Creative Contemplation

Send us Fan MailOctober 16, 2026Creative Contemplation PresentsEU03.5 In The Orbit of Euan Uglow; Michael Ajerman & James Lloyd In this special mini-series host and creator, Suzanne Lago Arthur, seeks to capture the living art history of famed British artist, Euan Uglow by interviewing his students, contemporaries and those who knew him best.  In this episode, Suzanne continues her conversation with 2 of Euan's students from the Slade, artists Michael Ajerman and James Lloyd.michaelajerman.com  IG: @michaelajermanjameslloyd.org  IG: @james_lloyd_artistMichael Ajerman was born in New York. As a teenager he took part in the Cooper Union Outreach Program, afterwards studying at the Corcoran School of Art, the New York Studio School and the Yale Summer School at Norfolk. In 2003, he completed his Masters Degree at the Slade School of Art, receiving the British Institute Award from the Royal Academy the same year. He has consistently exhibited internationally in solo and group shows, recently with Isabel Sullivan Gallery, New York.  He is showing in the Courtauld Institute’s East Wing Biennial exhibition through 2026.  His work is found in international collections including the Beth DeWoody Collection and the Wendy Fisher Collection.He lives and works in London. James Lloyd graduated in the 90s with an MA from the Slade School of Fine Art, following a BA in Fine Art from Coventry and a Diploma from Blackpool College of Art and Design. He teaches at the Royal Drawing School and has won numerous awards including the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award, Paul Smith Scholarship, Windsor & Newton Young Artists’ Award, Carrol Foundation Young Artist of the Year Award, First Prize in the BP Portrait Award, and the Ondaatje Prize for Portraiture. Lloyd has undertaken commissions for many private and public clients and institutions including Newcastle University, the Bank of England, Queen’s College, Lords Cricket Ground, the House of Lords, the Royal Collection and the National Portrait Gallery. James is represented in the UK by Browse & Darby and in Germany by Hübner & Hübner."Euan Uglow: An Arc From The Eye" exhibit at MK Gallery, Milton KeynesSuggested Reading:"The Uglow Papers" By Andrew Lambirth"Euan Uglow, Some Memories Of The Painter" by Susan Campbell"Euan Uglow The Complete Paintings" by Richard Kendall HOST BIOSuzanne Lago Arthur is a contemporary realist painter from Northern Virginia. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban-American parents, her artistic explorations were nurtured from an early age by her family. Through her paintings Suzanne explores the themes of beauty, transience and memory.  She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC, Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, the United States Interests Section, Havana, Cuba and in art galleries across the United States. She holds a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University. Website: www.lagoarthurstudio.com Instagram: Suzanne Lago Arthur (@lagoarthurstudio) Logo designs by Elisa Nader,  Mag7 

Send us Fan MailOctober 9, 2026Creative Contemplation PresentsEU03 In The Orbit of Euan Uglow; Michael Ajerman & James Lloyd In this special mini-series host and creator, Suzanne Lago Arthur, seeks to capture the living art history of famed British artist, Euan Uglow by interviewing his students, contemporaries and those who knew him best.  In this episode, Suzanne interviews 2 of Euan's students from the Slade, artists Michael Ajerman and James Lloyd.michaelajerman.com  IG: @michaelajermanjameslloyd.org  IG: @james_lloyd_artistMichael Ajerman was born in New York. As a teenager he took part in the Cooper Union Outreach Program, afterwards studying at the Corcoran School of Art, the New York Studio School and the Yale Summer School at Norfolk. In 2003, he completed his Masters Degree at the Slade School of Art, receiving the British Institute Award from the Royal Academy the same year. He has consistently exhibited internationally in solo and group shows, recently with Isabel Sullivan Gallery, New York.  He is showing in the Courtauld Institute’s East Wing Biennial exhibition through 2026.  His work is found in international collections including the Beth DeWoody Collection and the Wendy Fisher Collection.He lives and works in London. James Lloyd graduated in the 90s with an MA from the Slade School of Fine Art, following a BA in Fine Art from Coventry and a Diploma from Blackpool College of Art and Design. He teaches at the Royal Drawing School and has won numerous awards including the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award, Paul Smith Scholarship, Windsor & Newton Young Artists’ Award, Carrol Foundation Young Artist of the Year Award, First Prize in the BP Portrait Award, and the Ondaatje Prize for Portraiture. Lloyd has undertaken commissions for many private and public clients and institutions including Newcastle University, the Bank of England, Queen’s College, Lords Cricket Ground, the House of Lords, the Royal Collection and the National Portrait Gallery. James is represented in the UK by Browse & Darby and in Germany by Hübner & Hübner."Euan Uglow: An Arc From The Eye" exhibit at MK Gallery, Milton KeynesSuggested Reading:"The Uglow Papers" By Andrew Lambirth"Euan Uglow, Some Memories Of The Painter" by Susan Campbell"Euan Uglow The Complete Paintings" by Richard Kendall HOST BIOSuzanne Lago Arthur is a contemporary realist painter from Northern Virginia. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban-American parents, her artistic explorations were nurtured from an early age by her family. Through her paintings Suzanne explores the themes of beauty, transience and memory.  She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC, Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, the United States Interests Section, Havana, Cuba and in art galleries across the United States. She holds a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University. Website: www.lagoarthurstudio.com Instagram: Suzanne Lago Arthur (@lagoarthurstudio) Logo designs by Elisa Nader,  Mag7 

