Are You an Artist? with Grace Kelly

In episode 7 of “Are You an Artist?” Alex tells us all about his path to becoming a metalsmith. A natural storyteller, he describes his reasons for creating, his connection with metals, and even his relationship with dreams and music, all in a way that is profoundly elegant in its practicality. The straightforward simplicity of his stories adds a depth that speaks for itself.You can find Alex on Instagram @gankyhackoooThis episode is also available on YouTube

In episode 6 of “Are You an Artist?” I have an esoteric conversation with Elyza Reguero, aka Buglvr300, about her intimate and inherent relationship with art and music. We talk about the inspiration she draws from dreams and visions, her philosophies and proaction on internet authenticity, and the way she creates as a necessary method to understand the symbolic places she goes in her mind.“The heightened emotion [that inspires creation] is feeding something larger that exists within me already, and [by] creating, I’m kind of communicating to that, and trying to put it into something tangible.”Are you an artist who wants to have their own website? And by that I mean, your very OWN, uncensored and by your own design, and not at the mercy of paid features, limited block editing, or algorithmic marketing? Elyza has the answer! She has put her blood sweat and tears into developing a condensed and intuitive 14 page document that covers the necessary basics of html and css coding required to create your very own website. Check it the fuck out!!!!Check out Elyza’s websiteYou can also find Elyza on Instagram@geniusfuckerand @buglvr3000You can find Buglvr3000 on Spotifyand Apple MusicThis episode is also available on YouTube

In episode 5 of “Are You an Artist?” I get a chance to sit down with the incredibly well-spoken and talented Jupiter. Throughout our conversation we discuss a litany of topics surrounding artistry, including but not limited to;-The journey of making a name for yourself when starting from absolute zero, why it can be a struggle to even see that as a possibility, and how eye-opening it can be to get involved in your local art and music scenes-How garageband really is a viable choice for making music, what it can teach you about making music, and what it’s like to move into more complex DAWs-What it really means to be “cool” as a skill, as a genuine expression of self, and how a core trait of truly being cool is that you make those around you feel cool too-Jupiter’s path with self expression, how it’s not about how you Want to be seen but more so about just indulging in what inspires you and brings you joy-Jupiter’s path and perspective with schooling, the pros and cons of college and traditional lessons with how it can be both oppressive and expansive when it comes to understanding what options are out there for you,-Jupiter’s advice on how to navigate making education work for you-the importance of networking, and simply talking to people about what they do“You just need to make connections and go out and do stuff”Jupiter is on Instagram @Jupi.fm https://www.instagram.com/jupi.fm?igsh=eHQ3MnhmMDJwcTdsYou can find ChainMale on Instagram @ChainMale_band https://www.instagram.com/chainmale_band?igsh=MW9qbWFpY3pjMHFhNw==and SoundCloud https://m.soundcloud.com/chainmale-487213213?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKW7BJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp1UhewWAiC5s5tV5WHFQCoDQDWZXoug6WK0U2Uz5_gz5PX_z3SJaCB-w2y6r_aem_2l6B_rI26sOat_33lqsosg***AmberTones is now GlamourDeath***You can find GlamourDeath on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/glamourdeath?igsh=MWh3ZXlxdDkyc3ZnZQ==and SoundCloudhttps://m.soundcloud.com/glamourdeath?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKW66NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpysNgomNhvSW4-vlA8ZcEAeQ6OZOj4a_ye2O5VOLIOxMmrVbNl2SuruEz1eB_aem_41_Iba4V9JlrZx5XzPQViw***special release May 22!!***This episode is also available on YouTubehttps://youtu.be/xUlHKbABqtw?si=EwyVAXAyftQ1ylrK

In episode 4 of “Are You an Artist?” I talk with Dani, who considers themself an artist through-and-through, regardless of whether or not they’re creating what they want to create. Dani has a way of making everyone feel loved; the way that they share their story and perspective just exudes themes of radical peace and self-acceptance. They joyfully and genuinely share their thought process as we explore the impact of being raised surrounded by art, and how that has shaped their intentional relationship with artistic endeavors going forward. “Honestly, sometimes it’s okay to state the obvious. I’m not here to be a revolutionary, I’m just here to create what I want to create. Like I’m not trying to be different, I’m not trying to make something new. I’m just trying to use what’s already been put out there for me to use, and to create something of my own. Like I don’t need to be out here doing the next new thing. I just want to make art and be happy, that’s all I want to do.”Stay tuned for a special release from GlamourDeath coming May 22nd!You can find Dani on Instagram Dani and Jupiter’s project GlamourDeath on Instagram and SoundCloud and ChainMale on Instagram and SoundCloudThis episode is also available on YouTube

“Metal music makes me feel like the second heaviest thing in the room.”In episode 3 of “Are You an Artist?” I talk with Matty Taylor about their evolution from photographer, to writer, to metal frontman, from the Eastern UP, to Ann Arbor, to Ypsilanti. Matty summarizes their philosophy on art simply and potently; “If you’re honest with the state of things, if your art reflects the times, I feel like it’s gonna resonate with everybody else. That’s the honest truth of it, no matter where you fit at on a political or class spectrum. If you’re honest with the times, people will see that.” This is embodied in the stories that Matty shares with us about their own journey. Even in the midst of today’s turmoil, their down-to-earth way of stating how they got to where they are brings us into a precious space where pursuing your passions can occur on a level playing field. Matty’s entire presence subtly reminds us that the outlet of artistic expression is not only a human right, but a channel that everybody has access to. You can find Matty on Instagram @xqueen_of_dorknessxThis episode is also available on YouTube

“If we’re not having fun, we’re not learning; and if we’re not learning, what are we doing?”In episode 2 of “Are You an Artist?” I talk with the amazingly intelligent and compassionate Jax Stroh. Jaxie is an expert at integrating art, music, work, and play all together and into the sensory experience that is life. We discuss the evolution of her identity as an artist and musician, her intuitive and joyful philosophy on the sensory and communicative process of creating, and how it all ties in to her work as an RBT (Registered Behavioral Technician) where she teaches autistic children through art and play therapy.You can find more of Jaxie’s work on Instagram @jaxie_worldand SoundCloud JaxieThis episode is also available on YouTube https://youtu.be/DJ3O-Q66q-k?si=Z4KdDUW-by7epsGQ where you can see images of Jaxie’s work as we discuss it!

In this debut episode of Grace Kelly’s series “Are You an Artist?” two besties reunite to discuss the whys whats and hows of Makailah Rock’s journey through creative expression, taking a deep dive into several of her best works. From psych ward to CCS (College for Creative Studies), Makailah Rock continues to write her own story as an artist, full of plot twists and perseverance. Here, we meet her at the crux of a new chapter.This episode is also available on YouTube, where you can see exactly what paintings we are discussing.You can find more of Makailah’s work here;https://www.instagram.com/nautriic/https://nautriic.comStay tuned for updated links as Makailah phases out her artist name.