Paintbrush & Ivories is the podcast for artists, curious creatives and art lovers that connects creativity with heart and soul. Twice a month, your hosts, Michelle Walker and Jennifer Ruth Russell share generous, soulful conversations about what it takes to have a joyful, fulfilling life while balancing and nurturing your creativity. If you are someone who feels ’called’ to your creative pursuits, then this is the podcast for you. Michelle and Jennifer wish to inspire you to be every bit the artist you’re meant to be. Michelle Walker is a visual artist who lives in a rural town on the east coast of Australia and is passionate about creating art that honours the beauty and wonder of Mother Nature. Jennifer Ruth Russell is a award-winning singer song writer and spiritual teacher based on the east coast, USA. They bring you perspectives from across the creative pursuits and the Pacific Ocean! Michelle Walker – www.michellewalkerart.com and www.instagram.com/michellewalkerart. Jennifer Ruth Russell – www.jenniferruthrussell.com and www.patreon.com/JenniferandMichael.
Michelle Walker is a visual artist and creativity and business coach who lives on a farm on the east coast of Australia and works out of the old dairy's milking bales which have been converted into her studio. Through her art, Michelle creates objects and images that say visually what she feels about the places she's lived and what she's learned from life. Nature has been a great teacher through the cycles of life, death and transition. She is fascinated by the harmony and contrast of colour she sees in the bush, and the patterns that repeat and capture her attention. Michelle finds that through admiring and noticing nature “out there” she also notices her own inner nature… the strengths and imperfections, the debris and new shoots. In her art-making, Michelle layers colors, plays with space and shape, and contrasts the solid with the translucent—the defined with the veiled, the remembered with the forgotten—to replicate the layered nature of our experiences and our connections to where we have been. She loves exploring symbols and icons and use motifs such as the meandering line as the focal point of many of her works. Michelle's interests resonates with journeying through the landscape (travels) and life’s experiences (reflections). Her morning walks with Lulu (her dog) on their farm are a constant in her day and have become a part of her practice —being in and observing nature and her emotional responses.
Jennifer Ruth Russell is an award-winning singer song writer and spiritual teacher based in California, USA. Born and raised in Ethiopia, Jennifer grew up where there was little outside entertainment. Her earliest and fondest memories are of sitting on her Mother’s lap, imitating her singing the old hymns that she loved so much. At sixteen, her family moved to the West Coast of America and her love of music became even stronger. As a senior in high school, she formed a multi-faith singing group, but it wasn’t until she started her career that she knew music would be her destiny. She was a flight attendant at the time, and, one night after a few drinks on a layover in Dayton, Ohio, in the Boom Boom Room, she got up and sang Summer Time with the live band. In that moment, she knew she had to pursue her music and see where it would take her.
She went to the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles to develop her song-writing and keyboard skills and began performing in local venues. And, then… she met Michael Gayle. They became a musical duo and Jennifer's songwriting became her focus. Not only did she fall in love with songwriting and performing, she fell in love with Michael, who now produces all of her music.
As she was engaged in her spiritual path, the songs began to pour out at a faster rate. Everything Jennifer learned spiritually, she put into a song so she and her audience could embody it fully. Her life vision became clear: to uplift, empower and transform the world with songs and prayers that open the heart.
Together, they bring you perspectives from across the creative pursuits and the Pacific Ocean!