Chapter	Content Description

Introduction

Charuka Arora welcomes listeners and introduces the guests and the Floral Edition art book.

Meet the Artists

Introduction of the four artists: Runa Gedam, Rachel Pruzan, Jessica Lewis, and Lynne McDonald.

First Publishing Experience

Artists share their experiences with being published in a book.

Artistic Backgrounds

Each artist discusses their background, medium, and current projects.

Why Floral Art?

Artists explain their connection to floral themes and why they chose to focus on flowers in their artwork.

Creative Processes

Artists describe their creative processes and the techniques they use in their work.

Personal Stories Behind the Artwork

Detailed stories behind specific artworks featured in the Floral Edition book.

Symbolism and Inspirations

Discussion on the symbolic meanings and inspirations behind their artworks.

Challenges and Triumphs

Artists share the challenges they face and their successes as women in the art world.

Future Projects and Goals

Artists talk about their future projects and what they aim to achieve next.

Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Final reflections from the artists and encouragement for emerging artists.

How to Support the Artists

Information on where to find and support the artists’ work online and through social media.

Conclusion

Charuka wraps up the episode, thanking the artists and encouraging listeners to buy the book and support artists.

00:00.00
charukaarora
Hey, you guys welcome back to the arts two hundreds podcast I’m back with another episode with 4 amazing artists from a new book once row one floral edition we started this project with the intention you know while we with this project was just a thought we’d never. Thought about what this project would turn into and I wanted you know I am obsess as pretty much clear with books and making books both and I thought like you know, ah there was this this reel about some flowers I’d seen and I felt like oh how? ah flowers are just beautiful and artists feel sometimes very happy. And there’s also a very different side to how flowers are being painted and I was like you know flowers feel like a very softer for all of us and what beautiful book it would make if you were you know, just cover different themes of one book and have so many artists bring together their work and see you know how it looks from that thought. To a reality I am very excited to share that we have our first um edition of the floral one zero one art book now life and as you hear this you can also shop this book on our shop and you can go to art two hasproject.com very excited because our next book will be on animal. It is one of my favorite themes. But today what’s exciting is I have 4 amazing artists from our book. You’ve heard the episodes before you know the tool what it is so first and foremost I’ll go in and I’d love to welcome these 4 beautiful ladies to the podcast.

01:29.80
Runa Gedam
Thank you for having us.

01:33.60
charukaarora
Welcome guys.

01:33.79
Rachel Pruzan
Thank you.

01:34.76
Jessica
Thank you! It’s my name here. Oh.

01:36.40
Lynne McDonald
Thank you for having us. Um.

01:37.13
Runa Gedam
Thank you.

01:39.60
charukaarora
It’s an honor. It’s a pleasure. A big congratulations to each one of you How does it feel to have your work have you ever any of you have had your work published before um, books in Coffee table books.

01:42.79
Rachel Pruzan
Really think.

01:44.14
Lynne McDonald
Um, thank you.

01:48.95
Runa Gedam
The first time for me.

01:49.67
Lynne McDonald
Published. It’s very exciting.

01:54.60
Runa Gedam
Yes.

01:54.16
Rachel Pruzan
Um, not in a yeah, not in a book like like this I had um it it is special I had my um one of ah I have a piece of art that’s on the cover of a um poetry collection.

01:55.47
charukaarora
Oh Wow Congratulations makes it special.

02:04.90
Runa Gedam
Oh wow.

02:07.75
charukaarora
Oh waho.

02:11.34
Rachel Pruzan
Um, and that was really special to me I mean it’s a very small amount of people who buy and are interested in poetry books. But um, there was a lot of symbiosis between her poetry symbiosis between her poetry and my art so it was really an honor to do that. But this is.

02:25.12
charukaarora
Wow yeah, so proud of each one of you. Okay, first let’s go a quick round of introductions. First let’s hear where you’re joining us from who you are.

02:30.14
Rachel Pruzan
Something completely different and special in and of itself. So.

02:31.20
Lynne McDonald
Right? Yeah, this.

02:37.29
Rachel Pruzan
Right? there.

02:39.52
Runa Gedam
Um I can go first. So my name is runna Getam I’m a oil painting artist I’m from Canada um I’m just visiting India right now I’m originally from India but I’m based in Canada.

02:41.66
charukaarora
What kind of work. Do you do who? wants to go first. Absolutely.

02:44.43
Lynne McDonald
I can go first once.

02:54.90
charukaarora
Okay, oh well, where in India oh wonderful and based out of Delhi.

02:58.80
Runa Gedam
But I’m here visiting my parents I’m in Mumbai. Yes, sorry yes, okay Agra right? Okay, okay, but you’re in Delhi. Okay.

03:12.17
charukaarora
I’m based out of Delhi. Yeah yeah, that’s my hometown. yeah yeah I live between the two I have my gallery and studio in Delhi. But also I spend a lot of time in.

03:17.46
Runa Gedam
Okay, okay.

03:25.66
Runa Gedam
Um, the least beautiful. It’s It’s amazing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

03:28.31
charukaarora
Um, agra itself. Yeah, yeah, go ahead, Go ahead sign.

