Artist Next Level With Sergio Gomez | Interviews, Resources And Business Practices For The Contemporary Artist

Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt spent her work career facilitating the education of younger students.  As teacher and administrator she was involved in creating learning environments for students with special learning needs. Elaine is now spending her time and energy on a number of other projects she holds close to her heart.   She lives with her husband, Steven Alan Bennett, in San Antonio, Texas.  She and Steven are art collectors who specialize in realist paintings of women by women artists.  This undertaking has afforded them the opportunity to create a collection of women experiencing various emotions from all walks of life as well as to meet many creative artists.  The couple recently launched The Bennett Prize, designed to propel the careers of women painters who are or seek to become full-time professional painters.  Elaine also is one of the curators for “Visions of Venus/Venus’s Visions” at the Zhou B. Center which opens this coming Friday.    

Doug Frohman is a contemporary artist working in Chicago. His explorations into painting draw upon minimalist, color-field and architectural influences. Painted primarily in oil and encaustic with a cement trowel, he delivers a richly, sophisticated palette on wood panels. Mr. Frohman's work has been collected and exhibited widely across the US, including at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago, Eaton Center, Cleveland, OH and the Library of Congress, Washington DC. Doug is currently represented by 4 Galleries across the US. in New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Columbus, OH. In 2016-17, he exhibited at 6 top US Art Fairs, including CONTEXT New York and Art Basel Miami. He has worked extensively with corporate art consultants, interior designers and architects executing commissions, installations, and sales to private collectors.

Claire Becker, born in Paris, France, grew up in Strasbourg where she studied art, literature, music, theater and dance. At 22, she left France to cross the Atlantic Ocean to Washington DC, and never returned, except to visit and present exhibitions. She has lived in the United States, a short time in Tokyo in Japan, and presently lives and works in Mexico City. She dedicated 10 years to dance, and has been a sculptor for the past 20 years. Her camera accompanied her in all of her travels and is a key tool in her creative process. Over the last 4 years, she has shown photography alongside her sculpture work. Her work has been recognized with several grants and prizes and is part of important private art collections, museums’ collections, and public spaces. She has participated in more than 80 exhibitions and international shows in galleries, art fairs and museums in Mexico, USA, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Australia, Singapore, China, France, Germany and Italy. She has presented more than 20 solo exhibitions in gall

Introducing Breakfast with Sergio. A live video show on social media covering art topics artists need to know about to grow their art career. Listen to episode one in today's podcast.

Within a few short years, following his decision to focus solely on his fine art career, Darryll Schiff became an internationally recognized artist.  His work appears in the collections of many private collectors and in leading museums, such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Norton Simon Museum in California.  Darryll takes the camera well beyond its conventions. He is unique in the poetic and painterly results you see in his art. Darryll Schiff’s work has been featured in international art fairs in Art Busan South Korea, and Bazaar Art Jakarta Indonesia. He had solo shows at Prak-sis gallery and En Foco Gallery, and more is in the works, including SCOPE Miami Beach and SCOPE New York.  Recently, Schiff unveiled his massive 24x56 foot mural "Descending to Heaven" in the famous Wabash Arts Corridor of Chicago.

Laura is also thrilled to share her artistic visions as a choreographer with Still Inspired(?). She independently co-produces Still Inspired(?) and is honored to produce the show’s fourth installment in the beautiful City of Chicago, where she can share artistic visions with other dance and visual creators AND provide opportunities to artists and dancers alike through this incredible project. It is a dream come true!

Alejandra Zermeño conducts studies in Visual Arts Degree with an average position in the High Academic Performance Program at the Academy of San Carlos, UNAM. From 2006 to 2008 she completes her Master studies with honors in the same Institution. Zermeño´s interests have been since her beginners, the human body exploration. Her prolific art production has been present in more than 50 collective exhibitions and National and International Biennale, which include: Latin Views Biennale, Connecticut (2014- 2012-2010). International Tokyo’s Prize, Centro Diffusione Arte, Edizioni e Promozioni Artiche. Italy-Tokyo (2011). Art Women International Encounter, National Polytechnic (2011). Nord Art Busseldorf, Germany (2011). Description of a Journey,  US and Canada (2010-2012).  XIV Iberoamerican and International Women Arts Encounter, Madrid (2010). Art al Vent VII, Alicante; Spain. She has 15 solo exhibitions in Mexican galleries and museums, some of them are: “Cellular physiology”, Chavez Morado Gallery, Guanajuato (

Check out the top 5 most dowloaded episodes of 2017 and find out why they were at the top of the charts. Thanks for an amazing 2017!

The skills you need to succeed in 2018 are probably very different from those you needed say 20 years ago. Yet, there are skills such as the ability to work with others that still remain as important regardless of time. I consider the skills I share in this episode essential in the context of today. If you don't think you have these skills or you think you need to get better at any of them, I give you resources to follow.

Didi Menendez (Cuban born) is the creator and publisher of PoetsArtists. She has been curating group exhibitions since 2013 mostly with Sergio Gomez at the Zhou B Art Center. In 2018 she has several group exhibitions planned including WTF at Art Palm Beach International, Visions of Venus/Venus’ Visions curated by Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt, Painting The Figure Now curated by Walt Morton, Chronicles of a Future Foretold curated by Dr. Samuel Peralta, The Human Condition curated by Steven DaLuz and she has already made plans for the 2019 season. Catch all of her upcoming publication and exhibition calls at www.poetsandartists.com.

In this mini-podcast, creative attorney Patrice Perkins talks about the process to trademark your art work.

In this mini podcast episode, creative attorney Patrice Perkins talks about the benefits of registering your work for copyright.

In this mini episode art expert and appraiser Ruth Crnkovich discuses artists donating art to public museums and what the law says can and cannot be deducted.

In this mini episode, art expert and certified appraiser Ruth Crnkovich talks about the reasons why artists may or may not consider putting their work for auction.

In this mini episode, Creative Attorney Patrice Perkins answers the question of if artists should trademark their name. Don't miss it and share it with your friends.

In this podcast episode, Justin Antony, co-founder of Artwork Archive discusses how to manage your art career, save time, be organized and productive. Additionally, he shares valuable insights into current and upcoming features of Artwork Archive.

In this mini-episode, curator and professional art appraiser Ruth Crnkovich answers the question of how to price your own artwork. 

In this mini-episode, artist and gallery director Dan Addington answers the question of how artists should approach and get into art galleries. Do to miss this practical advice.

In this mini-episode, artist Steve Prince answers the question of why artists need to be part of an art community. If you want to listen to the full podcast episode, listen to episode number 006 of the Art Next Level podcast.

In this episode, Sergio Gomez shares why you should have an Electronic Press Kit for Artists. He talks about how to use and how to make one. Listen to this episode and make a Press Kit to add to your arsenal of marketing tools.