Artist Antics With April

In this wide-ranging, wildly creative, and deeply human episode, we sit down with Sean BW Parker, an artist, writer, musician, poet, and one of the most genuinely disruptive creative voices coming out of the UK today. Based on the Sussex coast, Sean has spent a lifetime doing the thing most creatives only dream about: refusing to be contained by a single discipline, a single medium, a single meani...

In this honest, faith-filled, and wonderfully layered episode, we sit down with the remarkable Pamela S. Thibodeaux. She is an award-winning author, certified life coach, editor, speaker, and the bold creative voice behind the tagline "Inspirational with an Edge!"™ Based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Pamela has built an entire enterprise around one unwavering belief: that women deserve sto...

In this raw, honest, and deeply inspiring episode, I sit down with Ricky K. Meyer who is a fine artist, muralist, art teacher, and Army Veteran whose creative life is as layered and textured as what he paints. From childhood cartoons to oil painting portraits, from military service to thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Ricky's path to art has been anything but ordinary and that's exactly w...

In this vibrant and wide-ranging episode, we sit down with the remarkable Alyssa Noble — dance artist, choreographer, arts marketing consultant, and community builder whose work is as multidimensional as the stages she's graced. Based in Durham, NC, Alyssa has spent over a decade weaving together movement, storytelling, and community advocacy into a creative life that refuses to be contained b...

In this grounded, forward-thinking, and genuinely refreshing episode, I sit down with Malique Booker, a real estate professional, entrepreneur, and founder of GroupLoop. We discussed his platform that is built on one powerfully simple idea: people want to connect, but life keeps getting in the way. Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Malique brings over 15 years of sales and relationship-driven expe...

In this insightful and passion-filled episode, I sit down with modern quilter Charles Cameron, whose background in engineering brings a distinct, structural sensibility to the world of quilting. Charles's work lives at the intersection of precision, whimsy, and craft, where analytical thinking and artistic instinct meet on the same cutting mat. For Charles, quilting isn't just fabric and thread, i...

In this interesting and passion-filled episode, I sit down with the multi-talented Dee Bushrod, an international quilter, educator, and speaker whose work transforms photographs into striking, pixel-based quilt designs. Dee's art is rooted in craft turned obsession, drawing from 18+ years of quilting, a self-taught beginning on a secondhand sewing machine, and a discovery that would change the dir...

In this rich and rooted episode, we sit down with the multi-disciplinary artist Ana Carolina Hurant, a visual artist whose work weaves together encaustic painting, cyanotype printmaking, and botanical drawing to explore identity, land, and lineage. Carolina's art is very grounded, drawing from her South American heritage, her relationship to the natural world, and a deep curiosity about what p...

In this rich and revelatory episode, I sit down with the extraordinary Sara Koenig, a mixed-media visual artist whose layered works weave together history, photography, text, and abstraction into something that feels both ancient and deeply personal. Sara's creative process is as textured as the works themselves, rooted in curiosity, memory, and an unwavering belief in the power of shared huma...

In this rich and multifaceted episode of 'Artist Antics with April', I sit down with writer, poet, artist, and music collaborator Steven Finn—a creative whose work spans literature, sound, and visual art. A native of Rochester, New York, Steven’s journey has taken him across the country, from Virginia to California, Texas, and now North Carolina. All shaping a body of work rooted in moveme...

In this inspiring and down-to-earth episode, we sit down with Sheetrock Artist, John Olexa—an artist whose creativity transforms ordinary walls into bold visual statements. With nearly 20 years of experience in sheetrock artistry, Jon has built a unique path that blends craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and a relentless drive for personal growth. Based in the Raleigh area and a father of four adult...

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Kevin Crispin—an actor, speaker, and advocate whose work lives at the intersection of storytelling, mental health, and human connection. With a background that spans both the arts and the corporate world, Kevin brings a rare and powerful perspective to conversations that truly matter. Originally from Monticello, Illinois, and a gradu...

In this illuminating and soul-centered episode, I sit down with Annelies Gentile—a visionary whose work bridges inner transformation, creative expression, and conscious leadership. With a presence that is both grounding and expansive, Annelies guides others through change not by force, but from within.✨ As an Integrative Life and Leadership Coach, expressive and visual artist, facilitator, speake...

