This is How We Create

Welcome back to  the This is How We Create podcast. I’m your host, Martine Severin.

A few months ago, I hosted a talk with Portland Maine Photographer, Sean Alonzo Harris where he shared his images from past exhibitions.

Today I’m sharing an episode of American Photographic’s Artists’ Series called Scope with you. While this conversation will be slightly different than our general This is How We Create shows, I hope you’ll learn about How you as an artist can create personal work and find a gallery or a space to exhibit this work.

During this conversation, Sean Alonzo Harris will talk about his journey as a photographer and will shed a light on his artistic practice.

View Sean Alonzo Harris's Scope interview: https://youtu.be/ARYtwpGObww

Check out Sean's Work: https://www.seanalonzoharris.com/

Visit Sean on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/seanalonzoharris/

Keep up with your host Martine Severin https://martineseverin.com/  Follow This Is How We Create on IG. https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_/

This episode of How We Create and edited and produced and edited by Martine Severin.

Today, our guest Farissa Knox, who is a Chicago-based author, producer and entrepreneur.

Farissa is Founder and CEO of RLM Media, an integrated marketing and communications advertising

agency, and WhatRUWearing (WRUW) Productions. As will become evident through our conversation, Farissa is a visionary creative executive, passionate storyteller and tastemaker. She shares the insider journey of creating her own agency, how she set up her business and the surprises she learned along the way!

Get to know Farissa Knox:

https://www.instagram.com/farissaknox/

RLM Media: https://rlm-media.net/

Purchase Farissa’s book: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AFarissa+Knox&s=relevancerank&text=Farissa+Knox&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Keep up with your host Martine Severin https://martineseverin.com/  Follow This Is How We Create on IG. https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_/

This is How We Create and edited and produced by Martine Severin and edited by Ray Abercrombie

How you wondered how some people manage to craft a path towards their dreams and goals even when they haven’t a roadmap to get to where they want to go? They don’t quite know how things will go, but they take one step at at time towards their true North.

This episode details Nathalie Gordon’s story. Much like many of the artists we’ve featured on This is How We Create, Nathalie possesses the conviction of purpose.

My main take away from our conversation is how much Nathalie understands and trust herself. That trust allows her to be courageous in life, to follow  her gut, to create the work that is unique to her and even to move from one country to another.

I’ve admired Nathalie’s work for years and am honored to talk with her about what drives her work and her creativity.

Born and raised in London but now based in LA, Nathalie is known as photographer for her hyper realistic style. Her work is packed with high sheen and edge, yet she is able to maintain a realistic and believable representation of her subjects.

Her use of high flash and big gloss, keep you on the edge they keep you wanting more as her work incorporates human feelings and emotion in a photorealistic way.

Get to know Nathalie Gordon

https://www.nathaliegordon.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photonathalie/

Keep up with your host Martine Severin https://martineseverin.com/  Follow This Is How We Create on IG. https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_/

This is How We Create and edited and produced by Martine Severin

On the podcast today, we’re chatting with photographer Thalia Gochez. When I first came across Thalia work, I gasped. She creates portraits of the womxn in her neighborhood in a tender yet commanding way.  She arrests your attention to convey her love and respect for her subjects.

A print of Thalia’s work hangs proudly in my home. Each time I pass this image of two young women sitting on a stoop, I settle more securely into myself. I see more beauty in the world.

During our conversation, we talk about how Thalia centers herself in order to create work. We cover what she demands when taking a commission in order to create her special brand of magic.  This episode is a masterclass in how to step into your power.

Book recommendation:  All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks

Stay in touch with Thalia Gochez:  https://www.instagram.com/thaliagochez/

This is How We Create has been edited by Casandra Voltolina.

I’m excited to welcome architect and design tastemaker Obiora Nwazota to the show!

Obiara will talk to us about how his experience in design and architecture and understanding of Igbo culture aided him in writing a successful children’s book.  Through his writing and work, Obiora normalizes stories that celebrates Igbo culture and provides us with a different lens through which to view Black culture.

Obi moved to the US from Nigeria to study architecture.  Upon his graduation he went on to work at the most innovative design firms in Chicago.  From there, he would found his own firm, ONA formation, where he created several acclaimed projects influencing various scenes and cultures throughout Chicago before becoming the owner of the Orange Skin Showroom and Minotti-Chicago MonoBrand Showroom.

In 2020 Obi launched ỌKPARA HOUSE©, whose mission is to harness the power of good design, dialogue, and academic research as powerful agents to stimulate, reactivate, elevate, and reimagine Igbo culture. Through this, he reclaims and asserts Igbo culture's relevance to contemporary lifestyles within and beyond the Igbo community.

In April 2021, Okpara House Publishing released their first book, “Nkemdiche, Why We Do Not Grow Beards," an all-ages illustrated storybook.

During our conversation with Obi, we will discuss how he came to architecture and how growing up Igbo influences everything he does.

We talk about what culture means and what it means to be of African Descent in these modern times and how to think about imbuing rituals in our every day routines.

We close the discussion with the story of how he came to write his book, "Nkemdiche, Why We Do Not Grow Beards.”

Get to know Obiara Nwazota

https://www.okparahouse.com/shop

https://www.instagram.com/okparahouse/

Catch up with your host, Martine Séverin

www.martineseverin.com

https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/

This is How We Create has been edited by Martine Severin.

