Artist Decoded by Yoshino

"I am a 34-year-old artist living and working in San Francisco, California. My work focuses on my perspective on life, identity, and empathy. I paint and draw people who are close to me, or if they have a story I can relate too. My style consists of meticulous studies of anatomy and form, as well as pieces that explore a more emotional and expressive theme. I have shown in galleries both across the United States and internationally." - Daniel Segrove Topics Discussed In This Episode: * Segrove and Yoshino talk about modern technology and how it affects artists (00:02:26) * Living peacefully and solitarily as an artist (00:09:12) * Self-realization through art (00:14:46) * The early phases of Segrove’s artistic journey (00:22:29) * Intuition vs. impulsivity: balance, process, and letting go of outcomes (00:36:55) * Staying spiritually youthful, following the truest path, and sensing others’ energy (00:43:30) * Writing to process emotions and trusting and owning our unique artistic processes (00:51:59) * Breaking through social norms to discover the true self (00:59:53) * The weight of stress on the body and how art offers release (01:11:27) artistdecoded.com [http://www.artistdecoded.com] instagram.com/dsegrove/ [http://www.instagram.com/dsegrove/]

Ray Barbee is an American skateboarder, musician, and photographer originally from San Jose, California. He started skateboarding in 1984, when he was in seventh grade, and has grown to become one of the most iconic skateboarders of his generation. His passion and do-it-yourself attitude, which distinguish him as a musician and as a skateboarder, also define his photography. He has been developing his own photos for the last sixteen years. Rarely without his Leica M6, Ray brings the same unique perspective to the art of black and white film photography that he has brought to skateboarding. His pictures manage to capture both the loud and soft sounds of life. They document explorations, discoveries and experiences, while casually speaking of his own life at the same time. Ray’s seamless approach to capturing a moment while nurturing the image through the development process and bringing it to fruition in the darkroom make his photographs as humble and honest as the man behind the lens. He is also a recipient of the Transworld Skateboarding “LEGEND” Award and in 2020 was inducted into The Skateboard Hall of Fame. Topics Discussed In This Episode: * How Yoshino and Ray both grew up in the Bay Area (00:02:36) * Yoshino and Ray share stories about professional skateboarder Jerry Hsu (00:05:36) * The origins of Ray’s journey into the world of skateboarding (00:10:00) * How skateboarding can transform your creative mindset 00:17:24) * The art of trial and error (00:22:03) * Ray’s journey into becoming a musician (00:27:02) * Naivety as a powerful tool, and how it has shifted due to advances in technology (00:31:06) * Building resilience (00:38:09) * “The gym of life” and building character through experience (00:43:39) * How Ray’s location influenced his skateboarding and opportunities (00:51:45) * Ray’s approach to photography (00:58:17) * Ray’s newest photography book: The Joy is in Capturing the Journey (01:10:03) * Staying curious (01:20:56) artistdecoded.com [http://www.artistdecoded.com] instagram.com/r.barbee [http://www.instagram.com/r.barbee]

Yulia Bas’s artwork explores the fragmentation of contemporary individuality, healing, and the body as a somatic memory tool. Across her paintings, sculptures, and installations, equilibrating between figuration and abstraction, Yulia employs unconventional materials to explore her perception of physical and mental thresholds, transitional states, and subjective wholeness. Guided by her personal journey of transformation through body therapy and meditation as well as her immigrant background, Yulia's work embodies her experience of multiplicity of self. She searches for ways to show the tension that comes from the necessity of coexisting with different identity faucets, real, digital, and imagined ones. Topics Discussed In This Episode: * Yulia and Yoshino discuss creative struggles (00:03:05) * How Yulia got her start in the arts (00:06:57) * The importance of micro and macro decisions in life (00:10:15) * Structuring and creating order, and knowing when to break out of it (00:15:02) * Negative stereotypes of being an artist (00:17:44) * Allowing vulnerabilities to inform us, and tapping back into a childlike mindset (00:24:53) * Questioning what art is and expressing oneself honestly (00:37:05)  * Taking time for rest and contemplation, and trying not to overwork the process (00:43:11)  * Yulia talks about her painting process (00:49:28) * Yulia speaks about experimentation and stepping into performance art (01:05:13) * Yoshino speaks about studying martial arts and observing false narratives around masculinity and femininity (01:11:47)  * Advice Yulia would give to her younger self (01:36:57) artistdecoded.com [http://www.artistdecoded.com] yuliabas.com [http://www.yuliabas.com/] instagram.com/yulia__bas [http://www.instagram.com/yulia__bas/]

Iranian-American director and writer Saman Kesh has the most Vimeo staff picks, ever. He attributes this accolade to excessive consumption of rocket fuel and a knack for combining the human experience with a healthy dose of controlled chaos. Saman gained recognition with popular music videos like Cinnamon Chasers: Luv Deluxe (which won ‘Best Video’ at SXSW), Kygo: Stole The Show and Basement Jaxx: Never Say Never, along with videos for Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, and Placebo. He has also directed award-winning commercials for major brands like Zoom, Google, Uber, Toyota and Nintendo. Saman has written and directed industry-hailed short films, CONTROLLER and HIT TV, and is currently developing several feature films. On his off hours, he plays video games and trolls racists. Topics Discussed In This Episode: * Yoshino and Saman catching up (00:02:14) * Imbuing authenticity into commercial creations (00:05:54) * Saman speaks about his experience shooting the “Azizam” music video for Ed Sheeran (00:20:38) * Saman reflects on 15 years in the film and commercial industry (00:29:43) * Saman discusses dealing with triggering moments on set, and how he has learned to comport himself appropriately in those situations (00:39:04) * Yoshino asks about romantic relationships and finding a shared rhythm with a partner (00:43:44) * Knowing how to make the most truthful decisions for our lives (00:49:56) * Getting out of analysis paralysis (00:56:24) * Saman reflects on how his past self might perceive who he is today (00:59:00) artistdecoded.com [http://www.artistdecoded.com] samankesh.com [http://www.samankesh.com/] instagram.com/saman_kesh [http://www.instagram.com/saman_kesh]

Tomas Watson (b.1971) is a British artist who has lived and worked in Greece since 1994. He studied at the Slade School of Art in London. In 1998, he won the BP Portrait Award and was subsequently commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to paint the author John Fowles. This portrait is in their permanent collection. He is represented by the Jill George Gallery in London (www.jillgeorgegallery.co.uk [http://www.jillgeorgegallery.co.uk]) and Accesso Galleria in Tuscany (www.accessogalleria.com [http://www.accessogalleria.com]) Topics Discussed In This Episode: * Tomas recounts where his artistic journey began (00:02:11)  * The importance of mentorship (00:07:46)  * Tomas's experiences at Slade University in London from 1990 - 1994 (00:09:28)  * Discussing mark-making (00:14:42)  * Having the courage to trust your artistic vision and perspective (00:26:22)  * Tomas winning the BP Portrait Award in 1998 (00:35:33)  * Cultivating a creative community and creating collective dialogue (00:43:35)  * Tomas discusses his process of creating carborundum etchings and using various other mediums (00:54:01)  * Tomas speaks about the Sigri Arts Retreat, the artist retreat he co-founded with his partner, Cindy Camatsos, in Lesvos, Greece (01:10:56) * Living alternative lifestyles, staying patient, and allowing oneself to grow over time (01:18:36) www.artistdecoded.com [http://www.artistdecoded.com] www.tomaswatson.com [http://www.tomaswatson.com/] www.sigriartsretreat.com [http://www.sigriartsretreat.com/]