Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood

You have an inner critic blocking or interfering with your ability to fully trust in yourself and your art. That harshly critical internal voice thinks it’s doing you a favor. It thinks it’s protecting you. Yet, it says things to you that you wouldn’t dare say to a loved one or friend.

So let’s take the microphone away from your inner critic and hand it to the higher self that’s been patiently waiting to speak through you. It’s time to trust in your creative process and yourself as an artist.

In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll hear part two of this four-part live event series as I guide you on how to cultivate trust in your artistic voice. I’ll discuss the signs of trust or mistrust, give you the three steps to cultivating trust, and much more!

4:52 - The lesson that our inner critic can learn from The Stoics and their Memento Mori

9:22 - How to start to get more familiar and friendly with the voice of your higher self and build trust

13:45 - What it looks like when you don’t trust your voice and your process

17:54 - What it looks like when you do trust your own voice and process

23:30 - What trusting your voice means, how it (or the lack of it) might feel to you, and the first step to obtaining it

26:21 - Three starts to questions you can use to start enabling curiosity (step two) and the third step to cultivating trust

31:31 - What arrogance is and how it differs from your inner voice when analyzing your art

33:20 - The importance of seeing yourself as an amazing artist

38:41 - The power in always having full trust in yourself and the common thread that runs through all of your work

Mentioned in How to Cultivate Trust in Your Artistic Voice

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As an artist, you might have been taught (implicitly or explicitly) that your work doesn’t matter. Many artists I’ve worked with have heard it in school, at home, and in the media.

Yet, your work as an artist does matter. It can help others feel, connect, and demonstrate the beauty of the world and the human experience. But only when you’re centered, present, and confident in your creative process do you allow that potential impact to flourish.

In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll hear the first part of a live event I gave a while back that covers what creative confidence is, what it looks like, where it comes from, and how to curate it for yourself. You’ll also hear coaching examples with a few attendees as I help them work through fears that have resulted in a lack of progress, self-sabotaging habits, and a feeling of invisibility.

4:58 - What creative confidence in your artistic abilities looks like

8:15 - The two types of confidence you can lean on as an artist and how they differ

13:51 - What usually stands in the way of creating what you want and how to overcome it

18:33 - How you can curate self-confidence and examples of thoughts that get in the way

23:19 - How Nancy’s thoughts have hindered her progress, the fears they’ve exposed, and their impact on her physically

36:08 - How Carol’s fear and familiar thoughts have led to habits of self-sabotage

42:59 - What happens in your brain when it offers you the worst-case scenario and more thoughts that can help you create self-confidence

46:22 - Why Ekaterina feels invisible despite creating all kinds of things and where to focus to begin to push past it

Mentioned in How to Cultivate Creative Confidence As an Artist

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Have you been experimenting with your paint colors lately? Do you wonder about different colors and the best way to mix them? Well, you’re in luck! Robert Gamblin and product manager Scott Gellatly are here to answer more of your questions in our special color episode!

In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn about the pigments used in modern paints, the emotional content of a color, what makes student grade paints “student grade,” the best paints to use for plein air painting, and so much more. You don’t want to miss a minute of this in-depth and fascinating conversation!

2:55 - Why modern oil paints have more pigments than older ones

5:54 - Gamblin’s guide to color imaging and the emotional content of color and its impact on paint-making

9:51 - Are there paints that artists often misuse (aside from whites)?

14:36 - How modern pigments differ from mineral pigments

19:41 - Comparing Gamblin’s color palette to Rembrandt’s and the intention behind Alizarin Crimson Permanent

24:00 - What lake colors and hues are and the hues that Gamblin features

28:44 - How student grade paint differs from artist grade paint

34:20 - The best way to prevent dead spots/sinking in on your paintings

40:12 - Gamblin’s plans for skin tone colors and the concern over representation in the art world for artists of color

45:53 - Mixed colors as shortcuts, common mistakes to avoid in your palette, and when to move away from student grade color

51:54 - The different characteristics of Gamblin’s black oil colors

58:22 - Advice on the minimum amount and best paints to use for plein air painting

1:03:34 - Looking at the relationship between pigments when you’re creating a color palette

1:07:55 - Scott reveals the “secret weapon” colors he likes to use in his paintings

1:10:04 - How Robert produced his beautiful series of large iceberg paintings during his Greenland trip

1:14:27 - How to have a good white for glazing and whether some Torrit Grey colors are made by Gamblin in actual color

1:16:56 - The difference between transparent earth colors and ochres, umbres, and siennas

1:19:15 - Three reasons why cadmium and cobalt colors are so expensive (and three reasons why they’re worth it)

1:22:09 - Why Scott uses Transparent Earth Red (specifically one in the FastMatte line) for his underpaintings

Mentioned in Unlocking the Secrets of Color: Robert Gamblin and Scott Gellatly Answer Your Questions

Gamblin Artists Colors | Instagram | Twitter

 Previous Q&A with Gamblin

Bonus Content: Transcripts and Extra Interview with Gamblin

Claude Monet | Lori Putnam | Rachel Jones | Anna Rose Bain | Wolf Khan | Nancy Zydler | Robert Gamblin | Scott Gellatly

 The History of Color in Painting by Faber Birren

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You’ve heard that old phrase, “Jack of all trades and master of none,” right? Instead of being a jack of all trades, Robert Gamblin and his team at Gamblin Artists Colors have decided to focus on being a master of one: oil paint products. Their narrow focus has paid off as they display an amazing passion for detail and improvement in their product line and offer jam-packed information you can use in your studio every day. 

In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn helpful insights and get some of your biggest questions about oil painting and other topics answered by Robert, product specialist Mary Weisenburger, and company president Pete Cole. You’ll hear their response to questions about pigments, oil separation, toxicity, and much more!

2:25 - Robert introduces himself and shares how he started Gamblin Artists Colors

6:05 - Robert reveals why Gamblin only provides oil paint and shares some interesting pigment formulations

15:59 - How dreams have inspired color combinations and examples of custom colors made for well-known artists

23:08 - The value of white in the painting process (and the difference between radiant and titanium white)

29:09 - The story of how flake white replacement came into existence

33:21 - Advice and recommendations for artists who are using oils for the first time

39:41 - Warm and cool-colored objects and clearing confusion around kit vs. ready-made Gamvar

45:56 - Why the oil separates from the pigment inside tubes (and what to do if you want an oilier viscosity to the paint)

49:11 - Why Gamblin doesn’t plan to introduce water-soluble oil paints and one of the biggest misconceptions about oil paintings

54:46 - The three eras of pigment history and two big drivers of misinformation about pigment toxicity

1:03:20 - Tips for artists who work in small, enclosed spaces or with a baby nearby

1:10:33 - What you can do instead of a retouch varnish and why varnish at all in the first place

1:16:18 - The trouble with finding good cadmium color alternatives that are opaque

1:19:12 - Working with cold wax mediums and what you should look out for when using them

1:22:12 - A rundown on the range of solvent-free mediums available at Gamblin Artists Colors

1:26:33 - The shelf life of oil paint in tubes and whether Gamblin is considering changing the size of their caps

1:31:28 - What FastMatte is, what inspired it, and three helpful ways to use it

Mentioned in Oil Painting Q&A: Tips, Tricks, and More with Gamblin Artists Colors

Varnishing Made Easy PDF

Gamblin Artists Colors | Instagram

“An Interview with Art Writer John Seed”

“Interview: Art and Play with Jeremiah Palecek”

James Rosenquist | Nathan Oliveira | Wolf Khan | Robert Barnes

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As an artist, you’re always about the art. Even for a show, the focus is on creating pieces, not the other things that go into making the show itself a great event. Then when you realize it’s time to plan everything out, you’re instantly overwhelmed by all that’s involved.

What you need is a guide or template that can help you prepare and eliminate a lot of pre-show jitters. I want you to be in a place where you feel confident about your show and your artwork.

In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn strategies for planning and executing a successful art show. I’ll take you step-by-step on how to envision, reverse-engineer, detail, plan, collaborate, and implement what you want so you can ensure that your event stays organized and goes smoothly.

3:09 - How to create a clear vision and plan for your show, step-by-step

9:21 - How to collaborate with partners and reverse-engineer a detailed plan

16:35 - How to create a calendar for planning ahead of time for your art show

22:30 - The benefit of using a calendar if you don’t like to plan and struggle to stick to a schedule

24:01 - The impact of visualizing the aftermath of a successful art show

Mentioned in How to Confidently Put Together a Successful Art Show

Get your Stress Free Art Show Planner

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Do you ever feel like pricing your art is a scary mystery? You’re not alone!

In the previous episode, you heard me share several pricing techniques you can use for your art. And while you might think there’s a way to discover that one perfect price, here’s a surprising truth: the technique you use doesn’t really matter!

In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn about the real reasons you’re procrastinating on pricing your work and why your art might not be selling (hint: it’s probably not the price). I’ll show you how your brain can be your biggest obstacle with pricing and give you practical tips to overcome your fears so you can start pricing your artwork with confidence.

1:41 - Common fears that artists have with how they price their work and the truth about pricing

5:08 - The real problem you have with pricing and how it causes you to silently quit

9:52 - How your brain sometimes tries to stop you from doing something you want to do

12:56 - Why you can’t get it wrong and how to gut-check your pricing decisions

15:32 - A few guidelines to help you price your artwork

17:52 - Why, more often than not, your price has nothing to do with why someone didn’t buy your work

Mentioned in How to Stop Procrastinating and Finally Price Your Artwork

Get your free pricing resources

How to Confidently Price Your Artwork Without Overwhelm

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Pricing your artwork can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In this episode, I’m breaking down common pricing methods like cost-based and market-based approaches, helping you figure out what works best for you. Whether you’re just starting or more experienced, you’ll walk away with a clearer idea of how to confidently set prices for your work.

This isn't just about the numbers; it's about connecting to the value of your art and feeling good about your decisions. I’ll guide you through overcoming the common doubts and discomfort around pricing, so you can develop a strategy that supports your creative practice.

In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, I explore detailed insights into size-based pricing, market comparisons, and more. I also cover key considerations like gallery markups and international sales, plus offer a free pricing spreadsheet to help you get started. By the end, you'll feel empowered to set prices that truly reflect the value of your work.

02:40  - The most common question I get from artists: How to price your work?

03:25 - Cost-based pricing: A logical but sometimes tricky method

05:25 -  Size-based pricing: A simple, structured approach with a few caveats

06:55 - Market-based pricing: Comparing yourself to other artists in your field

10:00 - Emotional pricing and perceived value: When and how to use it

11:40 - Addition-based pricing for limited edition prints

14:20 - Adjusting pricing for international markets and gallery settings

17:20 - Allowing a gallery or online platform to set the price

21:15 - Next steps to choosing the right pricing method for you right now

24:00 - The best pricing method for artists

Mentioned in How to Confidently Price Your Artwork Without Overwhelm

Get your free pricing resources

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If you're an artist who has given up on setting goals for your art practice because they never seem to turn out - this episode is for you!

I know a lot of artists who are resistant to setting goals. I get it. It seems impossible without sacrificing your creative process. 

Setting goals is not just about achieving them, it's about who you become in the process of going after them. 

In this episode, I give you practical tips to help you reach your artistic goals without drowning in overwhelm or stiffling your creative process.

Setting and achieving goals is a skill that can be learned and mastered. Anyone can do it yep, even a super creative, hard to tame artist like you!

When you are ready to level up your painting practice and get weekly mentorship, join us in Growth Studio. You'll be part of a truly amazing group of artists: savvypainter.com/join.

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Let’s talk about color and process with Erin Raedeke. In this episode, Erin shares how she went from using timid neutral colors to canvases filled with bold hues in her sun filled still lifes. Her use of color seems to be a metaphor for her life. Erin is an accomplished painter known for her perceptual and observational work that recreates personal memories from childhood.

Here are a few highlights from our chat:

Personal Stories in Art: Erin's paintings are like pages from her life. She chooses objects from her Gen X childhood to re-examine the moments that impacted her as an adult.

Fear and Fascination with Color: Erin’s relationship with color has evolved over time. Initially intimidated by the complexity of mixing and using bold colors, she now expresses her feelings powerfully with bold color choices.

The Art of Still Lifes:  Erin creates still lifes that do more than just show objects. She uses them to tell deep stories, connecting objects to the narratives within everyday scenes.

Creative Process and Curiosity: Erin's process is driven by curiosity and experimentation. Her approach involves setting up scenes from life and allowing her curiosity about colors and forms to guide the development of each piece. She doesn’t hesitate to completely change the painting if she has a better idea.

Upcoming Solo Show Prep: Erin shares her preparations for an upcoming art show. She plans to use new ideas to explore her inner feelings and the world around her.

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in how artists use their life experiences and emotions to create meaningful art. Join us to get inspired by Erin Raedeke's journey and her approach to painting.

Full show notes here

Connect with Erin:

Instagram @erinraedeke

erinraedeke.com

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A lot of artists come to me wanting to know how to paint more.

How to paint better.

They want to be prolific painters.

So in this episode, I walk you through how to become a prolific painter in three, very straightforward steps.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck or not achieving as much as you could, this episode is for you.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of doing things just for the sake of doing them. I like to have a reason and a clear purpose. Of course, I paint because I like to paint but having a clear purpose keeps me centered when things get tough or I don’t “feel like painting.”

I’d rather not leave painting up to my whims. It’s too important to me.

Main Takeaways from this episode:

• The quality of your thoughts directly influences the quality of your paintings; mastering your mental landscape is key to improving your art.

• Being a prolific painter isn't just about quantity; it's about consistently creating meaningful and deliberate artwork.

• Aligning your emotions with your artistic goals enhances creativity and productivity, making the art-making process more fulfilling.

• Relentless Action: Painting success comes from consistent, purposeful action—setting clear goals, choosing desired emotions, and persisting through challenges.

• Developing a strategic approach to your art practice can transform your effectiveness as an artist, leading to more significant personal and professional growth.

When you are ready for more, join Growth Studio, I’ll help you feel confident so you can make, show, and sell your artwork. Visit savvypainter.com/join. But for now, enjoy the episode!

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Amy Scherer is a contemporary painter who works out of her home studio just outside of Seattle.

In this episode, Amy and I talk about making art even when the people around you don't quite get what it is you do. Ever have any one come into your studio and ask - "Wait, where's the TV?" 🤦‍♀️ IYKYK, right?

Amy lives in the suburbs and most of the people she's around just don't understand what she does, and that yes, there really is an actual artist living among them!

For Amy, what helps her stay sane is teaching other artists how to paint. She absolutely loves the chance to geek out on art with other artists! It gives her the opportunity to share her ideas on color theory, composition, and all the nuances that make a great painting.

So OF COURSE in our conversation, we geeked out on ALL THE THINGS:

• how to arrange subjects in a painting.
• why seeing the world as an artist matters.
• tips on how to manage time between making art and daily life.
• why making mistakes is important for growing as an artist.
• the challenges of being seen as a real artist when you live in the suburbs.
• being true to yourself in your art.
• how being kind and understanding can help people love art even more.
• how Amy keeps her passion for art alive.
• how she balances creativity with her other responsibilities.

Hope you enjoy this episode! If you do, let me know your biggest takeaway at @savvypainterpodcast

And while you're there, check out Amy's work: @A_Scherer_

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Ever felt like you're in a rut with your work?This week we I share practical strategies for boosting your creativity.

In this episode, you'll learn three ways to make creative thinking part of your everyday practice. It's quick and easy but highly effective.

The more you practice creativity, the more effortlessly it appears in your painting.

We'll talk about how to think about other artists work so that it inspires unique ideas in your own (without copying their ideas). Letting your mind wander - yep DAYDREAMING is your best friend for creating unique ideas and tapping into your authenticity.

Listen to this episode for some straightforward tips on revitalizing your artistic practice in a relaxed and simple way.

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Getting your work out there is scary for a lot of artists. Sometimes it’s because we’re afraid no one will like it, but more often it's because we are so worried about whether or not the paintings will sell.

That creates a ton of pressure.

This episode is for you if you want to show your work but secretly resist taking actions to get it out there.

I give you 3 ideas to make it easier:

Showing your work makes you a better painter: you get to see how people react to your work. Art is communication, part of communication is listening to the response.

Putting your art out there helps you find the people who will truly love and appreciate your unique voice. These are the collectors who will support you as an artist. Help them get to know you.

Sharing your work, even if it’s scary (especially if its scary) boosts your confidence. The more you do it, the easier it gets ( I promise!)

Start small, go slow until you build your confidence. Sales is just one of the byproducts you get when you purposefully practice sharing your work with other humans.

@savvypainterpodcast

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In this special episode of the Savvy Painter podcast, we're celebrating an incredible milestone: 10 years of being part of your art journey! Over the last decade, I've had the joy of connecting with so many amazing artists, sharing stories, struggles, and, most importantly, lessons. So, I thought, what better way to celebrate than to share my top 10 lessons from 10 years of Savvy Painter? These are the gems I've gathered from talking with hundreds of artists and diving deep into the art world. Let's dive in!

1. What's on Your Canvas Reflects What's in Your Mind: The biggest game-changer for me was realizing how directly our thoughts shape our art. It's all about noticing how your feelings and thoughts come alive on your canvas through your brushstrokes.
2. Be Intentional with Your Work and Time: Having a plan isn't just about avoiding distractions; it's about setting intentions for your art and focusing on them. Even something as simple as a sticky note with your goal can make a huge difference.
3. Your Work Matters: Always remember that your art makes a difference. Even when doubts creep in, know that what you're creating has value, both to you and to the world.
4. Perfection Isn't Good Enough: Chasing perfection can actually hold you back. Connect with people through your art instead of getting caught up in making every detail flawless.
5. Be Selective About Who You Let into Your Studio: Not every voice deserves a say in your creative space. Keep out the negativity and focus on the positive influences that help you grow as an artist.
6. The Four Stages of Your Practice: Embrace the cycle of making art, showing it, selling it, and then resting. Recognizing and honoring each stage is key to a fulfilling art practice.
7. Community Is Key: Never underestimate the power of being part of a community of artists. It's comforting to know you're not alone in your artistic journey.
8. Advocate for Your Work: Believing in your own art is the first step to getting others to believe in it too. Learn to talk about your work with confidence and love.
9. Stay Out of Your Collectors' Wallets: Pricing your art isn't about guessing what others can afford; it's about valuing your work appropriately and letting the buyers decide for themselves.
10. Love the Art and the Artist Who Creates It: This journey is all about love—loving the process, the creation, and, most importantly, yourself as the creator. Your art is a love letter to yourself, so cherish it and the person who brings it to life.

Celebrating 10 years with you has been such an honor. Your stories, feedback, and the community we've built together have made Savvy Painter more than just a podcast; it's a shared space of inspiration and growth. Here's to many more years of painting, learning, and growing together.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey!

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Let's chat about embracing experimentation, playfulness, and bringing a childlike sense of curiosity into your creative process! In this episode, Antrese Wood shares her experiences and insights on how fear of failure and perfectionism stifles creativity, and offers strategies to overcome these obstacles.

How do we do that? Bring back play and experimentation into your creative process.

Play and experimentation leads to authenticity, growth, and learning. Our fear of failure and perfectionism blocks creativity, so we discuss concrete techniques to recognize and work through these fears. Embracing mistakes and imperfections as part of your process, and maintaining a sense of curiosity and joy, are keys to creating meaningful and emotional art.

Here's what you learn how to do today in this episode:

• Embrace experimentation and playfulness in your creative process to unlock authenticity and growth.
• Recognize when fear of failure or perfectionism is driving your actions and stifling creativity.
• Name and acknowledge your fears, then paint your way through them by reconnecting with your purpose as an artist.
• Remind yourself that "perfection is not enough" – technical mastery alone does not create emotional connection.
• When you make a "mistake," say "how interesting" to shift into a mindset of curiosity and exploration.
• Check out the teachings of Benjamin Zander (composer/teacher) for inspiration on embracing imperfection and connecting with audiences.
• Keep your adventurous, childlike spirit alive in your artwork.
• Create space and habits that allow for joyful, uninhibited creative expression.

Show notes and links are here

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Noah Saterstrom and Antrese Wood delve into the intersection of art, space, and personal evolution. Noah shares insights into his art practice, shedding light on how artists navigate their creative process and the challenges they face. Here are some key takeaways:

• Exploring New Spaces: We discuss the impact of transitioning to a larger studio space and how it influences artistic practice.
• Navigating the Art Market: Insights into the challenges of selling art in different economic climates, and the creative strategies artists employ.
• Creative Process and Evolution: A deep dive into Noah's artistic journey, the evolution of his work, and how social media has transformed the way artists share and sell their art.
• The Importance of Failure in Art: Noah emphasizes the role of failure in the creative process and how it drives innovation and growth.

This episode offers you a unique glimpse into the life of an artist navigating the intersections of creativity, market dynamics, and personal growth.

Full show notes on SavvyPainter.com

Connect with Noah: @NoahSats

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Building unshakeable trust in yourself is a gamechanger and it affects more than just your artwork.

Learn why and how you can start building it today.

• Self-trust allows you to take risks, explore, and play in your painting without worrying about seeming scattered. You trust your creativity.
• With self-trust, you know you can choose one idea without fear of losing others. You feel calm and free while creating.
• Self-trust helps you feel calm and open when showing your work, talking about it, and discussing pricing.
• Without self-trust you doubt choices, compare yourself, second-guess, become stagnant, jump between projects, feel caged by past successes.
• Ways to build self-trust: recognize what you like/dislike, practice keeping tiny promises to yourself, have grace when you make mistakes, turn down the volume on your inner critic.
• Building self-trust is a practice - your brain has decades of lying to you that you can't be trusted. But you can rebuild trust in yourself.

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In this episode, I answer questions about my evolution and growth over the past couple years. I'm back from a lengthy break with fresh perspectives to share.

A few takeaways from this episode:

• I obtained several advanced coaching certifications and feel they complement my artistic side. My vision for the podcast and community is even stronger now.
• Progress in art and life is not linear.  I encourage reframing frustrations as opportunities to grow rather than indications of failure.
• Find balance across periods of your life, not daily. Different priorities may have more focus (and time) during different seasons of your life. It's supposed to be that way.
• Time management is a learnable skill. Set boundaries and create small creative spaces amidst obligations.
• What's next for Savvy Painter? Going forward, I have 10x more conviction in my vision of supporting artists through this podcast and community. I see frustrations in art and life as invitations to grow so that I can make an even bigger impact. I'm more convinced of that than ever.
• This is just the beginning.

Got questions for the next Q and A episode? Send me a message on Instagram or shoot me an email - I'd love to hear them! 

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What's next with Savvy Painter? After a much needed (and longer than expected) break, Savvy Painter is back! 

I'm thrilled to reconnect with you and continue the conversation with our artist community. In this episode, I share what I experienced during this pause.  I reflect on the importance of mental health and trusting your intuition. I explore self-imposed deadlines and the realization that growth often comes from stepping back rather than pushing through.

I have so much gratitude for the unwavering support of the podcast community.  I am continually in awe of the interconnectedness of artists and the power of collective encouragement.

Moving forward, the podcast will return to a weekly schedule, with upcoming episodes featuring Q&A sessions, discussions on creative thinking, and occasional interviews. To submit questions for the Q&A episodes, email me at [email protected] 

Thank you for being a part of the Savvy Painter community—I'm excited for this next chapter together!

Talk soon!

~Antrese

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Goal setting is an important part of any artistic journey. However, we often think goals are about achieving the thing and getting to the end rather than treasuring the gold that can be found along the way. On this episode, I want to share how setting goals is the way to mastery and how missed goals can be the path to creating the art practice of your dreams.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:01] The real power of goals
• [4:48] Unpacking the gift of resistance 
• [14:10] Exercising the skill of overcoming doubt
• [28:43] Lessons learned from goal setting

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• The War of Art (Book)

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Twitter

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Humans are pretty generous when it comes to loving other artists. It’s loving ourselves as artists with the same intensity that often needs some work. On this episode, I’m sharing insights from my recent and wonderfully unexpected time off around expectations, identifying when and why previously successful thought processes are no longer working, and leaning into appreciation to find and strengthen your inner voice.

Outline of This Episode

• [3:15] When helpful thoughts no longer serve you 
• [7:56] Identifying unhealthy expectations
• [15:36] Leaning into appreciation

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Twitter

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As artists, we know the feeling of putting our heart and soul into a piece of work, only to second guess ourselves and worry about what others might think. It's a common struggle we all face! But it's important to remember that art is subjective, and the only opinion that truly matters is our own. On this episode, we will explore the struggle of staying true to our vision, how to overcome it, and other ways to embrace our authenticity while creating without fear.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:01] The pressures of needing others’ approval
• [9:13] The negative impacts of seeking external validation
• [12:19] The role of self-doubt in the art-making process
• [25:03] Recap and final thoughts

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Twitter

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The holidays are a time filled with both magic and chaos. It’s the most wonderful, and often most stressful time of the year. Especially if you’re an artist torn between staying productive in your studio and enjoying the season’s festivities. On this episode, I’m going to breakdown why this time of year can feel so hectic to artists, how to be kinder to yourself when the holidays get overwhelming, and how to plan ahead to make the end of 2023 merry and bright!

Outline of This Episode

• [3:39] Why are the holidays so hectic?
• [7:06] Giving yourself the gift of breathing room
• [17:17] Planning the holidays around your goals
• [22:38] Navigating unexpected holiday surprises 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Twitter

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Most artists struggle to sell their work at some point. Even Van Gough! But what if I told you it's not because your art isn’t good enough, or that your prices are too high? What if I told you that you're sabotaging your offer before you even give it? On this episode, I’m going to discuss why limiting beliefs undercut our ability to sell our work and how awareness and self-love can turn it all around.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:07] I’m moving! 
• [4:24] Stereotypes, assumptions, and the pitfalls of adopting other people’s opinions
• [12:20] How limiting beliefs undercut you’re ability to sell your art
• [18:05] The power of YOU and how self-love creates connection

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Twitter

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Your creative habits are the small things you do today and every day that will determine the results in your art practice next year. If you want something different in your art practice a year from now, start paying attention to the creative habits you practice today. On this episode, I want to focus on how celebrating small wins can rewire our brains for a healthier and more productive art practice.

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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So much of what we do as artists requires an intense level of mastery. Not only with the skills we use every day in our studios, but over how we think about our work, how we show up as artists, and how we perceive ourselves. On this episode, I want to help you develop creative mastery by changing your relationship with resistance, expanding your tolerance for uncomfortable feelings, and practical tips for getting more in touch with your emotions.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:07] Shoutouts and the joy of new music
• [7:39] Keeping promises to ourselves and changing our relationship with resistance
• [21:28] Expanding our tolerance for uncomfortable feelings
• [27:43] The key to expressing emotion in your work and the journey of mastery

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Have you ever wished you could wipe your mental slate clean and start fresh? Are you in desperate need of a do-over on your latest project? On this episode, I’m going to show you how to develop emotional awareness, identify and break bad mental habits, and fight overwhelm by testing your capacity as an artist healthily and sustainably.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:07] Spinning plates and developing emotional awareness 
• [6:04] Finding the reset button
• [13:07] How I give myself a fresh start

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Is it wrong to be proud of the work you are creating? Does incorporating pride into your art practice make you an arrogant artist? On this week’s episode, I’m taking a deep dive into why pride can be one of the most helpful emotions in our art practice. We’ll dispel myths about pride and look at why choosing to be proud of your art is an incredible catalyst for growth.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:00] Recapping Growth Studio Week
• [3:00] The best feeling in the world
• [7:59] Balancing pride and the need for improvement 
• [13:33] The power of pride in your art practice

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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With Growth Studio Week in full swing, I thought it would be good to share some gems from our already incredible time together! On this episode, I’m going to talk about the power of creative confidence, how awareness helps us build our self-confidence, and how everything is built on trust.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:47] Developing creative confidence and the power of group coaching 
• [7:31] Trusting yourself and killing the comparison monster
• [12:19] The road ahead for Growth Studio Week and why your work matters

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to join the Savvy Painter Growth Studio or receive coaching for your art practice? On this episode, I’m going to break down the topics that will be discussed during my FREE Growth Studio Week event happening October 17th through the 21st. Visit the links below to register and listen now for a taste of what’s to come!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:03] 100 Self-Portrait update and acknowledging the expectation gap
• [4:08] The impact of coaching, the power of confidence, and the magic of art-making
• [15:28] Trusting your voice and your process
• [18:34] Artists and money mindset
• [19:59] Overcoming perfectionist tendencies
• [23:07] Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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One of the major reasons why an art practice stagnates is because the artist stops moving forward. They falsely ignore genuine possibilities in pursuit of the “single right choice”. However, that choice doesn’t exist! We only have our next best step. On this episode, I'm going to show you how to continually move forward with your art by taking massive action.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:24] Taking a peek inside the Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• [5:42] Overcoming analysis paralysis in your art practice
• [12:08] Defining massive action and embracing the unknown
• [16:00] You can’t die from being uncomfortable

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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What would your art practice look like if it were a judgment-free zone? Imagine how much better your art would be if you redirected that energy toward the creative process! Fresh off of an incredible week at the Epona Rise Retreat Center in British Columbia, I’m going to share a few takeaways from my experience to help you stay present, grounded, and inspired in your art practice.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:11] Why artists have to live in the moment
• [6:07] Sealing up the energy leaks in your art practice
• [9:29] The power of painting without judgment

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• Epona Rise Retreat Center
• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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How do you decide when to take a break? Is rest a priority in your art practice? A lack of rest can lead to a lack of creativity and inspiration in your studio! On this episode, I’m going to talk about the importance of rest, why we stop ourselves from getting it, and how consistent rest creates our best work.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:19] Breaking the power of the infinite list
• [3:56] Deciding when enough is enough and the lie of “shoulds”
• [13:24] How to stop fighting with reality, boost your creativity, and actually rest
• [20:14] The mental roadblocks to rest and why it’s not procrastination

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Are you present when working in your art studio? Where is your mental focus when engaged in art-making? On this episode, I’m going to share how much presence and staying in the moment have impacted my self-portrait journey so far. We’ll also dive into slowing down to speed up and the power of baby steps. You don’t want to miss it!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:42] Studio check-in and the concept blowing my mind right now
• [2:25] Overcoming obligation in your studio
• [8:57] What presence can do for your art practice and learning how to slow down
• [21:55] The power of baby steps

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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What happens on your canvas is a direct reflection of what is going on in your mind. That’s why it’s so important to be intentional with your thoughts about your art. On this episode, I’m going to show you how to curate your thoughts so that you can create whatever emotion you want in your studio.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:27] The myth of multitasking 
• [7:32] Why the HOW isn’t that important
• [13:31] Choosing what you want to feel and how you want to think
• [21:59] The cumulative effect of curating your thoughts 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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For many artists, art is one of the top relationships in their life. It is something we have thought about, strived after, suffered for, and been fulfilled by for years, even decades. On this episode, I want to show you how unconditional love for your art can transform your art practice and help you create with the confidence and freedom you desire. 

Outline of This Episode

• [5:04] You are in a relationship with your art and the power of unconditional love
• [11:17] Roadblocks to unconditionally loving your art
• [15:37] How unconditional love enhances your art journey

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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When the studio becomes an overwhelming place for artists, it may be time to apply some constraints to your creative process. Constraints are often viewed as things that limit options within our art practice. However, they can be the key to freedom and creativity in our work. On this episode, I’m giving you an inside look at the constraints I’ve placed on my current 100 Day Self-Portrait Challenge and my thought process behind them. I’ll also share some ideas about how to use constraints in your own art practice to get the results you want.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:37] Finding beauty in constraints
• [3:49] Deconstructing my 100 Day Challenge and the constraint of time
• [11:20] Applying constraints to subject and keeping ourselves in curiosity
• [19:35] Expanding your mind and curbing overwhelm through constraints

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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A lot of artists struggle with finding their voice. To the point that some believe they don’t have one at all. This is absolutely false! Every artist has a voice, and I want to help you find it. On this episode, we’ll dive into what our voice looks like and how to listen to it, cultivating awe in your art practice, and the results you get from finding your voice.

Outline of This Episode

• [6:25] What is your artistic voice? 
• [9:37] Learning how to listen to your voice
• [14:54] The practice of cultivating awe
• [23:13] The results you get from finding your voice

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• How to Create Clarity and Focus in Your Art Practice – EP 284 

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So many artists desire both clarity and focus in their art practice. We yearn for a practice that is stable, dependable, and free of distractions and confusion. Yet often, that is far easier said than done. On this episode, I’ll show you how to gain greater clarity and focus in your art practice so that you can focus all of your energy on the art you want to create.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:57] The role clarity plays in art and decision making
• [5:02] How being clear and focused helps you create personally meaningful art 
• [11:21] Three tips to develop clarity and focus in your art practice TODAY
• [17:47] The power of thinking differently

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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So many artists (and humans) struggle with the opinions of others. Having an unhealthy view of external opinions can negatively impact your art practice. And your life ! In this episode, I discuss why other people's thoughts matter, the unhelpful ways we think about other people's opinions and strategies for breaking the cycle.

Outline of This Episode

• [3:54] Why other people’s opinions matter and creating safety within ourselves
• [14:49] Cultivating curiosity creates better art
• [20:38] Falling in love with our own work and releasing the opinions of others

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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When we change one thought in any area of our thinking it changes everything else. The more I think about this principle the more I begin to question what is possible through my art and creativity. On this episode, we’re going to talk more about negative underlying beliefs and how choosing our beliefs on purpose is a powerful habit for our art practice. I’ll also prepare you for what to expect from yourself when you begin to change your thinking, as well as how and when you need to change your mind.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:58] The power of choosing on purpose
• [15:53] What happens when we begin to choose
• [21:33] How to change your mind

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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One of the most important habits you can have is trusting your decisions. We often look at the outcome of a decision to determine whether or not the choice was good or bad. And we use that metric to determine how much we can trust ourselves. But what if I told you that the quality of a decision has nothing to do with the outcome? On this episode, I’ll discuss the importance of trusting your decisions, how trust builds confidence, and how a habit of trust leads to mastering your skills and clarifying your voice as an artist.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:27] The importance of trusting your decisions
• [4:31] The power of self-reliance
• [6:50] How trust leads to mastery
• [18:34] What if I actually don’t know?

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Just like our paintings, we have visions for how we think our art journey should turn out and who we want to be as an artist. In order to achieve our full potential, we need to learn how to have our own backs and be our greatest advocates. On this episode, I’ll discuss how to shut down negative self-talk while maintaining high standards and embracing our humanity.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:58] Why you need to have your own back 
• [5:32] The art of being kind to yourself
• [15:10] Why you still need high standards
• [22:21] How to embrace your humanity

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Outline of This Episode

• [1:28] The destructive power of a single squirrel and choosing awareness and curiosity over judgment
• [7:37] Identifying the real problem with commissioned work 
• [9:43] How to actively manage your mind

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Have you ever thought about what it means to YOU to be an artist? Do you have a good grasp of your identity? I invite you to gain clarity on how you define that for yourself so you can have more confidence in your studio. On this episode, we will explore our self-concept and take a deeper look at why the way we see ourselves matters so much to our art practice. 

