Ep 5 - Meet Steve Hartman of The Gogh-Getters

Ep 8 – Wil Thomas III rides up on The Gogh-Getters

Wil Thomas III rides a 1947 Harley he named 'So What' — after the Miles Davis song — because when he built it, bucking trends and going his own direction, nobody much cared. That name says everything about how Wil moves through the world: with complete conviction, full creative independence, and a quietly earned authority that tends to make people pay attention eventually.   In Episode 8, the Gogh-Getters welcome one of the most fascinating creative figures in their orbit. Born in St. Louis, raised by a single mother who exposed him to everything — acting,athletics, music, art, and the world beyond North County — Wil has lived many chapters: Marine Corps veteran, Nike executive, competitive adventure racer, motorcycle builder, filmmaker, Harley-Davidson collaborator, and producer of music videos for Lana Del Rey, Arctic Monkeys, and Major Lazer. He now lives intentionally in Alton, Illinois, in an 1881 home filled with objects that carry stories, with a motorcycle in the living room and a 1947 knucklehead in the garage that Jason Momoa has been trying to buy.  He talks about building bikes the way painters approach a canvas, co-producing Sugar & Spade [https://www.instagram.com/sugarandspade] (screened in Morocco,Iceland, and France), filming The Passenger [https://www.instagram.com/thepassengerfilm/] on Oregon salt flats during a pandemic while his kicker sheared off on day one, the DL Warfield 'Dope Show' [https://dlwarfield.com/dope-collection] he helped curate for hip-hop's 50th anniversary, touching a Basquiat in Antwerp, Frida Kahlo's chronic pain, and why staying true to your process — even when you fly to Africa with $100 to your name — is the only way great art gets made. Wil Thomas ⁠Instagram⁠: [https://www.instagram.com/wordisjustaword/]@wordisjustaword [https://www.instagram.com/wordisjustaword/#] The Gogh-Getters are Gogh-Getters: ⁠⁠⁠Shop⁠⁠⁠ [https://the-gogh-getters.square.site/], ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thegoghgetters] Kerry Smith: ⁠⁠⁠Artist Website⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.ksmithart.com/], ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/kerrysmith_art/] Steve Hartman: ⁠⁠⁠Artist Website⁠⁠⁠ [https://stevehartmanart.com/], ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/steve.hartman.art] Juan Cruz: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/el_senor_cruz] Dave Thomas: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dave.thomas.169] Produced by Creativille Journal: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.creativillejournal.com/], ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/creativillejournal] Recorded atEaker's Family Barber Shop: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.eakersbarbershop.com/], ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/eakers_barbershop/] Edwardsville, Illinois Gallery Location: ⁠⁠⁠Sacred Grounds Cafe⁠⁠⁠ [https://sacredgroundscafe.com/] inEdwardsville. ©2026 Creativille Journal and The Gogh-Getters. All rights reserved. The Gogh-Getters Podcast is an original production of Creativille Journal & The Gogh-Getters. Any music used in this episode is either original, licensed, or used with permission — licensing details available upon request. Artwork, songs, albums, and other creative works discussed or referenced in this episode remain the intellectual property of their respective creators and rights holders. All opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests only.