Send us Fan MailAugust 11, 2026Creative ContemplationS5E1 Mary Tonkin; A Painter Intimately Connected With The Australian BushSeason 5’s first guest, Australian Landscape painter Mary Tonkin, sets the bar high for this season of guests. Podcast Host and Creator, Suzanne Lago Arthur has a deep conversation with Mary about her work, her development as an artist and what it feels like to paint from a more sensory & intuitive approach to the landscape. BIO:Mary Tonkin is one of Australia’s leading landscape painters whose epic, immersive paintings respond to the changing seasons, lights and viewpoints of the bush where she paints en plein air. Tonkin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours, 1995) and a Master of Fine Arts from Monash University (2002), where she has also lectured. Tonkin's recent exhibitions include;  a 2026 survey show entitled "Among the Trees" at the S.H. Ervin Gallery in Sydney and "Rambles" a solo show at the Benalla Art Gallery in 2025. In addition, she has had solo exhibitions at Australian Galleries in Melbourne and Sydney since 1999. Her work "Ramble, Kalorama" was exhibited at the Sydney Contemporary Art Fair in 2022. Instagram: @mary.tonkinEarly Influences Mentioned:Geoff DupreeGraham NicksonHost Bio:Suzanne Lago Arthur is a contemporary American realist painter from Northern Virginia. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban-American parents, her artistic explorations were nurtured from an early age by her family.Through her paintings Suzanne explores the themes of beauty, transience and memory.  She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC, Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, the United States Interests Section, Havana, Cuba and in art galleries across the United States. She holds a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University.Website: www.lagoarthurstudio.comInstagram: Suzanne Lago Arthur (@lagoarthurstudio)Logo design by Elisa Nader,  Mag7Artwork, "Abby in Contemplation"

Send us Fan MailMay 1, 2026Creative ContemplationS4 Bonus Suzanne Lago Arthur; Reflections On My Creative JourneyThe tables have been turned in this very special bonus episode! Creative Contemplation podcast host and creator, Suzanne Lago Arthur shares her own creative journey and discusses her upcoming solo show “Portals & Sanctuaries” (May 1 - 31, 2026) while being interviewed by the person who knows her best, her husband, James Rian Arthur.Website: lagoarthurstudio.comInstagram: @lagoarthurstudio"Portals & Sanctuaries" Solo Show at TAG/The Artists Gallery, Frederick MDUpcoming WorkshopsEarly Influences Mentioned:Tina BlondellJanis GoodmanFranklin WhiteSuggested Podcast Equipment & Links:Samson Q2U XLR/USB MicHow To Start A Podcast // Podcasting For Beginners by PSS Creative MediaSpecial Host: James Rian Arthur, husband of Suzanne Lago Arthur.Guest (And Regular Host) Bio:Suzanne Lago Arthur is a contemporary realist painter from Northern Virginia. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban-American parents, her artistic explorations were nurtured from an early age by her family.Through her paintings Suzanne explores the themes of beauty, transience and memory.  She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC, Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, the United States Interests Section, Havana, Cuba and in art galleries across the United States. She holds a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University.Website: www.lagoarthurstudio.comInstagram: Suzanne Lago Arthur (@lagoarthurstudio)Logo design by Elisa Nader,  Mag7Artwork, "Abby in Contemplation"

