I Like Your Work: Conversations with Artists
Arts
About
I Like Your Work supports artists! Each week artist Erika b Hess interviews artists, gallerists, and curators to cover topics that will help you in your art practice. From inspiring interviews from the lives of artists to business practices you will walk away ready to get in the studio.
Episodes
- Color and Craft with Artist Lisa Solomon
Lisa Solomon is a studio artist that moonlights as a college professor and illustrator/graphic designer. Profoundly interested in the idea of hybridization (sparked from her Hapa heritage), Solomon's mixed-media works and large installatio…
- Exploring Race, Class, and Social Standing though Painting with Artist Kyle Hackett
Kyle Hackett's paintings explore race, class, and social standing through approaches to self-representation and the constructed image. Hackett (b. Still Pond, MD) earned his MFA from the LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at Maryland I…
- Building Structures and Community: Weaving, Sculpture and Painting with Artist Beck Lowry
Beck Lowry (New Haven, Connecticut, 1980) is a mixed-media artist whose intricate, wall-hung abstractions explore themes of protection, labor, and lineage. Lowry's work has been exhibited at Yossi Milo and Morgan Lehman Gallery, New York,…
- Artist Richard Raiselis: Painting the Boston Landscape
Richard Raiselis is a Boston-based painter known for his perceptive urban landscapes that explore the act of seeing within everyday environments. His work frequently focuses on the city of Boston—its rooftops, streets, power lines, clouds,…
- Live Interview with Painter Dion Johnson at Contemporary Art Matters
Dion Johnson (b. 1975, Bellaire, OH) is based in Los Angeles, CA. Johnson received a BFA from The Ohio State University and an MFA from Claremont Graduate University. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions across the Un…
- Tribeca Gallerist Jared Linge on Building High Noon Gallery
Jared Linge received a classical education in Drawing & Painting and Art History at the Laguna College of Art and Design. After eight years of experience working in contemporary art on both coasts, he founded High Noon in New York's Lower…
- It's Never Too Late To Start with Artist Lisa Congdon
As we begin a new year, we're revisiting one of our most encouraging conversations on I Like Your Work —my interview with artist, author, and educator Lisa Congdon. Lisa's story is a powerful reminder that there is no single timeline for b…
- Applying to Artist Residencies: CVA Insights & Practical Application Tips
Artist residencies play an important role in supporting creative development, professional growth, and sustained studio practice. This episode offers insight into artist residencies through the lens of Chautauqua Visual Arts, alongside pra…
- Keep Painting: John Walker on a Life in the Studio
We're revisiting one of my favorite conversations from the archive with painter John Walker, an episode that feels just as relevant now as when it first aired. In this conversation, John reflects on what it means to stay with the work over…
- Doing the Next Thing in Your Art Practice: Following What Lights You Up in the New Year
In this New Year episode of I Like Your Work , I talk about doing the next thing in your art practice by following what genuinely lights you up — even when it means making a change. I share why I chose to refocus my energy on teaching, cre…
- Do It Afraid — Creative Planning for Artists Starting the Year Strong
In this mini episode of I Like Your Work , I talk about why waiting to feel "ready" or confident keeps so many artists stuck and how planning your artistic year while feeling afraid can actually be the most honest place to start. This epis…
- Sculptor Lydia Musco on Finding Clarity in Your Studio Practice
Lydia Jenkins Musco's work has been exhibited in galleries and public spaces throughout the United States. With an MFA from Boston University and a BA from Bennington College, her artistic practice has been shaped by international experien…
- What's Happening at Miami Art Week 2025: Artist Takeaways from Art Basel, NADA, Untitled & SCOPE
If you've been watching the Miami energy from afar and wondering what it all means for your studio practice, this episode gives you the trends, themes, and takeaways that actually matter for artists.In this episode, Erika covers: • The big…
- Italian Journey: Corot, Goethe & the Self We Discover
In this episode, Erika explores how observation, travel, and memory shape artistic practice, inspired by her upcoming class in Italy, The Symbolic Landscape . Drawing from Corot's plein air studies and Goethe's Italian Journey , she reflec…
- Understanding Your Experience with Painter Gail Spaien
Gail Spaien (b. 1958, Hartford, Connecticut) is an American artist and educator based in Maine. Her studio practice centers around the idea that a painting is a site of connection; an object that transmits emotion from one person to anothe…
- Most Overlooked Area in Open Calls
