Art Ladders: The Creative Climb

Comparing yourself to other artists means that you are evaluating your own abilities, qualities, or achievements in relation to those of artists. This can involve looking at someone who you perceive as better than you in some way, or someone who you believe is worse off than you in some aspect. This type of comparison can have both positive and negative effects on your self-esteem and personal growth. On one hand, it can motivate you as an artist to work harder and strive for self-improvement. On the other hand, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, and low self-esteem if you constantly feel like you're falling short in comparison to others. It's important to remember that everyone is on their own journey and has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, so it's not always helpful to compare yourself to others. Instead, focus on your own progress and growth, and celebrate your successes along the way.

Show Notes

We are nearing the time when galleries and art centers announce their exhibition line up for 2023-2024. This process involves not only reviewing proposals sent by artists but also planning logistics such as funding, delivery and installation. Artists can choose different ways to seek out exhibitions but the most common are submitting online proposals, word of mouth, or starting a relationship with the venues. Val and Armin have done all those different approaches and in this episode they share stories that relate to the ins and outs of obtaining solo or groups shows. It takes perseverance and a bit of courage to make those connections. Once a show is granted then comes all the elements of planning a delivery and framing budget, timing, marketing, and creation of events related to the show. Solo and group shows can be excellent exposure for artists that leads to sales and recognition. However it is important not to become discouraged if the reward doesn't come immediately. It can ofter take months for some contacts to be made.

Valerie and Armin will be showing together at Van Singel Fine Arts Center in Byron Center, Michigan from September 5-October 12 with a reception on Saturday, September 23 from 12:30pm - 2:30pm. Valerie will be exhibiting with Tim Ricketts and Todd Burroughs at the new Jefferson Road location of Creative 360 in Midland from September 8 - October 15. The opening reception will be September 8, 7-8:30pm.

Here are a few links to venues and art schedules ahead.

Creativity, community and mastery are the trio of words that best describe the online community for artists that Mike and Julie deBoer founded along with Victor Lee in Canada. Mastrius is now serving artists in 29 countries through an online mentor program that connects aspiring, emerging and accomplished artists with masters who provide feedback, motivation, and encouragement through online sessions.

As mentors with Mastrius, Val and Armin were anxious to share a conversation with Julie and Mike. This is a chance to hear the origin story of the company and learn more about Mastrius' exciting growth and future. The unique model of providing artists across the globe the chance to learn face to face with art mentors via Zoom encourages a community that is dedicated to mastering artistic competence in a supportive, noncompetitive atmosphere. It truly provides a niche for artists looking to hone their skills in the comfort of their studios and home and along the way the artists become part of a connected community of like-minded creatives.

Here is information on Mike and Julie through their bios posted on the Leadership Team page of the Mastrius website.

Julie deBoer

Julie is a professional artist, instructor, and business owner with intuitive skills in branding, marketing, and messaging. She has  successfully built a career as an artist, achieving professional status and gallery representation with over 6 galleries in her first 10 years as an artist. She has worked with a variety of charitable and non-profit organizations, creating and leading many grassroots teams over the past 20 years. She has also had the unique opportunity to spend over a decade establishing and growing a new church in inner city Calgary.

Julie’s belief that each of us has a responsibility (and privilege) to give a leg-up to those around us, is at the heart of Mastrius. She is pleased to ensure it is knit into the company’s very DNA. Julie serves as Chief Messaging Officer and Co-Founder of Mastrius.

Mike deBoer

Years of seeing people struggle with inexperience and isolation caused by our technology-saturated culture sparked Mike’s passion for changing the world one person at a time. After successfully leading teams of 100+ people, executing projects worth $250M+, leading several organizational mergers, Mike left behind his career in oil & gas executive-level management to pursue his vision to restore an ethos of people-helping people.

A life-long student of leadership best practices, Mike is known as a leader who is empowering, effective, engaged, and possessing the highest integrity. He’s worked hard to earn the title of Alberta’s Strongest Man on numerous occasions and was 2016 Western Canada’s Strongest Natural Man. Mike has grown into a tenacious and visionary entrepreneur who believes the path to growth, to mastery of great skills, is never more successful than when journeying alongside a seasoned traveller. Mike serves as Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Mastrius.

Programs through Mastrius include mentorships available with master artists, opportunities to exhibit and sell art in Mastrius online exhibitions, attend art events online, access an online library of instructional events, and be part of an extensive chat community via messaging and online face to face conversations.

Show Notes

Visiting Littlefield Gallery is a highlight in any artist or art lover's time in Maine. It is located in Winter Harbor, a small fishing town on the Schoodic National Scenic Byway. Armin and Valerie had the pleasure of visiting Littlefield Gallery while attending a Golden Apple Residency less than an hour away from the gallery. On the very first visit, they struck up a friendship with Kelly and Jane Littlefield. Now, that can sound like a far-fetched thought that artists just walk into a gallery and have an instant rapport with the owners, but if you ever meet Kelly and Jane, you will understand that relationship building is a way of life for them both.

They live and breathe promoting art as they literally live in their gallery. This combination of live and work space has always been appealing to both Val and Armin. It is not unusual to hear the washer and dryer running as you view the art or smelling delicious aromas from the kitchen of the Main House Gallery as you explore the different levels of the main house built in 1891 . You'll hear stories in this episode about how they offered an exhibiting artist a chance to do their laundry on the spot! But it does not have a homespun aesthetic in either the main house or the detached exhibition space, the vibe is contemporary, museum-like with wonderful lighting and open space between paintings as well as a very tasteful collection of sculptures inside and out.

