The Artist Unmasked: Recent Episodes
EriQua Ohh
Welcome to The Artist Unmasked Podcast! An artist talk experience with host EriQua Ohh and the featured Artist of The Week. Featuring emerging and established artists in all kinds of creative practices, artists share their creative process, mindset, and purpose. Every discussion is different and unique. This is your opportunity to discover about the Artist behind the Art.
This week’s artist talk features Pop Artist Chad Berwald. Specializing in illustration and acrylic paints, Chad creates dramatic and colorful portraits of legendary and iconic entertainers from the TV shows and films of his childhood. Nostalgia is everything to Chad and his art is about keeping memories alive for the many generations to come. Chad shares his passion and talents as an art mentor at REVISION Project San Diego, where he is able to support, instruct and lead art classes for people with disabilities. Chad’s life motto is Always Dream, Always Create, Make Things Happen!
This week’s artist talk features Abstract Expressionist Artist Chris Fontaine. Chris creates bold, textured and colorful paintings exclusively with palette knives. His work is focused on exploring his psyche within the realm of specialized techniques and theories used by the masters, to create abstract art he calls controlled “messiness”. Blurring the lines of techniques and theories with a strong emotional release, his work is an extension of himself through multilayered colors and textures. Chris has an art background in video game design, stencil making, 3D art, and graffiti which allows him to play with many types of styles and techniques.
This week’s artist talk features Abstract Expressionist Artist Chris Fontaine. Chris creates bold, textured and colorful paintings exclusively with palette knives. His work is focused on exploring his psyche within the realm of specialized techniques and theories used by the masters, to create abstract art he calls controlled “messiness”. Blurring the lines of techniques and theories with a strong emotional release, his work is an extension of himself through multilayered colors and textures. Chris has an art background in video game design, stencil making, 3D art, and graffiti which allows him to play with many types of styles and techniques.
This week’s artist talk features Visual Artist Rebecca Potts Aguirre. Rebecca’s work is inspired by the intersection between ecological concern and the female experience; often using unconventional materials that connect to childhood and “women’s work.” She creates her art with polymer clay and play-doh to create 2-D pieces where the materiality connects to the concepts. By elevating “low-brow” child’s materials into a referent for the work of mothers, she is making the often unseen acts and power of motherhood visible.
This week’s artist talk features Fine Art Surrealist Painter Brady Willmott. Brady has built a successful career as a tattoo artist where he honed his artistic skills. He has retired his tattoo machines and inks for brushes and oils. Brady uses traditional oil painting techniques to create works of art featuring anamorphic animals in traditional settings. He blends his favorite styles of art with his life experience to create something unique.
This week’s artist talk features Fine Art Photographer Janet Sternburg. Janet is an American writer of essays, poetry, memoir, and a fine arts photographer. She recently released her latest photography book I’ve Been Walking. Janet’s work is about revealing an interpenetrating world. She works with disposable and iPhone cameras because their limitations give her what she wants, images that are close to the way our minds work. Her purpose with her art is to encourage herself and others a kind of perception that leads to deeper reflection of what matters personally and socially.
This week’s artist talk features Producer Bill Lodin of BLA Productions. Bill is a classically trained artist and is dedicated to producing work that will resonate with future generations. He has made art a priority throughout his life in every career he has held. He has experience in commercial design, is a veteran of the US Navy, and the founder and owner of BLA Productions. BLA Productions is a San Diego based art production company which specializes in pinups, hotrods, & film noir. Bill shares his many talents and skills with the next generation of photographers, models, and production staff. Having fun and creating amazing art is the name of the game.
This week’s artist talk features Boudoir Photographer Ashley Beschell. Ashley’s boudoir photo shoots are so much more than lingerie and sultry poses; they are an opportunity for women to have a self-love experience to feel good and beautiful in their own skin. Ashley captures the Goddess in front of her lens with warm, welcoming, and flattering soft light photos. Her boudoir photo shoots are an opportunity to celebrate your sexy and confident self radiating within.
This week’s artist talk features Graphic Design Artist Aaron Null. Aaron is the founder and owner of Vervor Design, Vervor Shop, and Street Stewards. Vervor Design is a graphic design company specializing in brand and layout design for all types of businesses. VERVOR Shop features over 100+ San Diego artists' work such as wall art, ceramics, jewelry, plants, and other curios. Street Stewards is an organization of a patchwork of people who work together to rid their neighborhood of litter by adopting a block. Street Stewards connects and enriches neighborhoods within a community with a sense of pride and respect.
