My Creative Life for Artists and Creators

Hi Everyone, I spoke with Cythnia Petrovits, the creator, philanthropist, artist, and runner for Sneakermutt. She is no longer pursing this fundraising venture. I thought it would be helpful for listeners to hear about someone that did something from the ground up that meant so much them. Here is a bit about Sneakermutt: Sneaker Mutt is crazy for running and dogs, but we are especially crazy for runners who love dogs. Our mission is to give back, by doing what we love for a cause that we love: WE USE OUR FEET TO HELP PAWS. Since 2012, Sneaker Mutt has been giving back to local shelters/rescues in the Hudson Valley and beyond through the sales of our handcrafted sweatshirts, T-shirts, and glove dog stuffies. In 2022 we amped things up and hosted our first race, DIRTY PAWS & CLAWS 2X5K ROAD/TRAIL RELAY CHALLENGE and raised over $5400 for the Dutchess County SPCA! To learn more about Sneakermutt and donate: https://www.sneakermutt.com/ Sneakermutt Instagram Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone, I decided to share ways I've been figuring out how to find out more about literary agents. It's been a lot of research. By no means is this only way but there are probably other ways to find an agent. Too many to count! Here are resources for links that I mentioned during the podcast. Kidlit Events by Carolyn B. Fraiser: https://carolynbfraiser.com/kidlit/ Publisher's Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/ SCBWI: https://www.scbwi.org/ Storyteller Academy: https://www.storytelleracademy.com/ 12x12: https://www.12x12challenge.com/ Children's Book Academy https://www.childrensbookacademy.com/ Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone! Today is my return guest Caroline Hanlon, illustrator and creator of an adorable line of handmade knit bears. Here is more about Caroline: I was born in Washington, DC in 1995, and grew up in Maryland - where you can still find me happily exploring.  I'm a Summa Cum Laude alumni from Savannah College of Art and Design with both my Bachelor's and Master's in Illustration, with also a focus in Animation.​ I'm influenced by everyday life and the world surrounding me. My work is filled with whimsicalness, with a hint of an underlying reality.  ​​When I'm not illustrating, I'm usually eating food, knitting or walking about.  ​I'm currently represented by Inky Illustration Agency. If you have any other inquiries, please send a hello to: carolinemariehanlon@gmail.com Caroline's Instagram Caroline's Website Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, my guest today is Janelle Washing, paper-cut and silhouette artist. She is a fine artist and illustrator. Here is more about Janelle: Janelle Washington is a self-taught paper-cut and silhouette artist from Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from VCU with a BFA in Fashion Design and worked as a children's wear designer for 12 years. Janelle made her debut as a picture book illustrator, winning the 2023 Caldecott Honor Award and the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for Choosing Brave. Her website: Washingtoncuts.com Washingtoncuts Instagram Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, my guest today is Julie Koon, children's book author, and illustrator. She is the author/illustrator of The Struggle Bus published by Kind World Publishing. She chatted with me about her journey to publication and how she continues to create! Check out her work! Julie's Website Julie's Instagram Julie's Twitter Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone! My guest today is Jerushia Graham, printmaker and book artist. Here is more about Jerushia: Jerushia Graham is an Atlanta-based artist who exhibits both nationally and internationally. She earned an MFA in Book Arts/Printmaking from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and has taught for the Atlanta Printmakers Studio, Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, The Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts, Kennesaw State, University of West Georgia, Spelman Museum, and various Arts Centers in the Atlanta area. Additional resources from Jerushia: Also, Steph Rue was the instructor that Anna will be taking classes with at Penland. She is also a member of the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective. She will be teaching paper bojagi using hanji. https://penland.org/workshops/summer-session-1/ Jerushia's Website Jerushia's Instagram Charleston Gallery with Jerushia's Work Below you will find the links to the resources mentioned in the interview: https://paper.gatech.edu/https://www.paperbookintensive.org/https://www.northamericanhandpapermakers.org/https://www.handpapermaking.org/https://www.colophonbookarts.com/https://hookpotterypaper.com/https://www.collegebookart.org/https://movablebooksociety.org/ Other great resources worth mentioning: Helen Hiebert - https://helenhiebertstudio.com/ May Babcock - https://www.paperslurry.com/Book Arts Programs:https://nbss.edu/https://www.uarts.edu/academics/graduate/book-arts-printmaking-mfahttps://slis.ua.edu/mfa-in-book-arts/https://uicb.uiowa.edu/programsArts and Craft Schools that offer papermaking and/or book arts classes:https://penland.org/https://www.arrowmont.org/https://www.ox-bow.org/https://www.folkschool.org/**Some but not all Center for the Book locations teach book arts workshops - https://www.loc.gov/programs/center-for-the-book/about-this-program/** Names Mentioned in the interview: Miriam & Jerry Graham, my parents Virginia Howell, Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking DirectorAnna Doll, RCW Museum of Papermaking Education CuratorNasreen Khan, RCW Museum of Papermaking Postdoctoral FellowRobert Putnam, Former Jonesboro High Art TeacherLonnie Graham & Christina Roberts - Mentors from the Fabric Workshop and MuseumGlen Kaufman - Former Fiber Arts Professor (deceased) Richard Johnson - UGA Professor Emeritus of Art, 1st Papermaking/Book Arts Professor  Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, I have returned guest Deborah Miller, mixed media artist, to chat about how you can participate in the Savannah Art Slam event. About the event: The market will feature over 80 artists across various mediums, including fine arts, textiles, photography, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, mixed media, and much more. FOOD TRUCKS PAINT on the community canvas YOUTH POETRY SLAM Art Slam Facebook to see Deborah's Art Website. Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, my special guest is Mark Crilley. Here is a bit about Mark. Mark Crilley is an American comic creator, artist and children's book author and illustrator. He is the creator of Lost in Taiwan published by Little Brown Ink. He produces instructional videos on drawing on YouTube in various styles, including manga-styles. MarkCrilley.com Mark's Twitter Mark Crilley Youtube Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone! My special guest today is Jennifer Smelker, artist and owner of Tandem for Two. Here is more about Jennifer's wholesale business Tandem for Two: Tandem For Two is all about celebrating the everyday activities of where we live, making memories with illustrated designs and giving unique gifts as we journey in life together! As we celebrate where we live and where life takes us, we give back to our communities as 10% of each purchase will give homeless kids a birthday party through The Birthday Party Project, a national non-profit organization we partner with.   In the spring of 2019, the company expanded to include art licensing and illustration. Now I collaborate with other companies for custom patterns, artwork, and product and package design. I've been fortunate to work with some fun companies on a variety of products like fabric, home decor and table top products, pet accessories, and apparel and gift products, continuing to help other create memories and give unique gifts. Wholesale Mastermind and Resources: jensmelksdesign.com Retail Products, Wholesale and Licensing: Tandemfortwo.com Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone! Today I spoke with my return guest Robin Martéa, illustrator and fine artist. Robin's had some exciting things going on, and I asked her to return and speak about it. She has an art show at the Municipal Art Gallery in Jackson, Mississippi. We chatted about how to spend more time deeply thinking about creating and making art. Avoid the pitfalls of spending too much time on social media. To see Robin's Art: https://robinmartea.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/marteadesignco/ Jackson Mississippi Comics: https://robinmartea.com/jackson-comics Buy a copy at: JacksonComics.com Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone! I had the pleasure of interviewing Cleonique Hilsaca, children's book illustrator based out of Savannah, GA. Here is a more about Cleonique: CLEONIQUE HILSACA is an illustrator from Honduras based in Savannah, GA. Her professional work can be found in picture books, newspapers, magazines, board games and galleries. Though her work is primarily digital, she can be found painting watercolors in the wild. Visit her site: https://cleonique.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cleonique IG: https://www.instagram.com/cleonique/ Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone! Today my special guest is Melquea Smith, a children's book illustrator based out of upstate New York. Here is more about Melquea: My name is Melquea Smith, (pronounced "Mehl-kwee-yah" ♥) my pronouns are she/her and I’m a Black, award-winning, published, children’s book illustrator based in New York. I am an active member of SCBWI, student of Chris Oatley’s The Oatley Academy, and an admin of #BlackCreatorsHeadquarters. Trello - https://trello.com/ Clip Studio Paint Pro - https://www.clipstudio.net/en/ PrettyKittyPaintings - https://www.prettykittypaintings.com/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/prettykittypaintings/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/PKPaintings Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, Myself and Tiffany Gordon, graphic novel writer/artist, attended the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Springmingle Southern Breeze Conference. We chatted about our experience and how we prepared for the event. Tiffany Gordon Website: https://www.tiffanygordonstudio.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tgordonstudio/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tgordonstudio Nancy So Miller Website: https://www.nmillerillustration.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmillerillustration/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nmillerillo Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone, my special guest today is Keely Parrack. She is the author of Young Adult thriller, DON'T LET IN THE COLD and picture book, MORNING, SUNSHINE! She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband, and son. Her upcoming books are 10 Hours to Go out with Sourcebooks Fire out Winter 2023 and the next picture book is How Starling Got His Speckles - Barefoot Books - illustrated by Antonio Boffa - out Spring 2024. Antonio Boffa Site Keely Parrack's website Keely's Instagram Keely's Twitter Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, my special guest is, Deborah Miller a mixed-media reclaimed artist based in Savannah, GA. She is also the communications director at SLAM. Savannah Local Artist Market. See her work at: https://dsmillerart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsmillerart/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dsmillerart Thanks for listening!