In this episode, I'm diving into open calls including what jurors look for when reviewing applications, and why the description box is crucial for providing context about your artwork. I'm also sharing practical tips on how artists can use…
- The Life of Objects with Painter Gwen Strahle
Gwen Strahle is a painter living and working in northeast CT. She teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design. She shows her work at Nancy Devine Gallery in RI. Strahle has received several awards including the Connecticut Artist Fellowsh…
- Mystery and Philip Guston
In this episode, I touch on mystery in art—the space between knowing and not knowing that drives us to create and share Philip Guston's essay "Faith, Hope, and Impossibility". Faith, Hope, and Impossibility- Philip Guston "There are so man…
- Exploring Cyanotype Printing and Mushrooms with Madge Evers
Madge Evers (b. 1961, Norwalk, CT) explores the transformative cycles of dormancy, decay, and ecstatic growth in plant life. Her work combines alternative photography, mushroom spores, and painting to depict landscape details and imagined…
- Simplify Your Taxes as an Artist: Artist Tax Professional Hannah Cole
Hannah Cole is a tax expert who specializes in working with self-employed people, especially creative and mission-driven ones. A long-time working artist herself, she's helped tens of thousands of self-employed people skill up with accessi…
- Say Yes: Painting, Printmaking and Murals with Artist Joseph Wardwell
Joe Wardwell is currently a Professor of Painting at Brandeis University (Waltham, MA) and is the founder the Brandeis-in-Siena program. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the Univer…
- Finding Stability as an Artist: Truths and Lies
In this mini episode of I Like Your Work, I'm talking about the myths and limiting beliefs that often hold artists back. I'm also exploring the importance of building stability and confidence as an artist by challenging outdated tropes and…
- Susan Klein on Collaboration, Color, and Creative Process
Susan Klein is an artist living in Charleston, SC. Recent exhibitions include I Should Have Been a Pair of Ragged Claws at the Wassaic Project, A Window Scrubbed for the Moon at Asya Geisberg Gallery, NYC, and Volcano Lovers at Frontviews,…
- The Super Power We Have as Artists
In this mini episode of I Like Your Work , I explore the superpower artists share: our ability to create alternative spaces and community. From non-traditional classrooms and DIY galleries to zines and podcasts, these platforms expand the…
- Sam King on Painting and Process
Sam King has exhibited at galleries, artist-run spaces, and universities across the country, including The Painting Center (NYC), Unrequited Leisure (Nashville), Manifest Gallery (Cincinnati), Oneoneone Gallery (Chapel Hill), Laconia Galle…
- The Benefits of Artist Residencies
Welcome back to a brand-new season of I Like Your Work ! I'm kicking things off by sharing lessons from this summer's artist residencies at @chq.art! The top three takeaways that we all talk about with residences is time in the studio, cre…
- Create Your Own Artist Residency
Whether you have a week or a weekend, a full studio or just your kitchen table, this episode will guide you through how to create your own DIY summer residency. Erika breaks down how to set your intentions, structure your time, choose a lo…
- Exploring Printmaking with Taro Takizawa
Taro Takizawa is an artist specializing in printmaking, wall vinyl installations, drawings, and 2D designs. His work blends both Western and Eastern aesthetics, with a deep appreciation for traditional printmaking processes and the art of…
- Tips for Balancing Multiple Creative Projects (Without Losing Your Mind)
In this episode of I Like Your Work , we're talking about the real-life struggle of balancing all the creative things — your studio practice, admin work, social media, teaching, applications, and more — without burning out. I'll walk you t…
- Interior Spaces and Crafting a Life as an Artist with Anne Buckwalter
Anne Buckwalter is an American painter based in Maine. She was born and raised in Lancaster, PA. She received her BFA from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and her MFA from Maine College of Art and Design. A recipient of a 2020-2021 Pol…
- The Cloud of Unknowing in the Studio
In this episode of I Like Your Work, we dive into the power of not knowing in the creative process. Inspired by the 14th-century mystical text The Cloud of Unknowing , we explore why uncertainty isn't something to fear—it's actually essent…
- Level Up: Insight for Mid-Career Artists with Ceri Hand
Ceri Hand is a creative coach, mentor, host of the Extraordinary Creatives podcast, public speaker and the founder of www.cerihand.com, supporting thousands of creatives to make an impact with their work and earn more money doing what they…
- Mapping Trust and Confidence in Your Work
How do you trust your work? Not by focusing on outcomes. In this episode, we dive into how confidence grows through TRUST, not certainty, and why trusting the creative process is essential. We also discuss HOW to trust your work. Featuring…