Outline of This Episode

• [1:18] The three concepts of art creation
• [5:43] Why our self-concept is so important 
• [10:58] The art of constantly becoming

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• The Stories We Tell About Our Art - EP 277 
• The Artist Thermostat: Why It Can't Be That Easy - EP 273 

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Does your art practice feel limited? Is your mindset preventing you from achieving your full potential as an artist? Our possibilities are determined by the kinds of stories we tell about our art. On this episode, I’ll teach you how to notice the negative stories that keep you from the art practice you want.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:22] Why our stories matter and finding our super power
• [7:04] The power of awareness in changing our mindset
• [9:43] Exposing the false stories we tell ourselves
• [18:00] Choosing the story that serves you best

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Is your art studio a place of peace or chaos? How do we intentionally create a sense of ease in our art practice? On this episode, I’ll take a deep dive into how you can bring that ease into the studio, why "hard" work is over rated, and the benefits of bringing fun, curiosity, and playfulness into our art practice.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:57] What does (and doesn’t) ease in our art studio look like?
• [3:09] Why hard work doesn’t automatically make good art
• [11:04] Why ease and black and white thinking don’t mix
• [14:29] The benefits of fun, letting go, and choosing ease over hardship

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Yes, You Can Create Flow On Purpose - EP 261 

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Is there a general path to success when it comes to our art? I’ve come to embrace that success is determined by how we grow and evolve as artists. On this episode, I’ll dive into what that looks like, the role each side of our brain plays in the process, and how to overcome the need for linear success.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:15] Why we think we need linear success 
• [3:29] Bringing the right side of your brain into your art practice
• [8:28] The evolution of our art through trust
• [21:54]  Cultivating curiosity, exploration, and wonder

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Get a taste of what it’s like to be a part of the Savvy Painter Community as I share a recent talk I gave during Mindset Monday all about our witness. We all have one! That inner critic sees everything we do and provides a running negative commentary like Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets. Listen to this episode to learn how to shut those guys up and turn your mindset (and your witness) into a positive one!

Outline of This Episode

• [2:41] Can I get a positive witness? 
• [5:48] Recapping the damage negative underlying beliefs can create
• [10:41] Asking your inner critic the right questions
• [16:27] Come back to yourself

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• The Artist Thermostat: Why It Can't Be That Easy – EP 273
• The Messy Middle Is an Essential Part of the Art Journey - EP 271

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Are limiting beliefs holding you back from being the artist and person you want to be? Many artists are not satisfied in their art practice but fail to see why they haven't reached the place they want to be. Is it external circumstances or something deeper? On this episode, I’m going to discuss how our underlying belief systems impact what happens in our art studio and how you can take control of your growth.

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Outline of This Episode

• [0:54] The reason our feelings are so powerful and how beliefs shape actions
• [6:42] Why this episode probably applies to you too
• [10:11] What if being an artist was easy?
• [17:51] Exploring internal beliefs, limits, and expectations

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Episode artwork by Lisa Diebboll 
• This Is How You Take Your Power Back - EP 266 

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Outline of This Episode

• [2:33] What is patience?
• [7:22] Signs you are running out of patience
• [16:53] Why patience goes beyond a simple character trait
• [18:32] The benefits of patience in your art practice

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Yes, You Can Create Flow On Purpose - EP 261 
• Jon Batiste Wins Album Of The Year For ‘WE ARE’

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Outline of This Episode

• [0:13] Welcome to the messy middle
• [1:55] Navigating the messy middle of individual paintings
• [10:58] Overcoming plateaus in your painting practice
• [23:36] Getting to know our inner voice

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Your Art Matters - EP 265 

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A lot of artists think that if they are not hard on themselves, they won't improve their work. I have a different approach. One that doesn’t leave you feeling like crap. In this episode, I give you some tools that will help you progress faster with your art and have fun while you do it.

When you are not where you want to be with your art, there is a tendency to get a little harsh with yourself. You think punishing yourself will make you work harder. But that just makes you miserable in your studio. In this episode, I tell you what works 1,000 times better - and creates a space for you to have fun in the studio again (while getting your work done).

Our art must come from a place of love.

A love for the art and a love for the artist who makes it. This philosophy goes beyond positive thinking. 

There is a misconception that simply having positive thoughts fixes everything. But that doesn’t work. Because when people think “just be optimistic” is the solution, they ignore, push down, or gloss over what seems negative. 

Unfortunately, that just makes the “problems” bigger - they don’t just disappear.

When things don’t go as planned

Often, when we don’t get the outcome we want, a lot of artists find ways to punish themselves. 

The more obvious ways we do that is to blame ourselves, get hyper critical, or berate our own work. It doesn’t make the work better, it just makes us feel bad.

We also punish ourselves in more subtle ways -  like withholding joy, withholding playfulness, or withholding love from ourselves. A non-action is harder to detect than an action, so these punishments show up much more often but they are just as damaging because they take all the fun out of the thing we love to do the most.

Trust your inner voice.

When you trust your inner voice, you can be patient and kind with yourself. You can accept all the parts of you (even the ones that aren’t so nice). And when you do that, you can let go of perfectionism and so much of the self judgement. You know, the parts of you that looove to tell you you’re doing it wrong?

In this episode, I share what’s actually happening when these things show up and I give you some alternate tools to get what you want while having your own back.

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Episode 253 - Creating From a Place of Love in 2022

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One of the most underrated qualities of a successful art practice is consistency. There is an insane amount of power that comes from showing up to your studio on good days, bad days, and all the days in between. On this episode, get a taste of what it’s like to be part of the Savvy Painter Community as I share a Mindset Monday talk about creating an art practice that you can rely on.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:23] The consequences of an inconsistent art practice and the struggle to find balance in the studio. 
• [6:10] Taking advantage of the Domino Effect in your art studio
• [14:49] Why kindness patience, and trust should be critical to your art practice
• [17:33] The rewards of consistency and creating an upward spiral

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Domino Chain Reaction (Video)

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The Savvy Painter Podcast is officially 8 years old! I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to talk about why I do what I do. I’m often asked why I devote so much time and energy to helping other artists. The short answer is that it’s my passion. On this episode, I’ll discuss the long answer and share snippets of conversations with other artists discussing my WHY, art’s impact on humanity, and the power of invitation.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:37] What’s your dollar amount to stop making art? 
• [5:28] My WHY and what separates dreamers from doers. 
• [10:57] Creativity as human nature and fighting to keep art in the culture
• [20:55] The artist’s invitation 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Eduardo Galeano’s books
• Un Mar de Fueguitos video

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Outline of This Episode

• [1:45] How our habits impact our results
• [4:01] The power of belief over doubt in your art practice
• [11:16] Holding space for the future YOU
• [16:45] Why “fake it till you make it” is bad advice

Become who you are 

Keep climbing your mountain

Every artist’s journey is like climbing a mountain. Not the same mountain, but their own mountain with its individual challenges and rewarding vistas. When you are diligently honing your painting skills, and strengthening your voice, you are for sure heading in the right direction. If you keep climbing towards your goal, you will inevitably get there. What a lot of artists don’t realize is that the belief in your capacity to “do the thing”, has to be stronger than the doubt. Belief is what creates the determination and resolve to keep painting. It allows you to be curious about what you have created so you can assess your painting and use it as a stepping stone that leads to your next work. When we do that, we commit to the idea that there is a version of us in the future who FOR SURE has made it to the summit. And that person is hanging out, loving the accomplishment, and waiting for us to arrive so we can go climb another peak. Believing in ourselves as artists means knowing that we eventually get to our destination, we just haven’t figured out how yet.

Hold space for the future

So what would your daily art practice look like if you KNEW that you will accomplish all your goals? How would you show up to your studio if you believed the paintings you’re working on right now are essential in getting you to your summit? You wouldn’t give up, that’s for sure. We HAVE to hold space for our future selves! That space turns your studio into a safe place that grounds you and allows you to completely focus on the work you are creating right now. It also prevents you from using the outcome of whatever painting you’re working on against yourself. One painting can no longer serve as evidence of your inability to become the artist you want to be. You STILL see what you can improve on right now, but it’s used as inspiration for what you need to improve on and not a deep existential declaration that you are not enough. Listen to this episode for more insight on becoming the artist you want to be!

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Outline of This Episode

• [1:38] When the outcome and the expectation don’t match
• [4:29] Taking responsibility for the results of your art practice
• [07:53] Separating thoughts from actions to see results
• [14:12] Getting rid of the artist’s martyr complex and choosing how you respond to discomfort
• [18:43] Why many artists give up and what you need to keep going

Your results are in direct proportion to the actions you take

If you’re brutally honest with yourself, you may notice that you haven’t been acting on the full truth of what you’re capable of. The fullness of your skills and the quality of the actions you took to bring you where you are today. Because if we ARE honest, we would find that every single time…the result makes sense! We get exactly what we are supposed to out of our art practice based on what we put into it. Even if you’ve been an artist for 30 years, if you don’t actively take steps to better yourself and create the best art possible, you’ll never get the result you’re hoping for. You’ll never find the meaning you’re seeking in the canvas. You’ll never sell the magic number of paintings in your head. It may not feel good to hear, but the sooner we accept that WE are the common denominator in our results, the sooner we can start to grow.

Take responsibility for your art without taking the blame

Taking as much responsibility for your art as you can is the path to freedom in your art practice. Because you OWN whatever you take responsibility for. If you don’t like a painting, you can always paint something different. There is a great deal of freedom in having the option to choose. But sometimes we mistake taking responsibility for taking the blame when it comes to our results. These are NOT the same thing. One is empowering while the other is debilitating. Taking responsibility puts you in the driver’s seat. It allows you to have agency over your art and your career. Taking blame means weaponizing your results against yourself. It turns on that broken record in your mind that tells you all of the ways you're not enough. Or it forces us to blame other people and things outside of our control because that burden is so unnecessarily heavy. Our power lies in the fact that we alone get to decide what our results mean. We get to decide how we respond to the outcome. It’s better to take ownership of our faults so that we can address them, rather than wasting all of this energy beating ourselves up.

Trading thoughts for actions

We often think the truth about ourselves and our art is represented by the thoughts we have occasionally, instead of the actions that we take consistently. We can have all of these big lofty ideas about making a living as an artist and selling our work, but if you’re not taking actions that make sure those things happen, you don’t actually believe those things in the first place. It’s time to shine a light on where you are not stepping up for yourself! I’m also fully aware of how difficult this process can be. Holding ourselves accountable and taking an honest evaluation of our art practice can bring up all kinds of complicated, and even uncomfortable emotions. But if you’re going to be uncomfortable either way, wouldn’t you rather that discomfort lead to changes that help you get the results you a

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Outline of This Episode

• [0:40] What expands your mind also expands your art
• [4:23] Why sharing your art makes it better
• [6:14] How to change the world with your art
• [7:30] Using both sides of our brain in the process of making and sharing art 

Embracing the process

Creating a dialogue

I love Seth Godin. His work has taught me so much. One of my favorite things is that in sharing our art or anything we create, we have to just “ship it”. Meaning as artists, we have to do the work then share the work. We have to get our ideas out into the world where people can see them. So that they can be tested. This creates a dialogue. If art is a form of communication, you want to make sure it doesn’t stay a monologue. It’s okay to keep some of your work for yourself, but ultimately you need to share your vision with the world to find your people. It’s the only way that you will be able to refine your ideas and make them better, clearer, and more meaningful to you.

Changing the world

Another brilliant Seth Godin quote states that “Art is a personal act of courage. Something that one person does that creates change in another.” Our art always has the potential to make an impact on someone, even when we least expect it. That’s why when we follow his advice to just “ship it” we become what he calls “agents of change” who have the ability to change the world. When was the last time you looked at your art as world-changing? Have you ever looked at your art this way? Admittedly, I struggled with this at first. It felt arrogant to believe that anything I make has that kind of potential. But the longer I sat with this I realized that it wasn’t a ridiculous thought because we ALL have that potential. Your work may not impact everyone, but it will impact someone. And THAT is why your work matters so much. Even if the person it impacts is you.

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Check out Seth Godin’s blog! 

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Twitter

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Every artist wants to produce meaningful work. Yet the pressure to constantly do so can be an ironic obstacle to creating art that is meaningful. I want to help alleviate that pressure by showing you that meaningful work doesn’t always need to make a big statement. On this episode, I’ll dive into why that is, how to create our own meaning, and why you might be painting for the wrong people.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:55] The artist’s unnecessary burden
• [4:37] Appreciating the small moments
• [10:00] Being the source of your own meaning
• [18:00] Painting for your people and not your critics
• [21:10] Listening to your voice

Identifying negative thinking

Art is about making sense of what it means to be human and then sharing that with the world. It’s all about connection. Artists want to create meaningful work. They want their work to make an impact and help people feel things or stir their thoughts. However, it’s easy for artists to feel like they have to say something deep or revolutionary all the time with their work. Even though that’s an impossible feat to achieve with every painting, so many of us artists cling to the idea that everything we paint needs to be IMPORTANT. One of the reasons we hold on to this so tightly is because our brains get stuck in black and white thinking. We automatically assume that just because one of our paintings doesn’t have a gigantic meaning, the painting itself is meaningless. What a terrible thought! 

Connecting the dots

All art is important. The problem is we think that “important” is measured by whether or not our art makes a big statement. We rely on lightning bolt moments for our work to be filled with deep emotional meaning, and when they don’t happen, we assume whatever ends up on the canvas is less valuable. That’s a total lie! The truth is, art happens in the small moments. It is the culmination of every small step we take in our art practice that creates meaning in our work. For me, art is a life-long love letter to myself. For you, it may be something different. We find the answer when we take the time to appreciate the small moments and connect the dots of our art journey.

Finding meaning in the mundane

Have you ever gotten lost in the background of a painting? Some of the deepest paintings I’ve ever experienced pay great attention to the mundane details. It’s those details that captivate us and allow us to tell our own stories in the deep green of a forest or the crystal blue of a beautiful seascape. Similarly, it’s in the mundane that we experience life’s most memorable and precious moments. It’s the lazy Sunday mornings and quiet cups of coffee at sunrise that color our world. We miss the joy in our painting when we underestimate the small details while waiting for a big dramatic moment. That’s backwards! The big, dramatic statements actually come from the small, seemingly insignificant moments. Listen to this episode for more insight on creating meaningful paintings!

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Twitter

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Have you ever felt like an hourglass that’s always running out? Of time? Of ideas? Of patience? You may be struggling with a scarcity mindset. It truly damages our ability to create with confidence and find our voice. On this episode, I want to dive into why we as artists feel like we don’t have enough, the differences between scarcity and abundance, and how to rewire your brain so you can thrive creatively.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:50] The relationship between time and a scarcity mindset
• [6:38] Creating from abundance
• [12:22] Breaking out of the “fight or flight” response
• [13:07] How scarcity and abundance impact our ideas
• [21:56] Why choosing abundance changes everything

A picture of scarcity

Most of us struggle with time. We’ve all felt like there is not enough time in the day to get everything done on our list. However, when a scarcity mindset takes over, our brains become a broken record, constantly telling us how busy we are and that we have so much to do. We start hoarding our time and get super possessive of it. We don’t want to let one second of it go. Even our relationships might suffer because we always feel like someone is trying to get a piece of us. Everything becomes big and overwhelming because we really believe that we don’t have enough time. Ironically, the more we worry about having enough time, the less time we have to accomplish the things we are worried about completing. If we create from scarcity, we just end up creating even more scarcity. We also become hyper-focused on making sure our time matters. We want to know that time investment is worth the return before we ever make a decision. The result is refusing to take risks as artists because doing so might mean failure, which feels like a waste of time even if the experience was meaningful.

A portrait of abundance

Scarcity may feel like a broken record playing in our heads, but what would happen if we turned it off and walked outside? What if we chose an abundance mindset as artists instead of one steeped in scarcity? When we live in abundance, we tell ourselves that we have enough time. We start creating from our vision instead of our fears. Cultivating an abundance mindset means we don’t do sloppy paintings because we’re rushing to get things done. It means we allow ourselves to focus on the canvas in front of us instead of all the other ones that will come after. Choosing abundance over scarcity means we’re able to take risks. This is what allows our voice to come through our work! Abundance releases our most authentic selves into our art. It helps us trust ourselves instead of stressing over a deadline or filling every moment with the pressure to succeed. 

Rewiring your brain to thrive

Abundance is possible when we’re not stuck in a “fight or flight” response, the part of our brain that is solely responsible for survival. Who wants to simply survive, anyway? It’s time to thrive! We need to access the part of our brain that controls rational thought and imagination called the prefrontal cortex. This is where our ability for creative problem solving comes from. It helps us find the solutions that work best for us in any given situation. Like, using our scheduled painting time much more efficiently so that we have increased productivity overall. It’s amazing what can happen when we use these thought processes to rewire our brain so that we can perceive what is happening to us differently. For more insights on scarcity versus abundance, listen to this episode!

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

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Do you like your art or yourself as an artist? Do you believe you're good enough? I think too many creators would answer those questions NO. Despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary! On this episode, I’m going to tackle why it can be such a struggle to feel good about our art and how we can change our mindset and embrace our potential.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:34] Exploring the artist’s mental struggle
• [8:10] Identifying negative thought patterns 
• [15:10] Dealing with imposter syndrome and creative anxiety 
• [18:38] Going to the source and getting to know your mind 
• [20:04] Why perfection is overrated 
• [24:21] The most important thing we create as artists

Whatever you believe gets multiplied

I often hear people say that If they can only finish the painting or sell enough pieces, THEN they’ll feel accomplished, validated, or credible as an artist. These things represent a desire to feel good enough as an artist. Even if there are aspects of your art-making that can improve, achieving those things won't change how you feel about your art. The moment we start to believe we’re good enough because we reached a goal, our brains will just move the target and we’re right back to where we started. Suddenly, being “good enough” can start to feel like embracing mediocrity rather than a vote of self-confidence. We get stuck in a cycle of chasing happiness that is always slightly out of reach. Rather than getting frustrated or staying stuck, we need to change the underlying thought patterns that make us feel this way. If we constantly approach art with the mindset that we can’t do it, we’ll feel like a failure even when we succeed. Likewise, if we always tell ourselves that we don’t sell enough paintings, we’ll never enjoy the moments when one gets sold. Whatever we believe, we create more of, regardless of what’s happening around us. If we allow them to, negative beliefs about ourselves and our art will rob every ounce of joy the process has to offer.

Nobody’s perfect

The subjectivity of art is one of the reasons it’s so great. There is not a governing body or a rule book that tells you if art is objectively good or not. Within the genres of painting, there are ideals and standards that we can use to improve ourselves, but there are no black and white rules on how to be successful. Even the greatest artists of all time have noticeable imperfections in their work and we still consider them great. Certainly, good enough. The human hand NEEDS to be visible in the art we create. We are not machines. Imperfection is often what makes art so intriguing and accessible in the first place. Of course, understanding the overall language, technical skill, and history of art still matters greatly. But it is incredibly unhelpful to compare yourself to the vast infinity that is the world of art. Focus on being the best and most authentic you instead of someone else.

Start reclaiming your brainpower

Right now, ask yourself, “What do I think of myself as an artist?” Do you like the answer? Who you are today influences the artist you’ll become tomorrow. The freedom from negative thoughts and emotions that you’ve been looking for is not in your future, it has to start right NOW. You don’t have to wait for it to come to you or somehow earn it, it’s an active choice that you need to make daily. When you start experiencing feelings of inadequacy, just notice them. YOU get to decide how you respond to those thoughts. My recommendation is to give your brain a more productive question to answer. Instead of asking, “Am I good enough to paint my next painting?” ask yourself, “What do I want to say with my next painting, and what skills and materials do I need to accomplish that?” These questions focus on the ac

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Have you ever found yourself in a flow state while creating? A place where distractions don’t exist and all of your creativity is available to you. Is it something you struggle to duplicate with consistency? On this episode, I’m going to define what a flow state is, how we experience it, why it matters to our practice, and how to create it on purpose. 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:38] What is flow?
• [3:31] Why and how we experience flow states as artists
• [12:21] Connecting the dots between flow and confidence
• [13:33] Why flow matters in your practice
• [19:15] Creating flow on purpose

Going with the flow

Ok, so what is flow? We hear fellow artists talking about it all the time like it’s a mystical force that shows up to our studio on a whim, but is it really like magic? While it certainly can feel that way, it’s actually far more practical. Childhood is often filled with flow states. I remember getting lost for hours drawing, playing, and figuring out puzzles. I was completely engrossed in whatever I was doing that helped me express my creativity. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi defines flow as a state of heightened focus and immersion in activities such as art, play, and work that is achieved by the fact that our brains can only take in and truly focus on a limited number of inputs. That’s why it feels like time stops and everything except what’s in front of you fades away. We lose connection with ourselves which is the most magical and other-worldly part of the experience. While flow can certainly be defined by what it is, it’s also defined by what it is not. Csikszentmihalyi goes on to say that feelings of anxiety, worry, apathy, and boredom need to be absent or minimized to successfully achieve flow. It’s not just about what you put in your creative environment to enter a flow state. What you remove or minimize is equally important!

Silencing the inner-critic

Self-conscious art is boring. I’m just going to say it. When we are so focused on pleasing our teachers, our critics, and ourselves the work we produce is often safe, average, and inauthentic. That’s why flow matters so much in our practice. When you’re in a state of flow, you’re in tune with your inner voice. That part of yourself that is so wise and so uniquely YOU. If you’re someone who worries that your work is average or unrecognizable as your own it could be due to a lack of flow. The ability to get into a flow state and connect with your higher self creates that uniqueness. It allows you to sift through internal noise and start a dialogue with your authentic self without anyone else weighing in. Including you! Sometimes our fear-based thoughts get the best of us and keep us from achieving flow because they tell us “that’s not what art is supposed to be” or “you’re doing it wrong”. To paraphrase Phillip Guston, we’re only really painting when we let our critics and ourselves leave the art studio. THAT is flow! Silencing the hypercritical part of your brain in the act of creating. And when you’re creating, your analytical side has no functional purpose. You have to trust your instinct and let it do its job. Give yourself constructive criticism later on when you’re not actively painting. Flow allows you to say things on a canvas that your inner critic is too scared to say. Flow doesn’t worry about if people will think you're weird. Flow doesn’t care what other people think at all. Flow just creates boldly and authentically.

Managing the mind

The ability to consistently enter a state of flow depends on our ability to manage the mind. We create flow by managing our thoughts and an awareness of what those thoughts create. We have to intentionally cultivate thoughts that invite possibility and creativity. Ultimately, it boils down to getting

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Outline of This Episode

• [0:52] The power of believing in your own capacity to “figure it out”
• [11:51] Learning to trust your own opinion and listen to your voice
• [25:55] Getting the most out of your “one wild and precious life”
• [31:07] Loving yourself and sharing your art

Making one mark after the other

Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. It would be great if there was a book that told us how to be successful in any situation, but it seems to be missing from Amazon’s library. I know, I’ve looked. Sometimes self-confidence as an artist means trusting yourself enough to start the process even when you don’t know how to succeed or even finish. The truth is you DON’T need to know all the ins and outs of something before you try it. The only way to know is to DO! That is why it’s so crucial to develop your self-confidence. You need to trust yourself to “figure it out”! Practically, that just means figuring out what your "next best step" is in the process. By doing that, you create a result that can be measured and assessed. Now use that result to determine what worked, what didn’t, and then plan your subsequent "next best step". Rinse, wash, repeat until what you’re working on is finished! That may seem like an oversimplification, but what is painting except making one mark after the other? Self-confidence is the same way. It’s an ever-strengthening foundation that creates its own upward spiral. The more we have faith in ourselves, the more we will accomplish because we won’t let anyone or anything (including us) stand in our way.

Your voice is trustworthy and you are enough

Asking for feedback in creative spaces is a beautiful collaborative tool that can help you refine your artwork. However, have you ever asked for feedback already knowing what the answer is going to be? My guess is that when this happens you don’t ask for feedback because you need an answer, you ask because you don’t trust your own voice or opinion. You know exactly what your "next best step" is or even that the painting is done, but you still need external validation because somewhere along the way you believed the lie that you weren’t enough. That someone else has to have the answer because there is no way you possibly could. When we constantly outsource validation to those around us we train ourselves to distrust our own ideas and intuition. We can’t find authenticity in our artwork if we only trust other people’s voices instead of our own. Know this in your soul, friend: Your voice is trustworthy and you are enough.

Give life everything you’ve got

Human existence is a juxtaposition of beauty and pain. Sometimes it’s easy to get so distracted by the darkness that we forget to shine our light. A big part of having self-confidence as an artist is a willingness to share yourself and your art with the world. When you intentionally hide yourself and your art, it prevents you from accessing your truth and discovering your voice. The deeper part of yourself that says, “THIS is who I am." If you are someone who feels like they don’t have a voice and struggles with authenticity, ask yourself, "Am I holding back?" "Is a fear of rejection and failure keeping me from discovering all that I am and that I can be?" My encouragement for fel

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Outline of This Episode

• [0:56] Signs you are putting your creativity in last place
• [3:29] Learning how to say NO
• [5:52] Breaking down self-care stigmas
• [9:46] Why you never have time for yourself
• [16:58] Breaking the people-pleasing cycle
• [23:41] Why your art is valuable

Your time is valuable 

Have you ever said to yourself, “I would love to make more art, but I just don’t have enough time.” If that sounds like you, may I offer this paradigm shift? You do, in fact, have enough time. You just constantly fill it with other people’s problems because you think their time is more valuable than yours. If you don’t see your time as valuable you will never respect it. It won’t matter if you have already carved out the time to paint or express your creativity. Something else will always interrupt or take priority over your art if you don’t start setting and sticking to healthy boundaries. But none of those boundaries will stay in place if you don’t first believe that your time is valuable and worth protecting.

It’s okay to say NO

Do you have a hard time saying no to others? Have you ever asked yourself why? It largely has to do with the fact that we think we are responsible for other people’s feelings. We’re conditioned this way! As children, we’re constantly told not to do this or that because it will hurt someone's feelings. The truth is we can’t make someone feel anything. They decide how they feel based on their own interpretations. This isn’t an invitation to be rude or unkind. You can kindly say no, set boundaries, and STILL have a great amount of love and respect for the other person while doing the same for yourself. We have to allow other people to experience their emotions and realize we are not responsible if they don’t handle them well. All we can do is be kind to others and authentic to ourselves.

Real life happens in the gray

It’s a common misconception that self-care and doing anything for yourself will turn you into a self-obsessed monster. This is because our minds often live in black and white, but real life happens in the gray! It doesn’t have to be this OR that. We can hold two things in our hands at the same time. This is where both/and thinking is crucial. We can love and care for others AND love and care for ourselves. We can be BOTH good parents and passionate artists. I want to invite you to add primary colors to the palette of your life. Think about how many colors you can mix with those six colors and white. Too many to count, right? Remember that when your mind gets stuck in binary thinking. Self-care doesn’t mean only doing things for yourself and never making concessions or compromising. You can take care of yourself while being kind and loving to the people you care about most in your life.

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram

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As artists, we are often unclear about what we want from our art practice. You'd think it would be obvious. However, there are subtle nuances within us we need to pay attention to for us to find clarity. Join me live from the Savvy Painter Community, as I discuss how to understand these nuances so they can guide you to a practice that is both meaningful to you and tailored to your specific tastes and lifestyle.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:18] Taking care of the art AND the artist
• [4:06] Digging deeper to discover what you truly want
• [5:39] Questions you need to ask yourself about your art and answers from the Savvy Painter Community
• [11:15] Uncovering insecurity in your art practice and finding your authentic self
• [14:35] Integrating your art into your life and vice versa

Be your own guide

What DO you want out of your art practice? If you feel like you know the answer right away, I would encourage you to take a second and really think about it. Sometimes our first answer is dead on. Gut reactions can be a powerful thing. But more often than not, our best answer to a question like that is not our first, and it requires us to dig a little deeper. The first answer that pops into our head is likely just the surface of what we really want and not our core desires that take a bit of thought and intention to uncover. It's not that our surface answer is wrong necessarily, it’s that when we are willing to dig deeper we discover nuances that point us in a direction that is more aligned with who we really are. This truth sifts through who we think we should be and who we’re trying to be and allows who we’ve always been to the surface.

Learn to ask why

A common desire for artists is to display their work in a gallery. Again, the answer may seem obvious, but you have to learn to ask yourself why?WHY do I want to show my work? Why do I want ANY of the things I’m striving for in my art practice? In my life? When we learn to get curious about our desires we bypass the superficial answer and begin the path to real self-discovery. Because it’s not just about achieving a goal or fulfilling a desire, it’s about what accomplishing those things will do for us and in us. How will your life change if you get into that art show? What will selling your work do for you? Asking deep “why questions” about the things we want helps make the answers personal and brings clarity to our art practice.

Do it for yourself

Another great question to ask yourself to gain clarity in your art practice is am I trying to change how people see me by accomplishing this goal? Artists think they will finally be taken seriously if they can show their work. Or that selling a certain number of paintings somehow validates their calling. We have a really bad habit of basing our sense of self-acceptance on whether or not certain people or places in the art world accept us. We make success mean that we deserve to be an artist and rejection becomes some grand sign that we should put down the brush or pencil. When in fact, rejection means we may not have been right for that show or we simply need to hone our skills and get better. If we can learn how to generate feelings of validation, accomplishment, and self-worth on our own we won’t need the opinions of others to do it for us.

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The Savvy Painter Community
• Episode 253: Creating From A Place Of Love in 2022

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook

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Outline of This Episode

• [0:19] The most powerful tool in your art studio
• [2:57] Personifying your art practice
• [10:31] Throwing out the rule book
• [12:48] The impact of your relationship with yourself on your art

I think, therefore I paint

When you see art as a relationship, you see your habits and expectations in a way that you may not have noticed or thought of before. How we see ourselves as an artist, how we understand our relationship with our art, and our relationship with ourselves as the artist who creates it determines what we do, what we create, and how we show up for ourselves in the studio. You can feel empowered, excited, and open to possibility when it comes to your art. Or you can feel discouraged, frustrated, and closed off. It all depends on how you interpret your experience. How you think about your art, your business, and even yourself determines how you feel about those areas. There is a HUGE difference in the results you get when you show up to your studio feeling empowered and excited versus creating from a place of frustration and discouragement. 

Becoming a better friend to your art

The artist’s journey is a long one. Some of us have been working on our art since finger painting in kindergarten. In that sense, art is like our longest and closest friend. We need to treat it as if we are in a relationship with another person. So my question is, how do you show up for this friend? Do you show trust? Do you value the relationship? Are you secure in how you think and feel about the relationship? Are you reliable? Do you have your friend’s back or is the relationship one-sided? When answering these questions, we can all admit that we have been a bad friend to our art in one way or another. We’ve been needy or have had unrealistic expectations of our art that led to increased strain on the relationship. We’ve bad-mouthed our art. Blown it off. Failed to prioritize it. We’ve even expected it to pay all the bills without giving art its own room! If art is one of the most important relationships in our lives then our thoughts and actions should reflect that. We need to make sure we’re investing in our relationship with art as much as we expect to get from our relationship with art.

There’s only one rule for art-making

If you’re reading this and you’re starting to feel like you’re under a microscope, don't. I’ve probably done all of these things more than a few times. None of this is your fault. Art school doesn’t teach you that you need to treat your art like a person and cultivate a healthy relationship with it. On top of that, we’ve been handed a lot of confusing and contradictory ideas about what it means to be an artist. It seems like every artist is running around trying to follow “the rules” when there are no rules. You can make your own! You have the freedom to design a system that makes sense for your life. Art should feel good, and the method you use to create it and distribute it should feel good too. You get to decide what resonates with you and what doesn’t. The only universal rule should be that we have a deep love and respect for the art that we create. For more information about cultivating a healthy relationship with your art, listen to this episode!

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The Savvy Painter Growth Studio
• The

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Outline of This Episode

• [0:06] A topic you may not think about often, but can create incredible results
• [0:35] Definitions are always helpful: false and true desires 
• [4:49] Filling our art with our true selves (true desire) 
• [6:41] Why it’s important to know the difference between true and false desires
• [9:10] How desires relate to commitment
• [19:59] Characteristics of an artist who is committed (“figure it out” is BIG)

False desires are substitutes used to change an emotional state

Sometimes what we truly desire is hidden or masked. I often ask artists what they want from their art or career and they don’t know. I find that what we really want is masked by a “false desire” that we occupy ourselves with. To me, a false desire comes from a place of scarcity or lack. It typically has more to do with changing your emotional state than creating something that is truly meaningful. For example, you may feel nervous about interacting at a social event so you resort to food or alcohol to keep yourself on an even keel. In the art space, it could look like a desire to have a massive social media following to validate that they are doing well. In both situations, the thing desired is a pretty neutral thing (alcohol, food, social media), but the are being used to NOT feel something — insecurity and nervousness in the first situation, low estimation of their value in the second.

True desire comes from a place of expansion and growth

True desire comes from a place of seeing how we can fill our art with our true selves, to be the fullest expression of ourselves that we can possibly be. It’s an ache to explore and discover who you are and what you’re capable of. It’s not trying to prove anything or validate your worth as an artist. And it doesn’t need permission to exist.

This is what most artists really want — to freely create and to freely express themselves through their art. So it’s really important to gain awareness of the difference between a true desire and a false desire. When you can be aware of the difference you can make a decision and commit.

How to discover what you truly want and commit

Your body and your emotions can help you understand if the options before you are what you truly desire or not. And you don’t have to get deep into the nuance of what you’re feeling to take steps in this direction. For example, if the thing you’re wondering about makes you feel open, or light, or energized, it’s probably a true desire. If it makes you feel closed, shut down, or icky. When you tune into your body you might notice physical sensations that go along with the emotional responses. Some people are more tuned into the emotional side, others are more tuned into the physical side. 

In the audio, I describe an everyday situation that involves an office, a wrinkled dollar bill, a vending machine, and a bag of chips. I tell the story to help you see that you know what it means to be committed to an outcome, to show you the difference between wanting chips and doing what is needed to actually get them. C

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These are common beliefs that I hear from members of the Savvy Painter Community on a regular basis. In this episode, I want to get out the magnifying glass and take a deeper look at what we believe and to question those beliefs. Why? So we can identify the beliefs we have that are not serving us, holding us back, or limiting our creativity and success. 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:14] A peek into my world here in Argentina
• [0:57] How beliefs impact the way we live and do our art
• [4:10] Beliefs usually come to us from outside influences
• [8:57] We become what we believe — how it works and why it matters
• [11:13] Empowering beliefs shared by Savvy Painter Community members
• [14:51] Beliefs that create results that are not so positive
• [19:00] Limiting beliefs 

The hidden beliefs that are running our lives

Studying and putting into practice daily. It’s like peeling an onion, there’s so much to discover about how we think and how it impacts our lives. In addition to those random thoughts we have, there are “inner scripts” or hidden beliefs that run our lives. We are not always aware they exist and don’t recognize the impact they have on the way we live. Here’s my definition of a belief...

