"While debating demanding topics such as race, religion, or war, it is simple enough to become polarized, and see situations in either black or white, right or wrong. These tactics may satisfy individuals whose position depends on employing policies or implementing strategies that promote specific agendas for a specific constituency. As an artist, it is more important to create a platform that moves us past alliances, and begins a dialogue that informs, questions, and in some cases even satires our divisive issues. Without this type of introspection, we are in danger of having apathy rule our senses. We can easily succumb to a national mob mentality, and ignore individual accounts and memories. With my work I am creating an intersection where body and place, memory and fact, are merged to reexamine human interactions and cultural conditions to create a narrative that requires us to be present and profound." Subjects Discussed In This Episode: - Real-time narratives and artmaking with immediacy - Art reflecting the times we live in - His recent mural “Correspondence” in SF - Working with 100 Days Action - Issues of identity - Compulsion to create art - Art being not what you do but what you are - The intersection of art and personal identity - Working with Collective Genus Rodney Ewing Rodney Ewing Instagram Cindy Shih Cindy Shih Instagram 100 Days Action Collective Genus Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

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Episode 28: Rodney Ewing w/ Guest Host Cindy Shih (United States) - "Stories That Don't Get Told"

Martine’s works are vivid and autobiographical depicting both direct realism and non-objective abstract elements. In this episode, we discuss her beginnings in street art, living and working with ADD, the personal and impersonal elements of her work, delving into side projects such as her illustrated book due out in November and her explorations as a vocalist in creating music. Subjects Discussed In This Episode: Working in Acrylics Pointillism Starting out in the fashion industry Living a life that's not your own Beginnings as a street artist The benefits of working with galleries Seeing your work in hindsight Painting autobiographically Exploring outside projects Becoming a vocalist Her upcoming book release this November Her upcoming solo exhibition at Massey Klein this September An upcoming exhibition with Hashimoto Contemporary in Spring 2021 Website Instagram Massey Klein Hashimoto Contemporary KockxBos Gallery Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 27: Martine Johanna (Netherlands) - "Opening the Bell Jar"

Steven Assael was born in New York, New York in 1957.  He attended Pratt Institute and presently teaches at The School of Visual Arts in New York.  Assael balances naturalism with a romanticism that permeates the figures and surroundings of his paintings and drawings.  The focus of his work is the human figure, either individually or in a group, rendered in glowing relief by gentle beams of warm and cool light.  Steven Assael’s classical talents are as rare as they are essential to the diverse art world of the 21st Century. For online teaching/mentorship please contact Steven at duncanvaleriew@gmail.com Topics Discussed In This Episode: Seeking out advantages within painting and connecting with people during quarantine Separation bringing us together The intimate process of working with models and how they directly or indirectly affect the painting Allowing for change within his overall creative vision Teaching painting over Zoom What makes a good teacher The search for finding the right questions to ask Experience motivating change and providing a renewal of what you want Creating situations of exploration for oneself Extracting the right vocabulary while creating The element of control and power that children express when drawing different objects Understanding the dynamic of copying a subject while painting, and how that evolves into a deeper exploration of shapes, tone, atmospheres, and the figure itself. Giving breadth to form A great work of art being infectious The nature of romanticism Working from life being an “inquiry into your own humanness” The idea of questioning and rebelling within a visual outlook Human nature The environment of New York throughout the last forty years, and how it has changed The importance of theatre and the work of actors Symmetry and asymmetry, and its importance within artform and observation “Everything is everything” aproach to life Learning what to see flowing into learning how to paint Nature being sporadic, and how we must become “like water” in order to succeed in our strategies in life A commercialized outlook within the art world Art becoming entertainment Faith and doubt Questioning of spirituality and existenc Website Instagram Forum Gallery Artist Decoded Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 26: Steven Assael (United States) - "Questioning Existence" - Swap-Cast with Artist Decoded Podcast

Eddie Colla is a street artist, curator and photographer based in Oakland, Ca. However, given his love and need for travel, you could possibly say he’s based out of anywhere. His work is a synthesis of street art, collage, assemblage and video that crosses and transcends the barriers between the gallery walls and the public space. Mixing photography, paint, wheatpaste and other materials he picked up working odd jobs in his beginnings, Eddie’s work is a foreboding exploration, and reminder, of possible futures...even more so today. In this episode, we talk about his beginnings in New Jersey and eventually enrolling in SVA. His then move from to California to attend CCAC in Oakland. We also touch upon his work in the advertising world as a photographer, the transition into his iconic work “Atavisms”, the inexplicable life changes that lead to his love for Paris and much more In closing we talk about the upcoming online group show he organized with the help of Frederic Steimer, ‘Carpe Diem.’ On Saturday, June 20th. Eddie attended the School of Visual Arts in New York and graduated from the California College of Arts with a BFA in photography/interdisciplinary fine arts in 1991. He began his artistic career as a photographer, working first for the New York Times and later countless magazines, record labels and ad agencies. 15 years later he has morphed into one who counters the all-pervasive nature of commercialism in public spaces. Since 2005, his wheat-pastes and stencils can be found throughout public spaces in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Miami. Eddie's work first began to garner national recognition when his street art began incorporating images of Barack Obama throughout the 2008 Presidential election. His growing popularity landed him attention on internet blogs, features in six published books, and participation in the "Manifest Hope Art Gallery" shows at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and at the Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C. His designs have been transformed many times over, from stickers, album and magazine covers. Website Instagram Carpe Diem Instagram Gandee Monart Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 25: Eddie Colla (United States) - "Atavisms"

