AART

June Stratton is an American representational figurative painter known for her work capturing the human form with clarity, discipline, and emotional depth. In this episode of the AART Podcast, Chris speaks with June Stratton about her career in figurative painting, her studio practice, and how she approaches realism in contemporary art.This conversation covers:How June Stratton became a figurative artistHer approach to painting the human figure and working from observationThe role of light, composition, and gesture in representational artBalancing technical precision with intuition in paintingWhat it takes to sustain a career as a contemporary realist painterChris’ signature unscripted, intimate interview style allows Stratton to go beyond technique and talk about the mindset behind her work—how she sees, thinks, and builds a painting over time. If you’re interested in figurative painting, representational art, portrait painting, or the creative process of contemporary artists, this episode offers a clear and practical insight into how one artist approaches her craft.June’s links:Website: junestratton.comInstagram: instagram.com/june_stratton/Facebook: facebook.com/JuneStrattonStudio/June’s Female artists: Nadine Robbins Marilyn Minter April Gornik Vija Celmins Julie Heffernan Mae Read Mia Bergeron Pamela Wilson Katherine Sandoz Annie Lebowitz Dorielle Caimi Rebecca Leveille Guay Megan LangeDinner Party Guests: Benjamin Franklin Dolly Parton Mary Munter Hedy Lamar Jack White Paitti Smith John MuirKeywordsJune Stratton, figurative painting, representational art, realism painting, contemporary realist artist, portrait painting, human figure drawing, painting process, studio practice artist, American painter interview, AART podcast, Chris Stafford, Women Unscripted podcast network, art podcast, how to paint people, observational painting, fine art interview, contemporary figurative art, artist career insightsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.A Hollowell Studios ProductionInstagram: @theaartpodcast Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell StudiosAll Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera with Ellen Kuras, the award-winning director and cinematographer whose visual storytelling has defined a generation of modern cinema. From her groundbreaking cinematography in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) to her powerful directorial work in Lee (2024), Ellen has redefined what it means to tell stories through light, emotion, and movement. In this in-depth conversation, Ellen shares her creative process, challenges as one of the first women in major cinematography, and her approach to capturing the soul of a story on screen. Whether you’re a filmmaker, cinephile, or curious creative, this episode delivers rare insights into the craft, collaboration, and courage that fuel visual storytelling.🎬 Topics include:Ellen’s early journey into filmmaking and cinematographyCrafting visual language and emotional depthCollaborations with visionary directors like Martin Scorsese, Michel Gondry and Spike LeeBreaking industry barriers and inspiring the next generation of filmmakersThe future of storytelling through the lensPerfect for fans of cinematography, directing, visual storytelling, filmmaking, women in film, and creative leadership, this episode celebrates one of cinema’s most influential voices.Keywords:Ellen Kuras, filmmaker, cinematographer, director, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, women in film, cinematography podcast, filmmaking, creative storytelling, visual storytelling, directing, behind the camera, film industry, indie film, movie production, creative careers.BIOAmerican Director and Cinematographer Ellen Kuras who has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Jane (2018, and The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (2010) for which she was also nominated for Best Documentary Feature in 2009 for her directorial debut. Ellen is an unprecedented three-time winner of the Cinematography Award for a Dramatic Film for Swoon (1992), Angela (1995) and Personal Velocity (2002). In 2022, She was the first woman to win the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Ellen’s credits include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (cinematographer) (2004), The Betrayal - Nerakhoon (director, producer, screenwriter) (2008) and most recently Lee (director) (2024). Ellen was born in New Jersey in 1959 where her father was an avionics engineer and her mother, a homemaker. Ellen graduated from Brown University with a double BA degree in Anthropology and Semiotics before attending Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Whilst she was at Brown she studied for her master’s degree at night at New York University in Photography & 8mm Filmmaking. The Betrayal - Nerakhoon, which follows a family from Laos who were forced to emigrate and adapt to life in America, was conceived as her master’s thesis. She then started her career in the film industry in 1987 in New York as a camera assistant and electrician. Ellen represents the Cinematographers Branch on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors and is the ASC/ICG representative on the National Film Preservation Board. Ellen has most recently completed a new heist TV series 12 12 12 for Apple TV, and the TV series, Scarpetta, with Nicole Kidman, Arianna deBose and Jamie Lee Curtis for Amazon Prime Video. Ellen lives in New York. Ellen’s links:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Kurashttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0475578/ Favorite female artists:Jane Savelyeva Host: Chris StaffordProduced by Hollowell StudiosFollow @theaartpodcast on InstagramAART on FacebookEmail: theaartpodcast@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.A Hollowell Studios ProductionInstagram: @theaartpodcast Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell StudiosAll Rights Reserved

