As my wife, Becca, and I sat down at the brewery in Gunnison, Colo., the college-aged kid who would serve us our lunch asked if we were local or passing through. We were part way home after having picked up some photographs from my latest art show. Becca told him Read more…
As a teenager in high school, I’d occasionally poke my head into the art classroom or look through the window of the door. I was curious. I’d look at the drawing tables and potter’s wheels, and the students’ artwork hanging along the walls. And I’d wonder what it was like. Read more…
Overview: Savannalore is an artist, writer, “creative hype-woman,” and “bad art” advocate in Austin, Texas. In this conversation, we talk about why she makes art that she calls “beautiful trash,” and how it’s been a process for overcoming a life of conformity and perfectionism. We talk about blowing up on TikTok and Read more…
Overview: Ruben Rojas is a muralist, designer, poet and activist who was on a path to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, then left it behind for big money in the real estate game — and then lost everything. In this conversation, we talk about that hero’s journey, the ups and downs, Read more…
Overview: Lisa Congdon is an illustrator, and the author of eight books, most recently: “Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic.” Her client list runs deep, including the Obama Campaign, the United Nations, Lululemon, Crate & Barrel, MoMA, REI, AirBnB, Martha Stewart Living … In this Read more…
Overview: Sara Meghdari, an interdisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, NY., is Iranian and American. She comes from a family that honors two religions, two languages and two cultures. We talked as protests grew across the United States after police officers in Minneapolis killed George Floyd. This, on top of months of Read more…
Cody Oldham is a professional wildlife and landscape painter who lives with his family — and several mountain lions that Cody’s dad rehabilitates for return to the wild — on 20 acres in the mountains of Colorado. As you will hear in this conversation, Cody also is a rather precocious Read more…
Brian Tryon is developing rolls of 35-millimeter film in a darkroom. He unfurls a roll he’s already processed and holds it to the light to get an early look at what’s there. Whatever he sees there, it’s a success. “Even if it’s not ideally what I wanted, it’s still, ‘I Read more…
Gregg Deal is a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe with origins in what is now known as Nevada. He is a contemporary artist who is known nationally for his incisive wit and strong willingness to provide voice to the oft-dismissed Native perspective. In the first part of this Read more…
In “The Last American Indian on Earth,” Gregg Deal has a lot to say — even when he’s not actually speaking. Maybe he is existing silently in a public space, walking through a shopping mall or standing on a city sidewalk. Maybe he’s ripping through the scene on one of Read more…
Charles H. Rockey died on June 16, at 87 years of age. The news was shared thousands of times via social media in the hours and days that followed, posts marked with teary-eyed emojis, and comments of love and appreciation from near and far. Known affectionately as “Rockey” around the Read more…
Ramón Aguirre’s paintings express his interest in mortality and death as a matter of life. In conversation he’s easy-going and generous, and laughs often. We sat down to talk in Ramón’s above-garage studio, where he paints and otherwise creates, where philosophy books and analog cameras he still uses are within Read more…
There are many worthy things author Neil Gaiman offers in his 2012 address to graduating students at the University of the Arts. The video is below. They are honest things born of experience. And they especially hit home for me on a day when I was getting caught in a rabbit Read more…
Natural light and wafting incense, works of art and elements of nature shape the space of Jasmine Dillavou’s studio in downtown Colorado Springs. Jasmine, 25, works full-tilt within the creative life. As a full-time henna artist at La Henna Boheme in downtown Manitou Springs. As a contemporary artist with an Read more…
By his own recognition, Vincent Coleman is going through a lot of changes. He’s making connections. He’s growing, as an artist and a human being. He sees it happening. Feels it. Vincent, 26, is immersed in creative work at Smokebrush Foundation. He took a break from hanging a sizeable art Read more…
Ace McCasland and her Studio Luna Verde have a following. The hard-won creative voice that calls to lovers of her jewelry design and metalsmithing is one she’s honed through nearly 30 years of living rugged and ready, open to adventure and … mostly not at the flame and workbench. Ace, Read more…
Large portraits, bright and colorful paintings, hang on the walls of Molly McClure’s house. In her kitchen, hallway, living room and elsewhere. They are hers, her work. Some of them even are her face. Molly, 31, sat down with Humanitou and a cup of tea. She offered thoughtful and unflinching Read more…
A chance encounter in May 2017 has played an integral role in the existence of Humanitou. It started with my playing hooky from work on a Friday to go soak in the mineral waters at SunWater Spa in Manitou Springs, Colo. I was looking to clear space in my mind. Read more…
Abby Kreuser does a lot of things. She has at least three jobs, plus is a full-time mom to a toddler son, Caius. She has been in the coffee business for more than half her life, and continues as a roaster producing coffee for a local shop. With her expertise Read more…
The internal ride of making art and sharing it in public can be day-to-day at times. I’ve got several months until my first solo photography show in June 2019, at Kreuser Gallery. The subject matter is in my hands. No pressure is put on me. I get to just be Read more…