This week’s artist talk features Oil Painter Artist Wendy Gracia. Wendy is a contemporary oil painter working primarily on still life and landscapes. Wendy’s paintings have been described as happy and warm, which is what she aims for. Her artworks focus primarily on plein air landscapes and still lifes with a vibrant color palette. in order to create a sense of comfort with the viewer.
This week’s artist talk features Sublime Ordinary Artist Susan Hall. Susan presents us with an illumination of the everyday as it exists within the natural world. She creates landscape paintings and ceramics inspired by Point Reyes. Inspired by technical and spiritual lessons she has learned over the decades, her art reveals the consciousness of West Marin in Northern California. Susan is known for capturing the local landscape through ethereal tones and colors.
This week’s artist talk features Professional Creative Artist Scott “Sourdough” Power. Sourdough is a co-founder of Crewest Studio and NOT REAL ART. NOT REAL ART is a progressive alternative art community where Artists can learn how to be savvy and successful artrepreneurs. Artists can share their talents through NOT REAL ART’s grant opportunities, podcasts, and art focused event experiences. Sourdough is dedicated to celebrating, championing and empowering Artists. He has over 30 years experience working in visual communication and the creative arts. He is a truth seeker and creative explorer driven by an ethos of curiosity, and animated by a carpe diem spirit.
This week’s artist talk features Abstract Mixed Media Artist Tiffany Arp Daleo. Tiffany’s bohemian abstract style of works are full of rich colors, lots of textured layers and infused with natural materials. Her work is created intuitively, which helps her to trust herself and the creative process. In addition to painting, Tiffany creates collages called “contraptions”, which are works made with materials found in nature such as pressed flowers, rocks, feathers, leaves, pine cones, to name a few of her favorite nature materials to work with.
This week’s artist talk features Author D.L. Bielle. D.L. is the writer of the fantasy infused history book series Time Tinkers of Sept. Billy, Amos, Janna (Jan-na), and Lulu find themselves in an alternate universe and find themselves chosen by spiritual beings called The Luman. These four teens are tasked to save the world. To succeed on their mission, the chosen four must travel back to crucial times in their ancestral past and complete their quest of bringing balance and harmony to the Earth before the universal rift brewing destroys life as we know it.
Fashion Portrait Photographer Ramzi Mansour has a talent in uncovering, revealing, and illuminating the authentic and genuine beauty of his subjects through his lens. Ramzi captures each person’s unique essence through black and white photography to create timeless and classic photographs that speak to the authenticity inside us all.
This week’s artist talk features Multi-Faceted Artist Linda Litteral. Linda’s art practice has helped her regain her sense of self, her power, and find the light and happiness she so deserves. As a child, Linda endured sexual abuse from a family member. Her work exposes the negative emotional impact it has had in her life as well as the journey of her healing process. Linda teaches healing art class and guides her students of all ages on how the creative process will help them heal from their past trauma. She is passionate about making the world a safer place for women and children.
This week’s artist talk features Exploratory Artist Andrea Griffis. Andrea is a blossoming artist and is finding her life’s path in the creative world. Art and music has had a positive impact in her personal and professional life. Andrea enjoys exploring the many different facets of creativity and has big goals she is on her way of achieving.
This week’s artist talk features Cityscape Mixed Media Artist Michael Wallner. Michael’s art is all about featuring the beauty of downtown city skylines. Many of his works are created from his own aerial photographs, taken while hanging out of helicopters. Michael digitally manipulates and colors his images to produce artwork printed on usual materials such as aluminum, copper, reclaimed wood, mirrors, magnets, vintage windows, and more. Capturing New York City’s gridded avenues, Los Angeles’s Hollywood Hills, and the Thames River winding through London are just some of the cities which have inspired Michael’s work. He thrives on the quest of finding extraordinary views, strange angles and fantastic shapes to present the cityscape skylines he loves.
This week’s artist talk features Mixed Media Upcycle Artist Optimus Volts. Optimus Volt’s artwork is a fusion of pop culture and Dia de los Muertos. Using everyday objects such as recycled spray cans and back alley treasures, Optimus transforms bland objects into unique works of art that make a statement.
This week’s artist talk features Watercolor Artist Desiree Cheuvront. Desiree has a passion for language and nature in which she integrates into her art. She loves to play with bold colors and artistic styles which range from realism to impressionism and illustration. The practice of creating art allows Desiree to explore her mind, get inspired and have fun. Seventeen of Desiree’s watercolor paintings are featured in her solo show Unbounded Terrain at Mike Hess North Park.
