Art Pays Me

I spoke with performance artist, musician and producer Russell Louder (they/them) about their creative process and the meaning behind some of the songs on their new album, Humor. We also talked about coping through the pandemic, what it's like working with a record label and why it's important for them to be involved in the writing and production of their music. Russell Online Listen to Humor  Twi...

Woodcarver Jennifer Marlow discusses her creative process, common subjects in her work and how she balances the various aspects of her practice that includes independent projects, commissions and teaching. Thank you to  Craft Nova Scotia  for making this series possible and  Arts Nova Scotia  for the additional support. Jennifer Online: Website Instagram

Singer-songwriter and performer, Gisun talks about her new collaborative cover of Violeta Parra's song Gracias a la Vida that she initiated to raise awareness for the benefits of music therapy. The song features fellow musicians Ada Lea , Sans Soucis , Bianca Muñiz , Joy Morales , Luz Pinos,   Alper Tuzcu and Stephen Orr. We also talk about how Gisun's intersecting cultural identities impact who s...

Lori Nason, The Fused Glass Diva shares how she turned a hobby in glass into a business after working in studios in the US. We talk about the origin of the Diva moniker, how painting plays a part in her process and why she's drawn to glass as a medium. We also got into the importance of pricing your products appropriately and how language is important when marketing your work.   Thank you to Craft...

Musician and Filmmaker Mobley talks about his new record, Young & Dying in the Occident Supreme and how he inserts important topics into very catchy pop songs. Mobley also does his own visual work so we dig into the benefit and challenges of being a multi-disciplinary artist, how being Black changes how your work is perceived and how artists can be exploited by capitalism on social media and strea...

In episode one of the six part Craft Pays Me Series, I speak with Ceramic Artist, Toni Losey about her creative process, her influences and managing a creative practice that includes both functional and boundary pushing sculptural work. We also talk about how having different aspects of your practice can make promoting yourself on social media complicated, adjusting to the pandemic and how she was...

I spoke with Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne of Toronto-based JUNO-nominated and Independent Music Award winning Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble OKAN. We discussed their latest album, Espiral, how COVID-19 has impacted their work and why their Afro-Cuban heritage is so important to their art. We also discussed the impacts of colonialism and some aspects of Cuban culture that are often misunderst...

I share my perspective on 2020 and what I hope to see in 2021.

Multidisciplinary Creative, Perri Furbert discusses how following her passion for revamping shoes led to opportunities in wardrobe styling and eventually her Gold The Label brand. We discuss her product development process, having a hit product like her Girlfriends Tee, and the role God plays in her creative process. She also talks about the importance of business knowledge in a creative pursuit a...

R&B singer Keonté Beals talks about his transition from singing gospel music in church to pursuing a career as an R&B singer and the importance of vulnerability in his songwriting and production. We also dig into his new album, titled King, his new company KBeals Entertainment and why talent isn't enough to be successful. Keonté Online Website Instagram Twitter

This episode is an artist talk hosted by me that was facilitated by the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University (NSCADU). The talk is by their first virtual Visiting Artist in Residence in Film and Media Studies, Fabienne Colas. Fabienne talks about her journey from Haiti to Canada, creating 9 successful film festivals, being named one of Canada's top 100 most powerful women in 2019 and l...

Fibre Artist, Author and Blogger, Jen Meza talks about pivoting into her creative pursuits after losing her job during the pandemic. We learn about her woven wall hangings, her love for travel and why she created the Our Best N.S. Adventure Journal, her start in blogging and how she found success on Etsy and Amazon. Jen Online Website Settling For Great Instagram Fringe Street Designs Instagram

Designers and Retailers Ana and Zac talk about the history of their new brand Ana + Zac, their design philosophy and the importance of sourcing sustainably. We also talk about supply chain, shifting priorities during the pandemic and I even share some insight into my design and production process. Ana + Zac Online Website Instagram

Visual Designer and Artist, Anthony Grant and I talk about his origin story as an artist and designer and the thinking behind his work that blurs the lines between design and art. We also talk about how our paths crossed and the visibility of Black people in the design industry. Anthony online Instagram LinkedIn Website Black Designers Ignite

Cartoonist and Filmmaker, Josh Rodgers and I discuss his influences, working on kid friendly cartoons by day, and adult cartoons like Henry vs the Reptilian Overlords from the Cosmos by night. Josh also offers some career advice for animators and why he doesn't think going to university is necessary. Josh Online: https://mushfacecomics.com/ Instagram YouTube Troma

Dylan Edwards is a Writer, Artist and Animator based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We talk about how he got into the animation industry, how it's been impacted by COVID-19 and why so few people know the Halifax studios that contribute to the industry. We also talk about the value of intellectual property, why it's good to work on independent side projects and why it's important to   understand business...

Textile Artist, Quilt Designer, Author and Educator Andrea Tsang Jackson talks about her transition from architecture, to exhibit design, to making her creative escape, quilting her full-time pursuit. She shares the emotional impact of doing creative work as a mom and non-Black or Indigenous woman of colour during the pandemic and social uprisings. We also talked about the "model minority" concept...

Artist, Shannon Ellis and I talk about her sci-fi and fantasy inspired work, our mutual fascination with Japanese animation and why she loves crows. We also talk about Shannon's role with The Creative Kick, a Halifax based organization that helps creatives expand their social circles and share knowledge and resources. Shannon Online Twitter Instagram Website The Creative Kick  

David Strickland is a Grammy Award winning multidisciplinary artist, producer, engineer, DJ and activist. We discuss his music and visual art influences, how connected Indigenous cultures are to hip-hop and his experience with having his Indian status revoked. David shares what it was like working with Drake and the OVO camp and hip-hop legends like EPMD , Redman , Method Man , Kardinal Offishall...

Multidisciplinary Visual Artist Chantel Gushue and I talk about how she incorporates science into her art practice, parenting during the pandemic, why she's not a fan of the traditional "class crit" in art education and why graphic designers make good jewellers. We also talk about our time at NSCAD University and how fostering relationships with other artists can lead you to exciting new opportuni...

Food branding consultant Sunil Sarwal talks about the benefit of specialization in a service based creative business. We learn about their creative process, why they got into the industry, how they determine what to charge clients and why it's important to discuss budget very early in the project. Sunil Online Website Twitter: Sunil Twitter: The Small Monsters

Stand Up Comic Eman El-Husseini and I talk about why comedy is a great way to discuss tough topics, being a Canadian in New York during the 2020 Pandemic, why she's not afraid to say things in her comedy that will upset people and how her identity as a Palestinian lesbian blurs the line between her work and personal life. Eman Online: Handsome Daughter Twitter Instagram The El-Salomons The El-Salo...

Maggie Rahr is an award winning multimedia Investigative Journalist. I discovered Maggie through her podcast 'What Happened to Holly Bartlett' that was featured in Oprah magazine (2019), and was a finalist in the Atlantic Journalism Awards. We talked about how the podcast came about, what it means to be an investigative journalist, how she finds work, parenting during a pandemic and we go deep on...

Multidisciplinary Artist Bria Miller participates in almost every aspect of creativity. She talks about her work, what motivates her, why women and race issues are prominent in her visual art and why she won't settle on one art medium. We also talk about the recent and very sudden appreciation for her Black Lives Matter themed work. Bria Online: Website Instagram

Emmanuel Nwogbo is a Nigeria born, Visual Artist based in Montreal, Canada. We talked about how The Rona has impacted his career, what he thinks about the civil unrest we're experiencing across the world and how a daily creative project he did to improve his technical skills led to awards and major growth in his following. We also talked about how design and art schools could do more to prepare th...