Art and Soul Radio with Lesley Riley

Patti Digh is the author of Life is a Verb, Creative is a Verb, Four Word Self Help and the latest, What I Wish for You. With her books, lectures, activism in diversity and now, the Circle Project, Patti is a woman who is changing the world. Listen in on this intimate interview where we will explore the woman behind the work.

  Jane LaFazio is a multi-talented mixed media artist who works in paper, cloth and felt. With a background in Graphic Design (and long ago, as an international flight attendant),  Jane answered the call of art and started with watercolor, which morphed into collage, sewing on paper, then cloth and art quilts. And did I mention she keeps a sketchbook that rivals the masters! Jane has been widely published and has filmed two popular DVDs. Her art never ceases to thrill me so I am thrilled to have the chance to talk with he. See what I'm talkig about at http://www.janeville.blogspot.com/.

Innovative developer of Encaustikits and Encausticamp Patricia Baldwin Seggebruch began painting more than sixteen years ago-always abstractly and evolving into encaustics from acrylic over seven years ago. Her love for the medium translates into her teaching, and students benefit from a passionate, engaging workshop experience filled with all the knowledge Patricia has acquired and developed in her forage into this rich and diverse medium. Patricia’s books, Encaustic Workshop and Encaustic Mixed Media are available on book shelves everywhere and two DVD’s in the medium are on the market thanks to FW Publishing and Creative Catalyst Productions.  When not completely immersed in this creativity, Patricia keeps herself busy with the lives of four teenage sons, two cats, a rabbit and newly acquired ‘dabomb’ husband and teenage daughter~

Suzanne McNeill is often known as “the Trendsetter” of the arts and crafts industry. Dedicated to hands-on creativity, she constantly tests, experiments and invents something new and fun. Suzanne is the creative woman behind Design Originals, a publishing company dedicated to all things fun and creative, now a division of Fox Chapel Publishing. She is an artist, designer, publisher, TV personality, columnist, art instructor, Zentangler, author and lover of everything hands-on. Listen in and discover how she turned a love of all things art into her own version of Artist Success.

Darlene Olivia McElroy comes from a long line of New Mexican artists and storytellers and that heritage is very much present in her mixed media creations. Whether she is painting, creating collage or assemblage, you will always see evidence of story. I know I am drawn into her work, but so are many others, as evidenced by her successful gallery sales, her illustration business and the two books she has written to share her talents with mixed media artists everywhere.

Tammy Kushnir is a mixed media artist/author and designer. Her work has been featured in various magazines such as Somerset Studios and Somerset Memories as well as art shows and gallery shows across the country and online. She has two books out: Wedding Journals and Keepsake Gifts through Quarry publishers and her, latest,  The Elemental Journal through North Light Publishers. She currently designs skins for various devices such as cell phones, e-readers and gaming systems and recently joined Warner Brothers as a freelance designer.

Dana Reynolds is a Spiritual Director, Writer/Artist and Founder of Sacred Life-Arts. She nurtures connections between soul work and creative expression. For the past twenty years, Dana has been a facilitator for the feminine spiritual/creative process. She is passionate about the importance of themes drawn from her study and research of the lives of medieval women including; pilgrimage, monasticism, art, craft, and mysticism. Today we will be talking about Sacred Life Arts and all it has to offer creative women.

How does an artist combine the demands of a successful art career with motherhood? For that matter, how does a mom even find the time for art? We'll be talking with new mom, artist, author and possibilitarian, Kelly Rae Roberts to discover how she's doing at combining her two passions. We'll talk schedules, fatigue, joys and frustrations, balance and more.

Mother of three, author of four books, national instructor and art journaler extraordinaire - how does LK do it all? Join us for this lively interview where I'll be quizzing LK on her secrets to crafting a career in the arts while juggling motherhood, and all that it entails. Check out her new blog at http://lkludwig.typepad.com

Carla Sonheim is silly, a silly artist. She even teaches classes on the Art of Silliness. She is known for her whimsical drawing style and her ability to turn fear into fun when it comes to drawing. Whether in person or through her book, Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun, Carla is the go-to-girl for anyone wanting to draw on her experience (pun intended).

Artist, mother to sheep, donkey dreamer, friend to weeds and old dogs... While she now lives on Apifera Farm in Oregon, Katherine Dunn was raised in the city and traveled and studied in Europe. “I love textures, fabrics, books, the shapes of buildings and the form of a shoe or face - I'm still inspired to paint those things - it’s just that in the middle of any given project, a donkey might be braying in the background. And I love that.” Katherine began her illustration career in 1996 when she was living in Minneapolis. Her work has evolved to a 'naive elegant' - a combinaton of traditional drawings/pastels/inks/fabrics/ layered in a way that create textural , mystical pieces, but often whimsical ones too. Her book, Creative Illustration Workshop for Mixed Media Artists, is both a how-to and a coffee-table-worthy tome of Dunn's evocative and whimsical art. Join us for a lively discussion that will venture from draawing to donkeys, art to Apifera.

As Editor-in-Chief of Somerset Studio and numerous art and crafting magazines from 2004 to 2009, Jenny Doh is considered an authority within the art and craft industry. To connect the creative passion of the individual and to build an authentic community of like-minded souls that can inspire focused compassion to make a difference in the world, she recently launched CRESCENDOh.com. While she is well known for her writing and editing, you will soon discover, words alone cannot express the many facets of Jenny Doh. Join us for a light-hearted and enlightening conversation where you will discover what fuels her many passions.

Quilting bees of bygone days have taken a whole new twist, thanks to the internet. The term bee was used to describe a gathering of peers to accomplish a task. And that’s certainly what the 12 collaborators of the 12 x 12 International Art Quilt Challenge have done – a virtual quilting bee. Join me along with four of the participants: Deborah Boschert, Diane Perin Hock, Nikki Wheeler and Kristin La Flamme. In this special 80-minute show you'll discover how it all came about, the teamwork, the inspiration, the logistics and the resulting book. This is sure to be a special one.

Horses, pizza delivery, television editor and now artist. Even Allison Strine describes her journey to becoming an artist an odd one. How do you turn odd into a successful career in the arts? Let’s ask Allison. The answers may lie in her new book, Lady Bird Land. We’ll be talking about that and all things odd and magical.

Jen Cushman is an amazingly talented artist and writer. Several years ago she made the leap from print media to mixed media. Along the way she has aligned herself with many talented people whose names you know. And just recently, Jen has landed on top with her recent award for the Most Innovative Design at CHA, the Craft & Hobby Association show and a forthcoming book. Jen is also the Director of Education and Marketing for ICE Resin/Susan Lenart Kazmer.