Hi Everyone, my guest is Lina Callisto, a surface designer based in Montreal, Canada. She creates artwork that straddles the line between soft and bold, bringing products and spaces to life. She also help clients turn their unique visions into reality through freelance work. ​ To see Lina's work visit: https://www.linacallisto.com/ Lina's Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/lina.callisto/ Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, my guest today is Carolyn Fraiser, children's book author of Moon Tree published by Reycraft Books. Moon Tree was chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold’s Standard Selection. She is also the author of Our Solar System: Moons. She is represented by Tara Gonzalez of the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. To learn more about Carolyn visit: Website: https://carolynbfraiser.com/ Twitter: https://www.twitters.com/carolynbfraiser Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolynbfraiser/ Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, I had the opportunity to chat with Mikia Kopanski, Instructor of Graphic Design and Visual Storytelling. I met Mika in my motion media class and wanted to learn more about his thesis research and teaching higher education. To see more of Mika's work visit: https://www.instagram.com/mjericho82/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikakopanski/ Thank you for listening!

Hi Everyone, I got an insightful question during a school visit asking how I handle anxiety and creating art. I wanted to share my perspective on it. I hope my fellow artists know you are not alone. I provided some tips and ways I look at things to keep making art. Thanks for listening! To see my art visit: https://www.nmillerillustration.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nmillerillo Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/nmillerillustration/

Hi Everyone, my guest today is Scott Boyd, video editor for Zealot Inc. Here is a bit about Scott. Scott Boyd Award-winning video editor working at Zealot Inc, creating trailers, TV spots, and digital content for high-profile clients, including Disney, Sony, Netflix, and HBO.  To see Scott's work visit: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/scottandrewboyd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottandrewboyd/ Thanks for listening!