Step into the vibrant world of Sophie Kipner, acclaimed figurative abstract painter and writer, whose bold creativity challenges the boundaries between art and storytelling. In this exclusive interview, Sophie shares her journey from canvas to page—exploring how emotion, intuition, and curiosity shape her artistic process. We talk about how she developed her distinctive style, the intersection of visual art and writing, and what it means to truly see beyond the surface. Whether you’re an artist, writer, or simply a lover of creative expression, this conversation will inspire you to embrace your own imagination and break the rules that hold you back.🔎 Topics We Cover:The evolution of Sophie Kipner’s figurative abstract styleTranslating emotion into color, line, and languageThe connection between painting and storytellingCreative freedom and the courage to experimentInsights for emerging artists and writers🎨 About Sophie Kipner:Sophie Kipner is a Los Angeles-based artist and author known for her vibrant figurative abstractions and her unique ability to blend words with visual art. Her work has been exhibited internationally and featured in top publications for its playful yet deeply emotional impact.📍 Available on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google PodcastsAmerican figurative abstract painter and writer Sophie Kipner who primarily uses the blind contouring technique. Sophie was born in Santa Monica in 1982 into an artistically musical family; her English mother Lizzie was a singer and dancer, her Australian father Steve, a songwriter, musician and producer, her grandfather, a songwriter and producer, and her brother Harrison, also a songwriter, musician and producer. Sophie however was to take a different route with an early interest in art, particularly sketching and learning portraiture, which would carry her through to her professional career. Her parents emphasized self expression as a learning tool, encouraging her creativity. While attending Viewpoint High School in Calabasas she developed an interest in photography. Sophie was the first member of her family to attend college and she chose The Annenberg School at the University of Southern California to study journalism and public relations, graduating magna cum laude with a BA in 2005. Her earliest exposure to art and artists included visits to galleries in Europe with her mother, which is where the abstract work of Picasso caught her eye and subconsciously imprinted an influence that would later become apparent in her own work. After graduating Sophie spent time working for her aunt at Apogee Electronics where she learned a number of skills that would help her later in her own business. Her love of writing, especially short stories, became an important and relevant aspect of her career. From 2013-15 she worked at The Society Club in London. It was during this time that she introduced sketching games to her dinner parties, which unlocked her love of art again after many years focusing on her writing. After moving back to LA Sophie began showing her work on social media and taking commissions. This eventually led to her decision to become a full time artist and since 2015 she has had her works shown in multiple solo and group gallery exhibitions and sold into commercial and private collections globally, including the Salam Art Collection in Iraq. Her writing was also gaining momentum and in 2017, her first book, The Optimist, a satirical look at the extremity of romantic desperation, was published by Unbound in the UK and later in the US and Canada in 2021. The novel was named a “Best Summer Read” by The Daily Mail and optioned for film and television adaptation. Sophie was also the subject of the Oscar-shortlisted short documentary, “Sophie and The Baron”, which chronicles Sophie’s friendship and artistic collaboration with legendary Rolling Stone Magazine photographer Baron Wolman. The award-winning film, directed by Alexandria Jackson, premiered at SXSW Film Festival and was acquired by Disney as their first original documentary, and is now streaming worldwide on Disney Plus. Sophie lives and works in Santa Monica, CA. Sophie’s links:https://www.sophiekipner.com/https://www.sophiekipner.com/bookhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt13084870/https://www.instagram.com/skipner Some of Sophie’s favorite female artists:Paula RegoAlice NeelKatherine BradfordCristina BanBanHilda PalafoxFrida KahloRobin F Williams Host: Chris StaffordProduced by Hollowell StudiosFollow @theaartpodcast on InstagramAART on FacebookEmail: theaartpodcast@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.A Hollowell Studios ProductionInstagram: @theaartpodcast Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell StudiosAll Rights Reserved