Send us Fan MailFebruary 20, 2026Creative ContemplationS4E9 Marie Riccio; Exploring Symbolism, Composition And Design Through Still LifeSuzanne Lago Arthur, host and creator of The Creative Contemplation Podcast has a conversation with Maryland based painter, Marie Riccio about her development as an artist and the inspiration behind the work for her upcoming solo show "Community" at First Street Gallery (3/4/26-3/28/26) Website: mariericcio.comInstagram: @marie_riccio"Community" Solo Show, First Street Gallery, NYCTAG/The Artists Gallery, Frederick MDGuest Bio:Marie Riccio grew up in New York and received a B.F.A from SUNY Purchase. She also lived in Philadelphia where she earned an MFA in painting from the University of Pennsylvania before moving to Rockville, MD. She is an award-winning artist who has exhibited her work in New York, Philadelphia, Colorado, and throughout the Washington, DC area.Host Bio:Suzanne Lago Arthur is a contemporary realist painter from Northern Virginia. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban-American parents, her artistic explorations were nurtured from an early age by her family.Through her paintings Suzanne explores the themes of beauty, transience and memory.  She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC, Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, the United States Interests Section, Havana, Cuba and in art galleries across the United States. She holds a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University.Website: www.lagoarthurstudio.comInstagram: Suzanne Lago Arthur (@lagoarthurstudio)Logo design by Elisa Nader,  Mag7Artwork, "Abby in Contemplation"

Send us Fan MailFebruary 5, 2026Creative Contemplation PresentsEU02.5 In The Orbit of Euan Uglow; Chris Bennett and Laura Smith {Continued}In this special mini-series host and creator, Suzanne Lago Arthur, seeks to capture the living art history of famed British artist, Euan Uglow by interviewing his students, contemporaries and those who knew him best.  In this episode, Suzanne continues her insightful conversation with 2 of Euan's students from the Slade, artists Chris Bennett, ROI and Laura Smith, NEAC. Chris Bennett Website, Chris Bennett ROILaura Smith Website, Laura Smith NEAC, Laura Smith InstagramChris Bennett was born in London in 1957 and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in the early ‘80s under Euan Uglow, Geoffrey Camp and Philip Sutton.  He has exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters at the Mall Galleries, London. In 2004 Chris signed a publishing contract with DeMontfort Fine Art who license selected works as open and limited editions in the UK, Japan and the USA.  His paintings are exhibited and sold in prestigious galleries around the UK.  A notable commission is a portrait of Sir William Hawthorne, now in the collection of Churchill College, Cambridge, who, with Sir Frank Whittle, designed the first jet engine.Laura Smith trained at The Slade School of Fine Art where she won the Clare Winsten Memorial Award, graduating from her MFA in 2012. A still-life painter working towards the abstract tradition, she is interested in dissolving our familiarity with everyday objects. Her current work explores the idea that repeated motifs enable a deeper and freer investigation of the objects themselves. The paintings often depict emotive gestures and actions, where objects take the place of the loved, the abandoned and the closely held.   "Euan Uglow: An Arc From The Eye" exhibit at MK Gallery, Milton Keynes"The Uglow Papers" By Andrew Lambirth"Euan Uglow, Some Memories Of The Painter" by Susan Campbell"Euan Uglow The Complete Paintings" by Richard KendallHOST BIOSuzanne Lago Arthur is a contemporary realist painter from Northern Virginia. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban-American parents, her artistic explorations were nurtured from an early age by her family. Through her paintings Suzanne explores the themes of beauty, transience and memory.  She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC, Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, the United States Interests Section, Havana, Cuba and in art galleries across the United States. She holds a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University.Website: www.lagoarthurstudio.comInstagram: Suzanne Lago Arthur (@lagoarthurstudio)Logo designs by Elisa Nader,  Mag7

