Celebrating Art Podcast

Thirty years ago, as Tom and Ann Morrow prepared for the inaugural Celebration of Fine Art, over one hundred artists submitted samples of their work to be considered for the show. Among those selected to participate were painters Graydon Foulger, Marty Le Messurier and Kirk Randle. Incredibly, these three haven’t missed a year ever since.

In this episode of the Celebrating Art Podcast, Susan invites Graydon, Marty and Kirk to take a stroll down memory lane. They share behind-the-scenes stories from the first show, like how record-breaking rain causes flooding in the tent. They also discuss the ways in which their art has evolved, why millennials are keeping artists on their toes and the power of community support, including how collectors from the early days have become longtime friends.

Rebecca Pashia never intended to be an artist. In fact, she never went to art school. But from a young age, she was drawn to the arts, including singing and dancing. In college, she focused on interior design and teaching, but the urge to create never left. Rebecca eventually founded several businesses that engaged art lovers in the creative process through private classes, group parties and team building events. Today she has sold more than 1,400 paintings, and has embraced her true calling as an artist.

In this episode, Susan welcomes Rebecca to discuss her journey to becoming an artist, including how she overcame insecurities about her technique and hesitations about her uncompetitive nature. Rebecca shares the moment when being an oil painter finally clicked for her and why thinking of herself as a windowpane helps ensure the light always shines through her works. Rebecca also talks about why her paintings need to be grounded in emotions, her unique approach to doing commissions and how being an artist has influenced her children.

Michael Jones is a prominent metal artist based out of Bigfork, Montana, who has been participating in the Celebration of Fine Art for more than 20 years. His works of art include bold sculptures, eye-catching wall pieces and totems, as well as custom gates and fire screens that hang in many of America’s most beautiful homes. His medium may seem confounding to some; after all, steel can be cold and hard. But Michael loves a challenge, and in his many decades as an artist, he has mastered the art of manipulating metal and bringing it to life.

In this episode, Michael joins Susan to pull back the curtain on the production side of his art, how growing up in the Napa Valley influenced his artistic eye and why his heart will always belong to Montana. Michael also shares what inspired his early works of American folk and prehistoric art, along with the more contemporary style he’s recognized for today. Next they chat about the commission side of his business, including how a collector’s unique interests, architectural style and geographical location help Michael determine the right story to tell.

Leslie Duke is an oil painter based in Springville, Utah. Her enthusiasm for the arts was apparent from a young age, and her parents fostered her interest by signing her up for classes by local artists. Leslie went on to study illustration and graphic design at Brigham Young University, but after a few years of working in the field she felt dissatisfied. Sensing she needed a change, she challenged herself to start painting again. She began with small still lifes, setting a goal to paint every day for a month. Her daily practices soon unleashed her passion for capturing beauty in everyday subjects, and she knew it was time to transition to painting full-time. Today Leslie’s works are celebrated for conveying profound emotions and moods through her masterful use of color, space and texture.

In this episode of the Celebrating Art Podcast, Leslie joins Susan Morrow Potje to talk about her journey, including how her time apprenticing with one local artist shaped her approach to art today. Leslie also shares lessons she’s learned from fellow artists, especially the importance of following her feelings and painting what she loves.

Matt Sievers is an oil painter based in Rigby, Idaho whose love of art bloomed when he was a child studying under his father Greg Sievers, an acclaimed painter who has participated in the Celebration of Fine Art for more than 25 years. And while his dad instilled the foundation of his artistry, Matt’s style is uniquely his own.

From windswept landscapes to bold barns, Matt’s works focus on the connections between nature and people. He pushes the boundaries of his paintings so they teeter between being simple and stylized. He slightly exaggerates his subjects to make their colors pop and adds texture and dimension through spontaneous brushstrokes and swipes from his palette knife. More recently he’s experimented with transparent layers to convey a deepness, creating images such as trees you can almost see into.

In this episode, Susan and Matt explore the business side of art and his past experience as a gallery owner. Matt shares how his art has evolved from whimsical and light paintings to the peaceful and grounded works he creates today. He describes the techniques he uses to capture a subject’s energy and emotion, and why he is so intrigued by the connections between humans and nature.