Episode 32 How Ayana Ross Became a Figurative Painter
Ayana Ross is an American figurative artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds an MA degree in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design, a MA in Liberal Art from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a BS in Design and Merchandising from Georgia Southern University.
She has exhibited in several group shows, including The Bennett Prize II, Rising Voices group exhibition that will exhibit throughout the United States until 2023.
In addition, her work is held in a number of prominent collections worldwide. In 2020, Ross was named a recipient of the National Black Art Forward Artist Grant.
In 2021 Ross was named the winner of The Bennett Prize II, the largest prize offered solely to women figurative painters. 
Get to know Ayana Ross:
https://www.ayanaross.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ayanarossart/
Keep up with Martine Severin https://martineseverin.com/
Follow This Is How We Create on IG. https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_/
Thanks for listening. This is How We Create is produced and edited by me, Martine Severin. Production help has been provided by Ray Abercrombie!

I’m so happy to welcome Joy Dolo to the podcast today.

Joy Dolo is an Actor, Writer, Educator, and Podcast Host based in Minneapolis, Minnesota!

She is an avid comedienne and is the co-creator of Blackout Improv, the first all black Improv troupe in Minnesota.

Joy also Hosts for American Public Media Kids podcasts "Forever Ago" - a fun podcast that explores the history of objects. By the way, Forever Ago is back it’s hilarious so give it a listen if you have kiddos. And even give it a listen without kids. You’ll have fun!

During our time together Joy and I discuss her journey to improv and comedy as well as how vulnerability can be a conduit to creativity. She even shares an exercise you can use to ground yourself so that you can guarantee your success in what you achieve.

As you’ll be able to tell, Joy and I had a great time together. I hope you enjoy your conversation as well.
Listen to Forever Ago: https://www.brainson.org/collection/forever-ago-podcast 

Contact at joydolo.org

Keep up with Martine Severin https://martineseverin.com/
Follow This Is How We Create on IG. https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_/ 

Thanks for listening. This is How We Create is produced and edited by me, Martine Severin. Production help has been provided by Ray Abercrombie!

Episode: 30

We’ll start Season 3 talking about a dirty word that starts with the letter F!

No, not that F, silly! We’re going to talk about that other F that has us cringing, second guessing ourselves and dealing with the consequences of our actions and inactions. We’re going to talk about Failure!

We've invited two past guests and one guest from Season 3 to talk with you about Failure.  Each person will share a memory of when things didn’t quite worked out as expected and in turn share what they learned from that episode of their life.

First up is Kristyn Ivey (Episode 23) who shares a financial failure with credit cards that would end up changing her relationship with money.

Priya Shah (Episode 26) shares what happens when a partnership fails and why it’s important to outline out shared values when entering into partnerships.

As a sneak peek into Season, 3, you’ll get to meet Farissa Knox from a coming episode. Farissa shares 3 failures she encountered while running her media company. One such fumble includes when to seek out financing necessary to keep her business afloat, another is on the power of persistence, and lastly she tackles perfection!

I hope you’ll enjoy the show. Send us a voice memo to [email protected] to share your dances with “failure!” I’d love to feature you on the next Failure round up!

Here’s to welcoming more F bombs in your life.

Keep up with Martine Severin https://martineseverin.com/

Follow This Is How We Create on IG. https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_/

Thanks for listening. This is How We Create is produced and edited by me, Martine Severin. Production help has been provided by Ray Abercrombie!

Hello! Martine Severin here.

The best artists create work that seems simply effortless. As an illustrator and fine artist, Raymond Bonilla’s work captures beautiful fleeting moments.

During our time together Ray tells us how he came to fall in love with illustration and with fine art.   We spend some time talking about how you don’t have to born an artist. You can acquire the skills and later turn those skills into your own style. Lastly, we turn our attention to the art of process and how Raymond’s teachers have influenced and guided him along his journey!

Enjoy!

Learn more about Raymond Bonilla: https://www.raymondbonilla.com/ https://www.instagram.com/raybonillapainter/ 

Live Brush - Twitch link: https://www.twitch.tv/livebrush  

Live Brush - YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoA3RO9a683hh4eWP3PiHVA  

Meibohm Fine Arts: https://www.meibohmfinearts.com/artists/details/1465  

Abend Gallery:https://abendgallery.com/artist/raymond-bonilla  

Arcadia Contemporary: http://www.arcadiacontemporary.com/catalogs/2020/five-and-under-revised.php/   

Stay connected with Martine Séverin:

https://martineseverin.com/

https://www.instagram.com/martine.sev...

This is How We Create has been edited by Henry Edwards

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI), take a listen to one of my favorite conversations with Chicago-based ceramicist, Danielle Chutinthranond of Monsoon Pottery.

Essentialism and minimalism are always on Danielle's mind when creating. To that end, she believes that the objects in our homes should be useful, durable, and beautiful. In service to these beliefs, all of her work is microwave, dishwasher, and even oven safe. Beautiful doesn’t have to be precious. Useful can still be romantic. Danielle specializes in ceramic dinnerware and housewares. She credits her inspiration to nature, classic Asian motifs, Chinatown, and—over everything else—restaurant and food culture.

She grew up in a Thai/Pacific rim restaurant in upstate New York and learned from a very young age that food is special, personal, and becomes even more meaningful when presented with care and attention to detail. Each piece Danielle makes is focused on enhancing the beauty and ritual of your table.

Monsoon Pottery:  https://monsoonpottery.com/

Connect with Danielle on IG:  https://www.instagram.com/monsoonpottery/

Book Recommendation: The Secret History by Donna Tartt

How to be an AntiRacist  by Ibram X. Kendi

This is How We Create has been edited by Casandra Voltolina.

Stay connected with Martine Séverin:

https://martineseverin.com/