A belief is a thought that you keep thinking over and over again.

This includes our thoughts about who we are as an artist, what people think of artists, what artists are supposed to do, how we are supposed to act, etc. When we decide those thoughts are true we create a belief-system. They are built by habit or we’ve actively chosen to believe it.

Where do our beliefs come from?

If you take a moment to think about where beliefs come from, you’ll realize that there is a huge array of influences that feed us things to believe: our families, upbringing, culture, religion, advertising, social media, etc. and even self-created beliefs. Any time we receive these things, think about them, and internalize them, they become our beliefs and we don’t think about them consciously anymore. They just play in the background over and over and over in a constant “belief-loop.” For this reason, beliefs shape the way we experience the world, the way we see ourselves, others, and the world.

Let’s take some examples from the world of art:

There are groups that believe that painting is dead, that everything that can be said using paint on canvas has already been said. There are groups that believe painting is a living, breathing force and there is still much more to be done with it. And even within those systems there are people who believe that abstract expressionism is the only way to authentically express yourself. On a different note, some people believe that you are either born with artistic talent or you aren’t, while others believe the skills to make great art can be learned. Then there are beliefs surrounding money and art that I get into on this episode. These are all examples of “collective beliefs” and they can greatly impact the results that you get in your own studio practice.

Many beliefs you hold are helpful but some are not

The point of this episode is not to encourage you to rip apart every belief you hold. There are many beliefs we have that serve us well. But if you find things that do NOT serve you well, or things that cause you to repeatedly do things in a compulsive manner, or that you do or refrain from doing things because they don’t feel like thi

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What would you say is the greatest tool you have in your studio. Don’t look down the page to see what I think it is… take a moment to answer the question for yourself.

Is it your brushes? The canvas in the corner? The turntable that spins the vinyl you listen to while painting?

Honestly answer, what is the most important thing in your studio?

In this episode, I want to walk you through my discovery that the most important tool I have as an artist is none of those things. The most important tool you have is not even talked about in most art classes. What is it? Keep reading and listen to this episode…

Outline of This Episode

• [0:05] A transformational year for me and the work I’ve been doing with artists
• [1:32] Your brain is the most powerful tool you have in your studio
• [10:25] Your thoughts are the obstacle and that’s good news
• [11:59] My results from making this mental tweak
• [12:44] An example: You can’t figure out what’s wrong with a painting
• [13:30] Another example: I have to make this painting work
• [15:37] Start to be aware of what’s going on in your head

Your brain is the most powerful (and important) tool in your studio

The things that are going on in your mind when you enter your studio are powerfully important. I’m not talking about the latest tension you saw on social media before you opened the studio door (though that qualifies), I’m talking about the beliefs about yourself and your work that you carry into the studio with you.

Those are powerful. Those are what either enable you to do great work (the work you want to do) or do less than you hope for and less than you are capable of doing.

I want you to walk through a few examples in hopes that you can come to a vital understanding: Your thoughts are not reality.

Thoughts are merely how you interpret things

Have you ever wondered how 30 people can witness the same event and each of them will have their own unique perspective of what happened? It’s like there were 30 different versions of the event. How is this possible? It’s because each person interpreted the event differently in their own minds. That illustration helps us understand that our thoughts are not us and that if we can learn to change our thoughts, we can change our ability to do great work.

Up to this point in your artistic career you may have felt any number of things are your “problem,” the thing that’s holding you back.

• Do you believe that your painting skills aren’t good enough to do great work?
• Is it a belief that there are too many things in the way?
• Do you believe that there are way too many artists and not enough galleries?
• Are you uncertain what your style or voice as an artist is?

Any of these might be an issue and issues can be worked on specifically and diligently. But none of those is your real “problem.”

The real problem is WHAT YOU MAKE THOSE THINGS MEAN. Said a different way, the stories you tell yourself ABOUT those things is your problem. 

What you think about is what you create

As human beings, we have 60,000 thoughts a day and most of them are stories we are telling ourselves. These stories create emotion and we respond (act or not act) based on that emotion.

Let’s take an example…

You notice someone looking at your art…

• Do you think they see everything wrong with your work?
• Are they just being polite and are not really interested in your painting?
• Are they thinking, “How lovely!”
• Are they another artist who is looking to steal your concepts?

As you watch the person looking at your painting you could assume any of those things or hundreds more things. But those are ALL stories you’re

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Savvy Painter is back! And I have a New Years challenge for you. If you decide to take this on, I'm certain your painting practice and your experience of painting will change completely (in a good way).

I think art is created from a place of love. It's created from the universal love, what I call Love with a capital "L" and from a love of  art itself. A love for the craft of painting and the lineage of painters who are with us today and have come before us. But can you also include unconditional love for the artist that is you. Even if you are still learning how to paint; even if your technical skills can be better; even if sometimes the work isn't quite what you had envisioned. Imagine how differently you would show up in your studio if you had absolute love for the mind and hand that creates your art.

This episode is all about love and what it means to intentionally bring it in to your work. (Bring on the woo!) 

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Have you ever felt a little lost and uncertain in your studio? Trying to paint from this space just results in overworking your paintings or piles and piles of half finished canvases in your studio.

It's so frustrating to finally get time to paint, but not use it to create something you're proud of. I hear it all the time from artists I work with in Growth Studio. In this episode, I teach you how to get past these blocks so you can paint with focus so that your voice is clear.

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Painting is hard, but the suffering part is optional. Why is it that when things are hard, we pile on extra layers of difficulty? When we are not aware of our thoughts, we don't notice how much harder we make it on ourselves when we think "this painting isn't working" or "I just don't know how to paint (fill in the blank)" 

In this episode I show you how painters use their very human brains for self sabotage AND I offer alternative perspectives so that you can practice on your own.

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Have you ever needed a mental health day? What reasons do you give yourself for not allowing yourself the time? I just took a month (and some change) to be with family and recharge my batteries. In this episode, I give you a snapshot into my thoughts about allowing what is while taking care of yourself. 

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Where are you on your creative journey? Do you have the right pieces in place yet or are you still trying to figure things out? If you feel like this last year or so has taken you through the wringer, you are not alone! Many of us are just now starting to get our bearings back after a year of isolation and adjustment. Here to help us navigate through the ebb and flow of creativity and the wild journey we find ourselves on is my guest and the talented artist, Gabe Brown. 

Gabe was raised in New York City. She received her BFA degree from The Cooper Union and was awarded a Full Fellowship to attend the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. She went on to receive her MFA in Painting from the University of California, Davis. Her work is included in both public and private collections. She is an Adjunct Professor in Painting and Drawing at Fordham University and SUNY New Paltz where she has received three Merit Awards for Professional Achievement. Gabe lives and works in the Hudson Valley.

I can’t wait for you to get to know Gabe’s fascinating perspective - also make sure to check out images of Gabe’s artwork located at the end of this post. 

Perseverance through uncertainty 

Let’s face it, the last year with COVID has been challenging to say the least. While some of us have been able to leverage this time as an opportunity to try something new, there are those who have been stuck either creatively, emotionally, or otherwise. Part of understanding and adapting to your own unique ebb and flow of creativity is giving yourself space and understanding. 

If you had a friend who was having a hard time with the isolation and abrupt change that COVID has wrought, how would you treat them? Most people would be kind and empathetic - why wouldn’t you give yourself that same treatment? I found Gabe’s experience of persevering through the uncertainty of COVID inspiring but I found her compassion for those who are struggling - even more so. Remember, we are all in this together - I’ve got your back and I’m trusting that you’ve got mine! 

Absorbing and applying

Everyone's a little different and we need to find our own method and pattern for our creativity. Gabe was kind enough to open up about her own season of absorbing and applying. For Gabe, absorbing is a time of observation - reading, taking walks, going to museums or galleries, Googling different artists. Then comes the moment of application - some way those observations start to make their way through to the surface of the creative process. Her end goal is to take all the information that she just absorbed and then somehow apply it to her studio practice to help perfect her craft. 

What are you waiting for? Seriously? I know that the fear of failure can be intense - trust me, I’ve been there. But honestly, what do you have to lose? Don’t let the fear of failure keep you from exploring the possibilities that are right in front of you. I know that the journey is not an easy one, Gabe knows that too but what we want you to know is that it is worth it. I hope you found Gabe’s story an inspiring and encouraging one. If you want even more community and encouragement, I’d love for you to go deeper with the Savvy Painter community. Check out all the great ways to jump in - you won’t regret it! 

Outline of This Episode

• [1:15] How Gabe got started as an artist. 
• [6:30] The ebb and flow of creativity. 
• [9:30] Gabe talks about her work and what she has been up to over the last year. 
• [16:00] Are you afraid of success? 
• [19:45] Absorbing and applying. 
• [28:00] Intimate compression. 
• [36:40] How do you know when it is finished? 
• [47:00] Artists that Gabe would love to own art from. 
• [51:15] Why Gabe likes to work on the floor. 
• [54:00] Tips for new art

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When was the last time you really stopped and paid attention to your surroundings? As an artist, I have spent years training my eyes to pay attention to shapes, colors, and so many other aspects of the visual arts that listening to my surroundings was never a top priority. What can we learn from our surroundings when we deliberately slow down and begin to really pay attention? 

Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to speak with hundreds of artists from all walks of life. It has been a huge honor to explore their stories, hear their unique perspectives, and bring them to my fellow artists like you! While I think I played it cool in this interview, I have to admit that was totally starstruck when I got to speak with none other than Julia Cameron.

Hailed by the New York Times as "The Queen of Change," Julia is credited with starting a movement in 1992 that has brought creativity into the mainstream conversation— in the arts, in business, and in everyday life. She is the best-selling author of more than forty books, fiction, and nonfiction; a poet, songwriter, filmmaker, and playwright. Commonly referred to as "The Godmother" or "High Priestess" of creativity, her tools are based in practice, not theory, and she considers herself "the floor sample of her own toolkit." 

I hope you get as much joy, inspiration, and encouragement from Julia’s profound insights and wisdom as much as I did! 

Learning to listen 

Are you ready to listen? Really listen to the world around you? You might be thinking that there is not much around you that is worth listening to - but you’ll never really know until you take the plunge! Julia Cameron is such a huge advocate for quieting the inner voice and tuning into the world all around that she wrote a book about it! 

In her book, “The Listening Path,” Julia takes readers on a transformational journey to deeper, more profound listening and creativity. In Julia’s experience, as we learn to listen, our attention is heightened and we gain healing, insight, and clarity. At the heart of the practice, Julia says that listening creates connections and ignites a creativity that will resonate through every aspect of our lives.

If you are ready to find a deeper connection to the world around you and unlock the creativity within you, then try spending some time with the practices and rhythms that Julia teaches about. I’ve been incorporating several lessons from her works over the years and I can not recommend her insights and wisdom enough - I know that dedicated artists like you will get a lot out of what Julia has to offer. 

Embracing playfulness 

You can’t get very far in a conversation with Julia Cameron without hearing about her passion for playfulness. Yes, that’s right, Julia is passionate about playfulness. If you've been around the Savvy Painter community for very long, you know that I am a huge fan of encouraging artists to get in touch with their inner child and unlock that long-hidden impulse to play when it comes to their art. I thought I was serious about playfulness but Julia has me beat. What are you waiting for? The right moment? The perfect plan? Julia encourages you and me to stop overthinking it and just embrace our playfulness. Do something fun today! 

Outline of This Episode

• [4:00] I introduce my guest, Julia Cameron. 
• [6:00] Julia opens up about her experience writing her latest book. 
• [10:00] Cultivating a practice of listening. 
• [13:00] Listening to yourself. 
• [19:30] How to deal with the inner critic. 
• [26:00] What to do next. 
• [30:00] Working from the heart. 
• [37:00] Just try it. 
• [41:00] Doing the work itself is the work. 
• [45:00] Julia talks about her love for film. 
• [48:00] Embracing playfulness. 
• [50:00] Closing

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If you were to sum up your creative career in a phrase or theme, what would it be? Has your style evolved over the years in little ways or in large shifts? If you are one of those artists that like to experiment and likes to play around and maybe feels like you are bouncing around a bit and dipping your paintbrush into many different genres of art, this is an episode for you! 

I am thrilled to introduce you to my talented guest, Katherine Bourdon. Katherine describes her work as “Constantly evolving in the spirit of exploration and spontaneity.” As an artist and a musician, Katherine thinks subconsciously in terms of sound quality with each painting. The visual and auditory senses are intertwined into a single experience as she perceives the sound as color and form, and vise versa. 

Join me for this conversation as Katherine opens up about how she got started as an artist, the challenges she has faced in her career, the habits that have helped her succeed, what it’s like as an artist with Synesthesia, and so much more! 

All over the place

If someone were to describe your artwork or your style as “All over the place.” Would you take that as a compliment or something different? How would you respond in the moment? When she heard someone describe her artwork as “All over the place,” Katherine didn’t miss a beat - was quick to explain that her biggest passion is, “Finding rhythm, pattern, and color in whatever the subject is.” Don’t be afraid to stand boldly in your vision of your artwork! It was so refreshing to hear Katherine confidently state exactly what she is trying to accomplish with her art as she invites her fellow artists to do the same.

Music and visual art explored through Synesthesia 

If you’ve been around the Savvy Painter community for very long, you’ve heard me mention my fascination with artists and individuals who experience Synesthesia. Katherine Bourdon was kind enough to open up about her journey as an artist who embraces Synesthesia in her artwork. 

Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway (for example, hearing) leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway (such as vision). Simply put, when one sense is activated, another unrelated sense is activated at the same time.

I was curious to find out about the connection between music and visual art that Katherine experiences - she says that she noticed it very early on when her mother would play music at the piano. Katherine would eventually come to describe her ability as “Hearing colors,” as she started to notice the difference between individual composers like Bach and Beethoven. What can you learn from Katherine’s journey? Make sure to check out the images of her artwork located at the end of this post!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:05] I introduce my guest, Katherine Bourdon. 
• [6:00] How Katherine got started as an artist. 
• [8:30] Early family influences. 
• [11:00] The connection between music and visual art explored through Synesthesia. 
• [20:00] Searching for style and incorporating exploration in painting. 
• [27:30] How Katherine learned to paint and the impact that art history had on her. 
• [29:30] Getting back into the studio after some time away. 
• [33:30] Healthy habits that work for Katherine. 
• [39:00] Challenging moments from Katherine’s career. 
• [41:00] Katherine talks about her dream project. 
• [44:00] Tips for emerging artists. 
• [47:30] The future of art and art sales. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• Johann Sebastian Bach

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What helps you bring your full and authentic self to your time in your studio? Are there certain activities or habits that help you get in the right mindset to start your day and get those creative juices flowing? If you’ve been around the Savvy Painter community for very long, you know that I am a huge fan of meditation and mindfulness. I have seen the direct correlation between self-exploration and creative expression. Here to help us explore the connection between creativity and our inner life is the artist, Michael Ryan. 

Michael Ryan is an artist based in the Netherlands whose paintings have been exhibited nationally, as well as in the United States, Russia, and France. His artistic expression is influenced by being in the moment, and the act of paying attention. Ryan is especially inspired by what he observes around him. Primarily working with oils, pastels, and watercolors, he is fascinated by light, color, and the relationship formed between colors. His bold pieces are painted on metal or linen.

I can’t wait for you to get to know Michael, I know you will get a lot of valuable insight from his perspective - make sure to check out images of his artwork located at the end of this post. 

In sudden demand 

Can you imagine going from just making it as an artist and a waiter one week to find yourself in another country with suddenly 50 commissioned portraits lined up? While that scenario sounds made up, it actually happened to my guest, Michael Ryan! 

After a chance meeting with a Dutch businessman who offered to bring him to the Netherlands to paint the portraits of his two children, Michael was off to a new country and a totally new direction in his career. While some might find themselves intimidated by the sudden demand and clamoring for their work, Michael took it in stride. Looking back on this time in his career, Michael reflects on how much he really enjoyed capturing someone's essence on the canvas. 

Finding your center 

Over the years it has been an honor to speak with artists who come from all walks of life. It always intrigues me to hear how each one of my guests has managed to find their center. Some might call this their “Why,” or their “Purpose,” or their “Calling.” Some might just refer to finding their true self. For Michael Ryan, his working day begins early with yoga and long walking meditation. By taking this step early in the day, Michael finds his mind and body united, focused, and prepared for creative expression back in the studio. What practices have helped you find your center? 

Trust yourself 

As you navigate the challenges of a career as an artist, Michael and I encourage you to spend that time investing in your inner life. While some might not find as great a benefit as others, the investment is well worth it. What do you have to lose in taking the time to learn about meditation and other practices? You might just find that you learn some helpful insights about yourself along the way. Don’t let others direct your path, trust yourself - you won’t regret it. 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:05] I introduce my guest, Michael Ryan. 
• [2:00] How did Michael end up in Amsterdam? 
• [7:30] 50 portraits in three years?
• [9:30] Learning the Dutch language. 
• [11:30] Was Michael intimidated by the tsunami of portrait commissions? 
• [15:30] What drew Michael back to New York? 
• [18:30] How did Michael deal with moving with all of his art and supplies? 
• [20:30] What is Micahel currently working on? 
• [24:30] Finding inner quiet before you enter the studio. 
• [38:00] Michael describes his series, “Shimmering Mess” 
• [44:00] How has the pandemic affected Michael’s time in the studio? 
• [48:30] Do you incorporate your emotions and thoughts into your art a

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What is it that catches your eye when you are determining what to paint? Do you look for color that speaks to you, are you drawn to certain subjects or locations? Growing up in Australia, Mary Tonkin quickly became enamored with, “The bush” - a term mostly used in the English vernacular of Australia and New Zealand where it is largely synonymous with backwoods or hinterland, referring to a natural undeveloped area.

Mary completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1995 and a Master of Fine Arts in 2002 at Monash University, where she has also lectured. Tonkin has held solo exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney since 1999. Her work has been included in group exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, and internationally in New York. 

It was my privilege to host Mary for a live session of our interview. It was a joy to have Mary open up about her process, what she sees when she’s out here in the bush, how she juggles life as a working mother, and so much more. I can’t wait for you to get to know Mary’s engaging story! 

Brining the bush to life 

When you speak with Mary, you get a quick impression that she means business when she talks about slowing down and paying attention. For Mary, phrases like stillness, being present, and “taking in” a place, aren't' strangers - they are well-known companions on her journey. While it may be challenging to have a living and constantly changing subject like the Australian bush, Mary says that the experience has been well worth it. What stands out to you when you observe Mary’s artwork? Make sure to catch images of her paintings located at the end of this post. 

Learning to adapt 

Working in the wilderness in many ways can prepare you for challenging situations you face later in life. Learning to prepare for variables that you can’t control is a helpful training ground for parents. Mary was kind enough to open up about her experience as a working mother trying to navigate her time in the wilderness with her responsibilities at home. At the end of the day, it all comes down to quality over quantity for Mary, she is grateful for the time in the bush that she can reserve. 

Feeding your curiosity 

I loved hearing from Mary about her own journey with compartmentalizing her painting life for both the good and bad, I know so many artists just like her! One big takeaway from my conversation with Mary comes down to the value of feeding your curiosity. Some of us love to explore our curiosity over conversations with friends, while others need time in solitude. What works best for you? How do you feed your curiosity and let it fuel your creativity? I want to hear from you! 

Outline of This Episode

• [2:00] I welcome my guest, Mary Tonkin. 
• [3:15] How Mary got started as an artist. 
• [6:15] Mary describes her artwork. 
• [10:45] How does Mary manage the seeming complexity in her paintings? 
• [16:00] Mary opens up about how wildfires and COVID-19 have impacted her work.
• [18:30] The challenge of conveying color from the wild. 
• [20:30] Using collage to branch out.

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When was the last time you encountered a painting that really moved you? What feelings did the painting evoke? Did your initial impression of the painting remain or change the more you pondered it? I love hearing stories from fellow artists who have found themselves entranced by or enamored with the artwork of their peers. On this special episode, I had the opportunity to speak with a returning Savvy Painter guest, Dean Mitchell as well as Art Patron Kathy Flynn, and Gallery Director Nicole Wolff. 

Thinking back to my first conversation with Dean for this podcast, it’s quite appropriate that we discussed the transformative power of art. Dean’s painting and the subject of our conversation, “No Way Out” is a great example of that. Dean's painting was recently added to the permanent collection of the Columbus Museum of Fine Art.

On this episode, you will hear Dean talk about what this painting means to him, and why he created it. Then you will hear from Kathy Flynn - Kathy's father was involved in the civil rights movement in the '60s, she fell in love with art when she traveled with her parents through Europe visiting museums. Kathy first saw "No Way Out" at the Cutter and Cutter Gallery in St. Augustine, Florida two years ago.

She'll tell us why seeing this painting again after the murder of George Floyd moved her so much that she not only bought it but worked with Dean and our third guest, Nicole Wolff (director of Cutter & Cutter Fine Art ) to get it into the permanent collection of the Columbus Museum of Art. 

What inspired “No Way Out” 

Dean Mitchell sees his painting, “No Way Out” as an evolution of his own life, growing up as a Black kid in poverty in the American South. Looking at Dean's painting, it really draws you in and it feels like it almost wants to tell you something. Many people, Dean says, are often surprised when he tells them that the man in the painting is on the other side of the jail cell, he’s not inside where many people assume he is located. 

Dean says that he wanted to create this painting to challenge the perception of the Black male in American society. Too often, people bring their assumed narrative and transpose it onto our artwork - for good and for ill. By drawing people in with his minimalist style, Dean is welcoming discerning viewers to joining a necessary and relevant conversation about race.

This needs to be in a museum 

Last year’s heartbreaking killing of George Floyd has spurred people with platforms like myself to find a way to shine a light on the stain and legacy of racism in our society. I don’t just want to have the conversation, I want to be part of the solution. In a similar way, my guests Nicole Wolff and Kathy Flynn felt the same way about Dean’s painting. They were so moved and inspired by the message that Dean is sharing and the conversation that his painting has sparked that they knew they needed to get as many people to encounter it as possible. After a lot of hard work, Kathy, Nicole, and Dean were able to get “No Way Out” into the permanent collection of the Columbus Museum of Art. 

Outline of This Episode

• [2:20] I welcome my guests, Kathy Flynn, Nicole Wolff, and Dean Mitchell. 
• [5:00] What inspired Dean’s painting, “No Way Out”
• [8:30] Kathy talks about her experience seeing Dean’s painting for the first time. 
• [14:30] Nicole talks about how Cutter & Cutter brought Dean into their gallery. 
• [21:00] Kathy shares some of her background. 
• [25:00] How has “No Way Out” impacted Kathy, Nicole, and Dean? 
• [34:20] Dean explains how he feels about his artwork featured in a museum. 
• [40:00] When did Dean paint, “No Way Out?” 
• [42:20] What

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Have you struggled with integrating the various aspects of your day to day into a workflow that respects your responsibilities AND your passion for art? How do you avoid burning out and feeling like you’ve wasted too much of your life? 

If you’ve ever wondered if there was a way to truly bring your art to all aspects of your life - you’ve come to the right place! Here to help me dive into this critical topic that burdens so many of us is my friend and fellow artist, Nicholas Wilton. 

Hailing from San Francisco, California, Nicholas studied art at the College of Creative Studies in Santa Barbara and then went on to receive his BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Wilton’s paintings are seen in yearly gallery exhibitions, International Art Fairs, and are included in numerous private and corporate collections in both the United States and Europe. Nicholas is also the founder of Art2Life, an online platform that strives to build, empower, and inspire the creative community. 

I can’t wait for you to get to know my engaging and insightful friend as he helps us explore what it really means to bring our art to life - you don’t want to miss it!

What is ART2LIFE? 

Thousands of artists listen to and believe this lie every day and they walk away from the passion and energy that set them on their creative path - what is the lie? 

You aren’t good enough. You’ll never make it. No one wants to buy your art. Only the supremely talented can make any money off of their art. Do any of these lines sound familiar? 

What if there was a way to silence those lies that swirl around and re-train your mindset? With his Art2Life program, Nicholas strives to build, empower, and inspire the creative community. Nicholas wants to flip the script and help us shift our focus away from competition to sharing. His program is all about finding what inspires and brings you joy, and making art that is more and more like yourself.

The process of becoming yourself 

If you’ve been around the Savvy Painter community for very long, you know that I am passionate about empowering artists like you to fully realize your potential and chase after your dreams. It’s been so encouraging to meet and speak with artists like Nicholas who have dedicated their lives to their craft but to also helping others discover the joy of creative fulfillment. If you find yourself wondering if you’ll ever be able to talk about your art like Nicholas does - STOP! Remember, this isn’t about who you can be most like, it’s about discovering the real YOU. Give yourself patience and space to continue the process of discovery - we are all works in progress! 

Pay attention to your energy and mindset

While it might sound silly, the truth is, the energy you bring to your studio matters. Maybe for you, it is all about that cup of coffee or maybe it’s about getting in an early morning run - the actions we take before we decide to sit down and create can have a huge impact on our artwork! As you continue to explore this critical topic with Nicholas, I encourage you to begin paying attention to what you are doing, why you are doing it, and how it is impacting your creative process - the result might surprise you! 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:25] I introduce my guest, Nicholas Wilton. 
• [4:00] Nicholas talks about the moment when everything came crashing down. 
• [8:00] Setting intentions and turning over a new leaf. 
• [11:00] What is, “ART2LIFE?” 
• [15:00] Why the world needs YOUR art.
• [20:30] The process of becoming yourself. 
• [28:45] Nicholas opens up about “getting stuck.” 
• [33:30] Pay attention to the energy you want to bring to the studio. 
• [37:00] How you can learn from Nicholas’ innovative approach. 
• [40:30] Closing thoughts. 

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Sometimes we can sabotage our creativity without even realizing it. We think we can buckle down or toughen up to just get it done. But what if there is a better way to inspire your creativity? What if you can create from a place of authentic joy without the drama? That's what we explore in this episode of the Savvy Painter podcast!

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How do you feel heading into 2021? Do you feel like you just need the clock to strike 12:01 am on January 1st, 2021 before you can even begin to hope for anything good? This  has been a tough year, to say the least. But what if there was a way to acknowledge the struggle without letting it bog you down and rob you of your fun, joy, and passion for your art? As I’ve grown and developed professionally over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from and alongside some amazing people like my good friend, Elisia Keown. 

I get the chance to chat with Elisia several times a week as we both continue to develop and grow in our respective professions and I wanted to invite you all along for one of our conversations. Pay close attention, Elisia has some helpful insights that I know you’ll find useful, don’t miss it! 

Setting impossible goals

What comes to mind when you hear, “Impossible goals.” Does it sound like a recipe for failure for you? When was the last time you set an ambitious goal? Here is the thing when it comes to goal setting, most people are terrible at it! We use excuses like New Year's resolutions to make half-hearted attempts at change but many of us find ourselves right back where we started. How do you make this time different from every other time you’ve tried and received lackluster results? You’ve got to aim higher. Yes, an impossible goal should scare you and make you a little panicky, that’s the point! 

Talk to yourself!

Do you need permission to talk to yourself? Seriously! It sounds crazy but I promise - it’s not! Our brains are designed to make sense out of complex experiences, thoughts, and encounters - talking it out helps. Whether you  write in a journal or talk out loud - I encourage you to give it a try - without feeling self conscious! Have tried this before? What was your experience like? Make sure to join the conversation, I want to hear from you! 

Thinking of failure as an opportunity 

I used to hate failure. I’d take it personally, like I’d done something wrong - or worse like there was something wrong with ME. Do you ever feel that way when it comes to failure? Instead of constantly telling and teaching myself to do everything possible to avoid failure, I decided to embrace it. What if the failure was less of a punishment and more of an opportunity to learn and grow? In my conversation with Elisia, I even compare my failures these days to coins that Mario collects in Mario brothers!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:00] Elisia talks about how we met. 
• [2:30] The value of setting an impossible goal. 
• [6:30] Don’t be afraid to talk to yourself! 
• [10:30] Sorting your thoughts and using a journal. 
• [18:00] Looking ahead. 

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Do you find yourself struggling with perfectionism? What do you do to turn down the volume and focus on what really matters? I’ve heard from so many of my friends and peers over the years about this topic that I decided to open it up to my Groth Studio participants. Several students were kind enough to open up about how they’ve dealt with perfectionism in the past and the strategies they used to overcome. If you are ready to wrestle back control of your life from the clutches of perfectionism - then this is the episode for you - you don’t want to miss it! 

Confusing perfectionism with excellence 

What’s so bad about perfectionism? Doesn’t a good dose of nervous paranoia help fuel you on your journey to excellence? No! Perfectionism and excellence are not the same things. Excellence is internally motivated - it causes us to reach higher, to become a forever student, and continually improve our creative process. Your baseline with excellence is that you belong at the table - you have something worthy to offer. 

On the other hand, perfectionism is externally motivated - it makes you always ask, “What will THEY think?” Perfectionism starts and ends with - I am not enough. When your starting point is “I am not enough” it encourages judgment of yourself and other people - it causes you to contract and shrink. 

Which route sounds best to you? Do you want to be constrained by what others think or do you want a more positive and healthy outlook? What are you going to do today to put you on the path that’s best for you? There’s no time like right now! 

Don’t let fear have control!

Rember that last thing you had to do that you absolutely dreaded about? Do you remember how your muscles tensed up, your temperature rose, and your heart started beating faster? Were all that worry, stress, and fear really worth it in the end? Why are we letting fear have control over our lives? It’s time we learned how to stand up to the circumstances that life throws our way in a healthy and constructive manner. Allow yourself to slow down, acknowledge the feelings you are experiencing, and then move on. Just because you experience a wave of frustration and anger, it doesn’t mean you have to lose your temper - let the feeling come and then let it pass - you have the control! 

Embrace accidents and paint from a place of love

The biggest casualty to the trap of perfectionism is often our artwork. Just think of all the amazing projects that never came to light because we listened to another voice - the wrong voice. I don’t want my life ruled by fear and the opinion of others - there is too much freedom out there to enjoy! Over the years, I have found that the best way to move forward is to remember that I paint from a place of love. I love myself, I love my life, and I love my art - it might sound silly but just starting with those intentions can make all the difference. What will you do to conquer the power of perfectionism in your life? Let me know what works for you! 

Outline of This Episode

• [2:00] My introduction to today’s episode on perfectionism.
• [5:00] Confusing perfectionism with excellence. 
• [7:30] Jenny opens up about her struggles with perfectionism. 
• [10:30] How fear hijacks our lives. 
• [13:45] Dancing with fear. 
• [18:15] We always have a choice. 
• [21:30] How confirmation bias works. 
• [23:30] Painting from a place of love. 
• [30:30] The danger of falling into the comparison trap. 
• [38:00] Choose the thought that moves you forward. 
• [41:30] Learning to embrace accidents. 
• [44:00] Don’t edit yourself - take your power back! 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• Tara Brach’s Website

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Have you ever felt like you just don’t “fit in” at non-artist gatherings? What do you do with that feeling? Do you shrink back and retreat to the safety of your peers and insulate? Or do you press into the discomfort and forge your path? Everyone’s story is going to be different and that’s the beauty of our corner of society, we embrace the mosaic of diversity - but what would it look like if we were to integrate our creative outlook with other areas? 

That’s where my guest and talented artist, John Sabraw comes in! Hailing from Lakenheath, England, John is an activist and environmentalist - his paintings, drawings, and collaborative installations are produced in an eco-conscious manner, and he continually works toward a fully sustainable practice. In our conversation, John opens up about his time working with Kerry James Marshall and how he got involved with Gamblin and producing their reclaimed earth colors. Trust me, you’ll find John’s perspective refreshing and engaging - I know I did! 

Throwing it all away 

You know those days where you feel like tossing everything in your studio in the garbage? Imagine doing that and then getting an invitation to Washington DC to meet members of Congress because your art was selected as the winner of a competition. Sounds crazy, right? It actually happened to John Sabraw! 

As he struggled in high school and tried to decipher the way he wanted his life to go, John reached a breaking point where he just had to walk away. He took all his artwork that he had completed in his high school art class and tossed it in the dumpster and then took off for a week. When he returned, what he saw changed the course of his career - his teacher had entered him into a contest and he had won! John’s journey wasn’t all smooth sailing from there - he faced setbacks and challenges but this initial success helped see the talent he had honed. 

Speaking your truth 

How does your truth, your authenticity show up in your artwork? Do you try to embrace it or do you try to go in a different direction? As the United States was gearing up for the Iraq war in 2003, John felt like he needed to speak out and share his conviction that war was not the answer with his art. The result was a fierce backlash that made John rethink his approach and if he wanted to make a stand that would continue to incur this type of reaction from people. John didn’t back down, he just decided to change his approach - this launched him on the path to his work with sustainability and activism. 

Exploring sustainability 

Imagine visiting a community ravished by the scourge of industrial waste and environmental destruction and finding in that mess and contamination a way to create sustainable paint colors. No, this isn’t a pipe dream, this actually happed with John’s efforts to collaborate with scientists on many projects. One of his current collaborations involves creating paint and paintings from iron oxide extracted in the process of remediating polluted streams. I hope you are as inspired by John’s story as I have been - make sure to check out images of John’s artwork located at the end of this post!

Outline of This Episode

• [2:50] I introduce my guest, John Sabraw. 
• [4:00] How did John get started as an artist? 

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How do you feel about the big idea you’ve been keeping on the back burner? Does the thought of executing your big idea fill you with excitement, dread, or somewhere in-between? Those big creative ideas that bubble up deserve their time to shine - so what are you waiting for? 

Let’s face it, most of us shy away from pulling the trigger on a big idea because we are scared or overwhelmed. What if there was a way to sidestep the obstacles that block you from executing your big idea? You’ve come to the right place! I took the opportunity to get feedback from amazing artists like you who are doing their best to forge ahead with their big ideas. I know that you’ll find helpful insights that will encourage you on your creative journey - don’t miss it!

Don’t let your doubts win 

There comes a time when everyone will have to come face to face with their internal doubts. Some people face this challenge early on in their creative journey and some face small doubts that creep in and disrupt in a more subtle way. If you really want to succeed and take on the big ambitious ideas that have been waiting to break out - you’ve got to learn how to deal with your doubts. Your doubts may never completely go away, and that’s ok - but they don’t have to control your life! 

Turning obstacles into a to-do list 

In much the same way that you can’t let your doubts control your life, you also can’t let obstacles become an excuse. Too often I’ve seen talented artists get stuck in the quicksand of chores, shortcomings, distractions, and more. You don’t have to surrender to the obstacles that block your path to executing your big idea. What if you listed out the obstacles that stand in your way and turn that list into a do-to list that will empower you on your journey? What do you have to lose? Give the to-list method a shot! 