03:35.29
Runa Gedam
Sorry yes, yes, you can Rachel You can go ahead.

03:40.93
Rachel Pruzan
Ah, um I ah I guess I’ll are were you finished runa. Okay, um I am Rachelruzan and I’m from New Jersey I’m a very quick commute into New York City and um so I live in a suburb of New Jersey and my studio um is in a place called manufacturer’s village which is a community of 65 artists in New Jersey um and it’s also very much like the arts to hearts community.

04:09.91
charukaarora
Oh wow.

04:17.74
Rachel Pruzan
It’s a really supportive. Um, fantastic inspirational place. So yes, yes, very.

04:23.31
charukaarora
Ah, so you you’re lucky in both the ends you have you have us and then you also have another community by your side while you’re there. How lucky welcome thank you so much Rachel what about you? Lynn.

04:26.99
Lynne McDonald
Hi.

04:35.72
Rachel Pruzan
Thank you.

04:39.27
Lynne McDonald
Um I am an abstract artist in Atlanta and um I I do most of my marketing through social media but I am very much a fixture in Atlanta and I get out as much as I can and. I started in midlife and I’m just kind of like a cheerleader for anybody that wants to chase their dreams.

05:01.51
charukaarora
Good. Thank you? yeah.

05:02.34
Jessica
Nice, um I’m Jessica Lewis and from Nashville and now just outside of national into goodlitsville we moved during the pandemic but um, oil painting is my main focus in portraiture and figurative work.

05:11.10
Rachel Pruzan
Then.

05:20.20
Jessica
Um, a lot of it based on children and stories about children. So that really came to came about becoming a mother and all of those things really the the experiences with my children really reminded me of things that I’d forgotten about childhood and the. Real magic that we see that happens that you know I think we grow out of we we lose a little bit of that luster or it’s just beautiful thing to watch somebody experience life in situations for the very first time is it’s very. You know, beautiful to me.

05:56.56
Lynne McDonald
I agree.

05:56.91
charukaarora
Wonderful I Can’t wait to hear more of your stories but tell me something. Um this is something I’ve been asking everybody who’s come from the book wife wife Flowers. What is that? Um, because what we all have common. In that book and my view. All here is our love for the flowers that we all in some way have incorporated in our life in our art. What is that connection that you find that you know puts you in that place.

06:27.66
Runa Gedam
Should I go first? Ah yeah, show bowhead.

06:32.20
Lynne McDonald
I have I can answer this I um I think I wasn’t doing flowers before I wasn’t drawn to flowers. But I think that things were going really life was really tough in the past few years and I felt like.

06:40.29
charukaarora
Um, okay.

06:44.63
charukaarora
New.

06:47.70
Lynne McDonald
I Wanted to bring something forward that made that brought joy and a little whimsy and um I really just wanted to bring the garden inside to people’s homes and so I started um ah doing make creating them with with straws. So I would blow out a flower. So um, that’s.

06:59.97
Runa Gedam
Well.

07:05.57
charukaarora
Um, oh wow.

07:07.70
Lynne McDonald
That’s the one that I was just kind of playing around and and they just look like bloom so I did a whole series of them and I just they bring they make me so happy.

07:07.49
Rachel Pruzan
Well Dar Cole um

07:14.49
charukaarora
Oh Wow I can see them I will go there but yes, perfect who’s going next.

07:16.57
Rachel Pruzan
Very cool.

07:23.54
Rachel Pruzan
Um, I’ll go next? Um, so yeah, my the I’m intuitive. Um, when I paint and I’m a mixed media artist I forgot to mention that before um, but and I use fire a lot. So.

07:38.00
charukaarora
Um, yeah.

07:39.38
Rachel Pruzan
My point is that I didn’t set out to make flowers this way. But I um I do a lot of work with um alcohol inc and Yupo paper they call it youpo paper but it’s really a nonporous substrate that’s ah made of some recycled plastic and some just plastic.

07:41.60
charukaarora
Out 1

07:59.60
Rachel Pruzan
Um, and I don’t know how I was playing around and with I think a lighter and the Uba paper and I noticed it made these what I felt were beautiful sort of um curves and turns and lacy holes and. I’ve just followed that and they looked to me like petals. Um petals of a different sort a little bit sort of ah decayed um worn by the elements. But I found such I find such beauty in nature’s imperfection and in um. Sort of the nature’s way of aging and decaying that my flowers may look a little bit different. Um, they’re maybe not pristine and peppy but they are organic and beautiful from just natural natural. The forces of nature over time.

08:33.83
charukaarora
Okay.

08:40.63
charukaarora
And.

08:48.77
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah.

08:51.72
Rachel Pruzan
I guess and and I feel as someone who is 53 and an aging woman in America I feel like that’s reflecting the beauty that I see in women my age and older. So thanks.

09:00.70
charukaarora
H Absolutely I think that’s a great take.

09:00.70
Runa Gedam
Um, nice should I go next I’ll I’ll go next. So um I usually paint on different themes like I do wildlife I do ocean I do nature.

09:07.50
Lynne McDonald
Um, can’t wait to see it. Um.

