Artist Rebecca Crowell shares experiences and thoughts from three decades of painting, teaching and traveling, as well as her conversations with other artists. She is joined by her co-host, producer, and son, Ross Ticknor, who brings an entrepreneurial Millennial perspective. The conversations are broad and eclectic, focused on ideas, information and anecdotes that other artists may find helpful in their work and careers. A new episode is uploaded every weekend!
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Artists Valerie Allen and Armin Mersmann invite you to join them in their studio discussions about art and the creative process. Each artist brings a unique perspective to the podcast. Valerie, an abstract painter and Armin, a draughtsman working in realism compare and contrast topics on art that will help guide artists as they climb the ladders of art one rung at a time.
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Episode 80: A Conversation with Detroit Artist Meighen Jackson
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Armin and I had a great time in conversation with artist Meighen Jackson. I recently heard Meighen give a juror's talk at Anton Art Center for their Michigan Annual. She was the juror of the prestigious exhibition that is now in it's 51st year. After hearing her speak I knew she would be an excellent podcast guest. Meighen has been part of the Detr…
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Episode 79: Olympic Spirit Connects to Visual Artists
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Today, we explore the correlation between Olympic athletes and visual artists. Val's research unveiled intriguing connections that could infuse inspiration and resilience into your artistic journey. We identified six categories to spark contemplation for artists aiming to envision the broader scope of their careers. Even artists who use art as a br…
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Episode 270: Rebecca's Interview on Art Ladders Podcast
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Today’s episode is thanks to Valerie Allen and Armin Mersmann, producers of the podcast, Art Ladders: the Creative Climb. In May, they interviewed Rebecca about her background as an artist, her process, development, teaching, and ideas. Their conversation also delves into the unique characteristics of cold wax medium, and why Rebecca was drawn to d…
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Episode 78: An Artist Creating Positive Change-John Sabraw
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We are joined by artist John Sabraw for this episode. Armin has known John for quite awhile through their connection of working together at Good's of Evanston, an art supply and frame company. I met John as the curator at Studio 23 when I invited him to participate in the Land to River Exhibit. That exhibit was a collaborative experience with the S…
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Artists, visual and performing, have an extra layer of thought process fueled by energy. Energy is a precious commodity in the art world or in any world where one is passionate about a topic that is beyond the mundane. It can be found in our creative DNA as explained in Twyla Tharp's book The Creative Practice. In this episode we describe our own r…
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Episode 76: The Power of Art through Communication with artist Trung Cao
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Val here, and I had the distinct pleasure of reuniting Armin with his artist friend, Trung Cao. Trung and Armin met in the day of conversation boards specializing in art. Now these conversational threads have reinvented themselves. as groups on Facebook or other social media platforms. Who knew after all those years we would have a wonderful opport…
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Episode 75: The Anatomy of an Artwork
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We had a lovely conversation today on the making of art. Each of us has our own process with specific tools and art materials and in this episode we share them with you, our audience. Even if you are not an artist, you may find insights into the creative practice that fires up your imagination to see things in a different light. This episode is ded…
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Episode 74: Conversation with Visual Artist Rebecca Crowell
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We are so happy to have artist Rebecca Crowell as a guest on our podcast. She is well known in the world of painting and contemporary abstraction. Her portfolio of paintings in oil and cold wax are a visual feast of atmospheric color, profound depth, and the sense that the works are living and breathing. Rebecca with co-author, Jerry McLaughlin, wr…
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All artists are influenced by others, but when an artist has an authentic voice, their influences are well-integrated with their own unique vision. But sometimes the influence from another artist is so strong that the boundaries between the two are blurred. Today we’ll talk about being influenced by other artists -- when it is too much, and what it…
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Episode 73: Learning More About iPhoneography
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Welcome to the panel discussion with seven members of the Great Lakes iPhoneography Group better known as GLIG. It is a rare time when we can have so many artists gather together for a discussion on their art. Thank you to speakers Cindy Bancroft, Nancy Brooks-Siebert, Julie Close, Steven Parkhurt, Elizabeth Sullivan, and Janis Taylor. Also thank y…
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Episode 72: The Audaciously Creative Amy Keever
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I met Amy Keever at the wonderful ADC Fine Art Gallery in Cincinnati. We were both attending the 2023 Art Summit led by our past podcast guest Litsa Spanos and her sister, Sylvia Rombis. She walked in with the most wonderful hot pink pom-pom earrings and white artist smock and I, of course had to comment. That's all it took for us to hang out for 3…
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Episode 71: The Ebb and Flow of Passion in Your Art Life.