Give yourself permission to change and adapt along the way 

One of the obvious ways to fuel the fire of creativity and take on big ideas is to give yourself permission to do the risky thing and even succeed. If you’ve been part of the Savvy Painter community for very long, you know that I am passionate about helping artists like you adopt a healthy and growth-focused mindset. Year after year, artists with a ton of potential find themselves throwing in the towel because they can’t bring themselves to adapt and change along the way. As crucial as it is to give yourself permission to succeed, you’ve also got to give yourself room to go in a new direction. 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:50] My introduction to this episode. 
• [4:00] How listening to your doubts can throw a wrench in your plans. 
• [7:00] Thinking of obstacles as a to-do list. 
• [14:30] Are you ok with getting uncomfortable? 
• [17:30] So what if you don’t knock it out of the park? 
• [21:00] Have a plan but be ready to change along the way. 
• [24:30] Why constraints can be helpful. 
• [29:30] Are you really committed to your big idea? Give yourself permission to go for it! 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• Ryan Holliday
• John Seed
• Bo Bartlett
• Seth Godin

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram

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When it comes to your time at the canvas, do you paint from observation or with reference photos and other tools? Have you had the opportunity to experiment with the size and scale of your paintings? I know that artists like you will be thrilled to hear from the brilliant and talented artist, Mike East. 

Mike is a representational painter who lives in Flordia with his wife and two children. Over the course of our conversation, Mike and I discussed how the choice of canvas size can impact your painting, how Mike’s thought process shifts when he changes his subject matter, and so much more. I know that artists like you will learn a lot from Mike’s seasoned perspective - make sure to check out the images of Mike’s artwork located at the end of this post! 

Cityscapes and finding the right perspective

Think of your favorite work of art that you’ve produced in the last year- what is it that stands out in your mind? Do you love how the colors turned out? Are you over the moon about the lighting and textures you were able to convey? Mike East spent over ten years working almost exclusively on cityscapes as he plodded and navigated his early career. Through all the challenges over the years, Mike points out that getting the right perspective with his cityscape projects really helped him grow as an artist. In fact, stepping out of that area of success and comfort proved to be challenging and rewarding in the next phase he now finds himself in.

Making a mindset shift 

Let’s face it, most people abhor change - they construct their whole lives around avoiding discomfort and change - many artists aren’t any different. If you have any intention of growing as an artist, you need to make your peace with “Change.” Don’t look at change as the enemy, look at it as an opportunity to explore and expand your skillset. After years of working on cityscapes, Mike East was ready for a change and that journey began with preparing his mindset for a significant shift. 

The challenge and freedom of “Going big”

I love talking to my fellow artists when it comes to the subject of scale - from huge murals to small paintings - it’s a joy to see artists light up over the parameters they’ve set for themselves. When it comes to the parameters of your canvas, do you find it liberating or constricting? Does going small or going large fill you with a sense of freedom or dread? Imagine what it would look like to push past those feelings to explore new possibilities. When I talked to Mike East about the scale and scope of his paintings - I really got the sense that Mike relishes the freedom that large-scale paintings give him. What can you learn from Mike’s story? Make sure to check out the link to mike’s website and his Instagram account located in the resources section. 

Outline of This Episode

• [2:30] I introduce my guest, Mike East. 
• [6:00] Mike talks about how he got started as an artist. 
• [7:30] What really lights Mike up. 
• [11:00] Why Mike loves working on a large scale. 
• [17:30] Investigating complexity. 
• [24:00] Mike talks about his time in college. 
• [36:00] Giving yourself permission to work outside of the box. 
• [42:30] Mike opens up about his time visiting Europe. 
• [45:30] How COVID has impacted Mike’s work life. 
• [50:30] The challenge of working from life when it comes to cityscapes. 
• [54:00] Closing thoughts. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• Lennart Anderson
• Eve Mansdorf
• Lucian

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Who was it that inspired and empowered you as you began your journey as an artist? Did you have a family member who nurtured and encouraged your creative aspirations? Maybe it was a peer or a mentor from afar - almost everyone has that special person or group of people who spurred them on as an artist. 

While our world continues to grow more interconnected with the help of the internet, it’s important to remember the critical role of in-person and local art communities and expressions. My guest is someone who benefited from and gives back to local youth initiatives to empower young people on their creative journeys. 

Jerarde Gutierrez is an artist and Arts Program Coordinator as well as a Co-Program Manager of the ACOE IL Dept. Management of program centers around coordination of Integrated Arts Learning spaces at the REACH Ashland Youth Center, a project of Alameda County. Jerarde describes his work as “Rooted in representational painting.” Lately, he has been gravitating towards painting En Plein Air as it allows for fluid brushstrokes, contrasting textures, and interplay of representational and abstraction to capture the essence of a place.

An early push in the creative direction 

Looking back on his start as an artist, Jerarde is quick to point out how much of an impact his mother had on his development. As a crafty and creative person herself, Jerarde’s mother filled him with the confidence and boldness he would need as he entered the art world. After his mother laid a solid foundation, Jerarde was able to work closely with the renowned West Coast muralist, John Wehrle. While Jerarde felt like an annoying mosquito buzzing around and annoying people with his questions, the truth is - their kindness and embrace helped Jerarde grow as an artist by leaps and bounds. 

Giving back 

After receiving so much generosity in his early years from his mother, John Wehrle, and many others - Jerarde jumped at the chance to give back and help others on their journey. These days, Jerarde spends a portion of his time as an Arts Program Coordinator. What Jerarde loves about his work with young people is seeing their potential and then watching that spark fan into a flame of passion and dedication. Can you relate to Jerarde’s story? What do you do to honor those who came before you and paved the way - I want to hear from you! 

Taking the job seriously 

Let’s face it, mastering a technique, or getting a process just right is stressful! Too often, many artists let the overwhelm, self-doubt, fear, and so many other obstacles get in the way of their creative process in the studio. Don’t let these limiting factors rob you of the joy you deserve creating the art you love! Jerarde encourages his students and peers to look at their work as an artist like they would a typical job - put in the time and effort even when you don’t feel like it! You really get the sense that Jerearde practices what he preaches - his artwork is focused and inspiring. Make sure to check out images of Jerarde’s artwork located at the end of this post!

Outline of This Episode

• [4:00] I introduce my guest, Jerarde Gutierrez. 
• [6:00] How Jerade’s mom and his comic artwork got him into the Richmond Art Center. 
• [12:00] Jerarde talks about mentorship fatigue. 
• [14:00] The impact that Jerade’s mother has had on him. 
• [20:00] Taking the job seriously. 
• [22:15] Giving back and helping others. 
• [24:14] Why it’s crucial to learn about the arts. 
• [33:00] Jerarde talks about how he engages with his students. 
• [38:00] What does “Deliberate practice” mean? 
• [43:00] Jerarde opens up about his current obsession. 
• [50:00] Closing thoughts. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

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What comes to mind when you think of the word, failure? Do you start internalizing the word? Do you hear that inner voice roaring the negative talk that sends you spinning? Or have you found a way forward to understand and overcome the fear of failure that plagues so many artists? 

By no means will I say that I’ve discovered all the answers or everything you need to know when it comes to recognizing your fear of failure and moving past it. I have learned from first-hand experience what works and what doesn’t and I’ve heard from my peers like you! This episode is another offering of my Office Hours sessions that give you a peek into the helpful community I’ve built with the Savvy Painter. Make sure to chime in - I can’t wait to hear how this one lands with you! 

Set yourself up for success

Time and time again, the two common issues I hear about from my Growth Studio participants is the challenge to get started and the challenge to finish a work of art. Do you ever struggle with these challenges? What about failing to eliminate distractions? There are so many factors both big and small that can impact your focus and productivity in the studio. If you struggle with these challenges and distractions, you aren’t alone! I encourage you to connect with peers either digitally or in-person (where possible with COVID) there are so many ways we can help each other. 

Don’t make it personal! 

Look, I get it - beating up on yourself can become so commonplace that you get lulled into thinking it’s normal - it doesn’t have to be! Sure, self-critique can be helpful and you do want to nurture that aspect of your growth but not negative talk. How do you spot the difference between being critical and talking negatively about yourself? Write it out! If you find yourself in a particularly critical mode, write out the critiques in your head on paper - then you can see in black and white if they are negative and personal attacks or fair critiques. 

The key to becoming a confident painter 

The key to success and confidence as an artist is to avoid failure at all costs! NO - that’s not true at all. If you were to look at the way our society shapes us - you’ll see that it does train us to avoid discomfort and pain. If you can re-train yourself to think of failure not as an ultimate letdown but as a stepping stone to success, you’ll see your confidence skyrocket. Expect failure, anticipate it, and let it be part of your story - let failure fuel your growth - you are worth the extra effort! 

Outline of This Episode

• [2:30] How many artists experience failure. 
• [5:30] Common negative thoughts we often have. 
• [10:15] Distancing failure from your self-worth. 
• [16:00] A visualization exercise you can try. 
• [18:00] The key to becoming a confident painter. 
• [21:00] Why it’s OK to make mistakes. 
• [25:00] Closing thoughts. 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• https://drphm.co/savvy

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Twitter

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How did you get to where you are right now in your career? Can you remember and identify clear moments that brought you to where you are today? How have you evolved over the years? It’s funny how often we become unaware of the passage of time - you think you’ll be stuck in a phase FOREVER and blink - 10 years go by just like that! 

I’m learning to slow down and really appreciate the time I’m in, yes even with COVID and I hope that my conversation with Sarah Intemann encourages you to do the same. 

Sarah is an abstract artist who lives in New York City. Graduating college with a Fine Art degree, she moved to NYC and has been exhibiting and painting ever since. It is on the New York subways that she constantly sketched and developed a line-focused abstract language that she uses today in her work. 

I can’t wait for you to hear Sarah’s fascinating perspective and yes, her total nerdiness when it comes to her medium. Make sure to catch images of Sarah’s artwork located at the end of this post!

Slowing down

When you are young, the last thing you want to do is to slow down. Kids love to run around the yard, speed down steep hills on bikes, and a ton of other crazy imaginations that give their parents a heart attack. While there are plenty of people who have grey in their hair that still enjoy life on the edge, most learn to enjoy the quiet and slower pace of life. 

In NYC of all places, you can imagine that the idea of “Slowing down” isn’t a popular one - something is happening all the time, the city never sleeps. Somehow, in the middle of that busy and bustling city, Sarah learned to do the impossible, slow down. When you learn to slow down, you start to notice things you’ve never noticed before - you discover little details that can become whole worlds unto themselves. I loved hearing how Sarah took the time to get into the practice of slowing down intentionally and how much it helped her professionally. 

Once Sarah was able to slow down, she started to really listen to what she wanted to do. Have you ever found it difficult to find your voice or to tune out all the noise in your life? According to Sarah, slowing down gave her the capacity to listen to her internal creative voice. 

Dreaming big

What will you take away from Sarah’s powerful example of creativity, patience, and hard work? It was great to get to include one of my favorite questions in my conversation with Sarah, I asked her what she would do if she had all the resources at her disposal for any project. Never the one to play it safe, Sarah swang for the fences - she said that she’d like to go BIG and use a whole room to create a project! Don’t you find yourself rooting for her? I know that I do! 

Outline of This Episode

• [3:20] I welcome my guest, Sarah Intemann. 
• [7:40] Sarah talks about her creative process. 
• [18:20] What keeps Sarah coming back to abstract artwork? 
• [22:40] How Sarah names her paintings. 
• [27:30] What aspect of painting has been the most challenging for Sarah? 
• [34:00] Artists that have inspired Sarah over the years. 
• [41:00] With unlimited resources, what project would Sarah work on? 
• [43:00] Closing thoughts. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• Jackson Pollock
• Lucian Freud 
• Mitchell Johnson 
• Cy Twombly

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The last time we had an Office Hours episode I got a ton of positive feedback so I decided it would be good to feature another session. These topics and questions come from our Savvy Painter Growth Studio. Artists just like you who are looking for ways to hone their craft and move their creative process forward have all found a supportive environment with the Growth Studio. 

For just a peek into what the Growth Studio has to offer, I wanted to share some of these helpful topics and insights with the larger Savvy Painter audience. From adapting to the challenges that life throws our way to unpacking what it means to “Get out of your own way,” I know you’ll find something that will resonate with you and hope you share it! 

Learning to adapt 

Don’t you hate it when life doesn’t go according to the script you’ve written out in your head? I can’t be the only one, can I? I can’t be the only one who has made a major career change or moved to a different country, right? 

While your challenges might not look like my challenges, the truth is - we all have our own challenges to face and overcome. Part of learning to adapt to whatever life throws your way is figuring out how to assess the situation. Do you need to make temporary changes or do you need to adapt your schedule and expectations? Will this decision impact your family or your income? How will adjust to suit your goals? It’s going to look different for each person but you have to be willing to be in a mindset to adapt and that starts by assessing the situation. 

Doing the work 

Do you have a vision of where you want to be this time next year? What type of projects do you want to be working on? What are your creative goals? What are your professional goals? If you don’t have a vision of where you want to be, chances are, you’ll never get there. Setting a goal is the easy part, doing the work is where it really gets challenging. 

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that doing the work can take a lot out of you - but you have to keep pushing. One way to stay focused on the work is to narrow your focus to one area you want to improve in - you don’t have to transform overnight. By setting achievable goals on a specific area you’ll find that the process becomes more and more familiar. 

Getting out of your own way

Have you ever been told that you just need to “Get out of your own way?” What does that even mean? How do you know that you are “In your own way?” I’ve been told that I needed to “Get out of my own way” and the truth is, I didn’t know what to do with that for a long time. 

Over the years I’ve come to understand this saying as an artist who blocks themselves or sabotages their own path when things start to progress. I see this happen to artists all the time and I want to make sure you know that it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to keep selling yourself short - all you need to do is to shift your perspective.

Outline of This Episode

• [4:00] My introduction to this special Office Hours episode. 
• [6:20] Learning to adapt to new circumstances. 
• [11:00] Narrowing it down and “Doing the work.” 
• [14:30] Push through or change course? 
• [19:20] How do you “Get out of your own way?” 
• [26:30] Practical ways to get out of your own way.
• [29:30] Balancing the demand for commissions and creating your projects. 
• [35:45] Closing thoughts. 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles (2002)
• Do The Work (2011)

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Have you ever stood in awe of a large scale painting? When was the last time you felt like a painting sucked you in so totally that you could almost say you lost yourself in that painting? I love to explore and encounter the sheer magnificence that large scale paintings have to offer. Here to give us a welcome peek behind the curtain of his large scale paintings is the artist, Jivan Lee. 

Jivan Lee is an oil painter based in Taos, NM. He grew up in Woodstock, NY, and studied painting at Bard College. His work explores the nature of paint as raw material, creator of image, and catalyst for emotional response, and is increasingly addressing the complexities of how humans see and shape the environment. 

Jivan's paintings have been exhibited nationally and covered in publications such as Fine Art Connoisseur, The Denver Post, Hyperallergic, Southwest Art, Phoenix Home and Garden, Art Business News, and Two Coats of Paint among others. In addition to painting as much as time allows, Jivan occasionally teaches.

Large scale paintings

Jivan says he always gets chuckles from people when he tells them that his approach to large scale paintings doesn’t differ very much to his approach with smaller-scale paintings. Of course, the real challenge when it comes to painting these large projects is the logistics - where, when, and how become a bit more complicated on a large scale. While it might sound complicated and a bit of a nightmare, the way that Jivan describes it, the process sort of unfolded before him - as he takes each logical step at a time. Make sure to check out the images of Jivan’s artwork located at the end of this post!

Letting your light shine

I know, we are all sick and tired of hearing about how COVID has impacted and changed everything - we get it. I don’t want to dwell too much on how much COVID continues to impact the shape of things in the art community but I thought it was really helpful to get Jivan’s perspective. Many of us find ourselves with a ton of emotions and anxieties around our finances, the state of global and national politics, and of course COVID. Jivan was kind enough to open up about some of the personal struggles he has experienced over the last couple of months. He shared that when he takes the time to get alone with his canvas, it allows for emotional catharsis. I have felt that way too when it comes to painting during COVID - don’t want to let my light fade, I have something to share with the world and so do you!

Creating art is a marathon, not a sprint 

As Jivan encourages us to keep shining our light even when the darkness feels like it’s closing in, it’s good to also keep in mind that the creative process is a marathon, not a sprint. You don’t have to do your best work now or consistently - just stay at it. Even when it gets challenging, remember, we need your voice. I get it, sometimes it feels like you just want to throw in the towel but every artist that I’ve talked to over the years have told me that staying in the game is worth it. What keeps you in the game? How do you stay motivated when times get tough? I want to hear from you, make sure to leave a comment! 

Outline of This Episode

• [1:30] I introduce my guest, Jivan Lee. 
• [2:45] What led Jivan to his career as an artist? 
• [8:30] Jivan talks about why he pursued grants as he got started. 
• [10:45] Getting students engaged with art. 
• [15:50] What is the point of painting during a time of crisis. 
• [29:30] Jivan opens up about his solo exhibit, “Dynamics of change.” 
• [40:15] How COVID has impacted Jivan’s schedule. 
• [44:30] Why you need to think of your creative journey as a marathon, not a sprint. 
• [52:00] Jivan explains his process in the studio when it comes to large scale projects. 
• [1:04:00]

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I’ve been hearing a lot of questions from long time listeners of the podcast and from fellow artists who are taking some of my growth courses. This episode is the result of compiling some of those questions to provide helpful answers to artists like you! I don’t have all the answers but I have picked up some helpful tips and insights over the years and I can’t let that go to waste. If you have any suggestions you’d like to share - don’t hesitate - this community thrives when people speak up and join the conversation. 

Setting yourself up for success

How are you doing when it comes to managing your time in the studio? Do you feel like you’ve got a good system and routine down or does it feel haphazard and disorganized? I hated the feeling of losing hours in the studio because I didn’t have a plan and a thought-out approach. 

A good way to start reclaiming your time in the studio is to make a plan - even a small one - you’ve got to start somewhere. Don’t feel like you need to make a radical change overnight, those rarely work - make your goal achievable so you are setting yourself up for success. I’d also encourage artists like you to start batching your work when possible - take some time to prepare a ton of canvases or organize your supplies, or even take time to sketch out some ideas on paper. What have you found that has worked well in your studio? 

Life happens - it’s OK to adapt!

Sometimes the worst critic we face is the person looking back at us in the mirror. We make a plan and we get into a rhythm and then all of a sudden life throws us a curveball! Have you given yourself permission to make changes to your plans? Seriously? Sometimes even the act of writing out the phrase, “I give myself permission to change this plan if necessary” can be helpful. The important thing to remember is to be kind to yourself - we need you and your creative expressions! 

Dealing with creative blocks

When you get stuck, I mean REALLY stuck, what do you do? Has it helped you to just push through the creative block and keep creating what you can or have you found a different approach that works? I have had my fair share of creative blocks over the years and I don’t wish those on anyone. What I am grateful for is the support and encroachment I’ve received from my peers who have been willing to open up and share with me what has worked for them. I that same spirit, I wanted to share with you a few helpful tips when it comes to dealing with creative blocks. 

• I know it’s hard but TRY to push through the block - I have seen this work. 
• Start collecting artwork and images that capture your imagination and creativity. 
• Copy someone else’s work - seriously! Try your hand at some master paintings. 

I know you’ve heard this from me before but I want you to know that I am here for you - this community was built for artists like you. I hope you’ve found something to try in your studio soon and like I’ve said - please don’t hesitate to drop your experiences and tips in the comments section!

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Do you remember that initial spark of creativity or that idea that ushered you on your journey to become an artist? For many of us, that spark was so long ago that we feel like we were born with it. Sometimes we can lose sight of our creative spark or it may even dim over the years - here to give us a powerful perspective from an impressive and seasoned career is the artist, Charly Palmer. 

Charly Palmer was born in 1960 in Fayette, Alabama and raised in Milwaukee. Eventually, he moved to Chicago to study Art and Design at the American Academy of Art and School of the Art Institute. As a graphic designer and illustrator, he has run a successful design studio with a Fortune 500 clientele. As an instructor, Charly teaches design and illustration and painting at the post-secondary level—most recently—Spelman College. These days, Charly devotes his life to his creative goals and has established himself as a fine artist. 

I can’t wait for you to learn from Charly’s depth and breadth of experience both as a commercial artist and making the shift to fine art. Make sure to catch images of Charly’s artwork located at the end of this post. 

Transitioning to Fine Art 

When Charly first started as an artist, he was drawn to work as a commercial artist - he wanted to create movie posters. It is quite poetic that when Charly first started his art education, it was at a fine art school which he left for a school focused on graphic design and illustration that was located across the street. After years in the commercial art world, Charly decided it was time to make the shift - he wanted to create fine art. Following his dreams - Charly jumped in and was a bit unprepared in the process - the transition from the security of work in the commercial sector to start from scratch as a fine artist wasn’t easy. 

Looking back, Charly is convinced that the change was absolutely worth it - experiencing the joy and freedom to create the art that he wants when he wants is exactly what he was looking for. Have you had a similar shift in your career? What was that process like for you? 

Responding to criticism and praise 

As you’ve heard me talk about before - the artist’s worst critic is often the person staring back in the mirror. It’s also a temptation for the artist to let in all the praise but deflect all the criticism - is that the best response or is there a better way to handle both? According to Charly, what has worked for him over the years is to get his ego out of the way. From his perspective - it all comes down to seeing yourself as a conduit of creativity - if people don’t like what you’ve created, that’s fine - if they love it and praise you for it, that’s fine too. If you truly want to create the art you were meant to create, it doesn’t matter if people love it or hate it. What do you think of Charly’s perspective?

Don’t play it safe!

Basking in the freedom that comes from setting the ego aside, Charly encourages artists to put it all on the line - don’t play it safe! I get it, taking risks is scary - what if you put your heart out there and no one responds? That’s ok - if you feel like you have something within you that needs to come out and get on the canvas - do it! Even if no one responds, that artwork is for you - you created to because you answered the call. I loved hearing Charly’s story of creating a whole series of paintings on accident - he was working in a vertical position and was putting a wash over something when he fell in love with the drips on the canvas! 

Outline of This Episode

• [4:30] I welcome my guest, Charly Palmer. 
• [12:15] How do you know a painting is done? 
• [14:50] What is Charly working on right now? 
• [18:15] Why Charly works on multiple projects at the same time. 
• [21:15] Charly talks about why he loves w

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I know that talking about race and the on-going impact of racism is a challenging subject, to say the least. Given the recent events of police brutality in the United States, I wanted to do my part to create a space where we can discuss positive solutions and really understand what our black neighbours are experiencing. Many of you are scared and unsure of what the future will bring and if anything will really change this time - I’m right there with you. But we can’t let despair cloud our vision, we need to face the problem head-on if we ever hope to see a brighter future. 

For this conversation, I invited returning guests Dean Mitchell and Mario Robinson as well as Ashanti Branch, and Corbrae Smith. If you find yourself wondering if you really need to listen to this episode - the answer is, yes! Too much energy has been spent on apathy and indifference, we need to turn it around and look for ways to help move the “Moral arc of the universe,” as Martin Luther King Jr. once called it, toward justice. 

Really listen 

When was the last time someone took the time to really listen to you and your perspective on a topic? How did you know that they listened to you? Let’s face it, talking is a lot easier to do than listening. To listen effectively, you have to be actively engaged - you need to focus on what the person is saying, not just listen long enough to get your opinion in. 

Too many of our black fellow citizens feel like America isn’t listening to their pain and their suffering - it’s on us to put our hands over our mouths and actively listen to what they have to say. What will you do this week to move more toward the posture of actively listening to those raising their voices? 

You are going to mess up, that’s OK

If you are nervous about talking about race, that’s a good start! I don’t want you all to live in fear but we should be nervous about moving into a space where we don’t have all the answers. Be prepared, as you navigate your own education on what it means to be anti-racist, that mistakes will happen and that’s OK. Resist the urge to get defensive, remember, it’s best to move forward in a posture of humility and listening. No one expects you to get everything right 100% of the time, give yourself the permission to mess up and learn along the way! 

Constructive steps you can take 

How do we move forward both individually and collectively? Will this movement be any different than movements and touchpoint cultural moments in the past? We can’t expect black people to educate the rest of the population on what it will take to dismantle systems of oppression. If we start from a place of really listening to the struggle and pain of our black neighbors, then we can begin the process of righting societal wrongs one step at a time. 

On an individual scale, each person’s journey is going to look different. If you have the ability to encourage and financially support artists of color, I hope you take that step. I want to challenge you to use one thing that many people take for granted, your right to vote. Beyond national politics, in your local elections, you have the chance to choose sheriffs, mayors, school board members, and so many more. Don’t let this moment overwhelm you and dive you to inaction, pick one thing you can do to be part of the solution and do it! 

Outline of This Episode

• [2:00] I welcome my guests, Dean Mitchell, Mario Robinson, Ashanti Branch, and Corbrae Smith. 
• [4:00] Dean Mitchell introduces himself and shares his feelings about recent events. 
• [7:00] Mario Robinson talks about his experience over the last week. 
• [9:30] Ashanti Branch shares his thoughts on what’s going in the United States. 
• [13:20] Corbrae Smith opens up about what the last week has meant for him. 
• [19

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Have you ever tried painting from memory? How did it turn out for you? Have you ever thought of a picture as a thing in and of itself rather than a memory of the image it captures? I was thrilled to get the opportunity to speak with the talented and engaging artist, Edwige Fouvry who often takes the approach of painting from memory. 

Edwige Fouvry was born in Nantes, France, in 1970, and currently lives and works in Brussels, Belgium. She received her Masters degree from École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de la Cambre in Brussels in 1996. She has exhibited widely across Europe and North America.

As you get to know Edwige in our conversation, I hope you catch the raw simplicity and dedication she has to bring not only her own imagination to life but the imaginations of others as well. You can catch images of Edwige’s artwork located at the end of this post.

Letting memory and imagination lead the way

How do you begin to paint from memory? Where would you start? For Edwige it comes down to a combination of photographs, childhood memories, and even scenes she sees in everyday life. She doesn’t choose her photographs at random, rather each image she paints comes from a place of deep connection and inspiration - the photo evokes emotion in Edwige. In many cases, a photo may hang in Edwige’s studio for years before she decides it is the right time to put that image on her canvas. 

Trusting your intuition 

Edwige’s creative approach is fascinating, at the heart of what she is able to bring to the canvas is her cultivated attentiveness to her intuition. Most of us are trained either by our culture or by well-meaning institutions to root out our intuition. We are often taught that you can’t trust what you can’t touch, feel, test, and observe. By cutting out or dulling our deep-seated drive to explore and express what we feel, we are limiting ourselves unnecessarily. It was refreshing to hear from Edwige as she enthusiastically described her comfort in her own skin and how that approach has impacted her time in the studio. What can you learn from Edwige’s perspective? 

Rooting out complexity 

Over the course of your career would you say that your artwork has become more complex or more simplified? As I’ve interviewed hundreds of artists over the years, I’ve found it fascinating how often the theme of simplicity and complexity arise. Edwige has honed her abilities over the years toward rooting out complexity and relying instead on simplicity and freedom to guide her creative process. Looking back at her years in school, Edwige is quick to point out that she wasn’t always the best student because she was intent on listening to her intuition and carving her own path. To her credit, focusing on simplicity has really worked out well for Edwige.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:30] I introduce my guest, Edwige Fouvry. 
• [3:00] How Edwige got started as an artist. 
• [6:00] Edwige describes her artwork. 
• [10:00] How does Edwige choose which photo to paint from memory? 
• [20:00] The freedom to explore and evolve over the years. 
• [23:00] Learning to trust your intuition. 
• [28:45] Edwige talks about the challenges she has faced on her journey. 
• [31:45] How Edwige spends her time in the studio. 
• [38:30] Reactions to Edwige’s artwork. 
• [41:00] Artists that have inspired Edwige. 
• [48:30] A painting that Edwige would never part with. 
• [50:00] Go where you are appreciated. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• Rembrandt
• John Singer Sargent

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When was the last time you saw a painting that really challenged you? How do you typically react to paintings that portray suffering or difficult political topic? I am grateful for the opportunity I had for a long-ranging conversation with the artist, Max Ginsburg. 

Max is a native New Yorker, many of his paintings center on people and places around New York City. Max also draws on themes of peace and justice; deep outrage to war, injustice, and torture as they are conveyed in some of his paintings. 

I can’t wait for you to learn some of the fascinating insights and lessons that Max has developed of the years - you also don’t want to miss images of Max’s paintings located at the end of this post. 

Political and painful paintings 

When I spoke with Max, I really wanted to get to the root of what energizes this passion for depicting pain, suffering, and torture in his artwork. Why paint such painful and evocative images - who wants to see these types of paintings? 

It has always been Max’s desire to bring truth and reality into his paintings - sometimes that means a peace image of a couple on a walk and sometimes that means a painting of a man being tortured in a prison in Iraq. When you are so focused on painting reality and what you experience - you are going to get a mixture of the peaceful and the painful - such is life.

Are you drawn to Max’s style and approach? What do you think of his commitment to painting reality in all its glory - good and bad? When you look at Max’s artwork, you really get the sense that his compassion and heart shine through - what can you learn from Max’s story? 

Time to teach 

Never one to shy away from a challenge - Max has not only flexed his muscles as an artist, but he also has spent time as an art instructor. Much of Max’s passion for teaching stems from the way he views the art world from a macro perspective - he feels like there isn’t enough focus on realism. It was refreshing to hear that Max wasn’t willing to see realism take a hit - he got in the trenches and decided to teach! 

Let me tell you - teaching isn’t for the faint of heart. You really have to have a passion and a well of patience to gently guide students toward the objective. I would have loved to learn from Max as a student and I hope you catch a bit of the valuable insights that he has to share! 

Paint what you see, not what you know 

Time and again through our conversation, Max kept coming back to this phrase, “Paint what you see, not what you know.” It seems like this phrase isn’t just an empty platitude that Max picked up over the years - it is more of a theme that runs through all of his work as an artist and an instructor. You can almost hear Max chanting this phrase with each stroke of the brush on canvas. Do you have any phrases you live by? What have you picked up over the years that have become part of your approach as an artist? 

Outline of This Episode

• [1:15] I introduce my guest, Max Ginsburg. 
• [2:45] Max talks about how he got started as an artist. 
• [7:00] Why museums aren’t really interested in Max’s political artwork. 
• [14:30] Painting tragedies - is it difficult? 
• [24:45] Max describes his work as an art instructor. 
• [31:00] What is Max’s creative process like? 
• [37:00] Why the value system in the art world is messed up. 
• [41:00] Strong reactions to Max’s artwork. 
• [43:00] The impact that Max wants to have on his students. 
• [46:15] How “Crutches” can sometimes help you grow as an artist. 
• [51:45] Paint what you see, not what you know. 
• [55:30] Max talks about how he approaches the canvas. 
• [58:00] Closing thoughts. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

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What subject matter do you love to paint? For you maybe it’s going outdoors and painting en plein air or to a crowded marketplace. Each artist has to find their own source of inspiration and motivation as they travel on their artistic journey - for Ricky Mujica - it’s all about family. 

Ricky is an award-winning artist whose work appears in collections all around the world including Africa, Norway, Germany, and Mexico. His paintings have been exhibited at the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, The Bennington Museum of Art, The Salmagundi Club, the Museum of American Illustration and is in the permanent collection of the Portrait Society of America.

Drawing from a wide range of artists, Ricky has forged his own creative path that is clear and distinct. While constantly honing his technical skills, Ricky also has an eye for the human experience - capturing scenes full of heart and emotion. I can’t wait for you to hear from Ricky’s unique and fascinating perspective - you might even catch a few helpful tips along the way. 

Painting power 

Who did you idolize when you were younger? Did you look up to an older sibling or maybe one of your parents? From great warriors to majestic mountains, artists throughout time have been drawn to powerful subjects. Ricky Mujica started painting scenes with mothers because he was drawn in by their power - the power to create life and sustain it. 

In our conversation, Ricky was kind enough to share a fascinating story about why he painted an image of his wife breastfeeding their child on a subway - simply put - he was in awe. Hearing from Ricky, you really get the sense that he seeks to capture the essence of the moment in his paintings. Make sure to check out the captivating images of Ricky’s artwork located at the end of this post.  

OPPA

Let’s face it, life as an artist isn’t for the faint of heart - we go through a lot! We also get the profound privilege of honing our craft and showing the world what we see through our creative eye. In the midst of these difficult times with COVID-19 - I wanted to see what insights and advice a seasoned artist like Ricky had to share for those of us going stir crazy at home. In our conversation, Ricky opened up about his painting method he calls OPPA. Before each stroke of the brush, Ricky goes through the OPPA formula. 

• Observe - Be a detective, look around for clues that will inform your painting. 
• Plan - Wait and plan your stroke - don’t go on autopilot, be deliberate. 
• Put it down - Don’t wait too long, put something down on the canvas or paper. 
• Assess - Is it right? Did you miss anything that you need to change? Take an honest look.  

As deliberate and planned out as Ricky’s approach seems, this is just the first pass. Ricky will often take a second, third and fourth pass before he is ready to continue. What can you learn from Ricky’s approach? Do you have a formula you’ve created over the years? 

Outline of This Episode

• [4:00] I welcome my guest, Ricky Mujica. 
• [8:00] Ricky t

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What comes to mind when you think of the phrase, “Taking up space?” Does your mind go to something large and inviting or intimidating and serious? Too often the idea of “Taking up space” has been reserved for negative connotations - what if we flipped the script? This week’s guest focuses a lot of her time in the studio creating large-scale oil paintings and is no stranger to the idea of “Taking up space.” 

My guest is the talented and charming artist, Teresa Oaxaca. Teresa is an American born artist based currently in Washington D.C. She is a full-time painter whose works can be seen in collections and galleries throughout the US and internationally. Teresa’s talent has been recognized and rewarded by museums and institutions such as the American Museum of the Cowboy, The former Corcoran Gallery of Art, The Art Renewal Center, The Elisabeth Greenshields Foundation, the Posey Foundation, and The Portrait Society of America and the Museu Europeu D’Art Modern in Barcelona.

I can’t wait for you to jump in and get to know Teresa - she has some powerful insights that you don’t want to miss! 

It’s OK to take up space

On your journey as an artist, you can likely recall those who have built you up and encouraged you along the way - are their voices as strong in your mind as those who were quick to critique? Let’s face it, as artists, it can feel like we have to constantly justify why we matter and why creating art is so important. While that feeling is real - you don’t have to follow it! 

Here’s the thing, you can take up space - you have a right to be here as much as anyone else does. Don’t let anyone make you feel small or make you feel like your art has to “Fit” in a certain box. One of the many reasons why I invited Teresa to join me to talk about her experience as an artist is due to her powerful and bold example. Teresa isn’t afraid to take up space with her paintings - literally - her artwork is made to “Take up space.” What can you learn from Teresa’s engaging story? Have you learned that it’s OK to take up space? 

Finding your “Voice” 

When did you find your “Voice” as an artist? Did you find it as you finished art school? Are you still looking for it? Finding your voice is one of those things that you can’t really teach - you can help, nudge, and encourage but you can’t really lead someone to find their “Voice.” 

