Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast AART

American wild horse and sports photographer Maureen Armstrong joins host Chris Stafford on the AART podcast. From the intensity of competitive sports to the open landscapes of the American West, Armstrong’s photography captures movement, emotion and the fleeting moments that give an image its story. Discover a photographer whose work brings audiences closer to America’s wild horses and the extraordinary connections within their family bands. 

Armstrong’s background photographing Division I football and professional sports sharpened her ability to anticipate action and respond quickly. Those instincts carry into her wild horse photography, where a running herd, an encounter between stallions or a quiet moment between a mare and foal can unfold in seconds. Her images reveal both the physical power of these animals and the tenderness of their relationships.

Her pursuit of wild mustangs has taken her across Wyoming, Montana, Utah and Arizona, through landscapes ranging from sweeping plains and desert canyons to snow-covered ridges. These settings form an essential part of her visual storytelling, placing the horses within the expansive terrain they inhabit. Through her lens, the American West becomes a place of individual lives, enduring bonds and moments worth preserving. At the heart of Armstrong’s work is a commitment to documenting wild horses and advocating for their protection. Her photographs invite viewers to look closely at the animals behind a familiar symbol of freedom: their personalities, their interactions and the family connections that hold their bands together. Maureen is passionate about preserving the American Wild Horses and her work contributes this effort by increasing awareness.

Explore Maureen Armstrong’s photography and fine art prints at https://staywildwallart.com. Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/maureenarmstrongphotography/

Follow AART on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app, and subscribe to Women Unscripted on YouTube for more conversations with women in the arts. Share this episode with someone who loves photography, horses or the landscapes of the American West.

AART is part of the Women Unscripted Podcast Network, produced by Hollowell Studios.
Hosted by Chris Stafford. 

Maureen Armstrong, Maureen Armstrong photographer, Maureen Armstrong photography, AART podcast, Chris Stafford, Women Unscripted Podcast Network, Hollowell Studios, American wild horse photographer, wild horse photography, wild mustang photography, America’s wild horses, equine photography, horse photography, sports photography, women photographers, American West photography, fine art photography, visual storytelling, wild horse advocacy, wild horse family bands, Stay Wild Wall Art, photography podcast, artist interviews.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode of AART, Chris welcomes multi-award-winning American film editor, producer and writer Nancy Novack, ACE, for a biographical conversation about the life, experiences and creative choices behind her distinguished career in film. 

For more than 25 years, Nancy has helped shape documentary and feature films for HBO, PBS, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Starz. Her work has appeared at leading international film festivals, including Sundance, Venice, Tribeca, Hot Docs and Telluride, and has contributed to productions honored with Emmy, Peabody, duPont and George Polk awards.

Nancy traces her journey from her early interest in film to becoming one of the industry’s most respected documentary editors. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in communications and a concentration in film theory, she entered the profession as an apprentice picture editor on Penny Marshall’s Awakenings, starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams.

Those formative experiences marked the beginning of a career devoted to telling meaningful stories about people, history, culture and social change. Working her way through the film industry, Nancy developed a creative voice that would eventually bring her into collaboration with some of documentary filmmaking’s most accomplished directors and producers.

Nancy won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming for Spike Lee’s acclaimed HBO documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts. Her extensive credits also include All In: The Fight for Democracy, Battleground, All Static & Noise, Grass Is Greener, My Lai, The Vote, Broadway: The American Musical, Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies, Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music and N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear.

This episode of AART is an intimate look at the woman behind an extraordinary body of work: her beginnings, influences, achievements and enduring belief in film as an art form capable of connecting people and illuminating the world around us.

Nancy’s links:
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636794/
Website: https://www.odessafilms.com/nancy-novack.html Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bklyn_novack/ Instagram: @bkln_novack 

Nancy’s dinner party guests:
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Taylor Swift
Lucille Ball
Rosie O’Donnell
Ilham Tohti 

Nancy’s favorite female artists:
Yoko Ono
Martha Graham
Greta Gerwig
Beth Kamenstein
Thelma Shoonmaker
Keiko Degichi
Swoon
Dear Anushka
Joni Mitchell
Taylor Swift 

AART is part of the Women Unscripted Podcast Network and is produced by Hollowell Studios.

Keywords:
Nancy Novack ACE, Nancy Novack interview, Nancy Novack biography, Nancy Novack life and career, American film editor, Emmy-winning film editor, award-winning film editor, female film editor, women in film, women in television, women in documentary film, film industry careers, documentary filmmaker, documentary producer, documentary writer, Call Time podcast, Chris Stafford, Chris Stafford interview, Women Unscripted Podcast Network, Hollowell Studios, filmmaking podcast, film career podcast, Hollywood career stories,

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Can photographs of the natural world help create spaces of hope, comfort and healing? 

In this episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford speaks with Sacramento-based American wildlife photographer and architect Beth Young, whose luminous images bring the restorative beauty of nature into healthcare and residential environments throughout California.

Beth’s photography can be found in hospitals, cancer centers, psychiatric facilities and elder care communities, where her images offer patients, families, residents and caregivers a meaningful connection to the natural world. Using bright colors, warm light and uplifting compositions, she creates photographs designed to evoke hope, healing, renewal and a sense of calm.

During the conversation, Beth shares how her background in architecture influences the way she sees and photographs the landscape. Her understanding of space, light, design and the emotional experience of the built environment gives her a distinctive perspective on where art belongs—and how carefully chosen images can transform the atmosphere of a room.

Beth discusses her approach to wildlife and nature photography, from observing the rhythms of the landscape to waiting for the light, color and composition that bring an image to life. Rather than simply documenting a place or animal, she seeks to capture the feeling of being immersed in nature: a moment of wonder, stillness or possibility that viewers can return to when they need it most.

Chris and Beth also explore the growing recognition of art and nature as important elements of healing environments. For someone undergoing cancer treatment, receiving psychiatric care, living in an elder care community or supporting a loved one through illness, access to the outdoors may be limited. Beth’s photographs can provide a visual pathway into nature, inviting viewers to pause, breathe and experience a sense of connection beyond the walls around them.

The episode considers the meeting point between art, architecture, healthcare and human wellbeing. Beth explains how an image intended for a hospital or therapeutic setting requires sensitivity to its audience and surroundings. Color, subject, scale and mood all matter when the goal is not only to decorate a space but also to support the people who spend time there.

This thoughtful conversation reveals how wildlife photography can become more than a record of the natural world. In Beth Young’s hands, it becomes an expression of optimism and a source of emotional refuge—bringing the warmth of sunlight, the vitality of color and the resilience of nature into places where they can have a profound impact.

Listen to discover how Beth developed her artistic vision, how architecture continues to shape her photography and why she believes the beauty of the natural world can help us reconnect with hope.

Some of Beth’s favorite female artists:
Julia Morgan (d) (architect)
Vivian Maier (d) (photographer)
Karen Waller (contemporary photographer) 

Dinner party guests:
Julia Morgan V
ivian Maier
Karen Waller
Steven King
Annika Ailles
Louis Kahn 

Beth’s links:
https://www.optimalfocusphotography.com/
https://substack.com/@optimalfocus 
https://www.instagram.com/optimal_focus/

AART is part of the Women Unscripted Podcast Network, produced by Hollowell Studios. Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Chris Stafford, the podcast features intimate conversations with women artists about their lives, careers, creative practices, challenges and achievements.
Beth Young photographer, Beth Young wildlife photography, American wildlife photographer, Sacramento wildlife photographer, California nature photographer, women photographers, female wildlife photographers, nature photography, therapeutic photography, healing art, art in hospitals, hospital art, healthcare art, cancer center artwork, psychiatric facility art, elder care art, senior living artwork, evidence-based design, healing environments, nature and wellbeing, biophilic design, architecture and photography, wildlife art, landscape photography, restorative nature, therapeutic power of nature, art and mental health, art and healing, women in photography, women in architecture, Sacramento artists, California photographers, uplifting nature photography, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford, Women Unscripted Podcast Network, Hollowell Studios

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Multi-award-winning British Production Designer and Set Decorator Alison Harvey joins Chris to share the story of her life and an extraordinary career spent creating some of the most memorable worlds in British film and television.

Over more than two decades, Alison has built a remarkable career across the art departments of television series and major motion pictures, progressing through a profession in which experience, instinct, imagination and an extraordinary eye for detail all play their part. Her credits span everything from British television to some of the biggest international film productions, but her journey is also the story of how a creative career develops — one job, one opportunity and one relationship at a time.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Alison takes Chris back to the beginning, reflecting on her early life, the influences that shaped her creative instincts and how she first found her way into film and television. From those formative experiences came a career that would see her work her way through the art department, learning the craft from the inside and collaborating with some of the industry's leading designers and filmmakers.

Her early credits included work as a design assistant on EastEnders, followed by roles as an art director, production buyer, set decorator and eventually production designer. Along the way came an extraordinary collection of films and television productions including Atonement, Sherlock Holmes, Hanna, Anna Karenina, Gravity, Edge of Tomorrow, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Hellboy, Benediction and Tetris.

But it is Alison's work on the acclaimed Netflix series The Crown that has brought some of the greatest recognition of her career. As Set Decorator across all six seasons, Alison helped create the extraordinarily detailed visual world surrounding the British Royal Family, spanning decades of changing history, personalities, homes, fashions and political landscapes. The work brought Alison international recognition and multiple major industry honors. She won Primetime Emmy Awards for The Crown in 2020 for the episode Aberfan and again in 2024 for the series finale Sleep, Dearie Sleep, alongside further Emmy nominations in 2018 and 2021. Her work has also received recognition from BAFTA, the Art Directors Guild, the Royal Television Society and the British Film Designers Guild.

Alison talks about recreating a world that audiences already feel they know. Her career has also brought opportunities to work alongside some of the most respected names in production design and set decoration, including Martin Childs, Celia Bobak, Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer, Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo, Paul Kirby and Valentina Mladenova.

Now Alison has reached another significant chapter in that journey, stepping into the role of Production Designer on Goodbye June, the feature film directed by Kate Winslet. The project marks an important point in a career that has evolved continuously — from assisting and buying to art direction, set decoration and production design.

Throughout this episode of AART, Chris and Alison explore much more than a list of film credits. They talk about the experiences behind them: the choices and opportunities that shaped Alison's path, the people she learned from, the pressures and pleasures of working in film and television, collaboration, leadership, creativity and what she has discovered about herself during a career spent largely behind the camera.

It's the story of a woman who has spent much of her professional life creating the worlds in which other people's stories unfold — and the life and career behind those worlds. Alison Harvey: A Life Designing for Film & Television is a conversation about creativity, perseverance, collaboration and the unpredictable journey of building a life in the film industry.

Join Chris Stafford for this episode of AART, where the conversation goes beyond the work to discover the life, experiences and stories of the woman behind it.

Alison’s website: https://alisonharvey.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harvey_alison/

Some of Alison’s favorite female artists:
Cornelia Parker
Eileen Agar
Barbara Hepworth
Lucie Rie
Susan Halls 

Alison’s Dinner Party Guests:
Barbara Kruger
Barbara Kingsolver
Barbara Hepworth 
Barbara Castle
Barbara Hulanicki
Barbara Streisand 

Keywords: Alison Harvey, Alison Harvey Production Designer, Alison Harvey The Crown, Alison Harvey interview, Alison Harvey podcast, British Production Designer, British Set Decorator, The Crown Set Decorator, The Crown Production Design, The Crown Behind the Scenes, Emmy Winning Production Design, Emmy Winning Set Decorator, Women in Film, Women in Television, Female Production Designer, Production Designer Interview, Set Decorator Interview, Film Art Department, British Film Industry, British Television, Film Careers, Production Design Career, Set Decoration, Atonement, Sherlock Holmes, Anna Karenina, Gravity, Edge of Tomorrow, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Hellboy, Tetris, Benediction, Goodbye June, Kate Winslet, Netflix The Crown, Martin Childs, Film and Television Podcast, Behind the Scenes Film, Art Department, Creative Careers, Chris Stafford, AART Podcast, Women Unscripted, Hollowell Studios

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Every career has a beginning, and every creative journey is shaped by moments of curiosity, courage, and unexpected opportunity. 

In this episode of AART host Chris Stafford sits down with American cinematographer Sharra Romany for a thoughtful conversation about the experiences that led her behind the camera and the people, places, and moments that have influenced her career. Rather than focusing on the technical side of filmmaking, Chris explores the personal story behind the artist. Sharra reflects on her early interests, the decisions that shaped her professional path, the challenges she has faced, and the experiences that have strengthened her confidence and creative voice. It's an honest conversation about perseverance, finding your place in a competitive industry, and continuing to grow as both an artist and a person.

Together, Chris and Sharra discuss the importance of relationships and collaboration, the lessons learned from working with others, and how every project contributes to a larger journey. Along the way, Sharra shares stories from her career, reflects on what inspires her today, and offers encouragement for anyone pursuing a creative life.

One of the hallmarks of Chris Stafford's interviews is creating space for guests to tell the stories that rarely make it into traditional industry conversations. This episode is no exception. Instead of simply celebrating accomplishments, it explores the experiences, setbacks, and defining moments that have shaped Sharra Romany into the cinematographer and storyteller she is today.

Whether you're passionate about film, inspired by creative careers, or simply enjoy hearing authentic conversations with remarkable women, this episode offers an engaging and personal look at one artist's path through the world of cinema.

In this episode, you'll hear about:
• Sharra Romany's early life and creative influences
• The journey that led her into cinematography
• Building a career in the film industry
• The people and experiences that shaped her along the way
• Finding confidence through challenges and change
• Why storytelling continues to inspire her work

Sharra’s links:
http://www.sharraromany.com/ 
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1638834/?ref_=fn_t_1 
https://www.instagram.com/sharraromany/

Sharra’s dinner party guests are her family.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

On this episode of AART,  Chris welcomes Australian-born classical realist painter Hannah Sutton, whose artistic journey has taken her from her family's farm near Melbourne to the heart of Florence, Italy—the birthplace of the Renaissance. Working in one of the world's most influential artistic cities, Hannah has immersed herself in the centuries-old traditions of drawing and painting, embracing the discipline, craftsmanship, and technical excellence that define Classical Realism.  In this engaging conversation, Hannah shares why she chose to dedicate her career to mastering traditional painting techniques in an age dominated by contemporary art. 

Chris and Hannah explore what it means to become a contemporary realist painter while honoring artistic traditions that have shaped Western art for centuries. Hannah reflects on the creative challenges of relocating internationally, building a career in Florence, and finding her own artistic voice while learning from the masterpieces that surround her every day.

Whether you're an artist, art student, collector, educator, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful painting, this episode offers a fascinating look into the dedication behind representational art and the enduring relevance of classical techniques in today's creative world. Throughout the interview, Hannah also discusses her passion for preserving traditional skills while creating deeply personal contemporary work provides inspiration for emerging artists and art lovers alike.

AART celebrates the stories of women whose creativity shapes the visual arts. Through thoughtful conversations, Chris Stafford brings listeners behind the canvas to discover the journeys, inspirations, and experiences that define today's artists.

If you enjoy conversations about painting, fine art, creativity, contemporary realism, and the traditions of the Renaissance, be sure to subscribe for more interviews with artists from around the world.

Hannah's website: https://hannahsutton.art/
Social media links:
 https://www.instagram.com/hannahsutton/
https://www.facebook.com/hannahsuttonart/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-sutton-74944348/ 

Some of Hannah's favorite female artists:
Daniela Astone (one of my teachers)
Clara Southern (Australian Impressionist, 19th century)
Mary Tonkin (Australian Landscape Artist - contemporary) 

Hannah's dinner party guests:
Alan Watts
Sister Wendy
Salvadore Dali
Claude Monet
Ernest Shackelton
Clarissa Pinkola Estés 

Keywords: Hannah Sutton, Hannah Sutton artist, Hannah Sutton painter, Australian artist, Australian painter, Florence artist, Florence painter, Classical Realism, Classical Realist painter, realist painting, realism art, contemporary realism, traditional painting, oil painting, fine art, Renaissance art, Old Masters, atelier training, Florence Academy, representational art, figurative painting, portrait painting, still life painting, painting techniques, women artists, women painters, art podcast, artist interview, creative process, Chris Stafford, AART podcast, Women Unscripted Podcast Network, Hollowell Studios, visual arts podcast, painting education, drawing from life, artistic journey, Renaissance techniques, Florence Italy artist, contemporary painter.