Step behind the camera in this intimate and inspiring interview with Barbara Nitke, acclaimed photographer and visual storyteller celebrated for her raw, emotional, and boundary-pushing work. In this episode, we explore Barbara’s creative journey—from her early days as a set photographer on film productions to becoming one of the most influential voices in fine art and human connection photography. Barbara opens up about her artistic process, the stories behind her most powerful images, and how she’s used her lens to challenge taboos and celebrate authenticity. Listeners will discover:How Barbara Nitke captures intimacy, vulnerability, and truth through photographyHer evolution as an artist navigating the film and fine art worldsInsights on creativity, perseverance, and finding your unique voiceThe emotional and ethical dimensions of photographing real human experiencesWhether you’re a photographer, artist, or creative thinker, this conversation will leave you inspired to see the world—and yourself—through a more compassionate lens.👉 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or YouTube to explore the art of storytelling through the eyes of Barbara Nitke. #BarbaraNitke #PhotographyPodcast #ArtistInterview #CreativeJourney #FineArtPhotography #BehindTheLens #PhotographyInspiration #VisualStorytellingAmerican photographer Barbara Nitke whose life has taken her from hardcore porn sets to the BDSM world and to the fashion world as her art evolves. She is as ambitious as ever expanding her many talents to currently producing her own movie American Ecstasy, which is projected to begin filming in 2026. As a vibrant septuagenarian, Barbara has widened her aperture across a career that began in the porn theaters of the 80s where she was tasked to screen more than 100 films; to the high art of the fashion industry in the reality TV show Project Runway, which she shot for 18 seasons. Barbara was born in Lynchburg, VA in 1950 the eldest of three children to Eloise “Vicky” Smiley Gregory, a meteorologist who worked for 30 years at the National Weather Service, and Paul Gervase Gregory, Jr., a WWII veteran and air traffic controller. Barbara has a younger brother, Gary Gregory, a software developer, and sister Mary Jane Gregory, a glass artist. She describes her childhood as unhappy and rebellious, constantly seeking her own independence. It was 1967 before her father disclosed an earlier marriage to the family and in 1987 she discovered that the author and sex researcher Shere Hite was her half-sister. Barbara’s family moved across the country when she was a child from Virginia to Alaska, which meant she attended a variety of schools. For college Barbara made her way to New York to study business, literature and writing at Baruch College, and photography at the International Center for Photography and School of Visual Arts. In her late 20’s she started photographing professionally and in1982, she says she found her subject on a porn set when she was given full access to be creative. Her first marriage to Herb Nitke lasted 13 years and gave her opportunities to develop her photographic skills in an unlikely world. Among her many credits are Hustlers, 2019, Monsterland, 2020, The Equalizer, 2021, The Gilded Age, 2023, Smile, 2024 and Project Runway - 225 episodes from 2004-2021. Barbara’s work has been exhibited internationally at venues including Storage APT, New York; the Hartnett Gallery at University of Rochester; One Eyed Jacks Gallery, Brighton, England; and Barristers, New Orleans. She is included in the permanent collections of the Kinsey Institute, the Finnish Museum of Photography, the Leslie-Lohman Museum, and others. Her images have been the subject of articles in numerous venues, including Office Magazine, Forbes, Dazed, Slate, Vice, Harper’s Magazine, and The New York Times. Barbara is married to Kenneth Wyban an Army Veteran and the couple divide their time between New York City and Ohio.Barbara’s links: https://www.barbaranitke.com/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0632987/https://www.instagram.com/barbaranitke/ Some of Barbara’s favorite female artists:Mary Ellen MarkDiane ArbusSally MannCindy ShermanMarilyn Minter Host: Chris StaffordProduced by Hollowell StudiosFollow @theaartpodcast on InstagramAART on FacebookEmail: theaartpodcast@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.A Hollowell Studios ProductionInstagram: @theaartpodcast Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell StudiosAll Rights Reserved

Step inside the mind and heart of Jana Ireijo, a celebrated muralist, painter, and public artist whose large-scale works transform walls into stories of resilience, community, and identity. In this intimate and introspective interview, Jana opens up about her creative process, the emotional layers behind her murals, and how she finds purpose through art that lives beyond the gallery. From her early inspirations to the challenges of creating in public spaces, Jana shares insights on creativity, self-expression, and the courage it takes to make art that speaks to others. Whether you’re an artist, creative thinker, or simply someone seeking inspiration, this episode invites you to reflect on how art connects us all — and how every wall can become a canvas for change.