Art + Magic – Details, episodes & analysis

TLDR; I'm doing a NEW podcast called, "Hey, What Are You Working On?" with my two art besties, Andrea Guzzetta and Marisa Avila-Sayler.

The first ep. drops this Weds, June 5th. Head over now to subscribe and listen to our mini intro.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

SUPPORT

⁠patreon.com/devonwalz⁠ for bonus episodes, pre-chats, early access to new work and morre.

FOLLOW 

⁠@devonwalzart⁠

⁠www.devonwalz.com

Ya'll know I love this topic, and this season I'm bringing a fresh perspective on all things artwork development with my art wife, Amanda Sandlin. In this episode we reflect on what our work used to be like, how it's changed and what that development process has been like. We also talk about our current inspiration, what we're thinking about and where we might want to take our practices next. If you're wanting to strengthen your work, there's a lot of gems in here for you!

Enroll in UNIQUE: Artwork Development Workshop Series by September 20th ⁠here.

For more on this topic check out these past episodes:

18. How to Develop a Unique Style | Q+A with Devon

33. Struggling to Focus Your Style or Find Direction? This Episode is For You.

34. Copying, Being Influenced and How to Weed Out What isn't Yours

46. 5 Things Blocking Your Voice [Pt. 2 Artwork Development Series]

EPISODE MENTIONS

Pip n Pop

Helen Pashgian

Adrian Cox

Anthony Sonnenberg

FOLLOW AMANDA

www.amandasandlin.com

IG: @amandasandlin

www.gentlesentiments.com

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Visit patreon.com/devonwalz for bonus episodes, pre-chats, early access to new work and morre.

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

@devonwalzart

www.devonwalz.com

While we can talk about all of the techniques for getting new ideas, ways to weed out our influences and different aspects of our work that might need attention, none of that will take us very far if we're being held up by any of these 5 blocks.

Developing our work requires us to take risk, know ourselves well, and have the ability to show up day in and day out. Unfortunately, there are some common (yet, not always obvious reasons) why we might have a hard time doing that. In today's episode, I dig into the 5 main things that tend to stand between us and our best work and how you can address them.

This is the second episode of the Artwork Development series. It's okay to listen out of order, but when you're done make sure you go back and listen to last week's episode, too!

Get the 5 blocks email series for additional prompts and reflections that go with this episode here.

If you enjoyed this episode you'll dig my style development workshop series, UNIQUE, which is open for enrollment right now. Learn more here.

Head to patreon.com/devonwalz for bonus episodes.

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

FOLLOW DEVON
IG: @devonwalzart

Tittok: @devonwalz

Today kicks off the first of a three part series all about Artwork Development. This is a vast and important topic and ultimately, I think, the core of what we should be focusing on as artists. In this episode I say more about what artwork development is and why it needs our attention, and dive into The 3 stages of Style Development. 

Understanding the common points artists hit in their development allows us to identify where we're at in that cycle and take the next best steps for our work. I talk about feeling scattered, being overly influenced, feeling disconnected to our work and more-- as well as give you the behind-the-scenes story of my of style development.

Stay tuned for part two, coming out next week!

If you enjoyed this episode you'll dig my artwork development workshop series, UNIQUE, that's opening for enrollment next week. Join my newsletter here to stay in the loop.

Head to patreon.com/devonwalz for bonus episodes.

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

FOLLOW DEVON
IG: @devonwalzart

Tittok: @devonwalz

NEW PRINTS

www.devonwalz.com/shop-prints

If you're on social media at all, you're probably familiar with the incredible Sari Shryack. Acrylic and oil painter based in Austin, Texas, Sari is known for her disco ball paintings, still lifes and embrace of color and nostalgia. She's fascinating to watch from afar, which is why I was so excited to have her on the show and get the behind-the-scenes stories on her relationship to her work, social media, having her art widely copied and cultivating connections with her audience.

We talked about...

– Sari’s relationship to color, low bro media and kitsch, and the resistance to those things in the larger art world
– 90s imagery as a common language among peers
– Being taken seriously (or not) as an artist who's embraced social media, and Sari’s opinion on going this less traditional route
– What’s worked best for her on social platforms and how she balances content creation and art making
– The importance of relationships, connection and storytelling
– The story of the disco balls! Having them blow up and become widely copied, and Sari’s journey through it all

– Advice for creating your best work and growing your sales

-- Much more!


FOLLOW SARI

IG: @not_sorry_art

www.sari.studio

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Visit patreon.com/devonwalz for exclusive bonus episodes each month

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

FOLLOW DEVON
IG: @devonwalzart

Tittok: @devonwalz

www.devonwalz.com

Join the newsletter here to hear about upcoming workshops, courses and new art.

If you resist writing your artist's statement, talking about your work with your audience or even just putting words to what you make for your own understanding A. you're not alone and B. I pretty much give you everything I have on the subject in today's episode.