Send us Fan MailJanuary 29, 2026Creative Contemplation PresentsEU02 In The Orbit of Euan Uglow; Chris Bennett and Laura SmithIn this special mini-series host and creator, Suzanne Lago Arthur, seeks to capture the living art history of famed British artist, Euan Uglow by interviewing his students, contemporaries and those who knew him best. In this second episode, Suzanne has a deep and moving conversation with 2 of Euan's students from the Slade, British artists Chris Bennett, ROI and Laura Smith, NEAC. Chris Bennett Website, Chris Bennett ROILaura Smith Website, Laura Smith NEAC, Laura Smith InstagramChris Bennett was born in London in 1957 and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in the early ‘80s under Euan Uglow, Geoffrey Camp and Philip Sutton.  He has exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters at the Mall Galleries, London. In 2004 Chris signed a publishing contract with DeMontfort Fine Art who license selected works as open and limited editions in the UK, Japan and the USA.  His paintings are exhibited and sold in prestigious galleries around the UK.  A notable commission is a portrait of Sir William Hawthorne, now in the collection of Churchill College, Cambridge, who, with Sir Frank Whittle, designed the first jet engine.Laura Smith trained at The Slade School of Fine Art where she won the Clare Winsten Memorial Award, graduating from her MFA in 2012. A still-life painter working towards the abstract tradition, she is interested in dissolving our familiarity with everyday objects. Her current work explores the idea that repeated motifs enable a deeper and freer investigation of the objects themselves. The paintings often depict emotive gestures and actions, where objects take the place of the loved, the abandoned and the closely held.   BOOKS ON EUAN UGLOW"The Uglow Papers" By Andrew Lambirth"Euan Uglow, Some Memories Of The Painter" by Susan Campbell"Euan Uglow The Complete Paintings" by Richard KendallHOST BIOSuzanne Lago Arthur is a contemporary realist painter from Northern Virginia. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban-American parents, her artistic explorations were nurtured from an early age by her family. Through her paintings Suzanne explores the themes of beauty, transience and memory.  She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC, Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, the United States Interests Section, Havana, Cuba and in art galleries across the United States. She holds a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University.Website: www.lagoarthurstudio.comInstagram: Suzanne Lago Arthur (@lagoarthurstudio)Logo designs by Elisa Nader,  Mag7Artwork, "Abby in Contemplation" by artist Suzanne Lago ArthurMusic by Up North Music  

Send us Fan MailJanuary 13, 2026Creative ContemplationS4E8 Ayako Shimada; Gathering Inspiration Close to HomeSuzanne Lago Arthur, host and creator of The Creative Contemplation Podcast has a delightful conversation with Tokyo based painter, Ayako Shimada about her solo show "Painting Diary" at Opa Gallery (1/16/26-1/21/26) of her recent landscape paintings of Inokashira Park and its playgrounds, which subtly hint at her private life beyond the canvas--her role as a mother and caregiver.Opa Gallery, Shibuya Tokyo, JapanWebsite: Ayakoshimada-art.comInstagram: @Ayakoshimada5050Influences Mentioned:Erin RaedekeEd PraybeLennart AndersonEuan UglowJohn DubrowAyako Shimada's Artist Statement: For me, painting is an universal language that I can talk with anybody. I am a mother of a little kids and a Japanese teacher. Talking with visual language is such a powerful way to show how I see and think about things. For my works, finding a mundane moment and working with motifs that are close to me is important. In my painting process, I want to catch a beauty of moments such as daylight shift or atmosphere, find interesting relationships between each motifs and combine those elements into paintings rather than just paint as they are. So that way people would see true moment in terms of colors and feelings from my paintings.Host Bio:Suzanne Lago Arthur is a contemporary realist painter from Northern Virginia. Born in Puerto Rico to Cuban-American parents, her artistic explorations were nurtured from an early age by her family.Through her paintings Suzanne explores the themes of beauty, transience and memory.  She has exhibited both nationally and internationally in such venues as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Art Museum of the Americas in Washington DC, Booth Museum of Western Art in Cartersville, GA, the United States Interests Section, Havana, Cuba and in art galleries across the United States. She holds a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University.Website: www.lagoarthurstudio.comInstagram: Suzanne Lago Arthur (@lagoarthurstudio)Logo design by Elisa Nader,  Mag7Artwork, "Abby in Contemplation"