09:07.51
charukaarora
Ah, okay, who’s next go ahead.

09:17.73
Runa Gedam
Still life is something that started from I love gardening so I just placed some cut flowers in a flower pot one day and it took pictures of it and I think it just started from that simple idea and I formed a series of floral artwork from that. Um, and so it’s just basically connecting with nature and for me the background of the floral artwork I love wallpapers I’m crazy about them so that kind of I try to incorporate that element into the painting as well.

09:53.68
Runa Gedam
So yeah.

09:56.13
charukaarora
Wow Yeah I got you can go next? yeah.

10:02.73
Jessica
Um, I really got started doing these flower crowns with ah the portraits and in incorporating those I remember it. It usually comes from a memory from childhood or watching my children’s and this one it was.

10:06.81
Rachel Pruzan
Yes.

10:18.49
Runa Gedam
Can I.

10:19.28
Jessica
Memory of as a little girl making those little flower chains and putting them on your head and I thought we’d we’d had birthdays where a friend who does incredible floral headbands and things like that crowns.

10:22.12
charukaarora
Yeah.

10:36.84
Jessica
Made those I am not very good at organizing the flowers and things like that. But this came from um the little girl in the the painting is named Lily so I thought that that was really beautiful but she’s my daughter’s friend. And she came over to spend the night we were looking at trying to figure out something to do with the girls and I thought maybe they would like to make a flower crown so we bought all these flowers from kroger and they in my mind I think that they were going to be much smaller once we put them together. But. I mean there was eucalyptus and it was really just so big and um, beautiful and it just had so much presence and um, her friend has this gorgeous red hair that just um, you know I took photographs of them and and let them.

11:10.37
Rachel Pruzan
Wow.

11:28.16
Jessica
Just have them and because it’s fun as ah that thirteen year old and a twelve year old to to get photos done and I think they love that. But um, my daughter at this point is not as easy for me to she’s much more self-conscious but lily on the other hand really had this regalness to her about.

11:33.15
charukaarora
My new.

11:45.18
charukaarora
M.

11:48.60
Jessica
When I took those photos for reference and the the flowers were just amazing and putting it all together was it became pretty special.

11:57.64
charukaarora
Oh um, amazing I were I was yeah to ask a question specifically on your art work. But I think a lot of you have already spoken but I’ll still go ahead and specifically we’ve done this with all artists and I think if I’ve we’ve missed and then we’ll hop on to the next question.

11:58.91
Lynne McDonald
Um, I’m.

12:13.84
charukaarora
But I wanted to specifically because everybody would be looking at the work that we have in the book and like Jessica I will I will continue with you the work that you have work it I really I really love how it’s the work that we have in the book from you is called Luna and the girl’s name I like. You said it’s an oil and panel eating by twenty four inches and when I look at it I can see like you know I can see the girl Luna actually looking right at me and like you said these are huge beautiful, um, green flowers and you know leaves. And there’s a butterfly on her does is there as is there any purpose message for that.

12:53.60
Jessica
Aha.

12:58.16
Jessica
Well so Luna is that moth that’s kind of landsed on her chest and um I really like these times of days to paint I also planer paint but um, you can’t tell whether it’s dusk or dawn so in that sense I really liked. Um, playing with that and then um, Luna actually when I look up, you know the lunar moth is really beautiful but in Roman Mythology Luna was the divine personification of the moon. So.

13:26.76
Runa Gedam
Now.

13:33.89
Jessica
Felt that that was really Beautiful. So She’s so regal and it reminds me of um, there’s some of these series with when you have children and we’re we’re watching all of their shows and stuff like that They have um stories about the children of the people in the fairy tales that’s kind of interesting and I thought. Um, you know it’s almost like the daughter of one of these people or um, I’m doing a painting right now called mother Nature’s daughter. So I think that that’s kind of interesting. Ah and I I studied it sounds funny but I studied. Ah.

14:05.53
charukaarora
And yeah.

14:12.53
Jessica
Grimms Fairy tales in college big when I ever going to use that class but I have totally used that class because I love Civilism and Metaphor and weaving all those things and creating stories and stuff like that. So um, she is very regal and that beautiful.

14:13.49
Rachel Pruzan
Oh.

14:17.38
charukaarora
I.

14:18.41
Lynne McDonald
Um, Smith.

14:24.18
charukaarora
I Love that? yeah.

14:24.63
Lynne McDonald
And now.

14:31.83
Jessica
Um, kind of just stands off but visually the the it is actually her I painted it and then um, apparently Lunum Moss are her favorite. So it’s kind of interesting how that like that.

14:42.59
charukaarora
Luna is happy. Perfect. Thank you so much. Um, you know I’m looking at lynne your work and the title says hope spring acalyk on canvas.

14:42.71
Rachel Pruzan
Huh.

14:56.98
charukaarora
You have also given us a little bit of context while you said how you stumbled upon this but can you also share a few thoughts on a what your creative process is like because that I found intriguing and um, you know if you if there’s like you know, if once you make a series of work.

15:07.70
Lynne McDonald
Who.

15:14.95
charukaarora
You start to realize it’s so much more than you know what? you’re thinking sometimes or from what it really starts off. Do you have any thoughts on that and your work.

