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cover art for Smells Like Community Spirit - musician Tim Shiel on transparency and connection

What Artists Eat

Smells Like Community Spirit - musician Tim Shiel on transparency and connection

For Tim Shiel, music isn't just a career—it's a personal practice, a means of self-expression, and a conduit for connection. He eschews the notion of the tortured artist, finding inspiration not in pain, but in abundance and community.


Tim is a musician, producer and broadcaster, hosting Arvos on Double J & Something More on triple j.


As Tim continues to navigate the ever-shifting landscapes of parenthood and music, one thing remains constant: his unwavering dedication to his craft and his commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community for fellow artists.


In a world that often prioritizes profit over passion, Tim stands as a beacon of authenticity and inspiration, reminding us that the true essence of art lies not in its commercial value, but in its ability to move and connect us on a deeper level.


You can find Tim's Egg n Beans recipe on our website!


Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.au


Support What Artists Eat on Patreon!


Links to Tim's work and anything else we chatted about:


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  • Artist Charlotte Alldis on blue pasta, purple pancakes and the playful art of deep nourishment

    56:54
    In the vast tapestry of human experience, there are those who traverse the realms of imagination with paintbrushes in hand, and others who concoct culinary masterpieces with a dash of creativity and a pinch of tenderness. Yet, nestled within this intricate mosaic lies the story of Charlotte Alldis—a multifaceted creator, a fierce lover, and a loyal protector of those in her orbit. Meet the artist, maker, storyteller, and mum to Buster the bulldog, whose life's journey has been as colorful and captivating as the worlds she paints.Childhood, for Charlotte, was a self made kaleidoscope of wonder and whimsy. Art wasn't the initial muse; instead, it was the enchanting realm of storytelling that captured her imagination. Raised by parents who were educators deeply immersed in the realms of play, writing, and literature, she was steeped in a culture of creativity from an early age.The focus wasn’t fine art—it was playfulness, experimentation, and joy. As a child, Charlotte transformed mundane meals into fantastical feasts, crafting blue pancakes, purple pasta, and dyed vegetables with unabashed delight. Cooking wasn't about following recipes; it was about embracing the magic of the moment and relishing in the act of creation.You can find Charlotte's recipe on our website!Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.auSupport What Artists Eat on Patreon!Links to Charlotte's work and anything else we chatted about:https://www.charlottealldis.com/https://www.instagram.com/charlottealldis
  • Artist Libby Haines on the enduring power of still life painting and the art of beginning again

    54:47
    If you love art and food, you probably know Libby Haines’ work. Her juicy textural still life paintings sell out in seconds on Instagram.Libby is an artist who knows the magic of those really good meals that stay with you for years. For her, painting and cooking are deeply intertwined – both are expressions of creativity, nourishment, and self-expression. Going back, Libby’s childhood memories are saturated with the vibrant colours and textures of her grandparent’s vegetable garden and the comforting chaos of the family kitchen. These early experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong journey of artistic expression, culinary exploration, and a deep appreciation for the beauty and intensity found in everyday life.You can find Libby's Pumpkin Ricotta Sage Orichette recipe on our website!Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.auSupport What Artists Eat on Patreon!Links to Libby's work and anything else we chatted about:www.libbyhaines.com@libbyhainesartThe 100 Years War on Palestine- Rashid KhalidiJustice for Some by Noura ErakatDoppleganger Naomi KleinMe and White Supremacy Layla SaadArtist Marion AbrahamOndo Korean restaurant Melbourne CBDBooks Libby’s loving: The Neapolitan series by Elena FerranteFree printable download from Libby’s website to print and share widely
  • Composer Peter Corrigan believes a kitchen is an orchestra, with sizzling as percussion

