The Art Friend Show with Annamieka

Annamieka Hopps

The Art Friend show is a series of artist interviews, art happenings, mini trainings on creativity, and more! The goal with every episode is to help you stay in motion creatively. The first 100 episodes of the Art Friend Show debuted on Instagram Live between February and June of 2023. Learn more about Art Friend School and register at http://www.annamieka.com/art-friend-school

  1. Art Friend Show Episode 101 » Annamieka and Rae West on Following Your Passion

    02/14/2024

    Art Friend Show Episode 101 » Annamieka and Rae West on Following Your Passion

    In Art Friend Show episode 101, meet New Zealand artist Rae West. Rae creates beautiful lustrous large scale abstract art with liquid resin and inks. Her art is spontaneous, subconscious, and sensual. ------🎨 Register Now for Art Friend School: https://www.annamieka.com/art-friend-school✉️ Join Annamieka’s Newsletter: https://www.annamieka.com/newsletter🔗 Annamieka’s Links: https://www.annamieka.com/links------ In this interview, we get a tour of Rae’s studio as she shows us her large scale, layered gold leaf and resin pieces. Years ago Rae was creating realistic bird paintings in acrylic before pivoting to creating more abstract mid-century modern shaped pieces. She talks about how it was a leap of faith for the galleries she works with to make that pivot with her. Throughout her career she has recognized the importance of being reliable and consistent in producing work for galleries, while at the same time following her own passions. For emerging artists, Rae’s concluding piece of advice is to follow your passion and value yourself as an artist, while also being professional in gallery interactions so you can be a reliable partner. Rae, thank you for coming on the show with me! I love seeing your work and feeling the joy in your creative process! ➤ Rae West website: https://raewest.co.nz/ ➤ Rae West on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raewestartist/ #theartfriendshow #artpodcast #theartfriendschool

    17 min
  2. Art Friend Show Day 100 » Annamieka and Catalina Garreton

    10/29/2023

    Art Friend Show Day 100 » Annamieka and Catalina Garreton

    In Art Friend Show live stream day 100 of 100, meet Catalina Garreton, abstract painter, and textile designer, and dear friend who lives in Washington, just across the river from Portland, Oregon. Catalina declared at age four that she was an artist, and she’s stuck to it ever since. This is Catalina’s second visit to the show when she interviewed me in Episode 50. Listen at: Art Friend Show Day 50 » Annamieka and Catalina Garreton Flip the Script!   ------🎨 Register Now for Art Friend School: https://www.annamieka.com/art-friend-school✉️ Join Annamieka’s Newsletter: https://www.annamieka.com/newsletter🔗 Annamieka’s Links: https://www.annamieka.com/links------   In this interview, we get a glimpse of Catalina’s commission process, which she has been honing and developing over the past 15 years. Catalina studied art formally in college and thanks that foundation in art theory for her ability to build powerful and harmonious abstract compositions. As a painter and world traveler, she has so many interesting stories and we touch upon a few of them in this conversation. Towards the end of the interview, she shares insight into the tender place she’s in of not knowing what exactly is next for her as an artist. I think many of us can relate to this experience of uncertainty, and how easy it can be to feel we aren’t enough of an artist when we aren’t actively producing at the level we might have at a point prior. I so appreciate Cata revealing this, it’s all about staying in motion as we travel through times of confidence and inspiration and then back through doubt and fear - and on and on. Catalina, thank you for coming on the show and celebrating this big moment with me, and for being my special 100 day guest!    ➤ Catalina Garreton website https://www.catalinagarreton.com/ ➤ Catalina Garreton on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/catalinagarreton/   #theartfriendshow #artpodcast #theartfriendschool

    27 min
  3. Art Friend Show Day 96 » Annamieka with Mackenzie Gray and Alison Osborn on Community Art Space

    10/29/2023

    Art Friend Show Day 96 » Annamieka with Mackenzie Gray and Alison Osborn on Community Art Space