15:17.16
Runa Gedam
Um.

15:23.15
Lynne McDonald
Yes, um, ah so I started so you know how your your artwork evolves right? So um I pour and that’s how I initially started but it’s grown into something else and um, you know I I too work with fire and I I.

15:39.84
Lynne McDonald
Blow it around not with a hair dryer but with um in it and so it has to be very fluid. It has to be less viscous and so um I’ve been working with like acrylic ink not not alcohol but acrylic and so um, it’s you.

15:54.94
Rachel Pruzan
Um.

15:56.35
Lynne McDonald
It just runs around it runs around the canvas. So I paint flat and I use paint and I use several different things and and I create these flowers and because some are more viscous than others. It creates a kind of an edge to it so it looks like a petal. So um.

16:10.29
charukaarora
Again.

16:14.85
Lynne McDonald
And I use metallics in there too. So it. It started as 1 thing as art does and abstract art especially and then it kind of grew into this other thing and I did this 1 painting for um, it was actually an auction for a charity and I posted it as I do. And um I had such amazing feedback from it and that it was bringing people joy and that’s what I was feeling when I was creating it because I think I was yeah I was I was creating things that were darker before and so this was a little bit more of cheery. You know so the flowers are cheery.

16:39.18
charukaarora
Yeah, making it as well.

16:50.31
charukaarora
Yeah.

16:53.97
Lynne McDonald
And so I think at at that show this was ah December or November I um, it was it was just perfect timing to kind of um unveil several of these very bright cheery pieces. And um, it just I’ve actually made prints of this because I sold the original so I have ah and it’s it’s sold better than everything last year at least so it’s been It’s been a joy to create these and keep going.

17:18.60
charukaarora
Congratulation. Beautiful, wonderful! Let me pop out the next output I have this is again Rachel Rachel I see this beautiful golden. It looks like a flower but also not a flower and I can feel the tactileness.

17:37.36
Rachel Pruzan
Right.

17:41.21
Runa Gedam
Um.

17:41.39
charukaarora
And it says am I Still pretty I Love the titling of it. It’s an alcohol ink and oil paintton fires sculpted you poor, go ahead.

17:49.88
Rachel Pruzan
Yes, That’s correct, um well ah the am I So I Always ah figure out the meaning of my work Once It’s Completed. You know I don’t have a concept or something I’m trying to communicate and then try to. Create that it’s It’s whatever needs to come out comes out and then I I I become a clearer in terms of what it means So The title am I Still pretty um, like I said fits with sort of the the name of the series is called Stone roses. Okay and they are not.

18:07.91
charukaarora
Fame around you.

18:20.10
charukaarora
Um.

18:23.67
charukaarora
Um, oh.

18:26.12
Rachel Pruzan
They don’t look like stone for those of you who haven’t seen it yet. Um, they look sort of metallic like Worn Patinaed metal um even though it’s actually these recycled plastic sheets because I too use a lot of metallics in my work. But anyway so stone roses. Um. Comes from it’s it’s a name of a band and um, they are a genre of music called um shoe gazes music and some people have told me that for whatever reason my art resembles is like the the artistic version of shoe gaze music.

18:58.17
charukaarora
Oh.

19:00.80
Rachel Pruzan
So stone roses is the title of the series. But anyway the entire series as I mentioned before is really about um like beauty of the beauty and of of imperfection. Um, that comes with you know, natural decay and organic aging. And so am I still pretty again as a 53 year old woman. Um in the United States um the way we view aging in particular for women. Um, it’s like you know it’s a question I’ve sort of.

19:25.46
charukaarora
Yes, yeah, um.

19:34.10
charukaarora
Us. Yeah.

19:35.69
Rachel Pruzan
Ask myself both explicitly and sort of in other ways you know when I’m buying the eye creams or whatever. Um, as we were discussing earlier. Um, so yeah, it’s it’s like am I still pretty um and it also alludes to like that I don’t know if anyone’s ever been told you look. Well maybe not for the younger ones amongst us yet. But you look good for your age. You know is sort of this backhanded compliment. It’s just it’s wild to go through the aging process as a woman at least in this country the United States um I know we’re not alone in that. But certainly it’s got its own brand of.

19:57.83
charukaarora
No. And.

20:11.37
charukaarora
M.

20:13.54
Rachel Pruzan
Um, insanity here and so I hope that kind of explains that I looked at that piece and I thought about my own ah where I can find beauty in myself aging and in this piece that looked like it’s been weathered. And it’s seen some things and been through things and it’s still standing and still looking majestic. Um, and yet we question you know.

20:34.23
charukaarora
I love I agree with the majestic I love how I can I think the title’s also very perfectly associated. It does feel like a flower but also it feels like it’s a tactile object. It feels like it has something dark in itself as well. So it really shows. 2 different sides of the same kind.

20:53.91
Rachel Pruzan
Um, I think you’re right in that it definitely. It’s not a. It’s not you know, sad to look at but it’s also not necessarily like you’re cheery red copy. There’s there’s depth and there’s a lot of emotion there. That’s complex.