In this episode, I had a great time talking with San Francisco-based painter/muralist Nicole Hayden. We talk about escaping the lockdown to paint boarded up shops which led to working with Paint the Void Project, working in a decorative studio in SF doing faux-finishing and interior murals. How these outside experiences inform her art, being precious with your art, WWE, pop culture in art and much more.  Website Instagram Paint the Void Project Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 24: Nicole Hayden (United States) - "To Inform the Art"

In this episode, I had a great time talking with Sonoma-based painter Sergio Lopez. We hit upon a variety of topics including the value of art school, his new online painting course he has been building and releasing soon, co-hosting 'Waiting to Dry' Podcast, his new food review podcast 'A Bit Saucy' and much more. Website Instagram Waiting to Dry A Bit Saucy YouTube Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 23: Sergio Lopez (United States) - "Craft & Aesthetic"

In this episode I have a good long talk with my friend Raymond Bonilla. I’ve know Ray for many many years, way back since art school. In this episode we reminisce a little bit about the talent we were surrounded by in school, his beginnings in illustration, the split into a fine artist, inspirations, a little technique and much more. Raymond Bonilla is a nationally recognized illustrator and fine artist in Buffalo, NY. Raymond graduated from the State University in New York at Fredonia in 2005 with a degree in New Media and Illustration. He continued his studies at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco where he completed his Masters of Fine Art in 2009. He was awarded Best in Show in the Great Lakes Emerging Artist Competition, was a finalist in the Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition, has been awarded Gold Medals in advertising from both Society of Illustrators of New York and Los Angeles, and juried into the Communication Arts Illustration Annual. He currently lives in Buffalo, New York where he spends his time painting and teaching part-time at the State University of New York at Fredonia. He is represented by Abend Gallery in Denver, CO and Meibohm Fine Arts Gallery in East Aurora, NY. Website Instagram Abend Gallery Meibohm Fine Arts Artists mentioned in this episode: Chris Liberti Craig Nelson Claudia Rilling Greg Gandy Emilio Villalba Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 22: Raymond Bonilla (United States) - "Visual Language"

I have to say that even though the last 30 plus days have been a whirlwind of confusion, emotions and uncertainty, I feel extremely lucky because these last two episodes have been conversations with two musicians who I greatly admire and whose music is among my favorite. Last episode was Robin Wattie from Big Brave and this episode I’m really excited to bring you a conversation with Guro Skumsnes Moe from Norway who is involved with many projects but primarily her band MoE. I came across Moe only in the last year but was instantly taken by their raucous energy, elements of noise and punk and the growling vocals of their front woman Guro Skumsnes Moe. After digging through their discography, I came to find that Guro not only plays the electric bass but studied double bass, also plays Octabass and works with a multitude of noise and experimental groups like Sult, The Touchables and collaborates with other great sound artists such as Keiji Haino and Pain Jerk from Japan just to name a few. In this episode, we talk about looking for different avenues amidst the Corona Virus Pandemic, her introduction to Bass at an early age, the recording and writing process, and more. Conrad Sound YouTube MoE BandCamp MoE Spotify MoE Facebook MoE Instagram Artists mentioned in this episode: Keiji Haino Pain Jerk Sheriffs of Nothingness Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 21: Guro Skumsnes Moe (Norway) - "Resistance"

In this episode, I'm privileged to talk with artist, guitarist & vocalist Robin Wattie of Big Brave. We talk about the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on touring musicians, the possible future of the music industry, the birthing of her band Big Brave with musicians Mathieu Ball and Tasy Hudson, vulnerability in writing lyrics and much more. This was an amazing and fun episode to record. Thank you Robin and Big Brave.  Song excerpt: "Holding Pattern" from Big Brave 'A Gaze Among Them' Robin Wattie Instagram Big Brave Instagram Big Brave Bandcamp Website Southern Lord Records Spotify Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 20: Robin Wattie (Canada) - "Compulsion, Exertion & Perhaps Love”

In this episode, I talk with Artist, Muralist, & 1/2 of the podcast 'Waiting to Dry,': Joshua Lawyer. We discuss his beginnings as a graffiti artist turned painter, being an auto-didact, the importance of story in art and much more. Representation Instagram Waiting to Dry Podcast Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 19: Joshua Lawyer (United States) - "To Learn Through Story"

In this episode, I talk with my good friend and visual artist Cindy Shih. We touch on a myriad of topics including the effect of the Corona Virus in San Francisco, normalizing your life during these strange times, what the future may hold for artists and much more.  From her website:  "Cindy Shih was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Los Angeles with her family at the age of three. She moved to the Bay Area in 2005, and currently resides and works in San Francisco. Drawing heavily from her early training in Chinese calligraphy, she uses techniques from brush painting, Italian fresco, and landscapes to touch upon issues of gender, race, and power." Website Instagram Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz 

