strand

Episode 047: Kip Bradley

Kip Bradley is a talented landscape oil painter based in Savannah, Georgia. His work beautifully captures the unique charm and serene landscapes of the Lowcountry, drawing inspiration from the region’s rich history, natural beauty, and the interplay of light and atmosphere. In this conversation, we dive into Kip’s artistic journey, his creative process, and what makes the landscapes of Savannah so inspiring.
Kip exhibits artwork regionally and nationally and is the Studio Programs Manager at the Telfair Museums, teaching and coordinating classes for the community.
www.KipBradley.com
@jkipbrad
@telfairmuseums
www.telfair.org
 
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood
www.kevinwillpaint.com/strand
@kevinwillpaint
 
All images are courtesy of Kip Bradley

Episode 046: Zach Waller

Zach Waller is a self-taught photographer based in Savannah, Georgia, who recently relocated from Minnesota in March 2023. Although he works in logistics by day, photography has always been a central passion in his life, one that has experienced a resurgence after a long hiatus since his high school and college years.
Exploring the world through his lens, Zach is drawn to the raw, beauty of everyday life, particularly in street and portrait photography. He continues to seek out new ways to tell compelling stories through his photography, embracing the unexpected and celebrating the richness of the human experience.
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, Apple, Amazon and other major podcast platforms.
@zachwallerphotography
Photos courtesy of Zach Waller
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint
 
 

Episode 045: Carrie Christian

Carrie Christian is an artist living and working in Savannah. Carrie describes her work as narrative collages that investigate her fears, hopes, dreams, motherhood, love, heartbreak, and every other thing we go through as humans. Carrie is currently getting a masters in art therapy from Syracuse University. She loves to karaoke.
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, and other major podcast platforms.
@carrieachristian     @ sulfurstudios    
Photos courtesy of Carrie Christian
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint

Episode 044: Valerio D’Ospina

Valerio D’Ospina is an Italian born contemporary artist based in Philadelphia since 2014. He obtained both BA and MFA at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy, graduating cum laude. Only 7 days after his graduation in 2009, he was invited to teach at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he taught for 5 years until he moved to Philadelphia and decided to solely focus his career as a full-time artist.
His energetic, unique style of painting cityscapes and industrial scenes has earned him numerous awards and accolades and he has been featured in prominent art magazines, online platforms, has been the subject of art lectures in universities and academies of fine art all over the world and has been published in educational textbooks and prestigious art books.
D’Ospina’s work has also been acquired by significant corporate and private collections as well as international modern and contemporary art museum collections. 
"Signs of Life" now on view at the Stanek Gallery in Philly until November 23
Stanek Gallery - Miami || Philadelphia 
@stanekgallery    https://www.stanekgallery.com/ 
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, and other major podcast platforms.
Photos courtesy of Valerio D’Ospina
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint

Episode 043: Maxx Feist

Maxx Feist is a self-taught artist based in Savannah, GA, originally from Asheville, NC. Their friends and family were deeply affected by Hurricane Helene. The galleries that showcased Maxx's work are currently closed until further notice. If you have the resources to help support Maxx’s Ashville community, please consider connecting with the entities below.
I recorded this episode during the first week of August, nearly two months before Helene’s landfall. During this time, I had the privilege of meeting several talented artists with roots in Asheville. I’ve wrestled with the decision to release these episodes out of respect for those facing challenging circumstances. However, with the consent of each artist I interviewed, I am committed to shining a light on the individuals who inspire me and celebrating their creativity.
Maxx has spent 15 years passionately immersing themselves in the world of art, painting obsessively every day since choosing this creative path. Their work bursts with vibrant, saturated colors and whimsical, chaotic creatures, inviting viewers into a lively, imaginative realm.
Focusing on intricate details and expansive canvases, Maxx’s style draws inspiration from comic art, featuring dynamic line work that enhances the energy of each piece. Their artistic journey is supported by a community of friends, both known and unknown, who have helped turn Maxx’s dream of being an artist into a vivid reality.
Maxx Feist:  https://www.maxxfeistart.com/ @maxx_feist
Horse and Hero: https://horse-hero.myshopify.com/  @horseandhero
The Big Crafty: https://thebigcrafty.com/  @thebigcrafty
Nashville Punk Rock Flea Market : https://nashvillepunk.net/   @punkrockfleamarket_nashville
HollerHouse: https://hollerhousebristol.com/
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue: https://www.bwar.org/   @brotherwolfanimalrescue
Beloved Ashville: https://belovedasheville.com/   @belovedashville
Pansy Collective: @pansey.collective
 
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, and other major podcast platforms.
 
