Portrait of An Artist

Judy's artistic journey began in a family of artistically talented people who chose conventional careers in healthcare and education. In love and faith her parents took a risk by supporting her decision to study arts at NYU. However, she still followed a more practical career path. She studied English literature and taught high school English, worked in HR, and then transitioned to raising two boys at home. In our interview you’ll hear Judy’s gratitude and appreciation for the years she spent full time with her sons at home. Looking back she knows how much she grew as a photographer because she captured the same subjects in the same locations ad infinitum. For the better part of 8 years she completed project 365 challenges (that’s right, a photo every single day!) Judy has this amazing way of capturing people in their city surroundings, preserving fleeting moments of everyday life. She finds hidden beauty in the mundane and believes that a good photo is like a tiny miracle. Tune in to hear why Judy describes her work in the same way that Diane Arbus says photography is like “tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing oreo cookies.” Street photography invokes awe and wonder for Judy. It’s a fulfilling process. It’s cultural anthropology. You’re not going to want to miss this episode! When careful observation and a camera lens collide, you get Judy Krasinski. Follow her on Instagram Check out her website

As a young girl Molly Wright found comfort in drawing and painting. While art wasn't initially considered a career option, Molly had a wonderful high school art department experience that inspired her to continue to create art even if only on the side. After a stint in the catering business and raising her children, Molly rediscovered her love for painting and began selling her work for the first time after opening up her home for her first show. What started as a side hobby eventually turned into a full-fledged career, driven by Molly's decision to prioritize her art. You’ll have to tune in to hear Molly’s reflections on the unexpected strengths she uncovered along her journey as an art business owner. Today you’ll find Molly working on her next collection release focused on landscapes and of course coastal pieces that reflect her beautiful home surroundings. Molly’s gratitude for her life and her art is so evident in our conversation. It was lovely getting to listen to her share the wisdom she’s gained over the fifteen years of her art business. When experience and expressionism collide, you get Molly Wright. Follow her on Instagram Check out her website

Whether you see Charissa’s hand molded clay or watercolor botanicals or textured canvases, you’re going to walk away with a sense of calm and serenity. This interview will leave you feeling that way too. Although she has been an artist her entire life, she chose a different career to avoid the “starving artist” life. She continued to create art in addition to working full time until so much changed for her in 2021. Her first painted pillow attracted so much attention and that became the fuel that grew her art into a business and led her to pursue it as a career instead of a hobby. Charissa’s art is process and practice is a natural overflow of the peacefulness she wants to bring into the world. I know you’re going to feel refreshed and inspired after spending some time with Charissa in this episode! When calm + collected collide, you get Charissa Owens. Follow her on Instagram Check out her website

I can’t wait for you to hear Erin’s beautiful story. The constraints of raising three young children and working full time remotely during the pandemic shutdown pushed her away from her corporate job and into a new direction: embracing her passion for art. Because of her bravery in 2020, she can say today with confidence that she knows she’s doing exactly what she was meant to do with her life. Erin’s art is deeply personal and almost all of her work is commission based. (She has a 6-month waiting list!) I am in awe of her creative process. She immerses herself into the creation process… she even dreams of her paintings! Her paintings are created by pouring mixed acrylic onto a raw canvas and then she builds layers using her palette knife. Many pieces include wax pastels and charcoal. What a privilege to get to know Erin better… I know you’re going to love getting to know her in this interview as well! When passion and drive collide, you get Erin Friedman. Follow her on Instagram Check out her website

Laura didn’t set out to become a professional artist, but a knee surgery and a trip to France gave her the clarity and bravery she needed to embrace her creativity with confidence. What began as a humble endeavor in 2016, with cats playfully leaping into her paints in an upstairs bedroom, has blossomed into something remarkable. Today, Laura proudly operates her own studio. Her artwork is a vibrant reflection of her passions and experiences. While Laura's colorful florals captivate the eye, it's her abstracted landscapes that are the closest to her heart. Inspired by the awe-inspiring rock formations and serene creeks of the Southwest, each painting holds a cherished memory of her explorations. Join us as we delve into Laura's artistic journey and explore the depths of her artistic expression. This is an episode you won't want to miss, filled with tales of creativity that will make you laugh and stories of how inviting people into your own story is so rewarding. When wanderlust + a paintbrush collide, you get Laura Welshans. How to support Laura: Grab her free Art + Travel Guide: Capturing the Spirit of the Southwest here Follow her on Instagram Check out her website

Saron knew she wanted to create ceramics for a long time, it was just a matter of getting there. Creating pottery and all the accessories that come along with it isn’t the cheapest practice, so she waited t go all in until she was fully confident!  Enter Pablo from Spain, a co-worker she met at a local bakery. He mentioned to her that he was a potter (with a manual wheel, no les) and she asked him for lessons! The rest is history! Y’all when I say Saron is the queen of Southern {authentic} charm, I mean it! Don’t miss this episode. 

