Phillip J. Mellen
ahtcast
Hello Listeners,Welcome. My name is Phillip J. Mellen and I hail from the state of Massachusetts, USA. Hence the ‘Bostonian accent’ stand-in: /"aht/" for /"art/". It’s ahtcast. Ahtcast is a word, a partially made up word. It is a podcast. It is a podcast that aims to discover the passions, through the investigation of process, of the artist and their work, studio practice and inspirations etc. The backbone of each interview is the set of questions that are asked in each interview. They are a vehicle for dialogue. They are designed to gain insights and are a catalyst for open conversation. Thes...
Author
Phillip J. Mellen
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Mar 2, 2026
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Episodes
Renee Robbins Interview | Part Two 26.01.2020 27:43
Words of the day: art. community. Chicago. commission. tea. Welcome to Part Two of the Renee Robbins interview! In this episode Renee talks about the Chicago based art podcast Bad at Sports, as well some of the artists working in the Chicago art scene and how they enrich the art community both in and out of the studio... And be sure to stay tuned as Vincent van Gogh makes his way into the conversa...
Renee Robbins Interview | Part One 21.01.2020 1:04:59
Words of the day: microscopic. invented. cinematic. fantastical. Chicago. This episode features Chicago based painter Renee Robbins. I think it's safe to say that there is plenty of enthusiasm on display in this interview regarding sea creatures, titling artwork, connecting with biologists, working in a series, and public artwork... In this episode Renee shares quite a bit about her fascinating Da...
Kate Frazer Rego Interview 02.10.2019 44:10
Words of the day: inspiration. threshold. aging. narrative. nuance. New Bedford, MA based artist Kate Frazer Rego is this episode's guest. Kate shares how it was important to receive support in her younger years as an artist. As a result, she knew early on that 3-dimensional work was where she was headed. Though Kate does also make text based paintings to extend her subject matter. The interview t...
Heather Yip Interview 28.08.2019 46:10
Words of the day: the void. garfield. investigational. myth. poetry. device. Heather Yip, based in British Columbia, Canada, joins ahtcast to talk all things contemporary communication and how it fits nicely, and not so nicely into our lives. Heather's art practice translates her ideas into assemblage, painting, poetry, and video. We talk medium and themes behind the work quite a bit, and it all t...
Thomas Flanagan Interview 29.04.2019 37:46
Words of the day: jazz. experience. feel. sound. vibration. Painter Thomas Flanagan joins ahtcast from Brunswick, Maine for this episode. We talk studio space, how Maine influences his work, as well as music both in and out of the studio. Early experiences in art school, and how Tom came to use the tools currently part of his studio life! Listen in for more... The artist's website: http://thom...
Kevin Callaghan Interview 24.02.2019 38:59
Words of the day: bank. relevant. trust. time. forever. Kevin Callaghan, artist based in Glasgow, joins ahtcast for this interview. Kevin shares a bit about color and how it might just need to be dynamic in order to be released from his studio. He also talks scale as a result of my bringing up the word "artifact" when reacting to an aspect of his work. Kevin humors me in offering to answer my "Wha...
Brigid Watson Interview 01.01.2019 53:35
Words of the day: drawing. color. cement. time. view-finder. Boston based painter Brigid Watson is ahtcast's guest this time around. You may remember Brigid from The Mixed-Media Tapes recordings where she spoke in depth about color, and metaphysics. I have invited her back for a full length interview about her process here on the podcast. Brigid answers my questions about drawing, how long it take...
Revisited: Sabine Tress and Phillip J. Mellen in Conversation 31.10.2017 1:09:15
Words of the day: pink. zen. sad. challenge. change. contrast. Sabine Tress, painter based in Cologne, Germany returns to ahtcast for this episode. Having originally been interviewed back in 2013, I thought it was time to check in with Sabine to talk about changes, feelings on the studio, paintings, methods and materials, relationships to other artists etc. You'll find this recording to be more of...
Kat Knutsen Interview | Working on the Loving Vincent film 09.09.2017 25:30
Words of the day: brushstroke. animate. palette. blue. technique. New Bedford, Massachusetts based artist Kat Knutsen joins ahtcast to talk about her experience working on the Loving Vincent film. Loving Vincent is an animated film, telling an important part of the Vincent van Gogh story, using oil paintings created in the style of the artist himself. Working at the film's painting studio in Gdan...
Katie Wynne Interview | Part Two 03.04.2017 51:46
Words of the day: perimeter. definition. koan. bottomless. whir. Welcome to part two of the interview with Katie Wynne. Katie is based in Philadelphia and is currently installing work for her two person show, with Haynes Riley, titled "Familiars" that opens at Sediment Arts in Richmond, Virginia on Friday April 7th 2017. In this episode we discuss, at length, elements of the installation as part o...
Katie Wynne Interview | Part One 02.04.2017 26:35
Words of the day: stasis. gizmo. banal. abandon. escape. Welcome Philadelphia based installation artist, Katie Wynne. Here during part one we weave through some of the work leading up to Katie's latest work in her forthcoming two person show, with artist Haynes Riley, titled "Familiars" at Sediment Arts in Richmond, Virginia on April 7th 2017. We will discuss where Katie is coming from with the wo...