Hashtags: #HannahSutton #ClassicalRealism #FineArt #OilPainting #Florence #AustralianArtist #ArtistInterview #Painting #Realism #ContemporaryArt #WomenArtists #AARTPodcast #ChrisStafford #WomenUnscripted #VisualArts #RenaissanceArt #CreativeJourney #ArtistLife #RepresentationalArt #PodcastInterview



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

On this episode,  Chris welcomes acclaimed American abstract artist Galen Cheney for an insightful conversation about creativity, artistic exploration, and the evolving language of contemporary abstract painting. Known for her vibrant, expressive works and fearless approach to experimentation, Galen Cheney has built a distinguished career creating paintings that balance intuition, movement, color, and emotion. Her work invites viewers into a visual dialogue where meaning emerges through process, gesture, and personal interpretation rather than representation alone.
In this engaging discussion, Galen shares her artistic journey, the experiences that shaped her creative voice, and how abstraction allows her to explore ideas that cannot always be expressed through words. She discusses the role of curiosity in her studio practice, the challenges and rewards of maintaining a long-term creative career, and how embracing uncertainty often leads to artistic breakthroughs.

Whether you're an artist, collector, student, or simply fascinated by the creative process, this episode offers a compelling look inside the mind of one of today's accomplished abstract painters. Galen Cheney's thoughtful reflections on creativity, artistic growth, and the pursuit of authentic expression provide inspiration for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of contemporary art.

AART is the podcast where host Chris Stafford engages in meaningful conversations with artists, creators, and cultural voices from around the world, exploring the stories, challenges, and inspirations behind their work.

Subscribe to AART for more conversations with leading artists, painters, photographers, sculptors, filmmakers, and creative innovators shaping today's artistic landscape. 

Galen’s website: https://www.galencheney.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galenwcheney/

Some of Galen’s favorite female artists:
Joan Snyder
Pat Steir
Julie Mehretu
Amy Sillman
Charlene von Heyl
Cecily Brown
Marie Thiebault
Terry Ekasala
Kim Manfredi
Deborah Dancy
Mie Yim
Astrid Dick 

Galen’s dinner party guests:
Joan Mitchell
Grace Hartigan
Helen Frankenthaler
Lee Krasner
Elaine De Koonig
Artemisia Gentileschi




SEO Keywords:
Galen Cheney, Galen Cheney artist, abstract artist, American abstract artist, contemporary abstract art, abstract painting, contemporary painter, modern art, fine art podcast, artist interview, creative process, abstract expressionism, contemporary painting, women artists, visual arts, painting techniques, studio practice, color theory, intuitive painting, expressive painting, contemporary artist interview, art podcast, AART podcast, Chris Stafford, Women Unscripted Podcast Network, abstract art inspiration, professional artist, fine art collector, modern painter, creative journey, artistic process, contemporary art conversation, American painter, visual artist, creativity and art, contemporary art world. 



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode of AART, host Chris Stafford sits down with National Geographic Explorer photographer Mackenzie Calle to discuss the powerful intersection of art and storytelling. Through her lens, Mackenzie captures extraordinary images that not only reveal the beauty of the natural world but also help raise awareness about critical conservation challenges facing our ecosystems. 
Mackenzie shares her journey into photography, the experiences that shaped her career, and how visual storytelling can influence public understanding of our world.  

Throughout the conversation, Chris and Mackenzie explore the responsibility of photographers working in fragile environments, the importance of authentic storytelling, and the role artists play in connecting audiences to subjects they may never encounter firsthand. They also discuss the evolving world of photography, the challenges of fieldwork, and the moments behind some of Mackenzie's most memorable images.

The discussion also explores Mackenzie's creation  and plans for The Gay Space Agency, a project that imagines a diverse, inclusive American space program to confront the historical exclusion of openly LGBTQI+ individuals from NASA. Through this groundbreaking initiative, artists, scientists, activists, and thinkers collaborate to challenge traditional narratives about exploration, identity, and who gets to envision humanity's future beyond Earth.

Chris and Mackenzie discuss how creativity, art, and imagination can help shape conversations about belonging, representation, and possibility. Together they explore the surprising connections between conservation, exploration, storytelling, and the human desire to discover new worlds—whether here on Earth or among the stars.

This episode is an inspiring exploration of how artists can bridge disciplines, challenge assumptions, and create work that expands both our understanding of the present and our vision of the future.
Subscribe to AART and Women Unscripted Podcast Network for more conversations with remarkable creatives, storytellers, and innovators.

Some of Mackenzie’s favorite women artists:
Lee Miller
Keisha Scarville
Amie Siegel
Sara Cwynars
Kay Sage
Penelope Umbrico
Esmay Wagemans 

Mackenzie’s dinner party guests:
Sally Ride
Lee Miller
David Attenborough
Felix Gonzalez-Torres
DB Cooper
Phil Lisman

Website: mackenziecalle.com
instagram.com/mackenzie.calle

Coffee with an Explorer Thursday, July 16, 2026 10-11am  National Geographic Museum of Exploration  1600 M Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036
https://moe.nationalgeographic.org/en/whats-on/coffee-with-an-explorer-mackenzie-calle

Talks with an Explorer Friday, July 17,  2026 12:30-1:30pm National Geographic Museum of Exploration  1600 M Street NW Washington, D.C. 20036
https://moe.nationalgeographic.org/en/whats-on/pop-up-talks-with-an-explorer-mackenzie-calle

Keywords National Geographic Explorer, Mackenzie Calle, Mackenzie Calle photographer, National Geographic photography, wildlife photography, conservation photography, environmental photography, visual storytelling, documentary photography, nature photographer, conservationist, wildlife conservation, photography podcast, photography interview, Chris Stafford, AART podcast, Women Unscripted Podcast Network, environmental storytelling, National Geographic Explorer interview, creative storytelling, adventure photography, wildlife photographer, conservation awareness, photography career, documentary storyteller, photography and conservation, environmental advocacy, artistic storytelling, photography education

Meta Description (Google Search) National Geographic Explorer and photographer Mackenzie Calle joins Chris Stafford on AART to discuss wildlife photography, conservation, visual storytelling, environmental advocacy, and the power of images to inspire change.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

June Stratton is an American representational figurative painter known for her work capturing the human form with clarity, discipline, and emotional depth.  In this episode of the AART Podcast,  Chris speaks with June Stratton about her career in figurative painting, her studio practice, and how she approaches realism in contemporary art.

This conversation covers:

• How June Stratton became a figurative artist
• Her approach to painting the human figure and working from observation
• The role of light, composition, and gesture in representational art
• Balancing technical precision with intuition in painting
• What it takes to sustain a career as a contemporary realist painter

Chris’ signature unscripted, intimate interview style allows  Stratton to go beyond technique and talk about the mindset behind her work—how she sees, thinks, and builds a painting over time. 

If you’re interested in figurative painting, representational art, portrait painting, or the creative process of contemporary artists, this episode offers a clear and practical insight into how one artist approaches her craft.

June’s links:
Website: junestratton.com
Instagram: instagram.com/june_stratton/
Facebook: facebook.com/JuneStrattonStudio/

June’s Female artists: Nadine Robbins Marilyn Minter April Gornik Vija Celmins Julie Heffernan Mae Read Mia Bergeron Pamela Wilson Katherine Sandoz Annie Lebowitz Dorielle Caimi Rebecca Leveille Guay Megan Lange

Dinner Party Guests: Benjamin Franklin Dolly Parton Mary Munter Hedy Lamar Jack White Paitti Smith John Muir

Keywords
June Stratton, figurative painting, representational art, realism painting, contemporary realist artist, portrait painting, human figure drawing, painting process, studio practice artist, American painter interview, AART podcast, Chris Stafford, Women Unscripted podcast network, art podcast, how to paint people, observational painting, fine art interview, contemporary figurative art, artist career insights



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with renowned American digital collage artist Maggie Taylor, whose dreamlike, surreal imagery has redefined the boundaries between photography, technology, and fine art.

Known for her pioneering work in digital collage, Maggie Taylor creates richly layered visual narratives that blend 19th-century photographic elements with contemporary digital tools. Her work invites viewers into imaginative, often whimsical worlds—where memory, symbolism, and storytelling converge in unexpected ways. In this intimate and insightful conversation, Maggie shares how she discovered her distinctive artistic voice, her transition from traditional photography to digital media, and how tools like Photoshop became central to her creative process.

Raised in a creative environment and married to photographer Jerry Uelsmann, Maggie Taylor developed an early appreciation for photographic experimentation. Yet she forged her own path, becoming one of the most recognized figures in digital art. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in major museum collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the George Eastman Museum, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

On AART, Maggie reflects on the evolution of her career, the role of intuition in her artistic decisions, and the balance between control and discovery when creating complex digital compositions. She also discusses the emotional resonance of her work, the importance of curiosity, and how artists can embrace new technologies without losing their authenticity. This episode offers a fascinating look into the mind of an artist who has quietly but profoundly influenced contemporary visual culture. Whether you’re an artist, photographer, or simply someone drawn to imaginative storytelling, Maggie Taylor’s journey is both inspiring and deeply thought-provoking.

Maggie’s links website: www.maggietaylor.com Instagram: @maggietaylor.art 

Some favorite women artists: Julie Blackmon, Sandy Skogland, Lori Nix, Cig Harvey, Marion Peck, Lori Vrba, Claire Rosen

Dinner party guests: Patti Smith, Aimee Mann, Laurie Anderson, Tilda Swinton, Kara Swisher, and Eve Schooler

Keywords: Maggie Taylor, digital collage artist, American artist Maggie Taylor, surreal digital art, digital collage photography, contemporary digital artists, Photoshop art, fine art photography, AART podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, women artists interview, visual storytelling, surrealism in digital art, creative process artists, modern collage art, experimental photography, women in art podcast, artist interviews, contemporary art podcast, museum exhibited artists, digital art techniques, storytelling through images, imaginative art, photography and technology, Jerry Uelsmann influence, American contemporary artists, art podcast interviews, Women Unscripted podcast network


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this compelling episode, host Chris Stafford welcomes German cinematographer Bebe Dierken for an intimate and revealing conversation about the art and emotional power of visual storytelling. 
Known for Dangerous Truth, Sexy Beast, Midas Man, Bridgerton with her distinctive visual language and ability to translate narrative into striking imagery, Bebe Dierken has built a career behind the camera shaping stories through light, composition, and movement. In this episode, she shares her journey into cinematography, the creative influences that shaped her eye, and the challenges and rewards of working in a field where technical precision meets artistic instinct.

Through Chris Stafford’s signature unscripted and deeply personal interview style, Bebe opens up about the realities of working on set, collaborating with directors, and finding her voice as a cinematographer in a competitive global industry. The conversation explores how she approaches why cinematography is as much about emotion as it is about technique. Bebe reflects on the evolving role of cinematographers today and the importance of authenticity, perspective, and creative courage in her work.

As part of the Women Unscripted podcast network, this episode continues the tradition of elevating the voices of women in the arts through honest, insightful, and deeply human conversations. Chris Stafford’s ability to create a trusted space allows guests like Bebe Dierken to share not just their professional journey, but the personal experiences that inform their artistry. Whether you are a filmmaker, artist, or simply fascinated by the power of cinema, this episode offers inspiration, insight, and a deeper appreciation for the visual storytelling that shapes the way we see the world.

Bebe’s links: https://www.bebedierken.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bebedierken/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1029068/

Favorite female artists: Nancy Schreiber, Amy Vincent.

Dinner party guests: Tom Ford,  Kevin de lay Noy, Madonna, John Kevin Gibb, Neill deGrass Tyson, 

🔑 Keywords  Bebe Dierken, German cinematographer interview, women cinematographers, cinematography podcast, filmmaking podcast, visual storytelling, director of photography interview, women in film industry, cinematography techniques, lighting in film, camera composition, filmmaking process, behind the scenes film production, creative storytelling, women in the arts podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, Call Time podcast, Women Unscripted network, cinematography career, film industry insights, cinematographer workflow, storytelling through film, visual language in cinema, independent film cinematography, filmmaking inspiration

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this fascinating episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with British illuminator Thea Gould to explore the intricate and fascinating world of illumination—an ancient art form that continues to inspire modern creativity. Known for her meticulous craftsmanship and dedication to preserving traditional techniques, Thea Gould shares the story behind her artistic journey, from discovering her passion for illuminated manuscripts to building a career rooted in patience, precision, and storytelling through gold, pigment, and light. 

Listeners will gain insight into what it truly means to be an illuminator in today’s art landscape, how historical practices influence contemporary work, and the discipline required to master such a detailed craft. Thea discusses her creative process, the tools and materials she uses, and the deeper meaning behind her work—where art becomes both a meditative practice and a bridge between past and present. This episode also dives into the challenges and rewards of pursuing a niche artistic career, offering valuable perspective for emerging artists, creatives, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of tradition and innovation.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a creative professional, or simply curious about lesser-known artistic disciplines, this episode delivers inspiration, education, and a rare glimpse into a timeless craft. Discover how Thea  keeps the art of illumination alive in the modern world, and why her work continues to resonate in an age driven by speed and digital creation.
Keywords:
Thea Gould, British illuminator, illumination art, illuminated manuscripts, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, traditional art techniques, contemporary illumination, gold leaf art, manuscript art, artistic craftsmanship, creative process, fine art careers, historical art methods, modern artists interview, art podcast, visual storytelling, niche art careers, preserving traditional arts, artist interviews, creative discipline, handcrafted art, detailed illustration, calligraphy and illumination, art inspiration podcast

Thea online:
Website - www.theodoragould.co.uk
Instagram, www.instagram.com/theodora.gould

Thea’s dinner party guests:
Oscar Wilde
Jesus
Leonardo da Vinci
Dolly Parton
Robin Williams
Jane Austen 

Some of Thea’s favorite female artists:
Anna Mason
Stephanie Rew 
Claire Fletcher 
Tess Newall 
Eleanor Gander 
Florence Sweryda
Ele Grafton
Alison Rosby 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this compelling episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with acclaimed American author and art historian Donna Seaman to explore her extraordinary life and career at the intersection of visual art and literature. Known for her deeply insightful writing and influential voice in the art world, Donna shares her journey from an early passion for books and storytelling to becoming a respected critic, editor, and advocate for artists. The conversation delves into her work as a longtime contributor to Booklist, her role in shaping conversations around contemporary art, and her celebrated books that illuminate the emotional and intellectual power of creativity. Listeners will gain rare insight into how Donna approaches art criticism, the importance of curiosity and empathy in engaging with artwork, and the evolving relationship between art, culture, and society. This episode is a must-listen for visual artists, writers, and anyone interested in the creative process, art history, and the role of criticism in today’s world. Whether you're an emerging artist or a lifelong art enthusiast, Donna Seaman’s perspective offers inspiration, depth, and a renewed appreciation for the transformative power of art.

Keywords Donna Seaman interview, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, art historian podcast, American art critic, art writing, contemporary art discussion, visual arts podcast, artist interviews, creative careers, art and literature, Booklist editor Donna Seaman, art criticism, art history insights, podcast for artists, storytelling in art, creative inspiration podcast, art world conversations, author interviews, contemporary artists and writers

Donna’s website: www.donnaseaman.com 

Some of Donna’s favorite female artists:
Past: Louise Nevelson, Joan Mitchell, Georgia O’Keeffe, Agnes Martin, Lenore Tawney, Ruth Asawa, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Elizabeth Catlett, Margaret Wharton, Betye Saar,  Joan Brown, Christina Ramerberg, Gertrude Abercrombie, Faith Ringgold Current: Vija Celmins, Phyllis Bramson, Firelei Báez, Wangechi Mutu, Doris Salcedo, Susan Rothenberg, Mary Frank, Erika Wanenmacher,  Ann Hamilton, Gina Litherland 

Donna's dinner party guests: 
Margaret Atwood
Georgia O’Keefe
Rachel Carson
Gwendolyn Brooks
Toni Morrison
Martha Gelhorn 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with acclaimed American trompe l’oeil painter Natalie Featherston, a Charlotte, North Carolina–based artist known for her extraordinary ability to create hyper-realistic paintings that challenge the viewer’s perception of reality. Natalie specializes in the centuries-old technique of trompe l’oeil, a style of painting designed to “deceive the eye” by creating the illusion of three-dimensional objects on a flat surface. Through meticulous observation, careful composition, and masterful control of light, texture, and detail, her work blurs the boundary between painting and reality.

