Wet Stuff

Mary Heinen-McPherson is an integral member of the Prison Creative Arts Project team. A former inmate in Michigan state of more than 25 years, she advocated for herself and others to have access to the arts and education with life-altering results that continue to exponentiate through her ongoing work.

Madalena Salazar is an arts worker, the Executive Director of Working Classroom, and the entrepreneurial force behind Third Space Vision. She has worked as the Social Responsibility & Inclusion Programs Manager at Western States Arts Federation, the Former Latino Cultural Programs Coordinator at Denver Art Museum, the Former Adjunct Art History Instructor at Community College of Denver, and so much more.

Visual Artist, Reyes Padilla, is an accomplished professional in his field. He's from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and currently works in Albuquerque. Reyes Padilla has an unusual gift, "I paint music. Having synesthesia means that I experience sound visually. My work is created by actively painting what I see while listening to music. The decision to embrace what I am seeing and paint it in the moment seems like a natural dance between two worlds." In this interview, we're going to ask him about his story, what brought him to art, and how he's transformed his abilities into a thriving career.

Self-taught visual artist Sarah McCord talks with us about her life and work. She shares some traumatic stories and how she took those rough experiences and is using them to inspire beautiful artwork.

Visual artist Natalie Voelker explores the psychological complexity of the seemingly ordinary. She is an experienced professional creating murals, installations, paintings, and drawings. She is also a beloved instructor that launched her own online course on creativity during the pandemic. She's earned many accolades including inclusion in the BP Portrait Award Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London, a residency grant from the Helen Wurlitzer Foundation, an invitation into the SOMOS ABQ Fellowship program, publication in the anthology BARED, and the French-English Magazine, VolUp. This widely commissioned artist is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico with a BFA from the University of Wisconsin. Join us for a conversation with this creative Entrepreneur!

Visual Artist David S. McKee asks, "Is there a natural order to seemingly random events in our lives?" McKee is a mixed media collage artist and fine art painter exploring how to imbue each piece with some aspect of life. His work is metaphysical in nature with a mixture of the representational and the abstract and leaves us wondering in his thoughts about order and chaos.

Ayanna Denise is a Master Skin Therapist and Educator committed to using plant-based, complexion-inclusive products and treatments. Her work helps her clients transform their skin, body, and health. Ayanna Denise is also a published writer and author of 'The (Good) Skin Bible: What the Beauty Industry Won't Tell You (Good Skin Volume 1)'. In this interview, we ask her about her journey, her book and writing, her work in the community, and her business, 'Ayanna Denise Skin'.

Abby Boling is the owner of Elements Studios, 'merging strategic planning with design'. She's worked as the executive director of the Corrales Arts Center and a photojournalist and community outreach activist that has worked with Wildlife conservation. Abby Boling wrote the women's march and pro-refugee march articles for Corrales Comment Newspaper. She's worked collaborating with different groups to accomplish complex goals including with APS doing a mobile mural on a bus, she's worked with people in shelters to tell their stories, and done art for the environment. This go-getter is about to share what makes her tick! Join us for an invigorating conversation with Abby Boling!

She's an independent visual artist and the owner, founder, and curator of Ghostwolf Gallery which is about to open at a new location in Albuquerque's Old Town Plaza. Not only has this gallery survived the pandemic, but they're making a move to increase traffic, exposure, and sales for their artists.

A conversation with hot air balloon pilot Doug Gantt. He is the owner of the world's largest flying pig balloon and its name is Ham-Let. He tells us what got him into flying balloons and how to become a hot air balloon pilot. We also talk, of course, about business and marketing.

In this interview with award winning cameraman Carey Moots, he tells us a story filled with intrigue and luck coupled with consistent dedication and hard work. Learn more about the life and adventures of Carey Moots of Moots Productions, and what made his business launch into a success story.

The Pandemic has had a devastating effect on many art galleries and art shows. Many galleries around the country have had to close their doors permanently. Running a Gallery is a challenge to begin with, but couple this with the Pandemic and it's just a recipe for failure. The Tortuga Gallery is pivoting to survive. In this episode we discuss their history and what they're doing to survive the pandemic. It's an inspiring and brilliant conversation between myself, and Logan and Pax Garcia of The Tortuga Gallery.

Jim Livingston is a fine art photographer whose work captures how he felt in that moment in that place. From storm chasing to capturing lightning and chasing fantastic sunsets and canyon night skies, Jim Livingston not only manages to take astounding photos but he lives an amazing life. In this episode he shares some very deep words of wisdom to cherish and follow in order to live a happier life.

John Lechner is a landscape photographer and expert in Lead Generation for Artists. In this interview, we talk a little bit about his work and he shares what he's learned about Facebook marketing for artists and the bare minimum any professional artist ought to be doing on a regular basis, even if you're time-poor.