This week’s artist talk features Mindfulness Coach and founder of Doturminds artist Vani Shiroor. Vani helps people gain clarity, confidence and purpose through dot sand art. Doturminds is a mindful dot art which is a combination of the benefits of mindfulness, art and meditation. Mindful dot art is a pragmatic approach to exercise the mind to find new and creative solutions in our daily lives. The most important factor of this art is the concept of being in the here and now (being mindful) and activating the right side of the brain and teaching a new way of thinking.
This week’s artist talk features Art and Creativity Advocate MDFerrera. MD is a full time visual artist, writer, mental health advocate, and more. The creative process is a therapeutic outlet for her and has helped her during positive, negative, and neutral life experiences. Music is a big part of MD’s process as she interprets and experiences her emotions, mental health and the life around her. As an artist and advocate, her mission is to bring the joy of art and the creative process to all.
This week’s artist talk features Photographer Jon Lardizabal. Jon’s background in kinesiology helps to shape his purposeful composition of his photography. His work has been described as technically sound and reminiscent of imagery from Magnum photographers in the 1970’s/1980’s. Jon’s current efforts are focused on refining his projects to take the next steps towards creating photography books.
This week’s artist talk features Community Artist BJ Lane. BJ has over 50 years of art experience. She is a painter, sculptor, writer, and digital artist and uses traditional, nontraditional, and digital mediums. BJ’s art shares her discoveries of the everyday beauty in her surroundings, the people around her and her daily life. She is a special needs advocate and supports many nonprofits in her community. Her creative outlets allow her to share and incorporate her experiences and perspective with others.
Spiritual Abstract Artist David Lesinski is inspired by the deeper levels and layers of the human being; the emotions, sensations and feelings beneath. He has spent many years diving into the depths of his own being to draw personal and deep experiences to create paintings for the soul. Paintings for the Soul are multilayered abstract paintings energized with intentions of healing and growth. Just as you’re multi-layered, so are these paintings. David pairs his works with its own unique poem. His work explores self-expression, self-love, abundance and connection with something greater than ourselves.
This week’s artist talk features Marquetry Artist Mac Hillenbrand. Mac is a multifaceted artist who is honing and mastering his skills of the renaissance art form of marquetry. Combining his love of the ocean, the surf and marquetry, his wood veneering techniques explore the organic parallels between wood grain characteristics and oceanic textures. Mac creates unique and distinct surf art all with repurposed wood. He opened his first gallery Amber Waves of Grain in Del Mar, CA, is the founder of the infamous underground art space warehouse rock club and speakeasy The French Fry Factory, and is DJ Old Spice in his spare time spinning vinyl soul and oldies records at dive bars.
This week’s featured artist onThe Artist Unmasked Podcast features Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur J. Han. J. Han is the CEO of ClosetSignature.com, author, sound meditation guide, financial literacy teacher and a featured Speaker at The Women who BossUp Summit 2021. J. Han gets her courage, resiliency, and entrepreneurial spirit from her mom and grandma who courageously immigrated to America from South Korea. Her journey of self-discovery has helped her to find her power, her voice, and most importantly, love for herself.
This episode of The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Sculptor Greg Schaefer. As a child, Greg, spent his time reading encyclopedias, collecting rocks, and studying relief maps. He was particularly excited by the electron microscope images his father, a photographer at the National Institutes of Health, would bring home. These influences on his early childhood have become an important source of inspiration for his artwork. Microscopic, mythological beings and places fascinated him as he explored worlds that delved into fantastical, dystopian, and never-before-seen imagery. These extraordinary settings still fire his imagination today.
This episode of The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Kimball Willson founder of Corporate to Canvas. Corporate to Canvas is a team building company which brings art, creativity, and collaboration to corporate America. Kimball creates unique painting experiences that are tailored to the unique goals, values, and culture of each company or group. Through customized guided painting activities, teams connect in a fun environment that results in heightened creativity, connectedness and collaboration.
On this episode of The Artist Unmasked Podcast I speak with Bodhi Designs Custom Furniture Designer Granger. Granger is a custom furniture designer by day and digital photographer by night. As a furniture designer and digital photographer, Granger enjoys being able to take an idea that is formless in nature and turning it into a tangible experience. His work plays with the relationship between the object and the abstract, the architecture and the environment, and the observer and the observed. His work is heavily influenced by how quantum mechanics relates to consciousness and memory. Creative play is an important aspect in all of Granger’s work. By taking time to experience his surroundings of nature and urban civilization, Granger gives life to formless ideas and theories of life.
On this episode of The Artist Unmasked Podcast I speak with Creative Lawyer Sam Mazzeo. Sam is the founder of Better - a team of lawyers and staff dedicated to being better than we were yesterday. Sam and his team help people create entities for their business by leveraging technology to keep costs low for our clients. Better focuses on educating and empowering their clients to make important decisions to keep entrepreneurs growing and creating successful businesses. So without further ado, I bring to you The Artist Unmasked.
