Strand, the Story of an Artist

Strand, the Story of an Artist, is a podcast that explores the intricate motivations and inspirations that drive people to pursue their passion for creating art.

Strand, the Story of an Artist is a arts podcast hosted by kevinwillpaint.com, with 119 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

kevinwillpaint.com hosts Strand, the Story of an Artist, a arts show with 119 episodes published.

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  Episode #124

  Episode 120: Marcus Kiser

  Sep 11, 202657 min

  Kevin Kirkwood sits down with Marcus Kiser, a designer and visual artist who lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina. Marcus is the driving force behind a collection of elevated UI, illustrative, graphic, and digital works for Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Museum of Design, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Carolina Panthers, and the digitally designed wearable orthopedics innovator, Mign, Inc. Kiser’s tenure as Creative Director at Mign established the incomparable brand identity the company enjoys today. Marcus has participated in artist residencies through the Gantt Center’s Black Carolina Cohort and at the McColl Center. Alongside artist and designer Jason Woodberry, he is the co-creator of Intergalactic Soul, a national multimedia exhibition developed with playwright Quentin Talley and recognized as a leading work within contemporary Afrofuturism. In this episode, Marcus talks about some of the early life experiences that helped shape his practice. He also reflects on the visual languages that continue to inform his work, from classical art and comic books to sport, fashion, and science fiction. Learn more about Marcus Kiser: kisercorp.me | @marcus_kiser McColl Center: mccollcenter.org | @mccollcenter Follow the host of The Strand: kevin-kirkwood.com | @kevinwillpaint | @strandpodcast Listen to The Strand at the link in bio and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.

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  Episode #123

  Episode 119: Linda Foard Roberts

  Sep 4, 202641 min

  Kevin Kirkwood sits down with photographer Linda Foard Roberts for a conversation about memory, family, loss, and the experiences that shape the way we see the world. Working with 8x10 and 5x7 cameras, Linda creates deeply personal photographs rooted in family, nature, memory, and local histories. She favors old lenses; drawn to their imperfections and the unknown histories they carry. Her images are quiet, metaphorical, and layered, exploring the passage of time and what it means to be human. Linda's first monograph, Passage, published by Radius Books, explores memory, impermanence, and the inevitable movement of time. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in numerous permanent collections, including the North Carolina Museum of Art, The Mint Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. In this episode, Linda talks about her relationship with photography, the influence of family on her work, and the experiences that have shaped her creative life. She also discusses Lament, the body of work for which she received a 2020 Guggenheim Fellowship and which became a two-volume book, also published by Radius Books in 2025. Linda lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is represented by SOCO Gallery in North Carolina and Sol del RIO in Guatemala. Learn more about Linda Foard Roberts: lindafoardroberts.com | @lindafoardroberts Purchase her books; Lament or Passage through Radius Books: www.radiusbooks.org | @radius.books SOCO Gallery: socogallery.com | @socogallery Sol del RIO Gallery: www.en.soldelrio.com | @soldelrio.gt Follow the host of The Strand: kevin-kirkwood.com | @kevinwillpaint | @strandpodcast Listen to The Strand at the link in bio and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.

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  Episode #122

  Episode 118: Sybil Wornall

  Aug 28, 202631 min

  Kevin Kirkwood sits down with Sybil Wornall, owner of Shain Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a conversation about art, collecting, and the relationships that shape a gallery. Born and raised in Charlotte, Sybil has spent nearly twenty years working in the art world. After graduating from North Carolina State University, she moved to Atlanta, where she spent close to a decade working in galleries before returning home. In 2017, she became the owner of Shain Gallery after nearly five years as Gallery Director. In this episode, Sybil talks about what happens behind the scenes of a gallery, from discovering emerging artists and building long-term relationships to helping collectors find work they want to live with. She reflects on how Charlotte's art community has evolved, what she looks for when considering a new artist, and the responsibility that comes with representing someone's work. For Sybil, the gallery business ultimately comes down to people: the artists who make the work, the collectors who support it, and the relationships built between them. Learn more about Sybil Wornall and Shain Gallery: shaingallery.com | @shaingallery Follow the host: kevin-kirkwood.com | @kevinwillpaint | @strandpodcast Listen to The Strand on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.

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  Episode #121

  Episode 117: Kate Schultz

  Aug 21, 202632 min

  Kevin Kirkwood sits down with Charlotte-based painter Kate Schultz for a conversation about color, shape, nature, and the experiences that continue to influence her work. Working in acrylic and mixed media, Kate creates paintings inspired by the quiet beauty of the natural world. In this episode, she discusses her current exploration of color relationships, her interest in moving away from conventional ideas of depth, and what it was like growing up in rural Mississippi. She also shares how her flower garden and the wild birds surrounding her Charlotte home continue to find their way into her paintings. Kate earned her BFA in painting from the University of Mississippi and has been creating work professionally for over a decade. Her influences include Paul Klee, Milton Avery, Pablo Picasso, Mary Fedden, and Arthur Dove. Learn more: kateschultzart.com | @katefschultz Shain Gallery: shaingallery.com | @shaingallery Follow the host: kevin-kirkwood.com | @kevinwillpaint | @strandpodcast Listen to The Strand on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.

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  Episode #120

  Episode 116: Lilith Rockett

  Aug 14, 202649 min

  Kevin Kirkwood recorded this episode a few weeks ago inside the studio of ceramicist, Lilith Rockett. Lilith is a Portland-based ceramicist who has spent 23 years working primarily in porcelain, creating tableware, teaware, and larger vessels. She spent 15 years collaborating with acclaimed chefs and restaurants. Her work has shown in national juried exhibitions, including the Smithsonian and the Craft Council. She has received the Oregon Arts grant three times. In recent years her practice has expanded into atmospheric wood and wood-soda firings that incorporate wild-foraged ash, clay, and rock. Learn more: lilithrockett.com | @lilithrockett Follow the host: kevin-kirkwood.com | @kevinwillpaint | @strandpodcast Listen to The Strand on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Amazon Music, and other major podcast platforms.

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