Ep 7 -Melissa (Missy) McDonough-Borden hang with The Gogh-Getters

What happens when a painter decides the canvas isn't enough? For Melissa (Missy) McDonough Borden [https://www.melissamcdonough-art.com/], it leads to wire that mimics brushwork in midair, spinning vellum cylinders that paint the walls with colored light, and an installation show that fills an entire gallery with work made in just three months.   Missy is a painter, installation artist, educator, and Edwardsville institution. She holds a BFA from the University of Illinois [https://faa.illinois.edu/] and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago [https://www.saic.edu/], where she built her graduate portfolio while living in a geodesic domein the Arizona desert — and graduated with Ed Harris, fresh from playing Jackson Pollock, as her commencement speaker. She has taught at Lewis and Clark College, Blackburn College, SIUE, and the Art Institute of Chicago, served as executive director of the Edwardsville Arts Center [https://www.edwardsvilleartscenter.com/], and helped found the Edwardsville Art Fair.   In this episode, The Gogh-Getters [https://goghgetters.com/] dig into Missy's story: her architect father's influence on how she sees space, the three-month sprint to fill the William and Florence Schmidt Art Center [https://www.swic.edu/theschmidt/]with a full-scale installation show, the Olafur Eliasson show in LA that sparked her spinning light-cylinder pieces, her long mentorship with renowned artist and educator Buzz Spector, and the Women Artists Connect network that helps her stay in community with artists across the country.She also talks about jazz as the only studio soundtrack that makes sense to her, the difference between a painting that hangs and a piece that makes you move around it, and a dream hang that includes the Drawing Center in New York and — why not — the Pompidou in Paris. Melissa McDonough-Borden Website [https://www.melissamcdonough-art.com/]: www.melissamcdonough-art.com Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/missymacbee/]: @missymacbee The Gogh-Getters are Gogh-Getters: ⁠⁠Shop⁠⁠ [https://the-gogh-getters.square.site/], ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thegoghgetters] Kerry Smith: ⁠⁠Artist Website⁠⁠ [https://www.ksmithart.com/], ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/kerrysmith_art/] Steve Hartman: ⁠⁠Artist Website⁠⁠ [https://stevehartmanart.com/], ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/steve.hartman.art] Juan Cruz: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/el_senor_cruz] Dave Thomas: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dave.thomas.169] Produced by Creativille Journal: ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ [https://www.creativillejournal.com/], ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/creativillejournal] Recorded at Eaker's Family Barber Shop: ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ [https://www.eakersbarbershop.com/], ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/eakers_barbershop/] Edwardsville, Illinois Gallery Location: ⁠⁠Sacred Grounds Cafe⁠⁠ [https://sacredgroundscafe.com/] in Edwardsville. ©2026 Creativille Journal and The Gogh-Getters. All rights reserved. The Gogh-Getters Podcast is an original production of Creativille Journal & The Gogh-Getters. Any music used in this episode is either original, licensed, or used with permission — licensing details available upon request. Artwork, songs, albums, and other creative works discussed or referenced in this episode remain the intellectual property of their respective creators and rights holders. All opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests only.

Ep 6 - Alex Johnmeyer & Kimberlyn Renee hang with The Gogh-Getters

The Gogh-Getters [https://the-gogh-getters.square.site/] have their first guests, and they did not set the bar low, instead they gave you a treasure trove of items to write down. Alex Johnmeyer [https://www.alexjohnmeyer.com/]is a 17-year painting veteran, St. Louis Magazine's Best Fine Artist of 2021, a queer and transgender artist and advocate, and the co-founder of the St. Louis VisualArtists Network [https://www.facebook.com/groups/248589465477368] — a Facebook group and monthly meeting now connecting 7,000 artists across the St. Louis region. His solo show at the Angad Arts Hotel explored his journey as a transgender man through oil paintings including thenow-iconic "Let Me Spell That Out for You" painting. He has six paintings permanently installed at SLU Hospital, is a resident artist at Green Door Art Gallery [https://greendoorartgallery.com/] and Artisans in the Loop [https://artisansintheloop.square.site/], and is preparing to be the sole juror of an LGBTQ exhibition at the Foundry of St. Charles in 2028. Kimberlyn Renee [https://www.kimberlynreneeart.com/] is a self-taught surrealist pop artist who went from her first gallery show in 2023 to 29 exhibits, 13 art fairs, 12 galleries, and 7 awards in 2025 alone. She paints fluorescent candy, cereals, and music icons directly on vintage vinyl records,using UV-reactive and glow-in-the-dark paints, and even travels to art fairs with a blacked-out phone-booth booth so people can experience her glowing work. They met because of a Lucky Charms painting. They're showing together with The Gogh-Getters at Sacred Grounds Cafe [https://sacredgroundscafe.com/] in Edwardsville from April 10 through June 14. And in this episode, recorded live at Eaker's Family Barber Shop [https://www.eakersbarbershop.com/], they talk about frosting bags and texture paint, black lights and fluorescent color, the business of being an artist, and why the St. Louis art community goes so much further when people like Alex refuse to stop sharing what they know. Follow them on Instagram Alex Johnmeyer: @superkeenalex [https://www.instagram.com/superkeenalex] Kimberlyn Renee: @kreneeart [https://www.instagram.com/kreneeart] The Gogh-Getters are Gogh-Getters: ⁠Shop⁠ [https://the-gogh-getters.square.site/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thegoghgetters] Kerry Smith: ⁠Artist Website⁠ [https://www.ksmithart.com/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/kerrysmith_art/] Steve Hartman: ⁠Artist Website⁠ [https://stevehartmanart.com/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/steve.hartman.art] Juan Cruz: ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/el_senor_cruz] Dave Thomas: ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dave.thomas.169] Produced by Creativille Journal: ⁠Website⁠ [https://www.creativillejournal.com/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/creativillejournal] Recorded at Eaker's Family Barber Shop: ⁠Website⁠ [https://www.eakersbarbershop.com/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/eakers_barbershop/] Edwardsville, Illinois ©2026 Creativille Journal and The Gogh-Getters. All rights reserved. The Gogh-Getters Podcast is an original production of Creativille Journal & The Gogh-Getters. Any music used in this episode is either original, licensed, or used with permission — licensing details available upon request. Artwork, songs, albums, and other creative works discussed or referenced in this episode remain the intellectual property of their respective creators and rights holders. All opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests only.