Photos courtesy of Maxx Feist
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint

Episode 042: Jose Barreda

José Pablo Barreda, an artist who was born and raised in Juárez, Mexico, later pursued his passion for illustration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Over the past few years, he has transformed repurposed wooden chairs into intricate sculptures. His captivating work is currently on display at the Haen Gallery on Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, North Carolina.
@chairismatico_        www.josepablobarreda.com
@thehaengallery             https://thehaengallery.com/  
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, and other major podcast platforms.
Photos courtesy of Jose Pablo Barreda
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint
 

Episode 041: Ben Copperwheat

As a designer, artist, and educator, Ben Copperwheat produces wearable art clothing, fine art, interior pieces, and provides creative print textile design and direction to some of the top brands worldwide. Copperwheat has created textile collections and brand direction for Gucci, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Peter Som, Edun, Pret A Surf, Victorinox Swiss Army, Stephen Burrows, 3.1 Phillip Lim, DKNY, and Daryl K, his work is commissioned by personalities and organizations like Beyoncé and Blue Ivy, Boy George, Liza Minelli, Pat Cleveland, Isabella Blow, Patricia Field and David Collins Studio. Ben Copperwheat graduated with an MA of Printed Textiles from the Royal College of Art in 2001.
@bencopperwheat         
bencopperwheat.com
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, and other major podcast platforms.
Photos courtesy of Ben Copperwheat
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint

Episode 040: Mary Hartman

Mary Hartman is a native of Charleston, WV. She is an artist who currently lives and works in Savannah, GA. Outside of group and solo exhibitions, she works as a commissioned portrait artist.
@maryhartmanstudio                   maryhartman.net
@pwshortgeneralstore
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, and other major podcast platforms.
Photos courtesy of Mary Hartman
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint
 

Episode 039: Stephanie Forbes

Stephanie Forbes is and artist who lives and works in Savannah, GA. She has participated in numerous exhibitions throughout California and also the South’s Low-Country. Most recently, Forbes has partnered with Child Enrichment, a child advocacy center in Augusta, Georgia where she has initiated a Survivors Gallery concept in the building’s corporate wing. This gallery will feature artists who have overcome abuse or neglect on a bi-annual basis. Forbes opened this concept with her own exhibition, ‘The Things That Kept Me Warm/Safe, in March of 2024 which features a collection of sculptures, paintings, and installation pieces where Forbes explores the theme of warmth and safety using the oyster as a poignant metaphor.  Currently, Forbes is working on the closing reception to this exhibition which is set to take place on October 10, 2024 with an Artist Talk and check presentation as the artist is donating a portion of sales back to the child advocacy center. 
@sforbes.art               www.sunshineforbes.com
@childenrichmentinc      www.childenrichment.org
 
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, and other major podcast platforms.
Photos courtesy of Stephanie Forbes
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint

Episode 038 James Seward

James Seward is an artist who lives and works in New York. During our conversation, we talked about his most recent solo exhibition at the Hudson River Museum titled “Embrace, Cinematic Moments”. Which wrapped up a couple of weeks before the interview. We also talked about some of his notable accomplishments. Including his experience working for several years as an assistant painter for the internationally renowned artist Jeff Koons, and how he was able to have his own work published in the LA Times, on the cover of Newsweek Magazine, Ritz Carlton Magazine, New American Paintings, and American Art Collector.
@pajamerz         jameslseward.com
@hudsonrivermuseum  HRM.org
This is my final conversation in my New York Minutes series. All in all, I was able to share some time with 16 artists, gallerists, curators, and collectors. It was a wonderful experience learning more about the New York creative community. Please let me know if you have a community that you would like me to explore.
Listen to this, and all episodes of The Strand by clicking the link in the @strandpodcast bio. Or, at kevinwillpaint.com/strand . Episodes are also found on Spotify, iHeart, and other major podcast platforms.
Photos courtesy of James Seward
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood. @kevinwillpaint
Shouts to @KatherineSandoz for sparking this conversation