Steve Harlow latest works view now at Fresh Paint Gallery in San Diego, CA showcases Harlow's lifetime love of film and paintings themselves. He has habitually attended Art Museums to study contemporary and historical paintings that intrigue and mesmerize him. His current show at Fresh Paint Gallery look at streaming media subjects through the lens of the culture of painting and they use the language of other admired contemporary painters such as Mark Bradford, Jenny Saville, Kerry James Marshall. Steve is abstractifying the subjects, reimagining the dynamism of Abstract Expressionism.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Surrealaissance Painter Adam Hesse. Adam Hesse creates surrealist paintings with renaissance principles and techniques. He blends science and creativity together and explores the synergies between art and science. His work expresses the dichotomy that is a part of our culture, our nature, and society to pursue the singularity between the rational and the irrational; as an aid in peeking behind the veil.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Comic Book Artist and Illustrator Vince Alvendia. Vince’s style is influenced by Disney animation, manga and anime. His first graphic novel, Dark Agents Book One: Violet and the Trial of Trauma, written by Dr. Janina Scarlet is available at bookstores and Amazon and is currently working on his own creator-owned project.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Mixed Media Artist Teuta Pashnjari. Teuta is an artist who mainly focuses on the human form and its surroundings. As she has grown throughout her practice, she has been interested in drawing animals and experimenting with different mixed media techniques. Teuta is mainly a painter but she enjoys using photography and video mediums as an expression of her creativity as well.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Graphic Artists and Writers of Horrorgasm’s Tales of Horrorgasm Anthology. The first part of this episode features some of the writers and graphic artists of the Tales of Horrogasm anthology and the second part of this podcast features a discussion panel featuring horror story writers featured at this year’s Horrorgasm 2020 Virtual Convention. Get ready to get spooked and get scared at Horrorgasm 2020 Virtual Con. Back for its third year, Horrorgasm has come back to life this past October 2nd and continues to scare and delight through the end of December 2020. Register today for free and playful horrorgasmic art at Horrorgasm 2020. Join in the scary good time now at Horrorgasm2020.com.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Concept Artist and Illustrator Squiddy Sprinkle. Squiddy creates digital illustrations of magical and aquatic characters in highly fantastical scenarios. Squiddy Sprinkle’s work explores the NSFW style, LGBTQA+ themes and creates mental health comics for the Critical Therapy Center in NYC. His art has a bright and bouncy aesthetic with lots of iridescent and neon colors such as the colorful world of Neon Nova Squiddy features on Instagram.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Emerging Artist Aly Vredenburgh. Aly is an artist whose current work is a way for her to work through her depression and bring joy to others with art. Creating charcoal realism portraits and abstract paintings, the creative process inspires Aly to find different ways to help others fight depression and loneliness. Aly plays the violin, paints, draws, and is currently illustrating and writing a children’s book.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Psychic Artist Amber Kouba. For Amber, being a psychic is synonymous with being a creative spirit. Her abstract paintings are an exploration of the combination of energies which surrounds us everyday using oil paints, canvas, and lots of color. Her work is an embodiment of emotional expression and authenticity of what words cannot convey. Painting allows Amber to use her psychic skills of energy healing for herself and others, have fun, and share her journey of exploring life through her psychic abilities.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Community Muralist Bernie Wilke. Bernie work centers around large-scale community murals, teaching, and studio artwork. He is driven by his desire to help strengthen communities through murals. Bernie intimately collaborates with the people of the community so he can share their unique story. With over 80 public murals in schools, downtown streets, community centers, and many other settings completed, he utilizes the power of art to strengthen communities and cultivate personal and societal wellness through beauty and collaboration.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Graphic Designer & Illustrator Gloria Bonifazi. Gloria has studied interior design, graphic design, digital art and illustrations. Playing with lighting and mood, Gloria combines her talent for drawing and illustration with photo editing to create works of art on a professional and personal level. Not only does she enjoy digital mediums, Gloria works with leatherwork, pyrography, metalwork, jewelry, macrame, and making fresh pasta.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Fine Art Photographer Sofie Pihl. Sofie is a Danish-Italian visual artist, based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Sofie explores the concept of reality and the constant fluctuation between what is and what is not reality through her photographic art. She seeks to experiment with the boundaries of conventional photographic techniques by combining camera and computer mediums. Sofie aims to create photographs that transcends space and time creating a living scene that you can enter, leave, and come back again.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Fine Jewelry Artist Rocky Pardo. Rocky uses her skills in metalsmithing to create beautiful pieces of jewelry to accentuate our own individuality. Her pieces are full of dichotomy; representing the feminine/masculine, the rocker/refined, and the rough/smooth side of ourselves. Using a variety of metalsmithing techniques to create her art, Rocky creates one of a kind jewelry.