I cover...

-- the different kinds of art writing

-- the areas you may need to develop more in your practice in order to help your writing

-- specific aspects of your work to consider writing about, or at the very least, understand for yourself

-- general tips about language, truth telling and structure

-- prompts to get you going

This episode is basically a mini workshop with a lot of info, and for that reason, I created a free guide to go along with it that includes all the tips and writing prompts I mention. 

Get the free episode guide at: www.devonwalz.com/resources

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll probably really dig my artwork development workshop, UNIQUE, that will open for enrollment in a couple weeks. Join my newsletter here to hear about it, as well as the new limited edition prints dropping next week. 

Head to patreon.com/devonwalz for bonus episodes, including *more* tips and thoughts on writing about your art.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Pennylane Shen of Dazed and Confucious. Listen to her interview here.

Art-Write by Vicki Krohn Amorose

How to Write About Contemporary Art by Gilda Williams

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

FOLLOW DEVON
IG: @devonwalzart

Tittok: @devonwalz

www.devonwalz.com

Print Shop Recommendation

Pretty Good Printing

At some point, working artists are going to be faced with this crossroads. If you're struggling with whether galleries or self-selling is the better option for you, this episode will illuminate the important aspects of both that you should consider. And maybe touch on a few things you hadn't even thought about yet. I explore the pros and cons of both avenues, share my own experiences, and take a few detours about self-promotion, the biggest fallacy about working with galleries, networking, playing the long game and feeling like you're on the "outside" along the way.

Join my newsletter here to hear about upcoming workshops and courses.

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Visit patreon.com/devonwalz for exclusive bonus episodes each month

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

FOLLOW DEVON
IG: @devonwalzart

Tittok: @devonwalz

www.devonwalz.com

 
PREORDER ANDREA GUZZETTA'S BOOK, "STRATOSPHERE"

For all you working artists, this conversation is a dose of validation and a resourceful pep talk that you're gonna love. Andrea Guezzatta doesn't hold back re: her opinions about the perspectives in the art world she doesn't jive with and the things out there disguised as opportunities that really aren't. She's also extremely generous and transparent when it comes to her income streams, pricing, secrets to success on Patreon, cultivating an engaged collector base and how she feels about painting cute shit. She was SO fun to chat with and listen to, and is definitely the kind of guest that leaves you wanting a part II.

We talked about...

-- Her fine approach v. painting things because they're cute

-- Viewing art as a skill set and a way to make money. And divesting from the often privileged perspective of academia.

-- A break down of Andrea's income streams

-- Charging a living wage and how to balance that with what your audience is buying

-- How she makes Patreon work for her

-- The need for more play and fun in the art world

-- How doing stand up comedy has influenced her art practice and given her confidence in the world

-- What to do when you feel stuck in your process

-- How she approached her recent solo show, Stratosphere (and the time and cost it took)
-- How she became a faster painter

-- SO much more

FOLLOW ANDREA

https://www.andreaguzzetta.com/

IG: @andreaguzzetta

"Stratosphere" solo show at Var Gallery

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Visit patreon.com/devonwalz for exclusive bonus episodes 

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

@devonwalzart

www.devonwalz.com

Learn about + apply to the 14 week 1-on-1 mentorship program for artists here. 

I’ve been wanting to bring a curator’s perspective to this show for a long time and I’m so happy that I held out for Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy. Glitter-loving, down-to-earth and super fun to chat with, Angelik gives us some great insight into what it’s like on the curator's side of the exhibitions, the behind-the-scenes of putting together shows, how to connect with curators and navigate studio visits, and all things humor, cuteness and leisure.


We talked about…

• What she does an an independent curator
• Being independent v. working at an institution
• Subjectivity, compromise and the ways that curators do and don’t have power
• Her process for curating a show
• The aesthetics of optimism: why it’s been marginalized in the past and why it’s having a moment now
• Minimalism and privilege
• How to connect with and develop a relationship with curators
• Do’s and don’ts of studio visits
• Tips for artists moving forward
  

FOLLOW ANGELIK

https://www.angelikvizcarrondo.com/

listen to Clay in Color: https://www.brickyardnetwork.org/clayincolor

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Visit patreon.com/devonwalz for exclusive bonus episodes each month

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

@devonwalzart

www.devonwalz.com

If you're an artist who makes stuff, chances are you're going to go through periods of not making stuff too. This can weigh on us heavily, because we often feel like we need to be making in order to be in artist (but listen in for reasons why that's certainly not true). In this episode I talk about the different reasons we might go through such periods, the external expectations that need to be addressed, coping with the big bullies like fear, comparison, self-criticism and perfectionism, and suggestions for easing your way back into making (if that's right for you at this time!).

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Visit patreon.com/devonwalz for exclusive bonus episodes each month

FOLLOW THE SHOW

@artandmagicpodcast

@devonwalzart

www.devonwalz.com