We’re so excited to have Gifted Achiever artist Kath Montstream on the podcast. Kath, a successful Burlington-based artist for 34 years, joined us to talk process, resilience, marketing, and how she created and sustains her artistic life.
Whether you’re a visual artist, writer, performer, or creative in any field, we know you’ll find something to take home and put into practice.
In fact, Kath was such a pleasure to talk with and so full of practical advice, wisdom, and useful info that we added time markers to this episode. Dip in and out, relisten to the parts that hit you over the head, or mow through the whole hour in one stint!
We talked about:
02:00 Resilience and persistence
05:20 Art as savior
08:02 Becoming an artist - 10,000 hours
12:00 Marketing, shows, and feeding the dragon
15:03 Mentorship is instrumental
20:42 Not to mention courage
21:31 Failing is part of the process
25:46 Inspiration needs to find you working
27:14 Getting into your process & working to music
32:28 The Red Hot Chilly Dippers!
34:42 Pechakucha and photographing dips
36:15 [A merch bargain is struck]
37:49 The power of personal marketing & current show, The Color of Snow
47:27 Business model, commissions, freedom, and the value of experience
53:02 Mother Mary in prayer
55:03 Kath's not-so-delusional ambition
57:08 Exploring the next thing that hits you over the head
Hope you enjoy!
Segment Questions:
We’d love to hear what you think—whether it’s a reply to the questions below or your feelings after listening to Kath.
What’s your takeaway?
How has your art or creativity improved your life?
What’s one big risk you’ve taken, and how did that go?
What next risk will you take?
Segment Links:
The Color of Snow, Kath Montstream and her daughter Charlotte Dworshak’s exhibit in honor of Kath’s dad, is at Montstream Studios til November 2, 2024: https://www.kmmstudio.com/
129 St. Paul Street, Burlington, VT.
So many great works!
Kath’s Petcha Kucha on Chilly Dipping (20 slides, 20 seconds per, 7 mins total)
Book by Kath’s mentor Larry Goldsmith: Watercolor Bold & Free: 64 Experimental Ideas and Techniques in Watercolor. Request it from your local independent bookstore or buy online from Amazon or other retailers.
And finally…Mother Mary in Prayer! Note the penciled “FREE” bottom left
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