While studying in a four-year program at the Angel Academy of Art, Teresa started to grow as an artist and as a businessperson. Before long, Teresa had found a way to sell her art and pay her tuition as she finished college. Still, through all this success, Teresa had a challenging time finding her voice - and that sounds like most of us! Success doesn’t always lead to a clear path forward and that’s OK. When advising artists who are just getting started, Teresa encourages them to avoid posting their work online or even allowing anyone to critique it - you need time to find your voice on your own!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:55] I welcome my guest, Teresa Oaxaca.
• [3:30] Getting lost in Florence. 
• [5:00] Teresa describes her artwork. 
• [8:30] What inspires Teresa? Where does she get her ideas from? 
• [12:30] How Teresa’s process has changed over the years. 
• [19:30] Finding your own “Voice.” 
• [26:15] How long do Teresa’s paintings take to complete? 
• [33:00] Teresa explains how she uses her portrait in her artwork. 
• [38:30] When and how does Teresa varnish her artwork? 
• [43:40] How did Teresa get started selling her art? 
• [49:30] Book recommendations from Teresa. 
• [54:20] Advice for artists getting started. 
• [1:00:20] Dealing with doubt. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

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What does it take to hone your visual memory skills as an artist? Can you really build a successful business by selling your artwork? Isn’t (insert any age here) too old to get started as an artist? What am I supposed to do with all this time at home caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)? 

Thankfully, my guest, Lucy Kalian was kind enough to take the time to discuss her answers to these questions and so many more. Lucy is a brilliant and talented artist who started honing her skills at 40 years old. She’s built two successful businesses and she’s an absolute joy - I can’t wait for you to get to know Lucy and her fascinating perspective on a wide range of topics! 

Building your visual memory 

What comes to mind when you hear the term, “Visual memory?” 

Visual memory is the ability to remember or recall information such as activities, pictures or words that have been viewed in the past. 

Is your visual memory game strong or could it use some strengthening? Like all muscles, if you want to increase your capacity, you need to exercise! Over many years of practice both in the studio and in her everyday life, Lucy has managed to hone her visual memory skills like a precision laser. According to Lucy, the secret to her success is nurturing curiosity and taking the time to study the world around you. 

Delegating and working smarter 

You’ve heard the old phrase, “Work smarter, not harder!” 

While it might sound like a phrase that works best in the board room the truth is, it applies to businesses big and small. When it comes to the growth of your business as an artist, you are the bottleneck. You can’t do all of the things, all of the time if you want to grow - sooner or later, you are going to need some help. If you can handle the business side of things, great! If you can’t, no problem - just find someone to help you in that critical area. Do yourself a favor and learn from Lucy’s inspiring story of delegation, growth, and success!

There is no substitute for time in the saddle 

Do you ever find yourself wondering what it will take to unlock the potential you know you have within you? What do you feel like you are missing in your art career? While many artists find themselves looking for that one key tip or insight that will help them flip the switch, the hard reality is, “There is no substitute for time in the saddle.” Speaking with Lucy the message is clear, she is a firm believer in putting in the time and honing your craft. Don’t lull yourself into a false sense of complacency - keep striving!

Lucy’s creativity challenge

I wanted to try something a little different and I thought that now, while we are all stuck at home doing our part to “Flaten the curve” that it would be a good time to introduce it. I asked Lucy to take a minute and think of a creative challenge she could offer our community. 

Lucy’s challenge: 

Even when you can’t sit down to produce a finished piece of art - don’t put all that pressure on yourself. Use all of your observational skills all of the time. Really look at things. Something happens when you give yourself permission to think outside of the box and use your imagination. Wherever you are, take a minute to really look and think about how you would mix that color or arrange that composition. What do you have to lose? 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:50] I introduce my guest, Lucy Kalian. 
• [2:40] Lucy talks about how she got started as an artist. 
• [6:30] What age is too late to become an artist? 
• [8:00] It’s not about the money. 
• [13:20] Lucy describes her artwork. 
• [20:00] The power of visual memory. 
• [25:00] Delegating responsibilities and freeing up more time for your art. 
• [36:00] Defeating the inner critic. 
• [41:45] How Lucy d

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What type of magic happens in the artist’s studio? Is there some special formula that “Successful” artists use that helps them maximize their creativity and studio time? 

I wanted to take this opportunity to explore this critical topic with the vast spectrum of artists we have represented in the Savvy Painter community. From all over the country and the world, artists like you have shared their struggles, successes, and helpful tips when it comes to making the most of their time at the canvas. 

Make sure you have a pen and paper close by, you don’t want to miss a minute of this powerful exploration of the artist’s studio! 

Recognizing when resistance shows up

Let’s face it, at some point in your career, you’ll face resistance. I focused a whole episode dedicated to this important topic: How to Beat Resistance (Advice for Painters)

“If you’ve read Steven Pressfield’s book, the War of Art, you’re familiar with Resistance. Even if you have not read his book, I’ll wager you are familiar with Resistance, you just didn’t know it had a name, a proper name with a capital “R.” It’s real. It’s powerful. It’s a sneaky little bastard who’s not always easy to spot.

Pressfield uses a lot of war analogies in his descriptions of Resistance, and he’s right to do so because it’s serious business. Resistance is at war with you, it can destroy you. Resistance wants to take you out, so I do see Resistance as an enemy. If I let him have his way, I’d stop showing up for you. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere – I want to help artists like you find your way to beat Resistance and do the work that matters most to you!”

After that episode, I heard from a ton of artists like you who were eager to share similar challenges and helpful strategies they’ve deployed to help them beat Resistance in their lives. As I stressed on that episode, the first step to beating Resistance is recognizing how it shows up - and for many of you, Resistance shows up before you even step into the studio. From surges of anxiety to even building a physical wall of objects that prevent you from getting your studio, we all face Resistance differently. 

The one thing that will help you combat Resistance in your personal and professional life is by setting an intention, it doesn’t have to be big but it does have to move you in the right direction. What have you found work for you as you combat Resistance in your career? 

The artist’s studio, sanctuary or soul-crushing? 

When you think of your studio, do you consider it a sanctuary or somewhere that is fraught with pain and anxiety? To say it another way, do you have a healthy relationship with your studio right now or is it a bit more complicated? 

Cody, an artist from Indianapolis, described his studio space as a “Refuge where stressful things can sometimes happen.” This description speaks to the struggle of facing deadlines or starting shakily on a new project but that it always happens in the confines of a creative space.

Remember, your space is your own. There is no “right way” to set up your studio - if it works for you and spurs your creativity then go with it! 

My challenge to you 

If you find yourself struggling to create the artist’s studio you’ve always dreamed about, here are some helpful tips from me and other fellow artists. 

I challenge you to re-frame your thoughts when you think about your studio. Don’t let your thoughts automatically go to the stressful or frustrating aspects of your task at hand, instead think of what you get to do in your creative space. 

A helpful practice I’ve picked up over the years is to center myself as I cross the threshold into my studio. When I cross that physical th

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When you approach the canvas do you find yourself trying to tell a story with your artwork? Do you think you are telling a story with your art whether you like it or not? Here to explore these questions and many more is my guest and fellow artist, Rob Rey. 

Rob’s artwork is often inspired by his interests in both natural sciences like astronomy and physics as well as social sciences like psychology and sociology. These interests commonly influence his work, as do a multitude of inspiring artists from classical art to golden age illustration and contemporary representational art.

In our conversation, you’ll hear how Rob approaches his creative process, what he has learned from his career over the years, which artists have made the most impact on him, and so much more. I can’t wait for artists like you to learn from Rob’s fascinating journey!

Telling a story

Have you ever watched a scene in a movie that said a thousand words without using a single line of dialogue? What about an instrumental song that evokes feelings of joy or dread without using any words? From paintings and sculptures to music and movies, artists have been using their medium to tell stories since the beginning of time. What are the resonant, positive, and awe-inspiring stories of today? How can our expanding scientific knowledge drive our enchantment with the natural world and grow our empathic interests toward our fellow humans? Exploring these questions visually, Rob Rey hopes to promote or create the stories that best help us to achieve these goals. Make sure to check out images of Rob’s artwork located at the end of this post. 

Chaos vs. Order

Do you ever find yourself struggling with the tension between chaos and order on your creative journey? What do you do to cut through all of the noise and focus on what really matters? According to Rob Rey, he found a good balance between chaos and order in his artwork through trial and error. After years of practice and persistence, Rob feels like he has a good handle on the balancing act required to navigate chaos and order. What do you think of Rob’s response? What has worked well for you on your creative journey?

Advice for fellow artists

Listening to Rob describe his approach to the creative process and how stories have captured his imagination gets me thinking about what I love about my life as an artist. If you’ve been around the Savvy Painter community for very long, you know that I am always looking for ways to improve as an artist and I hope you never stop learning either. I wanted to get Rob’s take on what advice he would pass on to fellow artists. Rob is a huge fan of taking time to practice your craft - log in the hours! Let’s face it, the only way to learn how to avoid making the same mistakes is by practicing a new approach. What can you learn from Rob’s story? 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:40] I introduce my guest, Rob Rey.
• [2:30] What led Rob to his career as an artist? 
• [6:15] Rob talks about his interest in stories and storytelling. 
• [13:15] Telling a story with an image. 
• [15:30] Resolving chaos vs. order. 
• [20:00] Rob talks about reactions to his artwork. 
• [31:15] Rob’s dream project. 
• [38:00] Relating science to our daily lives. 
• [40:00] Rob opens up about his creative process. 
• [49:00] Advice for fellow artists. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• John William Waterhouse
• Alphonse Mucha
• J. C. Leyendecker

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Webster’s Dictionary defines Resistance as, “an act or instance of resisting: opposition. b: a means of resisting. 2: the power or capacity to resist.” 

What comes to mind when you think about resistance? Do you start thinking about all the things that are giving your resistance in your life? Do you have a resistant family member? What about that project that keeps giving you a headache? Imagine what it would be like to clearly identify and manage the resistance you face both personally and professionally. I’d like you to join me as I share some insights about my journey with resistance and some tips I’ve picked up along the way. If you are ready to make 2020 a more productive year - you’ll want to pay close attention! 

Identifying resistance 

I first learned about resistance when I read Steven Pressfield’s book, “The War of Art” in 2005. Before then, I had a hard time understanding why painting, writing, or any other creative endeavor was so hard. 

Since then, I’ve re-read that book at least once every single year. Each time I read it, I have a different insight. If you’ve read Steven Pressfield’s book, the War of Art, you’re familiar with resistance. Even if you have not read his book, I’ll wager you are familiar with resistance, you just didn’t know it had a name, a proper name with a capital “R.” It’s real. It’s powerful. It’s a sneaky little bastard who’s not always easy to spot.

Pressfield uses a lot of war analogies in his descriptions of Resistance, and he’s right to do so because it’s serious business. Resistance is at war with you, it can destroy you. Resistance wants to take you out, so I do see Resistance as an enemy. If I let him have his way, I’d stop showing up for you. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere - I want to help artists like you kick this jerk to the curb!

Antrese’s rules for overcoming resistance 

Resistance will encourage you to overthink, over analyze and over research to the point that your mind is so filled with data, you’re immobilized. I am the queen of overthinking and self-inflicted analysis paralysis. Since I know that is my tendency, I’m learning to make action my default. Over the years, I found a few helpful ways to combat and even overcome Resistance’s influence in my life.

Here are a few rules I’ve made for myself, in time I may adjust them but for now, they’re working for me:

• Given the choice between consuming and making, I will always choose making.
• I can only research for 20 minutes at a time.
• After I research I ALWAYS take action. That means if I’m researching a technique, I can only spend 20 minutes before I try the technique.
• I only need to know enough to take my next step. Most of the time, that baby step is enough to get me going.

So there are a few examples of rules I have created for myself and I’d like to challenge you to make your own. You may not be prone to analysis paralysis, but you’re prone to something, and Resistance will find it and use it against you. Take the time to identify Resistance’s power in your life and plot steps to mitigate and even remove its power. Trust me, I know it’s hard work but it’s worth it! 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:01] My introduction to this episode. 
• [3:00] Some awesome feedback from artists like you! 
• [5:00] Let other people inspire you. 
• [7:00] How resistance shows up in my life.
• [9:30] Helpful rules that I’ve come up with to combat resistance. 
• [12:30] Using resistance to your advantage. 
• [17:30] How artists like you are dealing with resistance. 
• [21:00] Closing thoughts and helpful tips. 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• Steven Pressfield - The War of Art

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As you look at your career as an artist, do you notice how much you’ve grown and changed over the years? What led to the big moments of growth and change for you? It was a joy to sit down with my guest and fellow artist, Shana Levenson. In our conversation, Shana opens up about her experience as an art instructor, how her children have influenced her art, how she’s grown over the years, and much more. I know that artists like you will get a lot out of Shana’s helpful and unique perspective! 

Empowering others

Who was it that helped you along in your growth as an artist? Did you have a family member who took special interest in your creative development? Were others in your family supportive of your creative and artistic pursuits? Following in her brother’s footsteps, Shana Levenson had wanted to pursue a career as an artist from a young age. As she slowly carved out time to go to art school over the years - Shana fell in love not only with art but also with teaching. Shana got into teaching as a necessity but found that she really enjoys empowering others as they develop creatively. 

Parenting and painting 

As she finished her Master’s degree, Shana was also dealing with the end of her marriage. Not only did Shana have to navigate the challenges of life as an artist, but she also had to figure out parenting and life as a single mother. Juggling both parenting and painting wasn’t easy for Shana - especially when her ex-husband said that she could not continue using their children in her artwork. I couldn’t imagine facing the challenges that Shana has faced as an artist and a parent - I hope artists who navigate both find Shana’s story inspiring!

Dealing with criticism 

How do you respond to criticism and critique? Let’s face it, criticism and less than positive feedback are the worst part of putting something out there for the public to consume. In spite of the challenge that facing criticism can cause - doing so confidently is a key area of growth for most artists. Shana is the first to admit that she has had to strengthen her muscles over the years when it comes to dealing with criticism. Don’t assume that criticism won’t come - it will! You need to decide right now, how you plan to respond when negative feedback comes your way. What can you learn from Shana’s story? 

Push yourself

Do you have a habit of pushing yourself creatively? Does a new challenge thrill and excite you or do you find yourself running in the opposite direction? As I got to know Shana over the course of our conversation, I really wanted to get to the heart of what makes her tick. Considering my question about her positive habits, Shana was quick to point out the fact that she loves to push herself beyond her limits. A good example of Shana’s desire to push herself is her desire to work with lace in her paintings - something she had never done before. You can find images of Shana’s artwork located in the resources section at the end of this post. 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:40] I introduce my guest, Shana Levenson. 
• [9:00] Shana talks about her experience as a teacher. 
• [13:00] How Shana’s art changed after her divorce. 
• [19:00] Pushing through difficulty and finding a new way forward. 
• [23:00] Dealing with rejection. 
• [28:00] Shana’s criteria for entering art competitions. 
• [32:30] Negative and positive reactions to Shana’s artwork. 
• [38:45] Shana talks about pushing herself beyond her limits. 
• [49:00] How does Shana approach the canvas? 
• [55:30] Closing thoughts. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• Pablo Picasso

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If you are anything like me, you find yourself fighting back the feeling of overwhelm from time to time. What do you usually do when you start to feel overwhelmed? How do you cut through the usual complexity that life brings and find clarity? As we start the New Year, I wanted to take some time to go over some helpful tools and insights that I've gained over the years through experience and learning from my peers. I hope that artists like you will find something of value as I share some useful practices and lessons that I've gathered over the years. 

Beginning with the end in mind 

If you want to start finding clarity in your life, it can be helpful to begin with, the end in mind. Too often, people get overwhelmed with the idea of significant change that they give up before they get started. To make big change more manageable, try breaking it down. 

Author Annie Dillard once wrote, "How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one is what we are doing. A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days."

How do you want your year to look? Why not set some goals and start to work your way backward from there? If you're going to make a trip to another country, start planning out what you need to do each day, week, and month leading up to the trip. What works for trips can work for your art projects as well! 

Say no to the right things

One of the hardest lessons that I've had to learn over the years is to disappoint the right people and to say "No" to the right things. Let's face it, you can't make everyone happy, and you can't do all of the things! Part of ordering your life and your career is learning how to prioritize your time, energy, and relationships. You may want to take every opportunity that comes your way, but the truth is, that is not sustainable. If you're going to keep a healthy work-life balance, you need to decide on your priorities and stick to them. 

Take action! 

One of the worst aspects of getting overwhelmed can be finding yourself frozen with inaction. How do you react when you feel overwhelmed? If you want to make some positive changes in your life, you need to start somewhere. Even if you need to make a small step toward change, take it! I challenge you to write down the one thing that you will do today that will make you feel accomplished. Here are a few examples that you can use: 

• Knock out a small painting like an 8x10 or even a 3x5. 
• Set your studio up for tomorrow, so you are ready to go. 
• Open your sketchbook up and sketch for just 15 minutes. 
• Prepare canvases for the weekend, so you are ready to paint. 
• Choose one small section of that large painting that you will resolve today. 
• Write that email that you've been avoiding. 
• Make that decision that you've been agonizing over. 

These examples are just intended to get you started. Pick an action step that makes sense for you - but don't put it off!

Outline of This Episode

• [2:30] I give a shoutout to a few listeners. 
• [6:40] Why you need to figure out your life design. 
• [9:00] Where are your priorities? 
• [11:30] I describe my ideal day. 
• [19:20] Finding clarity and focus. 
• [22:00] Saying “No” to the right things. 
• [24:00] Action steps you can take today!
• [26:00] Closing thoughts.

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• www.savvypainter.com/faso

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook

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It is difficult to honestly talk about the most painful places of life - the times when cannot avoid facing our mortality or need to come to grips with our value as human beings. But in this conversation, Erin McGee Ferrell spoke about those issues with such ease that I was grateful. The ease with which she deals with those subjects is a testament to the healthy way in which she's faced those issues herself.

Erin lit up my day with what she shared and the way she shared it, and I know that you’ll be inspired and encouraged as well. A few jewels you can look forward to from this episode:

• Erin’s current studio: in a church rectory, overlooking a cemetery
• How Erin got involved in healthcare-related work - and the difference she’s making
• The relationship of art to the deeper things we all experience in life
• A South American experience where Erin discovered a culture losing its artistic history
• How Erin’s art serves as her personal diary

Creativity poured out when Erin faced her mortality

Amazingly, as Erin and I recorded this conversation she had just passed the 1-year anniversary to the discovery that she had breast cancer. Throughout that year she had experienced all the emotions and procedures you might imagine and many that you can only know if you’ve been in those shoes.

She says that the experiences of the last year pushed her to a new place of expression, a place where she had to release the thoughts and feelings that were bubbling to the surface from the deepest places in her soul. She wrote bad poetry in the middle of the night and she created art related to the things she was experiencing.

She says…

“When you tap into those really deep places of facing your death - stuff just has to bubble up. When you go that deep, you hit something and it has to bubble out of it.”

A research project that proves the power of art on cancer patients

Even before her own experience battling cancer Erin was deeply interested in the impact art could have on those fighting life-threatening diseases. She was awarded a research grant from the state of Maine to do an 8-week study which was called, “The Effects of a Live Painter in a Chemotherapy Treatment Facility.” The project was designed to provide exactly what the name implies - and measure the results.

With the help of a friend who is a Social Psychologist, they conducted the study and published their findings in the Journal for Oncology Nursing. What did they discover? There were four primary findings...

1. The presence of the artist lowers anxiety
2. It changes the feeling of the environment
3. It creates a spontaneous community among the patients
4. As a side-benefit: the project lessened the degree of compassion fatigue experienced by the nurses

Clearly, art and the creation of it matters in life and death contexts, making not just the experience of those undergoing treatment better but also helping those who care for them to provide even better care.

Art is about the human soul - and we don’t touch it as much as we need to 

Perhaps one of the most powerful points Erin makes has to do with the greater function art has in relationship to the human soul. In her mind, art helps us touch the parts of ourselves that are the most important, give them expression, and benefit others in the process.

Art provides a vehicle through which to express things like fear, loneliness, mortality, hopes, and dreams - and to process those things through our expression. Erin sees our honest connection to those parts of ourselves as being vital to health and our growth as human beings. 

In all of that, Erin sees herself being a “seed slinger” - a person who tosses things out without a lot of planning but with the hopes that they will

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Do you ever find yourself wondering why you feel like a square peg forced into a round hole when it comes to following art “Rules?” Is there something wrong with you, the system, gatekeepers, or all the above? I was thrilled to sit down and discuss this topic and much more with my friend, Michael McCaffrey. In our conversation, we also touch on his work inspired by his father, the difference between figurative and abstract work, why putting in time matters, and so much more. I can’t wait for you to learn from Michael’s fascinating perceptive and expertise! 

Follow the “Rules” or forge your own path? 

Are you a rule follower or a rule breaker? Most people who see that question will automatically know which category they fall in. Have you always been on one side of that question, or have you shifted over time? For Michael McCaffrey - permission to break from certain art “Rules” evolved. Practically, Michael had to change is approach to painting his father because he simply wouldn’t sit still for portraits. Even when he took photos of his father and brought them to the canvas for a reference point - Michael still had to give himself permission to push the boundaries and create his own set of “Rules.” 

A unique take on the familiar 

When I first visited Michael’s website, I was like a kid in a candy shop, seriously! Taking a look around at all the different subjects and perspectives he paints is truly inspiring. Most notably, I wanted to hone in on Michael’s work with his father. Michael and I both have parents in their 80’s, and I was curious to hear how Michael’s experience has been spending time and incorporating his father into his artwork. As he observed his father in his home of nearly 40 years, Michael started to notice how his father would pay particular interest and care to one part of his home while neglecting other parts for years. Make sure to check out the images of Michael’s work located at the end of this post - I know you’ll find it as fascinating as I did! 

Putting in the time

If you’ve been around the Savvy Painter community for very long, you know that one of the big mantras that we often hear from seasoned artists like Michael is to put in the time at your canvas. It’s tempting to succumb to apathy or indifference, but the truth is, nothing can get you out of a funk quite like time in your studio. It’s also in the studio where you begin to refine and hone your skills as an artist - you can’t microwave skill and success. Think of your time growing and developing as an artist like slow cooking a good meal - you have to give time for those flavors to work together! 

Tearing it down and building it up again 

While Michael is quick to point out the “Rules” that don’t work for him as an artist - he’s also quick to explain that tearing down inevitably leads to building something in its place. Facing the institutional challenges and personal struggles of life as an artist isn’t easy, but don’t forget that there is a community of peers who can help spur you along. Michael found that through the process of tearing down rules, ideas, or even his own artwork, there was a kind of freedom to reinvent and breath new life into his artwork. What do you think of Michael’s perspective? 

Outline of This Episode

• [0:30] I introduce my guest, Michael McCaffrey. 
• [3:00] Michael describes his work. 
• [6:40] Working from photographs and memories. 
• [12:00] Michael explains how his concepts develop from his time with his father. 
• [17:00] Bucking against the “Rules.” 
• [26:30] Abstract vs. figurative work. 
• [32:30] Putting in the time. 
• [37:40] Why Michael likes the idea of deconstruction and reconstruction. 
• [44:30] Change is growth. 
• [48:20] Art that Michael would love to own. 

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Can you think back to a point in your career where you started to appreciate the transformative power of art? Maybe for you, it was the first time you went to an art museum or that one art class that opened your eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. From early childhood experiences to forging his own path in the art world - my guest, Dean Mitchell, came prepared to explore the whole spectrum in our wide-ranging conversation. I know that artists like you will really appreciate Dean’s valuable and seasoned perspective!

Early influences matter

As you look back on your start as an artist, was there an individual who encouraged you along the way? How did your early influences shape your journey as an artist? For Dean Mitchell, two key influences changed the course of his career and his life. The crucial first influence for Dean was his grandmother - not only did she raise Dean, but she also encouraged and empowered him on his journey to becoming an artist. The other key influence for Dean was his junior high school art teacher who wouldn’t let him drop out of art competitions. While we often shrug off these early influences in our lives, the truth is, they matter more than we care to give them credit for!

How art can make you feel

One of the most amazing aspects of art is the ability to evoke an emotional reaction out of the viewer. From sculptures that draw you closer to watercolors that transport you to another place entirely - art has the power to take you on a deep and personal journey. In our conversation, Dean was kind enough to open up about what he hopes to accomplish with his art. Beyond painting what most people want to see, Dean has been able to position his career in a way where he can challenge people with his art in ways they never thought possible. When was the last time artwork on an emotional level moved you?

Taking risks

Dean Mitchell will be the first person to tell you that the road hasn’t been an easy one throughout his career. From growing up poor and isolated from many of the opportunities, his peers outside of the south had to institutional roadblocks that are all too real for many black artists - Dean knew he was in for a challenge. To overcome these challenges, Dean needed to take some risks that most people would shy away from. Facing rejection and defeat at an early age would crush most budding artists, but Dean was determined that all these risks would eventually pay off - and he was right!

Looking beyond social constructs

What hope do you have for our society? Do you think things are getting better or are they getting worse? Let’s face it - headlines and news stories often push and pull us toward confirming our biases and keeping our culture compartmentalized. Imagine what it would look like if we started peeling away and tearing down harmful social constructs like the idea that one group of people is inherently superior to others. Dean Mitchell is convinced that art exists to play a definitive role in growing our imaginations and our expectations of how the world should work. What can you learn from Dean’s fascinating perspective? I hope you enjoyed getting a peek inside the mind of this talented and renowned artist!

Outline of This Episode

• [2:15] I introduce my guest, Dean Mitchell.
• [4:20] Dean talks about what led him to his career as an artist.
• [10:50] Family dynamics and growing up poor in Flordia.
• [17:00] The value of early childhood art education.
• [26:50] Beauty in the midst of pain.
• [31:30] How art can bring hope.
• [38:00] Going to college and taking risks.
• [45:30] Dean explains how he became financially stable.
• [57:00] An insight into the mindset of many art collectors.
• [59:20] Dean opens up about his experience entering art competitions.

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When was the last time you found yourself moved deep in the core of your being by a work of art or natural beauty? As an artist, you can appreciate the power that we have to draw on people’s perceptions and emotions. It was a pleasure to speak with the talented Nashville based landscape artist, Adam Hall. In our conversation, Adam was kind enough to open up about his connection to the ocean, how his time working in the music industry influenced his artwork, challenges he has faced along the way, and much more. You’ll want to pay close attention, Adam has some helpful insights and suggestions for fellow artists and parents. 

Disaster and opportunity 

Do you remember that moment when you realized that you needed to commit yourself to become an artist? Was it a decision to go to art school? Or did you find yourself slowly realizing that you needed to start drawing out your creative side? For Adam hall, the turning point in his career came when he went with his musician friends to volunteer for the Red Cross.

In the wake of a massive tornado storm that impacted the Nashville area, Adam and his friends decided that they wanted to help the situation. In a twist of fate, Adam and his friends found themselves at the home of renowned Nashville artist, David Wright. Seizing on the opportunity, Adam peppered David with questions and sought his advice on how to move forward in his budding career as an artist. 

Overwhelmed

Fast-forward many years later, and you’ll find Adam thriving as a landscape artist in the Nashville area. Adam’s journey hasn’t always been an easy one; he has experienced his fair share of stress, creative struggles, and moments of overwhelm. Do you think that feeling overwhelmed could ever be a good thing? What if you could draw on the enormity and scale of an image or scene that was so powerful that it elicited an emotional response? 

When Adam was faced with a particularly busy season of his life, he found himself going for an early run one morning. His mind was weighed down by the stress and frantic energy that seemed endless. Reaching the end of his run at the beach - Adam was moved to tears as the sun crested over the horizon. At that moment at the ocean, Adam experienced something that transcended all the chaos in his mind - it was almost like hitting the reset button. In Adam’s experience, feeling overwhelmed can lead to a positive outcome. 

Navigating parenthood as an artist 

I love to take the opportunity to explore the insights and lessons that my fellow artists have for their peers who also happen to be parents. Having explored this facet of life with many of my guests over the years, it never ceases to surprise me that while there are many similarities, everyone has their own unique take on parenting as an artist. For Adam and his wife, they found that their creative and professional lives thrived when they were able to plan and schedule their time effectively. Instead of a combative and haphazard approach to parenting - Adam and his wife were committed to carving time to their creative pursuits. What can you learn from Adam’s story?

Outline of This Episode

• [0:55] I welcome my guest, Adam Hall. 
• [3:00] Adam talks about how he got his start as an artist. 
• [14:00] How has Adam’s approach to the canvas changed over the years? 
• [16:00] Artists who have influenced Adam. 
• [20:00] Adam talks about his connection to the ocean. 
• [26:45] How does Adam describe his style and artistic approach? 
• [31:20] Adam shares his routine and studio practices. 
• [35:00] How has Adam navigated life as a parent and an artist? 
• [40:00] Building relationships and networking. 
• [48:00] Refusing to take no for an answer. 
• [51:15] Adam talks about the challenges he has faced along th

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Normally when I do these question and answer episodes, I get anywhere from 20 to 30 questions to ask my guest - for this topic - the questions numbered in the 100’s! Thankfully, Jake Hawley from Picture Salon was willing to take time out of his schedule to answer many of your questions here on the podcast. In our conversation, Jake touches on file sizes, how to take the best pictures of your art, tips for pricing your fine art prints, and much more. If you’ve ever considered selling prints of your artwork - this is the episode for you! 

Should I buy a large format printer? 

Finding a good print shop to work with can be difficult, and you may be tempted to invest in a large format printer to take care of it all yourself. While buying a large format printer might work for some artists, the truth is - unless you are planning on using the printer regularly - it’s a poor investment. Instead, consider taking the time to research and explore some of the print shops in your area or even using a service like Picture Salon.

How to get the best lighting

One of the challenges of getting good fine art prints is taking a high-quality picture of your artwork. Many artists think that snapping a photo on their iPhone will suffice - unfortunately, there are many additional factors to take into consideration. Jake encourages artists like you to use a tripod when taking a photo of your artwork; he also stresses the value of paying close attention to your lighting and how it impacts the image. Ultimately, if possible, Jake suggests connecting with a professional photographer who has experience photographing fine art for reproduction. 

Materials matter

Did you know that the material you choose to have your art printed on can make all the difference? It’s true! In our conversation, Jake’s answers to various material questions took us on a tour of papers, metals, and more. I’ve had first-hand experience working with Jake and his team while I agonized over which type of paper I wanted to use when printing my art. If you are wondering what type of paper to use with your art - consider giving Jake a call. At Picture Salon, they’ll help you figure out what paper works best with your art and they’ll even send you some free samples. 

Tips for setting a price on fine art prints

If I had one, I had a dozen questions about pricing fine art prints. I get it, putting a number on your art can be challenging - especially when it comes to prints of your artwork. In our conversation, Jake was kind enough to share several tips on accurately pricing your fine art prints. Jake suggests pricing a print between 3 and 5 times the cost it took to produce the print. Make sure to factor into your price the time the original took you to create as well as the time it took to get the captures. Follow up with Jake and his team at Picture Salon to get more helpful information like this!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:50] I welcome my guest, Jake Hawley. 
• [2:00] What do I need to know about setting up a print shop on my website? 
• [5:40] Should I buy a large format printer or just use a print shop? 
• [8:40] What are the minimum requirements for a photograph of a painting for reproduction?
• [15:00] Is there a difference between flat color images and something that is more textured when it comes to file sizes? 
• [19:45] I share a story about trying to ship some of my paintings. 
• [26:45] Dealing with an under-exposed print. 
• [30:10] Why it’s a good idea to get paper samples before printing. 
• [34:50] Why lighting is so important when photographing artwork. 
• [43:30] What is the best way to take a picture of a painting with a glossy finish? 
• [52:50] How large should my photo capture be? What about file sizes? 
• [56:40] What doe

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As an artist, one of the hardest things you can do is to push past your limits and dive right into exploring creativity. Do you find pushing the boundaries of your abilities exciting or nerve-racking? My guest, Andy J. Pizza, is ready to explore this question and a whole lot more. In our conversation, Andy opens up about his creative journey, what it’s like to embrace his ADHD, the challenge of copyright laws, and more. I know artists like you will get a ton of value from Andy’s valuable and unique perspective!

Helping others

Why in the world would someone start a podcast? I get that question a lot! While every podcaster will have their own unique spin on this question - I wanted to hear from Andy J. Pizza. According to Andy, the reason he started his podcast was to help more creative people like him! Too often, Andy saw podcasts and books written by creatives who looked a certain way and acted a certain way, but no one quite like him. Banking on the fact that there were others out there who wanted a fresh take on the creative journey - Andy launched his podcast, Creative Pep Talk. Make sure to listen to Andy’s podcast; you can find the link in the resources section at the end of this post.

Let your freak flag fly!

Have you ever felt like you were a square peg that was forced to fit into a round hole? That’s what Andy felt all those years as a creative who couldn’t quite fit in. After years of introspection and reflection, Andy finally concluded that he shouldn’t minimize what set him apart from others but that he should embrace it. How do you feel about Andy’s take? Are you ready to take on the challenge and let your freak flag fly high, or are you more comfortable playing it safe? Let’s face it; we need both bold leaders and pragmatic individuals who are ready to put in the work - which one sounds more like you?

Finding the right pace

I am so honored to get amazing questions and comments every day from artists like you - some just want to ask a simple technical question, and others want to dive right in with challenging ones. Over the years, I’ve learned a healthy balance between my work on this podcast and my own artwork. Have you found the right balance in your career? Andy encourages artists like you to jump at every opportunity you can get when you are young and inexperienced. He also urges more seasoned artists to slow down and find the right pace as they become more experienced in their careers. What do you think of Andy’s advice?

Know thy self

What is at the heart of your desire to create? Do you love to push the boundaries of your abilities, or do you simply enjoy the process? Maybe for you, it’s the ability to go at your own pace and follow your own inspiration that draws you to your work as an artist. Whatever your unique offering to the world is - discover it and embrace it! You are the only you that has ever been made - the world needs your voice and your creativity. Don’t be content to sit on the sidelines, learn from Andy’s helpful advice, and leverage your unique abilities to make the world just a little bit brighter.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:45] I introduce my guest, Andy J. Pizza.
• [2:30] Andy shares his background and why he started his podcast.
• [12:30] I share a personal story about my family.
• [15:00] The real story behind ADHD according to Andy.
• [19:20] Andy talks about the impact his father has had on him.
• [22:50] Let your freak flag fly!
• [27:40] Andy and I talk about copyright laws.
• [46:00] Should you take that opportunity or let it pass by?
• [56:00] What to do when the opportunities start to slow down.
• [58:40] A missed opportunity.
• [1:01:30] Why masterminds and coaches ROCK.
• [1:05:45] Understanding how you tick.
• [1:13:30] Clos

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Do you ever find yourself fascinated by the stories of artists who paint from sketch drawings? What do those artists look for when they sketch? How do they remember the right colors or where the light was coming from? Hoping to get some answers to these questions and a whole lot more, I was pleased to sit down with the artist, Tom Hughes. In our conversation, Tom opens up about how he found his path as an artist, what it was like working for the Christian Science Monitor, and more. I can’t wait for you all to get a peek into the world of Tom Hughes! 