During this in-depth conversation, Natalie shares the story behind her artistic journey, from discovering her passion for realism to developing the highly disciplined skills required to paint convincing visual illusions. From the world of classical music as an accomplished cellist performing in Carnegie Hall and across Europe as a soloist and chamber musician to an accomplished artist.
Listeners will learn how she approaches composition, builds layered textures, and captures subtle details that make everyday objects appear tangible on canvas. The discussion also explores the influence of classical realism, and how contemporary artists like Natalie are keeping this fascinating art form alive in the modern art world.

Chris and Natalie also talk about the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career in fine art, including building a professional reputation, exhibiting work, and connecting with collectors who appreciate the technical mastery and conceptual playfulness of illusionistic painting. Natalie reflects on the patience, precision, and curiosity required to sustain a creative life and explains why trompe l’oeil continues to captivate audiences centuries after its origins.

Whether you are an artist, art student, collector, or simply someone fascinated by hyper-realistic painting and visual perception, this episode offers a compelling look into the creative process behind one of the most technically demanding forms of representational art. Discover how Natalie Featherston transforms ordinary objects into extraordinary works of illusion and learn what it takes to master the timeless craft of trompe l’oeil painting.

Tune in to the AART Podcast with Chris Stafford to explore the artistry, dedication, and imagination behind Natalie’s fascinating career and the enduring power of painting to trick the eye and stimulate curiosity.

Natalie’s links:
Website link: https://nataliefeatherston.com/
Instagram link: nfeatherston_fine_art 

Favorite female artists: 
Frida Kahlo
Rachel Ruysch
Audrey Flack
Maggie Taylor 

Natalie’s dinner party guests:
Stephen King
Michelle Obama
Frida Khalo
Mozart
Amy Poehler
Bu Scherf 

Keywords:
Natalie Featherston, trompe l’oeil artist, trompe l’oeil painting, hyperrealism painting, realistic painting techniques, illusionistic painting, contemporary realism artist, Charlotte North Carolina artist, trompe l’oeil art history, hyperrealistic art, American realist painters, fine art podcast, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, contemporary still life painting, art technique podcast, realism painting methods, visual illusion art, professional artist interview, painting process and technique. 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with Canadian hyperrealism artist Erin Rothstein for an in-depth conversation about her artistic journey, creative process, and the discipline behind creating incredibly lifelike works of art. Known for her strikingly detailed paintings that blur the line between photography and painting, Rothstein has built a reputation as a leading voice in contemporary hyperrealism.

Erin Rothstein’s work captures everyday subjects with extraordinary precision, transforming ordinary moments into visually powerful pieces that challenge viewers to reconsider how they see the world. Through careful observation, technical mastery, and a deep understanding of light, texture, and form, Rothstein creates paintings that appear almost indistinguishable from photographs while still retaining the emotional depth of traditional fine art. During this conversation, Rothstein shares insights into how she first discovered her passion for art and the influences that shaped her career as a professional artist in Canada. She discusses the dedication and patience required to produce hyperrealistic paintings, the tools and techniques she relies on, and the challenges that come with pursuing such a meticulous style. From sketching and reference photography to layering paint and refining the smallest details, Rothstein explains the process behind bringing her subjects to life on canvas. Erin also explains the broader world of hyperrealism, including how the movement has evolved in modern contemporary art, the differences between photorealism and hyperrealism, and why audiences continue to be captivated by artwork that pushes the boundaries of visual realism. Rothstein reflects on the role of social media, galleries, and collectors in helping artists build sustainable careers today, as well as the importance of persistence and authenticity in the creative journey. 

Whether you are an artist, art student, collector, or simply someone fascinated by the intersection of technical skill and creative vision, this episode offers a fascinating look into the life and work of one of Canada’s most compelling hyperrealism painters. Erin Rothstein’s story highlights the dedication behind mastering a demanding artistic style and the passion that drives artists to create work that resonates with audiences around the world.

Tune in to the AART Podcast with Chris Stafford to hear Erin Rothstein discuss her inspirations, creative philosophy, and the path that led her to become a recognized hyperrealism artist.

Erin’s links:
Website: www.erinrothstein.com
Instagram: @erinrothstein 

Erin’s dinner party guests:
Picasso
Catherine O’Hara
Cheryl Strayed 
Ram Dass
Bob Dylan
Princess Diana 

Some of Erin’s favorite female artists:
Cecily Brown
Jenny Saville
CJ Hendry
Lauren Williams
Artemisia Gentileschi
Hilma Af Klint
Berthe Morisot, 

Keywords:
Erin Rothstein, hyperrealism artist, Canadian hyperrealism painter, Erin Rothstein art, hyperrealistic painting, photorealism vs hyperrealism, contemporary hyperrealism artists, realistic painting techniques, fine art podcast, artist interview podcast, contemporary Canadian artist, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, hyperrealism art process, how hyperrealism paintings are made, modern realism art, contemporary art podcast, artist career stories, art inspiration, professional painter interview.

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this fascinating episode host Chris explores a very different art form when she meets American concrete artist Liz Nichols for a biographical conversation that explores her life, her career in the trades, and creative evolution. From transforming one of the most industrial materials in the world into expressive, tactile works of art, Liz Nichols has carved out a unique space within contemporary American art. From her early influences and formative years to the pivotal moments that shaped her artistic voice, Liz shares how she found her medium in concrete — a material traditionally associated with construction, strength, and permanence — and reimagined it as a vehicle for beauty, storytelling, and emotional depth. This episode dives into the discipline, physicality, and inspiration behind her work, as well as the resilience required to follow her passion outside her construction work in a male-dominated field.
 
Chris and Liz discuss the challenges and breakthroughs that defined her journey, the evolution of her aesthetic, and how she balances craftsmanship with conceptual expression. Listeners will gain insight into the technical demands of working with concrete, the creative risks involved in large-scale sculptural work, and the mindset needed to sustain a life in the arts.
 
This conversation explores identity, perseverance, and what it truly means to construct a life around creativity. Whether you're an artist, art collector, creative entrepreneur, or simply fascinated by stories of reinvention and determination, this episode offers an inspiring look at how unconventional materials can become the foundation for meaningful artistic expression.
 
Tune in to hear Liz Nichols reflect on the intersections of art and industry, the importance of mentorship and opportunity, and her vision for the future of contemporary concrete art. This is a candid and compelling portrait of an artist who builds not just with material, but with intention.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Watch on YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Liz is on Instagram @graydaygoods 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com 

Keywords:
Liz Nichols, American concrete artist, contemporary concrete art, concrete sculpture, female sculptor in America, women in sculpture, industrial materials in art, contemporary American artist interview, artist biography podcast, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford AART, art career journey, creative entrepreneurship, sculptural concrete design, female artist story, modern sculpture, architectural art, artistic resilience, art and industry, women in construction art, biographical artist conversation, contemporary sculptor interview.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this powerful and intimate episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with Austrian contemporary artist Katherina Olschbaur for a biographical conversation about her life, creative evolution, and the emotional force behind her large-scale figurative paintings. Known for her psychologically charged works that blur the boundaries between vulnerability and strength, Olschbaur has established herself as a compelling voice in contemporary European painting. Born in Austria, living in New York and now exhibiting internationally, Katherina Olschbaur creates raw, dreamlike compositions that explore identity, human connection, power, intimacy, and the subconscious. Her paintings often depict intertwined figures suspended in ambiguous spaces—scenes that feel both tender and unsettling. In this episode, she shares the personal history that shaped her visual language, how growing up in Austria influenced her worldview, and the pivotal moments that defined her path as an artist. This is not a technical deep dive into materials or process—it is a human story. Chris and Katherina explore the emotional courage required to pursue a life in contemporary art, the psychological layers within her work, and the tension between control and chaos that drives her compositions. Olschbaur reflects on navigating the international art world, developing her voice, and embracing vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness. Listeners will gain insight into the inner life of a contemporary painter working today—how personal memory, relationships, and internal conflict become visual narratives on canvas. Whether you are an artist, collector, curator, or simply someone drawn to expressive figurative art, this episode offers an honest look at what it means to dedicate your life to creative truth. If you’re interested in Austrian contemporary art, figurative painting, women artists in Europe, emotional storytelling through art, or the psychology behind powerful visual work, this conversation with Katherina Olschbaur is not to be missed.

Katherina's links:
http://www.katherinaolschbaur.com
Instagram: @kat_olschbaur 

Some of Katherina's favorite femail artists:
Artemisia Gentilesci 
Nan Goldin
Cecily Brown
Maria Lassnig
Leonor Fini
Wangechi Mutu
Ulrike Ottinger 
Ambera Wellmann 

Keywords
Katherina Olschbaur, Austrian contemporary artist, Austrian painter, contemporary figurative painting, European contemporary art, women in contemporary art, female contemporary painters, expressive figurative art, psychological painting, large-scale figurative works, modern Austrian artists, emotional storytelling in art, identity in contemporary painting, vulnerability and power in art, contemporary European painters, international art exhibitions, artist biography podcast, art world interview, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford, contemporary art conversation, visual narrative painting, fine art podcast episode, modern figurative expression, contemporary canvas work, artist life and career story, art collector interest, emerging European art voices, contemporary art discussion. 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode of the AART, host Chris Stafford sits down with American film and television professional Nica Fazio for an honest, wide-ranging biographical conversation about her life, career, and personal journey working behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. Rather than focusing on technical details, this episode explores the human story behind a career spent on set—how Nica found her way into film and television, what drew her to the work, and how years in the industry shaped her identity, resilience, and outlook on life.Nica shares reflections on growing up, discovering creative communities, and navigating the realities of working in a demanding, often unpredictable industry. She talks about the challenges and rewards of life behind the camera, the importance of collaboration, and the relationships formed on set that leave a lasting mark long after the lights go down. Through personal stories and candid insights, Nica opens up about perseverance, adaptability, and the quieter moments that define a career not always seen by audiences. This episode of AART is about more than film and television—it’s about finding purpose, learning to trust your instincts, and building a meaningful life through creative work. Whether you’re an artist, filmmaker, or simply curious about the people who bring stories to life behind the scenes, this conversation offers a thoughtful and inspiring look at what it means to commit to a path and grow along the way.
 
Nica’s links:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9717608/
 https://www.instagram.com/nica.fazio/
https://www.instagram.com/nicafaziophoto/
 
Nica's dinner party guests:
My grandpa
Ellen Kuras
Ava Duvernay
Lisa Kudrow
Amy Winehouse
Alejandro González Iñárritu 

Some of Nica’s favorite women artists:
Elisa Capdevila (muralist from Barcelona she is amazing) 
Pixy Liao (photographer) 
Helen Levitt (photographer)
Rina Yang (DP)
Marjan Teeuwen (large scale architecture installations) 
Miska Mohmmed (abstract painting) 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com 

Keywords Nica Fazio, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, film and television careers, women in film, behind the scenes film industry, film crew stories, creative career journeys, life in film and TV, entertainment industry biography, film podcast interview, personal stories from set life, American film professionals, storytelling behind the camera


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this intimate and reflective episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with American color pencil artist Megan Seiter for a deeply personal conversation about life, creativity, and the quiet dedication behind her work. Known for her richly layered drawings and extraordinary attention to detail, Seiter shares the story of how she found her voice as an artist—and why patience, persistence, and curiosity continue to shape her practice. Rather than focusing on technique, this biographical episode explores who Megan Seiter is as an artist and a person. She talks openly about her early influences, the moments that pushed her toward art, and the internal challenges that come with choosing a creative life. Seiter reflects on the slow, meditative nature of working in color pencil, how time plays a role in her process, and what it means to stay committed to a medium that demands both restraint and devotion. Throughout the conversation, Megan discusses the realities of sustaining a career in the arts, navigating doubt, and learning to trust long-form creative work in a fast-paced world. Her story is one of intentional making, artistic integrity, and embracing the beauty that emerges through repetition and care. This episode of the AART Podcast is a thoughtful listen for artists, creatives, and anyone interested in the human stories behind visual art—especially those drawn to drawing, realism, and the quieter paths of creative expression.

Megan's dinner party guests:
Grandma Jeannette
Isabel
Pema Chodron
Kristen Wiig
Maria Montessori
Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Megan’s links:
Website: www.meganseiter.com
Instagram @ms_fineart 
https://www.instagram.com/ms_fineart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeganSeiter.FineArt/

Some of Megan's favorite artists:
Natalie Featherston, who I discovered through Meyer Gallery, and is also from RI. She makes very witty and realistic tromp l’oeil still life paintings. 
Clio Newton, who makes large-scale figure drawings and paintings. I admire the delicacy of her strokes and the sheer size of her work, and the fact that she doesn’t just work in a single medium. • Carla Grace, who is a wildlife artist. One thing I’ll say I really appreciate about social media is that you can now easily connect with people and work from all over the world. I think that Carla Grace does this so well, sharing her studio and her techniques freely, engaging her audience, and sharing about being both a mother and an artist. 
Amy Shelton, who I met at a group exhibit we were both participating in. She makes delicate an intricate compositions using dried flowers that are displayed in light boxes — very unique and beautiful.

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Keywords / SEO Tags
Megan Seiter, color pencil artist, American artist, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford, contemporary drawing, visual artist interview, artist biography, life of an artist, creative journey, fine art drawing, realism in art, women artists, art podcast, contemporary art conversation, drawing as meditation, slow art, artist life story

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this deeply personal episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with acclaimed American film editor Jazzy Kettenacker for an intimate conversation about life, identity, and a career shaped by storytelling. Rather than focusing on technical process, this episode explores the human journey behind the edit — the experiences, values, and turning points that have defined Jazzy’s path in film and beyond. Jazzy Kettenacker reflects on growing up with a creative instinct, discovering film as a way to make sense of the world, and how editing became not just a profession but a way of thinking and living. She speaks candidly about navigating the film industry, finding her voice as an artist, and the emotional intelligence required to shape stories that resonate. This is a conversation about resilience, intuition, and the unseen labor that gives films their emotional rhythm. Throughout the episode, Jazzy opens up about the realities of sustaining a creative life — the doubts, the breakthroughs, and the personal evolution that comes with long-term artistic work. Her story highlights the importance of trust, collaboration, and empathy, revealing how an editor’s sensibility is deeply intertwined with who they are as a person. The AART Podcast is known for thoughtful, biographical conversations with artists across disciplines, and this episode is no exception. Chris guides the discussion with warmth and curiosity, creating space for reflection on creativity, identity, and what it truly means to build a life in the arts. Whether you’re a filmmaker, artist, or simply someone interested in honest creative journeys, this episode offers rare insight into the inner life of a film editor whose work — and perspective — is shaped by lived experience.

BIO
Jazzy Kettenacker, a St. Louis native and full-time Editor at BSS Outpost, is known for her dynamic editing style and relentless work ethic. A Hollins University graduate and Premiere Pro wiz, she's collaborated with top brands like The North Face, Disney+, MLS, Rolling Stone, Under Armour, Pepsi, and FX. Jazzy's dedication to creative excellence drives her to push boundaries and redefine cinematic storytelling.  Born in 199 in Columbia, MI, Jazzy is the only child of Donna Garrett, a lieutenant for the St. Louis Police Department, and Lynn Hard, a retired Home School Communicator.  She attended Compton-Drew Middle School, Webster Groves High School and Hollins University—an all women’s University in Roanoke, VA. Her love for film and the process of filmmaking that she learned in college guided her to a career that began behind the camera before she realized the magic for her was to be found in the edit suite. With experience across the genres, Jazzy has now found her metier in documentary film.