Sarah Jane Tart hasn’t always lived on the coast of North Carolina, but she’s always been inspired by the coastal landscape. Imagine her surprise when her husband got offered a job in Wilmington and they got to move to a place of endless painting inspiration! Sarah is best know for her coastal marshes but she’s branched out into quite a few other {colorful} subjects as well! I’m so impressed by her ability to capture bright colors + light in the big coastal skies and transfer them so beautifully onto canvas. Sarah got invited to be a live painter at Spring at the Silos in Waco, TX through the Magnolia Network. Yes, that Magnolia! I’m telling you—you don’t want to miss this episode. When coastal + color collide, you get Sarah Jane Tart.

If I could choose one phrase to describe Sali Swalla, it’s radiant kindness. I had the privilege of meeting her in her backyard studio in LA last year and she was just as warm and inviting as she is on social media. Sali is a self-taught artist and has been painting professionally for 13 years. She is deeply inspired by Eastern culture, especially by her time in Japan. Her mother was from Japan so she spent time visiting the country as a child. She paints with oil and cold wax and focuses mostly on creating ethereal floral landscapes (though she has other tricks up her sleeve!). If I could choose one word to describe Sali, it would be self-aware. Her work reflects themes of darkness and light which is deeply motivated by her personal experiences and emotions. After her mother passed away, for example, her color palette shifted from soft pastels to dark + moody blues, greens, and even black. It was a striking shift that I remember well, and I found myself drawn into her work even more during this period. Sali and I also chatted about the perennial topic of balancing work and motherhood, how she protects her time for both, why she thinks having inventory in your studio is a good thing, and how she believes art will eventually find its perfect owner. She is absolutely delightful and I can’t wait for you to hear this episode. When introspection and joie de vivre meet, you get Sali Swalla. Follow Sali on Instagram https://www.saliswalla.com/artworks

Stephie Jones has one of those cataclysmic book-worthy stories that landed her full-force into her art career. In short, she almost died and that experience left an indelible mark on her. As she began to scan through the regrets in her life, the one that kept blinking the brightest was that she hadn’t given her all to her art. That was several years ago now and I’m happy to report that her art career is blooming. Stephie resides in Virginia Beach, VA, and not coincidentally, her work is coastal-inspired. She loves to sit on the beach with her sketchbook in hand sketching shells and the shapes of the ocean. Her most popular paintings are her oysters. When inspiration takes a back seat, Stephie makes a point to create anyway. We talked about how creativity can rise to the surface when you just keep going. She also values passing on her creativity on to her children. For example, they throw a handmade-Halloween bash every year for the neighborhood that the whole family takes part in to create! Finally, Stephie reveals a “dirty little secret” in response to one of my questions in the last half of the episode that took me off-guard so you’ll have to listen to find out what it is! When intention + perseverance + creativity meet, you get Stephie Jones. Check out Stephie’s work below: @stephie_jones_art stephiejones.com

One of Lacey Hennesey’s Instagram accounts is called @lacey_does and that’s because if she doesn’t know how to do something, she figures it out on her own and does it. She is an unabashed student of what she calls YouTube University and her desire to learn new + efficient techniques, especially for painting murals, runs deep. Lacey is my first muralist on the show, and her days are chock-full of commercial and residential projects. It would be well worth your time to follow her on Instagram to, not only watch her process, but stand amazed that she often paints outside in 90+ degrees and still has a cheerful attitude about it. (It’s also mesmerizing to watch her operate the electric lift! 😉) I loved our conversation about what’s been working for her from a sales perspective. Her answer will surprise you, but it is full of wisdom after years of building an actual community on social media. I was also super encouraged that she is part of an artist community who frequently share wins and losses together and are marked by cheering each other on, ont competition. Artists need more of this kind of community as part of their careers! You don’t want to miss this episode. Lacey’s personality is as bright and colorful as the art she creates. When endless exploration + moxie meet, you get Lacey Hennessey. Check out Lacey’s work below: @laceyhennessey_ www.laceydoes.com

