Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before You Quit Your Job to Become an Artist, Do This | 10 Nov 2026 | 00:21:26 | |
Free 4-Day Gallery Ready Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Michelle’s work has been shown in museums, and that kind of exhibition history is exactly what galleries look at when they consider an artist. Learn how to present your experience to galleries, even if your list is still short. Join us live online Nov 16–19 at 7PM ET/4PM PT to learn when you’re gallery-ready, how to price your work and how to present yourself with confidence. Register free. How do you know you’re ready to quit your job and become a full-time artist? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, textile artist Michelle Wilkie is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Michelle is a New Zealand-born artist who left a 25-year corporate career to pursue her art full-time. Her work blends traditional quilting techniques with contemporary abstraction. Her work has been featured at the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Mint Museum, and Contemporary Art Museum Raleigh. In this deep dive, Michelle breaks down the three goals she set before quitting, why your day job can help launch your art career, and how she makes money from her artwork without selling it. “My favorite thing is not being stressed. And also doing something I love. It's just different when it's something that you really enjoy every day and you want to put that effort into it.” — Michelle Wilkie Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:59 Rails II: Quilting, Math, and Improv 04:15 Selling Art to a Corporate Collection While Still Employed 06:21 Networking as an Introvert 09:04 Balancing Admin, Networking, and Making as a Full-Time Artist 11:35 Earning Income by Leasing Artwork 14:09 Why Your Day Job Prepares You for an Art Career 16:12 Crack of Light: A Fabric Door About Hope 17:33 Leaving a 25-Year Corporate Career 19:10 Final Advice Connect with Michelle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ml_wilkie/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| Choosing an Art Gallery (Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better) | 03 Nov 2026 | 00:20:53 | |
Free 4-Day “Gallery Ready” Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Isca has worked with some of her galleries for over 20 years and treats them as business partners. Learn how to present yourself to galleries as a partner they’ll want to keep. Join us live online Nov 16–19 at 7PM ET to learn when you’re gallery-ready, how to price your work and how to present yourself with confidence. Register free. Does the right gallery partner exist for your art, and how do you know when you have found it? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, New York-based painter Isca Greenfield-Sanders is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Isca’s work is held in the collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. In over 25 years, she has learned to treat her galleries as business partners. In this conversation, Isca breaks down how to tell if a gallery is the right fit, how to build relationships with new galleries, and why a bigger, more prestigious name is not always the better partner. This episode is an honest look at being upfront in a business relationship and recognizing when it is time to move on. “I view my galleries as my business partners. They are the public face of my work” — Isca Greenfield-Sanders Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:41 Lake Beach: Photography, Painting, and the Process 05:06 A Senior Show in Italy 07:41 Building Gallery Relationships That Last for Decades 11:36 Pink Wildflowers: A New Way of Seeing 13:17 How to Choose the Right Gallery 16:13 Getting Into a New Gallery Through Other Artists 17:13 Becoming a Beginner Again: Salt Beach Woodblock Print 18:41 Final Advice Connect with Isca Website: https://iscags.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iscags/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Sell Your Art (Stop Trying to Make the Sale) | 27 Oct 2026 | 00:24:25 | |
Free 4-Day “Gallery Ready” Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Alejandra works with galleries and shows at art fairs on three continents, where she learned that collectors buy connection, not pressure. Learn how to present yourself and your work to galleries with that same ease. Join us live online Nov 16–19 at 7PM ET to learn when you’re gallery-ready, how to price your work and how to present yourself with confidence. Register free. Does pushing harder to sell your art make buyers walk away? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, geometric painter Alejandra Sieder is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Alejandra is a Venezuelan-born painter based in Australia, with work shown at art fairs in Berlin, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the USA. She spent decades as a graphic designer before committing fully to painting. Instead of chasing sales, she builds her career through small decisions made consistently over time. In this deep dive, Alejandra breaks down what to do, and what not to do, when a collector approaches your work. This episode is a grounded look at selling without pressure and making the move to full-time artist at the right moment. “If you sell from scarcity, you will not sell the painting. People know when you are pushing for a sale.” —Alejandra Sieder Timestamps: 00:00 Content Note and Introduction 01:52 Many Territories: Identity, Migration, and Geometry 04:39 Thirty Years Balancing Graphic Design and Painting 07:46 Using Your Day Job to Build Your Art Career 10:01 Labyrinth: A New Sense of Time 13:50 Building Income Streams as an Independent Artist 16:04 What to Do When a Collector Enters Your Booth 19:57 Selling Without Scarcity: Letting the Painting Choose 19:58 Golden Cave: A Decade in One Painting 21:23 Final Advice Connect with Alejandra Website: https://alejandrasieder.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alejandrasieder/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Make Money as an Artist (With Multiple Income Streams) | 20 Oct 2026 | 00:23:50 | |
Free 4-Day “Gallery Ready” Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Glory Day earns money as an artist in many ways, including through galleries. Learn how to land your first (or next) gallery now. Join us live online Nov 16–19 at 7PM ET to learn when you’re gallery-ready, how to price your work and how to present yourself with confidence. Register free. Can selling your art feel natural or does it always come with a performance? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, interdisciplinary artist Glory Day McSharry is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Glory Day is based in South Carolina and has built a thriving art business across three income streams: galleries, national art festivals, and commissions. Each one feeds the others in ways that aren’t immediately obvious from the outside. Rather than following a fixed formula, she has learned to spot opportunities and clear whatever is in the way of taking them, turning that instinct into a sustainable practice. In this conversation, Glory Day breaks down how to build multiple income streams from a single art practice, where to find buyers beyond traditional galleries, and how to sell your work without feeling like a salesperson. “Sales is a language that you learn because it has to do with helping someone give you the means to continue your practice, which happens to be money.” —Glory Day McSharry Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Fancy Pantry: Personal Narrative in the Paintings 04:04 Three Income Streams 05:57 Breaking Down the Numbers 07:34 Working in Series and Studio Output 09:11 Green Puddles: Chaos, Interior Space, and Home Renovation 11:06 The California Festival Failure 13:28 What It Takes to Show Up Well at Festivals 14:48 Selling Without Performing: The Philosophy Behind the Work 19:27 Bloodlines - Monumentalizing Female Labor 21:20 Final Advice Connect with Glory Day Website: https://www.glorydayloflin.com/aboutme Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glorydaystudio/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Succeed As An Artist Without Compromising Your Art | 13 Oct 2026 | 00:29:30 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- Can you build a successful art career without letting success change the art you make? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Loribelle Spirovski is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Loribelle is a Filipino-Australian figurative painter whose psychologically charged portraits have been exhibited internationally. She has earned multiple selections for Australia’s prestigious Archibald Prize, including the 2025 People’s Choice Award. Along the way, she learned that the job side of an art career can compromise the integrity of the work itself. In this episode, Loribelle shares why trying to make the “right” art can hold you back, how to start earning from your art before a gallery represents you, and why working harder can eventually work against you. “I was trying to please these imagined judges instead of being true to what I actually wanted to paint..” —Loribelle Spirovski Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Lux Aeterna: Memory, Trauma, and the Body 05:21 Growing Up Between Cultures 08:14 The MFA Decision 11:32 Getting Into Residencies Without a Strong CV Yet 14:48 How Curators Actually Find Artists 17:03 Pricing Work When You’re Still Building Confidence 19:44 Memento Mori: When the Work Shifts Direction 22:17 Final Advice Connect with Loribelle Website: https://loribellespirovski.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loribellespirovski Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. | |||
