In this Studio session I’m joined by Jenny Stringleman and Amanda Billing for another casual and varied discussion. We talk about our evolving work routines, differences in working styles, and the concept of chronotypes. We touch on online art criticism, & explore the impact of social media on artists and the differences, connections and reasons behind the art we create and the art we collect.

Recommendations :

• Bianca Bosker's book 'Get the Picture'
• The contemporary British Contemporary Portrait Painters group,
• Mark Fennell’s podcast No One Saw it Coming and film ‘The Mission.

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Sarah Jane Moon’s episode on The Creative Kind
• Everything The Art World doesn’t want you to know
• Justin Bua’s instagram page
• Andrew Salgado
• Charlotte Robinson

You can find Amanda here, her newsletter here and her earlier interview episode here

You can find Jenni here and her newsletter here and her earlier interview episode here

You can find the podcast here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

xJB

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In this episode, I’m joined by Mandy Jakich—artist, educator and founder of Creative Matters & Creative Connections Podcas—to talk about the role of community in a creative life.

Mandy shares how her need for connection as a self-taught artist led her to start building her own audiences early on, from hosting exhibitions at home to developing wider educational initiatives. She reflects on her time at Auckland Art Gallery, the role of the Muriwai Artists Collective, and the evolution of her podcast and art education business—all of which have centred around creative connection.

We talk about how artist communities can provide accountability, emotional support and practical motivation, and how small acts of collaboration can create unexpected ripple effects. Mandy also shares how she’s carving out time to return to her own art practice, and the balance between leading others and holding space for herself.

You can find the Creative Matters podcast here, here on apple and here on Spotify!

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In this episode, I sit down with Richelle Byers & Liz Fraser from Gallery De Novo in Dunedin. Richelle and Liz reflect on how a gallery space can create community and connection when it’s open, conversational, and unintimidating.

We chat about the idea of community and connection and how that can be built and shared through a commercial gallery—what they look for in artists, how relationships form between artists, gallerists and collectors, and how taste, instinct and storytelling shape the work they choose to represent. We talk about what it means to truly “fall” for an artwork, how personal and emotional that process can be for collectors.

There’s also reflection on what it means to see work in the flesh — why scale, texture, and presence can’t always be captured on a screen — and how that in-person experience helps galleries stay grounded in community.

You can find Gallery De Novo here and here on instagram - Their 20th anniversary show opens on the 28th &29th of June so go along and congratulate them if you can!

Mentioned in this episode:

- Ana Teafilo

- Lee Byford-Daynes

- Ewan McDougal

- Jasmine Middlebrook

- Maria Kemp

- John Badcock

- Marilyn Webb

You can find the podcast here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

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n this episode, we dive into the powerful intersection of art, culture, and community with Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole, the duo behind Wharenui Harikoa. From creating spaces that encourage introspection and connection, to collaborating across cultures, Lissy and Rudi share the deeply personal and healing process behind this transformative art installation. We explore the impact of Wharenui Harikoa as a vessel for emotional release, where visitors share their most intimate wishes—a practice that calls to mind the ancient Matariki rituals of letting go and releasing energy into the universe.

We also talk about the ongoing evolution of their work, including a new vision for future Wharenui installations and their upcoming projects, like an international exhibition at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. The conversation also touches on the importance of community involvement and the meditative power of crochet, which is central to their practice.

This episode is a deep exploration of art’s ability to create bridges of understanding, foster dialogue, and invite both the artist and viewer into spaces of healing and connection.

You can Buy a Ball & support to Lissy & Rudi here

You can find their website here: and their instagram here:

Lissy & Rudi Have a Show on from June 12 - July 5 with Time Melville Gallery in Auckland, Whiria Ngā Kanorau – Weave the Many Colours/Seeds

You can find the podcast here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

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In this episode, I chat with Melbourne-based artist Rita Stella about navigating the complexities of the emerging artist. We talk about how Rita found gallery representation through a local art prize, why she’s cautious about prints and commissions, and the value of trusting her own pace—even when the art world seems to demand more, faster. We cover the realities of finding time for art around parenting and work, learning to define success on your own terms, and how to tune out the noise and just make what you want to make.

Rita shares what it was like to leave a stable career and commit to painting, and why she’s deliberately resisted pressure to scale her art business too quickly. We also chat about pricing work, and the importance of creative community.

You can find Rita here

People mentioned:

• Art to Art
• David Hamilton from Melbourne Art Class
• Medeline Simson episode
• Wentworth Gallery episode on Pricing
• Ebony Taylor

You can find the podcast here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

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In this episode, Carrie Scott, an art dealer, shares practical advice for emerging artists. She stresses the importance of tracking sales, clients, and works right from the start, which helps when approaching galleries down the line. Carrie also advises artists to price their work carefully and avoid pricing themselves out of their market.

Carrie talks about the need for persistence in the art world, emphasising that success doesn’t happen overnight. She also highlights the importance of knowing when and how to approach galleries.The conversation also touches on the complexities of social media for artists. Carrie acknowledges its usefulness in discovering and connecting with audiences but points out that it requires a significant amount of effort and can push artists out of their comfort zones. This is a conversation about how patience plays a bigger role than most people expect, and how underneath the labels and everything else, it's about doing the work and not rushing the process.

You can find Carrie Scott Here

You can find the Seen membership here

You can find the Seen Podcast here on apple podcasts or here on spotify

You can find the podcast here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Discussed in the episode:

• Airtable
• You can find Carrie’s interview with Lubaina Hamid here

Mentioned in the episode:

• Amy Sherald
• Celia Martine Pickering
• Lindsay Young
• Lubaina Himid
• CJ Hendry
• Chris Proctor
• Ryan Gander

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In this episode, Sarah Lubcke discusses her journey into portraiture. Sarah reflects on the many stages of her portrait journey: learning anatomy and likeness, finding a supportive community of portrait artists, and developing an eye not just for faces and skin tones, but for the emotional life inside each image. She also opens up about the challenges of painting backgrounds—and how she’s learning to consider the whole composition, not just the figure.

Sarah also touches on the importance of building a supportive network and finding the right mentors who can help you progress. Sarah talks about the importance of feedback in her artistic growth, discussing how connecting with trusted peers helps refine her work and overcome challenges. She also opens up about the value of self-belief and perseverance, especially during tough times when the work isn’t going as planned.

You can find Sarah Lubcke’s website here and on Instagram here

You can find the podcast here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Previous conversations with Kylie King-Hazel and Penelope Boyd

• Romance Was Born
• Teresa Barnard
• David Kassan
• Shana Levenson
• Chroma Brush Cleaner ( I think I called it Chromacryl, no idea why..)
• Georgia Loring

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