Hellooooo my fellow art junkies! Now this blog entry is a little outdated, but I didn’t NOT want to share this with you, because it was by far one of my favourite experiences of 2021.

In terms of my arts career, I’m most known for my writing, but if anybody knows me truly, I am a true chatterbox and can talk for the whole of England. So when an opportunity was shared with me to be a guest on Jo’s Art History Podcast, I couldn’t think of a better chance to combine two of my greatest passions: art history and talking someone’s ear off. I love it even more when I get to talk somebody’s ear off ABOUT the history of art.

If you weren’t already aware, Jo McLaughlin is an Art Historian, Curator and Writer, as well as being the host of her very own podcast. Not only this, but she is one of the most warming and knowledgeable women I’ve ever spoken with! It for sure felt like I had known her for years prior to the podcast, rather than about 2 minutes. Any nerves that I had about recording my voice for an hour straight seemed to dissipate within the first five minutes of chatting with her.

Jo’s podcast campaigns for art for all, and takes guest speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds who share one common trait: a love for the arts. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Jeff Saltz or somebody who just enjoys visiting your local gallery now and again, everybody is invited! And that’s what makes the podcast so amazing. It’s relatable, organic, pretty funny at times and truly authentic – the variety of new opinions and intriguing commentary that seep into your ears for an hour are priceless. In her first season of podcasts, Jo and her guest speakers talked through renowned artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Caravaggio and Banksy, shared some tips and tricks of getting into the arts industry and even attempted to answer some of the contemporary art’s sphere more complicated debates such as: is drawing still important today?

In my episode (28), myself and Jo talk about the presentation of the ‘ideal’ female body in art throughout the ages, from the 15th century to today. Using examples such as Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Manet’s Olympia, Propped by Jenny Saville and the iconic sculpture Alison Lapper Pregnant by Marc Quinn, we talked about the ways in which these artworks exemplified the themes surrounding the idealisation of the female body at different points in history. It was such an enlightening conversation and we came to some fascinating conclusions! I promise that I’m not being biased but I very very vveerryy strongly recommend you go listen to it, put it on while you’re driving, on the bus, cooking dinner, when you’re meant to be working, anything! I know you want to listen to my incredibly basic Leicester accent…

It’s been plastered on YouTube, Spotify, Itunes, Amazon Music, Google Podcast, Anchor aannnnndd Radio Public. You know what! I’ll even give you the link right here, right now: The ‘Ideal’ Female Form in Art with Bryony Large

Jo is about to start Season 2 of her podcasts so make sure you’re tuning in! Better yet, if you want to get on the podcast yourself, contact Jo with something creative you’d like to talk about and I could be hearing you through my earphones myself! Her Instagram is: @josarthistory and her website is: https://www.josarthistory.com/

I just want to say a massive thank you to Jo for letting me come on the show, being such a beautiful soul and for all the wonderful advice she has given me since! Jo, if you’re reading this, I’m ready to come on another episode!

That’s all for now art junkies! Have a fab Tuesday xxx