Episode 18: Cindy Shih (United States) - "Art & Identity"

Claudia Rilling is a professional fine artist and teacher residing just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her art is represented by Kim Eagles-Smith Gallery in Mill Valley. Her current work consists mainly of florals, landscapes, and cityscapes. These paintings are based on the relationships of planes, light, and color, placed within carefully constructed compositions.   Originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Claudia began studying classical drawing and design at the age of sixteen and dedicated herself to learning these principles. Claudia graduated from Boston University's College of Fine Arts where she further developed her drawing and painting skills. After college, she moved to Philadelphia where she worked full-time for Anthropologie Corporation as the assistant to the art department. Following this, she relocated to San Francisco to obtain her MFA degree in painting from the Academy of Art University. She continues to teach online for the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and is an adjunct professor at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA. In this episode we discuss the Corona Virus Pandemic and its effects on artists, teaching in relation to one’s own studio practice, the power of clarity in painting and more. Website Instagram Teaching Representation Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Ep. 17: Claudia Rilling (United States) - "Expression through Clarity

In this episode, I talk with San Francisco based painter Emilio Villalba. We discuss his new solo show "Back Home," which has been postponed to June 6 at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco, the evolution of one's work, Alice Neel, what's on his turntable and much more.  Website Instagram Interview Modern Eden Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy John Wentz

Episode 16: Emilio Villalba (United States) - "Back Home"

In this episode, I talk with Barcelona based painter Yula Bas. We talk about the Corona Virus and it's effects on Spain, growing up in Russia, coming back to art after an 11-year hiatus and more. From her website: Born in Moscow in 1986, Yulia's eclectic artistic journey began at a very early age. From studying with a teacher dedicated to old school academicism as a child, she went on to complete a degree in interior design and architecture. Over the past decade, she has established a successful yacht design studio with her partner, relocating to Barcelona and immersing herself in this unique leviathan realm. Every step and outlet has seen her become more fascinated with the human condition, appreciate the capacity and fragility of each of her mediums – paint and pencil, space and light – and learn more about herself. After a decade dedicated to yacht design, Yulia felt a longing to return to the canvas once again. In many ways an artist reborn, her work harnesses her feelings of vulnerability, her acute awareness of her shifting identity. As she undergoes a metamorphosis of self, so too do her subjects through her honest, incomplete rendering. ​Website Instagram Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook IG: @lofipod Website Noh/Wave Academy

Episode 15: Yulia Bas (Russia-Spain) - "It's About Intuition"

In this episode, I talk with Bay Area-based Illustrator, Graphic Novelist & Teacher Nidhi Chanani. We talk about Nidhi’s journey as an illustrator and serendipitous beginnings as a graphic novelist, comics as a platform for marginalized voices, her upcoming film adaption of her graphic novel ‘Pashmina’ on Netflix and much more. From her website: Nidhi Chanani is a freelance illustrator, cartoonist and writer. After completing her undergrad literature degree at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Nidhi pursued a career in non-profits. The desire to draw kept pulling her away and in 2008 she enrolled in art school (only to drop out a year later). In 2009 she began completing one illustration every day of the week. She called this Every Day Love and developed her narrative style and voice with three years of daily practice. Thus began her art career and business. Nidhi was born in Calcutta and raised in suburban southern California. She creates because it makes her happy – with the hope that it can make others happy, too. In April of 2012 she was honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change. Her debut graphic novel, Pashmina, was released by First Second Books in fall 2017. It received starred reviews in the School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and was reviewed in the New York Times. In March of 2019, the film adaptation of Pashmina with Netflix was announced. Gurinder Chadha is set to direct. In 2018, Jasmine’s New Pet, which she wrote, drew and colored released through Dark Horse Comics. Her first bilingual board book, Shubh Raatri Dost/Good Night Friend released in 2019 through Bharat Babies. Her debut picture book, written by Bea Birdsong, I will be fierce, released in April 2019. She is currently working on her second original graphic novel, Jukebox, with her husband Nick Giordano which is slated for 2021 release. She is an instructor in the Master of Fine Arts, Comics program at the California College of Arts. Her media appearances include CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 and BBC Radio. Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, the Women’s March, My Modern Met, Bored Panda and India Times. Nidhi has worked with Disney, ABC, Airbnb, Sony, Microsoft, State Farm Insurance and a variety of other clients. Her non-fiction comics have appeared in the Nib. Everyday Love Art products are sold in retail shops across the country, including the San Francisco International Airport, Books Inc., and Therapy stores. Nidhi draws and dreams every day with her husband, kid and their attention starved cat in the San Francisco Bay Area. Website Instagram Find us on all your favorite platforms including: Apple Spotify YouTube Facebook Instagram

Episode 14: Nidhi Chanani (United States) - "Telling Your Story"

John Wentz talks about process, practice and context with artists, musicians & film makers that he meets while living abroad in France.

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