Kiya Nicole is a Philadelphia based artist. Her work reflects interconnected forms found in nature and is translated intuitively. By drawing attention to the intricacies of the natural world, she hopes to highlight the connections between people and place, the effect we have on one another and to the earth.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Portrait Artist Faith Rae. Art has instilled confidence in Faith’s life and a way for her to inspire others. Faith’s creative practice inspires her to give the gift of art by encouraging others to explore their own creativity. Faith is in her beginning stages of her creative career and she is pursuing her goal of inspiring and instilling confidence in young people through their creativity.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Urban Artist Alyssa King. Alyssa creates textured, inspirational, and graffiti inspired pieces. Alyssa has always been inspired by graffiti, street art and the positivity accessible art can evoke in a community. She creates art to inspire and motivate all who will take moment to gaze and listen to her work. Inspirited by the city streets and the textures they hold, She predominantly works with spray paint and recycled / reclaimed materials to create her textured paintings. Alyssa’s art can be experienced in many forms such as digital art, murals and mixed-media paintings.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Contemporary Craft Artist Steffi Dotson. Steffi is a woodworker and founder of San Diego Craft Collective. San Diego Craft Collective is a nonprofit organization who offers craft art workshops such as woodworking and making your own glass jewelry.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Ceramics Artist Blaire Trenaman. Blaire focuses her work in ceramics and also creates in mediums which include photography, painting, and drawing. Art was not always her first choice as a career but after taking elective classes in school, began her love of the arts. Her practice focuses in concepts of queer theory, feminism, and her new works are focusing on concepts of mental health.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Visual Artist Ruza Petrovic. Ruza uses her creative talents through many mediums such as photography, painting, digital painting, illustration, graphic design, and collage. Art has and will always be a part of her life and embracing her creative side helps her through the challenging parts of life. Ruza is on her journey to discover how to make her mark in the art world and share the power of art with others.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Festival Fashion Designer Anderson Pierce of Night Gear Co. Anderson became inspired to start being creative with clothing and accessories through the rave and music festival scene. Exploring his creative side, Anderson started making jewelry, costume pieces, and then focusing on masks and helmets. For Anderson, the shiner the better and his pieces will make anyone stand out in the crowd and make you feel sexy, confident, and comfortable while getting down on the dance floor.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Interdisciplinary artist Meraki by Hamer. Meraki by Hamer is an Orlando based surreal impressionist who explores ideas from her life experiences, emotions, human connections and her soul. She expresses these experiences these thoughts and feelings through traditional mediums and new digital media. Meraki by Hamer is motivated to create visual artworks that portray multi-faceted ideas that create a connection with her audience. Her art acts as illustrations for something we can all feel inside and empathize with. Art is everywhere around us and is a part of everything we do and interact with on a daily basis and through her work, she encourages everyone to tap into their creative side. So without further ado, I bring to you The Artist Unmasked.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Mixed Media Artist Erik Benson. Erik creates conversations through his art that can spark uncomfortable but important conversations. With the use of pop culture characters in real life situations our government implements on people in America, Erik is able to have his art speak louder than words.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Art Community Activist Zachary Renfro. Zachary is the President of the non-profit art organization B2 Creative Productions which provides local artists a place and space to display their talents. Zachary has a passion for his community and for the arts and with B2 Creative Productions, he is able to create fun and interactive experiences filled with audio, visual and interpretive arts for everyone to enjoy. With Zachary’s unparalleled drive to innovate what art is, he is paving a path for all people to connect through creative experiences.