🎧 Keywords: Jana Ireijo, muralist interview, street art, public art, creativity, artist story, creative journey, introspective podcast, art and purpose, creative inspiration, mural painting, women artists, art podcast, creative mindset.Jana Ireijo is an Hawaii born muralist whose passion as a conservation artist is born out of a love of art that started at a very young age. Jana creates vanishing murals using charcoal gathered from areas recently affected by wildfires. This material, formed by the heat of the flames, carries the story of destruction and renewal that is intrinsic to the natural world. She says her art is a reflection of the transience and impermanence of life and nature. Born in Honolulu in 1968, Jana has spent most of her life in transit leaving the island for California, before attending grad school in New York, then as a divorced woman to Connecticut where she raised her family, and finally returning to Hawai’i in 2023, where she has come full circle. Jana is the eldest of three children; she has a younger sister and brother. Her parents Rona August, a realtor, father James Ireijo, and step-father Joel August (both attorneys) encouraged Jana as a child to explore the arts, taking her to museums and galleries, and ensuring she always had access to arts and crafts. It was her mother that recognized a natural talent and told Jana she would become an artist. When the time came to choice her career pathway, Jana was drawn to advertising and after graduating from H. P. Baldwin High School (Maui) in 1986, she headed for the University of Hawai’i at Manoa to earn a BFA in Graphic Design in1991. She then attended Pratt Institute, New York, where she earned an MFA Painting in 1999. Jana took ten years off from her art to raise a family before turning her hand to public murals and developing her own style. Now back in the islands as an empty nester, Jana has immersed herself in her passion for environmental issues, such as the ocean, deep sea mining, and helping her community. She is also working on her first book for children entitled Vanishing Moon. Jana’s links:https://janaireijo.co/https://www.instagram.com/janaireijo Some favorite female artists:Gillian Jagger - sculptor - she was my thesis advisor at Pratt, and a huge influence in my practice. Maya LinLita AlbuquerqueNina Bentley Host: Chris StaffordProduced by Hollowell StudiosFollow @theaartpodcast on InstagramAART on FacebookEmail: hollowellstudios@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.A Hollowell Studios ProductionInstagram: @theaartpodcast Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell StudiosAll Rights Reserved

Step inside the mind and creative world of Catalina Gómez Beuth, an internationally recognized fine artist whose evocative works explore emotion, memory, and the human experience. In this introspective interview, Catalina opens up about her artistic journey, her connection to color, form, and intuition, and how her personal evolution shapes the way she sees and creates. 🎧 Join us as we talk about:The emotional layers behind Catalina’s most powerful worksHow she finds meaning and mindfulness in the creative processThe intersection of culture, identity, and artHer path from early inspiration to international exhibitionsHow art can become a tool for healing, reflection, and transformationWhether you’re an art lover, creative thinker, or someone seeking inspiration, this conversation will leave you reflecting on your own creative spirit.✨ Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube — tune in and discover the soul behind the canvas.Colombian fine artist, Catalina Gomez Beuth. Catalina says: ‘Through my art I narrate, with brush strokes in people’s faces, each person’s individuality, avoiding the boundaries created by skin color and ethnicity.” She invites the viewer to start a conversation and connect with something deeper to discover the humanity we all share and to feel the raw emotions such as innocence, hopelessness, loneliness, resilience, happiness, determination and more that she portrays in each canvas. Catalina was born in Medellín, Colombia in 1970 to parents Rosita Beuth, a house wife, and Jorge Gomez, a businessman who divorced when she was 17. Catalina has a younger brother and sister. As a child she was constantly drawn to her art which proved her refuge when her family life became challenging. After High School she studied fashion design at the Escuela De Diseño Proyectual (School of Design Proyectual) and further developed her interest for design while studying in Italy. Upon graduating she worked for seven years in her father’s factory, which, she says, was more of a job than a career. However, her true passion has always been painting and she found time to continue her art and begin selling it in Colombia. Catalina met her future husband while on vacation in the US and in 2001 the couple moved to the US where she was able to establish a studio and become a professional artist while raising a family. Catalina lives in Georgia with her husband Jose Pablo Cellario and two children Camilla and Matias. Catallna’s links: Website: https://www.catalinagomezbeuthart.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catalinagomezbeuthart/ Some of Catalina’s favorite artists: Suzy Schultz Lene Kilde Lita Cabellut Produced by Hollowell StudiosFollow @theaartpodcast on InstagramThe AART Podcast on YouTube has bonus content not included on the podcast.Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/aart--5814675/support.A Hollowell Studios ProductionInstagram: @theaartpodcast Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com© Copyright: Chris Stafford | Hollowell StudiosAll Rights Reserved