Send us Fan MailDecember 30, 2025Creative Contemplation EU01.5 In The Orbit of Euan Uglow; Susannah Fiennes, Ann Gardner & Lisa Micklewright {Continued)In this special mini-series host and creator, Suzanne Lago Arthur, seeks to capture the living art history of famed British artist, Euan Uglow by interviewing his students, contemporaries and those who knew him best. In this episode, Suzanne continues her inspired conversation with 3 of Euan's students from the Slade, artists Susannah Fiennes, Ann Gardner and Lisa Micklewright. Susannah Fiennes Website, Susannah Fiennes Instagram,Ann Gardner Website, Ann Gardner Instagram, Lisa Mickelwright Website, Lisa Mickelwright Instagram, Susannah Fiennes studied painting at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London (BA Hons 1st class) 1979-1983. She was awarded a BP Portrait Travel Award (China) in 1993, a British Institution Fund Award, a Royal Academy Award  (London) 1984 and a Boise Travel Scholarship (Italy) in 1983.Ann Gardner was born in 1964 in Bedford and attended Bedford High School for Girls, leaving in 1982 after gaining a place at The Slade School of Fine Art. After achieving a BA (Hons), 2:1, she gained a postgraduate place at The Slade to be started in 1987.Lisa Mickelwright Following in the footsteps of her artists parents, Jane Maltby and Keith Mickelwright, Lisa studied her foundation year at Bournemouth College of Art and Design  (1982-1983) and holds both a BA (Hons) (1983-1987) and Post Graduate Diploma (1987-1989) from the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL. "Euan Uglow, Some Memories Of The Painter" by Susan Campbell"The Uglow Papers" By Andrew Lambirth"Euan Uglow The Complete Paintings" by Richard Kendall"Drawing: Mastering The Language Of Visual Expression" by Keith MickelwrightHost, Suzanne Lago Arthur's WebsiteLogo design and episode cover by Elisa Nader,  Mag7

Send us Fan MailDecember 18, 2025Creative Contemplation EU01 In The Orbit of Euan Uglow; Susannah Fiennes, Ann Gardner & Lisa MicklewrightIn this special mini-series host and creator, Suzanne Lago Arthur, seeks to capture the living art history of famed British artist, Euan Uglow by interviewing his students, contemporaries and those who knew him best. In this inaugural episode, Suzanne has an inspired conversation with 3 of Euan's students from the Slade, artists Susannah Fiennes, Ann Gardner and Lisa Micklewright. Susannah Fiennes Website, Susannah Fiennes Instagram,Ann Gardner Website, Ann Gardner Instagram, Lisa Mickelwright Website, Lisa Mickelwright Instagram, Susannah Fiennes studied painting at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London (BA Hons 1st class) 1979-1983. She was awarded a BP Portrait Travel Award (China) in 1993, a British Institution Fund Award, a Royal Academy Award  (London) 1984 and a Boise Travel Scholarship (Italy) in 1983.Ann Gardner was born in 1964 in Bedford and attended Bedford High School for Girls, leaving in 1982 after gaining a place at The Slade School of Fine Art. After achieving a BA (Hons), 2:1, she gained a postgraduate place at The Slade to be started in 1987.Lisa Mickelwright Following in the footsteps of her artists parents, Jane Maltby and Keith Mickelwright, Lisa studied her foundation year at Bournemouth College of Art and Design  (1982-1983) and holds both a BA (Hons) (1983-1987) and Post Graduate Diploma (1987-1989) from the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL. "Euan Uglow, Some Memories Of The Painter" by Susan Campbell"The Uglow Papers" By Andrew Lambirth"Euan Uglow The Complete Paintings" by Richard KendallBBC Radio 3 "The Essay" with Martin Gayford and Euan UglowHost, Suzanne Lago Arthur's WebsiteLogo design by Elisa Nader,  Mag7