21:02.14
charukaarora
Yeah, exciting like you know how you feel happy while while you’re looking at a flag. Very interesting, Very interesting. Okay, ah now I have um.

21:11.40
Lynne McDonald
Just like women.

21:11.41
Rachel Pruzan
I would say so.

21:19.87
charukaarora
Let me pull it out. We have you um Runna your work says ibis and poppins. It’s an oil on canvas and I can see these beautiful flowers on a green pot placed on a table and like you said you love wall papers there.

21:37.85
charukaarora
Birds I don’t know what kind of bird I would say I and I don’t want to attempt that bluebids on the back of um it and now I also see like a plotck point a charging point so it looks like a wall which has you know which shows as a background.

21:42.67
Runa Gedam
Um, yes.

21:56.62
charukaarora
What I’m particularly but I want to ask because you’ve also shared your thought about it is why birds is it something that you because you took a photo or you had some intention apart from the painting itself because I feel like it’s saying something I don’t know what but it’s trying to say something.

22:08.48
Runa Gedam
So this is one of my latest in my fra. Ah floral ah series of painting that I’ve been doing and I just wanted to play around with colors. So the 4 elements ah which are in the paintings. One is the wallpaper one is the vase one is the table and then are the flowers. So I knew I wanted to do something with poppies but in order for them to kind of stand out I had to choose a very white kind of a wallpaper but I also wanted to add some kind of natural connection with the flowers and I just happened to came across ibs. It’s a black. Beaked. Long beaked bird and I wanted to kind of because I’m very familiar with flamingoes in India you know, but um, but I wanted to choose the right colored bird to go with my choice of poppies. So it was a veryingtutu last minute decision and no matter how much I’m prepared.

22:50.46
charukaarora
Okay, yeah, right.

23:02.51
charukaarora
Okay.

23:04.40
Runa Gedam
For how I want a painting to be I Never know till the last moment what I’m going to start or how it’s going to you know I might make last minute changes to it so that was a last minute change that I meet. Um, yeah, and honestly I just started from the wallpaper then I did the vase I didn’t know.

23:09.50
charukaarora
Yeah, um.

23:21.34
charukaarora
Oh.

23:23.80
Runa Gedam
How and what color I was going to use till I actually started I often do something and if it doesn’t work out I often scrape it and try again and then after the Vas I did the bench and then un floored the flowers with the last elements that I added. Yes.

23:35.18
charukaarora
I Stop again.

23:41.76
Runa Gedam
I mean I love nature and somehow I wanted to incorporate both um into the painting and as I said my inspiration comes from my backyard. So every time I have different flower cuttings I base my paintings on that. So I’ve done hydring years I’ve done climatis.

23:43.80
charukaarora
I Love that one.

23:53.80
charukaarora
Light.

24:00.61
Runa Gedam
I’ve done poppiess now. So um and that because of the the plants I always get blow birds in the backyard as well. So I think that kind of connected the whole painting together.

24:05.51
Rachel Pruzan
Um.

24:17.25
charukaarora
Wonderful It’s so exciting to finally you know when we produce a book it takes months we keep looking at the same work. Ah, we know all of us know the book had a few last minute you know when I looked at the first sample I was like you know I just feel like. Artworks are still not speaking to me and we had to change the layouts and everything but we see so much of your work and when you know now when I’m actually talking to you. There’s so much of connection I’m never going to look at the work just as a work anymore I will always remember Luna as the girl.

24:45.25
Lynne McDonald
Yeah.

24:52.51
charukaarora
Who Jessica’s daughter is a friend of and like you know how someone makes these beautiful headbands and you know, um, how this artwork is just not an artwork but blowing bubbles or ah off flowers from your somebody’s backyard or you know Rachel’s um you know dead and alive like it’s so interesting. How art connects all of uss and how they just it’s just not when we’re looking at them. But you know when we hear artist stories just speaking to each other and you know sharing what we have in our minds and so thank you so much. Thank you for sharing I’ll ask 1 question. As a windup question for everybody. What do you think? is you know since Arch two has project is focused in 2 things we are deeply passionate about supporting women creat women and we want to create more opportunities and push the careers of emerging artists. And I think I think it’s just 2 layers to it and my question is that guys. What do you think has been the biggest block and the biggest blessing something that has been your biggest strength something that you feel is something you feel is terribly hard so far in your career is practice. Um, as an um as an artist and as a woman if or if you want to combine no skip any who’s going first now. I.

26:18.37
Lynne McDonald
Um.

26:21.67
Rachel Pruzan
Um, I’ll go just because I I things popped into my head surprisingly right away by the way. Everyone’s um, what everyone was saying about their work makes me really eager to go to see your work because I don’t there. There were so many pieces of art that I wasn’t sure who’s is who’s.

26:23.81
charukaarora
And.

26:31.45
charukaarora
And think.

26:33.72
Lynne McDonald
1 yet.

26:37.64
charukaarora
Yeah, and do that.

26:39.60
Rachel Pruzan
And I can’t wait to go back now and see your pieces So anyway, um, but to answer your question. Um I think the biggest um sort of but what was the word you use blessing or or yeah, if and something. Okay.

