Stephen Datz gave a wonderful lecture for the Western Art Patrons at the Tucson Museum of Art and, you know, it's one thing to actually see paintings up-close and in person, and it's another to actually hear the artist talk about his journey and where those paintings fit in to the greater story. This was the first time Stephen has given a lecture like this and he did a fantastic job.

So we wanted to share this lecture with you and I think it's much more enjoyable if you watch it on YouTube vs. listening to it, but at the same time it's a great to hear an orator like Stephen talk for over half an hour. I really enjoyed watching and hearing what he had to say and I'm sure you will too.

I had photographer Scott Baxter on today and I enjoyed this interview a lot. I was listening to this man's life unfold in front of me and it came out so fluid and easily digestible. He's a loquacious individual but he's also just really interesting.

You see, Scott gets a degree in history and just goes: "I'm not going to be a teacher, I'm going to be a photographer - and furthermore, I'm not going to be just a commercial photographer... I'm going to be a fine artist." And the projects that he's worked on are incredible. 100 Years, 100 Ranchers was such a pivotal exhibit. I remember seeing it at the Tucson Museum of Art and the individuals, the ranchers that he had interviewed and taken photos of were there.

It was so captivating then and now to be ten or so years later, getting to interview him about that project was really rewarding for me. Sometimes in this podcast world that I inhabit, there are certain connections that happen. I interviewed Ed Mell and I interviewed Jay Dusard, both individuals affected Scott's life a great deal.

This podcast came about because he wrote me this beautiful letter and said: "I just want to thank you. I really enjoyed these podcasts, and they meant a lot to me." I read that and thought, I've always wanted to interview this guy, and I love the project he did... Let's see what happens. So it was a very special podcast.

You should definitely know who Scott Baxter is, and if you don't this is the perfect entry point. He's a terrific photographer. We included images in video version, but to get the entire scope of his work you can go to his website.

I'm a fan. I really am. The podcast was so compelling that we actually went a little long, which I love, because that means there's a two parter here. So this is part two of the Art Dealer Diaries Podcast with photographer Scott Baxter.

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If you're interested in seeing Scott's work including pieces he spoke about in this podcast, visit his website: www.scottbaxterphotographer.com

I had photographer Scott Baxter on today and I enjoyed this interview a lot. I was listening to this man's life unfold in front of me and it came out so fluid and easily digestible. He's a loquacious individual but he's also just really interesting.

You see, Scott gets a degree in history and just goes: "I'm not going to be a teacher, I'm going to be a photographer - and furthermore, I'm not going to be just a commercial photographer... I'm going to be a fine artist." And the projects that he's worked on are incredible. 100 Years, 100 Ranchers was such a pivotal exhibit. I remember seeing it at the Tucson Museum of Art and the individuals, the ranchers that he had interviewed and taken photos of were there.

It was so captivating then and now to be ten or so years later, getting to interview him about that project was really rewarding for me. Sometimes in this podcast world that I inhabit, there are certain connections that happen. I interviewed Ed Mell and I interviewed Jay Dusard, both individuals affected Scott's life a great deal.

This podcast came about because he wrote me this beautiful letter and said: "I just want to thank you. I really enjoyed these podcasts, and they meant a lot to me." I read that and thought, I've always wanted to interview this guy, and I love the project he did... Let's see what happens. So it was a very special podcast.

You should definitely know who Scott Baxter is, and if you don't this is the perfect entry point. He's a terrific photographer. We included images in video version, but to get the entire scope of his work you can go to his website.

I'm a fan. I really am. The podcast was so compelling that we actually went a little long, which I love, because that means there's a two parter here. So this is part one of the Art Dealer Diaries Podcast with photographer Scott Baxter.

I had Mary Platt on today. It was a really fun talk because we were at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University in Orange, CA and she did a walk and talk of the Disney material, and that's her expertise. In fact, she's done a book on that specific area. So this is a great podcast to watch on YouTube because you can see the paintings and what we're talking about.

We just had a wonderful conversation in the museum, talking about the main animation related exhibit they have at the moment which is on Disney artist and animation pioneer: Mary Blair.

So very interesting, enlightening talk with Mary Platt, Director of the Hilbert Museum of California Art.

I had Tim Peterson on today, and it was really a wonderful podcast. He's an individual I've wanted to have on for very long time. I've had many conversations with him over the years and he's been on the podcast recently, speaking on exhibits at the Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West, but this time I wanted HIS story.

This is an individual who is a very serious collector. He's done around ten or so major exhibits on the different items he collects and they're always phenomenal exhibits. There's a multitude of them, Native American objects of art and Western paintings. The breadth is shocking and wonderful. Every time I go to the Western Spirit, I make sure to go see the permanent exhibit he curated: Courage and Crossroads.

In this case, on this podcast, I learned about a painting that I've talked about before, which is a Herman Wendelborg Hansen, but I didn't realize it was the first really significant piece that he had ever collected.

So it's a very unique podcast. You hear how somebody goes all in on collecting and giving back, because Tim's not just collecting for himself, it's just the opposite. He collects to build a story and he's giving it to the world to take it as is.

We owe a debt of gratitude to people like Tim Peterson and I'm grateful he took the time to be a part of the Art Dealer Diaries Podcast episode 300.

Had a nice talk with artist Bob Coronato today, and it went on for a long time. We went over two hours so it's a two parter for sure. Bob's lived an interesting, unique life. He's been in Wyoming for most of his life at this point, but he actually grew up in New Jersey.

In part two, we hear the story of Bob and a very special portrait of Russell Means. Now, for those who don't know who Russell Means is, he was a Lakota activist, writer, and actor, and he was highly involved in the AIM protest at Wounded Knee in 1970. Well, Bob had the privilege of painting this individual's likeness and the story behind this painting is quite compelling (spoiler alert - it winds up in the Smithsonian).

We handle his etchings on occasion when I get them and he's just a super nice guy. So I hope you enjoy. Art Dealer Diaries Podcast epi 299 with Bob Coronato. This is part two.

Had a nice talk with artist Bob Coronato today, and it went on for a long time. We went over two hours so it's a two parter for sure. Bob's lived an interesting, unique life. He's been in Wyoming for most of his life at this point, but he actually grew up in New Jersey.

We hear the whole story of how he managed to get out of New Jersey and wind up at the Otis Institute of Fine Art in Los Angeles. after a bit he moves to Wyoming where he meets and works with cowboys, and it's just domino after domino of these life events that make Bob into the Western artist he is today.

So we had this lovely talk about his life and this first part is all about his becoming an artist and really the early days of his career. Part two has a lot to do with his painting of Lakota activist Russell Means that currently hangs in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

We handle his etchings on occasion when I get them and he's just a super nice guy. So I hope you enjoy. Art Dealer Diaries Podcast epi 298 with Bob Coronato. This is part one.

I had Donna Howell-Sickles on today, and I think she's probably one of the more recognizable Western multimedia artists. So today's podcast was fun for me on many levels. First off, Donna is iconic and paints iconic imagery and second, she was a leader in the field early on. On top of that, I just love her story. I mean, she grew up on a ranch that was hit with a terrible drought, but they managed to hang on to it. After all of that, her parents became teachers.

For Donna, it was really a struggle to get where she wanted to be as an artist. You know, she had to go against the grain and in so many ways. Not only from facing her family who felt that she would need a job that can pay the bills and that art wasn't going to cut it, but simply existing as a standout woman artist in a very male dominated space.

Anyways, she's a lovely individual. I guess I just really enjoyed this podcast. Donna Howell-Sickles on episode 297 of Art Dealer Diaries Podcast.