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Passion can be elusive and it is always a good thing to consider how you can find your muse when times seem rough or even dull. Armin and Val approach art making as a relationship that needs to be cultivated and held in esteem. Let us know how you keep passion alive in the studio. Show Notes: Valerie Allen Art Armin Mersmann Workshops for the Summe…
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Episode 70: Jeannette MacDougall and Living Life as an Artist. Travel, Teaching, Creating
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We met Jeannette MacDougall during an exhibition at Calvin College's (106) Gallery at ArtPrize 2015. In this exhibit "Weighing the Landscape", installed by curator Joel Zwart, Jeanette, Armin and I were hanging next to each other. Our friendship began during that time as we all felt our artwork had a very cohesive aesthetic and professionalism. Jea…
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What sorts of boundaries do you put around your studio practice? What new ideas are you willing–or not willing—to explore in your work? We all have limited time and energy, so how do you decide where to focus? Which new materials, media, or directions are worth pursuing? It’s a part of learning to sometimes spend time and resources on things that a…
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Episode 69: Revisit our Number One episode with Artist Sally Hirst.
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We've been creating this podcast over two years and it's fun to check out the rankings. Here we have a replay of our #1 episode to date with UK artist Sally Hirst while we are installing a new exhibition. Sally has boundless energy and you can't help but get fired up for your own art as you listen to this replay. She is an artist, teacher, and ment…
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Episode 21: Conversation with artist Sally Hirst
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Art Ladders welcomes artist Sally Hirst to the podcast! This lively interview with Sally is about creating art, teaching and what it means to be an artist in this changing world of technology. Sally is a painter and printmaking who describes herself as a tutor, nomadic, restless, curious, experiential, irreverent, untidy, loud…lol...and we can add …
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Finding time to create artwork can be a real challenge just for one artist in the family. This becomes even more challenging when others depend on you as a family member, studio group or community. Events appear, marketing needs to be processed, household chores get in the way and the never-ending pick up and drop off of artwork to exhibits. In the…
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Episode 67: Conversation with artist Kenneth Hershenson
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Artist Kenneth Hershenson found his muse in a set of ball and jacks that qualifies him to say, he does know Jack! So much so that he feels he has enough conceptual ideas to keep him painting for another 20 paintings or so. In this episode we hear the many twists and turns he took in his career. Those bends taught him lots about the business of art …
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Get ready for a java-sipping chat with Val and Armin in Episode 66! These two art aficionados spill the beans on networking for artists - from schmoozing the room to FaceTiming with fellow creatives. We all know that feeling of stage fright and self-doubt that can hit when we enter a room full of art-world movers and shakers. But fear not! It's all…
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Episode 65: Secrets of the Art World with Litsa Spanos
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Driven by a passion for art and the desire to bring beauty into as many homes, healthcare facilities, and corporate offices as possible, Litsa Spanos opened the doors of Art Design Consultants, Inc. (ADC) thirty years ago. With just two clients and limited space, her ultimate goal was to create exquisite and inspiring environments. Litsa has an unc…
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It's once again the time of year when many of us make resolutions and set goals. We’ve talked about goals and plans at the start of the year in previous podcasts, but in this episode, we would like to recognize that sometimes having questions about what lies ahead is just as important. The nature of creative work means focusing on what we don’t kno…
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Art Ladders is excited to announce that 2024 will be guided by the word, prosper. We intend to flourish and thrive by creating new habits that will benefit our art, finances and health. In this episode a review of habits to help us prosper will be examined. We talk about the importance of planning ahead and dreaming big. A practical list of doable …
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Episode 63: A Bucket Full of Questions with Val and Armin
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With over 30 questions collected over that past years of the podcast, Val and Armin draw five specific questions from their sunflower bowl to answer in this end-of-the-year episode. Diving in to teaching and communication styles of artists to keeping a budget, you will learn areas that artists need to know for success. Val and Armin are very honest…
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We have spent the last few days working on the exhibit, Contemporary Realism with artists Frits Hoendervanger, Robert Shefman, Todd Burroughs and curated by Armin for Buckham Gallery in Flint. Armin and I work as a team for these major events in our lives. There is framing, marketing, delivery and just overall hard work involved in reaching the dea…
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Episode 266: Gratitude and the Artist's Life
