Thinkspace Projects | @thinkspace_art 4217 W. Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, California 90016 #310.558.3375 | Tues. – Sat. noon to 6pm thinkspaceprojects.com
Thinkspace is proud to present Brad Woodfin‘Day of Rest‘ opening Saturday, February 7, 2026 (6:00- 10:00PM). A self-described fan of devotional art, the experience that Brad Woodfin creates with his new series of oil paintings in ‘Day of Rest’ is nothing short of poetic. Referencing moments in his own personal life, the works echo a state of melancholy and uncertainty. As the title of the show suggests, Woodfin is suggesting we all take a lil’ break after the pressures this past year has put on so many of us.
Our interview with Brad reveals what’s on his bucket list, shares what advice he would give to his younger self/new aspiring painters, and explores the inspiration to his new collection.
Can you share a particularly memorable moment or experience that influenced your artistic journey?
Seeing Salvador Dali’s paintings made me want to paint. I still find the surrealists fascinating and love the freedom that seemed to be central to how they worked. I saw a great Magritte show this year and Naomi Klein’s article in Equator magazine,“Surrealism Against Fascism” is phenomenal. I can always learn more from the surrealists.
Are there any specific artists, movements, or periods in art history that have significantly influenced your work?
(See above)
Do you have any rituals or habits that help you get into the creative mindset before painting?
Cleaning my studio is my pre-painting ritual.
What’s on your bucket list?
I would love to go back to the Alps and spend more time there during the Almabtrieb.
What motivated or inspired the new collection you’re presenting in this exhibition?
What if I didn’t know anything about the history of the revelry of the adorned cows passing through mountain towns at the end of summer. An imagined world where cows were cherished and their peaceful existence was celebrated by men and women, also in ritualistic outfits, who danced with spirits and music. Ceremonies of trees and painted plaques and stitched leather. Attached to their heads, flowers and shiny objects to scare away demons. All good. All possible.
What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have they influenced your artistic development?
Fear is my biggest challenge as an artist. I admire artists who seem to work fearlessly, but I also feel that sometimes this is just a distraction and I should just keep going deeper into what I am doing. That push and pull is a constant struggle.
How do you approach the naming of your pieces, and what significance do titles hold for you?
I have a few different approaches. I have begun naming the cows after people from areas around the Alps. I sometimes use titles of songs or colloquial sayings that stick in my head.
What advice would you give to your younger self or aspiring painters who are just starting their artistic journey?
I would advise young artists to not be distracted by what other people are doing, I suffer from this and I end up wasting lots of time. I would also advise them to ask questions to people in the know. It can save lots of time.
Are there any particular techniques or mediums you enjoy experimenting with in your work?
Thinkspace is proud to present Kelly Vivanco‘Safety In Numbers’ opening Saturday, February 7, 2026 (6:00- 10:00PM). Based in Escondido, California, Kelly’s depicted world is one of fantastical tall tales and mysterious encounters. The subconscious undeniably shapes Vivanco’s images. By exploring her figurative subjects through surreal shifts in scale and shadowy casts of mood and light, her paintings feel like their drawn from the recesses of dream. Psychologically inflected, the depictions of her characters range from the lighthearted to the more somber and foreboding. Vivanco works primarily in acrylic on panel and canvas, and her stylized hand is immediately recognizable, as is her signature palette of muted and darkened vintage-inspired colors. The speculative scenes she stages remain slightly intangible; we are given moments from a more substantial story that is then left to our imaginative work to unfold. The mystery lingers in these captures, as little is explicitly unraveled but rather implied.
Our interview with Kelly explores the weirdest/most unexpected inspiration she’s drawn from for a painting(s), reveals what’s on her bucket list, and shares a major life-changing challenge she’s faced as an artist and how it has influenced her artistic development.
Can you share a particularly memorable moment or experience that influenced your artistic journey?
I always loved to draw and paint while growing up. I had a huge book about the art of Disney’s Snow White, and remember studying the pages and trying to draw like the sketches and film stills. Also, so many moments of studying pictures of animals to draw, constructing castles out of cardboard, making clay figurines. Being creative (and keeping myself busy) was always encouraged.
Are there any specific artists, movements, or periods in art history that have significantly influenced your work?
The Pre-Raphaelites, their colors and compositions spoke to me when I really started to pay attention to fine art. I had been into Victoriana as a teen and really vibed with the story telling and romanticism.
Do you have any rituals or habits that help you get into the creative mindset before painting?
Listening to music and looking through my sketchbooks and scrapbooks helps me get started. It’s generally not too difficult to slip into the creative mode when I’m in my studio space, everyday work done and distractions at a minimum. The most tentative time is at the start of a painting where I’m noodling things out and need to focus. My husband had a little neon sign made for me that says “NOODLING” that hangs outside of my studio, and I turn it on when I’m in that critical stage. Like an ‘ON AIR’ sign outside a tv studio!
I would like to travel abroad and spend a month somewhere and see what sort of art comes out of it. Of course that could be disastrous as the novelty of a new place may be so overstimulating that I couldn’t actually focus to finish anything, but I think I would fill up a sketchbook at least to later distill into new paintings later on.
What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have they influenced your artistic development?
When I was in my twenties and had a young child, finding time and energy to paint was very difficult, especially while working full time. I had to eke out time and space where I could. This made me focus down my artistic interests and manage my time better. It’s hard when something seems selfish, but is worth it if it makes you a better person in a wholistic sense.
