For today's episode, we sat down with Keith Bond, a landscape artist who primarily focuses on painting scenes from nature, with a strong emphasis on plein air sketching as a research and reference tool for his studio work. He believes in the importance of painting from life to develop fundamental artistic skills, stressing that understanding principles like value, composition, and color provides a foundation for creative expression. Throughout his career, Keith has learned to approach plein air painting as a way to capture the essence of color, light, and atmosphere, rather than creating finished pieces, and uses these sketches as references for more contemplative studio paintings. His artistic journey began with a love for art in school, and he transitioned to being a full-time artist with the support of his wife, navigating the challenges of an art career through discipline and continuous learning. Keith advocates for building personal relationships with clients, maintaining an email newsletter, and having a strong website as key marketing strategies for artists. Finally, Keith reminds us of the value of constraints in fostering creativity and encourages aspiring artists to paint from life, return to fundamental principles, and understand that creativity is a dialogue between the left and right brain hemispheres.

Todd Casey - Curiosity: A Catalyst for Growth

In this episode we sat down with Todd Casey, a fine artist, author, and teacher who embraces a way of living that values creativity, personal expression and continuous self-improvement. Todd shares his artistic journey from graphic design to atelier training, emphasizing the importance of curiosity as an excellent catalyst for personal growth. He discusses the value of developing both fast and slow painting techniques, and the benefits of exploring different mediums and approaches without being constrained by rigid artistic rules. Throughout the conversation, Todd stresses the significance of creating art for personal passion rather than external validation, highlighting that the joy of the creative process is more important than potential fame or financial success. He advises aspiring artists to remain open to opportunities, take risks, and focus on their own growth and introspection. Finally, Todd tells us about his upcoming live demo at the Guild of Boston Artists on May 17th as well as his Patreon and reminds us to keep up to date by checking out his website and social media!

Scott Ruthven - The Power of One Thing

In this episode, we sat down with Scott Ruthven, a landscape painter from Colorado who transitioned from a high-tech business career to becoming a full-time artist after rediscovering his passion for painting. He emphasizes the importance of painting from life, particularly through plein air work, which helped him develop his observational skills and capture the nuances of light and landscape. Scott's journey involved building his art business gradually, selling directly to collectors, and maintaining a professional approach that includes goal-setting, consistent communication, and nurturing relationships with art enthusiasts. He advises aspiring artists to paint frequently, start small, avoid overwhelming themselves, and focus on creating authentic work that resonates with their personal vision. He also tells us about the power of the "one thing" that artists can be doing daily to get closer to meeting their goals. Finally, Scott tells us about his upcoming workshops and exhibitions, including a plein air event in Redstone, Colorado, and the Colorado Governor's Show at the Loveland Museum.

Brian Bateman - Be Tenacious!

In this episode, we sat down with Brian Bateman, a historical artist who specializes in aviation and Western art, focusing on bringing past events to life through meticulously researched and detailed paintings. He discovered his passion for art in fifth grade and has since dedicated his career to capturing historical moments with precision and emotional depth. Throughout his journey, Bateman emphasizes the importance of mastering fundamental artistic skills, being tenacious, and staying open to learning and criticism. He works between the aviation and Western art genres to maintain financial stability, highlighting the challenges artists face in marketing and selling their work. Bateman stresses the significance of finding a subject matter one is truly passionate about and developing a unique artistic style that reflects personal experiences and emotions. He discusses the role of social media, galleries, and networking in promoting art, while also sharing insights into his creative process, which involves spontaneity and avoiding over-refinement. Finally, Brian tells us about his upcoming shows with Settler's West Gallery and The Coeur D'Alene Miniature Show and his hopes to have a workshop in the near future!

Sarah Yeoman - The Importance of Creative Routine

In this episode, we sat down with Sarah Yeoman, a full-time watercolorist and instructor with 45 years of painting experience, who discovered her passion for watercolor after also exploring various artistic mediums like music and sculpture. We discuss her artistic approach which focuses on capturing the essence of subjects through light, shadow, and abstract shapes, particularly evident in her renowned crow and Adirondack series paintings. Sarah emphasizes the importance of consistent practice, encouraging artists to commit to a creative routine and finding their unique visual voice rather than copying others' styles. She tells us about her creative process which involves embracing unpredictability, especially in watercolor, where she uses intentional drips, large brushes, and works on an angle to create dynamic, fluid paintings. For our viewers, Sarah gives us a quick demonstration on how she starts out her crow paintings! Sarah also tells us how she has balanced her art-making with teaching, using workshops and online classes to supplement her income and share her artistic philosophy. Finally, Sarah tell us about her upcoming shows and upcoming workshops including one coming up at the end of this month where she will be teaching how she paints blue poppies!