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This is the traditional time of year to focus on gratitude for the blessings in our lives. And while gratitude can and should cover a lot of areas of life, since this podcast is mainly aimed at artists, today we’re going to consider some of the ways that we as artists can be uniquely grateful. These include being thankful for being able to do our w…
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Episode 61: Conversation with Michele Leclaire of Buckham Gallery
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Buckham Gallery has a rich history with strong connections to working artists. We are joined by executive director, Michele Leclaire and she will tells us about the behind the scenes workings of this art nonprofit that is innovative and artist-centric. She explains how nonprofits can give a voice to artists who are experimental and often cutting ed…
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Podcast: Studio Tours Being part of a studio tour is a unique opportunity to show your work in the one place where you feel most at home with your work, and where you have total control over what to show and how it will be displayed. It’s a time when you can meet people who are excited about what you do and of course, make direct sales and helpful …
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Episode 60: Being Personal with Your Creative Process
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Looking within and revealing the personal reasons you create art can be a meaningful way to connect with your collectors, audience and yourself. Art is influenced by so many subtle interactions in our day to day life and it is worth making note of those experiences and weaving them into your story. Armin and I were recently inspired by an Instagram…
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Episode 59: Conversation with Art Writer and Storyteller John Seed
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On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, we had the honor and pleasure to interview author, John Seed via Zoom from his home base on the Central California Coast. He defines himself as an art writer and we would add storyteller with rich experiences in the world of art that tell all the sides of the art coin. From taking the path of an art student, to MFA…
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Episode 264: Interpreting Experience: Abstract Approaches
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We may think of abstract painting as exploring the visual elements and the process of painting strictly for their own sakes, but that’s only one kind of abstract work. Many abstract artists have a more personal approach, in which aspects of their lives, memories and experiences fuel their work. They want to feel a direct connection between their in…
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Val and Armin's experience highlights an important issue for artists looking for work that allows them to pursue their creative passions. While jobs in art-related professions can provide valuable experience and insights into the art world, they can also be demanding and time-consuming, leaving little time and energy for personal artistic pursuits.…
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Episode 57: Conversation with artist Kristen Palana
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Lilongwe, Malawi in Southeastern Africa is indeed a long, long way away and we are happy to travel over the Zoom waves to visit with artist, designer, educator and mentor, Kristen Palana. Valerie met Kristen virtually a few months ago as a student in Kristen's Web Presence and Social Media Marketing class through Mastrius.com. Through Mastius, Kris…
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Comparing yourself to other artists means that you are evaluating your own abilities, qualities, or achievements in relation to those of artists. This can involve looking at someone who you perceive as better than you in some way, or someone who you believe is worse off than you in some aspect. This type of comparison can have both positive and neg…
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Episode 55: Conversation with Larry Butcher
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On a beautiful August afternoon we had the pleasure to talk with artist and mentor, Larry Butcher. This conversation proceeds to tell a story of a young man coming to age on a rural Michigan farm with a father who expected his children to be navigators of inventive thinking and a mother who encouraged her young ones to be makers. Creative thinking …
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It’s what so many artists work toward—a solo exhibit or small group show-- when a large body of work is shown at its best, to an appreciative audience. Preparation for an exhibit like that can take months, even years. Slowly you produce the work, experiencing everything from panic to satisfaction as the finished pieces for your exhibit accumulate. …
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Episode 262: Self Promotion For The Reticent
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If you’re an artist who wants to get your work out into the world to be seen, appreciated, and even purchased, you will face the need for self-promotion. If that idea makes you squirm, you are not alone --and this podcast is for you. Why do so many artists hate the idea of promoting themselves? Probably because many of us were taught from an early …
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Episode 54: It's Showtime! How to Navigate Show Proposals
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We are nearing the time when galleries and art centers announce their exhibition line up for 2023-2024. This process involves not only reviewing proposals sent by artists but also planning logistics such as funding, delivery and installation. Artists can choose different ways to seek out exhibitions but the most common are submitting online proposa…