In this insightful and inspiring episode of Artist Antics with April, we sit down with portrait artist and writer Elaine Bankston—a creative whose work captures not only the likeness of her subjects, but the deeper essence of who they are. Elaine’s artistic journey is rooted in observation, storytelling, and a profound respect for human connection. Through both her visual art and her writing, she...

In this soulful and expansive episode, we sit down with Synthe Maria — makeup artist, educator, author of Artistry Unleashed: A Practical Framework for Creatives and Makeup Professionals, and creator of The VESSEL-a sculptural series. Synthe’s creative practice moves far beyond the surface. Through pigment, stone, and language, she invites deeper conversations about identity, embodiment, and creat...

In this soulful and thoughtful episode, we sit down with the multi-talented Sarah Kohrs—a singer-songwriter whose work blends heartfelt storytelling with an organic, intuitive creative process. Sarah’s music is rooted in authenticity, drawing from quiet reflection, lived experience, and a deep trust in inspiration when it arrives. For Sarah, songwriting isn’t just about crafting melodies—it’s abou...

In this powerful and soul-stirring episode, I sit down with Falsetto Prophet, a poet whose words move like music and land like truth. Through rhythm, vulnerability, and fearless honesty, Falsetto Prophet uses poetry as both mirror and megaphone—reflecting lived experience while amplifying what too often goes unspoken. His work isn’t just performed, it’s felt. Each piece carries cadence and convict...

In this vibrant and informative episode, we sit down with the deeply compelling Rachel Castaneda—a self taught muralist who paints murals in schools, businesses, and public spaces. Rachel's creative journey is one of reclamation and resilience. Her murals aren’t just decorative—they’re striking. They reclaim space, spark dialogue, and serve as vibrant meditations on collective and personal his...

Artist Antics With April | Interview with Emily Shearer — Poet-Novelist & Naïf Intuitive ArtisteIn this luminous and transporting episode of Artist Antics With April, I sit down with the evocative, soul-stirring Emily Shearer—a poet-novelist and naïf intuitive artiste whose work dissolves the boundaries between language, emotion, and spirit. Emily’s creative life is a tapestry woven from intui...

Artist Antics With April | Interview with Shannon Wickline — Producer, Composer, Session Musician & Keyboardist for The Artimus Pyle Band. In this electrifying and deeply insightful episode of Artist Antics With April, I sit down with the extraordinary Shannon Wickline—a producer, composer, session musician, and powerhouse keyboardist for The Artimus Pyle Band, the official tribute band led by...

Artist Antics With April | Interview with Ben Oliver, Co-Founder & Principal of Monkey Budget, A Comedy-First Agency for B2B Brands In this high-energy and wildly insightful episode of Artist Antics With April, I sit down with the brilliant, endlessly creative, and sharply funny Ben Oliver—Co-Founder and Principal of the innovative new comedy-first agency Monkey Budget. Ben’s journey through t...

Artist Antics With April | Interview with Tattoo Artist, Tara Ott-Donahue In this soulful and eye-opening episode of Artist Antics With April, I sit down with the magnetic and wildly talented Tara Ott-Donahue—a tattoo artist whose work blends fine-art mastery, emotional storytelling, and a devotion to transforming skin into living canvases. Tara’s journey into the world of tattooing is one of cour...

🎧 In this rich episode, we sit down with the multifaceted Ramah Malebranche—a musician, songwriter, composer, and producer whose sonic storytelling spans genres, generations, and geographies. From his early days crafting beats in Haiti to producing genre-bending albums, Ramah’s journey is one of relentless creativity, cultural fusion, and musical depth. Ramah is not just a performer—he’s an archi...

🎸 In this episode, we talk with the legendary Steve Arvey—a bass player, cigar box guitar pioneer, and electrifying bluesman whose music channels the raw power of American roots, the innovation of handmade instruments, and the grit of the Delta. From Chicago to international blues festivals, from juke joints to YouTube, Steve has carved a singular path through the heart of music history—one note,...

🎬 In this rich and reflective episode, we sit down with award-winning filmmaker, writer, and preservationist Jake Gorst—the visionary force behind MainSpringNarrative.org, and documentaries like Leisurama, Farmboy, Modern Tide, and more. Jake’s work bridges generations, architecture, memory, and place—capturing the spirit of 20th-century modernism, the quiet poetry of rural America, and the stori...