Valerie is a Manhattan-based artist who paints out of her apartment on the Upper West Side. So as you can imagine, when Covid hit, she faced a major dilemma. Stay in the apartment with her kids home in tight quarters or pick up and move (temporarily) to the North Carolina coast? I think you can guess which one she picked and this new location + season became the backdrop of her transformation from hobbyist to professional artist. Her artwork draws inspiration from a myriad of sources, including her childhood memories, the beauty of nature, and the world of fashion. Her use of bright and vivid colors reflects her joyful spirit and the happiness she hopes for her collectors when they walk past her art. Valerie also used to work in merchandising at Macy’s in New York and picked up many helpful marketing insights during her time there that help her in her art business today. You definitely don’t want to miss the tidbits she shares here. Finally, she is the queen of picking out the best dresses and shoes to go with her collection release photos! The pink ones with the bows are my favorite. Head over to her Instagram account to check them out. When style + bold color pairings + determination meet, you get Valerie Leuchs. Check out Valerie’s work below: @valerieleuchs valerieleuchs.com/shop

When an artist starts a series called “Her smash is not my failure” to highlight the success of other female artists, you probably already have an inkling of what kind of person she is. Eden Flora is as endearing as they come and if you scroll her Instagram account for any amount of time, you’ll definitely want to be her friend. She’s as whimsical + colorful as her art, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a serious side. She’s processed some hard things in life and come out on the other side with joy. Her art is deeply rooted in her faith and it’s how she communicates the truths of God to herself and others. I can’t wait for you to meet her. When faith, color, and whimsy collide, you get Eden Flora.    Season 1Episode & Guest IdeasWhen an artist starts a series called “Her smash is not my failure” to highlight the success of other female artists, you probably already have an inkling of what kind of person she is. Eden Flora is as endearing as they come and if you scroll her Instagram account for any amount of time, you’ll definitely want to be her friend. She’s as whimsical + colorful as her art, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a serious side. She’s processed some hard things in life and come out on the other side with joy. Her art is deeply rooted in her faith and it’s how she communicates the truths of God to herself and others. I can’t wait for you to meet her. When faith, color, and whimsy collide, you get Eden Flora. Turn on screen reader supportHomeFileInsertPage LayoutFormulasDataReviewViewEditViewInsertFormatDataToolsTo enable screen reader support, press ⌘+Option+Z To learn about keyboard shortcuts, press ⌘slash

"Art allows you to access your soul," is only one of the many thoughtful snippets from my conversation with New Orleans-based artist, Virginia Candler. I enjoyed talking with her so much because we have a similar take on what happens when you’re moved by a piece of art and how that experience can tell you more about yourself. She’s also living in the city that makes me want to write poetry every time I go (NOLA!) and I loved hearing how she is taking part in a supportive and vibrant group of local artists there. By the way, she often uses native plants to New Orleans in her mixed media abstracts and her color combinations are out of this world. Finally, her answer to What’s been working for you from a sales perspective? will surprise (and delight!) you. When color and careful observation meet, you get Virginia Candler. I can’t wait for you to meet her.

If you’ve been watching Meghan’s journey for the last couple of years, you know that it’s been fast + furious.Her brightly-colored abstracts have become so popular that her monthly collections sell out in minutes. Pairing her collections with pop culture references (think: Hamilton and Legally Blonde) has been one of her signature marketing moves and a genius way to add connection points to her art for her audience. Also, have I mentioned tennis skirts? She’s transformed her art for textiles and now you can see Meghan-Rosenhal-branded backhands on the court. (I’ll have to wait to up my game before I buy one to protect her reputation.😆)After being nonplussed with the LSAT and the thought of law school, she turned to more creative endeavors as a career choice and you should be glad she did! When painting + marketing prowess meet, you get Meghan Rosenthal. I can’t wait for you to hear this story of the artist behind the art; it’s a good one.

Kim Hassold is my inaugural guest and if you know Kim from Instagram, you’ve definitely laughed out loud a few times. Not only is she an amazing artist, she has a carefree attitude that instantly makes you want to be her friend. From her spin on the dude with the cardboard sign (“Tell your rich friends about my art business.”) to her photoshopped memes with Rihanna, her content is always "giving" (for the Gen Z'ers in the room). She is also infinitely  wise when it comes to managing her art business and drops several truth bombs along the way that made me proclaim: “Kim, you should be an art business coach,” to which she humbly responded: “I could never do that, I only see things my way.” You’re in for a treat. When experience + confidence meet joy, you get Kim Hassold and you shouldn’t want it any other way.