BrushStrokes of Being
Brushstrokes of Being is a conversational podcast hosted by artist Karin Merx that explores art and the creative life. Each episode features conversations with artists and creatives intended to inspire, encourage and teach listeners about making and appreciating art. The show accompanies the Brushstrokes of Being Substack newsletter, where related writing and updates are shared.
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Recognition Is Not Observation: Learning to Truly See
I have been thinking a great deal about something deceptively simple:What does it actually mean to see, to read, to listen, to know?That thinking became Episode 121 of Brushstrokes of Being.I begin with books.Not simply the information they contain, but the books themselves: paper, typography, binding, annotations, evidence of use. A book is a human artefact, carrying more than the words printed i
Before You Judge, Learn to See
What happens when we stop simply recognising what we see?Every morning, I sit in my garden with my coffee and watch the bees, birds, flowers, shadows and wind. At first, I see a garden. But when I remain there long enough, something changes. I begin to perceive relationships: between bee and flower, movement and stillness, light and shadow, parent and offspring, colour and space.Nothing in the gar
When a Society Stops Giving Artists Time to Grow, or takes away the opportunities to learn artistic skills?
What happens when we remove art and music from education, or expect artists to produce before they have had time to develop?In this episode of Brushstrokes of Being, I explore why artistic education is about far more than creating future painters and musicians.Research increasingly suggests that sustained engagement with music and observational art develops attention, memory, pattern recognition,
If Diego Velázquez Applied to a Gallery Today
If Diego Velázquez applied to a gallery today, it’s not certain he would be accepted.Not because of a lack of skill, but because of what is now required of artists before the work is even seen.Today, artists are often evaluated through questions of concept, brand, and recognisability. The painting itself arrives late in the conversation.Somewhere in this shift, observation has been displaced by po
The Power of Mastery
The first episode of 2026 begins not with acceleration, but with attention on the power of mastery.While painting Janine Jansen, immersed in the music of Jean Sibelius, there was a moment in which the work aligned. Technique, listening, and observation converged. The distinction between musician and instrument dissolved. What remained was embodiment.This episode reflects on mastery as a
Notes on a painting: ‘Mahalia’
Mahalia, Rising Star places a contemporary Black British vocalist at the centre of a visual language historically complicit in marginalisation. Drawing on Pre-Raphaelite aesthetics while actively interrupting their gaze, the painting confronts questions of mastery, presence, and cultural memory.Created in resistance to spectacle, speed, and aesthetic flattening, this work insists on disciplin
Notes on a Painting: “Sol Gabetta”
In this new instalment of Letters from the Studio, I open the door to the beginnings of my portrait of Sol Gabetta, a work that listens before it speaks. The first layer meets the canvas through music: the arc of movement, the breath between phrases, the subtle pauses that reveal the life within the performer.Rooted in four hundred years of artistic lineage, this painting grows from a wa
The Story of Art Without Men Review
This episode offers a reflection on The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel. While the book powerfully restores many women to the narrative of art history, from Renaissance pioneers to modern visionaries, its final chapters reveal a gap that continues to shape our understanding of women’s contributions today.The women who uphold and advance the classical craft of painting from life, artists wo
The Lost Ground of Mastery
In this episode of Brushstrokes of Being, I examine the lost ground of mastery and the spiritual essence of art. Moving beyond theory, I reveal how true art arises where craft and consciousness meet.Through philosophy, neuroscience, and lived experience, Karin invites listeners to rediscover art as a sacred act of perception, a portal, not a product.For artists, thinkers, and collectors seeking de
Art as Portal or Mirror?
