The CraftSanity Podcast

This Saturday, April 18, the CraftSanity team will be among the hundreds of comics and zine fans who are expected to swarm a concert venue in Lansing, Michigan, for the second Lansing Independent Comics and Zine Fest (LICZ!). https://www.liczfest.com/ The show attracted more than 600 people in its inaugural year, and the one-man band LICZ! organizer and art enabler, Jimmy “Soup” Coyer, is cautious...

Rhiannan Sibbald, a Grand Rapids based illustrator and muralist, shares how she got her start, how to break into public art, mural tips, and how to get paid for your work! Zines! Zines! Zines! You can read a free zine of Rhiannan’s advice here https://craftsanity.com/rhiannan-sibbald/, or order a physical copy https://craftsanityshop.com/products/dear-art-student-zines. Keep up with Rhiannan! Chec...

This week Jennifer and Abby are bringing you an interview with Sean Dempsey! Sean is a self-published comic artist and illustrator who travels all over the Midwest for indie comic and small press shows. Sean shares some tabling tips, how he balances illustration with a non-art job, and how to stay structured outside of art school. Zines! Zines! Zines! You can read a free zine of Sean’s advice here...

This week Jennifer and her daughter Abby are bringing you an interview with Julia Kaye, a cartoonist and storyboard artist. Julia is a published comic artist with two graphic novels. She is known for her “UP and OUT” gag webcomic and her autobiographical comics about life as a trans woman, “Super Late Bloomer” and its sequel “My Life In Transition.” Julia also worked as a storyboard revisionist on...

This week Jennifer and her daughter Abby are bringing you an interview with Connie Jin, an interactive developer/designer, comics journalist, and illustrator. Connie is working on a graphic novel and is a graphics reporter at National Public Radio! They share their journey with art, how to balance the creative workloads of a day job and a passion project, getting out of a creative slump, and menta...

Jennifer and her daughter Abby interview Genice Chan! Genice is a freelance visual development artist and illustrator known for her concept art for the Netflix anime series “Brand New Animal.” She shares her journey from school, to studio work, to freelancing, and some tips about managing the grind and making sure you get paid. Zines! Zines! Zines! You can read a free zine of Genice’s advice here...

On this episode of the CraftSanity podcast Jennifer and her daughter Abby interview David Huang, a metalsmith who makes vessels and jewelry and has a unique approach to financing a studio art career. Abby was introduced to David’s work when her college professor gave her some of his articles about making money as an artist. Listen to David’s story and advice for emerging artists! Zines! Zines! Zin...

Lou Tsui is an illustrator, designer, and the artist in residence at CopyCat Studio, a risograph and artist retail space they opened in 2024. They are based in Vancouver, B.C. and have a cat baby named Tongyuen. Abby met Lou last year when Lou came to Grand Valley State University to lead a zine-making workshop. Listen to Lou’s story and advice for emerging artists!  You can read a free zine of Lo...

Coming soon: Series of podcasts interviews with artists giving advice to art students.

In honor of Juneteenth, the day that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S., I’m posting my conversation with Dano Wall, the artist who created the Tubman Stamp that allows the likeness of American hero, Harriet Tubman, to be printed on the $20 bill.

Artist and activist Diana Weymar discusses how was one of many artists who took note of President Trump’s “stable genius” pronouncement and got inspired to create a stitching project that has includes many others.

Making a living as a professional artist can be tricky with the cost of art school on the rise and lucrative art jobs hard to find. Despite this challenging backdrop, Dayna Walton, a 21-year-old Grand Rapids artist has set herself up well to hit the ground running after she graduates from Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art & Design this spring.

Liz Hilton discusses her 3D knit products she makes at her KNITit studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Check out the show notes at craftsanity.com

Learn how Beryl Bartkus created meaningful work for her daughter, Erin, and others with developmental disabilities. Check out the show notes at craftsanity.com

On this episode of the podcast I geek out about wood type and paper and ink with letterpress printmaker Amos Kennedy, owner and chief printer at Kennedy Prints in Detroit. Check out the show notes at craftsanity.com

Interview with Lori Evesque, owner of Natural Cycles Farm in southern Allegan County, discussing raising fresh food, fiber and plants to sell at local farmers markets and her yarn dyeing workshops. Check out the show notes at craftsanity.com

Interview with 22-year-old Martin Schneider, an art student in Cologne, Germany who designed a 3-D printed printing press and shared his design files for free online. Check out the show notes at CraftSanity.com

Interview with Mark Newport, known for his hand embroidered comic book covers and knitted superhero costumes. Check out the show notes at CraftSanity.com

Interview with Katrina Rodabaugh, fiber artist and author of the forthcoming book, “Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More.” Rodabaugh is one of the zen stitchers on the front lines of this important and gentle movement that bucks the trend of overconsumption and throw-away fashion. Check out the show notes at craftsanity.com

Mike and Terry McGarr discuss Mike's plan to revive a bit of family weaving history. The 27-year-old is the great-grandson of Wallace and Melvina McGarr, who were owners of the Norwood Loom Co. for more than 40 years beginning in 1951. Check out the show notes at CraftSanity.com

Felicia Lo Wong shares the story of how she built her SweetGeorgia yarn business.

Practicing psychologist and crochet designer Sandra Eng recognizes discusses her new book “Crochet Kaleidoscope: Shifting Shapes and Shades Across 100 Motifs,” and the role handcrafts can play as a means of coping with stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Interview with Josie Gamper, who sells her own brand of popular watercolors under the name RedwoodWillow. Josie shares the story of how she built her business as a side gig and now operates it full-time from the living room of her Connecticut home.

We go behind the scenes of the fascinating art career of Drew Sheneman, a nationally syndicated political cartoonist who started writing and illustrating children’s picture books a couple years ago.

Bethany Nixon, owner of Reware Vintage and co-organizer of the upcoming Detroit Urban Craft Fair (DUCF), discuses last-minute tips for handmade business owners who are vending this holiday season and talk about what it takes to produce a large-scale craft fair like DUCF which is celebrating its 12th year. The Detroit Urban Craft Fair is at the Masonic Temple Dec. 1-3. Check out more at craftsanity...