Skip to main content
THE POINTLESS ARTIST PODCAST

THE POINTLESS ARTIST PODCAST

By Bianca Vinther, Artist, Art Curator, Author, Blogger

The Pointless Artist's ART TALKS inspire visual artists to create, and help art curators and educators gain more knowledge about the current art world. They also help you unlock your artistic creativity, find inspiration in art, and overcome artist block.
I'm Bianca Vinther, artist, author, art curator, and blogger from Germany. You can listen here to my interviews with artists from all corners of the globe and discover their stories, creative process, and the ways in which they navigate and transform the world.
www.thepointlessartist.com
Currently playing episode

#9 ART TALK with Susan Hopkinson, Canadian Feeling-Better-About-Life-Expert

THE POINTLESS ARTIST PODCASTFeb 19, 2023

00:00
45:48
#11 MEANING IN ART & AUDIENCE RESPONSE with Lucianna Whittle
Dec 08, 202336:10
#10 ART TALK with Sandy Kilpatrick, Scottish musician based in Portugal

#10 ART TALK with Sandy Kilpatrick, Scottish musician based in Portugal

In this podcast episode, Sandy Kilpatrick, Scottish singer-songwriter based in Portugal, unfolds his life story, and gives us an insight into his creative process.

He first takes us back into his formative years, when he was a student in Lancaster and then a Manchester-based singer in an indie-rock band. Further, he discusses the transition from a fast-paced professional life in England to a family life in Portugal. One of the highlights of our conversation is Sandy’s almost idyllic description of his large forest, the lush green hues of the leaves, the dazzling variety of his fruit trees, and the wonderful fragrance of orange blossoms. As he confesses in this podcast episode, in such moments of pure grace, when he feels most clear and free, Sandy becomes receptive to inspiration and he allows it to flow. If his guitar happens to be around, then he freely plays its strings, the magic occurs, and a new song is being born. The floodgates open when he silences his self-critical voice for a while.

Sandy argues convincingly that making peace with the inner demons and getting rid of the tyranny of the mind, an expression he borrowed from his wife, is essential for personal growth and creativity in art.

Listen to this podcast episode with Sandy Kilpatrick and feel his joy and creative energy! They're contagious :-)

Via The Pointless Artist Blog and The Pointless Artist Podcast, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together.

From Germany with love,

Bianca Vinther

Nov 03, 202342:43
#9 ART TALK with Susan Hopkinson, Canadian Feeling-Better-About-Life-Expert

#9 ART TALK with Susan Hopkinson, Canadian Feeling-Better-About-Life-Expert

In this fascinating podcast episode, Susan Hopkinson talks about creativity, inspiration and artist block. She also discusses the link between creativity and inspiration, and she reveals the secret to unlocking your creativity, finding inspiration, and being in the creative flow.

Susan stresses here the importance of humility and letting go in the art-making process. With this talk and like the previous guest to The Pointless Artist Podcast, the Polish painter Kristof Klimek, Susan sends out a clear and profound message of humility in a visual culture dominated by ownership and the monetary value of art.

Here's a snapshot from my art talk with Susan: Once you start to contain what you’re doing while you are in a creative flow, and you begin to make choices based on an idea of what you should do instead, you “box yourself and your own creativity in”. Put simply, artist block is not allowing yourself and your creative energy to flow, as well as not letting go of your creative impulse. "If you're not able to let go, nothing new can come in." (Susan Hopkinson)

I wholeheartedly invite you to listen to my art talk with Susan Hopkinson and to benefit from her wisdom!

Via The Pointless Artist Blog and The Pointless Artist Podcast, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together.

www.thepointlessartist.com

Feb 19, 202345:48
#8 ART TALK with Krzysztof Klimek, Polish painter & photographer

#8 ART TALK with Krzysztof Klimek, Polish painter & photographer

In this podcast episode, Kristof Klimek tells us his fascinating story from when he first fell under the spell of art until now, when he is not only a passionate painter but also a committed husband and father of two.

He talks extensively about the unique experience of painting in nature, primarily in the countryside, among regular people going about their daily lives and carrying out regular jobs, and the challenges of being a plein art painter.

He addresses topics like creativity, inspiration, finding versus seeking, and the question of perception and reality in visual arts, and reveals the secret behind artist block. He also discusses the link between passion and discipline, as well as the wisdom of living in hic et nunc and of practising art in a less rational and more intuitive way.

Kristof touches also upon the incomprehensible and undefinable in art, that something else that transcends logic and language, as British-born Mexican artist Leonora Carrington would put it. He reveals himself as an artist who understands what it means to be an instrument of grace, a channel of creativity, as Henri Matisse wrote in one of his art books named Jazz.

Not least, Kristof tackles the topic of humility as an artist and the significance of being humble when making art. He sends out a subtle and profound message of modesty with this art talk in a culture dominated by ego, vanity, and obsession with mundane concerns, such as number of followers and profit.