Welcome back to Brushstrokes of Being, where art meets soul and thought becomes colour. In this episode, ‘Art as Portal or Mirror’, I’m joined by Karen van Hoey Smith (mentor, art director, educator, and curator), whose journey through the art world bridges vision, compassion, and transformation. Together, we explore the shifting tides of the contemporary art market, the deeper meaning
Ink and Silence
Welcome to this episode of Brushstrokes of Being, Ink and Silence. The book that breathes wisdom, and I frequently turn to, as artist, but also for the wisdom is, Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. This is one of those rare works that seem to exhale light with every turning page. It is a book that does not announce itself loudly; it whispers. Its sentences are small, its d
Equine Art
Brushstrokes of Being, Episode 109 – The Spirit of Equine Art: Translating Emotion into Form“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar DegasIn this illuminating roundtable, host Karin Merx brings together four exceptional voices in equine art and curation:Karen Osborn (Australia), Mirelle Vegers (The Netherlands), Tony O’Connor (Ireland), and Joyce Ter Horst, curator of Paard
Women in the Picture
Catherine McCormack’s Women in the Picture profoundly reframes how we perceive women in art. From Venus to the Monstrous Woman, McCormack uncovers persistent archetypes that structure our visual culture, revealing how seemingly timeless masterpieces actually participate in shaping desire, power, and representation.As an art historian and practicing artist, this book resonated deeply with me and in
Why Mastery Is the Only Path Worth Taking
“Mastery is the slowest, hardest path in the world, and the only one worth taking.”In this episode of Brushstrokes of Being, I reflect on what it truly means to master an art form. Why Mastery Is the Only Path Worth Taking? As both a painter and a classically trained musician, I’ve lived the reality of endless hours in the studio or at an instrument, practice, repetition, resilience, and passion.T
Elizabeth Markevitch
In this episode of Brushstrokes of Being, I sit down with Elizabeth Markevitch, who once worked in the high-end world of Impressionist and Modern masterpieces. She left the “art box” behind to democratise access to art and created IkonoTV https://ikonotv.art/, a platform treating art as medicine.We explore:Why art is still “in the concert hall” while music has been democratizedHow streaming and di
The Double Chair
In this episode of Brushstrokes of Being, The Double Chair, I bring two voices into dialogue: the Artist, living for unity, diversity, and transformation, and the Philosopher, seeking meaning in those values.The conversation weaves together childhood curiosity, music, the Old Masters, the quiet rebellion of painting, the essential role of diversity, and the distinction between discrimination and r
Adebanji Alade
What does it mean to truly see? To slow down, observe, and let creativity flow through your hands? On this episode of Brushstrokes of Being, I speak with Adebanji Alade, the BBC-featured artist and President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, about the transformative power of sketching, embracing failure, and loving the process over the final piece.Highlights Adebanji Alade:Why sketchin
Art as Medicine in the Age of Machines
Art as Medicine in the Age of Machines marks the conclusion of my series The Gaze Reclaimed. After seven episodes honouring women artists who fought to be seen, I turn to our present reality: a time where human creativity is once again at risk of erasure.Today, billions of artworks are silently scraped into datasets without consent, feeding machines that produce hollow images. Yet art is
The Gaze Reclaimed, Part Seven: Camille Claudel
Camille Claudel was more than Rodin’s lover, more than the “madwoman” silenced in an asylum for thirty years. She was a visionary sculptor who gave marble and bronze a pulse, sensual, intimate, and profoundly human.In this episode of Art Talk: The Gaze Reclaimed Part Seven: Camille Claudel, we explore:Claudel’s early brilliance and her fight to study sculpture in Paris.Her bold collaboration and r
Louise-Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun: The Gaze Reclaimed, Part 6
“To paint is to love again.” Louise-Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun’s words define a life devoted to courage, beauty, and creation. Born in 1755, she overcame the barriers of a male-dominated art world, teaching herself by copying the works of Rembrandt, Rubens, and Van Dyck. By fifteen, she was a professional portraitist. In this episode, I discuss Louise-Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun: The Gaze Reclaimed, Part 6
Part 5-Berthe Morisot
In this episode of The Gaze Reclaimed Part 5: Berthe Morisot, we celebrate the 100th episode of Art Talk. Berthe Morisot (1841–1895) was not just a painter — she was one of the most influential female Impressionists in art history. Known as the Mother of Impressionism, she transformed the way women and modern life were depicted on canvas, bringing radical lightness, liberation, and emotion to a mo
Edmonia Lewis: Sculpting Against the Gaze