This adventure started thirteen years ago for Kelly and Jane, who came into the gallery world with their background in education combined with a passion for collecting art. That passion is contagious and they represent artists with connections to Maine in particular. The beauty for those artists is that Kelly and Jane use their relationship building skills and finesse to treat each of them like family and friends. It's a beautiful moment to hear Jane talk about a particular artist with love and fondness. Collectors can't help but want to purchase the art and learn as much as they can about the chosen artist.

The exhibition space, which is detached from the historical New England style house, was custom designed to feature two-person shows. Kelly talks about curating two artists that encourage a compare and contrast conversation with the viewers. By displaying about a dozen works of art from each artist, you can see the complete exhibit in the long gallery as you enter the door or turn to each wall to study the individual artists closely. This narrow layout is a very engaging way to experience the exhibits.

Currently on display is the featured exhibit with Shelley N. Stevens and Barbara J. Zucker. This landscape-based show is a celebration of the power of the land and sea and how many times these paintings tell stories of life in a particular part of the country. Barbara J. Zucker is an artist, gallery director and art consultant who lives and works in Maine and Pennsylvania. Shelley N. Stevens is familiar to our audience as the artist and director from Golden Apple Studio and Residency in Harrington, Maine. Shelley divides her time between Maine and Michigan. You will hear from her as well in this episode.

We want to thank Jane, Kelly, and Shelley for their precious time recording this episode. Artists, please learn and take to heart, the words of wisdom from Kelly and Jane regarding approaching galleries. These insights from the gallery owners align with Art Ladders mission to provide best practice tips for artists in our audience.

Enjoy this conversation!

Show Notes

"Hold the Vision, Trust the Process" Author Unknown...Artists bring artwork into existence with determination, perseverance, and courage. Their original vision can go through many edits and transformation during the process. The day to day studio practice can be fulfilling and stressful all during the same project. Val and Armin discuss their own struggles and joys in being artists. Everyone's life is enriched by the many ways artists categorized as visual, performing and/or literary contribute original concepts that bring awareness, beauty, and life quality to the world.

Motivation for artists to continue this important work often begins early in an artist's life. This drive is made stronger as the artist studies, and bonds with other artists. Finding their artist community is important to keep the momentum alive and well. Artists also discover their "why" later in life when their schedules allow time for personal passions. This time period can be very fulfilling and rewarding for those artists.

If you are an artist, treaure your journey and be proud of your accomplishments. For friends, fans and family of artists, be thankful you have them in your lives and let them know you admire their imagination. The world needs art more than ever to help us process emotions and improve mental health.

Show notes:

Episode 50 is a conversation with artist Audrey Phillips. We learn more about Audrey and her beautiful acrylic paintings and her incredible journey through life that included both dark and light, tragedy and triumph.

Audrey received her Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Florida. Audrey has exhibited in solo and group shows in Florida, where she currently lives, Georgia, North Carolina, Minnesota, Michigan, California, Texas, New Mexico and New York. Her work is can be found in corporate and private collection in the United States and internationally. In 2019, 54 of her paintings were acquired by the University of Tampa for permanent installation in their newly renovated Southard Family Building.

Audrey states, "My art practice started quite by accident—a collision of tragedy and creative healing. In 2000, I started painting faces that were somewhat representational but mostly raw, darkly expressive and strangely abstracted. This work sprang forth from a deep loss. In my search to heal, my newly formed art practice became a visual healing process. After this ten-year journey, I started painting abstractly. This abstract work allowed me to tap into the internal energy I had learned to access through my yoga and meditation practice that also started in the year 2000," in an interview for Arts on Douglas.

Audrey's paintings are expressive, bold and large, with beautiful colors and gestural mark making. Nature is her primary springboard and she often works in diptychs or two panels that symbolize the duality of life, the yin and yang, the light and dark. Her influences of artists are Joan Mitchell, Cecily Brown, and Willem de Kooning.

Audrey teaches week-long workshops throughout the country. Her teaching style includes sharing her lifestyle with students. This includes the practice of meditation combined with full sessions of painting. The students work large in spacious studios in venues that have those types of facilities. This year she is teaching at Beverly Todd's Santa Fe Artist Getaway (you can hear more about this venue in our episode 46 with Beverly) and Paint Space NOLA in New Orleans. She accepts students after doing a portfolio review to make sure it is a good fit for intermediate to advanced painters. Check out the show notes for information on enrolling.

Many thanks to Audrey for sharing her story with us. This episode is a powerful testament to the power of art in regards to healing and uplifting your life.

Here are links with more information on Audrey.

Join Val and Armin as they discuss setting intentions to keep your art practice engaged throughout the summer. Setting a few intentions of what you want to accomplish will help you stay focused but still have time to just relax and daydream. The trick is to keep your plans flexible and give yourself a lot of room for improvisation for some spontaneous experiences. These experiences can then pop up many years later and supply narratives for works of art or topics for ongoing series.

Summertime recommendations to keep in your radar!

Pack a travel set of art supplies. Could be as simple as a sketchbook and a pencil. Val likes to take a sketchbook, Sharpie pen, some charcoal, and oil pastels. Armin is a light packer with sketchbook and mechanical pencil. Some travels such as month-long stays or artist residencies can have a much bigger supply list, especially if you are driving.