This week on The Artist Unmasked Podcast features Storyteller Artist Ingrid Andersen. Ingrid is inspired by the great storytellers and the written word. Her artwork explores transformation, growth, and much more in expressive, whimsical and rich imbued with color and depth. Ingrid is passionate about creating stories and exploring her own feelings and emotions throughout the different mediums of her work.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Artrepreneur Raychel Long of Parachutes Art and Dream Fair. As an art teacher fueled by a passion for social impact, Raychel incorporates in an optimistic worldview through education on global issues.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Artistic Director James P. Darvas. As the Artistic Director of Onstage Playhouse Theatre, James facilitates their six show season and directs two - three productions of the season. Through his work, James works hard to provide support to the playwrights, directors, actors, production team, and stagehands who all work together to create an immersive theatre experience.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Performance Artist Adonyss Illuzion. Adonnyss is a drag queen and wig maker extraordinaire. Adonynss began performing as a drag queen after participating in a drag queen competition. From that moment she knew she found her new calling. From dancing, sewing, wig making, and makeup, Adonyss is a person who loves being on stage.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Pop Artist Ashley Gnar. Ashley is a visual artist whose work expresses her constant feelings of displacement from the world around her. Her teenage years were spent living in Europe where she felt alienated and apart from her expectations of what she wanted in life growing up. Finding a way to express those feelings, Ashley creates works of art that celebrate the misfits, the outsiders and the normalcy of everyday life in hopes she can inspire others to see the beauty in all that surrounds us. Nature is an important element in her work as it establishes her place in the world and reminds her we are all in this together.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Mixed Media Artist Greg Schaefer. Greg is a self-taught artist who lives and works in San Diego. Greg’s work is influenced by topography, science, and his father’s work as a photographer at the National Institute of Health. His work explores the intricacies of texture, color, mediums, and engineering.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Figurative Artist Belen Islas. Belen’s work is about resiliency, empowerment and hope. Her work is culturally enriched by her feminine experiences as a mother and her art has the power to influence minds, touch hearts and transform lives.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Alcohol Ink Artist Lindsay Petermann. Lindsay has been utilizing alcohol ink art as a method of healing since 2017. Her artwork is emotionally complex, juxtaposing the light and the darkness within her. She incorporates meditation and intuitive painting into her art practice. This form of art has given her the strength to walk through struggles with addiction, trauma, sexual assault, and loss.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Multi-Media Artist CJ Martinez. CJ is a self taught artist who specializes in blacklight and glow in the dark paintings special effects makeup and body paint. CJ’s focuses on Fantasy, Pop Culture, Nature, Horror, Portraits, and Fan Art. CJ’s signature style is unique and all his own by creating three images in one - normal, blacklight, and glow in the dark. His work will be sure to surprise you in more ways you could dream of.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Visual Mixed Media Artist Michael Rosenblatt. Michael is inspired by the energetic and vibrational frequency of colors. Michael works spontaneously, putting his thoughts and feelings onto paper and canvas quickly, expressing himself in a stream of consciousness manner, particularly in abstract art paintings. Many of his paintings appear abstract at first; but at a second glance whimsical shapes of stars, rainbows, fish and dragons become apparent. You can see his work on the hundreds of canvasses scattered around San Diego.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Mixed Media Street Artist Hell Grace. Hell Grace is an aspiring tattoo artist who is working towards becoming one of the best in the industry. Her passion, talents, and tenacity to pursue a career in the arts is just beginning. There have been haters in her life trying to hold her back but Hell Grace will have none of it. She is a woman on a mission to follow her heart and artistic dreams.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Abstract Artist Annie Decrescenzo. Annie is a resin and acrylic flow artist who entwines her power and emotions into each piece she creates. Working with unpredictable materials, Annie moves with the rhythm and vibration of the resin to “go with the flow”.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Videographer and Podcaster - Eric White. Eric hosts The EW Podcast which focuses on understanding how our brain works so we can have a better understanding of our own mental health. He interviews doctors, athletes, artists, and experts in the field of mental health to share their knowledge and tools on how we can have a better understanding of our own mental health.
Episode #73 of The Artist Unmasked features Artist and Designer Erica Putis. Erica embodies every aspect of what it means to be a creative being. She has designed her own clothing, played in bands, acted on the stage, paints, writes, and curates for La Playa Gallery in La Jolla, CA. She continues to put on new exhibitions with local artists while working on her other creative ventures and loves connecting with the public in a fun and creative way.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat Acrylic Alchemist Artist Michael Carini of Carini Arts. Michael’s creative visions will play with your senses and illuminate the human condition as he delves into the uncensored depths of his mind and invites you to catch a glimpse of the other side. Transmuting his medium through what he describes as a poetically alchemical process based upon the principles of equivalent exchange, it is Michael’s hope that you will completely lose yourself within these labyrinthine experiences, only to discover a new sense of self and emerge reborn.