend, author and game designer Jim Brown, along for the ride, we explore the process of creating AI imagery, how it’s presently being used, the possible advantages of AI for ar...
Feb 11, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Do you see yourself as an artist? Why or why not? Do you give your artistic self the permission, love, and priority in your life that it deserves and that you need? The conversation today is centered around the idea of becoming or growing as an artist and really owning the idea of what that means so you can pursue a fullfilling and successful artistic life. My guest, Melanie West, an artist with a chronic case of curiosity, doesn’t define her artistic identity by any one of the wide variety of m...
Feb 04, 2023•42 min