Take time to daydream and/or just look at the clouds. Those quiet times yields future ideas.

While driving, be sure to leave time open to stop for photographs along the way. Great way to collect reference photos.

If staying home, spend some time making your studio just the way you want. This could mean organizing and cleaning or adding new equipment to your studio.

Continue your journals, if that is one of your rituals.

When going to museums and galleries, pace yourself. Smaller time periods in museums allows more retention of the memories.

Keep flexible. It's more important to collect experiences than sketches so be easy on yourself.

Show notes:

It is our pleasure to introduce our audience to Kelly Anne Powers. We have listened and enjoyed her Learn to Paint Podcast throughout the year. Val connected with Kelly via Instagram and invited her to interview with us and she accepted! In the meantime, we learned that several of our listeners were already taking full advantage of Kelly's in-depth and practical painting episodes after we had shared her posts on our social media outlets. Now is our chance to get to know Kelly even better!

More about Kelly that we learned from her website which we will list in show notes below.

Kelly is a third generation artist. Her grandmother, Jan Kunz, taught watercolor workshops across the country and has written a half dozen books on the subject. 
Her mother, artist Lynn Powers, started a business with her Dad, Jim, called Creative Catalyst Productions that brought live workshops to video format. Youtube wasn’t around yet. Growing up in that atmosphere of artistic process and marketing inspired Kelly to learn to paint and become an entrepreneur in the business of art.

She started the podcast with the goal of helping artists become better painters. By interviewing artists, primarily painters, she asks the questions we all want to know. How do painters work? How did they learn to paint? What advice do they have for other artists? Her interviews are formatted and produced with attention to details and leave listeners with lots of food for thought to ponder as they continue their journey in art. She also has a wonderful Art Club through Patreon with extra content and art challenges to reach for even higher heights as an artist. All of her projects have the stamp of quality and professionalism that attracted us to her podcast from the very beginning.

We encourage you to follow and subscribe to Kelly's Learn to Paint Podcast. You will be happy you did!

What a wonderful conversation we had with the effervescent artist and creative entrepreneur, Beverly Todd. It's always remarkable how much we find in common with other artists who are connecting all the dots with artists. Bev connects artists with workshop leaders and/or space to create their work either during a class setting or a totally independent on-site residency. And what better place to do that than the magical and artistically rich city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Put this on your bucket list and we will, too. We will lists links so you can see the details on connecting with Bev. In the meantime, here is short bio on this working artist, Beverly Todd!

Through large-scale abstract painting, Beverly interprets nature. Connects with ideas. And explores emotion. Her painting process is physical, using hardware-store brushes. Broken sticks. Rags. And hands. To move paint. To add layers. To pull back layers. To drip. To scrape and wipe. And to pull the paint across the surface.

Beverly grew up in rural American near Union, Nebraska. Often happily lost for hours in the open prairie landscape that inspires her work. Today, she paints in her Santa Fe, New Mexico, studio and takes cues from the high desert landscape. Wanting to give other creatives the same experience, Beverly opened Santa Fe Artist Getaway in 2019 - a place for all artists to stay, play, and create.

A former non-profit executive, now a creative entrepreneur, Beverly is a workshop leader and creativity coach, sharing her passion for exploration, adventure, and creativity. Blending her two passions – art and personal development – she founded TeamPaint , an innovative team-building workshop that uses arts-based learning. As teams paint together, they think strategically, build bonds and open communications.

Have you ever had a mentor or a coach who brought out the best in you and propelled you forward just from their belief in you? It is a wonderful transfer of energy that can be helpful in all works of life but especially so for artists as they navigate the creative process with emotional stamina. The definition of a mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor. Top qualities for an art mentor are great listening skills, amazing critique technique, and the mentor is passionate about art. Both Valerie and Armin have had mentors during their art careers. Armin speaks of his dad and artists Larry Butcher and Todd Burroughs. Larry was Armin's college prof who pushed him forward with strong critiques and work ethic influence and Todd was influential in developing positive people interactions by being a friend he could model his life after. Valerie was connected to her high school art teacher, Mrs. Morris way back in the day. Mrs. Morris believed in Val and stressed to her that anything was possible. Very empowering to hear as a teenager. Later in life while Val was going thru life changes and divorce she connected with art coach, Ghislaine Mahler. She introduced Val to Julia Cameron's Artist Way and Morning Pages that she still practices. This podcast topic came about to share a very special announcement that Valerie and Armin were selected to be mentors for Mastrius, an online global community for artists. It is full circle for them both and they are excited to start small groups soon online. This is where all the art skills and knowledge they have accumulated through the years can help other artists. Here are some show notes to study.

Painter Lewis Noble shared an afternoon conversation with us and describes his working methods, his teaching philosophy and outlook on the art world. HIs motivational attitude truly guides him through his successful career as a full-time artist. As you listen, you will discover many of Lewis' thought processes to add to your own creative practice. He has strong opinions on painting what you want-- not what you think others want. This honest and authentic approach to art making serves him well and leads to paintings that are truly personal and expressive.  Lewis teaches both online and in-person classes. He also leads a membership group that includes monthly prompts and spotlights for artists around the world. Many thanks to Lewis Noble for joining us for this podcast episode! Please share with other artists,

So many questions reveal themselves as a painting or drawing comes to life. Val and Armin share a lively conversation on a snowy day in Michigan asking each other questions like how do you start and how do you know when you are finished? They each have predictably contrasting answers but there are definitely some overlaps and common thoughts. The tempo of creation has a different rhythm for each. Inspiration can come out of nowhere and the ending can also happen at any point of the journey. Deadlines can drive the completion but more often it is that knowing feeling an artist picks up when entering the studio from a good night's rest and saying, that's it!

