In this episode of Tom Ray's Art Podcast, I meet Maria Amalia, a Honduras-born, Madison-based artist with a penchant for community-focused art and a rich history that spans continents and mediums. From aspirations in architecture to graphic design, and finally, to the tactile world of paper making, Maria's artistic evolution is a captivating tale of resilience, adaptability, and profound personal growth. Dive into her story of navigating life's unexpected turns, the therapeutic power of art during times of family tragedy, and her venture into the world of fair trade and empowerment through craft. Maria's dedication to creating art with and for the community is as inspiring as her journey, with projects that invite participation and foster connections across cultures. Maria also shares her experience as an art educator, her passion for natural dyes linked to Latin American heritage, and the intricate balance she strikes between perfection and imperfection in her work. Discover her current exhibitions, including an embroidered portrait series celebrating Latina immigrants, and her plans for interactive art tables designed to encourage communal storytelling and understanding. Maria Amalia's Website: https://www.mariaamalia.com Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website: https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of the Art Podcast, I meet Angel Manuel Lopez. Discover how a truck driver's son turned a childhood filled with comic books into a career-spanning movie poster designs for films, branding for comedians, and creating comic book variants that capture the imagination. Angel's journey from traditional artist to a 3D modeling maven is a tale of relentless learning and passion. Angel Manuel Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_sonofasaint Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website: https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of the Art Podcast, I meet Jesse Mangerson, a Madison-based fine art painter and educator with a passion for realism. Jesse shares his artistic evolution from aspiring illustrator, interning at the New Yorker, to a dedicated painter who finds solace in the act of painting itself. He opens up about his journey from illustration to fine art, the meditative qualities of his work, and the transition from imaginative pieces to direct observational painting. Discover the balance between artistic exploration and fulfilling commissions, and how Jesse navigates the modern art world with a thoughtful approach to creation and education. Jesse Mangerson's Website: https://jessemangerson.wixsite.com/jessemangerson Jesse Mangerson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse.mangerson Tom Ray's Art Podcast website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of the art podcast, we delve into the multifaceted world of Sylvie Rosenthal, a woodworker, sculptor, designer, and educator based in Madison, Wisconsin. Sylvie discusses their journey from New Haven, Connecticut, through various cities, and how a residency led to setting roots in Madison for love and grad school. We explore the complexities of managing a studio, creating large-scale works, and the challenges of storing and shipping unique pieces. Sylvie Rosenthal's Website: https://www.sylvierosenthal.com Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

GG of Green Goodies found purpose and community through art after starting their teaching career. When the pandemic hit, GG turned to TikTok, using live streams to combat loneliness. GG's videos led to a portrait project documenting unfiltered stories of life. Green Goodies website https://www.greengoodies.art Green Goodies on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/greengoodiesgives Green Goodies on TikTok https://tiktok.com/@green_goodies Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

This is an experimental bonus episode! Since it's the holidays I wanted to wait until they were over to post the next artist interview. So I thought I would try a little experiment. I take a lot of marketing courses. And to tell you the truth they all teach the same thing. But one that I took talked about how to build an audience when you are starting out with nothing and building your own product. I thought I would just share what I learned. Let me know what you think! Tom Ray's Website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com Join my email list to get a call out for artists when I'm booking interviews! Sign up here

Visual artist Chelsea Ramirez discusses their delicate, layered drawings and installations using pigments and found objects. After discovering their passion at the New York Studio School, Chelsea has spent the last decade developing her signature style of "radical softness" to subtly resist social constructs. We explore Chelsea's large-scale piece "The White Room," her home studio practice, and upcoming projects expanding her ethereal aesthetic. Chelsea Ramirez on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chelsearamire.z Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com Join my email list to get a call out for artists when I'm booking interviews! Join my email list

Pat Henzy has been creating art since he was young, covering his walls with drawings and finding inspiration in the artistic films of the 80s and 90s. While art remained a hobby for years, Pat eventually started posting illustrations on Instagram. By tagging breweries in these beer-inspired posts, Pat landed their first commission. From there, social media connections and engagement snowballed into designing beer labels, skateboard graphics, and prints. Hear the story of how Pat built this business and some tips for turning your passion into a profession. Pat Henzy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/phenzy Tom Ray's Podcast Website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com Join my email list to get a call out for artists when I'm booking interviews! Sign up here

Surrealist pop artist Lindsay Kovnat Davis talks about their evolution from animation to painting and their first major gallery show. Featuring cats and invasive lantern flies, Lindsay brought their art to life with sculptural frames made of wood and foam. After a successful debut, Lindsay plans to do more shows, collaborate on animation, and even make a full-length animated film someday. Lindsay Kovnat Davis on Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/lindzartsenses⁠ Tom Ray's Art Podcast ⁠https://www.tomrayswebsite.com Join my email list to get a call out for artists when I'm booking interviews! http://eepurl.com/g1uUSP

On this podcast episode, I meet Debbi Kenote. Debbi is a New York-based artist who creates paintings on their own unique canvases. We talk about how Debbi got started, how they discovered the style they make, and the different opportunities they have had since showing work publicly. Links Debbi Kenote website https://debbikenoteart.com Debbi Kenote on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/debbikenote Tom Ray's Art Podcast - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com Get my webcomic book "Then This Happened... Going outside again" now on Amazon as an ebook or paperback Join my email list to get a call out for artists when I'm booking interviews! Join my email list