The Arts Armory Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Arts Armory
An art and creativity podcast arming you with heavy doses of motivation, bevies of inspiration, and a plethora of tools to help you get better at whatever you do. This podcast isn't just for fine artists. It's for creators of all stripes!
Continuing the series of female artists for Women's History Month, this week I discuss the life and work of Mary Stevenson Cassatt, an American Impressionist painter and printmaker.
It is an artists' prerogative to withhold their processes and methods, however, artists tend to fare best when they both practice and share their practices. On today's episode, I offer my thoughts on the trend of gatekeeping in the artist community and why I show others how I work.
It's International Women's day, so I am continuing the Artists We Love series this month with female artists that maybe you have, and maybe you haven't heard of. Today, we're celebrating the life and achievements of Harlem Renaissance sculptor Augusta Savage. As always, this podcast episode is merely an introduction. I highly encourage you to look up her life and work on your own.
Today, I'm going to give you the building blocks for starting your own watercolor painting. Here, I am using a commissioned painting I did called "Marilyn + Dog" to show you how to build up a monochrome watercolor piece step-by-step.
You can catch this tutorial video at The Arts Armory's YouTube page.
French Artist Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun is the first in a series of artists we're going to be highlighting this month in honor of Women's History Month. She was one of Marie Antoinette's personal portraitists, and over the course of her lifetime created over 800 paintings!
This is the second in my series "Kids' Art Supplies" in which I challenge myself to make a piece of art with materials that are normally reserved for, or at least marketed to, children. This time around, I use washable markers to create a drawing of a dragon.
A Tutorial video can be found on the YouTube Channel
Art is important for a plethora of reasons. Here are a few of them.
Artists, as well as arts organizations across the country are struggling because of the effects of this pandemic. If you have anything to spare, consider donating to your local not for profit arts organization or buying something from your favorite local artist.
It's been a while since I've done one of these episodes, so I figured I'd talk about his commission I did towards the beginning of quarantine. This is Marilyn Monroe on the beach with a dog, swinging a baseball bat.
Stay tuned for a tutorial video of this piece coming in the next few weeks.
Website for prints and other work: shannonkavanaghstudio.com
Erasers are just as important an art tool as the pencil or charcoal they re used with. Today I discuss some of the different types of erasers and how they can be useful to your practice.
As always, if there's a topic you'd like to hear about on the show, don't hesitate to leave a comment!
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Reading is just as important as doing when it comes to understanding the wide world of art. The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair is a perfect addition to any library. This book has becomes one of my all-time favorite art books, and I wanted to share it with all of you.
If there is a book you would like reviewed here on the podcast, let me know! leave a comment below.
Prints and more content available at Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Creating is skilled labor. Artists deserve to be paid what they charge for their work. Their prices are non-negotiable. Today I talk a little bit about how artists come to price their artwork, and different ways you can support your favorite artists if their work is not in your budget.
https://linktr.ee/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Some of my top tips for working with colored pencils, one of my all-time favorite mediums with which to create.
An extended version of this episode, with a few more tips and tricks for using Colored Pencils, is available for Patreon Subscribers.
https://linktr.ee/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
The first of many episodes on artists we love, both past and present. Today's artists are Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, contemporary American artists, both of whom are working contemporary artists.
Both of these fabulous artists have websites and Instagram accounts that you can check out and follow for yourself, and I highly recommend doing so. You will not be disappointed.
https://linktr.ee/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
A continuation of our discussion of the historical, cultural, and symbolic significance of different colors, Yellow and Gold are some of the oldest colors in art history.
If there's a color you'd like discussed in this series, be sure to leave a suggestion!
Credit for much of the research for this episode goes to Kassia St. Clair's wonderful book The Secret Lives of Color, which I strongly recommend reading.
https://linktr.ee/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
What's the difference between "good art" and "bad art"?
https://linktr.ee/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
My top five tips and tricks for making better watercolor work.
An extended version of this podcast episode can be found on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
What does Anatomy have to do with art? Find out here.
An extended version of this podcast episode can be found on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Taking a break and resting yourself between, or even in the middle of, projects is vital to your overall wellbeing. Always be sure to pace yourself and take care of yourself when you're making art.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Who doesn't love color? Today, I discuss color language and its significance in art and in life.
Have a color you'd like to learn more about? Leave a suggestion in the comments!
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Pencils are a forgiving medium and often the first serious medium we learn to use as artists. In today's short episode, I delve in to some of my best tips for drawing with pencils and graphite sticks.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
The first of what will surely be many hot takes episodes of this podcast. This time, I delve in to the validity of Digital Art as a legitimate art form and yes, it is a legitimate art form.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Hel is one of my newest watercolor creations, and I wanted to share my inspiration and process with you. She's the Norse protectorate of the Underworld, and she's a really great character in Norse mythology to look in to.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/shannonkavanaghstudio
Website and The Arts Armory Blog: Shannon Kavanagh Studio
Instagram: @theartsarmory
For a time-lapse video of this process, Youtube: The Arts Armory
This is the promised follow up to last week's "Finding Useful References." This week, I talk about the pros and cons of drawing from the imagination.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
It's no secret, I love to read, and I let that make its way in to my work. This week, I discuss the inspiration and process that went in to this piece of art based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
For a time-lapse video of this process, Youtube: The Arts Armory
References are an important component to the fine art process. In this episode, I impart my best practices for finding useful references.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
Disclaimer: Creating from the imagination is a completely valid process, and there are merits to that approach as well. There will be a follow-up episode covering drawing and creating from the imagination.
Of all the work in my portfolio, this is one of my all time favorites. This week, I discuss the trials and tribulations of making this piece.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
For a time-lapse video of this process, Youtube: The Arts Armory
Practice is an incredibly important part of developing creative skills. This week, I dive in to the importance of going back to basics and keeping yourself sharp.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
I dive in to the inspiration and process that went in to the creation of "Tamed," a colored pencil piece I recently created.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
In this series, I challenge myself to tackle a piece of artwork with art materials that are usually reserved for children. This week, I chose Crayola Crayons to create a depiction of the four seasons of the year.
Check this out on Youtube for the video component of this episode, in which you can watch the piece come to life!
Website for prints and blog: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Instagram: @theartsarmory
I dive in to the inspiration and process that went in to making "Grow," one of my latest colored pencil works.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
This week, I talk about the ways I keep myself inspired and working constantly on my art.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
I discuss the inspiration and process which led to "The Fire," one of my favorite multimedia works.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
This week, I discuss drowning out the noise and impart some hard-learned advice. This world is hard enough, let's not make it harder on ourselves. Keep your chin up.=
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
This week, I discuss the importance of choosing the right paper for your project. This will be the first in a series of episodes regarding this topic, as it is such a vital part of the art-making process.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory
This week, I talk about making art, the fact that anyone (yes, even you) can do it, and I work on dispelling some common misconceptions.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theartsarmory
Website: https://www.theartsarmory.com
Instagram: @theartsarmory
Youtube: The Arts Armory