Show Notes

Meet painter, calligrapher, and teaching artist, Jaqueline Sullivan during an engaging conversation where we learn more about her art, travels, and classes. 

Jacqueline Sullivan has been a teaching artist for 30 years and she loves to teach! She has had the honor to be invited to teach for Art Centers and Studios across North America as well as having been chosen as a faculty member for several International Calligraphy Conferences. Seeing the joy in a student’s face when they create something that pleases them brings Jacqueline much joy.

Mixed media, acrylic paints, calligraphy, bookbinding, and fiber arts - She has loved them all since she first discovered each medium. She has a degree in graphic design and worked for many years as a publication, marketing and advertising designer. But her passion has always been with color and paint, no matter what the surface.

Personal artistic development has been a lifeline as Jacqueline worked her way through the challenges life brought. Her mixed media, book art, calligraphic and acrylic work has been shown in galleries and top juried art fairs nationwide. She believes that asking “what if?” and keeping a spirit of adventure and discovery is important as she follows her creative path and attempts to create something original. Jacqueline  experiments with texture, layers, marks, paint, and dyes as part of her process. She is a  Certified Artist Educator for Golden Paints, an Ambassador for Ampersand, and she is on the education teams for Silver Brush and Marabu Creative.

This summer, Jacquline will be leading to painting workshops in Europe. The May workshop will be to France and the September workshop will be in Italy. You can learn more about the workshops in the show notes below. 

We are excited to announce our word of the year for 2023, and it is courage!

Last year our word of the year was discover and wow, we did just that. We made many discoveries in ways to up our game in producing art as well as increase our reach through our podcast and online classes. 2022 was a wonderful year of growth and we look forward to 2023.

We took some time to land on our new word for this coming year. We both agreed on the word "courage" to be our focus. Courage for artists is found in many ways. Everything from taking a chance on a new medium to taking on a speaking engagement as a juror or curator all require a confident attitude and a bit of courage to put yourself out there.

We discuss having the courage to make mistakes, join a new class, or introduce yourself to the world as an artist and really believe it.

The Creative Climb takes courage step by step to reveal personal stories in artwork and present them to the audience without knowing in advance the reactions that will be voiced. We encourage all artists to embrace taking chances and pushing their comfort zones to the max. We also encourage artists to come up with their own Word of the Year.

Show Notes: 

We are joined by fellow artists, Barb Hranilovich, Sal Strom along with a clip from James Steigenga. Sal is a multi-media artist from the coast of Oregon, Barb has worked as a commercial artist, illustrator and now an exhibiting artist, and James is an accomplished photographer who has the patience and timing to capture images that through the lens achieve the intent without filters or manipulation for the most part. These talented people were our studio mates during the August residency at Golden Apple. We shared many a meal with great art-themed conversations directed by Shelley Stevens the director of Golden Apple Residency. Our two weeks also included a day trip to take in the artistic locations in Downeast Maine that we will never forget. 

If you have ever thought of participating in an artist residency, this episode along with episode 6 and 7 would be time well spent for a listen. 

Show Notes: 

Here we are at 2023! Happy New Year and thank you to everyone who helped make 2022 a wonderful year for Art Ladders. Thanks to guests, our podcast producer Taylor Cramer of Cold Shower Media and our listeners! We appreciate you!

In this episode we reveal our resolutions for 2023 and discuss our top painting picks that have influenced us on our creative journeys. 

Armin choose Le Gros by Franz Kline, Winter 1946 by Andrew Wyeth, and The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. 

Valerie choose Rouen Cathedral Series by Claude Monet, Paris Street-Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte, and Veil Series by Robert Rauschenberg.

What a blessing to be with our friend, Jolin Wilks McElroy for a holiday conversation on art and spirituality. Jolin and Armin first met in the 1990s while working together at the art materials and frame store of Good's of Evanston. During her time working at Good's led Jolin to rethink her calling as a artist and pursue another path to attend a theological seminary for a Masters in Divinity. 

Here is her bio in more detail:

Jolin Wilks McElroy has been Pastor at First Christian Church in Charlotte since July of 2000. During her tenure there, she has watched the congregation grow into presence in the Charlotte and Dilworth communities–branching out into service through the Dilworth Soup Kitchen, supporting many missions and outreach groups, and providing a meeting place for classes and events. She has also rejoiced as this church has been transformed by other cultural groups joining the congregation.

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Colorado State University in 1990, Jolin Wilks intended to paint for a living. The call to ministry challenged her to consider a new direction for her life. In 1995 she enrolled at Lexington Theological Seminary and received her Masters in Divinity in 1999. Rev. McElroy still finds some time to draw and paint while also serving the church in more traditional ways. In addition to gallery shows and auctions, First Christian Church has a display of her pastel portraits of church members lining the walls of the education building. Another exhibit, Holy Communion, a series of watercolor portraits of Disciples of Christ members and leaders, began traveling the denomination since the Fall of 2004.