Keywords:
Jazzy Kettenacker, Jazzy Kettenacker film editor, American film editor, film editing career, women in film, film industry stories, creative life podcast, artist biography podcast, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, film editor interview, life in film, creative identity, storytelling in cinema, behind the scenes film, artist conversations, biographical podcast, independent film voices

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with acclaimed South African production designer Sabrina Linder for an intimate biographical conversation about life, creativity, and the winding path that leads to a career in film. Rather than focusing on technical process, this episode explores the human story behind the work. Sabrina Linder reflects on growing up in South Africa, the formative experiences that shaped her artistic sensibility, and how curiosity, resilience, and observation guided her toward a life in visual storytelling. From early influences and cultural identity to the emotional intelligence required to collaborate at the highest levels of film and television, Sabrina shares the moments that quietly — and sometimes unexpectedly — defined her career. Throughout the conversation, Sabrina opens up about navigating creative industries, finding confidence as an artist, and learning how to trust instinct over expectation. She discusses what it means to build worlds for the screen while simultaneously building a life, and how storytelling — whether through design or lived experience — remains at the center of her work. Chris guides the discussion with warmth and curiosity, allowing space for reflection on ambition, self-doubt, mentorship, and the invisible labor behind creative success. The result is a thoughtful portrait of an artist whose career is rooted not only in visual craft, but in empathy, memory, and lived experience. 
This episode will resonate with artists, filmmakers, designers, and anyone interested in the personal journeys behind creative careers, offering insight, honesty, and inspiration well beyond the screen.

Sabrina’s links:
https://www.sabrinalindercreative.com/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9513117/ https://www.instagram.com/sabrina_linder_creative/ Fertile by Design on Substack - https://substack.com/@fertilebydesign

Ssbrina's favorite female artists:
Florencia Martin - Production Designer for Blonde, Babylon & One battle after another  I
ris Van Herpen - Fashion Designer 
Agnieszka Cereda - Polish artist - Oil on Canvas - Folk Dress 
Artemisia Gentileschi - Baroque Artist 
Chloé Zhao - Director - Hamnet 
Ellen Kuras - Director - Lee / Cinematographer
Mandy Walker - Cinematographer - Elvis, Red Riding Hood, Australia  

Sabrina's dinner guests:
Jack Fisk
Iris van Herpen
Marilyn Munroe
Elsa Schiaparelli
Patrice Vermetti
Bloomer (her dog)
 
Keywords / SEO Tags Sabrina Linder, South African production designer, AART podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, production designer interview, film industry careers, women in film, creative biography, artist life story, behind the scenes film, visual storytelling, art and cinema, creative journeys, film design careers, African artists in film, personal stories in art, creative identity, storytelling podcast, film and art podcast
 
BIO South African born Production Designer Sabrina Linder is well known for her trademark work in I Swear 2025, Salvable 2025, The Last Victims (2019).  Her portfolio includes commercials, films, TV and music videos. Sabrina was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1992. to parents Helene Linder, an Artist and interior design enthusiast and father Desmond Lawrence Linder, a quantity surveyor and business owner.  She has one brother Brendan. Sabrina grew up in post Apartheid South Africa where artistic expression among women was not encouraged but subtle influences from her artistic mother subconsciously steered Sabrina towards fashion design. She attended Cornwall Hill College for Grades 0-12 after which she moved to Cape Town to study for her BA Degree in Fashion Design at FEDISA Cape Town. Upon graduating she deferred a BA Honours at the London College of Fashion instead breaking into her first job in film which opened the door to opportunities she had not imagined. Her path was now set in production design and she worked in Props, Costume and Design before focusing in the Production Design where she has found her creative home. She is a multi award winning designer with BFDG Design Award Nominations, the Berlin Music Video Award both in 2023 as well as Lourie Awards and Ciclope Awards in 2022. Sabrina moved to London in 2021 and is currently working on commercials before preparing for her next film production this spring. Sabrina lives in Beaconsfield, England with her partner, and the couple are expecting their first child in March.

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

On this inspiring episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with acclaimed painter and author Kami Mendlik, whose work is celebrated for its vivid portrayal of nature, her masterful study of color, and her ability to capture the ever-shifting qualities of light and movement. Known for her immersive landscapes and her deeply intuitive approach to plein air painting, Kami shares how a lifelong connection to the outdoors has shaped her artistic vision and creative process. She dives into how color theory, environmental observation, and emotional resonance come together in her paintings—and how her recent writing further expands the conversation around art, seeing, and the creative life. This episode offers an intimate look at an artist dedicated to exploring the natural world and translating it into powerful visual storytelling. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, painter, creative professional, or simply curious about the intersection of nature and artistic expression, this conversation will leave you inspired to see the world with new attention and appreciation. Tune in for an enriching, thoughtful exploration of color, creativity, and the practice of truly noticing.

BIO
The painter and author Kami Mendlik. Kami’s art portrays her lifelong passion for exploring nature,  the study of color and her observations of light and movement. Kami was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina in 1973, the oldest of four children. Her mother Heidi Shervheim, was a homemaker who waited tables part time and became a talented quilter. And her father Robert Mendlik is an Army Veteran and former electrician who now spends his time in land conservation.  A a small child the family moved to Minnesota adjacent to her grandparents 450 acre farm where Kami grew up surrounded by nature and agriculture. She says: “The respect that I have for nature and her awesomeness is beyond words. My desire to study and attempt to translate this, is why I paint.”  Kami knew from an early age that she wanted to be a full time artist and her first mentor Mary Pettis guided her towards a career that would ultimately lead her to establishing the St Croix River School of Painting in Stillwater MN in 2008.  Kami is internationally recognized as an artist and teacher winning numerous awards with gallery showings around the country. She is the author of “Color Relativity”, and creator of Planal Fruit. Kami lives with her husband Pete Hayes on 16 acre farm just North of Stillwater, where she converted a 100 year old hip roof barn into her studio. She has a son, Nick and daughter Paige.

Kami’s links:
Website: https://www.kamimendlik.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamimendlik/

Kami’s favorite female artists: Kathie Wheeler Julie Davis Kathy Anderson Chula Beauregard Anne Larson Ann Watcher Carole Gray-Weilman Jane Hunt Kim Casebeer Carol Peebles Camille Przewodek (d) 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

keywords:
Kami Mendlik, painter, author, landscape artist, plein air painting, color theory, nature art, light and movement in art, creative process, contemporary artists, AART podcast, Chris Stafford, artist interview, art inspiration, art and nature, visual storytelling, artistic observation, fine art podcast.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera with Mia Cioffi Henry, a visionary cinematographer and filmmaker whose work explores the art of visual storytelling with depth, emotion, and purpose. In this episode, Mia shares her journey through the world of independent cinema, her creative process on set, and how she uses light, movement, and perspective to bring powerful stories to life. Discover insights on cinematography, directing, collaboration, visual language, and the future of filmmaking — straight from one of today’s most thoughtful visual artists. Whether you’re a filmmaker, creative professional, film student, or movie lover, this conversation will inspire you to see storytelling in a new light.

👉 Keywords 
cinematography, filmmaker, Mia Cioffi Henry, visual storytelling, film industry, behind the scenes, creative process, directing, cinematographer interview, filmmaking tips, women in film, artistic vision, camera work, movie production.

American cinematographer Mia Cioffi Henry whose most recent narrative feature film, Sorry Baby, won the 2025 Waldo Salt Award for Screenwriting and Documentary Feature Film, and Cover-up, also a documentary feature, which premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. She is also known for lensing Endless Sleepover (2021), Superior (2021) and The Surrogate (2020).  Mia was born in Washington, DC in 1986. She has an older brother and step-brother. Her mother Gay Cioffi is an early childhood educator and fine artist, and her father Mel Henry, a documentary cinematographer, and step-father, Mark Obenhaus, a documentary filmmaker. So Mia grew up in an artistic family, following her parents love of musical theater, while learning dance, a variety of musical instruments and acting. She attended Pitzer College, Clairemont, CA where she attained a BA double major in Production Design and Media Studies (film production. ) Mia subsequently graduated with an MFA in Cinematography at NYU Tisch as a Dean’s Fellow and Graduate Assistant. In 2025 she was named one of American Cinematographer Magazine's Rising Stars of Cinematography, while her work has won Jury Awards at Sundance, SXSW and Locarno film festivals. Mia is an Associate Arts Professor and Head of Cinematography at NYU Tisch's Graduate Film program. She balances her teaching career with filmmaking and being a wife and mother. Mia is a member and mentor of 600 Black Women, a group of Black female identifying members of the Local 600 Camera Guild. She divides her time between New York City and Pescara, Italy with her husband, musician Julian Fernandez, their nine-year old daughter, and her step-son. 
 
Mia’s links:
 https://www.miacioffihenry.com/
https://www.instagram.com/miacioffihenry
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3994018/
https://tisch.nyu.edu/about/directory/grad-film/885588223.html
 
Some favorite female artists in visual arts:
Carrie Mae Weems
Alma Thomas
Amy Sherald 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step inside the creative universe of Lorrie Minicozzi, an award-winning multi-media installation artist known for transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary, sensory experiences. In this episode, we explore how Lorrie blends sound, light, sculpture, video, and storytelling to create immersive art installations that challenge perception and invite deep emotional connection. Discover the inspiration behind her most ambitious projects, her creative process from concept to completion, and how technology and emotion intersect in her evolving body of work. Whether you’re an artist, curator, art collector, or creative dreamer, this conversation will leave you inspired to see art — and the world — in a new dimension.

🎨 Topics Covered:

• The making of large-scale multi-media installations
• How environment and emotion shape artistic expression
• The role of technology in contemporary art
• Behind-the-scenes of Lorrie Minicozzi’s most iconic works
• Advice for emerging installation artists

💡 Perfect for: Art lovers, creatives, curators, and anyone fascinated by immersive experiences, digital art, and modern installation art.

📍 Keywords (SEO-rich):
Lorrie Minicozzi, multimedia artist, installation art, contemporary art, immersive art, visual storytelling, experiential art, sound and light installations, creative process, modern art podcast, artist interview, art and technology

Multi-media Installation Artist Lorrie Anne Minicozzi describes her work as an intermingling of traditional and contemporary art genres, where she fabricates realms from personal experiences and the societal climate using foam and wood, integrated with a drawn or painted work, each composite intermingles 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional realities. The synthesis results in an intricately detailed installation that reads like a cinematic scene. Provocatively diorama-like, each scene is enhanced by lighting, sound, fragrance and tactility. Exploring architecture, interior design and construction through these sculptures weaves each installation into the fabric of her home studio.  Lorrie was born in 1966 in Huntingdon, New York, she has a brother and sister. Her mother Anne Busch was a supervisor at an electronics company, and a floral designer who also enjoys art, and her father John Gariboldi was a machinist and creative carpenter. As a child, Lorrie experienced abuse by a close relative and she says that much of her work as an artist reflects that trauma and her need to help others who are dealing with the effect and shame of abuse. She says: “I employ my craft as a cathartic illumination on personal childhood trauma, mental illness and political anxiety.” Growing up Lorrie enjoyed a range of sports and music learning the guitar and piano. She also began drawing, which proved to be her salvation. She developed her talent as an artist and combined her computer skills to become an art director. She attended the State University (SUNY) Potsdam, SUNY Stony Brook, West Chester University and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), which she returned to after the COVID pandemic. Lorrie has been a professional commissioned portrait artist for over thirty years and recently transitioned to mixed medium installation. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband Rob, their two sons; Jason and Justin, and dog Miko. 
 
Lorrie’s links:
 https://www.climbingthewalls.net/
https://www.instagram.com/lorrie.minicozzi
 
Lorrie’s favorite female artists:
Liza Lou
Sandy Skoglund
Judy Chicago
Kara Walker
Cindy Sherman
Irma Gruenholz
Louise Bourgeois (d) 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera with Ellen Kuras, the award-winning director and cinematographer whose visual storytelling has defined a generation of modern cinema. From her groundbreaking cinematography in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) to her powerful directorial work in Lee (2024), Ellen has redefined what it means to tell stories through light, emotion, and movement. In this in-depth conversation, Ellen shares her creative process, challenges as one of the first women in major cinematography, and her approach to capturing the soul of a story on screen. Whether you’re a filmmaker, cinephile, or curious creative, this episode delivers rare insights into the craft, collaboration, and courage that fuel visual storytelling.

🎬 Topics include:

• Ellen’s early journey into filmmaking and cinematography
• Crafting visual language and emotional depth
• Collaborations with visionary directors like Martin Scorsese, Michel Gondry and Spike Lee
• Breaking industry barriers and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers
• The future of storytelling through the lens

Perfect for fans of cinematography, directing, visual storytelling, filmmaking, women in film, and creative leadership, this episode celebrates one of cinema’s most influential voices.

Keywords:
Ellen Kuras, filmmaker, cinematographer, director, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, women in film, cinematography podcast, filmmaking, creative storytelling, visual storytelling, directing, behind the camera, film industry, indie film, movie production, creative careers.

BIO
American Director and Cinematographer Ellen Kuras who has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Jane (2018, and The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2010) for which she was also nominated for Best Documentary Feature in 2009 for her directorial debut. Ellen is an unprecedented three-time winner of the Cinematography Award for a Dramatic Film for Swoon (1992), Angela (1995) and Personal Velocity (2002). In 2022, She was the first woman to win the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Ellen’s credits include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (cinematographer) (2004), The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (director, producer, screenwriter) (2008) and most recently Lee (director) (2024). Ellen was born in New Jersey in 1959 where her father was an avionics engineer and her mother, a homemaker. Ellen graduated from Brown University with a double BA degree in Anthropology and Semiotics before attending Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Whilst she was at Brown she studied for her master’s degree at night at New York University in Photography & 8mm Filmmaking. The Betrayal - Nerakhoon, which follows a family from Laos who were forced to emigrate and adapt to life in America, was conceived as her master’s thesis.  She then started her career in the film industry in 1987 in New York as a camera assistant and electrician. Ellen represents the Cinematographers Branch on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors and is the ASC/ICG representative on the National Film Preservation Board. Ellen has most recently completed a new heist TV series 12 12 12 for Apple TV, and the TV series, Scarpetta, with Nicole Kidman, Arianna deBose and Jamie Lee Curtis for Amazon Prime Video. Ellen lives in New York.
 
Ellen’s links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Kuras
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0475578/
 
Favorite female artists:
Jane Savelyeva 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Discover the captivating world of Anna Carll, a celebrated contemporary mixed-media artist whose work transcends the boundaries of paint, paper, and emotion. In this episode, we explore how Anna transforms layers of texture, collage, and color into thought-provoking visual narratives that connect deeply with modern audiences. From her early inspirations to her evolving creative process, Anna shares insights into the techniques behind her abstract art, the emotional language of materials, and the stories hidden within every layer of her compositions. Whether you’re an art collector, creative professional, or simply passionate about contemporary art, this conversation offers inspiration and a behind-the-scenes look at how a mixed-media artist brings vision to life.

Keywords: Anna Carll, contemporary mixed-media artist, abstract art, modern art, collage, painting, creative process, artist interview, art podcast, contemporary art inspiration, visual storytelling, studio art, creative journey.


American contemporary mixed-media artist Anna Carll who began her painting career with very colorful figurative work, which slowly evolved into non-representational abstract work that’s based on the concept of urban expansion and erosion. Anna was born in Charleston, WV in 1960. Her mother Maggie Schettler, a career nurse and teacher, and father James Carll, who worked in the auto industry, divorced when Anna was just 12 years of age. She is the youngest of six children.  Anna reflects on a troubled childhood and how she became a truant, eventually dropping out of high school and becoming a juvenile delinquent. She describes herself as a having been a sickly child who suffered from dyslexia while becoming introspective and private.  At the age of 17, she ran away from home. When she returned home six months later to her mother she went back to school and achieved her General Equivalency Diploma (GED) at 18. It was then she decided to focus on a vocation in graphic art and design by attending the Sarasota County Vocational Technical Center for 12 months. This was followed by six months at the Venice Sun Newspaper where Anna realized she still needed further training so she attended the University of Florida, graduating with a BA in Art & Graphic Design in 1984. Her career began as an illustrator and graphic artist and for 16 years she worked in Atlanta. Anna subsequently spent 12 years honing her craft as an painter in the North Georgia Mountains under the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains in the Blue Ridge area. From 1992-4 she studied with the artist Ouida Canaday before leaving her career as a graphic artist to become a full-time fine artist in 1999. Anna’s first gallery representation came in 1997 with Bender Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta and she is now represented by a number of galleries in the US. Anna’s work is collected by a diverse group of both private individuals and corporations in the US, South America, Europe and Asia. Anna now lives in Chattanooga, TN with her cat Sadie Mei.
 