In this episode of Art Talk, part 4 of The Gaze Reclaimed, we explore the extraordinary life and legacy of Edmonia Lewis — the first African-Native American sculptor to gain international recognition in the 19th century.Born in a fractured America, orphaned young, and wrongfully accused of poisoning classmates at Oberlin, Lewis defied every expectation. She carved her path — literally — from Bosto
Elisabetta Sirani: The Forgotten Baroque Prodigy
In Episode 98 of Art Talk, we explore the extraordinary life of Elisabetta Sirani, the forgotten Baroque Prodigy. A 17th-century Baroque artist from Bologna who defied social norms to become one of the first professional female painters in Europe.Born into an artistic family in 1638, Sirani took over her father’s studio by age 17, produced over 200 paintings before her death at 27, and becam
Artemisia Gentileschi
Welcome back to Art Talk, and Part 2 of The Gaze Reclaimed. In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary life of Artemisia Gentileschi, who transformed the depiction of women in Western art.From the Renaissance to today, visual culture has shaped—and often violated—women’s bodies. Art historian Catherine McCormack critiques this long history, revealing how so-called masterpiece
Looking Inward
The Gaze Reclaimed – Part 1: Looking InwardEpisode 96 of Art Talk | New Series PremiereWelcome to The Gaze Reclaimed, a bold new series exploring how women—past and present—are reclaiming the right to see and be seen on their own terms.In this deeply personal opening episode, artist and cultural philosopher Artsy invites you into an intimate reflection on self-portraiture, vulnerability,
Why Old Masters Matter To Artists Today 3
In episode 95, the last episode in the series of Why Old Masters Matter To Artists Today 3. In this episode I go in learning how to see: Style, Technique and….Secrets, with Rembrandt on my side.Become a member on Patreon Connect with Me This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brushstrokesofbeing.substack.com
Why Old Masters Matter to Artists II
Why Old Masters Matter to Artists II: Leonardo da Vinci & the Power of ObservationIn Episode 94 of Art Talk, we dive deep into the timeless art of observation—through the eyes of one of history’s greatest minds: Leonardo da Vinci.This episode explores how Da Vinci’s approach to seeing the world can radically transform your own creative process. In an age of instant gratification and visual ov
Why Old Masters Matter to Artists Today
Episode 93 of Art Talk is the start of a short series where I talk about why old masters matter to artists today. In this episode I briefly discus why they matter, what you can learn from them, why they were great and how they are our silent mentors.If you as artist are struggling with colour, I have a great colour course available at https://onlineartseducation.co.uk/course/colour-for-artists/You
The Art of World Building
In Episode 92 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Elizabeth Amisu about the Art of World Building. Elizabeth is the author of the Sacerdos Series, books that inhibit the worlds she created, with characters who have special gifts.https://elizabethamisu.com https://elizabethamisu.com/shop/https://instagram.com/elizawriter https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.amisu https://patreon.com/elizawriter h
What Art Evokes in our Brain
In Episode 91 of Art Talk, I discuss wat art evokes in our brain. Based on Neurological research in the Mauritshuis in the Netherlands, art electrifies the Brain. This of course is goed news for artists who paint.Looking at real art stimulates the brain on multiple levels. It sparks excitement, ignites the imagination, and compels deep thought. The emotional response to authentic paintings was ten
A Conversation With Agnes Gomori
Episode 90 is the last of this year 2024 and I have a conversation with Agnes Gomori about art and spirituality and how we as artists adapt that in our art as well as experience it to create specific art. For each of us it works differently but we both know that everything is energy and that, when we visited Tate Modern together in June, both tired, our energy uplifted us, giving energy. This will
A Conversation With Louise Fowler
This is episode 89 of Art Talk, and today I have a conversation with Louise Fowler. Louise is an oil painter based in Cornwall, she is also a musician.Website Louise FowlerInstagram Louise FowlerFaceBook Louise FowlerContact MeSupport Art Talk on Patreon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brushstrokesofbeing.sub
A conversation with Anikó Boda
This is episode 88 of Art Talk. After a long hiatus I am back with a conversation with Anikó Boda. Anikó Boda is a painter of imaginary realism, thinker and storyteller. She initially studied medicine before she dived into art and studied in New York The Art Student league, the school of Visual Arts, then The Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts master, and the Schatz Studio.WebsiteInstagramFacebookCont
A Conversation with Shirley-Ann O’Neill
In episode 87 of Art Talk, I had the pleasure of having a conversation with Shirley-Ann O’Neil, director of the VAA (Visual Artists Association)After their book Good Art Doesn’t Sell Itself (which I highly recommend), they have now written a book about Securing Representation: Galleries, Agents & Artists. The book is divided in sections with very valuable information from industry experts, the
A Conversation With Jessica Agudelo