Because of her dual vocations of art and ministry, she has been a desired speaker on the topic of creativity and spirituality for retreats and workshops. One significant endeavor was sketching portraits of 33 children of two Head Start programs for the benefit of their families, sponsored by The Craddock Center in Cherry Log, Georgia.

Prior to accepting the call to her current position, Rev. McElroy served as: Associate Minister to First Christian Church, Falls Church, VA (1998-2000); Chaplain Intern at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, DC (summer of 1998); and Pastor of First Christian Church, Carlisle KY (1995-1998). In addition to her work at First Christian, Rev. McElroy has been active in the life of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the regional level, and was the recipient of a Clergy Renewal Grant from The Lilly Endowment in 2004. Other organizations in which Rev. McElroy has been active include: Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice (CCCJ) 2014 – present, Crisis Assistance Ministry (2002-present); United Family Services (2001-2006); General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North Carolina (2001-05); North Carolina Regional Commission on Faith and Understanding (2001-02).

Born in Iowa City, IA, Jolin Wilks McElroy was raised in Mt. Prospect, IL, where her parents Alan and Irvana Wilks still reside. Rev. McElroy currently lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husba​​​​nd Tom and their young son.

We are honored that Jolin joined us for episode 39 of our podcast. During the interview you will hear her quote Frederick Buechner: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.”  Art and ministry fulfill that for her. 

Thank you very much, Jolin!

Val and Armin have been teaching artists for over 30 years each. The role of the teaching artist is to ignite and inspire students, as well as to encourage them to explore their own creativity. Both feel that teaching has added dimension to their own art making through the research they study to create a class plan and the curiosity to explore new techniques and materials. Why does teaching art matter? It's in our DNA. Everyone is an artist. We all use art to express ourselves and the world around us. Artists teach others to understand the process of creation, and that makes them better problem solvers and communicators. Plus, it's fun!

We are excited to announce our new online art class schedule starting in January or 2023. These virtual classes will allow you to learn at a time and place that is convenient for you. We also have several in-person workshops scheduled around the state of Michigan and we would love to see you there! Listed below are links for registration. 

This conversation with Cal Cullen, the co-founder and executive director of Wave Pool Art Center in Cincinnati was a reunion of sorts to catch up on the happenings of an art center near and dear to the hearts of Art Ladders. Since 2016, we have been following the fast growth of positivity that radiates from Cal and the team and we are always amazed about the creative programming that is a huge asset to this venue. 

Take a look at this uplifting mission statement! 

Wave Pool Creates Community Fulfillment Through Artistic Opportunities. With exhibitions, creative engagements, and collaborations we:

Wave Pool is community driven, exploring the stories and needs of the diverse communities we serve.

Wave Pool is artist led, reflecting the concerns and interests of contemporary creatives.

Wave Pool uses our platform to amplify the ideas, expressions, and work, through which the world is made more joyous and equitable.

In the neighborhood of Camp Washington, just a few minutes from downtown Cincinnati, co-founders Cal and Skip Cullen have turned a historic fire station and storefront across the street into a hub of activity for artists, neighbors and art collectors. Since their launch, other businesses have located to Camp Washington where there is no shortage of interesting architecture and studio-worthy space available. 

It is satisfying to hear Cal explain the deep meanings of the work being accomplished at Wave Pool. You cannot help but be moved emotionally when all the dots connect to create a world where artist fulfillment benefits community. Congratulations on your creative journey, Cal and Skip. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Please review the links to learn more about Wave Pool and The Cincinnati Art Scene

There are many ways that art is mysterious both in the making and the meaning. Val and Armin discuss the categories in this episode that include symbolism, titles, history, content, elements and personality. Here are some show notes of topics discussed in this podcast.

After following California artist, Bibby Gignilliat on Instagram, Val reached out to her for a possible interview. We were thrilled when she agreed! During the afternoon conversation-morning for her- we had a complete discussion of her creative art process, her studio in the ICB Building in Sausalito, California and her mentors.  Bibby (rhymes with Libby) Gignilliat (sounds like Gin a lot!) is a thoughtful enthusiastic artist who is generous with her knowledge and sources. Bibby is fun loving in spirit and all business when it comes to her art. Her background in marketing is a gift and we learned a lot from her in this taping. She teaches mixed media workshops in her studio and also online. Go to her instagram page at @bibbygart to see her wonderful abstract artworks. 

About Bibby
Turning her adult creative talents toward cooking, Bibby became a marketing manager for Williams-Sonoma, and then decided to go to culinary school. From there she offered interactive cooking classes which evolved into the company, Parties That Cook, with satellite office in Chicago, Seattle and Portland. The business was successful, but Bibby had an epiphany when, as a panelist at the Sloan School of Management at MIT. She heard her company described as a “lifestyle business.” I realized I had been pushing so hard, that I had left my own lifestyle behind. And I had forgotten what I liked to do.” And what she liked to do was paint.

Coming full circle, Bibby sold the business and shifted her focus to becoming a full-time mixed media artist, living and working in Sausalito, CA. She is unconstrained by the formal training of art school and has studied with Nicholas Wilton, Michael Cutlip, Michael Shemchuk, Mark Eanes, Heather Wilcoxon, Leslie Allen, Louise Victor and Carl Heyward.

We recently returned from an unforgettable three weeks at Golden Apple Studio and Residency. It is a joy to relive this experience with our listeners. We cover six topics during this podcast. 