| How to Get Your Art Into Museums (What Actually Works) | 06 Oct 2026 | 00:22:57 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- How does an artist actually get their work into a museum? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Elizabeth Barlow is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in California, Elizabeth has built a career that has taken her work into museums, hospitals, churches, corporate collections, and the San Francisco Opera. Along the way, she has learned that museum opportunities often begin long before an artist ever asks a curator to consider their work. In this episode, Elizabeth shares how artists can build genuine relationships with museums and curators, what to do when you don't already have a connection inside an institution, and why supporting museums can be an investment in your own career. She also explores a less obvious route into museum collections and why some opportunities need to be created rather than waited for. “I view it as an investment in my art to get to know people, to support them and to support the museum.” —Elizabeth Barlow Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Empress - From Portraits in Absentia to Flower Portraits 05:13 Getting Into Museum Collections - The Long Game of Showing Up 08:28 The San Francisco Opera Donation - A Gift That Led to a Commission 09:47 The Phoenix Rose - What Survived the Fire 12:20 When Donating Work Makes Strategic Sense 13:52 Approaching Institutions Cold 15:18 Transfiguration - The Church Commission 18:17 Final Advice Connect with Elizabeth Website: https://www.elizabethbarlowart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethbarlowartist/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Get Your Art Discovered (Without Chasing Galleries) | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:23:06 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What if getting your art discovered has less to do with chasing galleries and more to do with putting your work where people can find it? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, landscape painter Thomas Sarrantonio is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in New York, Thomas has been exhibiting since the 1980s and has spent decades building his career around painting, teaching, and his local artistic community. His work has earned a Pollock-Krasner grant and gallery representation, but many of those opportunities came to him rather than through actively pursuing galleries. In this episode, Thomas shares how showing his work in libraries, bakeries, and other community spaces helped create unexpected opportunities, how relationships with other artists contributed to his career, and what he has learned from working with multiple commercial galleries. “Galleries have found me. I never really was good at selling myself, and I didn't feel comfortable doing that, so I usually just gave up on that.” — Thomas Sarrantonio
00:00 Introduction Connect with Thomas Website: https://www.thomassarrantonio.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomassarrantonio/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Build Your Art Career With a Day Job (What Actually Works) | 22 Sep 2026 | 00:23:18 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. What if keeping your day job could actually help you build a stronger art career? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, ceramic artist Oami Powers is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in North Carolina, Oami spent nearly two decades working in clothing and product design before finding her way to ceramics. She has since built a nationally exhibited studio practice while continuing to work a day job four days a week. In this episode, Oami shares why financial stability can give artists the freedom to develop their work without rushing the process, what moved her career forward without a single defining "big break," and why taking longer to find your voice can ultimately be an advantage. “It takes you a while to figure out who you are as an artist, even if you're starting in your 40s like me… and having a day job allows you to do that.” — Oami Powers Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Tender Tangle - A Pile of Ceramic Objects 04:04 From Clothing Design to Clay - Finding the Right Medium 06:51 The First Residency While Keeping the Day Job 09:15 Working at the Museum - Learning the Art Ecosystem 11:05 Adrift - Building a Visual Vocabulary from Memory 13:06 Why Quitting the Day Job Too Soon Can Cost You 16:05 What a Serious Art Career Looks Like Alongside a Day Job 18:06 Ghost - A Piece Made from Grief 20:38 Final Advice Connect with Oami Website: https://www.oamipowers.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oamipowersart/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Stop Undercharging for Your Art (And Get Paid What You're Worth) | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:22:23 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist and muralist Pepa Ivanoff is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Originally from Australia and now based in Costa Rica, Pepa has built an international career completing 343 murals around the world in just nine years. Along the way, she learned that treating art like a profession also means understanding exactly what your work costs to create and being willing to charge accordingly. In this episode, Pepa shares how undercharging led her to resent projects she should have enjoyed, what changed when she calculated the true costs behind her work, and why knowing your value helps you identify which clients and opportunities are actually worth pursuing. “If you're serious about being an artist, being compensated financially for that is something that you need to get really comfortable with.” — Pepa Ivanoff
00:00 Introduction 01:38 Entre Palmeras - A Studio Canvas 03:17 From Surfboards to Murals - How It All Started 04:48 Questioning the Myth That Art Isn't a Real Career 07:25 Financial Freedom on Your Own Terms 09:15 Saying No More Than Yes - Evolving the Commission Practice 11:15 The Bird of Paradise Mural - A Repeat Client 12:09 Having the Money Conversation Early 15:25 Getting Comfortable with the Money Conversation 16:47 How She Discovered She Was Undercharging 18:39 The Pilates Studio Mural - A Client Who Became a Friend 19:29 The Starving Artist Myth 20:36 Final Advice
Website: https://pepallama.com/
Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Become a Professional Artist (Even If You're Starting Late) | 08 Sep 2026 | 00:19:08 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- Is it ever too late to become a professional artist? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Sarah Richmond is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Sarah is an Australian artist whose vibrant paintings span portraiture and wildlife. After spending 25 years building and running a successful business with her husband, she decided to sell their company and finally pursue art professionally. Today, she's exhibiting and selling her work at art fairs across Australia and the United States. In this episode, Sarah shares why starting later in life can actually be an advantage, how her previous business experience helped her approach art professionally, and what it took to navigate the self-doubt and vulnerability that came with calling herself an artist. She also discusses taking financial and career risks, building confidence through art fairs, and creating multiple ways to sell her work. “Anyone can do anything if they really want it. And if it brings you joy, there's no reason why you shouldn't.” — Sarah Richmond
00:00 Introduction 01:38 Cocky With A Twist: Layers, Inks, and a Quirky Series 03:32 25 Years in Business Before Taking the Leap 06:16 The First Art Fair in Austin 08:06 Cheers, Ladies: Living Life on Her Own Terms 10:17 Imposter Syndrome and Backing Yourself 13:19 Building Income Streams Beyond Art Fairs 14:11 Out of the Dust: A Longhorn Painted for Texas 15:23 The Identity Shift of Calling Yourself an Artist 17:14 Final Thoughts
Website: https://www.sarahrichmondart.com/
Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| Why Your Art Niche Is Your Biggest Career Advantage | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:20:18 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What if the thing you think is limiting your art career is actually what could make you stand out? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist Gian Galang is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in New York City, Gian is an award-winning artist whose fascination with combat sports became the foundation of his creative career. By developing a highly recognizable body of work around something he genuinely cared about, he has gone on to work with major brands including the UFC, Nike, Marvel, and ESPN. In this episode, Gian explains why narrowing your focus can actually expand your opportunities, how a specific artistic niche can help the right audience find your work, and why being deeply aligned with your own interests gives you a better chance of standing out. “The highest probability of making it as an artist is to be most aligned with what you're into.” — Gian Galang
00:00 Introduction
Website: https://giangalang.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giangalang/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Sell Your Art Without Galleries (What Actually Works) | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:25:38 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What if the best person to sell your art isn’t a gallery? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, collaborative painters Signe and Genna Grushovenko are featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Working as a husband-and-wife team, Signe and Genna transform anonymous vintage photographs into contemporary paintings collected and exhibited throughout the United States. After years of working with galleries and selling their work directly, Signe and Genna now focus on art fairs, giving them firsthand experience with different sales models and the economics behind each. In this deep dive, they share why letting go of a revenue stream can sometimes strengthen your business, the real math behind gallery versus direct sales, and how reversing a decision they stood by for 20 years opened up an entirely new source of income. “Nobody, I think, will sell your work with the same passion that you do.” — Signe Grushovenko
00:00 Introduction 01:38 A Sense of Perspective 05:47 Leaving Teaching and Going All In on Sales 09:40 Why They Left the Gallery System 13:12 Mapping Desire 14:34 Selling Your Own Work Without Being Pushy 16:41 Measuring Festival Success Over Time 19:51 Adding Reproductions to the Business 23:11 Streetlight Mafia 23:59 Final thoughts Connect with Signe and Genna Website: https://www.grushovenko.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrushovenkos/
Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| Artist Burnout: What It Really Feels Like (And How to Recover) | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:27:34 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- How do you build a sustainable art career without burning yourself out in the process? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Maria Roza is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in Turkey, Maria creates figurative work exploring the relationship between humans, nature and our own self-identity. Since completing her master's degree in painting, she has presented three solo shows and exhibited across Europe and the Middle East. In this episode, Maria shares what artist burnout actually feels like, the habits helping her recover and build a healthier relationship with her work, and why taking a break can be difficult when your identity and career are tied to creating. She also challenges the idea that artists should wait to be discovered and explains why creating your own opportunities matters. “You feel like your body is burning as well, but mentally you feel like you're draining out.” — Maria Roza Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Red and Turquoise on The Rails 05:34 Finding Your Voice Through Solitude 09:02 What Artist Burnout Actually Feels Like 12:32 How Self-Compassion and Small Sketches Began the Recovery 16:46 Paralell Aggression 19:46 The Discovery Myth: Taking Charge of Your Own Career 24:06 The Trade 25:26 Final advice
