The Sage Arts

How often, when you are creating something, do you ask yourself “What kind of texture do I want?” Or, more importantly, “Why did I choose this texture?” I think we can all agree that texture is an extremely important part of all types of arts and crafts, but why do you choose a smooth texture versus a rough texture? Or a simple texture versus a busy one? What is that mysterious decision making pro...

For Episode #42, I couldn't go small. This had to be the answer to life, the universe, and everything (nod to my fellow nerds out there who get the reference.) But seriously, this is a really full, rich episode contemplating everything from the source of our unique voice to how to process inspiration to combating the overwhelming noise of today's modern world. In this essential discussion, I break...

What is your relationship with simplicity in your creative endeavors? Have you ever explored the many advantages of learning to create simple pieces, even if it’s just for practice or exploratory work? Well, whether you have or not, you can get a lot out of this conversation come with ideas about how to recognize the essence of your work through the ideas of simplicity, how to apply it to your exp...

Do you find any aspect of your art making process easy or are you looking for ways to make it easier, simpler, looking for shortcuts, and why? And in what area do you do that? In this episode, Brett and I wander through the highs and lows of the artistic struggle, try to define art itself, and work on defining when, if ever, we should be looking for easier ways to create and what that could mean f...

What is the role of shape and form in your art? Do you have standard shapes and forms that you find you default to or are you constantly searching for the right ones? Join me in this third installment of my design lessons series for an overview of an often sidelined couple of elements—shape and form. I’ll talk about how to define them, what they can add to your work, and ways to think beyond the u...

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 help...

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 ad...

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...

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 communicat...

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 ep...

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...

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 s...

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...

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 plan...

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 ab...

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 thro...

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...

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, so...

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 app...

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...

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 starte...

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...

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 artist...

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 defi...

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...