Anna’s links:
https://www.annacarll.com/
https://www.instagram.com/annacarllart
 
Anna’s favorite female artists in visual arts:
Current artists: Marjorie Thompson, Galen Chaney, Karen Stamper, Lynn Alker, Nicola Bennett, Cat Tesla, Bethany Kohrt, Helen Ward, Julia Bland, Jackie Mulder, Jackie Leishman, Rebecca Crowell, Patricia Kelly, Jill Stoll, Nina Tichava
Late artists: Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, Louise Nevelson Eva Hesse, Ruth Asawa, Georgia O'Kieffe, Frida Kahlo
 
Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook Email: hollowellstudios@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step into the vibrant world of Sophie Kipner, acclaimed figurative abstract painter and writer, whose bold creativity challenges the boundaries between art and storytelling. In this exclusive interview, Sophie shares her journey from canvas to page—exploring how emotion, intuition, and curiosity shape her artistic process. We talk about how she developed her distinctive style, the intersection of visual art and writing, and what it means to truly see beyond the surface. Whether you’re an artist, writer, or simply a lover of creative expression, this conversation will inspire you to embrace your own imagination and break the rules that hold you back.

🔎 Topics We Cover:

• The evolution of Sophie Kipner’s figurative abstract style
• Translating emotion into color, line, and language
• The connection between painting and storytelling
• Creative freedom and the courage to experiment
• Insights for emerging artists and writers

🎨 About Sophie Kipner:
Sophie Kipner is a Los Angeles-based artist and author known for her vibrant figurative abstractions and her unique ability to blend words with visual art. Her work has been exhibited internationally and featured in top publications for its playful yet deeply emotional impact.

📍 Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts



American figurative abstract painter and writer Sophie Kipner who primarily uses the blind contouring technique. Sophie was born in Santa Monica in 1982 into an artistically musical family; her English mother Lizzie was a singer and dancer, her Australian father Steve, a songwriter, musician and producer, her grandfather, a songwriter and producer, and her brother Harrison, also a songwriter, musician and producer. Sophie however was to take a different route with an early interest in art, particularly sketching and learning portraiture, which would carry her through to her professional career.  Her parents emphasized self expression as a learning tool, encouraging her creativity. While attending Viewpoint High School in Calabasas she developed an interest in photography. Sophie was the first member of her family to attend college and she chose The Annenberg School at the University of Southern California to study journalism and public relations, graduating magna cum laude with a BA in 2005. Her earliest exposure to art and artists included visits to galleries in Europe with her mother, which is where the abstract work of Picasso caught her eye and subconsciously imprinted an influence that would later become apparent in her own work. After graduating Sophie spent time working for her aunt at Apogee Electronics where she learned a number of skills that would help her later in her own business. Her love of writing, especially short stories, became an important and relevant aspect of her career. From 2013-15 she worked at The Society Club in London. It was during this time that she introduced sketching games to her dinner parties, which unlocked her love of art again after many years focusing on her writing. After moving back to LA Sophie began showing her work on social media and taking commissions. This eventually led to her decision to become a full time artist and since 2015 she has had her works shown in multiple solo and group gallery exhibitions and sold into commercial and private collections globally, including the Salam Art Collection in Iraq. Her writing was also gaining momentum and in 2017, her first book, The Optimist, a satirical look at the extremity of romantic desperation, was published by Unbound in the UK and later in the US and Canada in 2021. The novel was named a “Best Summer Read” by The Daily Mail and optioned for film and television adaptation. Sophie was also the subject of the Oscar-shortlisted short documentary, “Sophie and The Baron”, which chronicles Sophie’s friendship and artistic collaboration with legendary Rolling Stone Magazine photographer Baron Wolman. The award-winning film, directed by Alexandria Jackson, premiered at SXSW Film Festival and was acquired by Disney as their first original documentary, and is now streaming worldwide on Disney Plus. Sophie lives and works in Santa Monica, CA.
 
Sophie’s links:
https://www.sophiekipner.com/
https://www.sophiekipner.com/book
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13084870/
https://www.instagram.com/skipner
 
Some of Sophie’s favorite female artists:
Paula Rego
Alice Neel
Katherine Bradford
Cristina BanBan
Hilda Palafox
Frida Kahlo
Robin F Williams 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera with Ghitta Larsen, an accomplished cinematographer and Steadicam operator, as she shares her journey through the world of film, movement, and storytelling. In this exclusive interview, Ghitta opens up about her path into cinematography, the craft of Steadicam operation, and what it takes to create visually powerful, emotionally resonant images on screen.

🎥 From on-set challenges to creative breakthroughs, Ghitta discusses:

• Her evolution as a female cinematographer in a fast-paced industry
• How Steadicam techniques bring energy and emotion to every frame
• The collaboration between directors, DPs, and camera crews
• Her insights on visual storytelling, lighting, and camera movement
• Tips for aspiring filmmakers looking to break into the industry

Whether you’re a film student, a working creative, or simply love great cinema, this episode delivers an inspiring and insightful look at the art and craft behind the lens.

📍 Keywords:Cinematography, Steadicam Operator, Film Industry, Visual Storytelling, Filmmaking Podcast, Camera Movement, Behind the Scenes, Ghitta Larsen Interview, Women in Film, Cinematographer Tips


Cinematographer and steadicam operator Ghitta Larsen whose credits include The Shop, My Kind of People, 90 Day Fiance, Meek. Ghitta was born in Sonoma, CA in 1994. She has a younger brother Anthony who is a jazz musician. Her mother Sylvia, an architect, constantly encouraged Ghitta to pursue her talents in a variety of sports. A challenge that Ghitta took seriously which resulted in her becoming a competitive swimmer at age nine. From there she discovered water polo and, in her words, became obsessed with the sport, playing for the Central Coast ODP team at Sonoma Valley High School and then Division 1 in Southern California during college at Cal State Northridge, which led to joining the Olympic Development Program. When she moved to New York Ghitta explored weightlifting and became competitive. She says she still has unfinished business in this arena but for now she is into Cross Fit, which also helps her core strength for camera work. During her sports career Ghitta studied film, graduating from the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film & TV. in 2016. Her first job combined her love of filming with the sport of cross fit and since then she has widened her aperture to include music videos, shorts and TV. She enjoys thought provoking genres, including horror movies and has ambitions to explore underwater photography too, which would combine her love for swimming.  Currently she is spending most of her time as a camera operator and as a DP. Ghitta lives in New York with her partner Rusmaldo Faccio.
 
Ghitta’s links:
https://www.ghittalarsen.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ghitta.larsen
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12820074/
 
Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera in this intimate and inspiring interview with Barbara Nitke, acclaimed photographer and visual storyteller celebrated for her raw, emotional, and boundary-pushing work. In this episode, we explore Barbara’s creative journey—from her early days as a set photographer on film productions to becoming one of the most influential voices in fine art and human connection photography. Barbara opens up about her artistic process, the stories behind her most powerful images, and how she’s used her lens to challenge taboos and celebrate authenticity. Listeners will discover:

• How Barbara Nitke captures intimacy, vulnerability, and truth through photography
• Her evolution as an artist navigating the film and fine art worlds
• Insights on creativity, perseverance, and finding your unique voice
• The emotional and ethical dimensions of photographing real human experiences

Whether you’re a photographer, artist, or creative thinker, this conversation will leave you inspired to see the world—and yourself—through a more compassionate lens.

👉 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or YouTube to explore the art of storytelling through the eyes of Barbara Nitke. #BarbaraNitke #PhotographyPodcast #ArtistInterview #CreativeJourney #FineArtPhotography #BehindTheLens #PhotographyInspiration #VisualStorytelling


American photographer Barbara Nitke whose life has taken her from hardcore porn sets to the BDSM world and to the fashion world as her art evolves. She is as ambitious as ever expanding her many talents to currently producing her own movie American Ecstasy, which is projected to begin filming in 2026. As a vibrant septuagenarian, Barbara has widened her aperture across a career that began in the porn theaters of the 80s where she was tasked to screen more than 100 films; to the high art of the fashion industry in the reality TV show Project Runway, which she shot for 18 seasons.  Barbara was born in Lynchburg, VA in 1950 the eldest of three children to Eloise “Vicky” Smiley Gregory, a meteorologist who worked for 30 years at the National Weather Service, and Paul Gervase Gregory, Jr., a WWII veteran and air traffic controller. Barbara has a younger brother, Gary Gregory, a software developer, and sister Mary Jane Gregory, a glass artist. She describes her childhood as unhappy and rebellious, constantly seeking her own independence. It was 1967 before her father disclosed an earlier marriage to the family and in 1987 she discovered that the author and sex researcher Shere Hite was her half-sister. Barbara’s family moved across the country when she was a child from Virginia to Alaska, which meant she attended a variety of schools. For college Barbara made her way to New York to study business, literature and writing at Baruch College, and photography at the International Center for Photography and School of Visual Arts. In her late 20’s she started photographing professionally and in1982, she says she found her subject on a porn set when she was given full access to be creative. Her first marriage to Herb Nitke lasted 13 years and gave her opportunities to develop her photographic skills in an unlikely world.  Among her many credits are Hustlers, 2019, Monsterland, 2020, The Equalizer, 2021, The Gilded Age, 2023, Smile, 2024 and Project Runway - 225 episodes from 2004-2021. Barbara’s work has been exhibited internationally at venues including Storage APT, New York; the Hartnett Gallery at University of Rochester; One Eyed Jacks Gallery, Brighton, England; and Barristers, New Orleans. She is included in the permanent collections of the Kinsey Institute, the Finnish Museum of Photography, the Leslie-Lohman Museum, and others. Her images have been the subject of articles in numerous venues, including Office Magazine, Forbes, Dazed, Slate, Vice, Harper’s Magazine, and The New York Times. Barbara is married to Kenneth Wyban an Army Veteran and the couple divide their time between New York City and Ohio.

Barbara’s links: https://www.barbaranitke.com/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0632987/
https://www.instagram.com/barbaranitke/
 
Some of Barbara’s favorite female artists:
Mary Ellen Mark
Diane Arbus
Sally Mann
Cindy Sherman
Marilyn Minter 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step inside the creative world of Hannah Polskin, the multidisciplinary artist known for her iconic abstract curves, fluid line work, and a design philosophy that blurs the boundaries between fine art, furniture, and form. In this intimate interview, Hannah opens up about her artistic evolution, the energy behind her shapes, and how she’s built a thriving career that bridges painting, sculpture, and interior design. From her early influences to her bold leap into large-scale commissions and collaborations, Hannah shares the personal stories, struggles, and inspirations that shape her creative practice. Whether you’re an artist, designer, or creative thinker, this episode is a masterclass in following intuition, balancing artistry with business, and staying authentic in a world of trends.

🔎 Keywords: Hannah Polskin, multidisciplinary artist, abstract art, creative process, design inspiration, modern art, contemporary artist interview, art podcast, creativity, female artists, artist stories, studio life, creative journey

🎙️ Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts


American multidisciplinary artist and designer Hannah Polskin. Hannah combine’s fine art and design to create a freeform aesthetic that melds across each project. She is most inspired when she has free rein to take over an entire space, which includes paintings, mirrors, kitchen islands, rugs, menorahs, etc. thus creating an entire visual concept. Hannah was born in New York City in 1989, the youngest of two daughters, to parents Philippa and Howard Polskin, both of who worked in public relations. It was in this environment that Hannah became enamored with office and studios spaces surrounded by her mother’s art collection. This gave her the foundation for her ambitions in art and design so it was a natural choice for her to pursue a career in this field. She attended the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design.  Hannah then spent nine years working in consumer insights with a Fortune 500 company, which gave her a range of skills that would help her develop her own business. In 2016, she established her own studio in Los Angeles and in 2019 held her first solo show. She describes her style as calm and serene with an energy that becomes therapy while embracing life and love. Her goal is to continue to expand her art to include other mediums such as doors, antiques, jewelry, roman coins, candles and table top sculptures. Hannah lives in Los Angeles with her husband Gil Manzuri.
 
Hannah’s links:
https://www.hannahpolskin.com/ 
https://www.instagram.com/hannahpolskinstudio
 
Hannah’s favorite female artists:
Meret Oppenheim (d)
Tracey Emin
Austyn Weiner 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram AART on Facebook
Email: hollowellstudios@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step inside the mind and heart of Jana Ireijo, a celebrated muralist, painter, and public artist whose large-scale works transform walls into stories of resilience, community, and identity. In this intimate and introspective interview, Jana opens up about her creative process, the emotional layers behind her murals, and how she finds purpose through art that lives beyond the gallery. From her early inspirations to the challenges of creating in public spaces, Jana shares insights on creativity, self-expression, and the courage it takes to make art that speaks to others. Whether you’re an artist, creative thinker, or simply someone seeking inspiration, this episode invites you to reflect on how art connects us all — and how every wall can become a canvas for change.

🎧 Keywords: Jana Ireijo, muralist interview, street art, public art, creativity, artist story, creative journey, introspective podcast, art and purpose, creative inspiration, mural painting, women artists, art podcast, creative mindset.

Jana Ireijo is an Hawaii born muralist whose passion as a conservation artist is born out of a love of art that started at a very young age. Jana creates vanishing murals using charcoal gathered from areas recently affected by wildfires.  This material, formed by the heat of the flames, carries the story of destruction and renewal that is intrinsic to the natural world.  She says her art is a reflection of the transience and impermanence of life and nature. Born in Honolulu in 1968, Jana has spent most of her life in transit leaving the island for California, before attending grad school in New York, then as a divorced woman to Connecticut where she raised her family, and finally returning to Hawai’i in 2023, where she has come full circle. Jana is the eldest of three children; she has a younger sister and brother. Her parents Rona August, a realtor, father James Ireijo, and step-father Joel August (both attorneys) encouraged Jana as a child to explore the arts, taking her to museums and galleries, and ensuring she always had access to arts and crafts. It was her mother that recognized a natural talent and told Jana she would become an artist. When the time came to choice her career pathway, Jana was drawn to advertising and after graduating from H. P. Baldwin High School (Maui) in 1986, she headed for the University of Hawai’i at Manoa to earn a BFA in Graphic Design in1991.  She then attended Pratt Institute, New York, where she earned an MFA Painting in 1999.  Jana took ten years off from her art to raise a family before turning her hand to public murals and developing her own style. Now back in the islands as an empty nester, Jana has immersed herself in her passion for environmental issues, such as the ocean, deep sea mining, and helping her community. She is also working on her first book for children entitled Vanishing Moon. 
 
Jana’s links:
https://janaireijo.co/
https://www.instagram.com/janaireijo
 
Some favorite female artists:
Gillian Jagger - sculptor - she was my thesis advisor at Pratt, and a huge influence in my practice. Maya Lin
Lita Albuquerque
Nina Bentley 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: hollowellstudios@gmail.com




Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera and into the creative heart of acclaimed cinematographer Annemarie Lean-Vercoe in this introspective and inspiring interview. Known for her evocative storytelling and striking visual style, Annemarie opens up about the emotional depth behind her work, her path into cinematography, and how she captures human stories through light, movement, and perspective. In this personal conversation, we explore the craft, the challenges, and the quiet power of visual storytelling. Annemarie shares insights from her journey across film and television, the moments that shaped her artistic vision, and how intuition and collaboration guide her on set. Whether you’re a filmmaker, a creative professional, or simply someone curious about how emotion becomes image, this episode offers rare perspective and honesty from one of today’s most thoughtful cinematographers.