26:41.98
Lynne McDonald
Um, me need to.

26:50.37
charukaarora
Yeah, something that he felt was terrible is terribly hard and a strength.

26:58.46
Rachel Pruzan
So a strength for me is that Um, that actually has come with age is I’m I mean I’m not fearless but I’m close to fearless and and even when the fear’s there I mean when the fear is there I just sort of push it aside. That’s more. That’s more.

27:03.90
charukaarora
Yeah.

27:13.76
charukaarora
You put a hang of it. No.

27:16.87
Rachel Pruzan
And and I don’t it doesn’t um, putting my work out. There doesn’t scare me at all because um I don’t know because I don’t know when you get older. Maybe I Just don’t have time to care as much anymore I mean maybe it’s pragmatic and not that I’ve had some epiphany. But.

27:21.34
charukaarora
And.

27:28.00
Lynne McDonald
Yes, yes.

27:29.16
charukaarora
Yeah.

27:35.15
Rachel Pruzan
So that has been helpful in that I don’t feel awkward or shy about it I Just don’t care as much and it’s so beautifully freeing and then um I think probably um, one of the harder things is as much as I’d like to say that I don’t care and whatever. I know I know there is a part of me that that cares. Um, that cares maybe more than I little more than I should about ah the outside opinion of my work or the fact that I’m self-taught which I’ve now brought up twice in this short podcast is a thing for me. So There is definitely still this need for approval. Um that I it’s get it’s getting in my way and I I sort of am curious to see what my work would be like when that really goes away. Um, so that’s.

28:15.53
charukaarora
Um, yeah.

28:25.53
charukaarora
I love that. Thank you so much for your honesty I think you’re you you have a lot of you know fear is such a complex relationship for all of us and we are all at so many different. Um, stages and and it keeps coming when we take 2 steps forward and backward and you know, but it’s very inspiring to see that. Um you know you are using it for your it using it as a strength also for yourself. Perfect.

28:43.81
Rachel Pruzan
Who.

28:54.40
Rachel Pruzan
Yeah.

28:56.67
Runa Gedam
Um I can. Ah.

28:57.64
charukaarora
Thank you so much who’s going next? good. Okay goodness. How do you do that? Both of you Both of you.

28:58.66
Lynne McDonald
I can piggyback on that because that really resonates with me Rachel I feel like I’m 55 and I didn’t start painting or I get start right? I yeah I didn’t start really painting until I was 50

29:05.82
Runa Gedam
Um, you know, look um.

29:13.25
Rachel Pruzan
Ah, thank you.

29:16.83
charukaarora
Wow like.

29:18.36
Lynne McDonald
So I painted I I painted a little bit in my forty s but I didn’t really jump off that cliff and go for it until I was 50 and I and I that what you said Rachel really resonates with me because um I think we my my struggle is my internal dialogue and um.

29:33.86
Rachel Pruzan
Who.

29:36.99
Lynne McDonald
And also with aging your identity changes and you so everything changed at 50 I’m not doing what I did before my my whole life is is completely changed I moved from Canada to Atlanta. And became an artist when I didn’t even know that I could and and I just um I think your internal dialogue can say I’m not an artist. You know what do you think what? who do you think you are and um, but the inspiration was in there and I think the blessing is that.

30:05.67
Rachel Pruzan
There.

30:13.36
Lynne McDonald
Um, at at this point in life at this stage in life I’m almost saying exactly what she said is that at this stage in life. You just feel like going for it because you’re looking at the latter part of your life going if I don’t I Never it’s not going to happen.

30:26.27
charukaarora
M.

30:30.25
Rachel Pruzan
Who.

30:32.16
Lynne McDonald
So I Think the one thing that I have that has been the you know overcoming that is grit that I’ve been able to just kind of look fear in the face and go for it and I think that that comes with age you know it’s this one of these things that I’m looking at my life going. I Could do what I did before but I wasn’t very Happy. So Why? not.

30:52.99
charukaarora
Right? Absolutely I think this is a very good take away for sure. No, it’s a great advice actually for all of us as well. We’ll reach there. Thank you so much. Okay.

30:57.23
Lynne McDonald
Can.

30:57.46
Runa Gedam
So so yeah.

31:02.70
Lynne McDonald
Yeah, but.

31:05.39
Jessica
Oh Yeah I can I can totally sense all of those things. Um I think connecting with people and sharing these stories. What I love about them is that. We were all children at one time we don’t have a lot of things in common these days and it can feel very much like we are always fighting or always divided especially on social media or that you know you stay away from the comment sections because um, you’ll never want anything. Um.

31:32.73
Rachel Pruzan
Ah.

31:33.14
Lynne McDonald
Um, right.

31:36.00
Jessica
But I like the fact that there are some things that we can still connect with probably I don’t know I would say probably every kid’s probably played with paper I mean or picked flowers or plants or we didn’t all have great childhoods I totally recognize that. But.

31:44.49
charukaarora
And so.

31:55.23
Jessica
There are some things that we can connect with and toys and the simplicity of that um, playing with sticks and digging holes in the backyard or just playing in the woods I Love all those things and um, there’s some toys too that are just.