1. Flow of the Day with the other participating artists.

2. Gallery Trips in Down East, Maine

3. Influences of the Environment

4. Trials and Tribulations

5. Workshops

6. Magical Moments while traveling.

Our hosts, artist Shelley and Greg Stevens, are passionate in their commitment to provide artists everything they need to immerse themselves into this nurturing time to create art. They provide an environment that is both restful and invigorating. We highly recommend for artists to consider applying for a two-week session in 2023.  We return to our studios with a new perspective and appreciation for being artists. Thank you, Shelley and Greg!

Show Notes 

In this episode Val and Armin discuss getting ready for their residencies at Golden Apple Studio in Harrington, Maine. Packing for a trip like this involves lots of thinking, lists and reminders. Not only do they need to anticipate the process they will land on when in Maine but they are also teaching workshops which adds another layer of supplies. To keep it not so overwhelming, they have devised ways to make it fun, lighten the stress and be detailed-oriented as well. 

This episode features the talented and generous artist and author, Tesia Blackburn. She is a true believer of abundance and shares her wealth of knowledge with artists all over the world. Val recently took a class with Tesia earlier this year and as a result launched her own Abstraction Now! online class. Tesia is Val's mentor during the further development of an online presence for Art Ladders and treasures Tesia's good humor and passion during this tech journey. You can listen to this podcast episode and "catch the wave" of this San Francisco based artist and tech professional. Tesia is known as the Acrylic Diva in the art world and her brand has grown to include online classes in visual art, multiple books, mentoring for artists, digital art and more. She has been a working artist in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 25 years. She received her BFA from the Academy of Art, studied lithography at the San Francisco Art Institute and received her Master's of Art from John F. Kennedy in Orinda, California. Tesia has three books available on Amazon listed in the show notes. If you have questions for Tesia, she asked us here at Art Ladders to forward those on to her! Thank you, Tesia! We had such a great party talking with you!! 

Show Notes: 

Whether you are a painter, draughtsman, sculptor or potter, you most likely have used drawing to begin, refine or examine your finished work. In this hour, Val and Armin discuss the many ways drawing has played important roles in their art journeys. Sketching can be the spark of an idea that will ultimately become a detailed graphite drawing in Armin's world, while a gestural charcoal mark-making session can be an active underpainting for a future abstraction in Val's. Each of them use drawings to solve problems, record details, journal thoughts, and just dream. They encourage you to look for ways you can develop your drawings skills to express yourselves in ways that can be as simple as sketching on cocktail napkins to committing many hours to a finished large-scale artwork. 

Tools of the Trade: 

Alan Maciag's rural landscapes are a balance between form, distance, color and content. This balance creates a sense of calm and bucolic reverence for the rural heritage of Michigan, for the wonderland of it's vacation lakes, or for the sanctuary within a garden or public space. It is as though you have been given a gift - to simply "step in" for a moment and be surrounded by the spirit captured on that canvas.

“Plein air painters paint from life with a passion like no other in the world of painters. By placing myself among these magnificent gifts of light and nature, my visions are propelled from my head to my hand to my canvas,” writes Maciag.

In our conversation with Alan, we will discuss not only his creative process for painting but also his teaching career at the high school level. You will learn more about two of his students' success stories that stand out in the crowd. 

Alan's Midland studio and gardens are open by appointment. If you would like to visit him, please call his studio number at (989) 245-5584.

Thank you, Alan, for inviting us both to your home and studio over the 4th of July weekend. It is always worthwhile to visit artist friends. So happy you are on our podcast for episode 27. 

Show notes: 

Val and Armin spent an enjoyable afternoon with Cindy Patrick and William Mays of the Port Austin Artist Residency Program. Val is spending two weeks in the residency program and staying at the history Bee Barn, the headquarters for the program. Port Austin is very much an artist-centric community with projects ranging from architecturally converted barns, to sculpture gardens, residency programs and symphonic concerts. This small village of 700 is encouraging artists to visit and for art collectors to think about visiting this beautiful spot on Lake Huron. Economic growth for rural America can learn a lot from Port Austin as art increases economic growth when it has a viable and vibrant presence in communities.  Here are a few links:

Valerie and Armin are joined by friend and colleague, Todd Burroughs of Atelier School of Art in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA. Todd conceptualized the Atelier School of Art from dream to reality with a passion that coincides with his immense enthusiasm for visual art. Just read this mission of the school to further understand Atelier School of Art's philosophy. "We are committed to helping people pursue their natural inclination to create. We have created an environment to nurture, educate and encourage individuals to achieve the highest level of success." 

Todd Burroughs is the founding director of Atelier School of Art in Royal Oak, Michigan. He is best known for his realist drawings, oil paintings and passion for teaching. He has received numerous awards and honorifics for his paintings and teaching accomplishments. His art work is widely collected by personal and corporate collectors.

While attending Columbia College in Chicago, Todd had his first art exhibition. Shortly after he embarked on a 6-month trip to India to study art and culture. While in India his artistic interest shifted from Abstract Expressionism to Classical Painting methods. After returning to Chicago, Todd began a five-year program of study in oil painting at the Atelier Alternative in Chicago. He holds a Cum Laude degree in Historic Preservation and Fine Art from Eastern Michigan University.

