Artist Academy

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...

This week on the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m rewinding to one of my favorite interviews with window painting legend   Scot Campbell —a man who’s painted over 70,000 windows in his 44-year career. Scot breaks down exactly how to get started in window painting: from pricing your first jobs and handing out flyers to painting bold, eye-catching designs fast. We chat about how this fun, lo...

Ever look back at your first mural and cringe just a little? In this episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m taking you behind the scenes of my very first paid mural—the $350 job that had me spending three scorching days in the sun, a sketchy ladder, and a whole lot of “what was I thinking?” moments. I’ll share what that project taught me about pricing, safety, and preparation—lessons I...

In this week’s episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I’m diving into one of the trickiest parts of being a working artist—what to do when hiring help or collaborating with another artist doesn’t go as planned.  Recently I had back-to-back coaching calls asking me questions that centered around the complications that arise when artists work together. They asked, “Have you ever had dra...

In this week’s episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , we’re tackling that all-too-relatable question:   “What the heck do I post today?” I recently sat in on a Chamber of Commerce presentation about social media, and it got my wheels turning about what our customers really want to see from us. So, I pulled together a list of post ideas designed to boost your visibility, connect with y...

This week on the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m chatting with the incredibly talented Australian muralist and mentor  Danielle Weber ! Danielle has built a thriving art business from the ground up—painting murals and canvases priced anywhere from $10K to $30K on average. We talk about everything from how she connects with clients through Instagram DMs to how she bought her own warehouse s...

Have you ever wondered how some fine artists make real money selling originals at art shows while others struggle to get traction? In this week’s episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m chatting with  Mark McKenna , a Western and wildlife artist who went from teaching high school art to earning up to $50K at a single show. Mark breaks down exactly how he did it—without fancy connect...

In this week’s episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m sharing how I’m using my birthday week to boost art sales, clear out the studio, and make selling fun again through my favorite Q4 strategy — hosting an art auction. You’ll hear exactly how I set it up, from starting bids and pricing tactics to creating excitement (and even turning bidders into future mural clients). We’ve worked rea...

In this special midweek episode of the   Artist Academy Podcast , I sit down with  Meg Wagler , the powerhouse behind Springfield’s Overlay Music and Arts Festival. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to pull off a mural festival—from raising funds and navigating nonprofit hurdles to rallying volunteers and making sure artists are paid fairly—this conversation gives you the full...

This week’s episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast  features the amazing artist, educator, and traveler  Elida Field . Elida’s story is all about resilience—navigating divorce, raising three kids as a single mom, and building a thriving art career through teaching, commissions, retreats, and now her new book  Nobody Dies in Art Class . We talk about her journey of creating afte...

It sucks to lose a mural job. Period. It also sucks to see another artist land the job you really wanted. Let’s just be real—it’s easier said than done to feel happiness for someone who got the opportunity you were reaching for. In this week’s  Artist Academy Podcast , I’m sharing stories from my own career where I’ve been on both sides of that coin. I’ll walk you through how I overcame those...

This week on the  Artist Academy Podcast , I get to revisit with muralist  Hibaaq Ibrahim , who first joined me years ago when she was just starting out. Back then, she had only recently quit her day job—today, she’s a full-time commercial artist in Minnesota with projects starting at $10k and a schedule that keeps her booked year-round.  In this episode, Hibaaq shares how her minds...

On this episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast , I sat down with Colorado artist  Maggie Sackmann , who’s built a thriving canvas art business while raising a toddler.   We talked about her leap from corporate life to full-time painting, why she releases quarterly collections, and how she prices her work in the $2,000–$3,000 range. Maggie also shared how framing boosted sales, how v...

This week’s episode of the  Artist Academy Podcast  features muralist  Corey Paige , who turned her bold, colorful designs into a thriving business painting murals for homes, businesses, and even major brands. From experimenting with paint markers in her parents’ basement during the pandemic to collaborating with JetBlue, Dunkin’, and the New York Knicks, Corey’s journey is a master...