How do you approach the naming of your pieces, and what significance do titles hold for you?
Sometimes I will jot down a title near a sketch in my sketchbook, and sometimes it comes to me when the piece is finished. Occasionally a phrase will inspire a whole piece and become the title. It’s different every time. A few times, I have finished a piece and can’t remember what I wanted to call it, searched around the studio for a note or sign to no avail. Of course that forgotten title is the best most perfect title I will never remember.
What advice would you give to your younger self or aspiring painters who are just starting their artistic journey?
Draw and keep sketchbooks and don’t worry about filling them with complete sketches or finished work. Noodle out your ideas, make notes. Get messy. Create what you would like to see and don’t worry about the audience. Don’t try to be like someone else or copy a style, figure out what you want to say and put it out into the world. It’s hard, and artists tend to be a sensitive lot, but share what you do in whatever way you feel comfortable and keep moving forward.
If you could teleport into any of your paintings for a day, which one would it be and why?
I did a series set in the Peppermint Forest, and it still pops up from time to time in new work, but I would love to wander off into that landscape and build a cottage there.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, on a project, who would it be and what would you create together?
Co-labs kind of fill me with anxiety as I stress at fulfilling the expectations of others!
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected inspiration you’ve ever drawn from for a painting?
A while back, I spray-painted a frame red and bubble-gum pink and the overspray had dusted mass of spider webs. I think about that quite a bit. Also, nature has some fantastic structures; seed pods, brambles, mushroom gills, mineral strata. Colors and textures really light up my brain. Maybe that is not unexpected, but I am constantly awestruck by things like that.
Introducing ‘Common Ground,’ a new contemporary art exhibition curated by Thinkspace Projects. Featuring dynamic works from a diverse group of artists, ‘Common Ground’ explores shared ideas, visual language, and connection across styles and perspectives.
MUZEO Museum & Cultural Center | @muzeo 241 S. Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim, California 92805 www.muzeo.org
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 10 from 4-6PM * many of the artists were in attendance | free & open to all | no admission required | live music | cash bar
‘Common Ground’ transforms Muzeo’s main gallery into a working studio and urban canvas, inviting eight local artists to create large scale, site-specific murals directly on the museum’s walls over a two-week creation period.
This exhibition embraces the ephemeral nature of mural art – each work exists only temporarily before the walls are restored, making every viewing a fleeting encounter with pieces that will soon exist only in memory and documentation. The transience is the point: like the best street art, these murals live intensely and briefly, creating urgency around the act of witnessing.
Thinkspace is proud to present CHEESE ARNON‘AI Bubble’ opening Saturday, January 10, 2026 (6:00-10:00PM). Arnon Neiysoongnoen (aka Cheese Arnon) was born in 1986 in Thailand. He embarked on his artistic journey in the realm of traditional arts. He embraced a self-taught methodology, immersing himself in the teachings of established artists who came before him, and fearlessly experimenting with a wide array of techniques.
Our interview with Cheese explores the fox symbol in his works, shares his dream collaborations and the artists that has influenced his work, and reveals which painting he would teleport to for the day.
What motivated or inspired the collection you’re presenting in this exhibition?
This exhibition fears that a crash could occur to the economy worldwide.
Are there any recurring themes or symbols in your paintings? If so, what do they represent to you?
The most recurring symbol in my work is the fox, which serves as a reflection of my past and my habits. To me, the fox represents the survival and adaptability I needed during my early years of struggle. It reflects a life of navigating challenges quietly and resourcefully, much like how I had to work and save to build my life as an artist.
‘Bullish’
“The character of the fox symbolizes the ability to adapt well in any situation, no matter how dire. Regardless of how villainous the circumstances may be, the fox can still survive. Therefore, I praise the fox as the main character in my story, as it truly reflects my own identity. It hasn’t been easy to come to this point. It has taken time, perseverance, and resilience. I am grateful to everyone who loves this fox character.“
Can you share a particularly memorable moment or experience that influenced your artistic journey?
It was a struggle to become an artist, especially coming from a poor family. I had to work every job imaginable just to survive. I remember saving up enough money to buy a few brushes from Trekell, at the time, they were the most valuable things I owned. That experience taught me the importance of using high-quality materials and taking meticulous care of my archival tools.
Are there any specific artists, movements, or periods in art history that have significantly influenced your work?
For artists I have to say Mark Ryden, Greg Craola Simkins, Dulk1, Saturno… Ahhh and more. I find beauty in every art movement and feel like there is always something new to learn from each of them, I’m constantly studying different styles to evolve my own work.
What do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art?
Just simple, feel and enjoy. If my paintings can make someone feel that their own dreams are worth the struggle, then I’ve succeeded as an artist.
Do you have any rituals or habits that help you get into the creative mindset before painting?
For me, the ritual is all about the preparation of my tools. When I hold a high-quality brush or set up premium materials, it instantly gives me the passion to start.
What’s on your bucket list?
Solo exhibition with huge galleries around the world.
What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have they influenced your artistic development?
Every struggle I’ve faced has come with a lesson.
How do you approach the naming of your pieces, and what significance do titles hold for you?
For me name is not so important.
What advice would you give to your younger self or aspiring painters who are just starting their artistic journey?
Keep doing what you believe in. No gods, no supernatural powers only you.
If your paintings had a soundtrack, what kind of music would we hear while viewing them?
That’s what I want to know from viewers. For me might be Progressive Rock.
If you could teleport into any of your paintings for a day, which one would it be and why?