Hearing the call

Can you remember that moment when you decided you wanted to pursue your career as an artist? Or maybe for you, the draw to an art career was more of a gradual revelation. Slow or sudden, each artist has their own version of realizing their unique path as an artist. For Tom Hughes, the decision to embrace life as an artist was more along the lines of answering a “Calling.” If you are religious, spiritual, something in between, or nothing at all, I’m sure you can relate to what Tom talks about when he describes his draw to art as a “Calling.” For some reason, I’ve found that language to resonate with many artists, does it resonate with you? 

Picking up skills along the way 

As you’ve grown as an artist over the years, do you attribute it to practice or learning new skills along the way? While some artists love to explore new methods and push the limits, others like to hunker down and become proficient at one particular approach. Tom Hughes did not receive formal art training at a university for college; he took the route that included self-education. As you can imagine, Tom’s journey hasn’t always been easy. He has had significant moments of confidence, like his time at the Christian Science Monitor, and he’s had periods where he had to take a break and step away. 

Finding the right process

Through all of the highs and lows of Tom’s career, the one constant that gets to the heart of Tom’s career is his willingness to adapt and discover the right process. Rarely do artists get described as process-oriented. We artists often get painted with a broad stroke and labelled as flighty, inconsistent, and emotional, just to name a few! Tom worked hard for years to hone in on the process that would work best for him. One of the ways Tom likes to work is by sketching his subjects before he goes to the canvas. Are you drawn to a more process-focused approach in your art? 

It’s OK to change over time

I am still blown away when I look back to the start of this fledgeling little podcast and the few friends I knew who would listen to see the massive following we enjoy today - it’s incredible! There are a few elements from those early episodes that you’ll still notice as part of the podcast today, but there have been many changes. If you don’t learn and adapt over time, what is the point? Too often, I find my fellow artists are more adverse to change and evolution then I had expected. We are the ones who get the opportunity to push the envelope and help the public look deeper - it’s OK to change over time!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:50] I introduce my guest, Tom Hughes. 
• [2:20] How Tom got started as an artist. 
• [9:00] Skills that Tom picked up and learned along the way. 
• [14:00] Tom’s studio process. 
• [19:00] Diving into the details of Tom’s sketching sessions. 
• [26:40] Tom’s process when it comes to plein air painting. 
• [34:15] What is Tom’s color pallet like? 
• [40:00] How we change as artists over time. 
• [46:20] Tom’s struggle with watercolours. 
• [50:20] Why I love watercolours and life as an artist. 
• [1:00:00] Have tolerance for your bad paintings! 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

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When was the last time you really took a moment to slow down and notice your surroundings? Do you find that you are easily distracted by your cell phone notifications or the million other things demanding your attention? You aren’t alone! I’ve struggled with managing my distractions for years, so I was thrilled to hear my guest, Michelle Dunaway address this critical topic. In our conversation, we also discuss Michelle’s oil painting, her recent arm injury, how to be honest with yourself, and much more. I know that artists like you will get a ton of value from Michelle’s thoughtful perspective, enjoy! 

Space to daydream and wonder

What was your childhood like? Did you have a ton of expectations placed on you from an early age or were you free to find your own path? While many parents have nothing but the best of intentions - the truth is - a carefree childhood can quickly get pushed to the wayside. Thankfully, Michelle was given permission and encouragement to explore her creativity. Looking back, she is especially fond of the moments where she would get lost in a daydream or playing in a field. Michelle also points to a critical influence in her life, Richard Schmidt - he also took time to invest in Michelle and encourage her abilities both professionally and as a peer.

An unexpected injury 

Don’t you hate it when life throws you a huge curveball that you never saw coming? Maybe for you, it was an unexpected expense like a car repair or the illness of a loved one, or maybe your story is a lot like Michelle’s and you’ve experienced a personal injury that you have to overcome. After recovering from a misstep that caused an injury to her arm, Michelle started to get back into the swing of things. Before long, she realized that she wasn’t able to put in the hours painting as she had before the accident. It turns out that Michelle had re-injured her arm and now has to undergo surgery and an extensive recovery process. 

Managing distractions 

The experience with her arm injury highlighted an important aspect that Michelle had been working to focus on for years - managing distractions. From her cellphone to the news and everything in between - Michelle’s life felt like it was full of distractions. As a spiritual person, Michelle looks to prayer and meditation to help her find her center. Cutting through all the noise of daily life is no easy task! The injury to her arm has forced Michelle to become more aware and present - she still struggles with the distraction of her cell phone, but she’s making progress. What can you take away from Michelle’s story? 

The moments that make you smile 

Have you had a moment in your art career that made you pause in gratitude? Let’s face it; gratitude is not an easy attitude to cultivate. We can get so focused and caught up in what we don’t have or what isn’t going right that we fail to reflect on the good things in life. Michelle will be the first person to tell you that her life is filled with things to be grateful for. Looking back on her career - Michelle points out one person’s reaction to her oil painting of Richard Schmidt as a particularly remarkable experience. The man that was viewing her painting was moved to tears and explained that Michelle’s painting made him feel like he had met Richard Schmidt. What a compliment!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:00] I introduce my guest, Michelle Dunaway. 
• [2:30] Michelle talks about her influences and why she started a career in art. 
• [5:30] How has Michelle’s arm injury impacted her journey? 
• [19:20] Michelle and I discuss the “Artist’s eye.” 
• [21:00] Learning to be honest with yourself. 
• [29:30] What does Michelle look for in a subject? 
• [39:00] Michelle talks about her experience working with Faso. 
• [42:00] A typical day

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Have you found artists who paint Americana inspiring? Are you drawn to the romanticism and grandeur of the genre? How do artists who focus on painting Americana feel about their genre of work? I was thrilled to sit down with the talented and generous artist, Susan Lyon. In our conversation, Susan opened up about what led her to her career as an artist, why she decides to change things up, her dream of mentoring young artists, and much more. I can't wait for you to get to know Susan's inspiring story! 

A captured imagination 

When you look back at your start as an artist, who do you point to for inspiration? Was your imagination captured by the likes of Georgia O'Keeffe and N. C. Wyeth? Susan Lyon's imagination was ignited by a whole range of artists, including O'Keeffe and Wyeth. Today, Susan finds herself encouraged and inspired by her peers who paint Americana. Susan also enjoys studying and painting the faces of people she loves. Listening to Susan, you really get the sense that her heart is poured out into her artwork. 

Practicing meditation 

How do you deal with all the stress and challenges of life as an artist? What practices help you focus and unlock your creativity? For years Susan Lyon would practice meditation, but it wasn't until the last couple of years when everything started to "Click." By practicing meditation, Susan has learned how to calm her nervous system and ask open-ended questions. Meditation has given Susan the gift of perspective and peace - key elements for a healthy career as an artist! What can you learn from Susan's story? What practices have helped you in your career? 

Don't chase perfection! 

Have you been caught up in the perfection game? Some artists learn quickly how detrimental the pursuit of perfection can be - for others, it can take years. We've all been there - you have a particular idea of how you want your artwork to turn out but reality jumps in and messes everything up. It's at that point where you need to decide if you are going to keep pouring in your time and energy or cut your losses and start something new. Susan recalls how challenging it can be to realize that you've sunk way too much time into a project that needs to end. I hope you find her advice and insights as helpful as I did! 

The power of group energy

When was the last time you got so caught up in the electric energy and positive influence of your fellow artists? Some artists love to get alone with their canvas and explore the depths of their creativity while others feed off of and thrive in a more communal environment. Beyond personal preferences - Susan makes an excellent point about the power of group energy, especially when it comes to artists. In her experience, when like-minded artists gather and encourage one another - powerful energy is unlocked. Have you experienced that time group energy?

Outline of This Episode

• [0:53] I introduce my guest, Susan Lyon. 
• [3:05] What led Susan to her career as an artist. 
• [12:00] Susan talks about changing things up. 
• [17:15] Reverting back to a safety zone. 
• [19:50] Susan shares the benefit of practicing meditation. 
• [29:30] Why Susan enjoys painting the image of people she loves.
• [35:00] The challenge of chasing perfection. 
• [40:10] What is Susan’s process like in the studio? 
• [45:30] Susan’s dream of mentoring younger artists. 
• [50:10] The power of group energy. 
• [53:30] Branching out with a one-person show and teaching. 
• [1:06:00] The power of vulnerability. 

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• Richard Schmid 
• Georgia O'K

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What does it take to branch out from traditional practices and sell your art on platforms like Etsy? Can you make a living off of an Etsy business? What should you look out for? Good news! I put all these questions and more to my returning guest, Jenni Waldrop. 

In our conversation, Jenni opens up about realistic expectations, why it’s not enough to just build a shop on Etsy, how to plan for seasonal changes, and much more. If you’ve ever wanted to know how to build a presence on a platform like Etsy - this is the episode for you! 

Addressing Criticism

The last time I had Jenni on as a guest, we had an excellent discussion that resonated with a lot of Savvy Painter listeners. Just recently, I received a message that had some pointed criticism for Jenni and the numbers she shared regarding her Etsy earnings. In our conversation, Jenni breaks down why she shared the numbers that she shared and why she had to split up her shops to increase her earning potential. After our conversation, I’m confident that you’ll have a greater understanding of what to expect when it comes to building a presence on Etsy. 

Don’t be afraid to test

What is the best product to sell on Etsy? For each artist and seller, the answer to this question will change - especially depending on the season! While small prints will sell well for one artist - large prints will sell better for another. The key is to give yourself permission to test the market and find out what works. When it comes to selling your art - there is no one size fits all solution you’ve got to be willing to make adjustments and learn as you go. Jenni encourages artists to look around at what is selling, especially given the season. 

If you build it - will they come? 

Remember that old Kevin Costner movie, “Field of Dreams?” Wouldn’t it be nice if your business were as simple as setting it up and waiting for the customers to flock to your doorstep? Unfortunately - as many of you know - selling your art isn’t easy. Just like nurturing relationships with a gallery - you’ve got to nurture a relationship with your audience on platforms like Etsy. Consider sharing part of your story or starting a blog to feature artwork and projects you’ve worked on in the past. 

One step at a time

How do you feel about starting your Etsy store? Does it sound daunting and overwhelming? If so - you aren’t alone. There are so many artists out there who want to begin selling on Etsy and other platforms, but they don’t know where to start. I get it - I’ve been there! Don’t think that you need to have everything up and running right away - you don’t! Listen to Jenni’s advice and start one step at a time - break it down into manageable steps that you can accomplish at your own pace. For more information on how to start an Etsy shop - make sure to check out Jenni’s website!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:10] I introduce my returning guest, Jenni Waldrop. 
• [5:00] Jenni addresses some criticism from our first episode together. 
• [12:30] Setting realistic expectations. Jenni shares some helpful examples. 
• [19:50] Testing what works and learning from what doesn’t. 
• [27:00] Should you be worried about people ripping off your artwork on Etsy? 
• [35:30] What is going on with Etsy’s shipping promotions? 
• [38:30] If you build it - they will come - right? 
• [42:30] Jenni explains how to break down your priorities. 
• [45:00] How do you deal with audience burnout? 
• [50:20] Preparing for seasonal trends. 
• [53:30] Building a presence and making a connection. 
• [56:45] Tips for building up your business and planning out your month. 

Resources Mentioned on this episode

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I still can’t believe that it’s been five years since I started the Savvy Painter podcast. Back when I first started, there were hardly any podcasts about, by, or for artists. Today, there are a ton of options out there, and I’m happy to call many of them friends! On this episode - I decided to do something different - I sat down with a handful of fellow podcasters to answer three questions. 

1.  What is one common thread you noticed from speaking to so many artists? 
2. What advice would you give to an emerging artist who sometimes questions their resolve? 
3. What is the worst advice you hear given to artists? 

Not surprisingly, each of my guests had varied answers that kept me engaged and curious. I can’t wait for artists like you to dig in and hear from their unique and fascinating perspectives!

A common thread

What would you say is the common thread that ties artists together? As I asked this question to my guests, I was encouraged by their answers. Again and again, the common thread that binds many artists’ seems to be freedom and autonomy. Each person that chooses the path of an artist will follow the call to creativity by creating their own path. I love the boldness that each of my guests tapped into when they answered this question - they weren’t afraid to get it wrong! I hope you get a lot of helpful insights from their unique perspectives and make sure to check out their podcasts.

Advice for emerging artists 

There are so many things that I wish I would have heard when I first started out as an artist. What are some of the tips and insights you wish you could have heard? Many of my guests stressed the value of putting in the work - and hard work at that! Too often artists get portrayed as struggling and starving or esoteric and whimsical - but what about the hard-working artist? At the end of the day - if you aren’t working hard and creating - do you really want to be an artist? Another one of my guests encouraged their peers to give yourself permission to call yourself an artist - yes, you can wear that title. 

Terrible advice to avoid 

Sometimes the best advice is to avoid bad advice. What are some terrible pieces of advice that people have given you over the course of your career? I can think of one person who decided that it was their calling to make sure I knew how unbelievably hard it would be to make it as an artist. Yes, it is hard to succeed as an artist, but it’s also hard to succeed as a doctor or a business leader, but we don’t go out of the way to highlight the difficulties of those professions! My guests have a ton of bad advice that you should avoid - let me know which ones resonated with you.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:20] I introduce the three questions I ask fellow podcasting artists. 
• [3:00] Amanda Adams and Nicole Mueller (Beyond the Studio) answer question #1. 
• [6:10] David Sherry (Creative Caffeine) answers question #2. 
• [8:00] Kaylan Buteyn (Artist/Mother) answers question #1. 
• [11:10] Marissa Huber (Carve Out Time for Art) answers question #1. 
• [12:50] Yoshino (Artist Decoded) answers question #1. 
• [20:30] Andy Pizza (Creative Pep Talk) answers question #1. 
• [28:40] Erika Hess (I Like Your Work) answers question #1. 
• [31:00] Andy Pizza answers question #2. 
• [41:15] Brian Alfred (Sound and Vision) answers question #2. 
• [43:30] Erika Hess answers question #2. 
• [44:30] John Dalton (Gently Does It) answers question #2. 
• [46:00] Stan Prokopenko (Draftsmen) answers question #2. 
• [49:50] Amanda Adams and Nicole Mueller answer question #3. 
• [51:45] Erika Hess answers question #3. 
• [55:30] Andy Pizza answers question #3.
• [59:00] Brian Alfred answers question #3.

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When was the last time that you found deep and abiding joy in your artwork? Have you explored the joy of painting animals and pets? Most of you know how excited I am about Trekell’s new Pet Portrait Competition. Guess what? I’ve got the judge for that competition joining me for this episode of the podcast! 

Jennifer Gennari is a classically trained figurative artist. She graduated in 2005 from Ringling College of Art and Design and in 2008 left for Italy to study at the Florence Academy of Art where she spent three years abroad studying classical realism. In our conversation, Jennifer opens up about her time at the Florence Academy, how she trained herself to see colors differently, how she views commissioned paintings, and much more. 

Florence Academy

I don’t know about you, but for years I dreamt of attending the Florence Academy - so I jumped at the chance to get Jennifer’s insights from her time there. While she was overwhelmed by many aspects of her time at the Florence Academy - drawing was not one of them. Jennifer was able to pull from her rich childhood memory of obsessively drawing the same Disney characters over and over again. When the time came to drawing with charcoal - Jennifer was out of her element - but thankfully that didn’t last long.

Looking at color differently 

How did you develop your feel for using color? Did it come easy for you, or did you find the work challenging? I remember one torturous assignment I was given in school where I had to match the color of this massive collage that I had created - the result? I can now match just about any color I encounter! Jennifer’s story is a little bit different - but she also struggled with finding the right way to incorporate color into her artwork. Looking back - Jennifer notices that while the Florence Academy was great for many valuable lessons - color development wasn’t one of them.

Painting animals 

Some of you love painting animals and pets in particular - if that is you - you’ve got to check out Trekell’s new Pet Portrait Competition. Jennifer got started painting animals when she got tired of painting people. Still wanting to improve her skill at painting skin - Jennifer came up with a great solution - painting hairless cats! From there - Jennifer branched out and starting painting animals with fur and then she started dabbling in commissioned paintings of animals and pets. If you are interested in entering Trekell’s Pet Portrait Competition, make sure to check out the link in the resources section! 

Are you a “Sell out” if you create commissioned paintings? 

Speaking of commissioned paintings - what is your take? Have you created a commissioned painting? Do you feel like creating commissioned paintings is selling out? I know that many of you have strong feelings about commissioned paintings - but I’d love for you to hear Jennifer out. In her view - commissioned paintings are only as good as the joy and fulfilment you experience creating them. Creating a commissioned painting for someone who has a special connection to animal or pet is what makes the endeavour worth it. Jennifer only sees creating commissioned paintings as a “Sell out” when the artist is in it exclusively for the money. 

Outline of This Episode

• [1:05] I introduce my guest, Jennifer Gennari. 
• [3:10] Jennifer shares her early artistic influences and her first career moves. 
• [9:20] What was it like at the Florence Academy? 
• [16:00] How did Jennifer train herself to see color differently? 
• [30:30] Jennifer talks about why she loves painting animals. 
• [38:00] What is Jennifer’s studio process like? 
• [44:40] Jennifer talks about her color pallet. 
• [51:20] Why does Jen always start off with warm colors? 
• [56:00] Commissioned paintings - is it “S

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If you are anything like me - you’ve struggled with how to deal with your inner critic over the years. There are a few things that have helped me deal with my inner critic, but I am always excited to hear what my peers have done to address this common issue in the art community. Here to share his unique and valuable perspective is the artist - Danny Gregory. 

Danny is an artist, and he has written nearly a dozen internationally best-selling books on art and creativity. He is also the co-founder of Sketchbook Skool with tens of thousands of students worldwide. In our conversation, Danny opens up about how he got started as an artist, why he loves working on “Zines,” how he deals with his inner critic, what it takes to stay creative, and much more. I know you’ll get a ton of benefit from Danny’s thoughtful perspective. 

Find your people!

If you’ve been around the Savvy Painter community for any stretch of time, you know that I am passionate about encouraging artists like you to find your people. Let’s face it - life as an artist can be a lonely existence - but it doesn’t have to be! Even back in the ’90s, artists like Danny Gregory found a way to connect with peers who would encourage and challenge them in their creative pursuits. Discovering an artist from eastern Oregon by flipping through a “Zine” at Tower Records in New York City changed Danny’s life. He quickly befriended this artist via correspondence, and the two went on many trips together. Have you found your people yet? 

Why “Zines” are so appealing

Speaking of “Zines,” have you ever encountered one before? When Danny mentioned reading zines in Tower Records back in the 90’s I had a total flashback to my college years. For my millennial followers - zines or fanzines are publications produced by enthusiasts of a particular niche interest. Traditionally, zines are circulated free of charge, or for a nominal cost to defray postage or production expenses. There are so many amazing things you can do with the zine medium - and according to Danny, they are starting to make a comeback!

Nurturing a creative focus 

A few years ago, Danny wrote a book called “Art Before Breakfast.” I love that title by the way! His book explored several small ways he incorporated his drive for creativity each day. From keeping a sketchbook next to the kettle in the kitchen to sketching an image while waiting for his wife to finish shopping - there are a ton of helpful ideas that artists like you can use. At the heart of Danny’s message is this - you can fit creativity and art making throughout your day if you just redefine what that means. For many of you - Danny’s approach will be a bit of stretch - after all, we are conditioned to think of “Art-making” as a structured and specific time we set aside. 

Dealing with the inner critic 

Another book Danny wrote is called, “Shut Your Monkey: How to Control Your Inner Critic.” In this book, Danny explains how he’s dealt with and learned to live with his inner critic. Do you still struggle with silencing your inner critic? If so - I can’t recommend Danny’s book enough! He dove deep into where the inner critic comes from in our minds and how to better understand it. Danny discovered that the voice of the inner critic actually is there to protect us from making risky decisions - which is great when it comes to danger - not so great when it comes to creating art. Make sure to check out the links to Danny’s website and his books in the resources section - I know that many of you will find them helpful! 

Outline of This Episode

• [1:15] I introduce my guest, Danny Gregory.
• [2:50] How Danny got interested in art. 
• [9:10] Danny explains how he connected with like-minded artists. 
• [11:15] What is a “Zine” or “Fanzine?” 
• [13:40] How Danny came to publi

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What does it look like to see your career take off as an artist on Instagram? Is it a sustainable model or has Facebook’s acquisition taken all fun and profitability out the platform? I put all of these questions and a lot more to my guest, Kate Zambrano. 

Kate is a fine artist based in California specializing in realistic portrait art and figurative art, made up mostly of females. Sometimes described as dark art, her work is a personal study of human psychology and complexity. Kate creates melancholic body languages and expressions, capturing the nuanced truth. 

I can’t wait for you to learn from Kate’s unique perspective - I know you’ll find what she has to say is knowledgeable and entertaining!

Putting in the hours 

Sometimes it can take a while to find that medium that you love and there are some artists like Kate who fall head over heels in love with their medium quickly. While Kate enjoys painting, she really comes alive when she uses charcoal. Kate says that charcoal fits her because of her very “Black and white” way of viewing the world. She also loves color and vibrancy, and she loves to express that when she paints but at the end of the day - charcoal is Kate’s one true love. Kate has incorporated some of the skills she developed as a painter into her work with charcoal, and you can tell!

Falling in love with charcoal

Sometimes it can take a while to find that medium that you love and there are some artists like Kate who fall head over heels in love with their medium quickly. While Kate enjoys painting, she really comes alive when she uses charcoal. Kate says that charcoal fits her because of her very “Black and white” way of viewing the world. She also loves color and vibrancy and she loves to express that when she paints but at the end of the day - charcoal is Kate’s one true love. Kate has incorporated some of the skills she developed as a painter into her work with charcoal and you can tell!

Navigating Instagram 

Instagram - do you love it or hate it as an artist? Have been able to grow your audience and deepen your connection to your followers? Kate enjoyed a huge boon to her business and her career as an artist once she began posting on Instagram. Quickly, Kate became quite the force as a popular artist on Instagram - then the bottom fell out.

A year and a half ago, everything changed with Instagram’s algorithm - small businesses that were thriving on the platform started shutting down left and right. Since they reworked the platform, artists like Kate have noticed that their content hasn’t been getting nearly as many likes or engagement as years past. Instagram’s change has had a huge negative impact on Kate and her business. She thought the decline in support was attributed to her skill and ability as an artist. Today, Kate is doing a lot better - she found a new way forward and shifted her view of success. 

Kate’s view of success

What does success look like for Kate today? With all the instant validation of Instagram no longer factoring into her view of success - Kate has had to rethink her personal definition of success. Kate is now focused on maintaining a positive attitude and a healthy mindset - she believes that forward thinking and staying in-tune with her emotions will put her back on the right track. Professionally, Kate finds encouragement in the positive feedback she gets from her peers - she’s not chasing approval, but she’s grateful to get it from her friends.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:45] I introduce my guest, Kate Zambrano. 
• [2:45] How Kate decided to pursue a career as an artist. 
• [6:00] Practice and repetition. 
• [12:30] How Kate taught herself to draw. 
• [15:10] Kate describes her artwork. 
• [20:45] Why charcoal is Kate’s favorite medium. 
• [26:25] Ho

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Imagine living on a boat in the San Francisco Bay area - doesn’t that sound AMAZING? How would you optimize your working area? What materials would you use? Instead of guessing the answers to this beautiful scenario - I got to ask my friend Kaethe Bealer all about it!

Kaethe is a long time listener of Savvy Painter and she’s participated in several of my workshops over the years. I have been so impressed with Kaethe’s growth as an artist. From life on a boat to her process using acrylic paint I know Kaethe’s unique insights and reflections will help artists like you in a number of ways.

Life on a boat

Seriously though - what is it like living on a boat near San Francisco? Don’t you want to know? Apparently, it is not always as romantic as it sounds. As you can imagine space is at a premium. Forget leaving a studio space set up - if space isn’t being used - then things have to be put away. Thankfully, Kaethe has a supportive spouse who encourages her and supports her in her growth as an artist. While life on a boat sounds challenging - Kaethe also has some stellar work to show for it - which she has to store off boat at her father-in-law's house.

Why acrylic paint?

Speaking of Kaethe’s artwork - I was interested to hear what type of paint she uses on her boat and why. Kaethe uses acrylic paint and works mostly on pannel - her subject matter is all over the place - she loves to explore whatever catches her interest. With her life on the boat - Kathe has found acrylic paint to be the best material to use - it’s easy to clean up! She has a little evaporation bucket outside that she uses to discard her dirty water. Kaethe also uses Open Golden which is an extended drying acrylic paint.

Just keep painting

“Just keep painting” is one of the mantras that has impacted Kaethe’s on her journey as an artist. She experienced a significant period in her life where she stopped painting and it took her while to get back into the rhythm. These days Kaethe is committed to putting in the time and logging those hours at the canvas. She wants to encourage her artisitc peers to keep at it and stay in the game. Selling her work on the internet was a huge turning point for Kaethe - that experience also buoyed her spirits and emboldened her to get her work featured in art galleries.

Workshop junkie

Have you heard the term, “Workshop junkie?” I would consider myself a workshop junkie - I LOVE workshops. If money wasn’t a factor I’d fill up my days in workshops with fellow artists honing my skills and learning new techniques and insights. In our conversation - Kaethe and I also discussed the danger of using workshops as a crutch. Attending too many workshops can lead to thinking too little of your abilities and hamstringing your growth. Finding the balance is not an easy task but it is crucial - you need to have a healthy mindset!

Outline of This Episode

• [0:45] I introduce my guest, Kaethe Bealer.
• [3:15] What led Kaethe to her current work with acrylic paint?
• [5:15] Living on a boat, is it as romantic as it sounds? How does Kaethe manage it?
• [8:45] Kaethe describes her process and how she works with various acrylic colors.
• [15:30] How did Kaethe lose the “Chalky” feel of her paintings?
• [20:30] Kaethe and I talk about the influence of Peggi Kroll Robers.
• [23:30] Make sure to check out the Trekell Art Supplies competition.
• [25:30] Just keep painting.
• [30:00] Kaethe describes her evolution as an artist.
• [37:30] Advice Kaethe has for fellow artists.
• [40:30] How does Kaethe decide which art competitions to enter?
• [45:00] Kaethe and I discuss the value of workshops.
• [47:00] What led Kaethe to jump back into her artwork?
• [49:00] Closing thoughts from Kaethe.

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I’ve got a special episode in store for you all this week including questions and answers to a few select topics. I wanted to experiment with a new format, and I’m glad to have you along for the ride! On this episode - I cover how artists like you can navigate art competitions, I give an update about my move to Argentina, and I go over some productivity tips. I’m so thankful to all of you who have been so supportive and encouraging as I’ve made the transition back to Argentina - I excited to roll out some exciting new interviews and innovative episodes like this one!

How to find the right art competitions

I know it might feel that way, but here is the truth - not all art competitions are shady. It is also unfair to lump them all into the same category, some art competitions will be a great fit for one artist, and they’ll be a terrible fit for others. Here are my four tips for finding the right art competitions.

1. Understand your goal.
2. Do your homework.
3. Celebrate when you get in!
4. Just move on when you don’t get in.

You are responsible for your own career - so act like it! Don’t get upset about the cost of entering into an art competition, if you think it’s a right fit and that you have a shot then go for it. As you can tell, I’ve got a lot to say about this topic, and I know it’s not an easy one. I’d love to hear from you - what tips do you have to share about finding the right art competitions?

Argentina update

We did it! We’ve made it to our new home in Villa Carlos Paz in Argentina. It’s been great to hear from many of you as you’ve patiently waited to hear from me during this whole transition process. My new studio is all set up, and I am ready to jump back into my routine. One thing that is a bit of a love/hate factor of life here in Villa Carlos Paz is all the mom and pop stores. I love that I get to directly support the local economy with my purchases - I hate that it can take weeks and weeks to get something as simple as binder clips. All-in-all life is good, and I’m glad for this new chapter of life!

Be kind to yourself!

As an artist, you want to create worthwhile art, and that’s great! Let’s be honest - when you fail to create the stellar art you have envisioned in your mind - you let yourself have it. We are notorious at holding ourselves to such high and lofty standards that when we fail, we are our own worst critics. Self-reflection is great! Beating yourself up is not so great. Think of it this way - you wouldn’t let your friend beat themselves up - so don’t do it to the person in the mirror! I firmly believe that you cannot create from a place of frustration or negativity - if that sounds too fluffy - too bad :)

Outline of This Episode

• [0:15] I introduce this special question and answer episode.
• [2:20] My tips for navigating juried art competitions.
• [8:00] What is a reasonable price to expect for entering an art competition?
• [10:00] I give an update on my move to Argentina.
• [12:20] How do you keep moving forward when life keeps getting in the way?
• [17:00] Tips for good results when plein air painting.
• [19:30] Closing thoughts.

Resources Mentioned on this episode

• www.savvypainter.com/webinar
• My Instagram

Connect With Antrese

• On Facebook
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram

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When was the last time you decided to quite all the voices and just focus on your desire to create art? Is it hard for you to carve out the time in your life or have you found the right formula to make it work? Wherever you are at in your journey, I know you’ll appreciate hearing from the amazing Jacksonville based artist - Kristin Cronic.

In our conversation, Kristin opens up about how she got started as an artist, what it was like navigating life as a Navy officer, how she recovered when her whole world was flipped upside down, and so much more. Don’t forget to check out images of Kristin’s artwork located at the end of this post.

Paint on the floor and permission to create art

Do you remember when you were first given permission to paint? Remember the joy you had? What happened to that joy? Have you fanned those flames over the years or are you just now starting to re-light the fire?

Kristin Cronic looks back to the early years of her life when her mother would allow her to paint and explore to heart's content. Her mother still has a paint-covered floor in her room at that house to this day! Kristin also received early encouragement from her aunt, Kathy Strauss who is also an artist.

Surviving a hurricane

Several years ago in 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the Florida coast, the Florida Keys, and the Caribbean. Irma also happened to strike just as Kristin and her family were planning a major shift in their lives - Kristin was resigning from the Navy to pursue her career in art. Also - Kristin was six weeks pregnant with their second child.

As crazy as that time was, thankfully, Kristin and her family made it through the whole ordeal safely. In the ensuing months, Kristin and her family went to work picking up the pieces as they began to rebuild. Two months after the chaos - Kristin started to really struggle with all the challenges that were building up. Thankfully, her husband stepped in with some helpful advice.

Follow your gut

In the middle of trying to bring order to chaos, Kristin followed her husband’s advice, and she started painting again. He knew, even when she had forgotten that taking the time to create art would help her find peace. It’s wonderful when you have people in your corner who help you follow your gut even when you can’t hear it speaking up!

As Kristin started to follow her gut and get back into what brought her joy, she found herself struggling with a direction. Listening to the Savvy Painter podcast helped Kristin reconnect with her inner artist and begin the path toward creating art again. Listening to the podcast wasn’t the silver bullet for Kristin, she also reached out to a local artist, and she enrolled in the Savvy Painter Growth Studio.

It’s never too late

Hopefully, you’ll find Kristin’s powerful story of finding her way and following her gut inspiring - I know I did! What I want artists like you to know is this; it’s never too late. You aren’t too old or too out of touch with the art community. No excuse is big enough to keep you from creating art.

The world needs your story and your art just as much as it needs Kristin’s! I’m so encouraged that this podcast and the community we’ve built has helped artists like Kristin find their way. Please, continue offering your feedback and your insights as we continue to work together to create something meaningful in this space.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:08] An update on my move to Argentina.
• [2:00] I introduce my guest, Kristin Cronic.
• [3:20] How did Kristin get started as an artist?
• [7:30] Kristin talks about how this podcast and a local artist encouraged her to get back involved with painting.
• [13:00] How Kristin’s world turned upside down.
• [17:30] The differences between the Navy culture and life as an

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Do you have questions about oil painting and the best materials to use? Look no further, it’s here! Robert Gamblin, Mary Weisenburger, and Pete Cole join me to answer your biggest questions about oil painting and more! I’m so excited for you to hear their helpful insights into some really great topics. You’ll hear them go over questions about pigments, stories about pigment sources, why some paints have more oil separation, some great information on oil paints and toxicity, and much more! This will serve as a great resource for artists like you to keep in your back pocket. Learn how you can connect with Gamblin and utilize their great resources!

A Dedicated Focus on Oil Painting

You’ve heard that old phrase, “Jack of all trades and master of none” right? That’s what comes to mind when I hear Robert Gablin talk about why his company solely focuses on oil painting instead of branching out to provide water colors, acrylic paints, and other materials. Instead of being a jack of all trades, Robert and his team have decided to focus on being a master of one, oil paint products. Their narrow focus has paid off, they have displayed an amazing passion for detail and improvement on their niche subject. Just hearing from Robert, Mary, and Pete I could tell that they really know their field – they are the experts when it comes to oil paint!

Is the New Blue Worth it?

If you follow news about pigments and breaking developments around that subject like I do, then you’ve heard of the new “YInMn Blue” that was discovered at Oregon State University. This new color was discovered in 2009 as a byproduct of an experimentation. Since this news has recently been making the rounds on social media again it led me to get Robert Gamblin’s take on the new color and if they’ve found it worth it to start producing the color themselves. Robert explained that they found that it is not effective to produce the color for a few reasons. Their primary reason is the enormous cost it requires to create the color. This is due to the fact that the color requires three compounds and two of them are rare earth minerals. Robert’s vast knowledge was on display during our conversation and I know that artists like you will find his insights very helpful.

Mitigating Toxicity Risks

Do you find yourself concerned about your health when it comes to your time in the studio? Are you nervous about how your lifestyle as an artist will impact your health in long run? What would it mean for you to have supplies that are responsible, not only for the environment but for artists like you? My guests from Gamblin are happy to share with artists like you that their line of high-quality products are free of toxins. They want to see more artists use products that are sustainable and health conscious. Don’t let your time in the studio get clouded by concern for your health. Hear from the Gamblin team and how their products could be the best fit for you!

What is FastMatte?

Don’t you hate it when you are in a creative flow and you have to make the decision to pause and let your paint dry before you can proceed? What if there was a way to avoid that pause and continue with your creative momentum? That’s where Gamblin’s helpful product, FastMatte come in. FastMatte colors are a unique type of oil colors, every color dries fast, every color dries matte. These qualities make them perfect for underpainting techniques. FastMatte also serves as an excellent way to come back to oil painting for those painters who have switched to acrylics because of the need for a faster drying rate. I was seriously impressed with this helpful solution that Gamblin has developed and I hope you get the chance to find out for yourself!

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What is that people look for when they invest time and money into collecting art? Are they looking for a particular style? Is it for their personal enjoyment or do they want it to serve as a conversation starter? Here to give us a great peek inside the world of collecting art is art advisor, Tracy Kinnally. In our conversation, Tracy explains how she got started as an art advisor, where the art market is headed, advice for artists and collectors, and much more. I know that artists like you will really appreciate our conversation especially the turn it takes toward the end.

