The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter
Rob Lee
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#29 – How to Bring Portraits to Life on Canvas | Monica Ikegwu
You know that moment when a painting feels so real you swear the subject might blink? Hyper-realist portraitist Monica Ikegwu returns to reveal the behind-the-scenes rigor—hours of glazing, precise lighting choices, and minimalist backgrounds—that turn a single photograph into a living, breathing canvas. Join Monica as she unpacks her journey from MFA student at the New York Academy of Art to international exhibitions, and how her “Just Say Yes” ethos keeps her pushing creative boundaries. Studio rigor and glazing: how disciplined layers of paint bring depth and life to every portraitFrom fabric backdrops to abstraction: evolving her style by pairing figures with minimalist geometric shapesPhoto-shoot alchemy: capturing a sitter’s essence in brief sessions and translating mood into color and formMFA to independent practice: moving from New York Academy of Art to a Baltimore studio and global exhibitions“Just Say Yes” philosophy: saying yes to every opportunity—from museum shows to artist-led residenciesLooking ahead: a new body of unified-color work and an upcoming institutional exhibition featuring her signature abstract motifsCatch Monica Ikegwu’s first appearance on the podcast here: Whether you paint, draw, or simply love a great portrait, Monica’s process will give you a fresh appreciation for the craft—and maybe inspire your next creative leap. Photograph by Lia Latty Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis. Production: Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos: Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★
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