ARTish Plunge

As Lynne Maphies, former Curatorial Assistant at the Blanton Museum of Art, knows firsthand — for many artists, “day jobs” do more than pay the rent. In this fascinating behind-the-scenes conversation, Lynne shares the 10 year process that Veronica Roberts, former Blanton Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, directed to create the standout exhibit “Day Jobs.” A dialogue with conceptual artist Sol LeWitt prompted Roberts to explore the different ways that artists establish relationships or get material inspiration from the jobs that sustain them. After receiving hundreds of recommendations from colleagues, scholars, gallerists, and artists in the field, Maphies and the Blanton te...

Appreciating the richness of vintage typography and papers inspires both the sublime graphic design work and the whimsical collage art of Connecticut-based artist AMY GORREK. On the way to developing her own design practice, following stints with various design firms including Martha Stewart Living, Amy has perfected the art of appreciating details, instinctively finding the right balance of necessary and surprise elements. Pulling on her years of helping clients with their branding projects, Amy shares insights on how artists can find their own unique branding elements in the fabric of their artwork. 

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A...

How do you see Brahms Symphony No. 4? For Scottish orchestral bassist and abstract painter Kirsty Matheson, music—like days of the week— have color. Kirsty shares how she balances her professional music life with her painting career that took flight during a 100 Day project in 2021. This fascinating conversation allows us to dip into synesthesia, a neurological condition shared by Kirsty and many other creative minds that creates a crossover between senses, in Kirsty’s case allowing her to paint classical music.
 
 Find Kirsty:
Kirsty's Website: www.kirstymatheson.com
Kirsty's Instagra...

A love of research, words and print materials drives Austin-based, mixed media artist KRISTY DARNELL BATTANI’s textile inspired paintings and forms. The host and founder of the ARTish Plunge podcast discusses her art journey from intellectual property lawyer to full-time artist, her love of research, and her "deep dive" immersion into her source materials as part of an artist talk for her recent solo show “How To Be,” a collection of works inspired by thirteen self-help books that have defined our American values.

Find Kristy:
Website:    https://www.kristybattani.com
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A lifelong love of prairie led sculptor and former architect BILL MCBRIDE to the rolling sea of grass and sunflowers that is Matfield Green, Kansas—population 45. Serendipitous introductions to fellow environmentalist, artists and conservation enthusiasts enabled Bill to find a home for his own work and his ongoing passion project, the Prairie Art Path. Initially lacking a road map, Bill “lived conceptually,” doggedly pursued his artistic dreams, and eventually created the place he imagined. 

“You have to keep listening to yourself and find your models.”

Find BILL:

Website:  www.billmcbridestudio.com    <...

Have you ever drawn so slowly that you actually saw the ink soak into the page? Massachusetts art therapist and author Amy Maricle shares the benefits of slow, mindful drawing for artists and non-artists alike. The author of Draw Yourself Calm and numerous online videos, Amy pulls on her experience as an art therapist to show us how to tune into the moment by being aware of our senses as we slowly, intentionally move the pen around the paper. Amy explains how slow drawing helps to diminish our anxiety and reveals what movement makes us feel good. Amy ends...

What’s it like to be a “non-traditional” art student at age 55? For Texas-based portrait painter CLIFFORD BUNN, seeking a BFA in Studio Art after a career in law enforcement with the Oakland PD was both cathartic and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.  As a police officer, Cliff worked among “the layers of lives existing around us” that most of us don’t see, but he often felt like his own voice was not being heard either. Initially turning to art as a therapeutic way of dealing with grief for  loss of his son and other family members, Cliff eventual...

What would you give to have a lifestyle that allowed you to “drop everything and have a swim” in the ocean any time the mood struck you? Cornwall painter TARA LEAVER has created that life for herself, finding inspiration in the sensory experience of being immersed in the “magical garden of wonders” in the cold Atlantic waters. A self-proclaimed introvert, Tara has created a “balance in constant motion” between creating her own fluid paintings and developing an online community for like-minded artists.

But life was not always so easy-breezy for Tara. Tara candidly shares how she grappled with depress...