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Episode 261: Moving Your Studio: Emotions and Memories
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In our last episode we talked about some of the practicalities of downsizing, clearing out, or moving your studio, and tips about ways to deal with your artwork, supplies, and other items that you’ve accumulated. But what about the emotional side of this? We’re going to focus today on how it feels to move out of a studio that has been a very import…
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Creativity, community and mastery are the trio of words that best describe the online community for artists that Mike and Julie deBoer founded along with Victor Lee in Canada. Mastrius is now serving artists in 29 countries through an online mentor program that connects aspiring, emerging and accomplished artists with masters who provide feedback, …
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The contents of an artist’s studio tend to be anything but minimal. Most of us accumulate a lot of art supplies not only for our current needs but for other projects that we have in in mind, or just because we love the possibilities suggested by a new material or tool. Then there is our inventory of older work, sometimes going back decades, as well…
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Episode 52: Gallery Talk with Jane and Kelly Littlefield
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Visiting Littlefield Gallery is a highlight in any artist or art lover's time in Maine. It is located in Winter Harbor, a small fishing town on the Schoodic National Scenic Byway. Armin and Valerie had the pleasure of visiting Littlefield Gallery while attending a Golden Apple Residency less than an hour away from the gallery. On the very first vis…
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Art openings are fun, right? Your friends and family are there to celebrate, your work is beautifully displayed, you meet new people who are interested in what you do, and you may see some red dots appear. So why do so many artists approach their opening receptions with mixed feelings or even dread? Even if you feel excited about the show and grate…
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As artists we are often in uncertain territory when dealing with the world of galleries, exhibits, and other opportunities, and leaning on assumptions --what we believe you know about a situation --can help you feel more grounded or confident. But when you find out you’ve misread a situation, you may be left feeling angry or frustrated, or blame yo…
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In the interest of having a consistent style, artists are generally advised to stick to one type of work --both in the studio and when exhibiting. But many artists are experimental, curious, and explore more than one direction—so this advice can seem too restrictive. In our last episode, we touched briefly on the idea that a range of the same artis…
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We’ve talked several times in the past about the experience of attending an artist residency program when you are away from your home studio, focused exclusively on your work in a stimulating environment. We’ve also talked about the importance of travel in general for feeding your creative ideas. But what about when that residency or the travel is …
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Episode 51: Hold the Vision, Trust the Process
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"Hold the Vision, Trust the Process" Author Unknown...Artists bring artwork into existence with determination, perseverance, and courage. Their original vision can go through many edits and transformation during the process. The day to day studio practice can be fulfilling and stressful all during the same project. Val and Armin discuss their own s…
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Episode 255: Silence, Solitude, and the Creative Pause
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Many creative people embrace quiet, solitary moments as portals to being in synch with their work. Stepping away from everyday distractions is a way of nurturing your creative self, bringing you more in touch with your emotions, ideas, and the bigger picture of what you want to express. Yet true silence and solitude tend to be rare in our lives, un…
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Episode 50: The Healing Power of Art with artist Audrey Phillips
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Episode 50 is a conversation with artist Audrey Phillips. We learn more about Audrey and her beautiful acrylic paintings and her incredible journey through life that included both dark and light, tragedy and triumph. Audrey received her Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Florida. Audrey has exhibited in solo and group shows in Florida, whe…
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Episode 254: Intuitive, Spontaneous, or Random?
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Intuition and spontaneity are important to many artists. But what about randomness? While these words are related in superficial ways, they have very different meanings in the context of art practice. Intuition and spontaneity play positive roles. Intuition can be a powerful guide and a source of new ideas, and spontaneity leads to energy and excit…
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It’s never easy putting your work in front of others to be judged and scrutinized, but if you don’t it’s very hard to gain a wider audience or grow as an artist. Submitting work to galleries, grant panels, juried shows, and competitions tends to become a routine part of what artists do. But for every time you’re chosen for an opportunity, there are…
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