Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers

Welcome back! You'll notice it's been a longer break than we anticipated and today we are spilling the beans and talking about making decisions in your art life to suit you ... and why it's OK to want something that is different to the things other people want or expect from you.  This was not the episode we were expecting to record today but we hope it encourages you that there is always a w...

Recently we've noticed a trend among the artists we know online; there seem to be more and more complaints about social media. Some artists have left Facebook on principle, many are disillusioned with Instagram's shift to bite-sized video content, and most of us haven't even tried Tik Tok. The dissatisfaction runs the gamut - if you have used social media for years, you might be finding it less ef...

This week Louise is joined by American artist Jane Davies for a wide-ranging conversation around the topic of exploration. Jane is a true explorer, always experimenting and seeking new ways to access her creative instincts, resulting in fresh and exciting work that never stands still.  In this candid conversation, we discuss the role of intuition and the value of constant experimentation but...

Making art is demanding. It's a creative and personal challenge and ultimately deeply personal. Today Alice talks to somatic coach Tamsin Crimmens about recognising ways our bodies show us things may not always be right... anxiety, frustration, procrastinating - all can be signs to listen... When we're not trying to escape the moment, but BE with it, this is where we build our capacity. In this ep...

Does making your own art sometimes feel insignificant in the face of world circumstances? If so, you are not alone. But it's not only the BIG things which can get in the way; what about when "just life" keeps you away?  In this episode we talk about: • how art can be a beneficial and restorative practice • recognising your own capacity and making allowances for other life events • the relatio...

This week, we turn our attention to the ancient art of drawing and in particular to the question of what makes a good drawing. We both often incorporate drawn marks into our abstract work, but what about drawing as an art form in itself, or as a preparation for paintings, or even as a meditative process designed to enrich our lives? In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss what is meant by th...

As we hit the summer solstice, we take a pause to look back on the first half of the year, and ask what we might want for the next six months. This is exactly what summer solstice has always been on our half of the world - a time to slow down and enjoy the sun and just take some time to think about our next evolution. As we discuss this, we consider the realities of personal growth, the inevitabil...

Ever wondered what's next for you as an artist? In this episode Alice talks with artist Christine Evans who shares her own journey of her changing creative life.  We talk about "eating well as an artist and integrating different parts of your life which inspire you. Christine shares how she has faced some challenges, knew when to pause and make her own personal retreat and now uses her inner...

How often do you stop to consider that's happening in your art? Do you pause between series? Are there certain times of year where you leave your studio completely? This week we're looking at the idea of creative flow and how a pause for reflection can help us move forward. Louise is currently exploring semi abstract portraits and intuitive abstracts, while Alice is sourcing new ideas from still l...

This week we're talking risk, ambiguity and the great unknown. As Louise prepares to teach her annual course, she has been reflecting on the blocks and fears that so many artists experience. Together, we explore our own comfort with risk - where are we willing to leap into the unknown and where do we perhaps hold back a little? What is the difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset? And w...

Welcome to an essential conversation about money with Michelle Walker. This is often the least favourite part of being an artist, but being profitable means being sustainable. How we manage the often-avoided subject and working out your relationship with money is key for your art career growth. We talk about calming your nervous system so that you can approach your money matters with a clear and p...

As Alice gets back from two energising trips away we talk about where in life we find a balance to create the life we want. If we have ambitions and desires, sometimes we need to find that space and energy to face a stretchy goal. But we also need to make sure what you want is for you.... maybe there's a different way.  It's quite OK to want something, but as life is always shifting it comes...

Today Louise is joined by two guest artists - Trayci Tompkins from South Africa, and Amanda Pickles from North Yorkshire in the UK. Together they discuss the challenging issue of confidence. A few years ago, both Trayci and Amanda took the courageous decision to shift their art in a new direction. Trayci had many years of experience as a best-selling ceramicist and Amanda was a full-time artist wi...

This week we're both preparing for solo exhibitions, something that would have seemed unbelievable to us when we first started out on our art careers. That prompted this informal chat about the lessons we've learned along the way, and some of the hurdles that can keep you stuck.  Some are things to avoid - not rushing to make sales, getting addicted to the first sense of success or waiting fo...

This week's chat was inspired by a book called Alchemy by Rory Sutherland. The premise of the book is that the best way to solve any problem is to abandon logic and cast aside rationality. We discus the different ways irrational thinking could be applied to life and to art. For example, can we do away with common ways of operating and make our own rules? (Would people prefer prices that are based...

This week, Alice gets to grips with a DIY job and it sparks a discussion about time - in a world where there is never enough of it, how do we come to terms with this most troublesome aspect of life? In different ways, we have both experienced the downside of trying to do too much, including the fact that this prevents us from enjoying the present moment. If art-making is a journey without a final...

What does it mean to live a creative life? What does it take to achieve your dreams? And is that any different if you write for a living rather than making visual art? This week, Louise is joined by writer Jonathan Hall, whose first novel was recently published to critical and commercial acclaim. But this success was 59 years in the making and Jonathan has experienced his fair share of setbacks al...

This week, we have a chat and then answer some listener questions, but our whole discussion revolves around a central issue: How do we manage this artist life? How do we make our work? How do we run our businesses? Are we getting it right? (And how does this relate to the choice between broccoli and chocolate?!) This is one of those rambling discussions that we hope makes some sense in hindsight....

Do you feel your art needs to be beautiful? And if so, what do you mean by beauty? We dive into this topic because we are both thinking about this idea as our work morphs and changes. We discuss the role of beauty in art history and how much of the art that we love is NOT beautiful - and yet how we are still drawn to creating beauty in our own work. In the beginning, perhaps, we both aimed for bea...

As an award winning illustrator, Kate Cosgrove is used to bringing visions to life, but post-pandemic she was feeling in need to spend time with her own creativity. In this conversation from the land's end of the UK, Kate speaks with Alice about artist residencies.  Perhaps this is something you've considered, or even been apprehensive about. In which case this conversation will give you idea...

Maybe there are artists who are always inspired, always energised and always making fantastic work... but if there are, we don't know them. This week we're talking about those times when inspiration seems to desert us. These are the times when we either can't face making art, or can't make anything we like. We discuss the frustration that comes with feeling lost, and we break down some of the reas...

This week we are talking about success and asking what that word means to you? In particular, we distinguish between external and internal yardsticks. External yardsticks are things like sales numbers, Instagram followers, or show acceptances, and we have both seen these measurements halt people in their tracks. These things are, to some extent, out of our control and they also continually shift a...

Talking about our work can be challenging. You might not know what to say - how to find the words to describe the feelings - or you might feel self-conscious, thinking others don't want to hear or that they may judge you. But, learning to talk about your art can open so many doors - doors to conversations, doors to sales, and doors to new realisations for yourself. Once you can tell the story of y...

Well, hello! Today we started a bit pear-shaped (ever felt like you were pretending to be professional?) But this evolved into an interesting discussion around titles for paintings, and following the thread of work.  Both of us are developing work for upcoming exhibitions and we are finding that we have some of the same challenges, including knowing when a painting is ‘enough’ and choosing ti...

This week, we ask a couple of simple questions" What do you want?" and "what are you willing to do to get it?" This week, we're digging into these questions and sharing real-world examples of the kinds of decisions artists face when growing a business ... should you invest in that new website? Should you start a Youtube channel? Should you give that speech at the local art society?  While nei...