Artist/Mother Podcast

Do you struggle to call yourself an artist? This conversation is for all of you out there with a non-linear path to embracing your artist identity. I resonate so strongly with Victoria van der Laan's journey discovering ways she was always on a path to being an artist, and working toward a values-driven life both […]

It is not everyday that you get to interview one of your art crushes! Tahnee Lonsdale's figurative paintings have always resonated with me, and in this episode, I got the behind the scenes peek into her practice and life. Tahnee grew up in Sussex, UK, and moved to LA when her two children were young. […]

At long last I have a chance to sit down and talk with Vancouver-based artist, Sara Khan! Sara is an artist working across many mediums, but mainly using water-based media to create large scale works on paper, though we find time to discuss how a recent collaboration with Sandeep Johal resulted in explorations in fiber, […]

As artists, we all know that moment of noticing something in our daily life that is worthwhile to pursue in our work. But what does it take to get from the moment of noticing to a final piece? In my conversation with Caitlin Winner, we discuss how she goes from the act of noticing through […]

This episode is special in so many ways! I sit down with artists, caregivers, partners, and co-jurors of the upcoming Painting at Night exhibition (apply here!), Alisa Sikelianos-Carter and Sean Desiree. These two blew me away with not only the depth and importance of their individual art practices, but also their unwavering support for each […]

This episode features a wonderful discussion with artist Jessica Caldas ranging from topics around the lifestyle of an artist to setting boundaries in both personal and professional settings. Jessica works across mediums in painting, drawing, printmaking, soft sculpture, and splits her time between Atlanta and North Central Florida. She runs Good News Arts, a community […]

Camille Warmington uses acts of making to memorialize those who come before us while simultaneously building her own legacy. In this beautiful conversation on today's episode, Camille shares a story of transformation that embraces each stage in life with thoughtfulness and openness to transformation. Camille studied painting at the Glassell School of Art at the […]

Tune in to this recent episode with Kaylan as she shares 4 lessons she’s been learning recently! This talk is candid, honest, and heartfelt and we hope you enjoy. Hear me share about why I don’t think you should make a happy artist happier, how I have found time to read this past year, a […]

What I love about today's guest on the podcast is all the time she spent in a professional percolation mode that has recently resulted in an explosion of work with an incredibly strong throughline and voice. Emily Weiner combines ceramics and oil painting featuring eclectic imagery and bold colors. She received a BA from Barnard […]

My relationship to consumerism and waste is something that really shifted for me when I became a mother. We all feel the pull to consume and to bring objects into our homes, yet the reality is that in creating space for ourselves, we impact our home in a larger-scale way as we damage the planet. […]

On the podcast, I frequently discuss balancing seasons of life with the artists I interview. We sometimes explore frustration, evolution, or the benefits of having our work adapt to life circumstances. Today's episode is no exception as I discuss the rhythms of a year and even a lifetime with abstract painter Amy Chan. Amy is […]

Can our interconnectedness inspire us towards unity in a time of climate and cultural crisis? Heather Bird Harris is an artist dedicating her life and work towards this effort. Inspired by nature and interested in the human effect on it, Heather has been creating work that responds to and captures the land. From polluted water […]

In today's episode, I talk with Leeah Joo, a Korean-American oil painter based in Connecticut. Born in Seoul to a sculptor father and an illustrator mother, Leeah moved to Indiana when she was 10. Our discussion ranges from how Leaah navigated the move to the U.S. as a child to how she has told the […]

In today's episode I speak with a friend who has been along the ride with me since the beginning of my artist community building journey. Born and raised in North Carolina, Jean Gray Mohs is an incredible artist and member of her community with an inspiring story. Jean Gray has a BFA in Painting and […]

Transitioning back to the studio after a summer focusing on the family can be a challenge. On this episode I wanted to walk you through 5 steps for getting back to your art after a break! I hope this conversation is a dose of encouragement and affirmation for the season you are in. Step 1: […]

How do we maintain our sense of self and our boundaries with the intense demands of caregiving alongside our passions for our art practices? We explore these ideas in a meaningful discussion with the curator of the Together/Alone exhibition at Stay Home Gallery and two of the artists from the show. I hope you will […]

In this episode, I talk with painter and conceptual artist, Crystalle Lacouture. Crystalle's work is so timely and important right now as we face increased gun violence in the US as well as an increased cultural awareness around the importance of holding space for grief and mourning. With a father working in hospitality in high […]