How do you get started as an art advisor?

Have you ever wondered how someone gets started as an art advisor? Did they dream of helping people find art from an early age? Tracy Kinnally studied at Christie’s in London and then went on to intern at the Chelsea gallery in New York and the Guggenheim in Venice. These days, Tracy is hard at work on her business helping people all over the world find the right art to feature in their home or workplace. You can connect with Tracy by going to her website; the link is located in the resources section.

What are art collectors looking for?

As many people can attest to, collecting art can become a sort of obsession. What is it that these collectors are looking for? Do they get connected to a particular artist or a style? Tracy has found that each person is looking for something a little bit different and that is why she enjoys meeting people in their homes to get a sense of what would fit for that individual. She even finds that what a collector says they want and what they really want are two different things. I found Tracy’s perspective fascinating and helpful, and I know that you will too!

Advice for artists and collectors.

If you are going to start collecting art, you should connect with someone like Tracy Kinnally, seriously. Art advisors can help you make the right decision and even expose you to options would have never otherwise considered. If you don’t want to connect with an art advisor, Tracy says that you should follow your gut. When you see something you like, go with it, don’t buy a painting that you are unsure about.

As for artists, Tracy says that they should make their work as easily accessible as possible. She encourages artists to build up a body of work and to have contact channels easy to find and responsive. The worst thing you can do is to ignore or never follow up with a collector who is interested in your artwork!

Where the art market is headed.

Without a doubt, the art market is headed into an exciting period. Even right now, there are so many possibilities open to artists and those collecting art. Gone are the days where you could only sell your art in a gallery or at an art show, the internet has made it so much easier than it was in the past. Yes, there are challenges that come with this new direction for the art market, but there is no going back, you have to adapt. What is your take on this topic? Do you agree with Tracy’s take, let me know!

Outline of This Episode

• [5:20] I introduce my guest, Tracy Kinnally.
• [6:45] How did Tracy get into her work as an art advisor.
• [9:30] Tracy talks about her work with private art collectors.
• [17:00] How does Tracy create her catalogue of paintings and artists?
• [20:40] Tracy talks about curating a space and picking the right piece of art to feature.
• [32:00] Advice for collectors and artists.
• [35:20] Where is the art market headed?
• [38:00] Tracy and I talk about some of the artists that we are obsessed about right now.
• [45:00] Where did portrait paintings come from? Why do we collect them?
• [47:00] Painting the female image.
• [54:30] Closing thoughts.

Other artists mentioned on

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Last week I sent out an email to my subscribers asking them, “What does success mean to you?” I received over two hundred responses from Savvy Painter followers! People have a lot to say about this topic and as you can imagine each answer was different and had a unique perspective.

I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of those responses and engage in a larger conversation about life as an artist trying to attain “Success.” I want you to join the discussion about success, and I want to hear what other topics you’d like me to showcase.

You need to determine your definition of success.

Let’s face it; the answer to this question is not an easy one. As many of you noted, a quick definition might pop into your mind, but upon further consideration, you struggle to come up with a definition that fits. Ultimately, I believe that each person has to answer this question for themselves, but they do need to answer it. Don’t trick yourself into believing that you can leave this question unanswered and still somehow become “Successful.” How can you achieve something that you haven’t taken the time to define?

An action step, if you dare, come up with a working definition of success that fits you. Once you’ve got that definition, write it down!

Can we talk about the financial side of success?

I know it’s a “Dirty” word, but we are going to talk about money. So many of you, and rightfully so, are concerned about the financial side of the success conversation. I know that you didn’t get into your career as an artist for the money, nobody would choose this profession with that goal. Unfortunately, our society often propagates the idea that our income level is tied to our worth or value. There is no way around it, the financial aspect is part of the success conversation, but I’m so glad that many of you know that it’s not the only factor defining of success. Here is the truth, you need money to live and deserve to get paid for your hard work!

Show up and put in the work.

Whatever your definition of success is, the fact is, you won’t succeed if you don’t stay in the game. It’s not easy to stay in the habit of working on your artwork; this is why I ask so many of my guests to give us a peek behind the curtain and let us in on their process when it comes to time in the studio. Every day that you choose to paint, you are choosing in your favour. Are you putting in the time? Do you have a process that works for you and keeps you on track? If so, let me know!

My definition of success.

Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation by responding to my question, I read all the replies, and I was so encouraged to hear all your perspectives! I’d like to leave you with my definition of success.

Success is continued growth; it means continually expanding my horizons. For me, success means staying true to my values and staying curious.

This whole art journey for me is about the process. The process of painting is more important to me than the outcome. I don’t mind failing; I don’t see failure as the opposite of success. I can learn from failure; I can’t learn if I quit on myself or my art.

I hope you find this conversation on the definition of success helpful. The final message that I want to leave you with is; you are so much more than the Hollywood version of success!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:35] I introduce the topic for this episode; “What does success mean to you?”
• [6:45] Why you need to define success for yourself.
• [16:00] Considering the financial aspect of success.
• [21:20] You need money to live, there is no shame in getting paid for your art.
• [28:30] Showing up and putting in the work.
• [31:15] Success is multifaceted.
• [35:20] I share my definition of success.
• [39:00]

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Have you ever wanted to grab your materials and head for the mountains for a plein air painting session? While that specific scenario may not resonate with every artist, I know the desire to change things up and get out of a creative slump will. My guest, Therese Morgan along with her friend and fellow artist, Mark David took off for the adventure of a lifetime backpacking the John Muir Trail.

In our conversation, we discuss what led Therese to embark on this crazy expedition, challenges she faced along the way, how the trip impacted her artwork, what she learned from her journey, and much more. Caution, this episode may cause you to pack your bags and head for the hills (in a good way!)

Hitting a wall.

If you’ve been an artist for very long, chance are you’ve hit a wall, creatively. If you haven’t yet, consider yourself extremely lucky! What should you do when you hit a wall, find yourself in a slump, experience a creative block, or whatever you want to call it? Many artists have a unique take on how to get past a creative block. Some will say, to keep your head down and stick to your schedule while others will encourage you to take a break and pick up a book. Then there are crazy people like Therese Morgan who pack up their studio and go for a hike, and not just any hike, a twenty-seven-day hike along the John Muir Trail in California!

Plein air painting, where?

Have you experimented with plein air painting? Where have you explored and enjoyed the outdoors with your artwork? Have you ever done something as crazy as a twenty-seven-day hike with your shelter, clothing, food, water, and painting supplies strapped to your back?

To some, plein air painting while on a multi-week hike might sound crazy, and to others (like me) it sounds like fun! Therese Morgan and her friend Mark David came to this idea one night over dinner. Their idea seemed great on paper, but they both wondered, could they pull it off? You might be under the assumption that Therese and Mark are avid and experienced backpackers; they were not. You also might assume that they had just received a generous grant or they had some other means of financial security; they did not.

Lacking experience and the requisite finances, Therese and Mark forged ahead, convinced that their dream would be worth all foreseen and unforeseen challenges they’d face along the way. After some careful planning, the pair decided to embark on an almost month-long journey on the John Muir Trail. The John Muir Trail is a long-distance trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks. The trail's length is 211 miles long with an elevation gain of approximately 47,000 feet. For almost all of its length, the trail is in the High Sierra backcountry and wilderness areas, not exactly a “relaxing” experience.

Lessons learned and brush miles logged.

As you can imagine, Therese and Mark’s journey was challenging, to say the least. Hiker after hiker in the backcountry would pass them by, surprised that they’d take on such an adventure with their art supplies. Looking back, Therese is proud of the amazing feat that she accomplished by finishing her journey but also of the artwork she had created along the way. Combining their efforts, Therese and Mark have created the “Brushmiles” project. Brushmiles was a term their mutual teacher, Craig Nelson would say to them, in reference to putting in the effort to paint often, to put in the miles as a painter. You can get a glimpse of their journey by checking out the link to their page located in the resources section below.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:55] I introduce my guest, Therese Morgan.
• [2:40] How did Therese get involved with painting?
• [5:30] Therese talks about her post-college creative

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How do you create a body of work that displays your abilities and passions as an artist? What thought process is required to curate and develop your own body of work? Artist Constance Mallinson was kind enough to join me to discuss this important topic.

Constance is a California based artist. Her most recent exhibitions include Pomona College, UC Riverside, The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, and Angles Gallery in Los Angeles. She was the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship as well as a City of Los Angeles Artist’s grant. She has also taught every aspect of art at all the major universities and colleges in Southern California including UCLA and Claremont Graduate School.

Throughout our conversation, Constance shared her early artistic influences, what led her to consider a career as an artist, how her art has evolved over the years, why we need to pay attention to moments of transition, and much more. I can’t wait for you to learn from Constance’s fascinating and thoughtful perspective.

Creating a body of work

Every artist at some point agonizes over the thought of creating a body of work that captures both what they are good at and what they love to create. Do you have a curated and developed body of work? What has helped you develop your body of work over the years? For Constance Mallinson, it all comes down to letting her skillset and her intuition guide her. As she looks back on her career, Constance remembers her early work with minimalistic landscape paintings and how she transitioned from that to her work with the pattern and decoration movement. What can you learn from Constance’s journey?

Embracing each step along the way.

When do you get to the point where you’ve “Arrived” as an artist? Does it ever really happen or is it just a made up ideal of fame and fortune? Instead of looking at a pinnacle moment of fame or glory, Constance decides to look at her life and art career as building blocks or steps taken on a journey. Each step is valuable because they build upon each other. You can’t take away the step of minimalistic landscape work because it contributes to her work with the pattern and decoration movement. You also can’t take away motherhood without taking away the new perspectives that aspect of Constance’s life brought to her work. Constance is passionate about helping artists not only enjoy the moments of prestige, but she also wants to help us value in-between moments as well.

Do what you want to do!

When was the last time you gave yourself permission to do what you want to do as an artist? Seriously! Too often we can get caught up with the idea of what we “Ought to be doing” or what people expect us to do that we fail to consider what we want our body of work to look like. If money wasn’t a factor, what would you be working on right now? I loved putting this question and the whole idea of following your desire to Constance Mallinson. She was quick to light up when we talked about shirking the expectations of others to focus on what we feel like we need to do. I hope you get as much enjoyment out this conversation with Constance as I did! 

Outline of This Episode

• [1:50] I introduce my guest, Constance Mallinson.
• [3:45] What led Constance to a career as an artist?
• [6:15] Early artistic influences.
• [8:30] How has Constance’s art evolved over the years?
• [20:30] Art-making is the interfacing the personal and the cultural.
• [23:50] How far women have come in the art community.
• [29:00] The way that parenthood shapes life as an artist.
• [32:15] What is Constance working on right now?
• [44:30] Valuing the in-between moments and times of transition.
• [52:00] Why don’t we do what we want to do?
• [56:00] Constance’s dream project.

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Can you really capture emotion in art? Is there something that you can convey on the canvas that transfers to the viewer? Emotion is such a complicated and complex human experience that the effort to capture it on canvas seems like an impossible task. My guest, Linda Christensen is proving that notion wrong with her amazing artwork.

Linda is a Northern California based artist who paints a moment in time in women’s lives, she looks for the emotional connection and tries to capture it. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree and her Graduate Certificate from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

In our conversation, Linda opens up about how she got started as an artist, habits and rituals that keep her in a creative flow, how a David Park painting influenced her, why she is ok with “getting it wrong,” tips for connecting with a gallery and pricing artwork, and much more. I know that artist like you will get a lot out of our wonderful conversation.

Expressing emotion in art.

Have you ever had that moment in your career where you finally found someone who expressed themselves creatively as you do? Who was that artist for you? What was it in their work that resonated with you? For Linda Christensen, that moment came when she was viewing a painting by the figurative artist, David Park. When she saw one of his paintings, Linda had an immediate and emotional connection that she’d never experienced before. That encounter with the David Park painting told Linda that emotion could be captured in a painting.

Embracing distraction.

What is your process like in the studio? Do you have a checklist you go through so you can get into your creative flow? Some artists love to work with music playing or after they’ve spent time in an art book, but everyone has to find their groove. I’ve found it helpful over the years to hear from my peers like Linda Christensen who are more than willing to share what they’ve found useful as they approach the canvas. Linda likes to knock out all of her errands and personal tasks before she steps foot into her studio. She also loves to have an old black and white movie playing in the background that she’s seen before so she can have a contrast to her painting process. I loved hearing all about Linda’s studio process and her love for Catherine Hepburn movies; I hope you enjoy it too.

Getting it wrong.

Do you ever find yourself jumping through hoops and trying to please someone else or working fulfill some idea of what you “ought” to be doing with your artwork? Do you give in to those voices and let them shape your art or do you try to silence them? Artist Linda Christensen has embraced the idea of “getting it wrong” because she knows that she’ll never “get it right.” Someone will always have a critique ready but Linda is ok with that, and she encourages other artists to embrace this mindset as well. At the end of the day, none of us are, as Linda says, “movie-ready” we all have flaws, why not embrace them?

Outline of This Episode

• [2:30] I introduce my guest, Linda Christensen.
• [4:00] What led Linda to a career as an artist?
• [5:30] Linda talks about how David Park influenced her artwork.
• [7:45] How Linda describes her artwork and how her process plays out.
• [11:20] Habits and patterns that help Linda in her studio.
• [15:30] Silencing the inner critic.
• [17:15] How do you decide if you’ve finished a painting?
• [19:40] Linda talks about how she navigated her early career.
• [22:00] Advice Linda has for artists trying to get their artwork featured in galleries.
• [26:00] How does Linda price her artwork?
• [31:45] Linda talks about how her process changes each time she goes to the canvas.
• [37:00] What does it mean to “get it wrong?”
• [43:00] What does

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Do your dreams impact your creative process? Have you ever explored this aspect of intersection between your imagination and your art? Does your approach to starting a painting differ from your peers? My guest, Suzanne Unrein took the time to explore these fascinating topic and much more throughout our conversation.

Suzanne is a California native and current New Yorker. Her paintings and works on paper explore a vibrant world of humans and animals. Her work is characterized by vibrant colours and expressive gestures.

In our conversation, we discuss intuition and how dreams influence her paintings from time to time. We also touch on some differences in how we start painting. I can’t wait for you to learn from the fascinating insights and unique perspective that Suzanne brings to the table.

Is there a “right way” to start painting?

Where you ever taught that there was a “right way” and a “wrong way” to start painting? Did that direction cause you to have a dogmatic approach? Suzanne Unrein explained to me that she doesn’t have a set pattern that she goes back to when she approaches the canvas. She wants to put herself in a position to hear from the canvas in a new way each time she goes to start painting. As she explained her process, Suzanne did confess that she occasionally slips into some technical patterns but that emphasis to listen to the canvas is always in the back of her mind. What approach has worked for you as you’ve developed as an artist?

Exploring the influence of dreams.

Dreams are such a fascinating topic, from poetry and song to film and artwork, as a species we’ve long tried to understand and come to grips with what our minds process while we sleep. Have your dreams seeped into your creative process or vice versa? Suzanne shared with me that she once dreamt that she was getting eaten by a lion. She shared this with me in the larger context of her exploration of animals and the influence they have on our imagination and our society. Animals also play a huge role in Suzanne’s artwork. Have you played with the concept of dreams or animals in your artwork?

Getting unstuck.

What does it take to get past a creative block? Do you have any tips or tricks that have worked for you throughout your career? I’ve been stuck plenty times creatively, and I am always eager to hear from my peers to get their perspective on getting unstuck. Suzanne says that she gets stuck from time to time due to her perfectionist nature, she’ll focus on one aspect for too long that she can’t see anything else. When that happens, she’ll just pull back and remove the section that has her stuck, and she’ll start fresh the next day. I hate getting stuck but hearing from artists like Suzanne can be helpful in developing different remedies to this common occurrence.

Outline of This Episode

• [2:30] I introduce my guest, Suzanne Unrein.
• [4:15] What led Suzanne to her career in art?
• [7:30] Suzanne talks about getting her start in LA.
• [10:30] How does Suzanne describe her artwork?
• [17:30] Is there a good “way” to start painting?
• [23:00] Suzanne talks about her process and a project she is working on.
• [30:40] Is there anything that scares Suzanne about painting?
• [35:15] Questions that Suzanne is interacting with in her artwork.
• [40:00] How does Suzanne deal with creative block?
• [43:30] Art that Suzanne would love to have from a living artist.
• [49:00] Where you can find Suzanne’s artwork.

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• Franz Kline
• Jackson Pollock

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What comes to mind when you consider the phrase, “Truth in art?” Do you think of artists who have a bold message in their artwork or do you think of more subtle approaches? It was my pleasure to speak with the artist, Vincent Giarrano. Vincent received his BFA from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his MFA from Syracuse University. In our conversation, we touched on the vital role of truth in art and how that concept has shaped him as an artist. We also discussed what it means to leave a legacy, how writing can fuel the creative process, what it looks like to create a business plan, and much more. I know that artists like you will enjoy hearing from Vincent’s wonderful perspective.

How writing can fuel the creative process.

Does writing play a role in your creative process? If not, have you ever considered taking up the practice of writing? I’ve seen writing impact my artwork over the years, so I love taking the opportunity to explore this important practice with my peers. Vincent Giarrano also enjoys the practice of writing; he says that writing helped him as he transitioned from his work in illustration to fine art. He also credits his writing for helping him work out ideas for various projects, staying focused and organized, and with his research. If writing doesn’t help you in the ways that it has helped Vincent, what is it that fuels your creative process?

Leaving a legacy.

When you think about your legacy as an artist, what is it that you want to be known for? Do you want to be known for your excellent technique? Your innovative style? Your bold message? Or do you want to be known for something completely different? After surveying the landscape of the art world, Vincent Giarrano yearned to create art that communicated truth and sincerity. Vincent isn’t after complexity for complexity’s sake; he wants to produce a body of work that is true to his convictions. Make sure to check out images of Vincent’s artwork located at the end of this post.

Building a business plan. 

Let’s face it as a community; artists aren’t known for their business acumen. How have you fared when it comes to the business side of your art career? Have you found certain practices and strategies that have helped you succeed? For artist Vincent Giarrano, it all came down to taking the time to develop a business plan. In this particular area, Vincent says that he approached building his business plan logically. Step by step, he thought through how he’d promote his artwork, how he’d sell it, who his ideal customers were, and what level of craftsmanship he’d need to commit to. While this process wasn’t easy for Vincent, looking back, he is glad that he took the time to put together a cohesive plan.

The challenge of pricing your artwork.

It is the dreaded decision that every artist has to face, what price to place on your art. Do you still struggle with this aspect of your career? Some artists figure out this aspect of their business easily while some struggle for an extended period. According to Vincent Giarrano, the best practice is to take a look at the marketplace and see what other artists, comparable to your skill and experience are charging. There is no need to leave this aspect of your business up to guesswork; you can come up with a good idea on what to charge based on what your peers are doing. Vincent has a ton of helpful insights to share with artists who are just getting started, and I know that seasoned artists will also benefit from his unique perspective.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:00] I introduce my guest, Vincent Giarrano.
• [2:45] Vincent opens up about how he got started as an artist.
• [7:00] How did Vincent get involved with illustration?
• [10:45] Vincent talks about how working with comic books shaped him as an artist.
• [

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Happy Holidays!

Last week we celebrated over 2 million downloads of the Savvy Painter podcast!

None of this would be possible without you. I'm so grateful that you choose to tune in, that you share your stories, and continually support this podcast.

This is a recap of just a few of the behind the scenes highlights of the year and what that means for 2019.

If you're in the L.A. area, hopefully we can meet :)

And if you've been curious about painting in Italy with JSS in Civita... I have some news! I hope to see you there in 2019!

Enjoy your holidays with your family and friends, may 2019 bring you loads of love, laughter, and painting bliss!

Talk soon,

~Antrese

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Have you ever seen encaustic art and found yourself drawn in? There is something about encaustic artwork that grabs the viewer in a way that is different from other techniques. My guest, Lisa Kairos is an accomplished encaustic artist who was kind enough to open up about her process. In our conversation, we also touch on the positive impact that motherhood has had on her development as an artist, why she loves to write, books that have helped her grow, and much more. I can’t wait for you to learn from Lisa’s refreshing perspective!

Exploring the positive impact of parenthood.

Over the years as I’ve interviewed artists who are parents, I usually get a mixed bag of responses. While they’ve all said that they enjoy family life, there tends to be more of a focus on the challenges that parenting brings to the profession. When I broached this topic with Lisa Kairos, we kept the discussion on the positive impact that parenthood has had on her career. One particular aspect that Lisa honed in on was the fact that she is quicker to dive right into her creative flow since she has become a parent. She used to take her time and ease into the work at hand; now she jumps in with vigor!

Let your curiosity guide you.

When was the last time you genuinely let your curiosity guide your creativity? Has your interest taken a back seat to some of the more goal driven aspects of your career? For Lisa Kiros, the two thankfully melded into one expression with her recent Periphery Project. Chasing her curiosity, Lisa began walking 400 miles of the San Francisco Bay Trail sketching and taking photos along the way. She started his project as a way to connect to the memory of her father who has passed away. It was fascinating to hear Lisa talk about this deeply personal and beautiful project, make sure to check out images from this series located at the end of this post.

Encaustic Art.

Do you get the chance to view encaustic art very often? I found myself enamored with this technique as Lisa Kairos opened up about her studio time and how she creates her artwork. If you need a refresher, encaustic art is also known as hot wax painting and involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. Lisa Kairos has been working with the encaustic technique for the last 15 years. She works hard to embed layers of imagery into each layer of wax meaning that each painting has between 15 and 25 layers. As you can imagine, this particular method is not for the impatient or timid.

How writing can make you a better artist.

Have you discovered different avenues and channels that deepen your abilities as an artist? Maybe for you, it's your rockclimbing hobby that enhances your creative process. Artist Lisa Kairos can trace a direct link between her growth as an artist and her growth as a writer. Learning from the likes of Anne Lamott and Ted Orland, Lisa says that she has learned more about the creative process from writers than her fellow artists. She has found so much encouragement and growth by reading these authors talk about the creative process in ways that few artists have. What can you learn from Lisa’s story? Do you have a similar outlet that enhances your artwork?

Outline of This Episode

• [1:10] I introduce my guest, Lisa Kairos.
• [2:45] What led Lisa to follow her desire to become an artist?
• [5:00] Lisa opens up about parenthood and how it has impacted her career.
• [9:45] The positive advantages that parenthood brings to Lisa’s art.
• [14:30] Allowing your curiosity to fuel creativity.
• [22:40] Why you need to be flexible when it comes to your artwork.
• [25:00] Dealing with disappointment.
• [28:45] Lisa talks about her process in the studio.
• [39:00] How writing has impacted Lisa’s artwork.
• [48:30] Lisa shares

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How often do you get the chance to do a deep dive into the creative process? Sure, you may have enjoyed the ability to do this when you were in school or early in your career but have you thought about it lately? It was an honor to sit down for a wide-ranging conversation with the artist, Cecil Touchon as we explored the creative process. Cecil creates collage and paintings out of typographic elements; his paintings are called Post-Dogmatic paintings. I know that artists like you are going to a lot out of our in-depth conversation.

Looking closer. 

One of the primary responsibilities of the artist is to look closer at the aspects of the world around us and through their work, help others to do the same. While this responsibility is a great one, the skill of looking closer takes time to develop. Observing the artwork of various artists, you can see this skill or lack thereof in full effect. Cecil Touchon is one of the most thoughtful and detailed artists that I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing. He takes the shapes, angles, and patterns he studies very seriously and does his best to convey this passion in his artwork.

The evolving creative process.

How has your creative process evolved over the years? Do you approach your canvas or your medium the same way today as you did when you first started? What has caused you to change and improve your process over the years? Looking back on his career, Cecil Touchon says that he has remained committed to the process of excellence. Through all the highs and lows of his career, the one constant focus for Cecil has been this strive to produce artwork that can compete with those at the top of his field. The challenge for many artists is staying committed to a certain level of creativity while evolving and adapting their process along the way.

How the digital revolution has impacted the art community. 

Can you think of a primary way you’ve been impacted as an artist by the digital revolution? Has your artwork improved or has it been negatively affected by the technological advancements of our society? According to Cecil Touchon, we are still in the middle of sorting the impact of the technological and digital revolution out. When you consider how quickly everything has changed in the last 20 years or so, you can see what Cecil is referring to. As the rise of the internet has impacted so much of our lives, it seems that many sectors including the art community are still trying to find their bearings.

Don’t let distractions rob you of your creativity.

Given the high-speed environment that the digital revolution has ushered in, many artists find themselves looking for ways to stabilize their process. What habits and routines have worked for you? Do you have a set place and time to practice your craft? Cecil Touchon is convinced that the best way to quiet all the noise that surrounds us both audibly and visually is to stay committed to a schedule. Throughout his career, Cecil has enjoyed the consistency and predictability of his set time and place to work on his art. Do you thrive in that type of environment or you do you feed off of a more haphazard approach?

Outline of This Episode

• [3:15] I introduce my guest, Cecil Touchon.
• [5:30] Cecil talks about how he got started as an artist.
• [9:30] How does Cecil describe his artwork?
• [12:00] The evolution of an artist.
• [20:30] Exploring creativity and going deeper.
• [25:30] Learning to notice and appreciate depth, angels, and shapes.
• [43:30] Cecil talks about what he is trying to accomplish with his artwork.
• [55:30] What has been the impact of the information age on the art community?
• [1:02:30] Moving from a looking culture to a watching culture.
• [1:09:00] Why you need a designated space and time to wo

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What does it look like to explore the language of painting? How do you understand the language? What does it take to become fluent in it? I had the incredible honor of sitting down and discussing this fascinating topic with the artist, Maggie Siner. Maggie grew up in New Jersey and currently resides in France. She began her studies at the Art Students League of New York in 1968, graduated from Boston University (BFA) in 1973 and from American University (MFA) in 1976. I can’t wait for you to learn from Maggie’s fascinating and unique perspective!

Habits learned early.

Do you have certain habits and lessons you learned early in your career that shaped you as an artist? What made those habits stand out in your mind? For Maggie Siner, those early habits came from her time at Boston University. There she learned the value of a steadfast work habit and working through the challenges and hurdles that life puts in the way. Maggie also discovered profound respect for the materials of her craft that has stayed with her all these years later. Maggie stresses that she is the artist she is today due to the valuable lessons that were instilled in her during those formative years.

The language of painting.

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “The language of painting?” Does it take you to a place of deep intellectual contemplation or does the phrase bounce off of you with little meaning? Maggie Siner says that the language of painting is not merely about color, it's about the transformation of materials. She goes on to explain that it also has to do with the abstract structure and arrangement of color and shape that creates the meaning of a painting. I was thrilled to hear Maggie’s compelling explanation of this beautiful phrase; I hope you get value from it too!

Painting from real life.

When I asked Maggie to describe her artwork, she was quick to tell me that she doesn’t like classifications because their meanings change so often. I was able to get her to open up about her artwork and what she tries to accomplish when she approaches the canvas. Maggie pains from life, meaning she is looking at her subject as she paints it. In her approach, Maggie doesn’t like to use photos or her imagination, the subject in front of her is of the utmost value. Ultimately, her goal is to extract meaning from the chaos of the world around her.

Stay committed to the process.

Let’s face it, our line of work isn’t the easiest or most forgiving. We all struggle with self-doubt and bouts of creative block. What have you found to help you through these challenges? For Maggie Siner, it all comes down to staying committed to the process. Much of her tenacity and determination harkens back to those early days and lessons learned at Boston University. She says that persistence and hard work are the secret weapons that keep her focused on her work through the good and the bad.

Outline of This Episode

• [3:15] I introduce my guest, Maggie Siner.
• [4:45] What led Maggie to a career in art?
• [11:30] Work habits that Maggie learned early in her career.
• [14:45] The language of painting.
• [22:45] How did Maggie end up in France?
• [32:45] Maggie describes her artwork.
• [45:00] Creating beauty in the midst of chaos.
• [47:50] Why it's important to stay committed to the process.

Other artists mentioned on this episode

• Henri Matisse
• Paul Cézanne
• Rembrandt

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Have you ever viewed a landscape painting that stayed with you for days after your viewing? Many people have had that type of response to Marie Thibeault's amazing artwork. In our conversation, Marie opened up about the inspiration for her artwork, what she wants people to take away from viewing her paintings, her process when approaching the canvas, and so much more. I was thrilled to dive deep into the topic of landscape paintings with an artist like Marie and I know you will get a lot out of her insights too.

Landscapes and tragedy.

While many landscape artists can tend to paint serene settings, Marie Thibeault takes her landscape paintings in a less common direction. Marie is interested in evoking a striking contrast that shows the beauty of the landscape in the midst of turmoil. Her early inspiration for this type of landscape painting came from plane crashes and other various disasters involving a landscape scene. Marie also created a fascinating series of paintings that centered around the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Make sure to take a look at images of Marie’s artwork located at the end of this post.

Getting unstuck.

Don’t you hate it when you get stuck creatively? Do you have any good tricks or tips that help you find your way out of that funk and back to doing what you love? Over the years I’ve had my fair share of creative block and I’m always eager to hear what has worked for my peers. Marie Thibeault says that her best method for getting back on track is to simply go through the motions. In her experience, Marie has found that time in the studio and patiently waiting for inspiration to return does the trick. She also notes that getting stuck creatively is a normal part of the artist’s experience, which is an important reminder for us all!

The role of painting, today.

What is the role of painting in the art community, today? Has it changed or shifted significantly over the years? Through her role as an educator, Marie has seen many of her students experiment with painting only to veer off into other mediums. Marie is very supportive of this process as her students learn to find the right channel for their message to take its form but she remains adamant that painting is that medium for her. She has found through her career that painting is the best way for her to explore the concepts and images that she is drawn to creatively. How did your medium capture your imagination?

You have a unique perspective to share.

Do you really believe that you have a unique and valuable perspective to share through your art? For many artists, the voices of doubt and worthlessness tend to creep up and rob precious time that could be spent basking in the light of creativity. What do you do when that happens? How do you remain focused on the work at hand? Marie is convinced that each artist has a valuable perspective to contribute to the community at large. In many ways, what she describes is a mosaic. While we aren’t all coming together to form one massive piece, we do suffer when one piece is missing from the collective.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:45] I introduce my guest, Marie Thibeault.
• [3:00] What inspires Marie to create her artwork?
• [5:45] Marie talks about her landscape influences.
• [8:00] How do the concepts of chaos and order influence Marie’s work?
• [10:00] What does Marie want people to take away from viewing her paintings?
• [12:00] Marie talks about her process of approaching the canvas.
• [14:30] How do you get unstuck?
• [18:00] What are you trying to say with your artwork?
• [20:30] The danger of rushing through a project.
• [22:45] What is the role of painting today?
• [26:30] Memorable reactions to Marie’s artwork.
• [28:00] Marie talks about challenges she has

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It can be a challenge in the art world to stand out and appeal to art collectors and stay true to who you are as an artist. Have you faced these struggles in your art career? My guest Nicolas Uribe is familiar with this challenge in his career and was kind enough to explore the topic in our conversation. Nicolas graduated with Honours from School of Visual Arts in NY. He has had numerous solo exhibitions both in the US and South America and has exhibited his work in Mexico, Spain, Egypt, among other countries. We cover a wide range of topics in our conversation including the path to finding your artistic voice, exploring your technical limitations, what it takes to contextualize the prices for your paintings, and much more. I can’t wait for you to get a glimpse of Nicolas’ fascinating perspective!

Finding your voice.

One of the universal experiences of an artist is the journey of finding your voice as an artist. Many of my guests over the years have opened up and shared their story of finding that unique creative voice within. In my conversation with Nicolas, it took a bit of a different direction as we discussed the technical aspects of forging your own path. Nicolas says that it was a challenge for him to clear the voices of his instructors from his mind as he sought to understand the uses of color in his artwork. While he is thankful for the amazing education he received, he acknowledges that part of growing as an artist is not only finding your unique creative voice but finding your own technical understandings as well.

Looking beyond the surface.

As artwork becomes increasingly accessible to the public via the internet, there seems to be a renewed focus on the immediate and the surface value of artwork. Let’s face it, much of the general public struggle to see the layers and complexity of the artwork that we labor over. What is the solution? How do we move past the surface and help the public to look deeper? Nicolas doesn’t just lay this at the feet of the public, he says that artists are looking deep enough too. He encourages fellow artists and his students to force themselves to dive deeper and ask the tough questions that make them go beyond initial impressions.

Paint what matters to you!

When you consider your unique abilities as an artist, do you factor in the emotional element? How do you bring forth your unique knowledge of your subject through your artwork? Nicolas is convinced that the primary advantage artists have is the unique way they know their subject, especially when they know the subject intimately. Don’t let yourself fall for the trap of creating something that anyone could make. Let your unique perspective shine through! What can you learn from Nicolas’ perspective? How do you view your subject matter in a way that no other artist can?

Contextualizing the price for your artwork.

What is your artwork worth? That can be a stressful question to answer for many artists. How have you set your prices over your career? Do you hope to sell one piece for a large sum or do you want to sell multiple pieces for a more modest amount? Nicolas has had the challenge of contextualizing the prices of his artwork as he made the move from the New York market to Bogotá, Colombia. At the end of the day, it’s Nicolas’ goal to reach as many people as he can with his art, he less focused on that big sale, now more than ever.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:55] I introduce my guest, Nicolas Uribe.
• [2:40] Nicolas opens up about what led him to become an artist.
• [15:00] Why did Nicolas move back to Colombia?
• [18:00] Nicolas talks about struggling to find his voice and his own technical process.
• [23:00] Discovering the purpose behind the art.
• [31:20] How does Nicolas choose his subject matter?
• [36:20] Falling for

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What role has your intuition played in your development as an artist? Have you always followed it or has it been a struggle to give yourself that permission? My guest, Jordan Wolfson has embraced his intuition and followed it down some fascinating creative corridors. In our conversation, Jordan opens up about how he got started as an artist, what his process looks like, the contrast between language and art, how he honed his skill set, and so much more. I can’t wait for you to get a glimpse of Jordan’s fascinating perspective!

Wandering in the dark and finding a path forward.

Can you think back to the start of your career in art? Did you have a clear moment when you knew that this was what you wanted to dedicate your life to or was it more of a gradual awakening? The way Jordan Wolfson tells it, his path into an art career was more of a discovery than an actual experience or decision. For the longest time, Jordan had a deep desire to spend time painting and he’s kept following that desire which led him through college and into his career today. Looking back, Jordan speaks fondly of the studio classes he took during his undergrad at UC Santa Cruz. During that time, Jordan felt like he had fallen in love with the craft of painting. Do you have a similar story, what set you on your path?

Honing the craft.

As an artist you are constantly honing and refining your craft, let’s face it, you never truly, “Arrive.” This process can look different for each of us and a lot of benefits can be found when we take the time to hear each other's stories. Jordan Wolfson’s story is no different, he has several stories to tell of renowned artists like John Walker and Andrew Forge who entered his story at critical times in his development to challenge and encourage him in his work. Listening to Jordan, you really get the sense that he knows that he has a lot to learn even though he’s quite accomplished!

