community

Community Liaison, Translator, and Glass Painter with Samra Bashir (217)

Glass artist Samra Bashir’s work is a fusion of South Asian and Islamic traditions, using light as an essential element in her paintings.

In this episode of The Art Biz, we discuss how art fosters connection, how Samra built a community around her work, and why sharing art in real-life spaces matters. Listen now and explore the power of art to bridge cultures.

Community Liaison, Translator, and Glass Painter with Samra Bashir (217) Read

Julie DeBoer

Finding Your Artist Voice through Mentorship with Julie deBoer (ep. 201)

This episode of The Art Biz delves into developing an artistic style with the support of mentorship. Julie and I explore the challenges of finding a unique voice, the significance of embracing what naturally emerges in your work, her shift from gallery representation to self-sales, and the value of being part of an artist community.

We end with a conversation about how, with so many commitments, Julie prioritizes her art.

Finding Your Artist Voice through Mentorship with Julie deBoer (ep. 201) Read

Kelly O'Brien

Using Her Superpower and Biomaterials with Kelly M. O’Brien (ep. 196)

The experience of spending more time in nature during the pandemic catalyzed an artistic shift in Kelly O’Brien towards sustainable biomaterials for her art. She explains her transition from high-carbon materials like glass and steel to plant-based, biodegradable options—sharing tips and resources for doing the same.

Kelly also discusses her latest solo show and her engagement with her new community, how she maintains a robust art presence both in the US and the UK, and funding sources.

Using Her Superpower and Biomaterials with Kelly M. O’Brien (ep. 196) Read

Marilyn Fontaine

Leaning Into Her Roots and Community Art with Marilyn Fontaine (ep. 185)

Marilyn Fontaine, a multidisciplinary artist whose work is spiritual with a strong foothold in feminine themes, finds fulfillment by collaborating with others outside of her studio walls.

Marilyn and I talk about the work she does within her Afro-Carribean community in East London, including how it is funded and why her growing network is essential. We also discuss her studio rituals, leaning into the discomfort of rejection, and learning to let go.

Leaning Into Her Roots and Community Art with Marilyn Fontaine (ep. 185) Read

The Art Biz ep. 146: Remember The Many Opportunities We Have Because We’re Online with Barbara Muir

In a day when we’re all kind of sick of sitting in front of our screens, Barbara Muir is unabashedly happy about being online. And she thinks you should be, too.

We talk about all of the opportunities that have come Barbara’s way because of her blog, how she gets things done, and the sweet ritual she shares with her husband.

The Art Biz ep. 146: Remember The Many Opportunities We Have Because We’re Online with Barbara Muir Read

Steel wire sculptures of vine outlines on a light wood floor with white wall behind | on Art Biz success

The Art Biz ep. 134: Focusing on the Art, Not the Art Business with Rebecca Welz

This is the first episode of The Art Biz with a guest who admits to not being interested in the art business. But don’t leave!

My conversation with Rebecca Welz centers around how she sees her art as part of the continuum, and how she encourages her students to think holistically about their careers. We invite you to do the same.

The Art Biz ep. 134: Focusing on the Art, Not the Art Business with Rebecca Welz Read

Michael Gadlin paintings in studio | on Art Biz Success

The Art Biz ep. 93: Artist as Problem Solver with Michael Gadlin

Many artists take risks in their businesses and in their art without even thinking about it. They are hard wired to experiment. To stretch the boundaries of what is possible.

Artists are innate problem solvers.

My guest for this episode of the Art Biz Podcast is one of those artists. The list of what Michael Gadlin has done (legally) to earn a living as a working artist for more than 20 years is impressive. He sells originals, consults, teaches, designs, builds websites, and even hosted a show on public television. He has also sat on boards and committees in his local Denver art community.

Michael is gifted with what seems to be an endless supply of energy. I came at him with one topic and his mind connected it to numerous other experiences. The result is a wide-ranging interview.

Michael waxes philosophically about the life of an artist. Deep stuff. We talk about the lessons he learned from other working artists, the artist’s collaboration with viewers, gallery representation, why it’s important to be part of a community, and much more. There are plenty of gold nuggets in this interview.

The Art Biz ep. 93: Artist as Problem Solver with Michael Gadlin Read

© Ashley Lucas, Belmar Colorful watercolor painting of Belmar Sea Side Town

The Art Biz ep. 69: Leveraging Your Location with Ashley Lucas

I don’t believe in making art for a market. I believe in making art from your *soul* and then finding the right audience for it.

But sometimes we are lucky enough to make the art we want, then tweak it just a bit so we can broaden our audience. My guest for this episode of the Art Biz Podcast has found a way to do just that.

Ashley Lucas (aka Lady Lucas) is an artist whose work features smartly dressed animals and other sweet anthropomorphic characters. She has illustrated numerous children’s books, coloring books, and other unapologetically cute projects.

By placing her characters in the local townscape Ashley has increased the appeal of her work to a specific audience that continues to grow. I talked with Ashley about how she came up with the idea to tap into people’s love of a specific location and how she leverages it for her prints, products, and commissioned work.

We also discuss how she connected with a community even before moving there, how she juggles her life as an artist with that as a mother of a two-year-old, and which social media platform offers the greatest return for her work (it’s not Instagram).

Even if you don’t “do” cute or illustrations or location-specific art, you’ll want to listen to ideas for connecting to new communities.

The Art Biz ep. 69: Leveraging Your Location with Ashley Lucas Read

The Art Biz ep. 64: Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan

At the intersection of craftivism and the world of campaign finance is Eve Jacobs-Carnahan. Eve is taking the historical practice of knitting circles and re-envisioning them as modern craftivist assemblies.

While bringing artists together to craft the building blocks of a characteristic state capitol building, she’s also leading conversations about changing the role of money in election campaigns. But the impact that Eve is going to make with this work is going to extend far beyond the current election cycle. In fact, it has very little to do with it.

Kicking off in early 2020, *Knit Democracy Together* combines interested organizations, knitting circles, and conversation about election finance reform. The result will be a 5’x3′ knitted sculpture of a state capitol building that Eve hopes to exhibit in multiple venues.

The pandemic has certainly had an effect on Eve’s plans, but it hasn’t stopped her.

In this episode of the Art Biz Podcast, she shares details about how she has had to reimagine the previously scheduled in-person knitting circles, funding and exhibiting the project, and the art of knitting as a daring act of social activism.

The Art Biz ep. 64: Knit Democracy Together with Eve Jacobs-Carnahan Read

The Art Biz ep. 26: Creative Placemaking and Public Art with Lynn Basa

Artist Lynn Basa understands the power of art to be a positive force in communities.

She is interested in the varied ways that artists are intersecting with public life. From more traditional “public art” to creative placemaking to socially engaged practice.

I talked with Lynn, author of The Artist’s Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions, for the Art Biz Podcast. In particular, we focused on The Corner Project, an art space and community revitalization effort she founded in the blighted neighborhood of her Chicago studio in 2017.

In describing this project, Lynn said, and I paraphrase:

Every single artist … [brings] with them a certain amount of agency and value to wherever they are. They can do so much more. … It’s a paradigm shift that happens in your head where you start realizing that “I have something of value that I can contribute to society at large,” rather than just making an object and hoping it gets sold for enough money and that you can make a living.

You’ll also hear her speak this truth: Art is a billion dollar business, and someone has to do it.

I think you’ll be inspired to think big and make a difference in your community after you listen to this episode.

The Art Biz ep. 26: Creative Placemaking and Public Art with Lynn Basa Read

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