Brainard Carey is an instructor at the Praxis Center for Aesthetic Studies. He gives us a glimpse into his own career and the path he took and shares with us the three things he's found that artists struggle with the most.

Visual artist and email marketing specialist Kim Winberry talks with us about how she is pivoting to deal with losing her job to COVID and with all the canceled art fairs. Not only is she learning to thrive in this new digital environment but she's got a new project underway called Imagined Spaces.

Betty Franks Krause makes vibrant, colorful, whimsical, abstract paintings inspired by fields of flowers. She's earned the following of over 100k fans on Instagram alone and in this episode, she generously shares some of the tips and business strategies that brought her where she is today.

In this interview with celebrated visual artist and author, Kim Zabbia, we talk about her book, 'Just Paint, it Ain't':

David Emmons and his wife work out of Vermont selling their beautiful hanging water gardens made of glass and metal and featuring art that is alive. Art you can grow. Not only has David "figured out the internet" but he shares what he's learned with fellow creatives to share his success with others. He offers a free masterclass you can find by visiting our web page for this episode.

Willie Oteri answers my questions about how to make a living as a professional musician and how it's changed over the years.

Thomas Vargeletis talks with us about how he runs his Full Time Real Estate Photography business, how a person is similar to a business, how to avoid overthinking, how changing the way you think about something can change the way you behave, and we talk about how we're taught backwards from the beginning to be consumers instead of entrepreneurs. Tom also discusses how when you're own boss, your mindset is everything, and he shares some tactics we can use to keep our head in the game on tough days.

Victoria Van Dame is an occupational therapist and the founder of the nonprofit art gallery, the O. T. Circus. She talks about how the project came to be and what she did to make it happen.

Business Owner, Publisher, and Writer Dr. Lee Francis IV delivers a fantastic interview about pursuing your dreams.

Mixed Media Collage Artist and Social Liaison Extraordinaire of the O. T. Circus, Jennifer DeSantis talks to us about how she does her job and how she sells her work. We talk about print on demand with Society6, making artwork affordable, and avoiding burnout.

Albuquerque based photographer, Pat Berrett talks to us about the skills he's developed that make his successes repeatable. He tells the story of how he got into photography and the things he did along the way that lead him to owning his own business and how he operates now. He also tells us that his goal now is to do work that is so good, every client who leaves his doors leaves a salesmen. In other words everyone who works with Pat becomes a word of mouth agent representing Pat's work.

Mike McGovern of The Bean Counter LLC. talks some numbers with us and gives advice to creatives trying to make a living doing their creative work on how to prepare for tax season, deductions, expenses, bank accounts, book-keeping, earned income credit, self-employment tax, GRT, state and federal income tax, apps for tracking your gas mileage, and what you need to know in cases where you live and work in the same place.

Beloved local published author and small business coach Peri Pakroo talks to us about her life and tells the story of her career while sharing valuable information for both up and coming or experienced entrepreneurs.

In this fast-paced, exciting and musical adventure Michael Wieclaw tells us how he became the force behind Metal the Brand and the drummer for Music Is The Enemy.

Commercial Art Photographer Kevin Black delivers a down to earth conversation about how to make a living doing Commercial Art Photography. He discusses the importance of having a mature business sense, learning from life and prevailing despite what happens to you, and so much more.

Illustrator and Visual Artist V.E. Saenz talks to us about following your heart and doing the work you're passionate about doing, he also delivers some great tidbits on printing, useful apps for artists, and social media marketing.

Co-founder of Albuquerque Coffee Plus Creatives Ruth Dove talks about her career as a visual artist and graphic designer.

An inspiring and heartfelt conversation with New Mexico PBS Executive Producer, Michael Kamins about his life and career.

Rich Boucher performs some of his humorous, inquisitive poetry on modern topics we can all relate to. We discuss the publication of his book , 'All of This Candy Belongs to Me'.

We visit Roy Sumner Johnson in the fabulous Sumner and Dene Gallery in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico and he tells us why people buy art.

Musician and Composer Aaron M. Lewis talks about his inspirations, shares some mesmerizing sounds, and tells us how he's managed to make music a part of his professional life for so many years.

Loren Fletcher talks with us about the art of creative living and how to embody the life you want.

J.L. Johnson talks with us about the world of teaching...and taxes.

Kristine Maltrud of Art Spark shares some fabulous tips for independent creatives working to sell their wares or services.

A peek into the adventurous life of independent visual artist David Nakabayashi. He tells us all about how he's managed to produce so many breathtaking, large-scale, diverse, prolific works of art.

A conversation with Joe Cardillo about building a creative community in Albuquerque New Mexico.

Teaching artist Danielle Rae Miller talks with us about Career Art Concerns and how to build your portfolio to prepare for showing in galleries as a professional fine artist. We also talk about women in art, art history, and much more.

Ricardo Chavez Mendez, the master of Curvismo painting and owner of The Oro Gallery talks with us about his life and journey as an independent teaching artist.