Defend the Darkroom Paulette Michayluk

I started talking to partners because I wanted to learn how a partnership can help you stay focus - stay inspired - to help you keep creating.
I asked Sonja and Kelly to talk with me because I have witnessed the growth of their gallery and wanted to hear their story. Many couples (at some point) take a pause or pull back from one another as their business grows -so much of  their energies goes into the business instead of each other. But interestingly, Sonja and Kelly seem to have come closer together. Their differences have helped them build their business and (in my opinion) their relationship.  
Please note that I mistakenly called their business Akasha Gallery when it is AKASHA ART PROJECTS. My deepest apologies go out to Sonja and Kelly.
Its so much fun to see how these two creative people see each other: love their quirks; admire their stregnths; understand their... not stregnths; but totally in each other's corners. 
These wonderful women have taught me so much and I am thrilled to share this conversation with you.
Please visit Akasha Art Projects at...AKASHA ART PROJECTS
or visit their instgram at @akashaart

There are no words to adequately describe this conversation - it blew me away. 
So often a family has one person who is "the go-getter" but when you meet a couple whose relationship could only be defined as "reaching for the stars" - you just have to talk to them.
After 50 years of marriage, Mme. Charette-Poulin and M. Poulin still talk about each other as if they just met. The admiration, respect and love that they have for each other is obvious and awe inspiring. I am convinced this is one of many reasons why they have reached the heights that they have. The path that each has followed - personally, professionally and together within their relationship - demonstrates the importance of exploration, laughter and commitment to a greater vision.
My biggest take away - if you are going to continue to evolve and succeed, the relationship that you have with yourself is as important as the relationship you have with your partner.
It was such an honour that this couple took time out of their busy lives to share stories of their lives and how they stay focused and inspired.
 
Please ensure that you read their books - 
She are to Succeed - A Biography of the Honourable Marie-P. Charette-Poulin
Bernard Aime Poulin - a portrait
A lovely overview of Bernard's portfolio can be found at... bernardpoulin.com
Bernard also has many great books on creating art and drawing on his website.

In my head, a photo shoot is loud and bright and full of people running around. A gorgeous model stands in front of a camera with a wind machine blow their hair back - the model looks moody and the photographer is yelling at them to give them.... something.
Then there is real life... or at least real life during a Chris Nicholls shoot. 
Quiet music plays in the background - the stylists, who I thought ran around at a frantic pace trying to apease the photograher, are calmly discussing alternative poses and options with the client. The photographer (Chris) is working with his assistant to ensure that the lighting is perfect and possible selects are noted. Its anything but a crazy rock and roll scene from the movies.
Chris Nicholls is like any professional at the top of his game - he comes prepared. He loves to work with a good team. Most of all, he is a photographer but that is only one part of his persona - he is also a father, a builder, a husband and so much more.
A huge thank you to Chris for taking time to talk with me. I hope that you enjoy this conversation - I know I certainly learnt alot about the importance of being a part of a team.
Please visit Chris' website for a complete portfolio of his current work.
 

We all give ourselves excuses to not achieve… but do we ever give ourselves reasons to succeed.
Michelle Forsyth is an incredible inspiration for me. She is unstoppable in her studio practice – she supports and encourages a new generation of artists in her teaching practice – she is so positive and enthusiastic about life. I am blown away with the complexity of her work and the thoughtfulness she brings to all parts of her art and life.
It was so amazing to speak with her about her life and how she approaches her practice.
Please visit Michelle’s website to see her current portfolio.
http://www.michelleforsyth.com/
A huge thank you to Alicia Bojkov from the Corkin Gallery (corkingallery.com)for suggesting I connect with Michelle!
If you have an creative that you think would be a great addition to my podcast – please do not hesitate to contact me!

The involvement of the hand of the creator… not many people currently think of photography being an art form where the artist has their physical hand in the piece. Digitally, a creator is removed…. But Mike Robinson is intimately involved in all of the images he creates: he builds camera; takes the shot; mixes the chemistry; prints the image. He is precise, concerned with the details, and you can see this in the beauty of his practise: his cameras, his images, his dedication to understanding photography. In my opinion, making historical processes accessible gives a unique insight to the complexity of photography as well as giving creators the access to a simple yet complex method of creating images.
Please visit Mike’s website at… https://centurydarkroom.com/

A lovely project focused on added beauty not only through the creation of artowrk but also planting trees. An inspiring reforestation project to support cutting carbon emissions and an amazing organziation "One Tree Planted"