Podcast: Being an Artist
Being An Artist With Tom Judd is a weekley podcast where we explore what it takes to be an artist and what drives this life long commitment. Tom interviews established artists about how they manage their lives and create their artwork and make it all work.
“I have always wondered what has certain people take on their talents in such a seemingly irreversible fashion.”
We will explore the different practices that artists put into play to make sure they get the work done. We also look at how artists promote themselves and relate to the market place?
These are all questions that get considered and talked about in a context that is provocative and compelling.
Episode 12. Within this Patchwork: The Art of Richard Watson
Richard Watson is a fixture and legend in the city of Philadelphia. His idea of being an artist includes the way he dresses with great care and style. He’s an activist and committed to the breaking down of racial exclusion in the arts and elsewhere.
Episode 11. Rosanne Cash: The Unsettled Heart
On today’s episode, I’ll be talking with Rosanne Cash; singer, songwriter and author.
She has reinvented herself and her art many times, on her way to finding her own very original voice.
Episode 10. Derrick Velasquez: A Language Of Structure
Episode 9. Peter Paone: A Legend In His Own Time
Episode 8. Mikel Elam: The Path With Heart
Episode 7. Brooke Larsen: A Passionate Journey
Episode 6. Rococo And Resistance: The Artwork Of Jane Irish
Episode 5. Something About Mythology With Eileen Neff
Host Tom Judd speaks with Eileen Neff about how literature has influenced her work, including the poetry of Wallace Stevens.
Neff, a Philadelphia based artist, began as a painter until she discovered photography was the pathway to her expression as an artist in the early 80s. Known also as a sought after art critic and writer, she went on to develop an astounding body of work over a 40 year period.
You can learn more about her on her website eileenneff.com
Episode 4. The Practice Of Extroverted Painting With Ray Smith
Born in Brownsville Texas and raised in Mexico City, Ray Smith emerged as an important voice in the 1980’S post modern reinvention of painting in New York city, along with his friend Julian Schanbel.
Ray is best known for his large segmented paintings, his elements of cubism and surrealism, and his work with Mexican muralists, with the use of anthropomorphic animals akin to his hero Pablo Piccaso.
Ray refers to his subject matter this way… “They are Beasts, but they are directly attached to a blueprint of our own existence.”
His works reflects upon the complexities and absurdities of society, family, culture, the human condition between birth and death.
You can learn more about Ray Smith on his website raysmithstudio.com
Episode 3. Plush Onus: The Artists David Humphrey And Jennifer Coates
Two powerful artists by themselves , the married couple love to mix it up including collaborating on paintings and sharing ideas about art and artmaking.
Established contemporary artists, they are both published writers and love to play music together. The interview reveals an expansive studio practice between their two homes, New York City and a country house in rural Pennsylvania.
The COVID outbreak impacted them immediately when Jennifer came down with the virus and was bed ridden for a month back in March. She talks of how she drew her way out of it with drawings from bed which later led to a whole series of large paintings.
David produced an astounding body of work for his show at Fredericks and Freiser in the fall with a Title surprisingly appropriate “Arms of the Law.” He also completed an extensive monograph of his long career, “David Humphrey” edited by Davy Lauterbach.
You can learn more about them on their websites davidhumphreynyc.com and jenniferlcoates.com
Episode 2. Tim McFarlane: Art & Life Stirred Vigorously
Host Tom Judd sits down with painter Tim McFarlane to discuss the importance of putting in the work, and showing up. Tim also talks about the daily challenges with a painting, even when it’s not going well, and how to listen to the painting instead of your busy mind.
Your can learn more about Tim on his website timmcfarlane.com
Episode 1. Dead Birds And The Art Of Darla Jackson
On this episode of Being an Artist, host Tom Judd talks to sculptor Darla Jackson about her love for clay and sculpting, quitting her full time job to pursue art while pregnant, getting endorsed by Courtney Love and more!
Darla ran Philadelphia Sculpting Gym. It was a coworking space for sculpting that ran for four years. She is currently working on her show Enter the 36 Chambers, a series of 36 bird sculptures that tells a blend of Kung Fu, Wu-Tang and fairytales through the lens of her brain.
Check Darla Jackson out at DarlaJacksonSculpture.com