In a first for the Artist/Mother Podcast, I talk to not one, but two artists who work on a loom! In this episode I speak to weavers Lauren Salazar and Melissa English Campbell. We get into the details of the process of weaving and the rich meaning that can be found in this type of […]

Today we welcome Kelly Sheppard Murray to the podcast. I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with Kelly and her community when I exhibited my work at her alma mater, the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Kelly got her BFA in Art Education and Sculpture from UNCG and an MFA from East Carolina University. […]

Today's episode is so special, because I interview two artists in my community here in Indiana. I got to know Hannah Burnworth and Teresa Vazquez when I co-curated them into a show with Lyndy Bazile in Fort Wayne, IN. I am so thrilled to have these two amazing artist/mother/teachers in my world. Throughout our discussion […]

Austin Thomas is an artist that has done it all, from large-scale sculpture to a rigorous sketchbook practice alongside owning a gallery and then teaching. Join me as I learn how Austin has, in her words “…developed a way of making my art that goes along with a way of making my life.”  You will […]

In today's episode I talk with my friend Cassie Arnold about her work and her journey from navigating frequent rejection to suddenly finding herself needing to be the one to say “no” to opportunities coming her way. I am thrilled that Painting at Night was the first group exhibit to feature Cassie's fiber work, and […]

We're so excited to welcome Mandy Cano Villalobos to the podcast today. Mandy is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores ideas of home, memory, and cultural identity. Mandy's bio is a work of art in and of itself because her accomplishments are so vast.  Creativity and art have always been a part of Villalobos' life. […]

This week's podcast episode features journalist and writer Hettie Judah. We're proud and grateful to be able to share some time with such a critical voice in the world of art. She's written in publications from Vogue to The New York Times (just look at this list), and as if that weren't impressive enough, her […]

Purchase the 2022 Painting at Night Catalogue HERE! Thanks to Emily Nola who designed the book for us!Trigger Warning: Please note that in this episode, there are multiple mentions of the overturning of Roe v. Wade as well as references to abortion and human/civil rights violations in the United States of America.  This episode of […]

This may be the Artist/Mother Podcast, but I have a very unique surprise for you this week. Today I'm chatting with three fabulous Artist DADS. It was just Father's Day in the U.S. this weekend, and as you know–with parenting–it's all hands on deck. I'm so excited to be expanding the narrative for this special […]

What steps have you taken to propel your art career forward? What are the most influential things you've done to see authentic growth? On this episode we've asked 12 incredible artists from our community to share their secrets. Artists who have professional careers and who are mentors in our programming. We hope you love this […]

Welcome to another episode of the Artist/Mother Podcast! In today's chat, I've got my good friend Jamie Smith joining me. Today, we're talking about Community over Competition, and we've got a very exciting announcement to share with you, so stay tuned.  Let's start with a little introduction on Jamie. She is, in her own words, […]

Trigger warning: This episode contains reference to physical abuse from an intimate partner. In this episode of the Artist/Mother Podcast, I interview lifelong artist and 2022 “Painting at Night” juror Judith Braun. At 74, Judith’s artwork is prolific, and she’s explored artistic media across genres. From figurative painting, to video, to finger painting with charcoal, […]

This short episode shares 6 strategies to create your own personal retreat which will help you implement rest in your life. We challenge you to make one happen for yourself over the summer or the next 3 months! What is a personal retreat? It's a day just for you! How do you calm that noise […]

Thoughtfulness and vulnerability are at the forefront in this conversation. Painter Julia Schwadron Marianelli beautifully describes lessons learned during her journey from postpartum anxiety to a more fulfilling sense of community, self-compassion, and groundedness both as an artist and as a mother. Julia was the founder of and director for the Low-Residency MFA program in […]

In today's episode, Painter Michelle Doll shares how she moved with her 8-year-old son from Ohio to New York City to pursue her dream of getting an MFA at the New York Academy of Art. In a story that feels like it is straight out of a movie, Michelle learned how to make it in […]

What an honor to share this episode! 13 Artist/Mothers have tales of thoughtful and encouraging advice that was shared with them at one time, and that they are now passing along to you. I included my own stories of advice that has meant a lot to me as well including a moment of much-needed encouragement […]

Sometimes our life journeys shape our careers in ways that are so rich and fulfilling, leading to artwork that is both a unique contribution to our communities and to our own personal growth. Yurim Gough's journey took her from establishing her own business as a shoe designer in Korea to a new life in England, […]