In episode 86 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Jessica Agudelo. Jessica is a psychologist specialising in mental health. She has a wealth of experience and is an exceptional trainer (and I know, we met at a training at UK Black Pride, and I have been in one of her workshops) and she is a great listener. She currently has a program Building The Power Of Us, which we will discuss in our conve
A Conversation with Janet Sternburg
In episode 85 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Janet Sternburg. She is a photographer and made a book called Looking at Mexico and Mexico Looks Back.Janet Sternburg has written eight successful books, taught at CalArts, and exhibited her photography in gallery shows in Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, Mexico, Seoul, Milan and Bombay.https://www.janetsternburgphoto.com/https://janetsternburg.c
A Conversation With Alison Dollery
In Episode 84 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Alison Dollery. Alison is an artist and curator who uses her body as a canvas in multilayered projects. We discuss her projects that are based on very personal experiences and evoke many positive responses from her audience.Alison Dollery WebsiteInstagramPlease consider supporting Art TalkContact me This is a public episode. If you would like t
Art And Grief
In episode 83 of Art Talk, I talk about art and grief. In January, after a massive stroke, I lost someone very close to me; my partner. With that, I experienced a numbness. Also because I walked on adrenaline when it happened. I was actually with him and was quicker than anyone could be. Unfortunately, the damage was severe. On January 23 he passed away peacefully.Please, Consider supporting Art T
A Book Review of Thunderclap
In episode 82 of Art Talk, I give a book review of Thunderclap. by Laura Cumming. The full title of this stunning book is Thunderclap: A Memoir of Art and Life & Sudden Death. Laura Cumming has been the art critic of The Observer since 1999. She was the arts editor of the New Statesman Magazine, literary editor of The Listener, and deputy editor of Literary Review. She is a former columnist fo
A Conversation With Helga Stentzel
In episode 81 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Helga Stentzel, she is a guest I had on my Wish list for a long time.Helga is Siberian-born, living in the UK, London. For a long time, she lived seeing the world in black and white trying to be perfect. This was inspired by a poem by Vladimir Mayakovsky What is Good, What is Bad. Helga definitely found her way in this world by actively listeni
A Conversation About AI
In episode 80 of Art Talk, I have a conversation about AI with my artist friend Maggie Sloan. We both are artists who prefer to paint and draw from life. AI is now used by many people who never had any education at all in the arts, have no skills or hardly any except using a computer to alter existing images/ photos. Some use their own art to train the robot others merely prompt.We talk about visu
A Conversation with Joyce Ter Horst
In episode 79 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Joyce Ter Horst, horse lover, curator and owner of ‘Paard Verzameld’.Joyce is the owner of Paard Verzameld: Equine Art Services. Joyce is the founder of Paard Verzameld. She has a lifelong passion for horses. Her academic and professional experience enabled her to make this platform with the many services she offers for artists, collector
Last episode of this year
In the last episode of this year, I look back on 2023, the good, the bad and the intentions for 2024.I wish all listeners happy holidays and a good New Year.Please consider supporting Art Talk on Patreon and please do visit the websites of:Elizabeth AmisuJoan MarieVAA (Visual Artists Association)Contact me This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get ac
A Conversation with Agnes Gomori
In episode 77 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Agnes Gomori. Agnes is, like me, a proud member of the VAA, which we both highly recommend btw. She is an intuitive-visionary artist, who paints ‘the unseen’ world.Please consider supporting Art Talk on:PatreonFind Agnes on:WebsiteInstagramFacebookBooksdr Iain McGilchrist The Master and Its EmissaryAinslie MacleodContact me This is
A Conversation With James Early
In Episode 76 of Art Talk, I have A Conversation With James Early. This summer I met James at The Other Art Fair and I was stunned by his portraits especially because of his topic.James started in 2015 with his powerful and emotional studies of homeless people, victims of war and religious martyrs. This work took him to another level in the art world as he was nominated by The BP award, The Royal
We Definitely Need To Talk About It
In episode 75 of Art Talk, I talk about a book I currently read, that follows up on the episode ‘Turning A Blind Eye’ and We Definitely need to talk about it! Where to buy this book?Alice Proctor, The Whole Story: The Colonial Story Of The Art In Our Museums and We Need to Talk About It.Contact MeSupport Art Talk on Patreon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this wi
A Conversation With Karen Turner
In Episode 74 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Karen Turner. Karen is an award-winning figure and portrait artist whose oil paintings are a commentary on the weight of expectations. Focusing on the physical body and the scrutiny to which it is commonly subjected, her paintings explore what society expects of a woman, the ways in which a woman’s shape is often considered to define her