Website: https://www.mariaroza.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artmariaroza/
Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How Artists Build a Career in Public Art (What Nobody Tells You) | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:25:59 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What does it really take to build a career in monumental public art? In this episode of *The Professional Artist Podcast*, sculptor Heath Satow is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Heath has spent 35 years building a career in large-scale public art, with permanent installations at the Denver Zoo, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and the 9/11 Memorial. Along the way, he has learned that the finished sculpture is only one part of the job. In this episode, Heath breaks down how artists get their first public art commissions, the financial risks behind large-scale projects, and why experience has led him to turn down opportunities that don't respect an artist's time and expertise. This deep dive offers a practical look behind the scenes of public art… and what artists need to understand before pursuing large-scale commissions. “It was just a thought, and now it's this amazing thing out in the world and that's addictive.” — Heath Satow Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Heath Website: https://www.publicsculpture.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/publicsculpture/
Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| Inside My $120K Art Business | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:24:08 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, illustrator, painter, and educator Francis Vallejo is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Francis is an award-winning artist and Associate Professor of Illustration at the College for Creative Studies. Over the past two decades, he has built a six-figure creative business by combining multiple income streams, including original artwork, teaching, illustration, commissions, and publishing. In this episode, Francis shares exactly how he built a business generating more than $120,000 per year, why so many talented artists struggle to reach that level, and the mindset shift that transformed the way he approached his career. He also explains why artists should value their expertise like any other specialized profession and how diversifying income can create long-term stability. "Art, in my opinion, can be an extremely profitable pursuit.” — Francis Vallejo Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 A Pivotal Illustration Project 03:53 The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Building Momentum 05:42 From Broke in His 20s to Six Figures: The Income Breakdown 10:54 The Alaska Residency and the Accidental Printmaking Discovery 15:08 Why Talented Artists Stay Stuck : The Mindset Shift 17:20 Talking About Your Work as a Problem You Solve 18:43 Finding Community 21:28 Final Advice Connect with Francis Website: https://www.francisvallejo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francisvallejoart/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free | |||
| How Artists Get High-Paying Interior Design Commissions | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:20:59 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What does it actually take to build a career creating high-paying commissions for interior designers? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, abstract painter Lara Scolari is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Lara is an Australian abstract artist whose nature-inspired paintings are collected internationally across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Alongside her exhibition career, she has built a thriving commission business working with leading interior designers and has expanded her practice through licensing partnerships, including luxury rug collections. In this episode, Lara explains how artists can build relationships with interior designers, what a professional commission process looks like from inquiry to installation, and why preparation, consistency, and a polished presentation matter more than waiting for the perfect opportunity. "You've gotta put yourself out there. You've gotta back yourself. You have to take the risk that may not end in anything.” — Lara Scolari Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Lara Website: https://larascolari.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larascolari/
Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| The Money Mistake Most Artists Keep Making | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:25:43 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. What's the biggest money mistake keeping artists from building a sustainable career? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, sculptor and public artist Matt McConnell is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. For more than 25 years, Matt has built a career creating large-scale public art while learning the financial systems required to sustain a creative business. From budgeting complex commissions to pricing work with confidence, he's discovered that profitability starts long before a project begins. In this episode, Matt explains why undercharging is only part of the problem, how understanding your true costs changes the way you price your work, and how saying no to the wrong projects can ultimately make your business more profitable. " You have to decide that you are comfortable saying what something costs at risk of losing it” — Matt McConnell Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:41 Crescent 05:32 Pricing Large-Scale Projects Without Losing Money 11:16 Helix Series 13:10 The Psychology of Charging What You're Worth 17:55 Infinity 20:38 Why Budgeting Is the Most Important Skill an Artist Can Learn 23:38 Final thoughts Connect with Matt Website: https://www.mattmcconnell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcconnellstudios/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| The One Artist Skill AI Will Never Replace | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:22:59 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. What happens when the creative industry changes faster than your career plan? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist, illustrator, and educator Wouter Tulp is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Over several decades, Wouter has repeatedly adapted his career as the creative industry evolved. Rather than relying on one role or income source, he built a sustainable practice through illustration, education, personal work, and professional relationships. In this deep dive, Wouter shares how artists can protect their creative voice, build multiple income streams, and stay visible as AI and new technology reshape the industry. "Instead of learning a trick you can create a vision and you can tell a story, and I think that's something AI can never do.” — Wouter Tulp Timestamps: Connect with Wouter Website: https://www.woutertulp.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woutertulp/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Get Curators Interested in Your Art with Alia El-Bermani | 07 Jul 2026 | 00:20:03 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. Do curators discover artists… or do artists create the opportunities to be discovered? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, figurative painter Alia El-Bermani is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Alia's work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Rather than waiting for opportunities to find her, she built a career by intentionally connecting with curators, staying in touch over time, and creating professional relationships that led to long-term collaborations. In this deep dive, Alia shares what it actually takes to get on a curator's radar, why rejection is often the beginning of new opportunities, and how thoughtful outreach can grow into long-term professional relationships that shape a career. “You need to continually find curators that will help support you and put you in places that you never even dreamed of.” — Alia El-Bermani Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 The Futures We Behold: Dreaming Beyond the Patriarchy 03:24 Income Streams and Studio Structure 06:38 Playing the Long Game: Career Advice to Her Younger Self 07:54 How to Get a Curator Into Your Studio 10:09 The First Outreach Email 11:10 Vessel: Grief, Loss, and the 2019 Solo Show 14:36 Applying for Grants 17:14 Hear Me: Community and Peer Support 18:27 Final Advice Connect with Alia Website: https://alia-fineart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliapainter/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| Building an Art Career Without Art School (What Actually Works) | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:26:48 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What if the biggest advantage in building an art career has nothing to do with art school? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, geometric artist Nima Nabavi is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Nima spent 15 years building businesses before becoming a full-time artist. Without a formal art education, he applied entrepreneurial thinking to his creative practice… ultimately building a career that includes sold-out exhibitions, museum acquisitions, and large-scale public installations. In this deep dive, Nima shares the unexpected business decision that helped launch his career, why talent alone rarely creates momentum, and how understanding business fundamentals gave him an advantage when approaching galleries and collectors. This episode offers a practical perspective on building an art career from the ground up… and why the skills that create opportunity often extend far beyond the studio. “The very beginning was the hardest part. And so if you can do anything to extend the lifespan of your career in the very beginning, I think there's a big payoff down the line.” — Nima Nabavi Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Roswell 2223: Scale and Creative Freedom 04:22 From E-Commerce to Art: Finding the Practice 08:24 Posting the Work and Getting the First Show 11:02 Signal: The Museum Projection Piece 14:44 Pricing Strategy for a Sold-Out First Show 21:25 Noon : Collaborative Work with Jason Seif 24:24 Top lessons Connect with Nima Website: https://www.nimanabavi.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nimanothome/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. | |||