When a story begins with tiny piglets competing in a foot race for oreos, you know you are in for a treat! Interdisciplinary artist, activist, and edjucator Liss LaFleur shares the ins and outs of her research-based art practice and how her own journey to parenthood has inspired the Queer Birth Project. We start with […]

How many of us found ourselves making huge life changes over the past few years? Perhaps these were changes we always longed for, or maybe ones we newly discovered that we needed. In this episode painter Lauren Luloff and I discuss her recent move from New York to Maine. We cover how this has shifted […]

In a world that expects perfection, how can we embrace the chaos and uncontrolled nature of our lives? It was an incredible gift to share in conversation about this topic with artist, feminist and professor, Amy Wong. Amy’s art practice resides in this juxtaposition itself. Oscillating between different systems of representation to evoke non-linear, personal […]

Can you imagine creating art with the same materials for 10 years? For Selina Trepp, this structure and her limited materials provide her with subject matter – an ecological closed-system that is self-depleting. By constantly over painting and over drawing the same pieces and structures, Selina is faced with the challenge of how far to […]

What does it mean to leave a legacy? For Helen Redman, it includes preserving her art, but also continuing to nurture creativity and vitality until the very end. In this 2nd episode of her two-part interview, we talk about connecting the thru-lines in her work over the years, preserving her art, and passing on wisdom […]

The cycles of life, of a body, are continually evolving and constantly pulled back into nature's natural balancing act of birth and rebirth. In this two-part series with Helen Redman and her daughter, Nicole, we explore these life and body cycles through a look back at the incredible six decades of Helen's art career and […]

Melding art into your daily life – how can it work? For these two cyanotype artists Erin Patton McFerrin and Lisa Alberts, the process is so important. While Lisa's sunprints rely heavily on the flora that her daughters bring her, Erin relies mostly on being near water to create fluid abstractions. Despite these different starting […]

Holding tension in the in-between – this is where our podcast guest, Leslie Fandrich, finds her strength. In this interview we touched on so many topics: gender identity, parenting, sexuality, the value of studio time, the importance of research, MFA programs, and, of course, her amazing artwork. Leslie describes her work as “familiar, but strange” […]

How do you create a sustainable art career? For Loie Hollowell, our podcast guest today, it's all about the planning, the strict studio hours, and leaning into others for help – including other New York City artist/mothers and her partner. Loie Hollowell was born in Woodland, California, and lives and works in New York, New […]

Needing inspiration for starting a new year in the studio? This episode is for you! It was a real treat to invite two podcast + crit group mentor alums back to our platform to ask them about the dynamic work they created in 2021 that was rooted in a big project for each of them. […]

On this special episode to kick of 2022 I speak with Isadora Stowe, an artist/mother and academic who lives and works in Las Cruces, NM, USA. Isadora is my co-conspirator in supporting women artists with resources for making the professional practice side of their art career successful! We run a course, Wearing All the Hats […]

Welcome to our final episode for 2021! the end of another year! This year was a LOT for me personally, but it felt like a really good year for Artist/Mother as a whole. We've settled into a rhythm together as a community and established some structures we hope will start to feel predictable and comfortable […]

What does it take for culture to be preserved through generations? How are women instrumental in this preservation and how do their contributions continue to go unnoticed? How does the art of a mother and professor from Baltimore, MD provide thoughts for these questions? Check out our episode with the incredible artist, LaToya Hobbs to […]

An act of defiance can mean many things – like squeezing time in at the end of the day to create when you are the most tired or getting up early to keep certain rituals sacred. Even saying “no” to certain activities to make sure your creative practice is not disrupted takes a great amount […]

Ingrained in most children is a strong and innate desire to create. Our artist in this interview, Pooja Pittie, always felt drawn to making art, but it wasn't until she was well into adulthood that she centered her career around it. Raised in Mumbai, India, Pooja was encouraged to see art as a great hobby, […]

Sometimes the very goal we are trying to achieve is also the very thing that keeps us from achieving that goal – enter the Artist/Mother life! In this episode I talked with Lee Nowell-Wilson (a return guest and dear friend) about maternal ambivalence, creating boundaries, and our recent collaboration during the Elsewhere Studios residency. Lee […]

How do we recognize the power that we carry? In this interview with sculptor Melanie Cooper Pennginton, we talk about the dichotomies found in her work that explore our inner workings as humans. Her burdened beasts are approachable, yet foreboding – a gentle warning to the viewer that fear and shame unchecked turns to entrapment […]