Artist Next Level With Sergio Gomez | Interviews, Resources And Business Practices For The Contemporary Artist

I am Christy Lee, better known as Christybomb, a visual artist based out of New York City and Charleston, WV. The "Christybomb" moniker was given to me by friends because of the energy and vivaciousness embodied within my art. I was born in Louisville, Kentucky and graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelor's degree in biology and a minor in public health. In spite of my research biologist training, I ultimately came to the realization that creating art could be more than a hobby. This realization occurred when I was living in Japan after the tsunami and earthquake of 2011, with the subsequent reflection and introspection that resulted from this upheaval. I was inspired to create a completely self-taught portfolio of work, which resulted in my acceptance into the prestigious MFA Fine Arts program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where I received my MFA in Fine Arts degree. One of the more significant accomplishments of my formal education was bringing glitter and other craft

Childhood Fractured is a Humanities based Human Rights Initiative centered on exploring, defining, and preventing the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The foundation of this project is a series of 13 paintings each with a written narrative meant to explore the childhood sexual abuse of artist, Allen Vandever. This contemporary artwork functions as a creative interface for the public to be made aware of the realities of childhood sexual abuse told from the male perspective and to foster constructive, critical, and positive dialogues on this topic. The artwork and their respective narratives are currently being compiled into a book. This book will also feature expository writings on the topic of childhood sexual abuse, current medical research, and critical analysis of what we can do as a society in relation to childhood sexual abuse and exploitation.

In this podcast episode, Sergio and Dr Yanina Gomez discuss the features and benefits of the Art NXT Level program. In their conversation, they answer recently asked questions and clarify what the program is and how it works. The Art NXT Level program helps artists manage their art career and take it to the next level.

Charles Gniech is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Joliet Junior College and has been teaching at various colleges and universities for more then twenty-five years. Chuck served as Curator for the galleries of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago from 2002-2013 and acted as the Collections Curator for the Institute’s Corporate Fine Art Collection. In 2013, acting as Curator-at-Large, Chuck launched two traveling group exhibitions—one that addresses human rights issues and the other exploring visual harmony in contemporary art.  In March 2016, he was a member of a four-person panel that presented a session titled "Change Artists-Using the Arts to Leverage Change" at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, 60th Session. In February of 2017, Chuck acted as a Session Chair at the College Art Association, 105th Annual Conference in New York, where the three-member panel defined the ability of fine art to confront social issues on a global scale. Chuck holds a Master of Fine Art degree wit

In this episode, artist Justin Vining shares his story of going through Law School and building a sustainable art career from the ground up.  Justin Vining is an Indianapolis-based artist, specializing in landscapes and cityscapes. Justin studied Art Education at Purdue University and taught elementary art for three years. Following his tenure as a teacher, Justin attended Valparaiso Law school, where he rekindled his love for creating between classes and clerking. Shortly after graduating and passing the bar in 2010, Justin decided to pursue art full time and hasn’t looked back since. Originally from a small farm town in Indiana, Justin finds inspiration from American regionalist painters and WPA-era public works. In his progress as a full-time artist, his artwork has evolved from bright, whimsical watercolors and acrylics to more classical oil scenes. In his exploration of oils, he’s begun working en plein air and exploring more muted, natural tones. In 2017, Justin plans on continuing his exploration in oi

Chicago artist Victoria Fuller has an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and fellowship awards from the Colorado Council on the Arts and Humanities, and the Illinois Arts Council. She also received an Illinois Arts Council CAAP Grant, and was a resident artist at Sculpture Space in Utica, NY and Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, IL. Her large-scale public sculpture “Shoe of Shoes” is in the collection of Caleres Shoes in St. Louis. Sound Transit in Seattle commissioned another large-scale sculpture, “Global Garden Shovel,” and she was commissioned by Comed to create a the sculpture, Peas and Quiet.” In 2016 she was featured in Sculpture Magazine’s May issue, as part of the show “Disruption” at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. Her most recent large-scale public sculpture, titled ”Canoe Fan,” is installed along the Huron River in Ann Arbor, MI.  “Domestic Disturbances” Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago August 4 - October 1, 2017 Alberto Aguilar, Robert Burnier, Lily Dithrich,

In this episode, Sergio & Dr. Yanina Gomez discuss procrastination and provide four practical strategies to get things done. Often it is the mundane, boring or tedious tasks that as artists we put away for later. Things like updating the website, following up with people, taxes filings, and others are the common tasks we try to avoid as much as possible. In this episode, you will find ammunition to fight back procrastination. Do not leave it for later and listen to this episode TODAY!!

Surface Tension: Beauty and Fragility in Lake Michigan A collaboration project between by Nelson Armour and Ted Glasoe It’s a beautiful summer day in Chicago. The sun beats down on the azure waters of Lake Michigan, the fifth-largest lake in the world. Gentle waves lap the sands of a beach. Puffy clouds drift across the sky. But no one is in the water. The lifeguards stand watch over an empty beach. Why? Because raw sewage has fouled the water. It was released into the lake after a torrential rain overwhelmed the municipal storm sewers. This scene has become all too common along the shores of Lake Michigan and in much of the world’s water supply. But untreated municipal sewage overflows are only one of the threats to the health of our water. For example, according to the Alliance for the Great Lakes (greatlakes.org), other major areas of concern for Lake Michigan are nutrient runoff/algae growth, plastic and plastic microbeads, pollution from petroleum refineries and other industries, pharmaceutical polluti

stARTup Art Fair is a unique contemporary art fair for independent artists. The boutique hotel fair provides artists and art enthusiasts with direct access to the art world, in three major cities across the country: San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. The founder, Ray Beldner is himself a sculptor and new media artist whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. He started this fair as a response to issues he faced as an artist in the 21st century art world. His work has been reviewed in several national publications including Art in America, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, and can be found in many public and private collections including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Oakland Museum of California. 