| How Artists Build Long-Term Gallery Careers | 23 Jun 2026 | 00:27:16 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. How do artists build gallery relationships that last not just years… but decades? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Betsy Eby is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Betsy began her career painting in her basement while working day jobs. Today, she is represented by galleries across the United States and in London, with exhibition schedules booked years in advance. Her career has been built through long-term gallery partnerships, consistent exhibitions, and a deep commitment to her studio practice. In this deep dive Betsy shares what keeps galleries invested in an artist over the long term, why relying on a single gallery is rarely enough to build a sustainable career, and how artists can grow the business side of their practice without compromising the work itself. “ I was painting in my basement, I held various day jobs … and then a gallery picked me up in Seattle. Right now my exhibitions schedule is booked until 2029.” — Betsy Eby Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:44 Isles: Encaustic Process 05:01 Music, Health Crisis, and the Work's Evolution 10:04 Building a Career in Seattle 12:57 Sustaining Long-Term Gallery Relationships 13:53 Chromatic Frequencies: The Painting Process 16:00 Why Museums Matter 17:00 Working with Multiple Galleries 19:39 Scriabin's Mystic Chord: Grief and the Dark Palette 22:35 When to Leave the Day Job 24:39 The Red Paintings and Evolving Past Success 25:20 Final advice Connect with Betsy Website: https://www.betsyeby.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsyeby/?hl=es-la Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How to Build an Art Career Without Selling Out | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:20:59 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- Can you build a successful art career without compromising your artistic vision? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Vincent Desiderio is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Vincent is one of the most respected figurative painters of his generation. His work is held in major collections including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum, yet his career was never built around chasing trends, market demands, or recognition. Instead, Vincent devoted himself to a different pursuit: making the strongest work he was capable of making. In this deep dive, Vincent shares why pursuing recognition can pull artists away from their best work, how he built a career without compromising his standards, and what he learned after achieving the success that many artists spend years chasing. “Enough people every day sell themselves out. They do exactly what will make them rich. I wouldn't jeopardize my one chance to actually do the best I can be as an artist.” — Vincent Desiderio Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Vincent Website: https://www.vincent-desiderio.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincent_desiderio/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| It Takes 10 Years to Become an Artist (No One Tells You This) | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:23:50 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. What happens after art school when the exhibitions, opportunities, and recognition don't arrive as quickly as you expected? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Melanie Vote is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in New York City, Melanie has spent more than two decades building a career through residencies, grants, exhibitions, and a sustained commitment to her studio practice. Rather than following a path of early recognition or rapid success, her career has unfolded gradually through long-term growth. In this deep dive, Melanie shares what many artists discover after graduation but rarely talk about: the uncertainty of the years that follow. She reflects on the gap between expectations and reality, how a transformative residency reshaped her understanding of success, and why comparing your timeline to others can be one of the biggest obstacles to creative growth. ”There's a lot of emphasis on you get out of grad school, and then you have to just get your work into a gallery, and if you didn't, it's over. But my story wasn't like that” — Melanie Vote Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Melanie Website: https://melanievote.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanievote/ Resources Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation: https://www.elizabethgreenshieldsfoundation.ca/ Pollock-Krasner Foundation: https://www.pkf.org/ Vermont Studio Center: https://vermontstudiocenter.org/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| Making Art With a Full-Time Job (The System That Works) | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:20:54 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. How do you build a serious art career when you have limited time to make art? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, realist painter Nancy Hollinghurst is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in the New York City area, Nancy is known for her vibrant still life paintings and has built an internationally recognized practice while balancing her own studio work with full-time employment in other artists’ studios. Rather than waiting for more free time, Nancy developed systems that allow her to create consistently, stay focused, and make meaningful progress toward long-term goals. Her approach is built on planning, prioritization, and understanding exactly what each day is working toward. In this deep dive, Nancy shares how she balances full-time work with a prolific studio practice, why planning your goals may matter more than planning your days, and how structuring your time intentionally can unlock creativity rather than restrict it. ”Whatever your biggest goal is, go one louder. If you're aiming for even bigger than you think you can even get, you're still going to go farther than you thought you were originally” — Nancy Hollinghurst Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Nancy Website: https://www.nancyhollinghurst.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancyhollinghurst/ Resources Jeff Koons: https://www.jeffkoons.com/ Amy Sherald studios: https://www.hauserwirth.com/artists/11577-amy-sherald/ Colossal Media: https://www.colossalmedia.com/studios Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| She Built a Global Art Career by Staying True to Her Style | 26 May 2026 | 00:24:36 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- How do you build a successful art business without losing the creative spark that made the work meaningful in the first place? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Belinda Nadwie is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Belinda is an Australian artist whose deeply personal paintings have attracted collectors around the world for more than a decade… while remaining completely rooted in her own voice and vision. Rather than chasing trends, she focused on developing a style that felt unmistakably hers and building a business structure that could support it long-term. In this deep dive, Belinda shares why finding your style changes everything about building an art career, how she balances commissions, galleries, and online sales without losing creative momentum, and why understanding your value is essential to sustaining your practice financially. ”If you really put your heart and soul into things, you really believe it and it's your passion, there's someone who will love it, so you don't need to worry.” — Belinda Nadwie Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Belinda Website: https://belindanadwie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belindanadwieart/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| Build Your Art Career Around Your Life (Not the Other Way Around) | 19 May 2026 | 00:22:52 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What happens when you build your art career around the life you actually want to live? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, fine art photographer Jonah Allen is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jonah is known for his immersive ocean photography, collected internationally and exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States. As a surfer, photographer, and creative entrepreneur, he built his career around the rhythms of the ocean… combining lifestyle, creativity, and business into a path that feels aligned rather than draining. In this deep dive, Jonah shares how living near the water shaped both his artistic voice and his business decisions, why artists need to develop their work deeply before trying to monetize it, and how learning uncomfortable skills like marketing, sales, and relationship-building gave him more freedom and control over his career. This episode offers a practical look at building a creative life intentionally… where the goal isn’t just making art, but creating a life that continues to give you energy over the long term. ”I just saw visual art and photography being the vehicle that would create the most aligned lifestyle that I wanted.” — Jonah Allen Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Jonah Website: https://jonahallen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonahallenstudio/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free | |||
| Gallery Owner Reveals the Sales System Most Artists Are Missing | 12 May 2026 | 00:26:27 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. Do galleries and art sales really come down to luck… or are they built through systems and follow-through? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, gallery owner, author, and Professional Artist Association Faculty member Jason Horejs is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Jason has spent decades on the business side of the art world, helping artists understand how galleries actually work, how collectors make buying decisions, and why most artists lose opportunities simply by failing to follow up. In this deep dive, Jason breaks down how to approach galleries in a way that gets real responses, the follow-up systems most artists never implement, and how consistent communication turns interested viewers into long-term buyers and collectors. Rather than relying on chance, Jason explains how artists can create momentum through repeatable systems, broader exposure, and professional relationship-building. ” If you're looking for exposure, galleries should certainly be a consideration, and if you're not in galleries, you're missing out on the opportunity to have people who are seeking art see that work.” — Jason Horejs Timestamps 00:01 Introduction Connect with Jason Website: https://reddotblog.com/about/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reddotblog/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one | |||