🎬 Keywords: cinematography, Annemarie Lean-Vercoe, filmmaking, visual storytelling, creative process, behind the scenes, interview, women in film, creative inspiration, camera work, storytelling through visuals

Annemarie Lean-Vercoe is a British Award winning and BAFTA Nominated Cinematographer. She most recently lensed Outrageous, which follows the lives of the fascinating Mitford Sisters. The show premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2025 and will be airing this summer on UKTV and BritBoxTV.  Annemarie is a graduate of the National Film and Television School (NFTS) with film and TV credits as Cinematographer or Director of Photography spanning more than 26 years. These include Call the Midwife, Breeders, The Chelsea Detective, All Creatures Great and Small, Marilyn Reframed, the BAFTA winner Suffragettes with Lucy Worsley and BAFTA nominated Is There Anybody Out There.  Annemarie was born in Devon, England in 1977 and has an older sister and step siblings. Her parents divorced when she was just four but remarried locally and remained close by, providing Annemarie with an extended family. In his second career her father was a sailing photographer who introduced her to cameras and she soon developed a curiosity as to what was possible behind the lens. She enjoyed an idyllic childhood with freedom to explore the surrounding countryside, learning to ride ponies and how to sail. After Yealmpton Primary School, Annemarie attended the Royal School in Bath but left early to be with her mother. An early interest in arts and crafts then led her to a year-long Foundation Arts Course before attending an under-graduate program at the London College of Printing (University of the Arts London). By now she had developed an interest in film cameras and started to gain some experience as a trainee on productions in the UK. A series of introductions and the benefit of a scholarship led her to the NFTS with an eye to becoming a cinematographer.  After graduating Annemarie has been consistently in demand balancing her career with raising her family, thanks to the help of her mother and mother-in-law. She is a proud member of Illuminatrix and Women Behind The Camera.  Her numerous awards include BAFTA, BIFA and STAR OF TOMORROW.  Annemarie is currently in production on the British TV drama series Bergerac.  She lives in Sussex, England with her husband Finn and two children.
 
Annemarie’s links:
https://cargocollective.com/cinematographer
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1233187/
https://www.instagram.com/annemarieleanvercoe1 https://www.illuminatrixdops.com/member/annemarie-lean-vercoe/
 
Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step inside the mind and creative world of Catalina Gómez Beuth, an internationally recognized fine artist whose evocative works explore emotion, memory, and the human experience. In this introspective interview, Catalina opens up about her artistic journey, her connection to color, form, and intuition, and how her personal evolution shapes the way she sees and creates. 🎧 Join us as we talk about:

• The emotional layers behind Catalina’s most powerful works
• How she finds meaning and mindfulness in the creative process
• The intersection of culture, identity, and art
• Her path from early inspiration to international exhibitions
• How art can become a tool for healing, reflection, and transformation

Whether you’re an art lover, creative thinker, or someone seeking inspiration, this conversation will leave you reflecting on your own creative spirit.

✨ Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube — tune in and discover the soul behind the canvas.


Colombian fine artist, Catalina Gomez Beuth.  Catalina says: ‘Through my art I narrate, with brush strokes in people’s faces, each person’s individuality, avoiding the boundaries created by skin color and ethnicity.” She invites the viewer to start a conversation and connect with something deeper to discover the humanity we all share and to feel the raw emotions such as innocence, hopelessness, loneliness, resilience, happiness, determination and more that she portrays in each canvas. Catalina was born in Medellín, Colombia in 1970 to parents Rosita Beuth, a house wife, and Jorge Gomez, a businessman who divorced when she was 17. Catalina has a younger brother and sister. As a child she was constantly drawn to her art which proved her refuge when her family life became challenging. After High School she studied fashion design at the Escuela De Diseño Proyectual (School of Design Proyectual) and further developed her interest for design while studying in Italy. Upon graduating she worked for seven years in her father’s factory, which, she says, was more of a job than a career. However, her true passion has always been painting and she found time to continue her art and begin selling it in Colombia. Catalina met her future husband while on vacation in the US and in 2001 the couple moved to the US where she was able to establish a studio and become a professional artist while raising a family. Catalina lives in Georgia with her husband Jose Pablo Cellario and two children Camilla and Matias.
 
Catallna’s links:
Website: https://www.catalinagomezbeuthart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catalinagomezbeuthart/
 
Some of Catalina’s favorite artists:  
Suzy Schultz     
Lene Kilde  
Lita Cabellut 

Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube has bonus content not included on the podcast.
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the lights and into the heart of Hollywood with Farah Bunch, one of the industry’s most sought-after celebrity makeup artists. In this intimate and introspective interview, Farah opens up about her creative journey, the art of transformation, and what it really means to bring characters — and people — to life on and off camera. From red carpet secrets to the emotional side of beauty, this episode dives deep into Farah’s early inspirations, career-defining moments, and the lessons she’s learned working behind the scenes in film, television, and fashion. Whether you’re a beauty enthusiast, aspiring artist, or simply someone fascinated by the human stories that shape Hollywood, this episode offers a rare, authentic look into the world of artistry, identity, and resilience.

✨ Keywords: Farah Bunch, Hollywood makeup artist, celebrity makeup, beauty podcast, creative journey, behind the scenes, Hollywood stories, artist interview, women in film, personal growth, beauty industry, makeup transformation.

Hollywood makeup artist Farah Bunch whose work has earned her multiple nominations in Daytime and Primetime TV  Awards and Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards. Her work over several seasons on the hugely successful TV Comedy Will & Grace proved a pivotal moment in her career. Other notable credits include Dancing with the Stars, The Oscars, Sunset Beach, Entourage, Fuller House, and Makeup Department Head on Frazier on Paramount +.  Farah was born in 1975 in Toluca Lake, California where she and her brother Justin were raised in the long shadow of the Hollywood sign.  Her parents; the producer and six-time Emmy nominated film and television composer Velton Ray Bunch, and three-time Emmy nominated makeup artist Patricia (Patty) Bunch who were once the Disco Band known as Strut, introduced Farah to a life on set from an early age. She was five years old when she made her set debut. She also has a couple of acting credits to her name. But it was always going to be makeup that would be the foundation of her career from the moment at 18 when she graduated from the Joe Blasco Makeup School. Her mother’s status in the industry and guidance on set steered her into multi-camera shoots, which is the world she loves most of all, despite having early ambitions to be a pop-singer with encouragement from her father. She remains inspired by her music and is currently writing a musical with her father. Farah recently obtained a license from the International College of Beauty in Esthetician and Cosmetology. She lives in Toluca Lake, California with her two cats.
 
Farah’s links: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1095568/
https://www.instagram.com/farahbunch/
@farahbunch 

Some of Farah’s female artists:
Jo Baker
Kathryn Bigelow 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this inspiring and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Leanne Johnson — an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and creative visionary — to explore the heart and hustle behind a life in storytelling. From her early beginnings in acting to her bold transition behind the camera, Leanne opens up about the realities of the film industry, the creative process, and what it truly means to find your voice through art. Whether you’re an aspiring artist, filmmaker, or simply someone chasing your own creative dreams, this honest and introspective conversation will leave you feeling motivated, grounded, and creatively recharged.

🎧 Tune in to hear Leanne share:

• How vulnerability fuels authentic storytelling
• Lessons learned from both sides of the camera
• The balance between passion, purpose, and perseverance
• Insights on building a meaningful career in film and acting

Perfect for fans of creative journeys, independent cinema, and personal growth, this episode invites you to step behind the scenes — and into the mindset — of one of today’s most thoughtful emerging voices in film.

👉 Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | YouTube #Acting #Filmmaking #CreativeJourney #LeanneJohnson #PodcastInterview #BehindTheScenes #Storytelling

Canadian-American actor and filmmaker Leanne Johnson whose philosophy is founded on seeking understanding and sharing truth through bold characters and stories to redefine the narrative about women in film and our world. Since graduating from the University of Alberta in 2011 with a BSc. in Nutrition and Food Science, Leanne has consistently produced a repertoire of diverse and dynamic performances. In May 2025 she made her directorial debut with A Tree Falls in The Forest, which speaks to her raison d’etre as a storyteller. Her performance in the 2024 action-crime movie Extraction, USA resonates with her own story of humble beginnings growing up the daughter of immigrants in rural Alberta.  Her credits range from NBC's Chicago PD to Dracula: The Count’s Kin, Chasing Rabbits, Oregonda and Idle Girl. She has garnered multiple Best Actress awards including Chasing Rabbits (2022), Oregonda (2024) plus best Supporting Actress in Greek Fire-Demon Spirit (2023).  As well as her versatility on screen, Leanne is a Personal Trainer having graduated from the National Academy of Sports Training (NASM), in Lafayette, IN. Her lifelong love for sports is evident in a range of skills, including snowboarding, martial arts and roller derby where she is known as Chariot of Fire. Leanne embraces her queer identity and stereotype-bending on-screen performances while staying true to her faith which remains at her core. Leanne is currently based in Indiana and is a proud mother of two daughters.
 
Leanne’s links:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9786306/
https://www.leannejohnsonofficial.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@leannejohnsonactor
https://www.instagram.com/leannejohnsonofficial 

Some of Leanne's favorite actors: 
Helen Mirren
Kate Winslet
Margot Robbie
Jennifer Lawrence
Frances McDormand
Brie Larson
Chloe Zhao
Julia Roberts
Sandra Bullock

Leanne’s playlist:
Marlee Carpenter
Need To Breathe
Coldplay 
Lady Gaga 
Taya Hozier

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Sarah Hickey, one of Australia’s most introspective and emotionally resonant painters. Known for her luminous portraits and dreamlike compositions, Sarah takes us behind the brush to share her creative process, artistic philosophy, and how intuition guides her every stroke. From exploring themes of feminine energy, memory, and emotional truth, to balancing art, family, and purpose, this heartfelt conversation reveals the layers of an artist who paints not just what she sees — but what she feels.

✨ Listen if you love:

• Art, creativity, and storytelling
• Deep, meaningful conversations with artists
• Contemporary Australian art and culture
• Insights into the emotional and spiritual side of painting

📍 Keywords
Sarah Hickey, Australian painter, Australian artist, contemporary art podcast, art interview, female artists, creativity podcast, painter stories, artist inspiration, art and emotion, painting process, artistic journey

Australian painter Sarah Hickey whose bold colors radiate through her expansive canvases expressing an internal world of dreaming and reflection through her spirituality and imagination. We hear how Sarah’s creative soul was evident in her childhood as she explored a range of visual elements from theater to fashion and iconography. Sarah was born in Brisbane in 1975 and grew up in the surrounding area.  She was educated at Queensland College of Art where she earned a BFA in Visual Art and a BEd at Griffith University. Parents Eileen and Paul gave Sarah and her younger brother Sean the freedom to explore, which enabled Sarah to connect with nature in a spiritual sense—something that is constant in her paintings. While in high school, Sarah visited England, France and Spain when she became enthralled by European artists. After she graduated college she spent time in Germany as a nanny living her own version of her favorite film, The Sound of Music. Sarah was always drawn to teaching and has been a High School Art teacher for 23 years. After her marriage to George Hickey, Sarah returned to her art and has participated in numerous shows and exhibitions, and garnered several awards including The Percival Portrait and Sunshine Coast National Art Prize, The Kennedy Art Prize, Redland Art Awards. Sarah lives in Brisbane with her husband George and dog Molly.

Sarah's website: https://sarahhickey.com.au/
Instagram:@sarahhickeyart 

Some of Sarah’s favorite artists:
Frida Kahlo
Lucy Culliton (Australian painter)
Clairy Laurence (sculptor)
Laura Jones (Australian painter)
Yvette Coppersmith
Julie Fragar
Judith Nangala Crispin
Olivia Godbee 
Alicia Cornwell 
Penelope Boyd 
Wendy Sharpe 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this episode, we sit down with Kim Casebeer, an acclaimed American landscape painter celebrated for her luminous portrayals of the Great Plains, open skies, and natural light. Kim shares her personal journey from growing up in Kansas to becoming one of the leading voices in contemporary American landscape art. We explore how she captures the quiet beauty of the land, the emotional connection between artist and environment, and the meditative process behind her plein air and studio paintings. This is more than a conversation about art — it’s an introspective look at creativity, simplicity, and finding meaning in nature. Whether you’re an artist, collector, or simply someone who finds peace in a sunrise, this episode will leave you inspired to see the world with fresh eyes.

🔎 Keywords:
Kim Casebeer, American landscape painter, landscape art, plein air painting, art interview, creative process, painting nature, artist conversation, Kansas artist, contemporary art, art and mindfulness, creative inspiration.


American Landscape Painter Kim Casebeer whose career spans some 25 years and whose work is shown in private, corporate and museum collections throughout the United States. Kim is represented in galleries from Colorado to Wyoming, Montana, Arizona and her home state of Kansas. She is, she says, in a good place in her career now balancing her time between studio commissioned work, plein air painting and teaching workshops. Kim was born in Newton, KS in 1970 and grew up in the tiny town of Goessel, KS with her two younger sisters Trish and Jenny. Her father Lloyd is a retired farmer and mother Marlene, a retired nurse. Kim’s family are fifth generation farmers so her childhood was spent learning to grow a variety of crops and compete in the local 4H club where her talent as a horticulturist was noteworthy. An early interest in all things artistic was encouraged by her parents from drawing tractors with her dad to learning a variety of mediums through high school. It was a natural progression for Kim to choose art school as she laid the foundation for her career by graduating with a Bachelor in Fine Arts from Kansas State University with an emphasis in Graphic Design in 1992. It was here that she met Shannon and the couple recently celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. Upon graduating, Kim’s first jobs were in graphic design with her art work pursued as a hobby. It was only when her paintings were generating more income than her employment that Kim decided it was time to quit her day job and focus on being a full-time artist in 2001. Kim is a Master Signature Member of the American Women Artists, and a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and the Pastel Society of America. She has received multiple awards and publicity for her work that focuses on the big skies and wide open spaces of the western United States. Kim lives in Manhattan, KS with her husband Shannon, sons Collin and Lucas, and Australian Shepherd, Matilda.
 
Kim’s links:
https://www.kimcasebeer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kimcasebeerartist/
 
Some favorite female artists in visual arts:
Kami Mendlik
Chula Beauregard
Jane Hunt
Cindy Baron
Shanna Hernandez
Melissa Scott Miller
Jan Beaney
Chiharu Shiota

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera and into the creative mind of Theresa Vitale — Director of Photography, Cinematographer, and camera operator — as she opens up about the art, emotion, and technical mastery behind visual storytelling. In this in-depth interview, Theresa shares her journey from discovering her passion for cinematography to working on set, shaping light and shadow to bring stories to life. We explore what it means to lead a camera team, the challenges of breaking into the film industry, and the balance between creativity and precision in filmmaking. Whether you're a filmmaker, student, or cinephile, this episode offers rare insight into the world behind the lens — from cinematic composition to the personal mindset that drives an artist’s eye.

🎬 Keywords: Theresa Vitale, Cinematographer, Director of Photography, camera operator, filmmaking, film industry, cinematography podcast, creative process, behind the scenes, interview, visual storytelling, women in film.


American Director of Photography and Cinematographer, Theresa Vitale, whose resume spans all genres of film and TV productions. Theresa is passionate about elevating women both in her love of sport and her dedication to the industry; two paths that have merged as she crossed the bridge from the US U23 National Rugby Team to film and TV production. As we will hear, sport taught her so much that has helped her in her career not least of all the value of team work and collaboration. Theresa was born in 1982 in Wallingford, CT, the eldest of two daughters; she has a sister Rosanne. Shortly after her parents Mario Vitale and Karen Weeks moved to Lawrence, NJ where her father could commute to New York, while her mother was the home care provider. Sports and music dominated her childhood—she played trombone for nine years — and tried every sport she could, eventually, and accidentally, discovering rugby. Her natural talent was soon recognized and within six months she made the squad which was competing for the national championships. Despite coming up short that year she did win the national championship with the US women’s U23 national team in 2005.  Alas, her career called and she chose the University of Massachusetts for its BA in Communications degree with a focus on TV/Film, graduating in 2005. An internship with MTV in New York convinced her that she wanted to be a camera operator and from that point on doors opened and led the way to a highly successful career.  Her work has been featured on major broadcast, cable, and streaming networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, HBO Max, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Showtime, Bravo, to name a few, specializing in docu-series, competition reality, cooking shows, studio shows, live music, documentaries, BTS and women’s sports. Theresa also takes great pride in helping women find and properly fit personal protective equipment (PPE). As an ambassador for EasyRig, she continues the legacy of her mentor, Cat Cummings, by empowering women with the right gear and ensuring it fits them correctly. Theresa lives in Long Beach California with her wife Heidi and son Barron.
 