32:04.50
Lynne McDonald
The womb.

32:13.37
Jessica
Lots of generations will recognize the little view finder they still make those you know we have all of the great technology but there’s still some that they they still have you know toddlers are still enamor with little little cars and blocks wood blocks. You know so.

32:25.76
charukaarora
Yeah, him.

32:32.47
Jessica
There’s still that that we all can find a connection to that I love and I hope that it reminds other people of their childhoods and I sometimes I think I would have never thought of that again if I hadn’t seen that in my niece or my son or daughter. Um. And that’s really cool I Love that? Um, So the portraits also become a little bit of a Self-portrait. There’s There’s me in my stories obviously and I’m directing it. Um, and in terms of challenges I agree with all of those things. Um. It’s different when you get into your forty s that you think you so I certainly did as a mom when I became a mom for the first time I really was aware of my mortality. Um and these paintings become a way of documenting our lives in a way that photographs that we keep and hold onto.

33:15.68
Rachel Pruzan
Who.

33:27.24
Jessica
Don’t stay with us I ask my grandfather I was desperate to get the names of all these people was really into genealogy and as somebody said Jesse um, no, one’s goingnna care. No one. No one’s going to care that this was your great great great uncle or something like that. It really made me sad.

33:45.15
Rachel Pruzan
So.

33:46.96
Jessica
Um, but then I found it to be that these paintings that people hold onto that they keep as heirlooms they they tell those stories of that people of all of them in there and um so the challenge is.

33:55.90
charukaarora
Absolutely.

34:04.25
Jessica
Time you know how do we manage as artists all the things that we need to do to keep it going and um, you know your lives and paint and make it all go. That’s the biggest challenge I find.

34:06.53
charukaarora
You know.

34:14.13
charukaarora
Oh wow I agree with memories I always love the idea of these helooms and keepsakes and how even beyond pen we are got gone how these objects and you know paintings they tell us stories for generations and generations and also stories that are not our own. Sometimes when people look at work. They find their own stories and helps them connect with themselves. Wonderful Thank you so much Jessica ah ro now. Do you want to go now.

34:38.41
Jessica
Absolutely.

34:40.39
Runa Gedam
Yes, um, so for me, um I’ve always been painting since my childhood but I don’t know if you can find it relat but choosing art as a profession in India wasn’t really promising and it wasn’t yes.

34:55.92
charukaarora
Yeah, it’s know not an obvious place.

34:57.70
Runa Gedam
It’s like is it going to pay for your you know, ah food so it wasn’t really an option for me I actually really started painting when I moved to Canada because I had extra time and um, it just inspired something in me to pursue it again.

35:09.92
charukaarora
Okay.

35:13.95
Runa Gedam
Even though I was doing it in a smaller scale but I feel like I really ah found my true calling when I moved to Canada and now because of social media I feel like the world has opened for me like something that I couldn’t do in the past I feel like there’s so many opportunities. Um.

35:16.51
charukaarora
Okay.

35:23.19
charukaarora
Okay.

35:32.41
Runa Gedam
And there’s so many options available for us then they were a couple of years ago so um I feel like I’m really fortunate to have really found this profession back again now in this time of social media. So yeah.

35:41.32
charukaarora
Yeah.

35:51.52
charukaarora
Yeah, wonderful. Thank you so much guys. It was so nice. Speaking to all of you and everybody who joined us. Thank you so much for listening to this episode and I hope you did enjoy and you really want to I.

35:52.72
Lynne McDonald
I agree.

36:08.67
charukaarora
I hope you do grab your copies of the archwas project one zero one flow book edition and the link will of course be in the bio and in the show notes. But before I go I will also quickly let our ladies share where you can find them support them and like I always say. Ah, support can go a long way from buying the book buying their work sharing this episode liking commenting um on each other’s work following each other or just you know even sharing kind words I think it it really imp empowers artists and women each other and there’s so much of. Upliftment that we can do for each other that can help everybody feel more seen and safe and loved I think that’s that’s at the end what we all want. So. Thank you so much and guys please let us know. Where can people find you and follow you on social media as well.

37:07.22
Lynne McDonald
So I can can Rachel Please go go right ahead.

37:09.90
Rachel Pruzan
um I’ll start oh okay um I guess um I would love if people um check out my work on Instagram and I am ah Rachel Pruzan studio that’s Rachel with you know Rachel and then p r u z a n studio on Instagram I I post there as much as I can um, it’s probably more up to date than my website ever would be but I do have one of those rachelrusan art. Um, and I am. You know, physically located outside of New York city studio visits are welcome to.

37:48.39
charukaarora
Perfect Go idline.

37:53.20
Lynne McDonald
So um, on my Instagram is Lynn Mcdonald’s gallery which is l y n n e m c d o n a l d s gallery and my website is Lynn Mcdonald Dot Com and um ah just like Rachel my my Instagram is probably more updated than my website but I’m also on Facebook and Tiktok and Linkedin and everywhere else too.

38:16.47
charukaarora
Lovely Wonderful! What about you Just can do now.