    In Art Friend Show live stream day 96 of 100, meet Mackenzie Gray and Alison Osborn, co-owners of Makerspace Sellwood, a community artspace in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. Mackenzie is a letterpress printer and owner of Cotton Flower Press. Alison is a handbuilt ceramicist and owner of A Handbuilt Ceramics   ------🎨 Register Now for Art Friend School: https://www.annamieka.com/art-friend-school✉️ Join Annamieka’s Newsletter: https://www.annamieka.com/newsletter🔗 Annamieka’s Links: https://www.annamieka.com/links------   In this interview, Mackenzie and Alison, share how the synergy of their friendship began during the pandemic, and has continued into this business venture as a throughline of strength that amplifies each of their gifts as artists and business owners.Together, they created Makerspace Sellwood, which serves as a working studio for each of them; and it is open five days a week for shopping, workshops and more. When you walk into their space you’ll see that they have a lovely selection of art, gifts, and other gorgeously curated items for sale in their shop. They also have a smartly designed modular work table with benches that allows them to use the space for a variety of gatherings - from hand weaving, to ceramics, to floral arrangement classes and more. They are leaders in the local community with their monthly “Makers Markets” showcasing a different group of local artisans each month, and participating in the Sellwood “4th Fridays” with drop-in handbuilding ceramics workspace and beverages to sip on. They also swap out the art on display every eight weeks, and host openings for the featured artist. In addition, they gave me the space to stage the Art Friend Show+School photoshoot during my founding member launch, making a meaningful difference in my ability to offer this work to the world.   Mackenzie and Alision, everything you are doing exemplifies collaboration and community instead of competition, and that’s the paradigm that I want to live in!  What you are doing is so spectacular! Thank you both for being on the Art Friend Show!   ➤ Mackenzie Gray/Cotton Flower Press website https://www.cottonflowerpress.com/ ➤ Mackenzie Gray/Cotton Flower Press on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cottonflowerpress/   ➤ Alison Osborn/A Handbuilt Ceramics website: https://www.ahandbuiltceramics.com/➤Alison Osborn/A Handbuilt Ceramics on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ahandbuiltceramics/ ➤ Makerspace Sellwood website https://www.makerspacesellwood.com/

    35 min
  4. Art Friend Show Day 94 » Annamieka and Daria Matza on the Cosmic Whisper

    10/29/2023

    Art Friend Show Day 94 » Annamieka and Daria Matza on the Cosmic Whisper

    In Art Friend Show live stream day 94 of 100, meet Daria Matza, a Portland, Oregon based filmmaker, ceramic artist, and teacher in the film department at a local college.   ------🎨 Register Now for Art Friend School: https://www.annamieka.com/art-friend-school✉️ Join Annamieka’s Newsletter: https://www.annamieka.com/newsletter🔗 Annamieka’s Links: https://www.annamieka.com/links------   In this interview with Daria, she shares a story that exemplifies her perspective, that ideas don’t necessarily come from or by us, rather they come to us or are offered to us to make them. Daria’s experience of synchronicities and flow whilst making her documentary “Rise of the Giants”  is a great testament to trusting the cosmic whisper - or as Daria describes it; the cosmic 2”x4”. As a college film teacher, filmmaker, ceramic artist, mother, and community leader on the board of the regional Women in Film organization, Daria is very active in her participation and creation on a daily basis.   I especially appreciate the realness of this interview, as Daria and I go deep into these ideas that light us up, while our daughters splash and play nearby. I’m grateful for friendships with other artists who are making relevant work while leading full lives. Daria’s next film is about motherhood and and she’s described, is asking her to level up her courage as she takes on the most challenging and vulnerable project yet.   Daria, thank you for coming on the Art Friend Show! Your work is brilliant and I sincerely thank you for sharing this glimpse of your work with us! ➤ Daria Matza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daria-matza-4113a189/   #theartfriendshow #artpodcast #theartfriendschool

    21 min

About

The Art Friend show is a series of artist interviews, art happenings, mini trainings on creativity, and more! The goal with every episode is to help you stay in motion creatively. The first 100 episodes of the Art Friend Show debuted on Instagram Live between February and June of 2023. Learn more about Art Friend School and register at http://www.annamieka.com/art-friend-school