Via The Pointless Artist Blog, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together.

www.thepointlessartist.com

Jan 05, 202345:44
#7 ART TALK with Lindsay McCulloch, American artist and professor of visual arts

#7 ART TALK with Lindsay McCulloch, American artist and professor of visual arts

Hi, I'm Bianca Vinther, the creator of The Pointless Artist. This is a conversation I had with Lindsay McCulloch, American artist and professor of visual arts based in Maryland, USA on Saturday, 28 May 2022.

Lindsay comes from a family of artists, where creativity was part of everyday life. In 2005, she received her Master of Fine Arts in painting from Boston University. Nine years later she became Associate Professor of Visual Arts at the Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland.

In this podcast episode, Lidsay explains the meaning of change, the tension between being a mother and an artist, her artistic development, and the stages of her creative process. She also talks about the female artists who influenced her art, like Elizabeth Murray and Cecily Brown, her sources of inspiration and creativity, and how she deals with artist block.

Lindsay's art, as well as her work as a teacher and, more recently, as a protester for women's rights, is a powerful example to emulate – an example of empathy, patience, and strength, of resilience and faith in the power of good and togetherness.

Listen to this podcast episode with Lindsay McCulloch and get lots of hope, light, and inspiration for your art!

Via The Pointless Artist Blog, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together.

www.thepointlessartist.com

Jun 30, 202241:54
#6 ART TALK with Jacques Moreau, French concert pianist and professor of music

#6 ART TALK with Jacques Moreau, French concert pianist and professor of music

Hi, I'm Bianca Vinther, the creator of The Pointless Artist. This is a deep conversation I had with Jacques Moreau, French concert pianist and professor of music based in Lyon, France on Tuesday, 12 April 2022.

Jacques graduated from the Paris Conservatoire. Aside from piano concerts, he taught and held management positions within the network of French music schools since 1982. In 2002, he became Deputy-Director of the Music Department at the Lyon Conservatoire and Head of Cefedem Rhône-Alpes in Lyon, an institution that trains music teachers in innovative, student-driven, and project-based ways. During the academic year 2014-2015, Jacques was appointed by the Belgium Quality Agency for Higher Education to chair a committee in charge of assessing the four musical higher education institutions of Belgium (French part). Among other things, he’s also Academic Advisor to the Princess Galyani Vadana Institute of Music in Bangkok, Thailand.

In this episode, we talk in depth about the essence of music and the secret to being a musician, the importance of artistic expression, the role of the performer on stage and of a holistic, student-driven musical education, and we draw striking parallels to the visual arts and the art-making process.  

Listen to this podcast episode with Jacques Moreau and learn about the experience of music in hic et nunc!

Via The Pointless Artist Blog, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together.

www.thepointlessartist.com


May 30, 202251:35
#5 ART TALK with Anne Brenner, Paris-based French artist

#5 ART TALK with Anne Brenner, Paris-based French artist

Hi, I'm Bianca Vinther, the creator of The Pointless Artist. On Saturday, 16 April 2022, I had an inspiring conversation with Anne Brenner, French painter from Paris, France.

Anne is a skilled observer, explorer, and painter of nature, especially wild animals. She approaches life in its infinite diversity with the zest, curiosity, and adventurousness of a 19th-century explorer although she doesn’t work distinctly as an explorer or a scientist but as an artist. She uses field work and silent observation to build her art not as an intruder into nature's secret chambers, but as a humble yet curious discoverer. Her unique experience of tracking animals in Africa is a milestone in her career, which has paved the way for her further development as a wildlife painter. 

In this episode, we talk in depth about Anne's creative process and the way she observes Nature. We also talk about science and adventure, and the intricacies of tracking animals in Africa and producing a body of art works that are authentic testimonies of life itself. In this art talk, Anne reveals the secrets behind her works from the Ivory Coast, Canada, and the Italian wild mountains. She also discusses the ways in which she connects with the natural world and her understanding of wild animals as invaluable creatures in their own integrity and as pendant to humans.

Listen to this podcast episode with Anne Brenner and enjoy the adventure in the African bush and the Canadian forests!

Via The Pointless Artist Blog, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together.

www.thepointlessartist.com

May 17, 202239:12
#4 ART TALK with Joshua Goode, American artist and professor of arts

#4 ART TALK with Joshua Goode, American artist and professor of arts

Hi, I'm Bianca Vinther, creator of The Pointless Artist. On Tuesday, 15 February 2022, I had an exciting and very funny conversation with Joshua Goode, an American artist who teaches fine arts at Tarrant County College in Forth Worth, Texas (USA), manages The Carillon, the college's art gallery, and is also in charge of the college's artist residency programme.

Joshua has been connected to Spielberg’s Indiana Jones many times before (he loves the character and movies by the way, so he’s always flattered by the comparison). He has often been referred to as “Indiana Jones of Art”. Listen to this podcast episode to learn why.