A Conversation With Leah Smithson
In Episode 73 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Leah Smithson. Leah Smithson is a Los Angeles-based artist using both traditional (paint, ceramic sculptures) and new media ( i.e. digital installations, virtual, augmented, and extended realities) to explore the human condition using portraits that mirror an emotional state or frame of mind, rather than the likeness of a person. She’s been int
Turning A Blind Eye
In episode 72 of Art Talk, I will discuss a topic that is very relevant to art history as we have learned it: Turning A Blind Eye, for art lovers who visit museums, and recently also the Frans Hals exhibition in the National Gallery, and last but certainly not least for painters of portraits to think about.Not talking about the presence of black people in paintings is a story that needs to be amen
A Conversation With Elizabeth Amisu
In Episode 71 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Elizabeth Amisu, Academic, Author and Artist. We focus on her book The Dangerous Philosophies Of Michael Jackson, His Music, His Persona and His Artistic Afterlife. It was published 7 years ago, and we celebrate that milestone.The Dangerous Philosophies of Michael Jackson is the first academic book that covers Michael Jackson’s art through his
A Conversation With Artist Amy Jobes
In Episode 70 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with artist Amy Jobes. Amy is an artist who paints ‘imaginary’ impressionistic landscapes inspired by the nature she lives in. She is currently also one of the artist mentors of the VAA (Visual Artists Association).Website AmyInstagram AmyYouTube AmyContact MeConsider supporting Art Talk at Patreon This is a public episode. If you would
A Conversation With Maggie Sloan
In Episode 69 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Maggie Sloan. Margaret (Maggie) is a painter who has, as she once told me, a love relationship with watercolour. She is a painter who paints nature and with that brings nature back into your home to create a form of calm and reconnection.Website ArtWebsite WritingsInstagramFacebookPlease consider supporting Art Talk on Patreon This is a public
Analysing The Isms
In Episode 68 of Art Talk, I am analysing the Isms. A few months ago, I was kind of attacked by an Instagram follower because I expressed my thoughts about a certain artwork that I did not find as compelling or ’good’ as everyone else was singing their glory over. I had my reasons.It occurred to me that the person had very little knowledge about art or its history and just blurted something out th
A Conversation With Susan Hensel
In Episode 67 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Susan Hensel. Susan is a multidisciplinary artist, with a 50+ year career. Susan received her BFA from the University of Michigan with a double major in painting and sculpture and a concentration in ceramics. She combines a mixed media practice with embroidery across digital and manual platforms. She also makes sculptures and wall art using the
A Conversation With Tammy Walters
In Episode 66 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Tammy Walters. Tammy Walters is a British Modern Contemporary Artist based in the heart of Lancashire UK. She is best recognised for her bold and illustrative equine and animal paintings. Her artistic development is deeply influenced by her passion for animals and her strong relationship with her family and her love of music. She is Influenced
Let’s talk Vermeer
As you probably know, the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam had an exhibition about Vermeer. It had a huge press, marketing was full-stop on it, and tickets were sold out before the doors opened. So, Let’s Talk Vermeer!In this episode, I want to discuss the documentary I have watched: Close To Vermeer and propose a way we might look at Vermeer’s art. With all the tech available, how deep should we go
The Psychology Of Collecting Art
In episode 64 of Art Talk, I like to ponder on the psychology of collecting art. I am an Art Historian and a portrait artist, trained in drawing and painting life. Portraits are still very much wanted, but in my research I found different subjects like abstract, still life, cityscapes, digital art etc. striving for popularity. I wondered what the psychology of collecting art is and if that is topi
A Conversation With Laura O Hare
In episode 63 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Laura O Hare, director of the VAA (Visual Artists Association).Laura O’Hare is responsible for leading the artistic and business development at VAA. She has been working in the Fine Arts sector since 2012 and is a founder of the Visual Artists Association. Presently, she is a Director of the Visual Art Open Awards and Chester Arts Fair, she has
A Conversation With Natalie Rigby
In episode 62 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Natalie Rigby. Natalie is an art historian, curator and broadcaster. She is an inclusion focussed Curator with specialisms in Modern and Contemporary British Art. Natalie’s practice centres around making art, exhibitions and collections accessible to everyone and de-mystifying academia to open up the industry to all audiences.She has subs
Why Colour Theory Is Key?