While studying in Chicago he began his life-long research in to art-making processes. In 2000 Todd Burroughs returned to Michigan, and began teaching painting and drawing. His teaching experience includes teaching at museums, art centers and The College for Creative Studies. Additionally, he has always taught from his studio as part of his own art making process. The rational being that if you care for an idea, you are obligated to pass it on. Todd’s advocacy for education in the arts, and accessible studio practices for all led to him founding the Atelier School of Art in 2018. He regularly shares his knowledge through lectures, workshops, and teaching from the studio.

His art making primarily focuses on oil painting and drawing. His work also includes photography, digital art and NFTs. His pieces range from the monumental, eight feet by twenty feet, to the intimate, 1.5 inch by two inches, and embrace a broad range of drawing and painting methodologies.

During this episode the dynamic artist Sergio Gomez joined Val and Armin for an in-depth interview on his mission of art, collaboration and using technology to further your art career. We learned more about NFTs, curating, how to organize International exhibits and his many collaborations with artists around the world. 

As well as being a professional artist educated to Masters level, Sally is also a qualified teacher with many years of teaching experience. She currently teaches a range of online courses that enable her to reach students at all stages of their creative journey, worldwide from her studio in the UK.

Sally Hirst is currently based at her studio in Norwich, UK – where she also co-coordinates an exhibition space called oneuppergoat. She is a Certified Golden Artist Educator and teaches online courses titled Pushing Paint, Urban Explorations , Discover Collagraphy, and Approaches to Abstraction to students worldwide. 

This hour-long podcast is Art Ladder's listeners opportunity to learn more about artist Armin Mersmann. He and his artist wife, Valerie Allen founded the podcast in July of 2021. Armin Is an award winning artist and also an established teaching artist with a wonderful following. As you follow the conversation you will learn about his beginnings on his journey in art and his philosophical outlook on creating art. 

Artist Jay Handy, originally from Bay City, Michigan, is presenting a one-person exhibit at Studio 23 in Bay City starting March 25, 2022. The exhibit titled: This Must Be The Place, will include one-of-a-kind pulled prints depicting imagery found in vintage photographs of Bay City. Jay Handy imagined a community project that actually crowd-sourced the residents of this riverfront city in Michigan, to submit their family photos to be used as inspiration and collage elements in his artwork. Val and Armin are so happy that they had a chance to get to know Jay and look forward to attending his reception and workshop.  

Jay Handy is a printmaker specializing in etching and chine collé to create the signature dreamlike quality that permeates his work. From the Harvard Business School to Lesley University College of Art and Design, the winding road he traveled to arrive at his current position as a passionate and prolific artist imbues his art with the characteristic sense of tension and nostalgia his work is known for. Jay resides in Madison, Wisconsin, where he continues to weave memories into preserved moments in time.

Nostalgia is a primary presence in Jay's work, which contrasts beautifully with underlying elements of artistic tension. Like most artists, Jay finds himself reaching back into his history for inspiration. His work seamlessly conjures up memorable moments in life that trigger a feeling and capture that special moment for the viewer.

Artist Statement from Jay Handy: My art is an exploration of memory, both in its function and its feeling. When we think back on a memory, it’s never quite the same as the initial experience that it was born of—a unique and complicated aura now surrounds it. Depending on the moment in time, it may be tinged with a hint of tenderness or a sense of forlornness.

I find myself caught on a memory, turning it over and over in my mind to uncover every unique thread of nostalgia, of joy, of tension. The memory becomes a distinct moment in time, with so clear a life and story all its own that I’m compelled to transform it from a vision to a tangible image. My use of etching and chine collé recreate the memory and transmute the unique qualities that frame it into a language that can speak to viewers and stir within them that shared experience of nostalgia and memory.

Regardless of who we are, where we’re from, or what time period we’ve lived through, we each have our own experience of memory and the often bittersweet qualities that those memories are preserved in. My art is the translation of memory from floating fragments to captured moments.

Thank you to Jay Handy for this wonderful conversation for Art Ladders. 

Exhibition at Studio 23 in Bay City starts March 25, 2022. Studio 23 is at 901 N. Water Street, Bay City, MI with telephone number: 989-894-2323. There will be a gallery walk and talk that day starting at 4:15pm and a reception starting at 5pm. 

.Armin and Valerie had the distinct honor of interviewing artist Robert Schefman about his life as an artist, his new body of work, The Secrets Project, and his recent notification of being a finalist in The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery opening this spring. 

Born and raised in Detroit, Robert Schefman earned a BFA in sculpture from Michigan State University and an MFA in sculpture from the University of Iowa. He lived and worked in New York City for fourteen years, returning to the Detroit area in 1990. His work has been included in exhibitions at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI; The Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN; Oakland University Art Gallery, Rochester, MI; Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, MI; The Krasl Art Center, St. Joseph, MI; Manifest Research Gallery, Cincinnati, OH; Foley Square/ Federal Plaza, New York City; the Brooklyn Army Terminal, New York City; Ward’s Island, New York City; and United Nations Plaza, New York City. Grants awarded include the Pollack-Krasner Foundation, the Bernard Maas Foundation, the Arts Foundation of Michigan, and the State of Michigan Creative Artist Grant.