Theresa’s website: www.TheresaVitale.com I
MDB -  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2922553/
Instagram: TheresaVitale21 & TheresaVitale_DP 

Theresa’s favorite female cinematographers:
Gretchen Warthen
Jen Morton
Meagan Stockemer 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step into the vibrant, textured world of Alison Holt, one of Britain’s most celebrated textile artists, whose breathtaking embroidered landscapes blur the line between painting and stitchwork. In this deeply introspective interview, Alison opens up about her creative process, her lifelong connection to nature and color, and how she transforms threads into emotion and movement. We explore her artistic journey, from early inspirations and challenges to the meditative rhythm of stitching that defines her signature style. Listeners will discover how Alison uses free-motion embroidery to capture the essence of light, water, and landscape, and why textile art continues to inspire a new generation of artists around the world. Whether you’re a creative soul, art student, designer, or admirer of fine craft, this episode invites you to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the beauty woven into every detail of the world around us.

✨ Keywords: Alison Holt, textile art, embroidery, fiber art, British artist, creative process, art podcast, artist interview, contemporary craft, nature inspiration, free motion embroidery, creativity, handmade art, sustainable art, slow making, artistic journey.


English textile artist Alison Holt uses her imagination to capture landscapes and nature and then weave them into colorful canvases that are often taken for paintings. Alison says: 'Each piece is a combination of silk painting and freehand machine stitching. The painting creates depth, perspective and richness to the work and combines effectively with stitch to give detail and texture.’ Her work can be found in private collections around the world and in galleries from London to Sydney.  Alison was born in Oswestry, Shropshire in 1956, the youngest of two girls, to Cyril and Brenda Holt who were garage proprietors. Her father died of a brain tumor when she was just 13 and her mother was left to raise her daughters. Her parents always supported her artistic interests and by the time Alison graduated from Oswestry Girls High School she had only one ambition which was to get into art college. From Shrewsbury Art School she was accepted into the prestigious Goldsmith College in London from where she graduated with a BA Hons in Fine Art Textiles, specializing in  Embroidery. By now her talent had already been recognized and she was immediately offered an exhibition and given commissions. She returned to Shropshire and began what was to become a parallel vocation in teaching at Wexham Art College. Alison married in 1993 and worked part time in her studio while raising her two boys Tom and Jonathan. For 40 years now Alison has built her business as a textile artist, which includes writing books about her practice and teaching courses at her home studio throughout the year. Alison lives in Oswestry with her husband John Moses and their dog Bobby.

Alison’s links:
https://www.alisonholt.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/alisonlholt/

Some of Alison’s favorite female artists.
Melissa Scott Miller - Artist - painter
Jan Beaney - Textile Artist
Chiharu Shiota - Installation Artist 
 
Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the scenes of food and beverage magic with Chriscilla Browning, one of today’s most innovative Food & Beverage Stylists. In this intimate and inspiring interview, Chriscilla opens up about her creative process, career journey, and the artistic balance between food, photography, and storytelling. Whether she’s crafting mouthwatering visuals for global brands or elevating the ordinary into edible art, Chriscilla shares how she transforms simple ingredients into stunning imagery that captures both flavor and emotion.

Join us as we explore:
🍽️ How food styling bridges art, culture, and emotion
🎨 The creative techniques behind irresistible visuals
💡 Chriscilla’s journey from passion to profession

🔥 Insights for aspiring stylists, photographers, and creatives Perfect for food lovers, creatives, photographers, stylists, marketers, and anyone fascinated by visual storytelling, this episode dives deep into the beauty and craft of making food not just taste—but look—amazing.


Food and Beverage Stylist Chriscilla Browning has blended her love of photography with a creative palette of culinary art establishing herself as a leading visionary in the designing and crafting of visual delights for advertising and editorial stages where beauty stimulates the senses with mouth watering creations.  Chriscilla was born in Waynesboro, Virginia in 1973, the eldest of three girls, to Glenna Lyle, a homemaker and latterly a rural mail carrier, and David Miller, US Navy veteran turned electrician, safety inspector and explosives expert.  Chriscilla grew up on the family farm where rural life grounded her while she developed an interest in fashion and illustrating. She was also an athlete in High School proving herself as a runner. Her interest in the finer art of photography took her to the American College in Atlanta from which she graduated with a BA in Fine Arts in 1994. After a period of waiting tables and bars, Chriscilla found work in a photographer’s studio in Atlanta where she learned the tricks of the trade in styling food and dishes, and even beds for Bloomingdales. It was during this time that she met her husband and took a break in her career to have Skyler, the first of her two sons.  Chriscilla has since built a lucrative business in food and beverage styling that leaves her little time for herself beyond exercising, which these days focuses on weight lifting.  Chriscilla live in Greensboro, NC, when she is not traveling the country on photo shoots.

Chriscilla on Instagram: @chriscilla_browning 
https://www.instagram.com/chriscilla_browning/

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step inside the world of Frances Featherstone, an acclaimed figurative fine artist whose evocative paintings capture the emotional depth and beauty of the human form. In this intimate interview, Frances opens up about her creative journey, the stories behind her art, and the transformative power of painting emotion onto canvas. We explore how she translates feeling into form, the inspiration behind her most powerful works, and the challenges of staying authentic in today’s art world. Whether you’re an art lover, a creative soul, or simply someone seeking insight into the mind of an artist, this episode will leave you inspired to see the world — and yourself — a little differently.

🎨 Topics Covered:

• Frances Featherstone’s path as a figurative fine artist
• The emotional language of painting and portraiture
• How vulnerability fuels creativity
• The intersection of beauty, identity, and human experience in art
• Tips and reflections for aspiring artists

📍Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | YouTube

🔑 SEO Keywords: Frances Featherstone interview, figurative fine artist podcast, art and creativity, fine art conversations, artist interview, painting and emotion, creativity podcast, contemporary art, studio stories, creative process.


British Fine Artist Frances Featherstone says her art is guided by an appreciation for storytelling. Narrative serves at the heart of her work with which she seeks to fill her paintings with ideas and conceptual depth. Her creative explorations revolve around the interplay between figures and interior spaces offering viewers a window into intimate emotions that are entangled with the spaces we occupy. Frances employs aerial perspectives to craft patterns seen from above that compress and flatten the spatial dimensions. These pieces venture beyond the constraints of conventional perception and seek to challenge our normal sense of space. One of two children—she has a brother Walter, Frances was born in 1976 in Roade, England, to parents Jane Gill, a teacher —formerly a silversmith and jeweler—and Michael Featherstone a furniture designer. Art runs throughout her family and Frances was always encouraged and supported in her talent which naturally led a formal art education. She achieved an Art Foundation Distinction and First Class Degree in Fine Art and Visual Culture from the University of the West of England, Bristol. before changing direction for her Post Grad in Interactive Multimedia at Bath Spa University, graduating in 2000. She worked as a Designer in the BBC’s Interactive Factual and Learning Department for six years. In 2006 she got married and started a family, at which point she returned to painting, firstly by taking commissions for portraits. Her work took off and she was quickly gaining recognition. In 2019 Frances was shortlisted for ‘Artist of the Year’ by ‘Artists and Illustrators Magazine’. In 2021 she won the ‘The Chair’s Purchase Prize’ at the ING Discerning Eye exhibition at The Mall Galleries in London. And in 2024 was awarded a Certificate of Commendation for ‘an exceptional work selected for the Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ annual exhibition. She has also won Sky Arts Portrait of the Week twice for her paintings of Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo and the singer Dannii Minogue.  Frances is represented by the Fairfax Gallery in Tunbridge Wells and Arcadia Contemporary Gallery in New York. She lives near Groombridge in East Sussex with her husband Munir Hassan and children Sam and Layla.  

Frances' links: https://www.francesfeatherstone.co.uk/
Instagram: @francesfeatherstone 
 
Some favorite female artists:
Paula Rego
Jenny Saville
Frida Kahlo
Joan Mitchell
Rachel Whiteread 
 
Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube has bonus content not included on the podcast.
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step into the frozen silence of the Arctic through the lens of Esther Horvath, award-winning polar photographer and visual storyteller for National Geographic and the Alfred Wegener Institute. In this deeply introspective interview, Esther shares the emotional and physical challenges of documenting life at the ends of the Earth — from the fragility of polar ecosystems to the resilience of the scientists who study them. We explore what drives her to capture some of the most remote and hauntingly beautiful places on the planet, how her work raises awareness about climate change, and what it means to find purpose in extreme isolation. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to photograph the melting Arctic, live among icebreakers and polar bears, or find creative meaning in wild places, this conversation will leave you inspired — and changed.

🔹 Topics: Polar photography, climate change storytelling, art and science, female explorers, Arctic expeditions
🔹 Guest: Esther Horvath, Polar Photographer | National Geographic Contributor | World Press Photo Award Winner
🔹 Keywords: Esther Horvath interview, polar photography, Arctic photographer, climate change photography, women in exploration, nature documentary, environmental storytelling


Hungarian Esther Horvath is a multi-award winning polar photographer whose work focuses on climate research in the polar regions. By documenting the work and life of scientists who deliver important data, Esther hopes to help make a difference in how people understand what actually is occurring, and her collaborations with scientists help raise public awareness about these increasingly fragile environments. Esther was born in 1979 in Sopron, Hungary. Esther grew up behind the Iron Curtain and even though she lived only a few kilometers from the Austrian border she was ten years old before the ‘curtain’ came down and she was able to explore the Austrian mountains where the Alps start, discovering a world that held a fascination which would become a life-long passion for her as an explorer.  Despite a childhood interest in art and photography Esther chose to study Economics at West Hungarian University for her Masters Degree. Upon graduating she worked in the private sector in Vienna  and at 25 she owned her first camera which would prove to be life-changing. With a growing passion for photography she decided to go to New York to study Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at International Center of Photography, (ICP). After finishing ICP, she received an assignment from Audubon magazine, to the Arctic Ocean, which was the next most important milestone in her life. Today she documented 25 scientific expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica. From 2019 – 2020, Esther spent almost four months on board the Polarstern icebreaker during polar nights in extreme conditions, documenting the MOSAiC expedition in the Central Arctic Ocean, the largest ever Arctic Ocean science expedition.  In 2022 she was the official photographer of the Endurance22 expedition, searching and finding Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship the Endurance. Esther won the first prize in World Press Photo Award, Environmental single category in 2020. In 2022, she received the Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography in New York for her work in raising awareness about conservation, environmental justice and climate change. Esther is a contributing photographer and explorer for National Geographic Explorer, and a Nikon Ambassador and photographer for the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. Esther has homes in Sopron, Hungary and Hamburg, Germany even though she spends most of her time traveling. 
 
Esther’s links: https://estherhorvath.com/
https://www.instagram.com/estherhorvath
 
Some of Esther’s favorite female artists:
Ami Vitale (photographer)
Lyndsey Addario photojournalist)
Deirdre Hyde (painter)
Rita Rebecca Kirady (interior designer) 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this deeply introspective episode of AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with acclaimed British Artsmith and blacksmith Bex Simon, whose sculptural metalwork transforms fire and steel into soulful art. From the rhythmic clang of the forge to the quiet power of creativity, Bex shares her personal journey as a woman redefining blacksmithing in the modern art world. Explore how craftsmanship becomes self-expression, how heat and hammering reveal resilience, and why art forged by hand carries such emotional weight. Bex opens up about her creative process, public art commissions, and the spiritual balance between strength and vulnerability that fuels her work. Whether you’re an artist, designer, maker, or creative mind, this episode will leave you inspired to forge your own path — no matter the heat.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube. 

🔑 SEO Tags / Keywords Bex Simon, British blacksmith, artsmith, women in metalwork, women in art, blacksmith interview, creative podcast, artist podcast, sculpture art, metal art, craftsmanship, art and creativity, British artist, AART Podcast, Chris Stafford podcast, artistic process, creative storytelling, women in sculpture, public art, forging art, modern blacksmithing, artist interview, creative resilience, introspective podcast, fire and steel art, UK artist spotlight, maker culture, metal sculpture inspiration, blacksmithing artistry


Bex Simon is a British Artsmith who has overcome difficult mental health issues to become highly sought after for her creative work in metal. Bex is unconstrained in her approach to design by combining geometric shapes and textures. Her sculptures and public art tell stories relative to the surrounding environment and can be found around the UK. Bex was born in Chertsey, Surrey in 1973, the third of four children—she has an older sister and brother and a younger brother. She reflects on a very strict upbringing from parents Tim, a computer programmer and Gel a retired teacher who later volunteered at a school for handicapped children; a relationship which has mellowed with time and understanding of Bex’s mental health. Bex was attracted to the art of blacksmithing as a teenager and despite struggling at school with dyslexia, she studied at the Surrey Institute of Art and Design – Foundation graduating in 1992.  In 1995 she graduated with a BA in Three-Dimensional Design in Metal Surrey from the Institute of Art and Design; followed in 1998 by a Diploma and National Certificate from Hereford College of Technology and in 2017 a Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Forge Work DFS from Herefordshire and Ludlow College. In 2019 she began studying Geometry at the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. In 1999 Bex moved to London and established her creative blacksmithing business with the help of the Prince’s Trust. Initially, she worked on private commissions acquired from exhibiting regularly at RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. Later, she moved on to larger scale public artwork projects via collaborations with a selected group of artist blacksmiths. Her biggest commission to date being a forty meter public artwork for Westminster Magistrates’ Courts in London. It was for that installation that she became the first woman to receive the Tonypandy Cup; the most prestigious award given by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.  Bex lives in North Devon with her husband Dave and their daughters Molly and Lyonie.
 
The book that Bex recommended on the YouTube video -
 https://www.youtube.com/@theaartpodcast -
The Creative Art, A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
 
Bex’s links:
https://bexsimon.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bexsimonartsmith/
 
Bex’s favorite female artists:
Zaha Hadid
Emma Kunz
Lousie Bourgeois 

Bex’s playlist:
Beastie Boys / Sabotage
Sinead O’Connor / Troy
Doja Cat / Paint the Town Red
Radiohead / Street Spirit
Sleaford Mods / Nudge It
The Sundays / Can’t Be Sure
Chase & Status / Backbone
Goldfrapp / Ooh La La
System of A Down / Chop Suey
Royksopp Robyn / Monument
Nia Archives / Off Wiv Ya Headz

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube -  https://www.youtube.com/@theaartpodcast
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this intimate and deeply personal episode, internationally acclaimed painter and sculptor René Romero Schuler opens up about her extraordinary journey through art, resilience, and emotional truth. Known for her evocative figurative works that embody both fragility and strength, René shares the raw and real stories that shaped her creative path — from overcoming personal struggles to finding empowerment through her brush and sculpting tools. Join us as we explore how art can become a vessel for healing, identity, and human connection. This conversation dives into themes of vulnerability, transformation, and the beauty of imperfection, revealing how René continues to redefine what it means to be both artist and woman in today’s creative world. Whether you’re an artist, collector, or simply someone seeking inspiration, this episode invites you to feel, reflect, and rediscover the power of self-expression through René’s lens.