38:24.65
Jessica
Um, let’s see I’m kind of similarly minded there a lot more is up to date on Instagram and that is Jessica Dot Lewis Dot art and then my website is jessicadashluis.com so

38:39.90
Runa Gedam
So you can find my work on my website which is runargeam.com and also on Instagram which is Runna Getam I also do a lot of art shows in Edmonton which I often post about on my social media.

38:40.70
charukaarora
Perfect.

38:42.50
Jessica
That’s read and find me.

38:55.49
Runa Gedam
And I’m also an artist in residence in India so people usually they have bigger projects which it’s expensive to ship and all I usually come down here and I do those projects while I’m in India. So you can find my work on my website and more information over there as well. Um.

39:12.96
charukaarora
Wonderful! Perfect! Thank you so much. Guys. Thank you so much for your time for sharing your stories and for your beautiful work I’m so proud of each one of you. We’ve truly collectively collaborated on this project. And we’ve really made a wonderful book and I hope you know it’s a keepsake I feel like these books are a keepsake for each one of us these are like helooms we will be. You know, giving it to our children um showing our work and telling us stories. So thank you so much for making us a part of it and for being a part of our whole story. And we’ll continue on a mission um fire supporting more and more women artists sharing your stories. So thank you so much I hope you have a good day. Thank you one second please don’t go.

39:53.96
Runa Gedam
Um, thank you for having us.

39:56.46
Rachel Pruzan
Thank you for having me nice meeting you guys. But bye.

39:57.40
Jessica
Thank you, Thank you so much for having us next. But you.

39:58.69
Lynne McDonald
Um, in here.

Lynne McDonald:\ Lynne McDonald is an established artist known for her impressive work in the art world. With extensive experience in creating captivating pieces, Lynne has showcased her talent in various exhibitions and galleries. Her keen eye for detail and unique perspective make her a standout in the artistic community.

Rachel Pruzan:\ Rachel Pruzan is a seasoned professional with a wealth of knowledge in the creative realm. As an artist featured in the project, Rachel’s expertise shines through in her remarkable contributions. Her innovative approach to art and dedication to her craft have garnered her recognition in the industry.

Jessica Lewis:\ Jessica Lewis is a talented individual with a passion for art and expression. Her involvement in the project showcases her creativity and commitment to producing exceptional work. Jessica’s keen insights and artistic prowess add depth to the collaborative endeavor.

Runa Gedam:\ Runa Gedam brings a fresh perspective and artistic flair to the project with her unique style and creative vision. As a budding artist making her mark in the industry, Runa’s contributions contribute to the project’s diverse and vibrant collection.

Episode Summary:

In this engaging episode, the host discusses the project with Lynne McDonald, Rachel Pruzan, Jessica Lewis, and Runa Gedam. The conversation delves into the guests’ experiences, feedback on the project, and ways to enhance future collaborations. Key topics include the quality of the book, pricing concerns, communication efficiency, and the logistics of managing a large group of artists. The guests share valuable insights and suggestions for improvement, highlighting the collaborative nature of the project.

The discussion touches on the impressive technology involved, seamless coordination, and the challenges faced in producing premium books for a global audience. The guests offer constructive feedback on pricing strategies, communication methods, and the overall experience of participating in the project. Through open dialogue and shared perspectives, the episode emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and collaboration in the creative industry.

Key Takeaways:

• Feedback on pricing highlights the importance of balancing quality and affordability.
• Communication efficiency can be enhanced through alternative channels like text messaging.
• Logistics play a crucial role in delivering premium products to a diverse global audience.
• Collaboration and feedback are key elements in improving artistic projects and experiences.
• The episode showcases the dedication and passion of artists involved in the project.

Notable Quotes:

• Lynne McDonald: “If you cut the price in half, you’ll sell twice as many.”
• Jessica Lewis: “The way that the book came out was beautifully laid out.”
• Runa Gedam: “The experience was a benchmark for me to compare with future projects.”

Charuka Arora is the founder of the Arts to Hearts Project and Host of the Arts to Hearts Podcast. She is also an acclaimed Indian artist known for her contemporary embellished paintings. Her unique blend of gouache, collage, embroidery, painting, and drawing explores the intersection of art, culture, heritage, and womanhood. Through her work, she tells stories of female strength and encapsulates them in pieces that can be treasured for generations.

Charuka’s work draws inspiration from Hindu mythology, recognizing women as vessels of Shakti, the cosmic energy. She beautifully portrays powerful goddesses like Durga Maa riding a tiger or lion, symbolizing their unlimited power to protect virtue and combat evil.

Through her art, Charuka invites us into the world of women, showcasing their beauty, strength, and resilience. Her creations not only exhibit exceptional talent but also serve as an inspiration and a symbol of hope for those challenging societal norms.

Arts to Hearts Podcast is a show delving into the lives and passions of renowned artists. From running creative businesses and studio art practices to cultivating a successful mindset, Charuka Arora engages in heartfelt conversations with her guests. Experience your personal happy hour with your favorite artists, right in your studio.

Through candid discussions, Charuka and her guests reveal the joys and challenges of a vibrant creative life, both within and beyond our studios. Get ready to be inspired and uplifted as you tune in.