Schefman’s drawings, paintings, and sculptures are in multiple private and public collections, including the Eli and Edythe Broad Museum of Art, East Lansing, MI; the Mint Museum of Art, Charlotte, NC; the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI; the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL; Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, MI; and the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

The Secrets Project

Robert Schefman's recent series of paintings and drawings explore the hidden world of secrets. Using social media as a device to reach a large audience, Schefman posted a request asking followers to send him one personal secret that he could use as a subject or an element in his paintings. The response was immediate and revealing.  More than one hundred anonymous secrets were sent through the internet or by mail to the artist’s post office box.
Using the private information gathered from strangers’ letters as a point from which to investigate the conceptual nature of secrets, Schefman explored the specific responses and began to develop the ideas for this series over the course of several years. Many of the pieces in the Secrets exhibition refer directly to the actual secrets touchingly revealed in the anonymous letters or messages received by the artist. Additionally poignant were the descriptions of relief or catharsis brought on by confessing personal baggage, often for the first time.

Here are links for Robert Schefman: 

In this episode titled "Seize the Day", Armin and Valerie discuss ways to keep focused on creating art in a busy world. There are so many ways that life happens and many can cause artists to slow down and lose momentum. These reasons and situations can be managed with intentional thought but some are inevitable. They talk about situations such as working 9 to 5, providing the role of a caregiver, taking time to travel and even being sick. One situation that is surprising is an artist who has all the time in the world and still needs ways to motivate and get back in the groove. 

Technical Note: Michelle's portion of the interview was recorded in her Westward Gallery location in Denver, Colorado where the ceilings are quite high and acoustics have an echo. Regardless, her words for artists are super and the content is strong. Enjoy! 

Michelle Courier, visual artist and entrepreneur, is the owner of Westward Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Courier is a graduate of University of Michigan with a Bachelors in Fine Arts degree. She considers herself a realist, impressionist, and a contemporary artist with a touch of traditionalist.

We here at Art Ladders are honored that Michelle took time out to have a warm conversation with us about her five-year adventure that started with a brave move from Michigan to the West where she established herself as an artist of influence while opening a fine art gallery in the city of Denver, known for having strong connections to the arts.

About the Artist:

Welcome to episode 12 of Season One. In this podcast Valerie and Armin interviewed Texas artist, Preston Zeller. Preston is an intuitive abstract painter who embarked on a year-long project of creating a painting a day. This creative journey was a response to processing grief following the sudden death of his brother. The film, "The Art of Grieving Film" will be released as a documentary in early 2022. Preston encourages us all to find ways such as art making to spur new conversations regarding grief and loss. Ultimately leaning into difficult situations by making art can help one heal and even find peace. 

The struggle is real in the world of artists but it is not necessarily negative. Struggle can lead to a gentle curve in the road, a major breakthrough in an artist's style, or even a new way of doing business. In this episode, Val and Armin will discuss their personal challenges, frustrations, and yes, struggles in their own art practice. The goal is to embrace the struggle and let the journey through it lead to art-making sessions that are effortlessly in the zone or in the flow. Val, ever the optimist, feels that struggle can be thought of as perseverance and necessary for growth while Armin is a bit more angst driven in the discussion. They bounce ideas off of one another and in the end there is more in common than not which is the hallmark of great conversation. This two part series will focus on creating artwork in part one and part two will deal with the struggle of selling art. Part two will air on Tuesday, December 21, 2021.

Check out our sponsor Golden Apple Studio and Art Residency. Located in Down East Maine, Director Shelley Stevens invites artists to apply for the 2022 Residency Summer Season. Just a few vacancies and partial scholarships are available. http://www.goldenapplestudio.com/art-residency

In Art Ladders episode 10, Val traveled south and visited artist Rachael McCampbell in her studio near Nashville. Armin joined them remotely and a lively and informative conversation took place on a beautiful Tennessee day. In 2018, Rachael and Val met during an arts materials event in Cincinnati. Both artists are part of Golden Artists Colors educational programming and share the love of process art in common. Rachael McCampbell is an artist, writer and teacher with a passion for creating art as well as sharing her expertise with others through workshops and classes.

Are you an artist of many hats or do you stay with one beret? What are your favorite art materials? Val and Armin discuss many different art supplies in this episode and how they have used them in their own art careers. They cover what they've discovered about different mediums through a compare and contrast discussion. This episode is very much "a cup of coffee length" and we hope you enjoy our banter back and forth! If you like what you hear, please tell others about our podcast.

Val and Armin are joined by Ben Clore and Andrew Rieder to discuss the benefits for artists of all ages attending community college to study art. Not only is it an excellent way to prepare for entry into a Bachelor of Fine Arts program at a four-year university but community colleges are a venue for pursuing art education for self-improvement in the visual arts for young artists and life-long learners. Community colleges are affordable with smaller class sizes and offer an opportunity to study with teaching artists and professors that are focused and approachable. The discussion also includes recaps of what both of these talented teaching artists are working on in their own art practice.

For artists, time and space are precious and can be a journey that is pursued throughout an art career. Val and Armin discuss the many types of studios they have had in the past and present. They each have preferences and their spaces are quite different. The way they organize time is also very much in tune with their personalities. As you listen, you may discover insights into your own personal tastes as it relates to your art practice. Are you motivated by process and materials needing lots of space to spread out and explore or do you crave an intimate studio that is more akin to a study or library with everything in its place? Think about the way your schedule and deadlines can either motivate you in a positive way with a rush of energy or add stress to a breaking point that leads to an artist’s block. Please post photos of your studio and tell us about your time management routines on our Art Ladders: The Creative Climb with Valerie Allen and Armin Mersmann Facebook page.

Valerie and Armin are currently showing in the Greater Michigan Art Exhibition: A 50th Retrospective of Previous Winners. Here is the website with more information.