- Lost in the Wilderness – Why Uncertainty is Part of the Journey
Feeling lost in your practice? You're not alone. In this episode, we explore why uncertainty isn't failure—it's part of the artistic process. Drawing from Rebecca Solnit's A Field Guide to Getting Lost , we discuss why the unknown is neces…
- Artist Susan Lichtman: Painting Domestic Spaces, Light and Color
Susan Lichtman is a figurative painter of domestic spaces, working out of her home studio in southeastern Massachusetts. She received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and an MFA in Painting from Yale University School of Art.…
- How Open Calls & Residencies Create Unexpected Opportunities
Have you ever hesitated to apply for an open call or residency because of self-doubt? Or maybe you've wondered, Is this even worth it? In this episode of I Like Your Work , we're flipping that narrative. Open calls and residencies aren't j…
- Color and Searching with Artist Neil Callander
Neil Callander is an artist and an educator. Born in Louisville KY, Neil earned a BFA from Indiana University (2003) and an MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (2006). In 2005 he received a full fellowship to be a…
- Dealing with Criticism as an Artist: What to Take In and What to Ignore
Criticism is an inevitable part of being an artist—but not all feedback is worth your energy. In this episode, we dive into the different types of criticism artists receive and how to discern what's constructive, what's just opinion, and w…
- Transforming Materials with Artist Sachiko Akiyama
Sachiko Akiyama received her MFA in sculpture at Boston University and continued her studies at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Akiyama lives and works in Portsmouth, NH. Akiyama has had solo exhibitions at Brattleboro Museum (…
- Contemporary Curation with Leah Triplett
Leah Triplett is a curator and writer, currently serving as the Director of Exhibitions and Contemporary Curatorial Initiatives at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Her writing has appeared in ArtAsiaPacific, ArtNet News, S…
- Your Bravest Year Yet- Embracing Fear and Moving Forward in Your Creative Practice
Welcome to a brand-new year of creativity, inspiration, and fearless action! In this episode, I dive into the transformative power of "doing it afraid." Whether you're starting a new project, setting ambitious creative goals, or facing the…
- Do it Afraid- Planning Your Artistic Year
On this week's mini episode I'm talking about why it's so important to jump first into your creativity even when you're scared. I Like Your Work Links: https://theworksmembership.com/freeclass-register-q1/ https://www.thisamericanlife.org/…
- Environmental Embroidery with Hillary Waters Fayle
Hillary Waters Fayle is an artist and Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she directs the fiber/textile program. She has taught embroidery and textile workshops around the world and is an alumna of the Oak Spring…
- Reconnect With What Matters in Your Studio
In today's mini episode, I'm chatting about how to reconnect with what really matters in your studio as we approach the busy holiday season and how leaning into your creativity is sometimes the best thing to do. I Like Your Work Links: Tha…
- Navigating Hurricane Helene: Resilience and Tax Insights for Artists Facing Crisis with Hannah Cole of Sunlight Tax
On this week's episode, I'm chatting with Hannah Cole of Sunlight Tax about the effect of Hurricane Helene as an artist living in Asheville, North Carolina. Hannah joins me to share how you can prepare yourself as an artist for disasters o…
- Independent Education with Metalsmith Margaret Jacobs
Margaret Jacobs, Akwesasne Mohawk, is an artist, educator and independent curator. A metalsmith who creates fabricated steel sculpture and powdercoated, one-of-a-kind jewelry, her work reflects on kinship to the natural world referencing c…
- Resilience, Kindness and Trauma Response in Challenging Times
On this week's mini episode, I'm reflecting on the importance of resilience, kindness, and being mindful of the impact of emotional expressions on those who have experienced trauma, especially in the context of the recent election and the…
- Creative Momentum with Art Coach Christine Garvey
Christine Garvey is an artist, coach, and the founder of A Mighty Practice. Her paintings and installations have been exhibited internationally, including exhibitions with Galerie Circulaire (Montreal), International Print Center (New York…
- Creating Parameters for Artists- Class Recap
On this week's mini episode, I'm chatting about my live class I taught and going over why it's important for artists to set boundaries and how boundaries can fuel creativity by providing more structure and focus. I Like Your Work Links: Wa…
- Don Kimes: The Language and Power of Art
Don Kimes' work has been included in more than 150 exhibitions internationally, including Biennale Internazionale di Firenze (Florence, Italy); Global Art Fair (Singapore); Rueda Museum (Madrid); Baltimore Museum of Art; Brooklyn Museum (N…