Ep 5 - Meet Steve Hartman of The Gogh-Getters

Episode 5 features Steve Hartman. We chat about his entry into the arts, his design career and his favorite museum, Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas. Steve is interviewed by his fellow Gogh-Getters, Kerry Smith, Juan Cruz and Dave Thomas. Steve Hartman is an Creative Director and Artist. You can see his work online: Design Portfolio: [https://www.behance.net/Creativille] https://www.behance.net/Creativille Fine Art Portfolio [https://stevehartmanart.com/]: https://stevehartmanart.com The Gogh-Getters are Gogh-Getters: Shop [https://the-gogh-getters.square.site/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thegoghgetters] Kerry Smith: Artist Website [https://www.ksmithart.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/kerrysmith_art/] Steve Hartman: Artist Website [https://stevehartmanart.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/steve.hartman.art] Juan Cruz: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/el_senor_cruz] Dave Thomas: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dave.thomas.169] Produced by Creativille Journal: Website [https://www.creativillejournal.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/creativillejournal] Recorded at Eaker's Family Barber Shop: Website [https://www.eakersbarbershop.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eakers_barbershop/] Edwardsville, Illinois ©2026 Creativille Journal and The Gogh-Getters. All rights reserved. The Gogh-Getters Podcast is an original production of Creativille Journal & The Gogh-Getters. Any music used in this episode is either original, licensed, or used with permission — licensing details available upon request. Artwork, songs, albums, and other creative works discussed or referenced in this episode remain the intellectual property of their respective creators and rights holders. All opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests only.

Ep 4 - Meet Juan Cruz of The Gogh-Getters

Episode 4 features the one and only Juan Cruz. Tatted to the hilt, loves a damn-fine museum, and maybe our hardest working Gogh-Getter. Juan talks tats, museums, drawing clubs and the St. Louis gallery scene. Juan is interviewed by his fellow Gogh-Getters, Kerry Smith and Dave Thomas. The Gogh-Getters are Gogh-Getters: ⁠Shop⁠ [https://the-gogh-getters.square.site/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thegoghgetters] Kerry Smith: ⁠Artist Website⁠ [https://www.ksmithart.com/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/kerrysmith_art/] Steve Hartman: ⁠Artist Website⁠ [https://stevehartmanart.com/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/steve.hartman.art] Juan Cruz: ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/el_senor_cruz] Dave Thomas: ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/dave.thomas.169] Produced by Creativille Journal: ⁠Website⁠ [https://www.creativillejournal.com/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/creativillejournal] Recorded at Eaker's Family Barber Shop: ⁠Website⁠ [https://www.eakersbarbershop.com/], ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/eakers_barbershop/] Edwardsville, Illinois ©2026 Creativille Journal and The Gogh-Getters. All rights reserved. The Gogh-Getters Podcast is an original production of Creativille Journal & The Gogh-Getters. Any music used in this episode is either original, licensed, or used with permission — licensing details available upon request. Artwork, songs, albums, and other creative works discussed or referenced in this episode remain the intellectual property of their respective creators and rights holders. All opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests only.