Artist Academy

This week’s replay episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast  is an interview with Canadian muralist  Corrado Mallia   where we talk about what it actually takes to build a mural business over time. Corrado shares how he started with cold outreach, practiced on his own, and slowly built consistent work through referrals. We get into pricing murals, what goes into quoting a project...

To kick off May Mural Month, I wanted to step outside of my usual circle and have conversations with muralists in different parts of the world. In this episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m talking with Toronto-based artist  Tetyana Bibik . We get into the realities of running a mural business in Canada, from pricing differences and currency gaps to a high cost of living and seaso...

This week on the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m talking about something that can be tough for artists to navigate… what happens when a mural gets painted over. It’s a situation that brings up a lot of emotion, especially when a piece is loved by the community or holds personal meaning. I’ve experienced it myself, and recently my city went through a similar situation, with guest artist  Au...

Join  MURAL MONEY BOOTCAMP  starting May 1st!  In this week’s episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I break down what actually wins a mural job when you’re not the only artist being considered. Because it’s rarely about price. It’s about how you show up, how clearly you position yourself, and how easy you make it for the client to say yes. I walk through real situations whe...

Join  MURAL MONEY BOOTCAMP  starting May 1st!  This episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast  breaks down the stages every artist goes through while building a career, based on both my own experience and what I’ve seen coaching artists over the years. It starts with the early phase of uncertainty and self-doubt, where you’re figuring things out and questioning if this is eve...

This week on the   Artist Academy Podcast , I sit down with photographer and business coach   Scott Proposki   to talk about what really drives success as a creative. Scott has worked with brands like National Geographic and the White House, but this conversation focuses on what made that possible behind the scenes. We get into why talent alone isn’t enough, how most artists hold th...

This week on the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m walking through a simple question that can change everything when you’re scared to go all in on your art career: what’s the worst that could actually happen? I’m breaking down the biggest fears artists have around money, pricing, clients, skill level, and stability—and sharing how I’ve handled those same fears in my own business. We’ll look...

This week on the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m talking with Colorado-based artist   Samuel Popovich . He has built an incredible business around his hilarious, character-filled frog paintings and is sharing exactly how he did it. We talk about how he developed his unique style, how he taught himself to paint through YouTube and experimentation, and how he turned a playful idea into artw...

This week on the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m sharing the uncomfortable truth about marketing yourself as an artist—posting online, talking on camera, networking, pitching, and doing all the awkward things that actually lead to opportunities. If showing up feels uncomfortable, you’re not alone. A lot of artists struggle with putting themselves out there, promoting their work, or being the f...

This week on the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m diving into a topic artists keep asking about lately—AI. I decided to put three of the most talked-about platforms—ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and MidJourney—to the test and see how they actually perform when used inside a real mural workflow. In this episode, I’m sharing how I use AI in my own mural business to create faster mockups, refine co...

This week on the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m bringing back a highly requested 2020 interview with wildlife artist  Carla Grace  — and the lessons are just as relevant today. Carla breaks down how she slowly built her career into full-time art by focusing on technical mastery first, then letting demand and pricing follow. We discuss her acrylic layering technique, collaborating eth...

This week’s episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m giving you the honest talk I wish someone had given me earlier. We’re covering the habits that quietly hold artists back—like hiding behind tools, blaming the algorithm, or constantly switching directions before giving anything a real shot. I break down why obsessing over your weak spots can keep you from becoming known for your st...

This week’s episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast  is for my fellow Type B artists… and it might make a Type A listener clutch their planner.    After hosting a mural meetup in Costa Rica, I realized just how differently artists operate—some plan every detail, and some (hi, it’s me) make decisions in real time, right there on the wall. I’m sharing the “Type B” habits that keep...

In this episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m sharing one of the biggest shifts that’s changed the way I run my creative business: batching. From sketching and painting to marketing, admin, and even studio cleanups, batching has helped me stay consistent, protect my energy, and actually get the things done that artists tend to put off. I’m breaking down what I batch weekly, monthly, qu...

As we enter the month of love, I have a little Valentine’s present for you —   join Artist Academy for just $1! Whether we’re selling ourselves on a dating app or selling our art on social media, at the end of the day we’re all people connecting with other people who might want what we have to offer. In this episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I break down the surprising similariti...

In this episode of the  Artist Academy podcast , I have a conversation with artist and educator  Josie Lewis  about what it really takes to build a sustainable art career over the long term. We talk about balancing large-scale commissions, selling work online, and teaching—while navigating fear, failure, focus, and constant decision-making. Josie shares why there’s no magic for...

In this episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m sitting down with  Patrick Walgamott , an Artist Academy student who recently quit his day job to become a full-time artist. I’ve watched Patrick’s journey for years — from getting back into painting through pet portraits to slowly building income through murals, commissions, and paint parties while working a physically demanding job....

In this episode of the  Artist Academy podcast , I sit down with  Lennon Bone , founder of Stop the Starving Artist, to talk about why connecting with people matters more than perfect content or clever marketing. We explore how storytelling, values, and real human experience help audiences connect with art, why fear of judgment keeps artists stuck, and how reframing marketing as an excha...

This is the last week to join  Mural Money Bootcamp! If you want a breakdown of my profit/expenses and a look into my Quickbooks, join us next week inside the  Artist Academy  Facebook group for a video walkthrough of exactly how I calculate my taxes, how much I spent on supplies, hiring, etc.

Join Mural Money Bootcamp Let’s start the new year with a goal… what’s yours? In this episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m talking about setting big, exciting goals for the year ahead—and more importantly, how to break them down so they actually feel doable instead of overwhelming. I share how I think about long-term income goals for artists, why I like working in phases, and what re...

Join Mural Money Bootcamp In this episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m kicking off one of my favorite traditions of the year—the 31 Day Challenge—and inviting you to join me. For the eighth year in a row, I’m sharing why committing to daily creation and sharing from January 1–31 can completely change your momentum as an artist. I walk you through what the challenge is, why it works,...

In this episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m chatting with  Odette Guastavino , a Netherlands-based muralist and painter whose whimsical, magical artwork stopped me mid-scroll on Instagram. What started as admiration for her art quickly turned into a conversation about style, storytelling, and building a sustainable art career—especially after I realized she had recently joi...

In this episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m sharing the collective wisdom of artists who are out there doing the work, growing their businesses, and proving what’s possible. I asked members of the Artist Academy who made six figures this year to reveal the biggest lessons they learned along the way. Instead of just my perspective, you’ll hear a chorus of voices from artists at diffe...

If I had to start completely over with zero mural experience, zero clients, and zero momentum in 2026… what exactly would I do to rebuild my mural business back up to $50,000 in the first year? In this episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I break down the   exact   steps I’d take—numbers included—to go from day-one beginner to a fully booked muralist with steady income and grow...

This week on the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m chatting with fine artist   Rebecca King , whose journey into full-time art is equal parts inspiring and refreshingly honest. Rebecca walks me through the years she spent experimenting with style and medium before discovering her signature look—those calming, cool-toned abstract pieces created with acrylic inks. Hearing how she pieced toget...