Are you protecting yourself from online art scams? In this episode Sergio talks to gallery owner Renée LaVerné Rose about identifying red flags and prevent possible scams to artists and galleries. Increasingly, scammers get more cleaver in there message and pursue of victims. Artists need to be savvy and smart to protect themselves. Share this episode with your friends.

Join Sergio and Dr. Yanina Gomez as they share their latest free eBook resource for working artists. The Artist Survival Kit 2017: Organization and Productivity Guide will help you organize your art career and use resources to help be more productive. In this podcast, you will learn about tools for managing social media, back up your art, manage your inventory, sales, time and project management, learning and much more. Do not miss out on this useful episode and share it with your artists friends. Download the Artist Survival Kit free eBook at: http://www,theartistnextlevel.com

Tim and Suzanne Smith are a power couple whose career path took them from the New York art scene to open a successful art gallery in the Miami area. Sirona Fine Art is a grand showcase for artists who embrace classic academic structure and technique, yet have an understanding and facility within the modernist landscape in which their work is viewed. Art can appeal to the senses, the emotions and the intellect equally or separately, as long as it connects. Creators who skillfully present their ideas and personalities, constructed with a masterly hand, these are the artists Sirona Fine Art represents.

Do you feel like time is always running short? Do you find yourself struggling to keep up with all the things you have to do as an artist or creative? Stop chasing the world around and get practical strategic advice from Sergio and Dr. Yanina Gomez on how to manage your life/work balance in a way that makes sense to you. In this Part 2 of 2 podcast episodes, we unpack this topic with a few effective tips so you can experienced a more balanced life.

Do you feel like time is always running short? Do you find yourself struggling to keep up with all the things you have to do as an artist or creative? Stop chasing the world around and get practical strategic advice from Sergio and Dr. Yanina Gomez on how to manage your life/work balance in a way that makes sense to you. In this Part 1 of 2 podcast episodes, we unpack this topic with a few effective tips so you can experienced a more balanced life.

What happens when the plans you make for your art career do not go as you wish they would? What happens when plans have to change?  In this episode Sergio & Dr. Yanina Gomez address this issue and provide 4 practical suggestions to avoid feelings of frustration and defeat before they pop up:

Have you ever been asked to facilitate an Artist Talk during your solo exhibition? Chances are that if you have been showing for a while, you have been asked. Perhaps more than once. Yes, it is the dreaded “artist talk” many artists fear about. There are good reasons indeed. For once, you are in the spotlight and people are staring at you and your every move. Aren’t we supposed to make the art and let the people figure it out on their own? Well, it turns out Artists Talks are not such bad idea after all and you do not have to be intimidated by them. In fact, a successful talk may result in greater self-confidence, can lead to increased sales, greater friendships, new connections and future opportunities. And, who wouldn’t want this? In this podcast episode, we help you get ready for your next Artist Talk.

In this episode, Sergio Gomez chats with Thomas Griffin, CEO and Founder of Artsquare about launching an online platform designed to help artists manage their art career. ArtSquare is an online platform designed to save time managing your art career by instantly publishing your artwork to multiple online platforms that work best for you. 

In this episode, Sergio Gomez talks with Elias Martin, Director of Floating World Gallery about the world of collecting, the art market and the future of international art fairs. As a dealer, curator to private clients, collector, and educator with 16 years of professional experience, Elias has helped build important private collections and has placed works at notable public institutions. He is passionate about educating both his clients and the public on the fine art of woodblock prints in the Ukiyo-e, Shin Hanga, and Sosaku Hanga traditions, as well as on contemporary Japanese sculpture and painting. He has a special place in his heart for Sosaku Hanga and has personally amassed one of the world’s foremost collections.

In this episode, Sergio & Dr. Yanina Gomez celebrate the 100th episode of the Artist NXT Level podcast with a countdown to the top 5 downloaded episodes thus far. Then, they explain what the Art NXT Level is and what it has to offer for contemporary working artists.

John P. Zilewicz Jr. is an Artist, Art Educator and advocate for the Visual Arts. Zilewicz works out of his home studio in Arlington Heights. His artwork ranges from works on paper to found object assemblage. He is a full time  Art Educator and has been teaching visual art for the past 19 years.  Zilewicz is currently teaching at Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois where he has been working since 2005. In 2014, Zilewicz  and a group of 4 art teachers developed one of the largest high school art exhibits in the state of Illinois called the Illinois High School Art Exhibition. The show has gained national recognition around the country from top art schools, colleges and universities. Zilewicz is currently serving as the Illinois Art Education Association's Northeast Council Vice-President. He frequently conducts artist workshops around the state of Illinois for teachers and students. Zilewicz was the recipient of the Illinois Art Education Associations, Art Educator of the Year 2016. The IHSAE is a not-f