S05 EP04 – Todd Arsenault, Dickenson’s Guru of Abstraction

Join Todd Arsenault and me as we talk about the line between abstraction vs representation, how our media shapes our world, and using digital media to aid his traditional works. He tells stories of people trying to make money off his work, how the internet ties with his art, and catching his students making master copies of art found on social media.

Todd Arsenault is the director of the art department at Dickenson’s College. He was the associate professor as of 2007.

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0:29 – Question 1 – Todd’s Favorite Thing to Make
1:28 – Question 2 – Todd’s Least Favorite Thing to Do
1:58 – Question 3 – Todd’s Top Selling Piece
3:52 – People Making Money Off Todd’s Works?
7:06 – Goals Behind Making Art
8:19 – Question 4 – Todd’s Weirdest Experience
9:15 – A Story About Todd’s Artwork Circulating
13:18 – Question 5 – What Advice Would Todd Give to Himself?
17:02 – How Did Todd Find His Style?
19:45 – Todd’s Recurring Themes
21:15 – Students and Artist Copies
23:57 – Todd’s Works and How The Internet Ties In
25:22 – Todd’s Products – How Does he Create Works?
27:32 – Todd’s Reference Images
32:01 – How Does Todd Present His Work?
35:26 – Todd’s Tips and Tricks for Presenting
37:13 – How Does Todd Frame Pieces?
42:05 – Educating Todd’s Audience
44:45 – Sharing Todd’s Deep Concepts
47:51 – Writing Throughout the Process of The Work
49:54 – Julie Cameron’s The Artist Way
50:49 – Amplifying Todd’s Audience – Teaching!
54:20 – Recurring Theme of Guests – Networking
56:17 – Todd’s Advice – Positioning Yourself
57:42 – Discussing Signatures and Stamps
1:03:38 – Todd’s Standard Contracts
1:06:23 – Todd on Packing Art
1:10:20 – How Does Todd Measure Success?
1:11:39 – What does Todd Consider Successful in His Pieces?
1:13:28 – Bad Works That Turn Out Good
1:19:21 – Wrapping Up
1:19:47 – Does Todd Do Commission Work?
1:20:28 – Todd’s Website and Other Places