Spencer Lewis - Episode 70

Jesse Wine makes ceramic sculptures that combine body parts like arms, legs, hands, and feet, along with abstract shapes that are deflated, pulled, and stacked. Jesse talks about making sculptures that are self-aware, the expressiveness in our hands, empathy as a gesture, being illusionistic with his surfaces, knowing when to destroy a sculpture, peacefulness as an important ingredient in his studio, a great football match as the ultimate narrative, becoming more optimistic through experience, and the long game of being an artist. View Jesse’s work HEREPurchase “Jesse Wine / Sculpture” HERESupport Deep Color HEREThis episode is presented by R&F Handmade Paints

Celia Pym makes textile-based artwork by repairing items like tattered sweaters, worn out socks, or torn paper pastry bags. Celia talks about the exchanges between making functional and non-functional art objects, finding pleasure in the tactility of her materials, different types of art transactions and preferring to return work to their original owners, damage and repair as driving concepts, how portraiture and body can be seen in garments, interacting with stories about grief, being intentional about contrast and “not matching”, repair work as a political act, being suspicious of virtue, how mending can unstick a stuck feeling, and navigating her emotional life through practicalities and making things.This episode is presented by R&F Handmade PaintsView Celia’s work HEREPurchase Celia’s book “On Mending” HERESupport Deep Color HERE

Alvaro Barrington makes mixed-media paintings that underscore a reverence for art history and hip-hop culture, craft and handwork, and how and where his own lived experience weaves into the work he is making. Alvaro talks about self-evaluation and how one can be a great painter but a bad artist, innovation and social impact as barometers for successful art, stealing from other artists, paintings as monologues, partnering with multiple competing galleries, debt as a kind of violence, searching for freedom through his paintings, and complete awe and gratitude for being able to live his life as an artist. This episode is presented by R&F Handmade PaintsView Alvaro’s work HERESupport Deep Color HERE

Matt Rich makes paintings, drawings, sculpture, and installations that center themselves around form and shape, color relationships, and different systems for mark making. Matt talks about time as a resource and the safety of a studio space, the importance of procedure in his practice, colliding intentional and accidental gestures, wanting his work to be unpretentious and light, the influences of writing graffiti as a teenager, color as a mess of ever-changing experiences, ampersand symbols as an aesthetic and conceptual muse, and artistic discontent as a way to drive his work into new places. This episode is presented by R&F Handmade Paints View Matt’s work HERE Support Deep Color HERE

Andrew Schoultz makes drawings, paintings, prints, installations, and large-scale murals that reference how history and turmoil follow patterns, and how power dynamics, spirituality, and environment can shape our experience of the world. Andrew talks about comic books and graffiti as early influences, obsessive compulsiveness as a creative asset, handwork and the beauty of imperfection, the connections between skateboarding and art making, style and what can dictate it, how the art market interferes with sincerity, fitness as a powerful force in his studio practice, autonomy as a form of success, and finding a sense of purpose and pride through being an artist. This episode is presented by R&F Handmade Paints View Andrew’s work HERE Support Deep Color HERE

Ashley Bickerton makes sculpture, assemblages and painting-like objects that reference the grotesqueness of commodification and consumerism. Ashley talks about how a work of art can hold contrasting meanings, avoiding typecasting and being fluid with his artistic language, pacing an art career and gallery relationships as business arrangements—not friendships, operating on the edge of the contemporary art world, how a harmonious homelife allows him to flourish in the studio, being diagnosed with ALS and researching new ways to make art, mortality and the beauty in each day, and preferring ideas and dreams to the crud and muck of our physical word.  View Ashley’s work HERE Support Deep Color HERE

Spencer Lewis makes abstract paintings that are an explosion of mark-making, smears, caked up textures, and tangles of color. Spencer talks about using raw and low-pressure materials, being spastic and aggressive with his first set of gestures, the exchanges between art and sports, working intuitively and “no move” painting, artists as opportunists, pictorial organization and disorganization, studio visit strategies, and the emotional resonance and chase of making a satisfying painting.  View Spencer’s work HERESupport Deep Color™

Leslie Diuguid is a printmaker and the founder, owner and operator of DuGood Press—the first and only Black Female owned fine-art screen printing business in New York City. Leslie talks about how her family’s history is embedded into her work and outlook, pivoting from printing business cards and apparel to fine-art editions, amplifying an artist’s voice and ideas through printmaking, the process of dissecting images into layers and individual colors, “winging it” and learning on the fly, slow mornings as form of self-care, and the excitement and satisfaction born out of solving complicated printing projects. Check out DuGood Press HERESupport Deep Color™

Jim Drain is a multi-disciplinary artist that makes other-worldly sculpture, furniture, and installation-based works. He is also one of the original founders of Fort Thunder--the influential live/work/performance space in Providence, Rhode Island during the 90’s, and a member of Forcefield—the celebrated noise band and artist collective. Jim talks about the stories that can surround a work of art, the presence of family imbedded in his work, knitting as method for unification and the generosity of the craft community, hearing with his eyeballs, collaboration and the third mind, being a present parent and grumpy Dads, teaching undergraduate and high school students, and the irrationality and joys of being an artist. View Jim’s work HERE.Support Deep Color™

Rodrigo Valenzuela makes photographs, video and installation-based works that consider the value of labor, the language of modernist architecture, and the inefficiency of bureaucracy. Rodrigo talks about how ideas are born out of his process and making, poetic formalism as a layer in his work, getting out of his own way and second guessing as a healthy thought exercise, reading as a key part of his practice, and how friendships and support systems can strengthen an artist’s work. This episode was organized, facilitated, and recorded by artist Matt Rich. View Rodrigo’s work HERE.Support Deep Color™