We spoke about his motivation as an artist, the red-thread of his work, the way he sees, and his creative process. We also spoke about how he shares his work with others, the process of interpretation of the objects he creates, and the intricacies of producing a story and of conveying a personal narrative to others. In this art talk, Joshua reveals his secret to transforming everyday objects into meaningful ones that others can connect with. He also discusses inspiration and artist block, which are at the heart of The Pointless Artist Blog, and shares what he finds most important in life.

Via The Pointless Artist Blog, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together.

www.thepointlessartist.com

Feb 25, 202243:02
#3 ART TALK with Lucianna Whittle, British artist based in Brighton, U.K.

#3 ART TALK with Lucianna Whittle, British artist based in Brighton, U.K.

Hi. I'm Bianca Vinther, creator of The Pointless Artist. This is an art talk I had with Lucianna Whittle on Wednesday, 9 February 2022. Lucianna is a process-driven artist based in the charming and culturally vibrant city of Brighton, on the south coast of England. Apart from being a super mum of two and of swimming in the sea all year long, Lucianna dedicates a lot of her time and energy to creating gorgeous abstract paintings. 

We discussed her artistic journey, how she sees reality and herself as an artist, and what seeing actually means for her. We also talked about her relationship to music and her approach to painting, as well as about her creative process, sources of inspiration, and understanding of artist block. She addressed the power of transformation, awareness, and consciousness, and revealed to me the ultimate purpose of her life. 

We touched upon the practice of observational drawing and the discipline of being an artist – attention, stillness, focus among other things. In my final question, I inquired about what is most important to Lucianna as an artist and a human being. She spoke convincingly about the connection to one’s true self and the significance of deep listening.

We experienced a deep connection through a common understanding of life and the art-making process. We share the same compassionate approach to seeing, listening, and creating, as well as a passion for music. And we are equally convinced that seeing from within is the only sustainable and transformative way to experience life and get to the essence of who we truly are.

Via The Pointless Artist Blog, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together.

www.thepointlessartist.com

Feb 14, 202245:42
#2 ART TALK with Alecia Neo, Singaporean Artist and Winner of the Young Artist Award (2016)

#2 ART TALK with Alecia Neo, Singaporean Artist and Winner of the Young Artist Award (2016)

Hi. I'm Bianca Vinther. This is an art talk that I had with Alecia Neo live on Monday, the 24th of January 2022. Alecia is a socially engaged artist baseed in Singapore. In 2016 she won the Young Artists Award, Singapore's highest award for young arts practitioners.

We spoke about her motivation as an artist, her main source of inspiration, her social engagement, and the impact of her work in Southeast Asia. We also spoke in depth about her approach to transformation, which is central both to her work and The Pointless Artist Blog, the transformative power of care, and disability-led art, an emerging arts field in Singapore. Last but not least, we spoke about her understanding of artistic creativity, art inspiration, and artist block, her current projects, and her ongoing call for artists, to which I wholeheartedly encourage you to respond.

Through her selfless engagement as an artist in Southeast Asia, Alecia has lit a candle of hope and faith in our humanity for me. I hope that her message of mutual care and compassion, of togetherness beyond differences, and of belonging and shared human values beyond otherness will touch your heart too, and will inspire you to bring a valuable contribution to the troubled world we live in. Because this world needs the power of arts and the voice of courageous artists like you!

My art talk with Alecia Neo is a natural continuation of my conversation with William Eckhardt Kohler from the 12th of January 2022, in the context of which we talked about the concept of inner transformation (personal, emotional, and spiritual).

Via The Pointless Artist's ART TALKS & The Pointless Artist Blog, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together. I hope that my interview with Alecia will open a channel for you, and transform you even if just for a moment ...

www.thepointlessartist.com

Jan 30, 202237:04
#1 ART TALK with William Eckhardt Kohler, American Painter and Winner of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant

#1 ART TALK with William Eckhardt Kohler, American Painter and Winner of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant

Hi. I'm Bianca Vinther. This is an art talk that I had with William Eckhardt Kohler live on Wednesday, the 12th of January 2022. William is a full-time painter and, occasionally, an art writer based in Chicago. He's also a winner of the prominent Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (PKF Grant).

We mainly spoke about his parcours as an artist, his multi-faceted work, his approach to artistic creativity, art inspiration and artist block, the creative process in his studio and beyond, and the concept of inner transformation (personal, emotional, spiritual), which is central to his personal development and the art he makes. We ended the interview with a short discussion about the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant he was awarded in 2020. I kindly asked William to give you some tips on how to apply for funding with the Pollock-Krasner Foundation to create new artworks, purchase needed materials, or pay for your studio rent.

Via The Pointless Artist's ART TALKS & The Pointless Artist Blog, I support the creative energy of life and the artists who contribute to transforming this world into a freer, kinder, more inclusive, caring, transparent, and compassionate place to live. I firmly believe in the passion for art, the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences, and the power of personal stories to bring us together. I hope that my interview with William will open a channel for you and transform you even if just for a moment ...

www.thepointlessartist.com

Jan 19, 202247:42