BrushStrokes of Being

In Episode 67 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Susan Hensel. Susan is a multidisciplinary artist, with a 50+ year career. Susan received her BFA from the University of Michigan with a double major in painting and sculpture and a concentration in ceramics. She combines a mixed media practice with embroidery across digital and manual platforms. She also makes sculptures and wall art using the...

In Episode 66 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Tammy Walters. Tammy Walters is a British Modern Contemporary Artist based in the heart of Lancashire UK. She is best recognised for her bold and illustrative equine and animal paintings. Her artistic development is deeply influenced by her passion for animals and her strong relationship with her family and her love of music. She is Influenced...

As you probably know, the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam had an exhibition about Vermeer. It had a huge press, marketing was full-stop on it, and tickets were sold out before the doors opened. So, Let’s Talk Vermeer! In this episode, I want to discuss the documentary I have watched: Close To Vermeer and propose a way we might look at Vermeer’s art. With all the tech available, how deep should we g...

In episode 64 of Art Talk, I like to ponder on the psychology of collecting art. I am an Art Historian and a portrait artist, trained in drawing and painting life. Portraits are still very much wanted, but in my research I found different subjects like abstract, still life, cityscapes, digital art etc. striving for popularity. I wondered what the psychology of collecting art is and if that is topi...

In episode 63 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Laura O Hare, director of the VAA (Visual Artists Association). Laura O’Hare is responsible for leading the artistic and business development at VAA. She has been working in the Fine Arts sector since 2012 and is a founder of the Visual Artists Association. Presently, she is a Director of the Visual Art Open Awards and Chester Arts Fair, she ha...

In episode 62 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Natalie Rigby. Natalie is an art historian, curator and broadcaster. She is an inclusion focussed Curator with specialisms in Modern and Contemporary British Art. Natalie’s practice centres around making art, exhibitions and collections accessible to everyone and de-mystifying academia to open up the industry to all audiences. She has sub...

This is episode 61 of Art Talk. In this episode, I briefly discuss why colour theory is key, and the knowledge of how to use oil paint is one of the first things a painter needs to know. “It is a form of self-deception, or perhaps merely a convenient excuse, to say that the materials of the old masters were better than those of today, and that the splendid preservation of many of their pictures is...

In episode 60 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Jessica Sheehan. Jessica Sheehan is an artist born in Australia, living in London who paints portraits, still life and animals. We discuss art teaching, observational teaching, inspiration and some art history. Website Jessica Instagram Support Art Talk Contact Me This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscriber...

In Episode 56 of Art Talk, I talk about art teaching or instant gratification and the importance of learning the proper skills of representational art. I start by quoting the introduction of an essay named: “What Happened To Art Education?” In The JackDaw Magazine , and a quote by Dr Iain mcGilchrist from his book The Master And His Emissary . Both are imperative for the thought process of this ep...

In Episode 58 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Claire Knill. Claire creates beautiful mobiles that keep you focussed, she also makes beautiful reliefs and uses textiles. Central themes in her work explore the uplifting power of movement and colour and how they can influence our moods and emotions. Claire’s style is characterised by intriguing colour combinations, geometric forms and a...

In Episode 57 of Art Talk, I meet Painters Conservator Kristin deGethaldi. Kristin deGhetaldi holds a BA in Chemistry, an MA in Art Conservation from the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation specialising in easel paintings, and a PhD in Preservation Studies from the University of Delaware. She has held internships and contract positions at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the...

Episode 56 is dear to my heart. I will discuss why it is so important to Don’t Fall Into The Self-Taught Trap. More often than not, I see people writing or hear them saying that they are ‘fully self-taught’ artists. In previous episodes, we talked about craftsmanship, my guest, artist Joan Marie, said that it is so important, and also to make sure that creativity needs to be deve...

A Colour of Splash with Nick Ferguson is a discussion about his art, questions of life, communication and much more. Nicolas and I met at The Other Art Fair, and I was highly interested in how he uses his intuition to paint, especially portraits surrounded by the insights he receives. He paints with many colours, writes poetry and has a surrealistic view. He likes to provoke the viewer as well as...