This is episode 61 of Art Talk. In this episode, I briefly discuss why colour theory is key, and the knowledge of how to use oil paint is one of the first things a painter needs to know.“It is a form of self-deception, or perhaps merely a convenient excuse, to say that the materials of the old masters were better than those of today, and that the splendid preservation of many of their pictures is
A Conversation With Jessica Sheehan
In episode 60 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Jessica Sheehan. Jessica Sheehan is an artist born in Australia, living in London who paints portraits, still life and animals. We discuss art teaching, observational teaching, inspiration and some art history.Website JessicaInstagramSupport Art TalkContact Me This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or
Art Teaching Or Instant Gratification?
In Episode 56 of Art Talk, I talk about art teaching or instant gratification and the importance of learning the proper skills of representational art. I start by quoting the introduction of an essay named: “What Happened To Art Education?” In The JackDaw Magazine, and a quote by Dr Iain mcGilchrist from his book The Master And His Emissary. Both are imperative for the thought process of this epis
A Conversation With Claire Knill
In Episode 58 of Art Talk, I have a conversation with Claire Knill. Claire creates beautiful mobiles that keep you focussed, she also makes beautiful reliefs and uses textiles. Central themes in her work explore the uplifting power of movement and colour and how they can influence our moods and emotions. Claire’s style is characterised by intriguing colour combinations, geometric forms and a
Meet Painters Conservator Kristin deGethaldi
In Episode 57 of Art Talk, I meet Painters Conservator Kristin deGethaldi. Kristin deGhetaldi holds a BA in Chemistry, an MA in Art Conservation from the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation specialising in easel paintings, and a PhD in Preservation Studies from the University of Delaware. She has held internships and contract positions at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the
Don’t Fall Into The Self-Taught Trap
Episode 56 is dear to my heart. I will discuss why it is so important to Don’t Fall Into The Self-Taught Trap. More often than not, I see people writing or hear them saying that they are ‘fully self-taught’ artists.In previous episodes, we talked about craftsmanship, my guest, artist Joan Marie, said that it is so important, and also to make sure that creativity needs to be devel
A Colour Of Splash with Nick Ferguson
A Colour of Splash with Nick Ferguson is a discussion about his art, questions of life, communication and much more. Nicolas and I met at The Other Art Fair, and I was highly interested in how he uses his intuition to paint, especially portraits surrounded by the insights he receives. He paints with many colours, writes poetry and has a surrealistic view. He likes to provoke the viewer as well as
Karen Van Hoey Smith – A Remarkable Interview
Karen Van Hoey Smith – A Remarkable Interview, is the episode of Art Talk where we discuss art, what makes collectors tick and how she helps artists as a mentor. Karen Van Hoey Smith is an art director, mentor and educator. I had the privilege to meet her at a networking event in London, The Other Art Fair and attended one of her strategy sessions with the VAA (The Visual Artists Association
Jenny Mørk – Sisterhood & Symbiosis
This is episode 53 and today I have a guest I met at The Other Art Fair in London 2 weeks ago. Jenny Mørk – Sisterhood & Symbiosis, she is an Artist from Norway. She is a painter, poet and musician. Her art made me stop because something in it touched me. It appeared we shared some ideas.In this episode, we talk about her studies in France, her beautiful art that made me stop at her boot
An Interview with Ramona Pintea
In Art Talk episode 51 I have an interview with Ramona Pintea, the artist friend who conquered the world with her ‘Urban Queen’ and ‘Wear Your Crown’ paintings.Ramona is an artist who I met in 2020 when we both were in an art marketing course. Soon Ramona left and took off on her own to conquer the world with her Urban Queen series. She has a very interesting background as
Book Review: Good Art Doesn’t Sell Itself
In Episode 51 of Art Talk, I have a Book Review: Good Art Doesn’t Sell Itself. A Book that every artist needs to read and start implementing in the art business. The brilliance of this book is that it is set up in 3 parts, or rather steps and has in total 75 short guides with actions you can take. Not every step is necessary for every artist. Step one is Mindset & Habits, and step two is
