In this episode of Tom Ray's Art Podcast, we delve into the meticulous world of Sophie Parr, an artist who has mastered the art of hand-drawn maps. Sophie's journey from urban planner to map illustrator is as fascinating as their detailed creations, capturing locations from a bird's-eye view with striking pen and ink techniques.

Sophie reveals how a simple family vacation activity evolved into a full-fledged artistic pursuit, leading to establishing a unique niche in the art world. We discuss her transition from urban planning to freelance work and how their love for maps turned into a thriving business.

Discover the behind-the-scenes of Sophie's process, from utilizing aerial views for accuracy to her decision-making on scale for optimal detail. Sophie also shares insights on the power of Instagram reels in building an engaged audience, with some of her videos reaching viral status.

As Sophie continues to navigate the art scene, they talk about the challenges and rewards of running a gallery-turned-studio, their approach to art fairs, and future aspirations, including a large-scale Chicago map project.

Sophie Parr's website https://www.mapsbysophie.com

Sophie Parr on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mapsbysophie

Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website: https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of Tom Ray's Art Podcast, I meet Evie Woltil Richner, an artist and emerging author with a dream to create children's books. With roots in painting and drawing, Evie's journey has led to picture book illustration. Evie's transition from academia led to pursuing a passion for creating children's books. We talk about character design and the challenges of breaking into the competitive publishing industry. Evie shares experiences with online courses, the importance of community through critique groups, and the invaluable insights gained from writers' workshops. Discover the strategies Evie employs as they navigate a path towards securing a book deal, from researching agents to honing a manuscript. Evie Woltil Richner's Illustration on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evierichnerillustration Evie Woltil Richner's Website: https://www.eviewoltilrichner.com Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website: https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of the Art Podcast, we dive into the quirky and slightly macabre world of Madison-based artist Sara Christenson, of Bunny Attack Illustration. Their pen and ink illustrations of "weird rabbits" blend the adorable with the eerie. Sara's bunnies aren't your typical fluffy creatures; they're fierce, sometimes spooky, and always captivating.

Join us as we uncover the origins of Sara's unique style, starting from a serendipitous owl drawing inspired by the grain of wood on her patio. We'll explore the personal narratives and life experiences that feed into their art, like the "arrows" piece, which cleverly symbolizes past relationships with a touch of dark humor.

Sara’s creative process is as spontaneous as the bunnies they draw, often beginning with a sudden burst of inspiration that evolves into intricately detailed works. Sara shares insights into meticulous stippling technique, the challenges of balancing art with a day job, and aspirations for future projects, including an adorable line of Halloween-themed bunny merchandise.

Bunny Attack Illustration Website: https://www.bunnyattackworks.com

Bunny Attack on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bunnyattackillustration

Podcast website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of Tom Ray's Art Podcast, I meet Maria Amalia, a Honduras-born, Madison-based artist with a penchant for community-focused art and a rich history that spans continents and mediums. From aspirations in architecture to graphic design, and finally, to the tactile world of paper making, Maria's artistic evolution is a captivating tale of resilience, adaptability, and profound personal growth.

Dive into her story of navigating life's unexpected turns, the therapeutic power of art during times of family tragedy, and her venture into the world of fair trade and empowerment through craft. Maria's dedication to creating art with and for the community is as inspiring as her journey, with projects that invite participation and foster connections across cultures.

Maria also shares her experience as an art educator, her passion for natural dyes linked to Latin American heritage, and the intricate balance she strikes between perfection and imperfection in her work. Discover her current exhibitions, including an embroidered portrait series celebrating Latina immigrants, and her plans for interactive art tables designed to encourage communal storytelling and understanding.

Maria Amalia's Website: https://www.mariaamalia.com

Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website: https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of the Art Podcast, I meet Angel Manuel Lopez. Discover how a truck driver's son turned a childhood filled with comic books into a career-spanning movie poster designs for films, branding for comedians, and creating comic book variants that capture the imagination. Angel's journey from traditional artist to a 3D modeling maven is a tale of relentless learning and passion. Angel Manuel Lopez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_sonofasaint

Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website: https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of the Art Podcast, I meet Jesse Mangerson, a Madison-based fine art painter and educator with a passion for realism. Jesse shares his artistic evolution from aspiring illustrator, interning at the New Yorker, to a dedicated painter who finds solace in the act of painting itself. He opens up about his journey from illustration to fine art, the meditative qualities of his work, and the transition from imaginative pieces to direct observational painting. Discover the balance between artistic exploration and fulfilling commissions, and how Jesse navigates the modern art world with a thoughtful approach to creation and education. Jesse Mangerson's Website: https://jessemangerson.wixsite.com/jessemangerson Jesse Mangerson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesse.mangerson

Tom Ray's Art Podcast website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

In this episode of the art podcast, we delve into the multifaceted world of Sylvie Rosenthal, a woodworker, sculptor, designer, and educator based in Madison, Wisconsin. Sylvie discusses their journey from New Haven, Connecticut, through various cities, and how a residency led to setting roots in Madison for love and grad school. We explore the complexities of managing a studio, creating large-scale works, and the challenges of storing and shipping unique pieces.

Sylvie Rosenthal's Website: https://www.sylvierosenthal.com

Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

GG of Green Goodies found purpose and community through art after starting their teaching career. When the pandemic hit, GG turned to TikTok, using live streams to combat loneliness. GG's videos led to a portrait project documenting unfiltered stories of life.

Green Goodies website https://www.greengoodies.art

Green Goodies on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/greengoodiesgives

Green Goodies on TikTok https://tiktok.com/@green_goodies

Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

Photographer Kamal X shares his journey from posting photos on Instagram to publishing books documenting real-life moments. After losing his best friend to cancer, Kamal began traveling the world and using his camera as an outlet. His work evolved into a quest to find answers through investigative journalism compiling his experiences into the book Black Astronaut. He aimed to provide a visual perspective on America's story beyond news reports and facts. Kamal discusses the challenges of getting published before connecting with a UK publisher. His mission is to capture life's raw moments and share new visual narratives. Kamal X website https://www.iamkamalx.com Kamal X on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iamkamalx

Tom Ray's Art Podcast website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

This is an experimental bonus episode! Since it's the holidays I wanted to wait until they were over to post the next artist interview. So I thought I would try a little experiment. I take a lot of marketing courses. And to tell you the truth they all teach the same thing. But one that I took talked about how to build an audience when you are starting out with nothing and building your own product. I thought I would just share what I learned. Let me know what you think!

Tom Ray's Website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com Join my email list to get a call out for artists when I'm booking interviews! Sign up here

Visual artist Chelsea Ramirez discusses their delicate, layered drawings and installations using pigments and found objects. After discovering their passion at the New York Studio School, Chelsea has spent the last decade developing her signature style of "radical softness" to subtly resist social constructs. We explore Chelsea's large-scale piece "The White Room," her home studio practice, and upcoming projects expanding her ethereal aesthetic.

Chelsea Ramirez on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chelsearamire.z

Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com

Join my email list to get a call out for artists when I'm booking interviews! Join my email list