    44:32
    When Peter Corrigan heard John Williams' score for ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ‘ as a kid, he was never the same again. Hearing that piece changed him forever and set him on course to become a composer.Pete is a composer for film and media, as well as being an accomplished pianist. When we get to the pointy end of things, Pete is tender and practical about the idea of the Starving Artist. He believes that being an artist is a "lifetime journey and not something we have to sacrifice everything for in one moment." He encourages artists to think of their art as a “life long pursuit”. You can find Pete's 'Aloo Gobi Pie' recipe on our website!Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.auSign up to our mailing list here for first access to merch!Links to Pete's work and anything else we chatted about:https://soundcloud.com/pete-corrigan https://www.instagram.com/petercorriganmusic/John Williams, composerChef Lagenda, Flemington
  • Artist Gemma Leslie believes in food for everyone and that possums don't belong in the kitchen

    01:05:07
    Welcome artist Gemma Leslie, founder of Food for Everyone. Food for Everyone invites chefs and artists to collaborate on recipe posters. From each poster purchased they donate the equivalent of 10 meals to food charities. To Date they’ve donated $150,000 which equals roughly 750,000 meals.On Food For Everyone, you can find recipes from Nigella Lawson, Jessica Nguyen, Hetty McKinnon and Andrew McConnell, beautifully accompanied by artworks from artists like Libby Haines, Allie Webb and Gemma herself.We talk to Gemma about family recipes, what constitutes ‘real’ art, and the power of community. You can find Gemma's Tuscan Ricotta Gnudi recipe on our website!Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.auLinks to Gemma's work and anything else we chatted about:- https://foodforeveryone.com.au/- https://www.gemleslie.com/- https://evi-o.art/- https://www.instagram.com/rosheen_/?hl=en- https://www.somethingsiliketocook.com.au/- https://foodforeveryone.com.au/blogs/news/suzanne-corbett- https://www.instagram.com/juliaostro/?hl=en- https://www.instagram.com/ellies.table/?hl=en- https://www.nigella.com/- https://www.pastagrannies.com/
  • When jeweller Olivia Cummings (Cleopatra’s Bling) offers you cheese on a cracker, it might actually be butter

    48:29
    Our interview begins with a burping poodle and ends with the beautiful Turkish phrase “health to your hands” which really sums up the essence of Olivia Cummings, founder and jewellery maker behind Cleopatra’s Bling. She will take you on a poetic journey to explore the mythology behind Greek amulets, and then ground you with tales of the logistics behind making her dog Alfonso’s birthday cake. This suits us just fine.Yes, Olivia is a jeweller, but she’s also devoted to food. For her, food is a connector and a nourishing, fortifying force. She finds meaning and satisfaction in the act of cooking for the people she loves and in the act of sharing food around a table. She favours simplicity in the kitchen for herself day by day, but will go all out when it comes to others.We end our chat with laughs about a kitchen disaster story that she’s still not over, and Olivia’s admission that she’s “a sicko with butter” - she has been known to give people a cracker with so much butter on it that they’ve assumed it was cheese.You can find Olivia's Flourless Cacao & Orange Cake recipe on our website!Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.auLinks to Olivia's work and anything else we chatted about:Cleopatra’s Bling websiteCleopatra’s Bling InstagramCleopatra’s Bling podcastCleopatra’s Bling Collingwood Store Ramen documentaryHanefi Yeter artist website
  • Artist Tiphaine Hunter-Brown wants to know if there’s pizza under Tracey Emin’s bed