Karen Van Hoey Smith – A Remarkable Interview, is the episode of Art Talk where we discuss art, what makes collectors tick and how she helps artists as a mentor. Karen Van Hoey Smith is an art director, mentor and educator. I had the privilege to meet her at a networking event in London, The Other Art Fair and attended one of her strategy sessions with the VAA (The Visual Artists Association...

This is episode 53 and today I have a guest I met at The Other Art Fair in London 2 weeks ago. Jenny Mørk – Sisterhood & Symbiosis, she is an Artist from Norway. She is a painter, poet and musician. Her art made me stop because something in it touched me. It appeared we shared some ideas. In this episode, we talk about her studies in France, her beautiful art that made me stop at her boo...

In Art Talk episode 51 I have an interview with Ramona Pintea, the artist friend who conquered the world with her ‘Urban Queen’ and ‘Wear Your Crown’ paintings. Ramona is an artist who I met in 2020 when we both were in an art marketing course. Soon Ramona left and took off on her own to conquer the world with her Urban Queen series. She has a very interesting background as...

In Episode 51 of Art Talk, I have a Book Review: Good Art Doesn’t Sell Itself . A Book that every artist needs to read and start implementing in the art business. The brilliance of this book is that it is set up in 3 parts, or rather steps and has in total 75 short guides with actions you can take. Not every step is necessary for every artist. Step one is Mindset & Habits, and step two i...

Episode 50 of Art Talk is the interview with Joan Marie. Something I wanted to do for a long time. I have a conversation with Joan Marie who is a fabulous craftswoman. We have a conversation about the skills and craft needed to do what we like most. Joan Marie’s intense dedication to art began in 1969 after being deeply inspired by Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Since then her artistic influence r...

In Episode 49 of Art Talk, I have a very exciting interview with Shirley-Ann O’Neill Shirley-Ann O’Neill is the director and co-founder of the Visual Art Open. This is an international art prize for emerging artists. She is also the director and co-founder of the (VAA) Visual Artists Association. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a lot of knowledge to artists around the world. Visual Ar...

This episode of Art Talk is a more philosophical and slightly provocative reading of the gaze of a 17th-century girl. The Rijks Museum Amsterdam has the most extensive retrospective of Vermeer in history. Johannes Vermeer was born in 1632 and passed in 1675. He lived in Delft his whole life. He presumably received lessons from Carel Fabritius (1622-1654) or Leonaert Bramer (1596-1674). Rijksmuseum...

Episode 47 of Art Talk is all about The Mystery & The Magic in Art. By comparing two different methods used, the constructive method and the sight-size method. Where is the mystery and how do we see the magic in art? Frances Bell Paintings Instagram Facebook Contact This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brushst...

Episode 46 of Art Talk is all about the power of telling stories with art. Stories are a great way to communicate and engage with your audience. Telling stories is what captivates audiences. People love stories, and it may not sound like it, but everyone has a story to tell, multiple stories even. The world is built on stories. Switching my music practice to the painting practice I found the same....

In episode 45 of Art Talk, I discuss how craftsmanship is seen in all great art. ‘The most important thing an artist needs to know is how to see. Da Vinci. Da Vinci’s style combined accurate observation and sensitive imagination.’ My day was over, and I sat with my last tea before bed, reading about Camille Claudel. “A photograph dating from 1899 shows Camille Claudel, then...

In Episode 44 of Art Talk, I will discuss the focus artists need when they have to switch from art to business We all know that energy flows where Focus goes. One of the first biographers of Leonardo Da Vinci wrote: “in learning and in the rudiments of letters he would have made great proficiency, if he had not been so variable and unstable, for he set himself to learn many things, and then,...

Episode 43 of Art Talk is all about one word: Allowing. It is a word often used, however, how much do we as artists or women, put that to practice? Do you allow Yourself To Be The Artist You Are? Recently, I received a book recommendation and as an avid reader, I immediately downloaded it to my kindle. The Story Of Art Without Men . Wow, as a portrait artist with the mission to empower women, and...