| How You Can Sell Art Prints Online (Without a Huge Following) | 05 May 2026 | 00:24:35 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. Do you really need a large following to make money from your art online? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter and sculptor Kasia Frankowicz is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in Melbourne, Kasia creates bold work infused with humor. Alongside her original pieces, she has built a consistent income stream through prints… making her work accessible while expanding her collector base beyond high-ticket sales. Rather than relying on a massive audience, Kasia focused on visibility, proving that print sales can become a reliable part of an artist’s business. In this deep dive, Kasia breaks down how to generate consistent income through prints, what actually drives sales (and where most artists go wrong), and how showing up across platforms creates steady demand over time. ” Art should be for everyone and I don't subscribe to the idea that prints make your work less valuable.” — Kasia Frankowicz Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Kasia Website: https://kasia-studio.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasia.artist/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How You Can Build an Art Career Abroad (From Nothing) | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:29:40 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What does it take to build an art career from scratch in a country where you don’t even speak the language? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Gabrielle Reeves is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Gabrielle is an American artist working between the United States and Turkey, who made the unconventional decision to move abroad and pursue her career without an established network, local connections, or even fluency in the language. Starting from zero, she built her career step by step through persistence, visibility, and a willingness to put herself in uncomfortable situations. In this deep dive, Gabrielle shares how she created opportunities without waiting for permission, what actually led to exhibitions and gallery representation, and how consistent, small actions compound into real momentum over time. “ I have had people tell me: you're crazy to move to a foreign country and work as an artist. But I knew it's what I wanted to do.” — Gabrielle Reeves Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Gabrielle Website: http://gabriellereeves.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle_reeves_art/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| What Actually Brings Opportunities to Artists (It’s Not Talent) | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:26:44 | |
Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- Does talent get you opportunities as an artist… or does something else drive a career forward? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, paper artist Eric Standley is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Eric is a professor of Studio Art at Virginia Tech whose multi-layered paper works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. His process is extraordinarily time-intensive and that relationship with time turns out to be central to everything he has built professionally. Rather than spreading his attention across every possible avenue, Eric has developed a sharp sense of where his effort belongs and which opportunities are actually worth pursuing. In this deep dive, Eric breaks down how international gallery and museum relationships are built and sustained over time, why opportunities rarely come from talent alone, and how the discipline of protecting your attention shapes the trajectory of a career. This episode is a candid look at how professional artists navigate the gap between making meaningful work and building the relationships and structures that bring that work to the world. “I try to think as big as possible, and I also try to think as big as possible in choosing those goals.” — Eric Standley Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Resources Irreducible(book) by Federico Faggin: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/essentia-books/our-books/irreducible-consciousness-life-computers-human-nature Connect with Eric Website: https://www.eric-standley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.standley/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How You Build an Art Career (Without Waiting to Be Discovered) | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:29:26 | |
Why doesn’t making strong artwork automatically lead to a career… and what actually bridges that gap? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary artist Daryl Thetford is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Daryl left a career in psychology to build a full-time art business supported by galleries, corporate commissions, and top-tier art festivals. Rather than waiting to be discovered, he developed a system that creates consistent opportunities and income over time. In this deep dive, Daryl breaks down how to build multiple income streams, why reaching higher-level art festivals changes your earning potential, and how thinking like a business owner is essential to sustaining your work. “There are just so many ways to make money, depending on what you're willing to do or not do, in the art field.” — Daryl Thetford Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:46 Introduction to Daryl Thetford and Episode Focus 01:57 Building Paintings from Collage Elements and Urban Materials 03:51 Research-Driven Themes and Contemporary Intent 04:00 Career Shift: From Mental Health Work to Full-Time Art 06:12 Leaving Psychology: Logistical and Psychological Transition to Selling Art 07:00 Early Artwork Approach: Iconic Images and Space-Driven Composition 08:21 Sustainable Career Foundations: Festival Strategy and Multiple Revenue Streams 10:36 Main Revenue Model: Festivals, Selectivity, and Top-Tier Entry 11:00 Working With Art Consultants: How They Find Artists and What to Provide 13:09 Being Easy to Work With: Responsiveness, Timeline Commitments, No Overpromising 14:29 Creative Direction from a Fragment: “Man in a Boat Alone” Concept Development 16:09 Choosing Paths: Galleries vs Festivals and Making a Living as an Artist 17:20 Landing Major Public Commissions: Showing Capability (Loveland, Colorado) 22:55 Navigating Client/Committee Relationships in Large Projects and Settings Connect with Daryl Website: https://darylthetford.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darylthetford/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How Artists Make Money at Art Festivals (What Actually Works) | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:29:56 | |
Are art festivals a gamble… or a reliable way to build income as an artist? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, fine art photographer Marisa White is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Marisa has built a thriving career through a strategic approach to the art festival circuit, turning what many artists see as unpredictable into a consistent and scalable income stream. By refining her booth, presentation, and show selection, she’s learned how to maximize both visibility and sales in high-traffic environments. In this deep dive, Marisa breaks down how to turn festivals into real income -not just exposure - what makes people stop, engage, and buy, and how to choose the right shows so you don’t waste time or money. “I can safely say that, in one weekend, I sold as much as I had in my entire art career up to that point.” — Marisa White Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:58 Artwork “Number Nine” and Flow State in Creation 03:13 Self-Portrait Photography Process 05:03 Skills and Turning Points in Marissa’s Photography Practice 07:30 From Hobby to Business: Exhibitions, Galleries, Full-Time Work 08:49 Relocation Story 12:04 How a Specific Festival Opportunity Changed Everything 14:00 Selecting Shows: Applying, Waitlists, and Last-Minute Booth Solutions 16:43 Sales Results and Scaling Up Shows 18:15 Art Festival Costs Breakdown and Strategic Budgeting 21:29 Pricing Strategy 23:20 “Most Favorite Piece” Inspiration 25:47 Sustainable Career: Coaching and Business Guidance 27:34 Coaching Takeaways Connect with Marisa Website: https://www.marisaswhite.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marisa_whitesparks/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one. | |||
| How Artists Actually Sell Art on Instagram (What Works Now) | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:28:36 | |
Is selling art on Instagram really about followers… or is it a skill you can learn? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Maggi McDonald is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Maggi is a Sydney-based artist who has built a full-time career through vibrant paintings and a highly intentional approach to social media. Instead of relying on luck or viral moments, she treats Instagram as a system: one that consistently attracts collectors from around the world. In this conversation, Maggi breaks down what’s actually working right now when it comes to selling art on Instagram, how she built a global audience through consistent and strategic posting, and how she converts attention into sales without feeling pushy or inauthentic. This episode offers a practical look at using Instagram as a tool and how artists can turn visibility into a sustainable income stream. “ If you are wanting to reach a global audience, and sell your art all over the world, then you need to use Instagram to your advantage” — Maggi McDonald Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:59 Midnight Garden Creative Process (Intuition vs Thinking) 04:42 Color as Therapy (Mental Health + Mood Lift) 05:34 Art as a Survival Skill Through Grief and Trauma 06:41 Turning Creativity into a Full-Time Profession 08:35 Building a Global Instagram Audience 12:15 Planning Content with Strategy 12:26 Research, Insights, and Tracking Performance Metrics 13:50 Calls to Action and Non-Salesy Selling on Instagram 14:49 Sales Tracking and Website Landing Strategy 16:55 Finding Your Unique Style and Maintaining a Posting Mindset 20:35 Boundaries, Burnout Prevention, and Time Management on Instagram 22:23 Marketing Funnels and Turning Followers into Collectors Connect with Maggi Website: https://www.maggimcdonald.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggimcdonaldart/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one. | |||
| How Artists Build a Career Without Galleries | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:27:40 | |