    40:30
    We couldn’t fit all of Tiphaine De Fleurette Hunter-Brown’s career titles into our, well, title, so we didn’t even try. This powerhouse of a woman is a true slashie and we know that the list of titles will keep growing on a weekly, if not daily basis.Tiphaine is the creative director of The Project Space, a creative arts facility in Apollo Bay, Creative Director of Floreo Creative Web + Design and co-director of Videokills, a video and performance art-based collaborative network and festival. When starting The Project Space, Tiphaine's plan was to open an “everything space” for her community in rural Victoria. Her own feelings of isolation pushed her to create a space for creativity and possibility and open it up to others as a community resource. And that’s how we met Tiphaine, through her project “The Development Lab” where we were artists in residence in 2021.Tiph’s latest addition to her creative practice is slinging luscious Belizean food from her food truck, Jungle Drifter. It’s fascinating how when you’re an adult, you often just want to share the things you loved when you were a kid. Jungle Drifter was the natural progression for Tiph, as she needed some breathing space from her other pursuits, but still wanted to be connected to her community.Tiphaine shares it all with us, including her recipe for Belizean Fry Jacks, which is on our website.Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.auLinks to Tiphaine's work and anything else we chatted about:Floreo Creative instaFloreo Creative WebsiteJungle Drifter coffee and food van instaClick here to hire The Project Space on Creative SpacesSam Gant
  • Ceramicist Lyn Sendeckyj thinks creativity is mostly problem solving (and Kylie Minogue solves most kitchen problems)

    48:33
    You might know ceramicist Lyn Sendeckyj as Sailorboi. Why Sailorboi? It’s just one of those great nicknames that stuck. He has always tried to find something to do with his hands and for 13 years he’s been up to his elbows in clay and glazes as the owner of Sailorboi Studio, his pottery school in Brunswick. From there, he not only creates his own very personal and often hilarious ceramic pieces, with his fabulous chihuahua Cindy by his side, he teaches pottery classes and workshops.Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.auLinksInsta https://www.instagram.com/sailorboi.studio/?hl=enWeb https://www.sailorboi.com/Ottolenghi https://ottolenghi.co.uk/recipesKylie https://www.kylie.com/ED support and more in resources https://www.eatingdisorders.org.au/Tips / Takeaways:Want some great cheap ceramic tools? Head to the kitchen section of your local op shop and dig around for some interesting items that you can use on your clayFeeling brave? Make art about something you’re embarrassed about and share it with people you trust and can laugh with Need a soundtrack for your next cooking adventure? Here’s a start https://open.spotify.com/artist/4RVnAU35WRWra6OZ3CbbMA?si=K0we8nC2RVea47bX3epNVA
  • Artist Kayleigh Heydon believes everyone can be an artist, but most people can't make a good cup of tea

    56:31
    With beginnings in sculpture and conceptual art in the UK, Kayleigh Heydon moved to Melbourne ten years ago and has since incorporated painting, ceramics and music into her practice.Don't be offended, but you're probably making your humble cup of tea wrong. When we investigate the subtleties of tea making with Manchester born and raised Kayleigh, it gets heated pretty quick. She's from the North and she needs it strong. Whilst apparently no one wants to be "The Tea Master" in Britain (too much pressure to be the person making everyone's cuppa), they certainly have an opinion on how each one should be made. According to Kayleigh, it can get very political (depending on where you're from).Something that struck us when we began unpacking the Starving Artist myth were the realities of being an artist in Australia in contrast to the UK. She's very aware of how the myth can be used to "other" people in conversations or interactions and finds it an awful way of devaluing someone who is a professional creative. We all agree that it can be an easy way to create a quick and unbalanced hierarchy where the artist is always at the bottom.We discuss the elephant in the industry - the gender divide between representation and support of male artists and female / non binary artists. When it comes to her favourite places in the city of Melbourne, the Preston Market is in her all time top five destinations. You already know how much we love the Preston Market, and it was wonderful to chat about specifics - Kayleigh loves chatting to her favourite butcher and asking for tips and recipe-specific cuts of meat. It's such a crucial community meeting place and we share a collective moment of respect and alarm at the current situation regarding the proposed destruction of the market. Grab a meticulously made cup of tea and join us as Kayleigh shares her green mango and prawn salad, her kitchen super power and the most epic kitchen disaster story that it left us speechless...Find us @whatartistseat on Instagram and our website www.whatartistseat.com.auLinks to Kayleigh's work and anything else we chatted about:Kayleigh's websiteKayleigh's instagram Artist Brendan HuntlyFavourite cook - Clare ScrineDeuce - Wild Type https://www.savetheprestonmarket.com/