Interviews with interesting people
Alki is a little peninsula with beautiful view of Seattle. It’s a great place to be an artist. And it’s the place where Jennifer Carrasco paints murals. As a child, she learned to paint on large pieces of newsprint. It must have been formative because she continues to paint large, up to 30×40 feet.
If you like the cover art on the cover of New Yorker magazine, you like Mark Ulriksen’s work. He is an artist, painter, illustrator, and lover of baseball and dogs. His subjects are often famous people. And I’m going to commission Mark to paint my portrait…just as soon as I’m rich and famous.
This is the story of how you can start out with a degree in psychology but became a fine artist. Or at least how Jere Smith did it. He always was an artist but it took Jere a couple of decades to accept that description of himself. His journey to art included living in Alaska and a trip to Europe. But no matter how long it took, Jere is happy he has finally arrived.
You may have seen Peter Baylies on TV or heard him on the radio. This professional photographer turned stay at home Dad, started a newsletter and wrote a book to help other Dads. Staying home is work too, and, as Peter notes, very fulfilling.
What’s it like turning hobbies into businesses?
Seattle is a great place for woodworking and wine making. And Tom Stangeland does both. Separately. He’s just a multi-talented craftsman who likes to turn hobbies into businesses.
Use the player below or click this link: Tom Stangeland Interview
Darrel Peart was inspired by watching his great-grandfather do carpentry. But his own woodworking career began by making hanging planters that he sold in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. His early success meant he had no time to learn more advanced skills. So he stopped selling, got a job in a cabinet shop, and began the process of getting the skills that make him a popular furniture designer, builder, teacher and writer.
What happens when you whisper at wood? When Marc Spagnuolo does it, it talks back…but in a nice way. He gave up working in a lab or cubicle for the adventure of starting a podcast on woodworking. Even more surprising is that his wife supported his efforts. And the show has been a hit. Marc’s advice: buy your equipment before you leave your day job. To check out Marc’s site click here.