What if you didn’t need galleries or perfect timing to build a successful art career? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, mixed media artist Dayo Johnson is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. For over 30 years, Dayo has built a sustainable career outside the traditional gallery system… through festivals, commissions, and direct relationships with collectors. Starting with $50 booths and small local shows, she steadily grew her audience, income, and opportunities through consistency. Rather than waiting for recognition, Dayo focused on showing up turning each sale into momentum for the next opportunity. In this episode, Dayo breaks down how she turned small art shows into a full-time income, how commissions became a reliable part of her business, and the unconventional way she funds future shows through her collectors. “ Even during times, when it feels like it's not working, continue on, keep going because there's going to be something that breaks through that allows you to do what you want to do.” — Dayo Johnson Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Dayo Website: https://www.dayoart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayoart Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one. | |||
| Redefining Success as an Artist with Alyssa Monks | 17 Mar 2026 | 00:24:43 | |
What does success actually mean for an artist? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary figurative painter Alyssa Monks is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Alyssa is internationally known for her emotionally charged paintings that push the boundaries of traditional realism while exploring the psychological complexity of being human. Alyssa shares why she resists the pressure to manufacture a perfectly cohesive body of work, how intuition guides her studio decisions, and how her definition of success evolved away from external validation and toward a practice built around honesty in the work. This episode offers a candid look at what it means to build a career that protects your artistic integrit… and why redefining success may be the most important decision an artist makes. “If that's what you're doing it for, for the recognition the metrics that are outside of our control, It can be something that could hold you back“— Alyssa Monks Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Connect with Alyssa Website: https://www.alyssamonks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssamonks/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one. | |||
| How Artists Work with Corporate Clients (Google, Amazon & More) | 10 Mar 2026 | 00:30:56 | |
What does it take to turn deeply personal artwork into major professional opportunities? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist Charles Clary is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Charles is known for his intricate paper installations built from layered paper, drywall, and found materials. His work transforms themes of grief and healing into immersive sculptural environments. Over time, that distinctive visual language led to commissions from organizations including Google, Amazon, and the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas. These opportunities didn’t appear overnight. They grew from years of refining his craft, building professional relationships, and learning how to present his work clearly when large-scale opportunities arose. In this episode, Charles shares how personal expression became the foundation for major commissions, how he approaches corporate collaborations, and why professionalism matters when institutions come calling. "Be ready for it, don't jump into the deep end until you're ready to swim. It took a good development of the work to get to those commissions” — Charles Clary Timestamps: Connect with Charles Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Membership: Free Letter: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one. | |||
| How She Became a Full-Time Artist (The Second Time) | 03 Mar 2026 | 00:30:41 | |
For many artists, the question isn’t whether they’re talented enough. It’s whether they can actually make this work full-time. In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter and ceramicist Christina Villa is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Christina has built a recognizable signature style through her Wave Portrait Series…sculptural paintings inspired by Lake Michigan and coastal travels. In this deep dive, Christina shares how she rebuilt her practice with systems, accountability, and clear procedures. You’ll hear how her commission process evolved from stressful and underpriced to a reliable business pillar, how coaching helped her and what it really felt like to leave her day job for good. If you also want 1:1 Coaching like Christina, apply for our Accelerator Program here: This episode offers a practical look at what changes when you treat your art like a profession - and how structure is often the difference between a hobby and a full-time career. ”I had realized that up until that point, I was part of the reason that I wasn't able to make my business happen.”. Timestamps:
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| 5 Income Streams That Built a 40-Year Art Career (Thomas Fluharty) | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:26:48 | |
How do you stay creatively sharp - and financially stable - after 40 years in the arts? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, illustrator, painter, caricaturist, and teacher Thomas Fluharty is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Thomas has built a four-decade art career by keeping multiple income streams at once: editorial illustration, commissions, teaching, books, and animation. Rather than chasing a single breakthrough, he focused on daily discipline, skill development, and long-term diversification. From early mornings spent drawing Civil War figures as creative warmups to a late-night experiment with an indigo blue pencil that evolved into a 10-year signature style, Thomas shares how personal exploration often leads to unexpected professional doors. Thomas speaks candidly about controversy, peer support, mentorship, and the responsibility of pouring into the next generation of artists. His philosophy is direct: be humble, be teachable, be patient… and study with great artists. ”I have fires going on. I'm not only in one area. I have five or six fires going on that I'm diversified with where I make money with my art”. — Thomas Fluharty Timestamps: 02:01 Introduction Connect with Thomas
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one. | |||
| I Opened My Own Art Gallery — Here’s What I Learned the Hard Way | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:29:42 | |
What does it actually take to open a gallery as an artist … financially, logistically, and emotionally? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast , oil painter and gallery owner Krista Schumacher is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join ), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Krista is a La Jolla–based palette knife painter known for her bold, textured coastal landscapes. After committing to painting full-time in 2017, she quickly built a national and international collector base. She went on to found Krista Schumacher Art Gallery, voted Best Art Gallery in La Jolla in 2023 and 2024, and has collaborated with brands including Ferrari, Paramount Studios, and Hilton. In this episode, Krista breaks down what it actually takes to move from selling individual paintings to running a gallery… including the financial risk, complex leases, and the constant logistics of managing a physical space. She also shares how commissions stretched her beyond her limits and why saying yes early created momentum. This episode offers a direct look at building a gallery-driven art business… without losing creative control. ”Having a physical space where people could come meet you, interact with your art, see your work in person. Absolutely changed my career.” — Krista Schumacher Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:34 Capturing an Iconic Landscape with a Personal Voice 05:37 When a Side Project Becomes a Career Path 10:47 Overcoming the Fear of Networking and Putting Yourself Out There 14:03 Taking on a Career-Defining Commission 16:58 Navigating Major Opportunities and Behind-the-Scenes Challenges 22:05 The Realities of Managing and Sustaining a Gallery 25:34 The Power of Mentorship and Creative Collaboration 27:11 Embracing Possibility and Building a Gallery on Your Own Terms Resources
Connect with Krista
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one. | |||
| You Don’t Have to Be a Salesperson to Sell Your Art | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:26:16 | |
What does it really take to build a sustainable art career online… without being salesy, aggressive, or losing the joy in your work? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Marnie McKnight is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Marnie is an internationally collected Australian artist best known for her abstract paintings and Light Reading series. Emerging in 2016, she has become one of Bluethumb’s top-selling artists, with work held in private and corporate collections across more than 25 countries. Her paintings are defined by restrained palettes, emotional clarity, and a quiet warmth that invites viewers to slow down. Rather than relying on traditional sales tactics, Marnie built her career online by focusing on visibility, consistency, and trust. She credits the internet with making her career possible… allowing collectors to encounter her work naturally and connect with it on their own terms. In this episode, Marnie breaks down how artists can sell work without feeling like a salesperson, what actually helps collectors feel comfortable buying art online, and how steady, long-term sales are built through presence rather than pressure. This conversation offers a grounded look at building an online art career rooted in joy, human connection, and a clear visual language that collectors return to again and again. “What I'm trying to do in my art is actually get back the childlike quality of painting. Just that rawness and that joy out of painting.” — Marnie McKnight Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction Links to artworks discussed:
Resources
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Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one. | |||
| How Robert Williams Built an Art Career Without the Art World’s Permission | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:25:30 | |