🔑 SEO Tags / Keywords: René Romero Schuler, painter interview, sculptor interview, contemporary artist podcast, women in art, emotional art, figurative painting, art and healing, creative resilience, artistic journey, women artists, modern sculpture, fine art podcast, inspirational artist stories, art and vulnerability, art therapy, contemporary sculpture, emotional expression through art, artist life story, creative empowerment



American painter and sculptor René Romero Schuler creates powerful images that speak to the complexities of the human condition and the spirit that connects all human beings. René did not have any formal art training but since a small child felt that she was always meant to be an artist. She endured a difficult childhood and those real life challenges are imbued in her work illustrating her appreciation for the struggles and triumphs of humanity. René was born in Chicago in 1968 to parents Maryanne, a retired nurse and Rocky, who René describes as a bit of an enigma, though always in sales. René and her siblings grew up in Chicago, though she spent a year and a half in Quito with her grandparents. By time she reached her teenage years her home life was becoming difficult with a troubled relationship with her mother and an intrusive fear of her father. At the age of 14 René ran away from home and lived rough pulling on all her resources and determination. She eventually found work as an artist, painting murals in commercial properties. When she was 17 René moved into her own apartment and worked a variety of jobs from waitressing to bartending. By collaborating with a variety of artists around Chicago, René was gradually becoming a full-time artist with her own studio and plenty of commissions. In 1999 she met her future husband and for a while the couple lived in New York before René was drawn back to Chicago to focus on her art. It was here that she was able to reconnect with her contacts in art galleries and establish herself as a professional artist. René is represented by galleries across the U.S., Canada and Europe, She has had major exhibitions throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia, and has work included in the permanent collections of numerous museums and institutions. René now lives in Monterrey, CA with her husband Rick and two sons Ian and Owen.

Rene’s links: 
https://www.reneromeroschuler.com/ 
https://www.instagram.com/reneromeroschuler/

Some favorite female artists:
Maryann Kolb
Kelly Reemsten
Bisa Butler
Joan Brown
Annie Leibovitz
Tamara de Lempicka
Helen Frankenthaler
Louise Bourgeois
Tracey Emin 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com 


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this deeply personal and revealing episode, British Impressionist painter Ellen Howard opens up about her life, creative process, and the emotional connection behind her luminous landscapes. Known for her evocative use of light and color, Ellen shares how nature, atmosphere, and personal reflection shape her art and vision. From her early inspirations to the evolution of her distinctive Impressionist style, this conversation offers rare insight into the heart and mind of an artist who paints not just what she sees—but what she feels. Join us for an intimate journey through creativity, resilience, and the beauty of imperfection, as Ellen Howard invites listeners to see the world through her brushstrokes.

✨ Perfect for: art lovers, collectors, painters, creatives, and anyone seeking inspiration through stories of artistic life and expression. 

🎧 Keywords / Tags:
Ellen Howard interview, British Impressionist painter, Impressionism podcast, women in art, contemporary Impressionism, landscape painting, fine art podcast, artist stories, creative journey, plein air painting, emotional art, art and life, modern Impressionists, art inspiration, creative process, British artist interview, women painters, art podcast 2025


Meet American impressionist painter Ellen Howard. Ellen says: "My art is centered around living a faithful life and trusting in the unfolding of the great tapestry of life. As an avid explorer and traveler, I’m curious about the transitory elements of nature and love discovering quiet unexplored areas. Seeing the light move across the land, cascading off a mountain range, streaming through the leaves, dancing on the top of the waves, and creating a beautiful ray of warmth in the sky and clouds is pure serenity; where I find my center and solutions through art for life.” Ellen has been a professional artist for 15 years since she raised her two children Rachael and Jonathan and attending a range of art classes covering a variety of subjects and mediums. Her work has been shown extensively across the country and in a number of publications.  Ellen was born in Summit, NJ in 1965 to parents Joyce and Jim Guter. Her mother was a nurse who dabbled in watercolors as a hobby, and her father was a musician and high school band director. Ellen grew up with her younger brother Mark in NJ and Massachusetts but her parents divorced when she was just 14. Ellen immersed herself in swimming, running track and dancing with her friends as she navigated her teenage years. She graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Marketing and Human Resources and at the age of 24, moved to San Fransisco where she embarked on a career in finance which, she says, stood her in good stead for running her own business. It was here that she met her husband and started a family. Now a full-time professional, Ellen divides her time behind the easel in her studio or in plein air. When she is not painting she is giving classes and workshops in the US and Europe. Ellen lives near San Fransisco with her husband Mark and two dogs. 

Ellen’s links: https://www.ellenhowardart.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ellenhowardart/

Some os Ellen’s favorite female artists:
Adrienne Stein - painter

Kim Lordier - pastelist Jill Carver - painter 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this deeply personal and introspective episode, we sit down with Sinziana Iordache, an internationally recognized hyperrealistic artist, to explore the intricate intersection of art, emotion, and human experience. From her early inspirations and artistic evolution to the meticulous techniques that bring her lifelike works to reality, Sinziana opens up about the discipline, vulnerability, and vision behind her creative process. Join us for an intimate conversation that reveals the soul behind the hyperrealism — a story of passion, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of truth through art. Perfect for art lovers, collectors, and anyone fascinated by the depth of human expression captured on canvas.

🎨 Discover how Sinziana transforms real life into visual poetry, one brushstroke at a time.

🎙️ Keywords :
Sinziana Iordache, hyperrealism artist, hyperrealistic painter, fine art, realism in art, contemporary art, artist interview, art podcast, painting techniques, hyperrealist art, female artists, art and emotion, art collectors, creative process, modern art, inspirational artists, visual storytelling, art career journey, art inspiration, artist spotlight, realism painting Would you like me to make this match your Women in Sport and the Arts podcast brand style (tone and structure) like the others I’ve written? I can adapt the title and description for full consistency.


Canadian based Romanian Hyperrealist Artist Sinziana Iordache specializes in detailed graphite drawings of luxury watches. Sinziana’s produces photorealistic and hyperrealistic drawings with each meticulously placed stroke, every shade and tone carefully chosen. Her artworks reflect not just timepieces but the epitome of horological elegance.  Sinziana was born in Constanta, Romania in July,1986, the only child of Elena Chris, an accountant and web designer, and Ion Iordache, a consultant and trainer in security management. While she was still a toddler, her family moved west to Resita near the Serbian border—her father was serving as a captain in the military—and where she says she had a very happy childhood. Her mother’s interest in precision art appealed to Sinziana from an early age and she would easily amuse herself for hours. Education began at the Traian Vuia High School and Politehnica University, Timisoara studying architecture before Sinziana moved to Canada in 2007 following her mother and step-father who had emigrated in 2003. Sinziana attended the Ryerson University in Toronto where she studied Interior Design which would become the catalyst for her starting her own business. Nowadays she is a partner at Unfold Creative Studio and spends much of her time outside the business on drawing luxury watches, which can be time consuming. It can take 150 hours to draw one watch. Sinziana lives in Toronto with her partner, the artist Alex Sauret and her cat.
 
Sinziana’s links:
https://sinzianaiordache.com/
'https://www.instagram.com/sinzianaiordache
 

Some of Sinziana’s favorite artists:
Elizabeth Waggett (painting, drawing)
Kit King (painter) CJ Hendry (hyperrealist)
Golsa Golchini (painter)
Vanessa Hogge (ceramist)
Karen Konzuk (jewelry)
Heather Knight (ceramist)
Gaby Wormann (mechanical art)
Carla Grace (wildlife painter)
Zai Divecha (paper artist)
Lauren Williams (textile artist)
Julia Ibbini (paper art) 

Host: Chris Stafford
@theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube

Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com Produced by Hollowell Studios


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera and into the heart of one of the most captivating visual storytellers of our time — Sarah Thomas Moffat, an award-winning cinematographer and visual artist whose lens captures both light and emotion in perfect harmony. In this deeply personal and introspective interview, Sarah opens up about her creative evolution, the art of translating human experience into moving imagery, and the emotional truth behind her cinematic vision. From the early inspirations that shaped her passion for storytelling to the challenges and triumphs of building a career in film, this episode explores the raw, reflective journey of a woman defining her craft and her purpose through the power of visual language. Whether you’re a filmmaker, creative soul, or lover of art and authenticity, this conversation reveals what it truly means to see the world through an artist’s eyes.

💡 Keywords/Tags:
Sarah Thomas Moffat, cinematographer interview, women in film, filmmaking podcast, cinematography, visual storytelling, creative process, film industry, behind the lens, female cinematographer, artist interview, creative journey, storytelling in film, cinematography career, lighting and emotion, filmmaking inspiration, creative women podcast, personal interview, art and emotion, life behind the camera


Cinematographer Sarah Thomas Moffat’s work has spanned across all genres from docs, factual and commercial with a focus now on scripted. Her productions have aired worldwide, including on CBC, History Channel, CTV, Hulu and Netflix. Sarah was the first woman to run as a Racer-Cam Operator on the Canadian reality competition show Amazing Race Canada. She has won multiple awards across genres including film festival awards for Best Cinematography. along with three CSC nominations.  Sarah’s parents emigrated from Scotland to Canada shortly before Sarah was born in Toronto. As a child she developed an interest in still photography through artistic parents which led to Sarah studying Film, Radio, TV Broadcasting at Centennial College, Ontario. She describes herself, at that time, as focused and determined when she realized that this was her calling and she could make a career as a cinematographer. Sarah is a dual citizen of Canada and the UK. She is a member of IATSE, a CSC Associate Member, an ASC Vision Mentee Alumni, and Illuminatrix DOP based in London. 
 
Sarah’s links:
https://sarahthomasmoffat.com/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3511986/
https://www.instagram.com/sthomasmoffat
 
Some of Sarah’s favorite female artists:
Mandy Walker
Eva DuVernay 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
The AART Podcast on YouTube
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Hi I’m Chris Stafford host of the AART podcast about women in the visual arts and I wanted to let you know  lyou that I will be back in the New Year with a new season and we have a wonderful line up to kick off Season 3 starting in January with Jeanne Tyson the Los Angeles-based cinematographer and filmmaker. Her work includes narrative and documentary features, shorts, and series, and has been featured in film festivals worldwide. Jeanne has been the Director of Photography for ABC’s Gray Anatomy for the past two seasons and will shortly begin shooting Season 22.
 
Also in January the Toronto based Romanian Hyperrealist Artist Sinziana Lordache who specializes in Detailed Graphite Drawings of luxury Watches. Sinziana’s produces photorealistic and hyperrealistic drawings with each meticulously placed stroke, every shade and tone, carefully chosen, her artwork reflects not just timepieces, but the epitome of horological elegance. 

If you’ve been a listener to the show you will know we have 90 episodes across seasons 1 and 2.  And season 3 will offer another great selection of talented creative women from across the spectrum of visual arts.
 
I’m thrilled that this podcast has been so well received and given me the opportunity to introduce you to so many brilliant women artists and I look forward to another season. Keep in mind that Season 3 will be bi-weekly. The reason for that is so I have more time in post production.  So I hope you’ll stay with me, follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram and on YouTube Just look for The AART Podcast. We also have a new email address and that’s theaartpodcast@gmail.com.
Please share this podcast with anyone you think will enjoy the show and tell them they can listen won any podcast app.
 
I hope you will join me for season 3 in 2025.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

In this deeply personal and introspective episode of women in art nfiltered, we sit down with acclaimed Chinese sculptor Lirong Luo to explore the artistry, emotion, and philosophy behind her breathtaking sculptures. From her early inspirations in China to her evolution as an international artist, Luo opens up about the intimate connection between culture, identity, and creativity. Listeners will gain insight into her creative process, the challenges of being a woman in the global art world, and how sculpture becomes a form of storytelling, meditation, and resilience. Whether you’re an art lover, creative professional, or simply drawn to stories of transformation and passion, this episode will inspire you to see art—and life itself—through a new lens. 

✨ SEO Keywords / Tags:
Lirong Luo, Chinese sculptor, women in art podcast, sculpture artist interview, Chinese art, contemporary sculpture, female sculptors, art and identity, artist interview podcast, creative process, art inspiration, women artists, Asian art, art storytelling, creativity podcast, art and culture, sculpture techniques, art podcast 2025, artistic journey, cultural heritage in art, introspective artist conversations


Chinese Sculptor Lirong Luo.  Lirong says: "Most important for me is to create my artwork freely and show people what I am ready to show and what is interesting for me to show the world.”  Lirong’s sculptural work is influenced by Renaissance and Baroque techniques, an interest she developed while studying art in Beijing under the tutelage of Sun Jia Bo. This influence is evident in the life-like quality and grace of her figures, often women, captured in motion. Their poses are elegant, elongating their bodies, and Lirong’s attention to detail in skin folds and garment drapery imbues them with a sense of vitality. The dresses and garments of her sculptures often appear windswept, creating a compelling dichotomy between realism and a fantastical element. But her early life was not easy. Growing up in a small village in China, Lirong's path was filled with hard work and a determination to prove without anyone to show her the way that a Chinese woman could become a successful international artist. In this episode, she shares her story of resilience, her vision and artistic process, and how she created her own path in the art world. Lirong was born in the Hunan Province in 1980. Her parents, Huaifu Luo and Aiyu Guo are both farmers. She has a brother, Liping Luo. In 1998, Lirong entered the Changsha Academy of Arts in Changsha, Hunan, and from 2000-2005 she studied sculpture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing graduating with honors. Lirong met her future husband the Belgian sculptor Arnaud Laroche while they were students together and once Lirong graduated the couple decided to move to Europe. They first lived in Paris where Lirong worked in a chocolate factory before moving to Belgium. It was here that she established a studio and in 2014 held her first exhibition. By 2017 Lirong had hit the big time and now her work can be seen in galleries in France and Belgium. Lirong lives in Beersel, Belgium with her husband Arnaud Laroche and their daughters Olivia and Maya.
 
Lirong’s links:
Instagram: @luo_li_rong_art 
https://www.instagram.com/luo_li_rong_art/?hl=en
Facebook:  LUO Li Rong
https://www.facebook.com/p/LUO-LI-RONG-100044201991035/

Lirong’s favorite female artists:
Camille Claudel
Kiki Smith
Beth Cavener 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
Email: hollowellstudios@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved

Step into the mesmerizing world of Vika Bren, the Russian-born illusion body artist who transforms the human form into living, breathing canvases of imagination. In this deeply personal and introspective episode, Vika opens up about her artistic journey—from her roots in Russia to her global recognition as one of the most innovative body illusion artists of our time. Host Chris Stafford explores the emotional and philosophical layers behind Bren’s art, revealing how she uses the body as both subject and medium to challenge perception, identity, and reality itself. Vika shares her inspirations, creative process, and the intimate stories behind her most powerful works—where paint meets flesh, and illusion meets truth. This episode invites you to see beyond the surface and rediscover the beauty of transformation, vulnerability, and artistic expression. Perfect for listeners who love: art, body painting, visual storytelling, surrealism, performance art, creativity, identity, and the intersection of body and mind.

🔑 Keywords
Vika Bren, illusion body artist, body art, Russian artist, visual art podcast, art and identity, surrealism, creative expression, contemporary art, body painting, illusion art, women in art, artistic process, performance art, visual storytelling, creative interview, art philosophy, art and transformation, Chris Stafford podcast

Russian-born Illusion Body Artist, Vika Bren. Vika says: “At the heart of my work is the fascinating interplay between reality and illusion. Each piece I create is a visual journey, where things aren't always as they first appear. My illustrations and paintings often feature subjects that seem to shift, transform, or disappear depending on the viewer's perspective.”  Vika’s talent has attracted millions of followers on social media making her something of a rock star in the world of body art illusion. But her versatility as an artist is no surprise given her lifelong flair for creativity.  Vika was born on New Year’s Day, 1989 in Moscow. She is the oldest of five children whose parents Marina and Dimitri were both architects and also talented artists. When Vika was still a toddler the family moved to Israel and from the age of seven to eleven she had a private art teacher. After that she said she has been completely self taught. Once she left school she tried her hand at graphic designing but soon realized that this would not fulfill her artistically. During the Covid pandemic, Vika saw the opportunity to develop her art work online and even through two wars she has managed to establish herself with a global reputation. Through the daily threat of rockets and background of sirens, Vika works in a converted garage, which has become her studio. She will be a visiting artist at Art Basel Miami Beach on December 6, 2024. Vika lives in Shavei Zion, Israel with her partner, the musician Assaf, and daughters Yahel and Lia.
 
Vika’s links:
Website: https://vikabrenart.com/ 
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@VikaBren
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/vikabrenart?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
 
Vika’s favorite artist: Dain Yoon
 
AART Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email:

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.

Hollowell Studios Production
Website: https://hollowellstudios.com/podcasts
Instagram: @theaartpodcast 
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com
© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell Studios
All Rights Reserved