Petra Nimtz Interview 23.01.2017 21:46
Words of the day: shape. spontaneous. line. palatte. materials. Welcome. In this episode, Woodstock, NY based artist Petra Nimtz shares thoughts and experiences in art making, and maintaining a studio while moving around over the years. She also has a thing or two to say about art training, both in school, and on ones own. Petra gives us a window into her inherent practice that utilizes creative f...
Kevin P. Kelly Interview 25.09.2016 31:18
Words of the day: drawing. ubiquitous. immortalize. conflict. Wichita , KS based painter, Kevin P. Kelly shares his thoughts and working methods used in his Sketch Of the Day project. Irony, humor, and tension are just a few elements considered when picking objects to paint for Kevin in this series. Listen in as he describes the deconstructing of objects in his compositions and what that means to...
Kimberly Rowe Interview 20.05.2016 58:39
Words of the day: discovery. palindrome. jazz. illusion. intuitive. Oakland, California based artist, Kimberly Rowe, is the guest for this interview. Kimberly shares elements of her working practices including working on the floor, for larger pieces, which stems from her childhood, how a specific song helps to shape her painting philosophy, and the importance and lasting impression Graduate School...
Joanne Freeman Interview 03.02.2016 31:29
Words of the day: formal. direct. witty. freshness. Ahtcast is back. This time I spoke with NYC artist, Joanne Freeman. Inspirations, community vs. isolation in art school, and working in a series are all the topics discussed. Listen in to Joanne as she also shares her thoughts the formal qualities of painting, she also talks a bit on working with the figure, yes. The artist's website: http://www....
Katy Stone Interview 06.11.2015 56:55
Words of the day: parts. ontology. suggestive. gravity. distilled. Seattle based artist, Katy Stone, joins ahtcast to share her thoughts and process. Making and looking are very important to Stone's studio practice, it brings a greater spontaneous element to her work. Duality can be found in the work such as organic, and calculated gestures. Listen in as the materials used in this assemblage work...
Sue Danielson Interview 18.08.2015 29:56
Words of the day: mistakes. space. process. scale. conversation. Sue Danielson, painter based in Seattle, joins me in this conversation about her work and the experiences that surround it. Process, process, process is the main element keeping Danielson's practice together and quietly strong. Listen in as she details her fascination with printmaking and experimentation. The artist's website: http:/...
Martina Nehrling Interview 08.06.2015 57:30
Words of the day: optimism. audible. flying. direct. whale. Martina Nehrling, painter based in Chicago, joins ahtcast to talk process, scale of the work, and how some pieces require a lot of "think time." Martina Nehrling also shares her reasons for wanting to have had the chance to speak with a special list of artists who's work means a lot to her and her being an artist. Please tune in as I also...
Brenda Hope Zappitell Interview 23.09.2014 19:28
Words of the day: intuitive. doodle. travel. process. environment. Splitting her studio time between Santa Fe, NM and Delray Beach, FL, Brenda Hope Zappitell finds her work heavily influenced and inspired by travel and life experiences. Family and scheduling studio time are also part of the gig. Movement, gesture and energy all come to mind as Zappitell translates these factors into her expression...
Jennifer Shepard Interview 08.09.2014 46:24
Words of the day: simultaneous. absurd. journey. celebration. intervention. Brooklyn, NY artist, Jennifer Shepard joins ahtcast and shares a bit on her art and practice. Early on, Shepard was active in both art and music, and thought it was tough to decide which to focus on. As an artist in adult life, things appear to be a little clearer in the way that location, art community, and an organic stu...
Ian White Williams Interview 23.06.2014 59:50
Words of the day: immediacy. environment. intimate. respond. This interview is with Ian White Williams. With roots as a sculptor, Williams finds himself drawing and painting as of late. He gives us a history of 'why the shift to painting?' Also in this interview, Ian shares what has helped him stay connected and current on what is going on in contemporary painting, and how this continues to be val...
Adam Lovitz Interview 20.05.2014 1:03:53
Words of the day: immediate. energy. inform. nature. color. This interview is with Philadelphia based painter, Adam Lovitz. We dig in and talk a bit about education and how Lovitz was encouraged to create daily while growing up. Balancing work and painting can be a challenge, listen in as he shares how he has dealt with that issue. Nature also comes up and we talk the importance of it's image in p...
Fiona Stanbury Interview 18.03.2014 38:48
Words of the day: shape. space. arrangement. up-side-down. London based artist, Fiona Stanbury, shares her thoughts on painting and process in this interview. Inspiring to Stanbury, early on, was her time living in Africa, she details that the "Colors, deep shadows and..." were part of what she took away from her time there. Also inspirational was her studies under painter, Stass Paraskos, who was...
Stephen Wright Interview 02.03.2014 32:57
Words of the day: grid. imagination. fundamental. intentional, and pair. Stephen Wright, based in Kentucky, is a painter deeply moved by color, not just any color, but greys. Wright talks at length about his relationship with the perceived meaning of his work by others and would prefer... As one who works on a number of series at once, Wright is interested in how each approach has it's independenc...
Podcasting Painters: David A. Linneweh and Phillip J. Mellen 14.02.2014 46:00
Words of the day: share. stories. share. community building. share. David A. Linneweh joins ahtcast to share his experiences as host of the esteemed Studio Break podcast. Linneweh talks about the beginning of his podcast and how it has grown to enrich his own studio practice as a painter. Listen in as we both express some of the rewards and inspiring aspects of hosting an artist interview podcast....
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