What does it actually take to build a serious art career without permission, validation, or institutional approval? Robert is a foundational figure in the lowbrow and pop surrealism movements, emerging from 1960s counterculture when his work was rejected by the fine art establishment. Drawing from comic books, underground publishing, and narrative painting, he built a practice that challenged academic definitions of art while maintaining high technical standards. For more than five decades, Robert has sustained a global career outside the academic system, building audiences and income through cultural communities rather than institutional approval. His work is now held in collections across every continent. In this episode, Robert explains how to build a serious art career without permission… by aligning with real audiences, prioritizing narrative clarity over trends, and maintaining an uncompromising vision that endures controversy. This conversation offers a direct look at what artistic independence actually requires beyond gatekeepers and validation. “People throw rocks at me and I just keep going on. And I've got paintings in every continent on the earth and as happy as I can be.” — Robert Williams Timestamps: Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/robert-williams Links to artworks discussed:
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| I Quit My Tech Career to Become a Full-Time Artist (Transition Blueprint) | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:25:18 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Bethany Stephan is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Bethany is a realist painter based in Arizona whose work is inspired by the landscapes of the American Southwest. Working primarily on panel, she is known for bold color choices, dynamic compositions, and a willingness to break traditional rules. After more than two decades in a demanding IT career, Bethany built her practice nights and weekends before transitioning to full-time painting. Her persistence led to national recognition, including acceptance into major Oil Painters of America exhibitions. In this deep dive, Bethany shares what it truly takes to move from a day job into a sustainable art practice… not through urgency, but through long-term planning. She explores how artists recognize when their work has outgrown their current life, how peer support and accountability accelerate growth, and why building a sustainable rhythm matters more than working endlessly, while also offering practical insight into pricing, and navigating the emotional realities of leaving a stable career. This episode offers a grounded, honest look at designing a life around your art. One built on timing, peer support, and rhythms that allow both the work and the artist to endure. “How long can I stand to continue to do the job I don't want to be doing anymore? My soul was starting to feel like I am wasting time. I need to be doing what I am supposed to be doing, which is painting.” — Bethany Stephan Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Bethany's Transition from IT to Art 01:54 Overcoming the Fear of Failure 02:28 Knowing When to Commit Fully to Art 03:09 How to Build a Sustainable Rhythm 05:12 The Emotional Challenges of Transitioning 07:27 Building an Art Business 10:12 Professional Recognition and Benchmarks 13:55 The Importance of Community and Peer Support 15:34 Pricing and Visibility Strategies 17:50 Expanding Artistic Practice 20:27 The Value of One-on-One Coaching 23:56 Overcoming Isolation in the Art World 25:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/bethany-stephan Links to artworks discussed:
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| How Artists Build Seven-Figure Collector Relationships (Without a Gallery) | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:25:55 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Tyler Loftis is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Tyler is a Professional Artist Association member and an American painter trained at the New York Studio School and the New York Academy of Art. His work moves fluidly between abstraction and figuration, driven by process rather than predetermined outcomes. At the core of his practice is a commitment to democratizing access to the art world. His direct, disciplined, and deeply authentic approach to both art and business led to something rare: the sale of a single painting for seven figures through a private collector relationship, completed outside the traditional gallery system. In this deep dive, we look beyond the headline moment to examine the years of intention, responsibility, and structure that made it possible. Tyler breaks down what artists often misunderstand about high-value private sales, how collectors decide who they trust with major investments, and why treating your practice with professional seriousness is essential at every level. This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how long-term collector relationships are built, how trust compounds over time, and what it truly takes to reach your highest price points while staying fully aligned with your vision. “You’re not trying to sell paintings. You’re trying to find people who believe in support and who connect with your work..” — Tyler Loftis Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:00 The Importance of Authentic Connections 02:50 Art as a Journey 05:10 Dropping Out and Finding Purpose 07:50 The Business of Art 11:20 Forging a Path Outside the Gallery System 13:50 Art as Service and Community 16:00 The Impact of Major Sales 18:00 The Role of Collectors 21:30 Conclusion and Key Takeaways Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/tyler-loftis
- New York Studio School: https://www.nyss.org/ Connect with Tyler - Website: https://www.tylerloftis.com/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: - Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration: Free training and resources: - Free training on how to find art buyers without a big following: If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one. | |||
| How Artists Fund Public Art Projects (Without a Gallery or Big Budget) | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:26:30 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, Professional Artist Association member and contemporary sculptor Lisa Roet is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Lisa is an Australian artist whose work examines the shared DNA and emotional terrain between humans and primates. Working across monumental public sculpture, film, installation, and research-based practice, her art asks urgent questions about biodiversity, evolution, and what it means to be human—making complex ideas visible at a public scale. For more than three decades, Lisa has built an international career outside the traditional gallery system. Her projects are frequently realized through grants, institutional partnerships, and cross-sector collaborations, requiring long-term vision, rigorous research, and sophisticated logistical planning. In this deep dive, Lisa offers a rare and transparent look at what it takes to sustain large-scale, public-facing art. She breaks down how artists can navigate funding bodies, structure partnerships that protect creative control, and balance artistic risk with the practical realities of production. This episode offers essential insight for artists interested in public work, ambitious projects, and alternative career models—showing how research-driven practice, strategic collaboration, and persistence can support a long-term, impactful art career beyond the gallery system. “ You have to be careful with understanding how markets are working… who your client base is, being genuine with yourself and being careful with your practice while at the same time taking risks.” — Lisa Roet Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Importance of Research in Artistic Practice 04:10 The Influence of Jane Goodall on Lisa's Work 08:10 Creation and Concept of "Golden Monkey" 12:38 Challenges of Large-Scale Public Art 16:44 Overview of Business and Income Streams 20:52 Navigating Funding Applications 23:35 Lessons Learned from the Art Market 25:42 Balancing Risks and Integrity in Art Practice 26:22 Conclusion Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/lisa-roet Links to artworks discussed:
Resources: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology: https://www.rmit.edu.au/ McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery: https://mcclelland.org.au/ Serpentine Galleries: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/ Connect with Lisa
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| How You Can Become a Full-Time Artist (Without Quitting Your Day Job Yet) | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:31:54 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary sculptor Daniel Lai is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Daniel is a Malaysian-born, self-taught artist based in St. Petersburg, Florida, best known for his narrative sculptures that combine books, clay, and metaphor. Through playful yet intellectually charged forms, his work examines the human experience and addresses social issues with clarity, curiosity, and depth. Transforming discarded and everyday materials into story-rich sculptures, Daniel has built an internationally recognized practice, earning major awards and cultivating a dedicated base of collectors drawn to the emotional and conceptual accessibility of his work. In this deep dive, Daniel shares the pivotal moments that shaped his artistic path—from finding his voice to sustaining a meaningful studio practice. He reflects on the importance of patience, long-term thinking, and relationship-building in developing a resilient art career. This episode offers thoughtful guidance for artists seeking to leverage their unique perspective, build authentic connections with collectors, and navigate the challenges of creating a sustainable art business rooted in purpose and storytelling. “You cannot deny who you truly are. I knew that if I were to follow the conventional path , get a nine to five job or teaching, it will eat up my soul..” — Daniel Lai Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:10 The Importance of Following Your Heart in Art 02:09 Transitioning from Academia to Full-Time Art 03:47 Exploring His Narrative Sculpture, "Together, We Rise" 08:10 The Role of Found Materials in Daniel's Work 11:30 The Journey from Mundane to Socially Engaged Art 14:30 The Process of Connecting Dots in Sculpture 19:00 Inviting Collectors into the Artistic Narrative 22:30 The Value of Building a Supportive Email List 25:30 Navigating the Logistics of a Traveling Art Career 29:30 The Impact of Weather on Outdoor Art Shows 31:00 Confronting Social Issues through Art 33:00 The Importance of Patience and Preparation in the Artistic Process Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/daniel-lai Links to artworks discussed:
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| How You Can Make a Living as an Artist (Without a Gallery) | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:31:53 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary artist David Palmer is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. David is a U.S.-based painter whose work blends the bold visual language of pop art with a refined classical sensibility. Drawing from dreams, childhood memories, nature, and contemporary culture, his paintings are known for their distressed surfaces - layers of color revealed through wear, evoking aged frescoes and weathered billboards. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the U.S. and Europe and is held in numerous public and private collections. Before fully dedicating himself to painting, David built a successful career in digital effects, contributing to major films such as The Polar Express, Spider-Man 3, and Harry Potter… an experience that continues to inform his visual storytelling. In this deep dive, David shares how he transitioned into outdoor art fairs and learned to sell work directly to collectors. He breaks down the realities of booth presentation, audience engagement, and the mindset required to thrive outside the traditional gallery system. This episode offers practical insights for artists navigating hybrid career paths—balancing gallery representation with self-directed sales—while building lasting collector relationships through story-driven connection. “It doesn’t matter what you say; nobody cares. The consequences of not doing it and taking a chance are a lot worse than the consequences of doing it wrong.” — David Palmer Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:27 David's Unique Career Path and Film Work 03:00 Juggling Art and a Day Job 06:15 Early Inspirations and Education in Art 09:30 Transition to Graduate School and Mentorship 12:20 Influences from Renaissance and Pop Art 15:00 Shift to Outdoor Art Fairs 18:30 Challenges and Opportunities in Art Fairs 21:30 Navigating Gallery Relationships and Sales Strategies 25:00 The Impact of Popular Culture on Art 29:30 Embracing Curiosity and Persistence in Art Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/david-palmer Links to artworks discussed:
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| Building a Global Art Career Through Relentless Experimentation with Zhuang Hong-yi | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:23:06 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, PAA Associate Member and contemporary artist Zhuang Hong-yi is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Zhuang is an internationally acclaimed artist known for his vibrant, color-shifting Flowerbeds and sculptural canvases that merge Eastern sensibility with Western contemporary aesthetics. Splitting his time between China and Europe, he draws from cultural memory, nature, and ritual to create works that symbolize joy, peace, and prosperity. A frequent presence in major institutions - including the Venice Biennale and museums across Europe and Asia - Zhuang has built a career that bridges continents while mentoring the next generation of artists. In this deep dive, Zhuang opens up about cultivating an adventurous creative life, one defined by curiosity, risk-taking, and the courage to evolve. He reflects on how experimentation fuels his growth, how relationships shape his artistic authenticity, and how freedom in the studio translates into resilience in his career. This episode offers powerful insights for artists seeking to expand their practice, embrace discovery, and build a sustainable path rooted in both ambition and play. “Art itself should be more about adventure. It is also about discovering it. It is new things you cannot always repeat.” — Zhuang Hong-yi Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:27 Nature and Travel as Inspirations for Art 03:00 Shift from Traditional to Experimental Art 06:05 The Importance of Memory and Impressionism in His Work 09:15 The Success of the Flowerbed Series 12:00 The Evolution of His Artistic Style Over Two Decades 15:45 The Role of Galleries and Teamwork in His Career 18:30 Differences in Art Preferences: Chinese vs. European Collectors 21:00 The Influence of Environment on His Artwork 23:30 Advice for Aspiring Artists on Experimentation and Ambition Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/zhuang-hong-yi Links to artworks discussed:
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| Why You Don’t Need a Big City to Succeed as an Artist | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:25:11 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter and PAA Associate Member Adam David Taylor is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Adam is a British artist whose abstract dreamscapes are inspired by the dramatic coastal landscape of Western Wales. Blurring the boundary between the tangible and the imagined, his work balances structure and spontaneity. A graduate of the Cardiff School of Art, Adam achieved a career milestone when he was personally selected by renowned painter Sean Scully to exhibit at Flowers Gallery in London. In this deep dive, Adam shares how he rediscovered his creative voice after a decade in music, rebuilding his life around painting from a small coastal town. He offers insights into managing multiple international gallery representations, maintaining authenticity in his work, and developing the discipline and mindset essential to a minimalist creative practice. This episode offers powerful reflections for artists seeking to pursue their craft with quiet conviction, embracing both fear and freedom as integral parts of the creative flow. “I think luck exists, but you have to create the right circumstances. It takes hard work, a strong body of work, and experience to be ready when it strikes.” -Adam Taylor Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Adam Taylor's Artistic Journey 01:45 Creative Process and Painting Techniques 05:22 Transition from Music to Painting 08:30 Building a Painting Career in Rural Wales 10:56 The Impact of Lockdown on Creativity 13:42 The Role of Gallery Representation 16:50 Pricing Artwork and Navigating Multiple Galleries 19:30 Thoughts on the Importance of Instagram 21:22 Experimentation with Limited Resources During Lockdown 23:36 Advice for Emerging Artists Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/adam-taylor Links to artworks discussed:
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| Stop Creating Under Stress (And Make Your Most Honest Art) | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:25:02 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary figurative painter Michelle Doll is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Michelle is an acclaimed artist whose emotionally charged paintings explore intimacy, empathy, and the quiet beauty of human connection. Based in Hoboken, New Jersey, she transforms everyday moments into poetic reflections on tenderness. Her work has been exhibited internationally and recognized with major honors, including the Lillian Orlovsky and William Freed Grant. In this deep dive, Michelle shares how reconnecting with your inner world can spark creativity and healing, how authenticity in your studio practice shapes genuine relationships, and how to build a sustainable career that supports both artistic freedom and emotional well-being. This episode offers insight and inspiration for artists seeking to create from a place of truth, compassion, and balance… both on and off the canvas. ”Find something that's not going to stress your art. If your art is stressed, then you can't bring your good energy into the studio and make the work that you want to make.” -Michelle Doll Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Creating a Safe Studio Environment 03:32 Experiencing Moments of Connection Through Art 05:44 Emotional Healing and the Creative Process 10:21 Important Artworks and Their Impact 12:10 Balancing Artistic Freedom and Financial Stability 14:05 Insights on Teaching and Mentoring Artists 17:21 Navigating the Challenges of Funding and Grants 19:44 Commissioned Work: Expectations vs. Reality 22:08 The Importance of Stability for Artistic Expression 23:24 The Role of Stress in Artistic Practice 24:34 Reflection on Creativity and Inner Care Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/michelle-doll Links to artworks discussed:
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| Building a Sustainable Art Career (without chasing the algorithm) with Jason Freeny | 25 Nov 2025 | 00:28:31 | |
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, sculptor and designer Jason Freeny is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Jason is an American artist celebrated for his imaginative anatomical dissections of toys and pop-culture icons. Blending childlike wonder with scientific precision, his work invites viewers to rediscover the familiar through a lens of curiosity and play. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Jason began his career in illustration before transitioning to sculpture, where he built a global following through collectible toy designs, brand collaborations, and exhibitions that fuse nostalgia with innovation. In this deep dive, Jason shares candid insights from his evolution as both artist and entrepreneur… from discovering his signature voice and transforming a viral idea into a sustainable career, to building a global brand around designer toys and licensed collaborations. He also opens up about finding balance between creativity and commerce in an ever-changing digital landscape. This episode offers refreshing perspective and practical advice for artists navigating visibility, authenticity, and longevity in a world driven by trends and technology. “Don’t spend all your energy chasing some algorithm online, because that algorithm will beat you every single time. So just do what you enjoy, because in the end, that’s all that matters.” – Jason Freeny Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:38 Jason’s Artistic Identity: Blending Playfulness, Anatomy, and Design 02:05 Exploring Signature Works: The Anatomical Barbie Doll 06:34 Early Influences: Family, Education, and Discovering Industrial Design 09:35 From Painting to Sculpture: Shifting Creative Direction 10:28 Working in Design and the Toy Industry: Lessons in Creativity and Commerce 12:25 The Breakthrough Moment: Balloon Dog Anatomy and Viral Success 14:10 Finding Originality: Evolving Style and Self-Discovery 16:40 Building a Global Brand: Licensing, Collaboration, and Growth 20:59 Navigating Marketing and Visibility in the Digital Age 24:21 Adapting to Technology: 3D Printing, Production, and Limited Editions 26:21 Final Reflections: Authenticity, Curiosity, and True Creative Success Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/jason-freeny Resources: - Mighty Jaxx: https://www.mightyjaxx.com/ Connect with Jason: - Website: https://www.jasonfreeny.com/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: - Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration: Free training and resources: - Free training on how to find art buyers without a big following: - Free insider report on how Painters, Sculptors, and Fine Art Photographers make their art income stable and consistent: https://professionalartist.com/report/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=free_report If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a comment. We read every single one. | |||