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Multi Media Artist Erik Benson. Erik is a talented painter, designer, Hillcrest Arts Chairmen, and co-founder of B2 Productions. He is following his dream of being a well fed artist and is succeeding at creating creative opportunities for himself that challenge him, fulfill him, and make him happy.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Thao Huynh and Kolten French of Mindful Murals. Mindful Murals is focused on creating large scale murals consisting of positive and inspiring messages. Thao and Kolten focus on local schools to brighten the halls and make schools a more vibrant and engaging environment. Creating and producing positive and engaging art like sensory adventure paths, allow children to hone in on their cognitive skills while having fun and releasing energy so that they are better prepared for class.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with the Evil Masterminds of Horrorgasm SD - Attiba Royster, Yvonne Shamas, and Melody De Los Cabos. Horrorgasm is San Diego’s first Horror-themed art crawl exploring the themes of Monsters, Maniacs, the Paranormal, and the Surreal. Horrorgasm is San Diego’s first art and entertainment event that celebrates the beauty of all things horror. This year’s event will be held on Saturday Oct 26th at Queen Bee’s Art and Cultural Center in the heart of the North Park, San Diego. Horrorgasm SD will feature a group art exhibition, an artisan marketplace, live performances, and the Horrorgasm Survival Chamber.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Abstract Artist Michelle Jean. Michelle is constantly learning and draws her inspiration from all that surrounds her, both the spectacular and the quiet beauty in the mundane. She believes it’s possible to find inspiration anywhere and allows the universe to utilize her as a conduit by which to express itself. Michelle doesn’t overthink her art, but rather allows it too flow naturally and intuitively, to achieve an expression of feeling.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with contemporary impressionist artist Steve Harlow. Since childhood, Steve has identified as an artist. Combining painting and photography, he creates artwork that is inspired by his surroundings and imagination.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with contemporary realism and surrealist artist Kevin Daly. Exploring his self expression through his art, Kevin is inspired by his daily life as an emergency physician. Using art to process the intensity of his professional career, Kevin uses his time at the canvas to decompress and to inspire himself and others to feel deep emotions. Creating art has forged new paths in his brain to untapped realms in his subconscious.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with graphic artist Jon Groobz. Jon creates punk rock posters, screen prints, illustrates low brow art and loves everything monsters. Jon is not afraid of exploring new creative endeavors such as screen printing and creating works with spray paint.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I bring you five amazing and talented artists who were showcasing their art at KAABOO Del Mar. I chat San Diego Contemporary Artists Jason Humphrey of Original Ink Art, Brady Willmott, Darcee from Everyone Is Starry Eyed, Melissa Walter, and Monty Montgomery. KAABOO Del Mar creates a gallery-esque space where attendees are able to talk with the artists, purchase new pieces of work to add to their collection, and be introduced to talented artists from all over the country.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Contemporary Collage Artist G.E. Vogt. G.E. Vogt began her artistic career in performance art and gradually moved to expressing her thoughts, emotions, and stories she wanted to tell into her collage work. Collage became her primary medium because of its ability to incorporate any medium, material, or found object into the telling of a story. Bringing together elements that are seemingly so disparate at first, Vogt uses the contradiction between the elements to tell an inherently contradictory narrative which she finds to be the most exciting aspects of this style of work.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Printmaker Natasha Teymourian. Natasha is a Brazilian poet and artist based in San Diego, California. She has a BA in Literature & Writing Studies and aims to deromanticize the exotic. Natasha is the Editor in Chief of Epigraph Press and author of Recurrent Events, published in 2018.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Digital Pop Artist Attiba Royster. Attiba’s inspiration is drawn from his youth, growing up in the midst of the outbreak of hip-hop, and from the many cartoons, horror/sci-fi movies, comics and video games that helped mold him into the nerd he is today. He has spent the better part of his life adding to his artistic recipe by exposing himself to other media, new artistic styles and new ways of thinking. Through his art, he continues to search for ways to improve and help as many people discover their own creative recipe.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with mixed media artist Ellen Dieter. Ellen’s paintings evoke a unique and extraordinary fusion of skill and artistic abandon, while her organic compositions capture the ephemeral vitality of modern life. Ellen’s artistic passion carried her across the Atlantic to Paris for 10 years where her work was successfully shown at several solo and group shows in Paris and its suburbs. In 2007 Dieter recommitted herself to her art, as well as commencing travel back and forth to Hawaii.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with visual artist and writer Vanessa Christie. Vanessa writes short fiction novels, paints, and draws. Vanessa loves to share her art through the beauty of writing and story telling. Read her work in The Write Launch, Brilliant Flash Fiction and a new work out soon called The Devil’s In The Details” and “Modern Metamorphosis”.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with contemporary fine artist Brenda Salamone. Brenda is inspired, excited and motivated by the Earth elements. Her work strives to express the inward significance of our true selves. The matrix of stone on the outside of a geode may be drab and uninteresting, but when the treasure inside is exposed and polished, the dazzling results are breathtaking and priceless. By breaking free and escaping the matrix, her true colors and artistry are able to shine.