Can you really follow your intuition?

Which is more important to follow, your training or your intuition? Do you have to choose between the two? In my experience, if you want to follow your intuition, you’ve got to develop an ear for it as you progress in your career. If you are constantly ignoring your intuition, eventually it’ll fade into the background. Jordan Wolfson describes following his intuition as tracking down a glimmer of light or thread to see where it came from and where it’s leading. While Jordan is quick to emphasize the influence of his art school training, he also points to this cultivation of listening to his intuition that has had a huge impact on his artwork over the years.

Clearing the mind and getting centered.

What are some of the most important aspects of your creative process? Do you have certain rituals that you follow when you enter your studio space and approach your canvas? For Jordan Wolfson, his process starts with a morning practice of sitting and meditation. He places a lot of value on being present in mind and body before he proceeds with his work at the canvas. Its Jordan’s hope that this deliberate practice of presence and centering his mind have a direct impact on his artwork. Take a look at some of the images of his art located at the end of this post and see for yourself!

Outline of This Episode

• [3:20] I introduce my guest, Jordan Wolfson.
• [4:50] How Jordan decided to become an artist.
• [7:00] Jordan talks about his post-college pursuits.
• [10:30] What it took for Jordan to hone his painting skills.
• [15:30] Painting and presence.
• [17:20] The contrast between language and art.
• [20:45] Jordan talks about what he is currently working on.
• [26:00] Trusting your intuition and seeing where it leads.
• [33:30] Jordan opens up about his process of creating his artwork.
• [44

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What does an artistic director do? How do they curate and plan a multifaceted event like an art fair? I had the pleasure to sit down with renowned artistic director, Christina Steinbrecher-Pfandt. In our conversation, Christia opened up about how she got started organizing art fairs, what the whole planning process looks like, what artists can expect when they get featured in an art fair, how digital images are impacting the art scene, and so much more. I can’t wait for you to get to know Christina and see things from her unique perspective as an artistic director!

How it all started.

Can you imagine getting the offer of a lifetime? It doesn’t happen to everyone! Christina had been enamored with art since she was a child growing up in Cologne. As an adult, she found herself working in an art gallery when she was approached by the organizers of the Moscow Art Fair, Art Moscow. They presented her with a challenging and unique opportunity to join them as the artistic director of the fair. From that point on, Christina has been honing her skills and putting in the time curating and crafting unique experiences for the public to enjoy the beauty and creativity of various art installations.

A patient and long view approach.

How do art fairs work? What is the process like for artistic directors like Christina? It turns out that artistic directors have to be incredibly patient and able to plan for a long-term approach to their events. It’s not just six months ahead of time or even a year, it takes several years to properly plan and execute a successful art fair! Beyond the long-term logistics, Christina also helps to facilitate an atmosphere of collaboration and networking between artists, collectors, galleries and the public. I couldn’t imagine having that enormous perspective and patience but I am thankful for dedicated and passionate directors like Christina.

What artists should expect from an art fair.

As an artist, what should you expect if you get to be featured at an art fair? According to Christina, one of the most important things an artist can do is to show up and be available with their artwork if possible. Not only is an art fair an opportunity to expose your art to the public, but it’s also a selling opportunity! If you get featured at a fair, do what you can to support the gallery that features you there, collectors will notice. Have you been fortunate enough to participate in an art fair during the course of your career? What tips or perspectives do you have to add?

The impact of digital images on the art scene.

As many of my regular followers know, I am always interested in hearing from my guests about their take on the relationship between art and the internet. While there are many helpful aspects of viewing art online, there are also many drawbacks and challenges. I was thrilled to hear Christina’s helpful and fascinating perspective on this topic. Christina takes a hopeful view of the future between art and the internet, she believes that exposure online will lead people to go and view the art they are moved by in person. I loved Christina’s view on this topic and I’m certain many of you will too!

Outline of This Episode

• [3:20] I introduce my guest, Christina Steinbrecher-Pfandt.
• [4:50] How did Christina get involved with organizing art fairs?
• [6:30] Art fairs work in cycles.
• [11:00] What does Christina look for in artists featured in her art fairs?
• [15:30] How Christina makes her fairs financially viable.
• [19:15] Unexpected circumstances at art fairs.
• [25:00] The logistical challenges of running an art fair.
• [28:40] How artists can make the most of getting featured at an art fair.
• [33:10] Do art collectors typically want to meet an artist?
• [36:00] What is the general

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Does literature have an influence on your artwork? Where do you draw your inspiration? How can we tell stories through our art in a compelling and engaging way? My guest is Susan Lichtman, an accomplished artist and educator who has been shaped by her love of literature. In our conversation, Susan opens up about how she got started as an artist, the role storytelling plays in her artwork, how she constructs a painting, projects she is currently working on, and much more. I can’t wait for you to get a glimpse of Susan’s amazing artwork and her fascinating perspective!

Observational painting and storytelling.

Do you have a favorite observational painter? I’ve been exposed to so many wonderful observational painters throughout my career that I could never choose just one! Susan Lichtman is an immensely talented observational painter who has dedicated the last 30 years of her career to painting various rooms and angles in her home. Susan is an absolute inspiration for her ability to tell a compelling story through her work and keep the subject matter engaging after all those years. Make sure to check out the images of Susan’s artwork located at the end of this post!

Celebrating a love for literature.

It is really amazing how much literature and painting are so closing linked through the ages and even today. As an avid reader, I find myself continually inspired and drawn to literature, in fact, I believe it makes me a better artist. In our conversation, Susan Lichtman was kind enough to open up about her love for literature and how it’s influenced her career. The authors that Susan zeroed in on in her early career were Marcel Proust and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Fusing her love for literature and art, Susan currently co-teaches a course with her friend and Dostoevsky expert, Robin Feuer Miller. After they study the literature, Susan leads the class to make art in response to their reading. I loved hearing about this innovative approach to art and education and I know that artists like you will enjoy it too!

Get to know yourself as an artist.

As you progress through life you realize that with each passing year start to become more and more comfortable in your own skin. Does this same logic apply to your role as an artist? Don’t think of it as a zero-sum game, it’s not a yes or no question, your development as an artist takes time. Give yourself room to breathe and experiment, cut yourself some slack! As you evolve and change over the years, allow that same fluidity and sense of discovery to apply to your art career too. At the end of the day, listen to your gut and follow your intuition!

Putting a mirror up to society.

What is the role of the artist in our culture today? Have you ever really stopped to consider this question? It seems that now, more than ever, challenging artistic voices are needed to create a contrast to some of the darker corners of society and politics. Embracing creativity and disruption are political activities that need to increase. Does every artist need to have a political opinion and message? No. I find it immensely hopeful that as artists we can be part of the solution, cultivating a robust and diverse community where more and more voices are welcomed.

Outline of This Episode

• [0:55] I introduce my guest, Susan Lichtman.
• [2:50] How Susan got started as an artist.
• [11:00] Susan talks about storytelling and observational painting in her artwork.
• [16:00] How does Susan construct a painting?
• [19:45] Discovering when to paint and when to look at your subject.
• [24:20] Getting to know yourself as an artist.
• [27:00] How does Susan choose her pallet?
• [32:30] What is Susan working on right now?
• [39:00] Habits that help Susan with her creative process.
• [41:10] What is the rol

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What does the process of creating gouache portraits look like? Where did the idea come from to create these portraits alongside the #MeToo stories of women who have survived sexual harassment and assault? I can’t wait for you to get to know the talented artist, Diana Corvelle! In our conversation, Diana and I discuss what inspired her to start this series on #MeToo stories, how she grew up encouraged to pursue a career in art, why she loves working with gouache, how politics can shape art, why we need more diverse voices in the art community, and much more!

Why gouache?

Have you ever worked with gouache before? What was your experience? Did you love it or find it challenging? For artist Diana Corvelle gouache was something that she fell in love with in art school. While everyone else around her pushed through their gouache work begrudgingly, Diana took to it like a fish to water. Looking back on that moment in her early career, Diana is so happy that she got to experiment and explore the medium that she would end up utilizing in some of her most experimental projects. Take a look at what Diana has been able to do with the gouache medium by checking out images of her work located at the bottom of this post.

The power of telling your story.

Have you ever felt marginalized or silenced? Have you ever felt like your perspective was worthless? If so, you can stand in solidarity with countless women who have risen up all over this country to speak the truth of their encounter of sexual assault or harassment through the #MeToo movement. Many of these women have hidden their stories deep inside for years and some, even longer, decades. Diana Corvelle is taking the bold step to highlight this movement through her artwork. She paints these amazing gouache portraits of women who have been subjected to sexual harassment and abuse alongside text describing their experiences. While it is a somber subject, Diana is grateful for the role she gets to play in empowering these courageous women.

The intersection of art and politics.

Art has a powerful way of conveying and often times critiquing political topics and messages. Since the 2016 election, many artists are searching for a way to push back against the current administration through creative and artistic means. While many artists opt for a more visceral message of attacking the head of this administration, there are those who look for a more subversive approach. Diana Corvelle counts herself among the more discreet but opinionated subsection of those artists. She is not afraid of a sending a political message but she wants to convey it on her terms. Understanding this aspect of Diana’s perspective, you can see a whole new layer of meaning and depth behind her current series.

Why the art community needs more diverse voices.

Like any segment of our society, the art world would only benefit from more diverse and unique voices getting a seat at the table. Have you seen any trends toward embracing more minority voices in your corner of the art community? How can you be part of the change? Artist Diana Corvelle is convinced that our culture will only be enriched when more voices of women and people of color are elevated and appreciated. At the end of the day, it’s all about visibility for Diana, she wants to see a wide array of minority groups and marginalized voices come together under the kaleidoscope of art. What is your take on this topic? How can we create a more inclusive atmosphere?

Outline of This Episode

• [0:55] I introduce my guest, Diana Corvelle.
• [3:00] Growing up surrounded by art.
• [6:00] Diana describes her artwork.
• [11:20] How does Diana use her oil pastels?
• [14:15] What led Diana to work with gouache?
• [17:30] Diana talks about what inspires her work.
• [27:00]

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Where does the inspiration come from to explore embroidery artwork? What is the process like going from the canvas to the embroidery and back again? How do the two mediums complement and contrast? I put all these questions to my talented guest, Cayce Zavaglia. In our conversation, Cayce opened up about how she got into embroidery artwork, what led her to the theme of family portraits, what it was like returning to Australia, how failure is a close link to success, and much more. I know artists like you will get as much joy as I did hearing from Cayce’s intriguing perspective.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

You’ve heard the phrase, necessity is the mother of invention, right? That saying really rang true for artist Cayce Zavaglia. During a period of creative flux, Cayce was also pregnant. This reality forced her to look for ways to continue to create in a non-toxic studio. After experimenting for a whole summer with various mediums, Cayce still hadn’t found what she wanted to work with. Back in the recesses of her mind, she kept coming back to this embroidery work she had done as a child. Tugging at this thread, Cayce decided to start experimenting by sewing a portrait. Little did she know, that this experiment unleashed a new creative endeavor that would stay with her for years to come. Make sure to check out images of Cayce’s embroidery artwork located at the end of this post.

You don’t have to choose between parenthood and an art career.

It seems to be an unwritten rule in many circles that you can’t be both a parent (oftentimes more specifically, a mother) and an artist. These two roles in society are often pitted against each other, you have to choose one or the other. Is that really accurate, do you have to choose? While some may choose to devote themselves to parenthood or their art career for a period of time, artists like Cayce serve as a prime example that you can embrace both! If you are struggling with navigating these two roles, I hope you see Cayce’s story as an encouragement!

Viewing failure as a close link to success.

What is your relationship like with failure? Do you fear it and avoid it at all costs or do you lean into it? What if I told you that failure has a closer link to success than you may have thought? Artist, Cayce Zavaglia says that she goes out of her way to look for mistakes, accidents, and failures in her artwork. Sounds crazy, right? Cayce has learned to view failure as the closest link to creativity and then to success. In her view, if you are putting yourself out there creatively, that means you are taking a risk and that’s where the greatest opportunity for success thrives! Do you agree with Cayce’s perspective?

Don’t stop creating.

While the draw of instant recognition and reaction to your artwork is enticing, Cayce Zavagila urges caution. Let’s face it, Instagram can serve as both a blessing and a curse. It can be a wonderful resource for inspiration but it can also serve as an unhelpful sounding board. Cayce says that one of the best practices that an artist can get into is the habit of spending time alone in their studio honing their craft. It’s not sexy or flashy advice but it is good advice! I’m sure there will be a wide range of opinions on this topic but I’m really thankful that Cayce is willing to step out there and provide her helpful insight!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:50] I introduce my guest, Cayce Zavaglia.
• [4:00] How did Cayce end up working with embroidery?
• [8:30] Cayce talks about how her embroidery work influences her painting.
• [11:45] What led Cayce to work with the theme of “Family?”
• [16:00] How did Cayce get back to Australia for her project?
• [18:30] Memorable reactions to Cayce’s embroidery work and challenges she has faced.
• [21:15] You don’t

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What does it look like to stay put and get to know a location inside and out? What insights and lessons can you learn from this helpful discipline? How does staying in one location impact your growth as an artist? It was my privilege to explore these questions and a lot more in my conversation with artist, William Kocher. We also touched on how William got his start as an artist, why it’s important to connect with a community of artists, what colors William enjoys using, why we need art as a society, and so much more. I know artists like you will enjoy learning from William’s interesting journey and unique perspective!

Why it’s helpful to connect with a community of artists.

Have you had the chance to connect with a community of artists? What value have you found in spending time with people who share your profession? In my personal experience, connecting either in person or online with a community of artists has helped me in countless ways! Artist William Kocher says that making similar connections with artists in the Cape Cod area had a huge positive impact on his growth and creativity. Whether you can find one and plug in right away or if you have to create one yourself, I highly encourage even the most introverted artists to take the risk to go out there find a group you can contribute to.

Studying the landscape.

Many artists love to be constantly on the go looking for new and exciting places, people, or objects to inspire their creativity. Does that sound like you or do you find yourself of the more stationary variety? It was refreshing to hear from an artist like William Kocher who seemed less interested in finding new locations to spark his creativity as he was more concerned with getting to know a particular place inside and out. For William, that place is his family's farm near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Due to his relentless study of the farm, William knows which trees the birds perch in, how the sunlight falls at just the right time of day, and so many additional hidden secrets and gems revealed only to the most astute observer. How does William’s approach strike you?

Why we need art.

As our society continues to evolve there are some who question why we need art in schools, public spaces, and sometimes as a profession altogether. How do you respond to these questions? Are you able to engage or do you feel your blood pressure start to rise because you find it insane that people question the value of art? I love the way that William Kocher puts it, he says that “Art elevates life, it is a vital form of communication.” I completely agree! Especially in our society today, we must continue the work to emphasize the value and beauty that art brings to our culture in a myriad of ways.

Art doesn’t have to be complicated to have value.

Do you struggle with finding depth in your art? Are you ever intimidated by artists who have all these wonderfully complex and philosophical motivations and messages in their artwork? What if that’s just not you? Is that ok? The truth is, art doesn’t have to be complex to have value! I was thrilled to hear a similar message from William Kocher in our conversation. He encourages artists like you to avoid stressing out about the complexity of your artwork if that doesn’t “fit” your approach. Find your voice, tap into your creative energy and just make something beautiful!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:45] I introduce my guest, William Kocher.
• [3:25] What led William to a career in art?
• [8:30] Why it’s so important to connect with an art community.
• [10:30] William talks about painting outdoors for the first time.
• [12:30] Enjoying the opportunity to get away to paint.
• [16:15] What colors does William use on a regular basis?
• [18:00] How does William start his paintings?

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What does it look like to create accessible art? How does that topic become a passion project for an artist? What comes to mind when you think of “Accessible art?” My guest, artist Bartosz Beda is working on a project that centers on this very topic! In our conversation, Bartosz opens up about what led him to his career as an artist, where his residencies and fellowships have taken him, the role themes play in his artwork, why he started Execute Magazine, and much more! There are some many wonderful paths that our conversation takes, I can’t wait for you to get to know Bartosz!

What is the $7.25 project?

On a quest to create accessible art, Bartosz Beda started the $7.25 project during his summer residency at GoggleWorks in Reading, PA. Bartosz started this project to engage with the issues and challenges that minimum wage workers face every day. Inspired by immigrants from Mexico and Puerto Rico who are settling in Reading at record numbers, Bartosz wanted to represent their struggle and that of many people in the area who strive to meet the demands of daily life while working position that pays minimum wage. With this in mind, Bartosz decided to paint one hour per day throughout his residency at GoggleWorks. Each day, the resulting painting, produced in one hour of work, will be offered for sale at $7.25, or Pennsylvania’s minimum wage.

Perceptions of color.

As an artist, you know that your relationship to certain colors can take on an almost personal relationship. Have you ever thought about your use of color in terms of seasons of life or different geographical locations? I was really impressed with Bartosz’ unique take on his particular relationship with various colors in his artwork and how he sees color as it relates to the different countries that he’s visited. For instance, Bartosz says that blue is the primary color that he thinks of when he considers America. This perception comes from the blue in our national flag, the uniforms of police officers, and the general sense of adventure and creating something new that our country represents. I found Bartosz’ take on the perception and use of color absolutely fascinating and I have a feeling that you will too!

When you create work you are passionate about, people will find you.

Which one comes first, recognition or work that deserves recognition? The chicken or the egg? In some ways this question seems like an easy one to answer, the artwork comes first and then the following/recognition. But be honest, which one are you chasing? I’m not trying to give you a hard time but let’s face it, there are too many voices out there telling us to go after a following or chase recognition when we should be focused on creating artwork that we are passionate about! Artist Bartosz Beda shares a similar perspective, he isn’t too worried about who will connect with his work - he’s focused on creating projects that come forth from his passion and creativity. I hope you can catch a bit of Bartosz’ passion and perspective, I found it really helpful!

Execute Magazine and creating more platforms for artists.

On a similar vein of creating accessible art for the public, Bartosz Beda has also gone to work creating a platform for artists who are looking for ways to hone their skills and learn from fresh perspectives (sounds kind of familiar). Seeking to serve the art community and looking for a way to create something that he could share with his young daughter later in her life, Bartosz created Execute Magazine. While he’s still working to improve and refine the operation, Bartosz is very proud of the work he and his team have been able to create. Make sure to check out images of Bartosz’ artwork and the link to his magazine by checking out the resources section at the end of this post!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:35] I introd

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As an artist, you’ve likely struggled with honing your craft and finding ways to replenish your creativity over the years, I know I have! That’s why I loved my conversation with Aubrey Levinthal and I know you will too! In our conversation, Aubrey opens up about how she got started as an artist, her experience in art school, how she’s honed her craft, what she does to replenish her creativity, and so much more! I know many of you will also enjoy images of Aubrey’s artwork, located at the end of this post, don’t miss it!

Honing your craft.

What have been some of the unique challenges you’ve faced on your journey to hone and refine your artistic craft? Have you been plagued with self-doubt? Do you struggle with a block in creativity? You are not alone! There are so many of us who have been there and struggled in silence. Artist Aubrey Levinthal has had her fair share of milestones and struggled along the way. The constant in Aubrey’s story is an inner drive she’s cultivated and nurtured over the years. Aubrey holds herself to a very high standard and wants to bring her work to a level of creativity and quality that goes beyond her wildest dreams. Can you relate? What can you learn from Aubrey’s story?

Lessons learned from what doesn’t work on the canvas.

Too often we can get so focused on what we can learn from the good that we forget the lessons we can learn from the negative or challenging aspects of the creative process. Have you learned some valuable lessons recently? Aubrey Levinthal has a refreshing perspective on what doesn’t work when she approaches her canvas, she sees an opportunity to learn. I love that! You and I need more positive perspectives like Aubrey’s! Let’s leave the negative terminologies and negative mindsets behind and see setbacks as opportunities to learn. Imagine the impact that simple shift could have on your creative process and your career as an artist.

Replenishing your creativity.

Do you have any tips on replenishing your creativity as an artist? What have you tried? Are you looking for a way to reset and refresh right now? In my conversation with Aubrey Levinthal, we touched on this important topic. Aubrey says that one of the best ways to replenish her creativity to step away and visit a museum or an art gallery to tap into the reason why she loves creating art. Everyone needs to find what works for them, don’t let yourself burn out! The world needs your unique artistic voice, take care of yourself!

The answer is in the paint.

When you are young and inexperienced, you tend to make mountains out of molehills. At least that was the case for me! Too often I would get sidetracked or let myself get distracted by some seemingly larger than life challenge, I wish someone would have shared with me Aubrey’s wonderful advice! Looking back at herself ten years ago, Aubrey would tell herself, “The answer is in the paint.” Instead of allowing herself to get overwhelmed at all the options or all the possibilities, Aubrey wishes that she would have given herself the permission to try and fail. At the end of the day, as an artist, your job is to create. Whatever you need to do to cut through the noise and put your paintbrush to canvas, do it!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:00] I introduce my guest, Aubrey Levinthal.
• [2:45] How did Aubrey sense the call to become an artist?
• [4:15] Artists that inspired Aubrey from an early age & how her parents empowered her.
• [6:00] Aubrey talks about her experience at art school.
• [9:30] Discovering your voice and working through criticism.
• [12:45] Aubrey describes her artwork.
• [14:00] What catches Aubrey’s eye for her motifs? How does she use her sketchbook?
• [17:15] Aubrey’s process in her studio.
• [19:30] Honing in on surprises and a sense of

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What captures an artist’s imagination to create large-scale paintings? How do you tap into the boldness that's necessary to follow your instincts and create something that feels impossible? My guest is Palden Hamilton, a representational painter from Baltimore, Maryland. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago where he earned his BFA. In our conversation, we talk about chaos and order, finding your voice, what materials Palden uses to paint on, his upcoming large-scale paintings, his desire to connect with the external world and so much more! I can’t wait for you to hear from Palden’s unique take on life as an artist.

Life lessons from observing trees.

What is it that inspires your creativity? Is it great literature? Is it beautifully composed music? What resonates so deeply in you that it ignites the spark of creativity? For artist, Palden Hamilton it's a desire to connect with the external world. It was a feeling of longing and an emotional response to nature that led Palden to start drawing. In our conversation, Palden also touched on some life lessons he has learned from observing nature and in particular, trees. As an artist in residence at the Ladew Topiary Gardens, Palden enjoyed studying the trees and observed how they are a great analogy to many aspects of life.

Branding, telling your story and cultivating curiosity.

Let’s face it, in the art community, “Branding” is often a dirty word. It doesn’t have to be! Think of it this way, branding is just a way of communicating your story. What is the story that you want to tell with your art? As an artist, you’ve cultivated a sense of curiosity for the world around you. Don’t stop! Continue to cultivate and nurture that sense of curiosity in your work and use it to tell your story. Palden Hamilton is passionate about telling his story and continuing to explore various aspects of his creativity as an artist. At the end of the day, Palden refuses to let others dictate his direction as an artist and he encourages artists like you to do the same. Tell your story with boldness, the world needs your voice!

Pursuing the dream to create large-scale paintings.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to go crazy and chase that rabbit on an unexpected adventure? As you follow your curiosity, you’ll discover different angles that will spark a new perspective. It’s up to you if you are ready to pull that thread and see what unravels. Palden Hamilton has been pulling those threads for a while and has arrived at a new project, large-scale paintings. He’s been considering this new project for some time and now he is ready to move forward. I loved hearing Palden’s passion and excitement for his new project and I know artists like you will geek out with me as he describes his intended approach.

Find your voice and be you!

One of the biggest themes from my conversation with Palden Hamilton was the desire to find, articulate, and communicate his voice as an artist. I’ve struggled with this topic over the course of my art career and I know that many of you have as well. From our discussion about his new large-scale paintings to his observations from nature, Palden was kind enough to open up about these topics and everything in between. I hope you are inspired by Palden’s boldness and the risks he takes with his art. Don’t forget, your voice is valuable! Make sure to check out images of his artwork located at the end of this post!

Outline of This Episode

• [1:00] I introduce my guest, Palden Hamilton.
• [2:30] Palden talks about how he started with his passion for art.
• [5:00] What was it like growing up with Japanese and Himalayan influences?
• [8:20] How Palden decided to pursue an art career.
• [10:20] Life lessons learned from observing trees.
• [12:30] Tackling the unknown and cult

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What goes through the mind of a plein air artist? How do they study the landscape and come up with that one viewpoint that draws them in? Do the habits for success come quickly or do they unfold slowly over time? My guest, Matt Smith is an accomplished plein air artist who has spent much of his developing years in Arizona. In our conversation, Matt opens up about artists who have influenced and mentored him, how he studies the landscape, what it takes for an artist to find their voice, the value in self-criticism, common mistakes made by inexperienced artists, and much more. I can’t wait for you to hear from Matt’s seasoned and helpful perspective!

Celebrate what ignites your passion!

Can you think back to that moment when you first noticed that passion and excitement that awakened your desire to create? What was it that moved you in such a significant way? Did that moment lead you to find your artistic voice? For artist Matt Smith, it all came down to spending time in the desert and paying attention to what that environment awakened within him. He looks back at that period of his life as a turning point that really unlocked a new stream of creativity and direction in his career. What can you learn from Matt’s story? How do you celebrate your passion? Make sure to check out images of Matt’s artwork located at the end of this post!

The value of self-criticism.

Let’s face it, we all hate those artists who give off an air of having “Arrived” in their art career. What’s the solution? How do you fight back the ego and maintaining a healthy dose of humility as you grow as an artist? According to Matt Smith, a great way to stay humble and keep growing as an artist is to practice self-criticism. While this can be a slippery slope and lead some people to be too hard on themselves, it’s value and merits shouldn’t go ignored. What stage are you on in your journey? Do you need to up your game and give yourself some long overdue critiques?

Studying the landscape.

How do pick your next project? As an artist, I’m always fascinated with what captures my peer's eye as they go about creating their next work of art. I feel like by understanding how others see the world around them, it starts to grow and heighten my awareness too. When I asked Matt what it is in the desert that captures his imagination he said that it generally comes down to contrasts that catch his eye. He was quick to add that it tends to shift from painting to painting but he always tries to circle back to the fundamentals of drawing, value, design, and color. Hearing from Matt’s viewpoint was really eye-opening and hope you get as much value from it as I did!

Slow down, pay attention, and don’t be in such a hurry!

Time and time again when I sit down with experienced artists I keep coming back to this theme of slowing down and paying attention. When I ask my guests like Matt Smith to share some advice they’d have for their younger selves they all end up saying, in one way or another, slow down. Are you slowing down enough in your routine and schedule to notice the scenes around you? What practices or habits have helped you slow down and pay attention? At the end of the day, we all could use a good reminder to stay aware of the beauty and significance that we pass by each day.

Outline of This Episode

• [4:30] I introduce my guest, Matt Smith.
• [6:00] Artists that inspired Matt along the way.
• [7:30] How spending time in Europe impacted Matt.
• [9:20] What is it that moves and inspires Matt to create art?
• [11:30] How did Matt connect with artists he admired?
• [16:30] Transitioning from “Art student” to professional artist.
• [19:00] The value of self-criticism.
• [20:30] How does an artist find their voice?
• [22:30] What is Matt currently obsessed wi

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What comes to mind when you think of observational art? Are there specific artists that you think of? Have you dabbled in observational art? My guest is art educator and observational artist, Elana Hagler. In our conversation, Elana opens up about her journey as an artist, early influences in grad school, how she struggled to find her way post-grad school, what she looks for when she starts a project, the role of art in our world today, and much more! I can’t wait for you to hear from Elana’s unique perspective. Make sure to check out images of Elana’s work located at the end of this post!

The challenge of finding your way as an artist.

Whether you went the traditional route via grad school or you found your way as an artist on a different path, most of us have all faced that moment when we had to ask ourselves, “Now what?” For many of us, this question comes after the structured environment of grad school, was that your experience or did it come at a different point? Artist Elana Hagler had just finished grad school and had experienced some significant losses in her family when she and her husband decided to move to Denver to be closer to his family for support raising their young children. During this “Exile” from her community of artists, Elana had to find a new way forward. While it was a scary and difficult time, Elana looks back and is grateful for the changes and challenges faced that helped her grow as an artist.

Observational art and finding a “Problem” that’s almost too hard to solve.

What is it about observational art that draws the viewer in? Is it the focus of the artist? Does something get telegraphed from the subject to the artist to the painting? How does this all play out from the artist’s perspective? According to Elana Hagler, it’s the “Problems” that draw her in and help her to focus her attention on a specific subject. Elana loves to challenge herself with juxtapositions and contrasts that are almost too difficult for her to handle. These challenges for Elana go beyond just light vs. dark and sharp edges vs. soft edges, she looks at the contrast of the intimate vs. the monumental. I know artists like you will appreciate and value Elana’s distinct viewpoint of her subject matter and how she approaches the canvas.

How influences and styles show up in artwork.

When was the last time you looked at a piece of artwork and knew almost instantly where that artist had studied or who their major influences were? I don’t know about you but I do this constantly and I don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad thing. In my conversation with Elana Hagler, we discussed the ways that different styles and schools of thought show up in today’s artwork. I also share my personal thoughts on the divide between west coast and east coast artists and how that connects with Elana’s helpful viewpoint as an art educator. Who have been some of your greatest influences? Do you think they show up in your artwork?

Why it’s important to slow down and pay attention.

Too often, in our world today, we are trained either actively or passively to make quick judgments on things that are valuable and worth our time and the things that aren’t. This quick and reflexive discernment can be attributed to the rise of technology and our seemingly endless stream of visual stimuli. The benefit that art brings to our world today is the call to slow down and pay attention to a crafted and cultivated object that is worth consideration. I hope artists like you can find some hope and encouragement from Elana and I’s conversation around this important topic.

Outline of This Episode

• [1:00] I introduce my guest, Elana Hagler.
• [3:00] How Elana got started as an artist.
• [6:00] Elana talks about her art education.
• [10:30] How Elana describes her artwork.
• [12:30]

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On your journey as an artist, have you experienced a season where you wanted to expand your painting skills? What helped you in that season? What would you suggest to others who are in that season right now? My guest, Claudia Rilling was kind enough to open up about this topic as it relates to her own career as an artist. In our conversation, we also touch on Claudia’s search for direction, her time studying under Israel Hershberg, the technical details of her time in the studio, what attracts her to a subject, and much more. I can’t wait for you to hear some of the powerful insights that Claudia has to share.

Searching for direction.

As an artist, you are most likely very familiar with the sense of searching for direction in your artwork and in your career in general. What has helped you on your journey? Were you better off finding your path on your own or did it help to be connected to an art community? In my conversation with Claudia Rilling, she shares aspects of her journey and how she struggled and then eventually found her voice and diction as an artist. Specifically, Claudia points to a season of life in her twenties where she struggled with mark making. Before long, Claudia ended up going to grad school where she would continue to wrestle with and then hone her voice and approach as an artist.

Honing and expanding your painting skills.

What does it take for an artist to get to the point where they finally feel comfortable with their painting skills? Is that even possible or does the artist have to come to terms with a lifelong struggle in this area? Artist Claudia Rilling explains that in her experience, expanding and honing your painting skills is something that most artists continue to work on throughout their career. Having said that, there comes a point where an experienced artist feels more comfortable with their skill sets and abilities. I hope artists like you get as much out of the technical aspects of my conversation with Claudia as I did! Also, don’t forget to check out images of Claudia’s work located at the end of this post.

The drawbacks of viewing art digitally.

One of the questions I like to put to experienced artists like Claudia Rilling is finding out what they see in the painting world as it sits in today’s landscape. As usual, I was intrigued by Claudia’s response. In her opinion, due to the numerous closures of art galleries and the increased proliferation of art being viewed online, we’ve lost an important feature in the art world. While many artists are becoming more technologically and digitally astute, Claudia maintains that the move to a digital and virtual experience with art is not necessarily a good thing. What do you think of Claudia’s take? Do you agree? Do you view the digital movement as a positive step or a negative one?

How to tell when a painting is finished.

A question many artists struggle to answer is; when is a painting “Finished?” Do you still struggle with this question? What strategies or methods have you used to help you conclude your paintings? While there is no perfect answer, my guest, Claudia Rilling was kind enough to share her thoughts on this important step in creating artwork. In Claudia’s experience, it all comes down to getting the input of fellow artists. She quips with a great expression, “How many artists does it take to make a painting? Two! One to paint and the other to tell them when to stop.” Are you the type of artist who has the confidence to stop on their own or have you found it helpful to get the opinion of fellow artists?

Outline of This Episode

• [1:00] I introduce my guest, Claudia Rilling.
• [2:40] How Claudia got started painting.
• [4:00] Artists that inspired Claudia early on.
• [9:00] How Claudia describes her work.
• [12:00] What was Claudia’s post u

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What does the journey of a responsive painter focused on interior landscapes and still life paintings entail? How do you cultivate an awareness of the world around you in a way that can come to life in your art? My guest is artist and painter, John Lee. In my conversation with John, we cover his journey into artistry, how his ideas for projects from, his perspective as an art instructor, what he’s been working on during his break from teaching, the insufficiency of labels, and so much more! I can’t wait for you to hear from John and his engaging story.

Interior Landscapes and Still Life Paintings

John Lee’s work is based on what he sees in the world around him. He doesn’t like to paint things that he doesn’t see, rather he focuses more on genres like still life paintings and interior landscapes. In the end, it’s kind of hard to really nail John down in one particular vein, he enjoys the complexity and ambiguity. I know that artists like you will really enjoy and appreciate John’s unique voice and style. Make sure to check out images of his artwork located at the end of this post!

Learning to see, not look.

How does the role of an art instructor impact the work of an artist? Does that responsibility bleed into and influence their creative work? How can teaching draw out different aspects of the artist? My guest, John Lee teaches in Williamsburg, Virginia at the College of William and Mary. What’s fascinating about many of the students that John teaches is that many of them do not end up pursuing a career as an artist. In light of this, John focus on exposing these students to a world they are unaware of through art. He hopes that time in his classroom helps students learn to see, not look at the world around them.

The absence of curation.

When you look at the channels for art in the world around you, do you notice that there is a distinct lack of thoughtful and intentional curation? What is the solution? How do we start to move back or begin to appreciate once again the careful attention to detail that curation provides? In my conversation with artist John Lee, we discuss how increased access to art databases can actually have a limiting effect on the creative mind. John also touches on what he is doing as an art instructor to help expose students to resources that will grow their perspectives.

Paying attention to what captures your interest.

As an artist, what is it that captures your imagination and ignites your interest? How do you nurture those impulses and learn to make them part of your creative process? According to my guest, John Lee, it is vital for us as artists to make note of what lights us up. John encourages artists to experiment and find their way to inspiration through trial and error. He also explains how he tunes out the noise that can be distracting to focus on the task at hand. What can you learn from John’s story? What has worked for you with your creative process so far?