Interview with Joan Marie
Episode 50 of Art Talk is the interview with Joan Marie. Something I wanted to do for a long time. I have a conversation with Joan Marie who is a fabulous craftswoman. We have a conversation about the skills and craft needed to do what we like most.Joan Marie’s intense dedication to art began in 1969 after being deeply inspired by Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Since then her artistic influence re
Interview with Shirley-Ann O’Neill
In Episode 49 of Art Talk, I have a very exciting interview with Shirley-Ann O’NeillShirley-Ann O’Neill is the director and co-founder of the Visual Art Open. This is an international art prize for emerging artists. She is also the director and co-founder of the (VAA) Visual Artists Association. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a lot of knowledge to artists around the world.Visual Arti
The Gaze of a 17th-Century Girl
This episode of Art Talk is a more philosophical and slightly provocative reading of the gaze of a 17th-century girl. The Rijks Museum Amsterdam has the most extensive retrospective of Vermeer in history. Johannes Vermeer was born in 1632 and passed in 1675. He lived in Delft his whole life. He presumably received lessons from Carel Fabritius (1622-1654) or Leonaert Bramer (1596-1674). Rijksmuseum
The Mystery & The Magic In Art
Episode 47 of Art Talk is all about The Mystery & The Magic in Art. By comparing two different methods used, the constructive method and the sight-size method. Where is the mystery and how do we see the magic in art?Frances Bell PaintingsInstagramFacebookContact This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brushstroke
The Power Of Telling Stories With Art
Episode 46 of Art Talk is all about the power of telling stories with art. Stories are a great way to communicate and engage with your audience.Telling stories is what captivates audiences. People love stories, and it may not sound like it, but everyone has a story to tell, multiple stories even. The world is built on stories.Switching my music practice to the painting practice I found the same. O
Craftsmanship Is Seen In All Great Art
In episode 45 of Art Talk, I discuss how craftsmanship is seen in all great art.‘The most important thing an artist needs to know is how to see. Da Vinci. Da Vinci’s style combined accurate observation and sensitive imagination.’My day was over, and I sat with my last tea before bed, reading about Camille Claudel.“A photograph dating from 1899 shows Camille Claudel, then ag
The focus artists need when they have to switch from art to business
In Episode 44 of Art Talk, I will discuss the focus artists need when they have to switch from art to business We all know that energy flows where Focus goes.One of the first biographers of Leonardo Da Vinci wrote: “in learning and in the rudiments of letters he would have made great proficiency, if he had not been so variable and unstable, for he set himself to learn many things, and then,
Art Talk – Allow Yourself To Be The Artist You Are
Episode 43 of Art Talk is all about one word: Allowing. It is a word often used, however, how much do we as artists or women, put that to practice? Do you allow Yourself To Be The Artist You Are?Recently, I received a book recommendation and as an avid reader, I immediately downloaded it to my kindle. The Story Of Art Without Men. Wow, as a portrait artist with the mission to empower women, and as
Peeling The Onion, Shifting Energy And A Fresh Start For The New Year
In Episode 42 of Art Talk, I discuss the lessons I learned last year and the new steps I take and you can take to make 2023 one of growth, inspiration, and creation.Happy New Year to all my listeners. Let’s make 2023 a real creative year where we learn and grow and make more real art. If anything is needed in the world right now, it is painted, sculptured or drawn art and music played on real inst
Art Matters!
Gratitude to the guests who were on my podcast.Art Matters, an important awareness to discuss in Episode 41 of Art Talk.“The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.” – Leonardo da VinciAnd so it is. End of this episode? No, not really. This quote is important to me because we seem to understand better through art. The expression of art, the true skill of the art, gives understanding. T