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with interdisciplinary Artist Phof. Phof likes to brighten up his community with fun, interesting, and interactive installations. He describes himself as a manchild and a street diplomat acrobatically designing future criticism boundary blockades for a youthful revolution of the senses. Phof encourages people to be fearless and confident with their creativity.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Conceptual and Installation Artist John Mireles. John’s work is focused on social commentary and issues surrounding social justice through the medium of photography and social engagement. John creates narrative-driven documentary projects which speak to his mission of social engagement, commentary, and conversations.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Mixed Media Artist Duo ManRabbit. Carla Naden and Lee Selman make up the vivacious artistic duo of ManRabbit. Collaboratively weekly in a maelstrom of popcorn, bad TV shows, and a swirling pack of rescued dog, ManRabbit makes their mark in a male dominated art world.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with painter Tamayo Muto. Tamayo discovered her passion for art and creativity while attending college. During her time studying abroad in San Diego, Tamayo has immersed herself into her art practice and explores her style everyday.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with painter and illustrator Paul Naylor. Paul is intrigued by the idea of using typography artistically, and he has always loved art associated with underground music and film, especially from decades past where emphasis was heavy on hand-rendering. Paul is influenced by his long love of animals, old horror and sci-fi movies, vast natural landscapes (especially Yosemite), Godzilla, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Mid-Century Modern design, and music.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with painter and mixed media artist Amanda Kachadoorian. Amanda’s body of work aims to express the notions of identity, psychology, ephemerality, and nature. Every concept has an underlying relationship with one another which she intends to create a dialogue around. She derives these ideas from the human anatomy, diverse plant life, and her multi-cultural background.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with painter and illustrator Charlene Mosley. Charlene's current work discusses the 21st century media-driven society and its relationship to technology and nature; in oils and watercolors. She depicts painted collages of people in their everyday activities surrounded by plant life with an interplay of pixilation and expressive brushstrokes. Charlene has won various awards and scholarships, and has exhibited in national as well as international exhibitions.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with artist and founder of San Diego Print Makers Aaron Ishaeik. Aaron is an award winning Creative Director with 15 years of design experience in multiple mediums. San Diego Print Makers is a collective of printmakers working in San Diego which provides workshops, events and resources for both artists and amateurs interested in the expansive art of printmaking.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with horror pop artist Jennifer Cooksey of After Dark Creations. Jennifer is an artist, curator and aspiring author who specializes in horror, Pop art, mixed media monster sculpture and Dia de los muertos art. Jennifer infuses her love of cult films, the horror genre, punk music and Chicano folklore into her art and writing.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with pen and ink artist Jason Humphrey of Original Ink Art. Jason lets the work create through him by drawing upon himself and his surroundings. He is inspired by animals and the strong traits and spiritual power and meaning they have.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with concept artist for films and games Sean Evans. Sean has worked on titles such as Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. He pushes the status quo in his art and knows that thinking differently helps him create well thought out designs.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with abstract psychedelic artist Brent J. His art is mainly characterized by his strong line work and bold use of psychedelic colors. His mesmerizing pieces captivate viewers with their energy and dizzying intricacy. A self-taught artist who found his passion as a child, his love for art keeps him dedicated to his craft.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with alternative Rock/Hip Hop/EDM band Future Human. Their musical styling is a blend of all the genres they love which creates a unique sound of their own. Future Human features the musical talents of Matt Winne, Theron Quill, Joaqin Torres, Brennan Plassmeyer.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Chicana Artist and Curator Katie Ruiz. Katie has a strong connection with nature and often uses natural objects like rocks, shells, leaves and sticks in her weavings and sculptures. Her work is influenced by patterns that are primarily derived from Latin American textiles.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with Kar Chi Ming who specializes in Chinese Ink Art and Watercolor. Ming has dedicated his life to bridging the gap between the East and the West by marrying Chinese and Western art applications. He finds purpose in sharing the Glory of God through his depiction of the world’s beauty through a fine balance of Chinese inks and watercolors.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with The Designer CPA Peter Lang. Peter is an accountant who specializes in the unique accounting challenges faced by artistic professionals. Designers and other artistic professionals may find that ordinary CPAs are unequipped for their needs, Peter has 16 years experience helping artistic professionals with their taxes and the other financial duties that art school didn’t teach them.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with painter and muralist España Garcia. España blends her love of marine biology and beautiful woman to creates surrealist works of art that speak to her soul. She began her art career later in life, proving to everyone you can pursue your dreams at any age.
This week on The Artist Unmasked I chat with digital artist Luz Maria Clayton. Luz Maria’s canvas is her smartphone. Art is a tool that is a part of her life that has helped her process her negative emotions and see the color in life again. By believing on herself, the support of her family, friends, and her community, Luz Maria is well on her way of making a name for herself.