Marti Somers
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Mitchell Johnson
Paying close attention is how we learn to really see and make context of the world.
Walking the line between representational and abstract, Mitchell Johnson’s paintings can recall a sense of place or emotions about a place, but it’s the arrangement of shapes and colors that we respond to first. Listen in to this interview where he talks about how when we really look at something, we don’t just identify what it is—we can see what it is about and then it can help serve your painting or lead to a painting.
Cold Wax Medium with Rebecca Crowell and Jerry Mclaughlin
An amazing medium for creating subtle, rich depth using layers.
For this month’s inspiration video, we interviewed Rebecca Crowell and Jerry Mclaughlin, two artists who are experts in the medium of cold wax. Spurred by their shared loved of this medium – and after noticing a lack of suitable instructional materials – this pair decided to make their very own book about cold wax.
INSPIRATION #4
Adam Wolpert
Paying attention is where the richness, discovery and growth happens.
Adam Wolpert’s varied imagery explores the themes of cycles, relationships and balance, and investigates the subtle distinction between the representational and the abstract. He believes that when we make art or engage it, we remember what it is to be human. In this very engaging conversation, Adam and Nicholas explore how painting something outside of ourselves actually informs us to paint inside of ourselves. Give yourself a treat by spending some time with this absorbing interview on how the process of art can inform our lives.
INSPIRATION #3
Russell Chatham
Seeking inspiration from his surroundings
The work of Russell Chatham is difficult to describe in a single word. Inspired by his childhood in the Northern Bay Area and his time in Montana, his subtly beautiful landscapes are at once powerful yet soft, melancholic yet vastly serene. The overall effect is one of a haunting nostalgia, of being drawn into a space that is both familiar while utterly distant. We at the Academy are extremely pleased (and lucky!) to be able to interview this prolific individual.
Joe Brubaker
Seeking inspiration in the human form
One of the first things that strikes one about Joe Brubaker is his prolific output. This is made even more impressive when one considers that although he would characterize himself as a lifelong creative, he would also be the first to tell you his career as an artist didn’t really begin until his late thirties, after he decided to show his work at Marin Open Studios. Take a moment to check out this great interview.
Melinda Tidwell
Do you find inspiration in non-traditional materials?
Our definitions of what it means to be an artist are constantly shifting. The introduction of new media and techniques push the boundaries of art in some exciting new directions. Melinda Tidwell is certainly no exception in this regard, using discarded and recycled books as the raw material for her collage pieces. It truly is a pleasure to speak to this inspiring and creative individual.
