Honest Art Podcast with Jodie King

You've been posting. You've been showing up. And it still feels like no one is paying attention. After 23 years in the art industry, Jodie can tell you creating buzz around your work isn't luck, and it isn't about follower count. It's a strategy, and most artists are either skipping it entirely or doing it in a way that was never going to work. In this episode, Jodie breaks down exactly how to bui...

Most abstract painters think layering means adding more. More color. More texture. More paint. But there's a version of layering that suffocates a painting, and a version that gives it real depth. The difference isn't talent. It's intention. And you don't need art school to develop it. In this episode, Jodie breaks down how five artists used layering in completely different ways, and exactly what...

If you've stepped away from your creative practice, whether it's been two weeks, two months, or two years, this episode is for you. Here's what Jodie wants you to know: creative block is not the diagnosis. It's the symptom. And depending on what's actually causing it, the remedy is completely different. In this episode, Jodie gets honest about the real reasons artists stop creating: burnout, grief...

Artists don't quit because they lack talent. They quit because somewhere along the way, they lost joy.  In this powerful coaching call, Jodie sits down with Honest Art® Society member Cindy Wysocki to talk about consistency, creativity, healing, and the emotional journey of becoming an artist later in life.  Cindy shares how she rediscovered painting during a difficult season of life after years o...

Your paintings might not be boring because you lack skill. They might be boring because you're overworking them.  In this episode, Jodie dives into a totally different way of thinking about composition. This isn't another lesson about the rule of thirds or focal points. This is about what happens when artists become so focused on balance, beauty, and "doing it right" that they accidentally suck th...

You don't need more talent to become a real artist. You need to stop waiting for permission.  In this episode, I sit down with emerging artist Molly Wyatt for a live coaching session that dives into the real struggles emerging artists face when building their careers. We're talking about that in-between space … where you're creating, maybe even selling, but still questioning yourself every step of...

Your paintings aren't flat because you lack talent. They're flat because you're missing a few powerful tools. In this episode, I'm breaking down one of the biggest frustrations artists face … creating depth. Because let's be honest, there is nothing worse than putting your heart into a piece and stepping back only to feel like it just isn't working. So what do we do? We add more. More detail. More...

If your paintings feel flat or chaotic, your colors might be the problem, and the fix is messier than you think.  Let's talk about the thing most artists try to avoid at all costs …. Muddy color.  In this episode, I'm breaking down why that "ugly" mix on your palette is actually the secret to creating rich, cohesive, fine art. Because when everything is bright and saturated, your painting has nowh...

22 years as an artist taught me this: what you stop doing matters just as much as what you start.  There is no shortcut to building a sustainable art career.  What looks like success on the outside is usually built on years of mistakes, lessons, and showing up when it's hard. In this episode, I'm sharing the things I will NEVER do again after more than two decades as an artist.  And trust me, I've...

If you don't have energy, you don't have art. Let's talk about how to stay sharp, creative, and energized as you age. Here's something most artists don't think about until it's already a problem … Your body is part of your creative process. If you're exhausted, foggy, and running on empty, it becomes harder to show up, harder to focus, and harder to create consistently. In this episode, I sit down...

Getting gallery representation isn't about talent alone. This episode covers what galleries are actually looking for. I'm sitting down with art advisor and former gallery director Logan Dix to break down what really happens when galleries review submissions. We talk about why artists get ignored, what makes a gallery say yes, and the common mistakes that keep talented artists stuck. We also dive i...

If your paintings feel flat, it's not your color. It's your values. And this mistake is keeping your art stuck. Let's have a little heart-to-heart, artist to artist. If you've ever stood in front of a painting thinking, "Something's off … maybe it's the color," you are not alone. In fact, it's one of the most common traps artists fall into. But here's the truth most people aren't talking about. Yo...

Art pricing isn't just math. It's mindset. Listen to a real coaching session that will help you charge more without spiraling. In this episode, I'm doing something new. I'm sharing a first of many one-on-one coaching sessions with artists from the Honest Art® Society . Our first guest is Jennifer Cupp, an artist who started painting at 40 and built a daily studio practice. For years, sales were sl...

If you want to sell more art, stop tracking likes and start tracking the leading indicators that actually create consistent sales. In this episode, I'm breaking down the most important concept artists miss when it comes to growing income: sales are a lagging indicator.  Sales are the harvest. The smoke. The result. So if you want consistent sales, you have to track the leading indicators, the seed...

Finished your painting and wondering, "now what?" These next steps protect it, professionalize it, and help you actually sell it. So many artists stop at the last brushstroke and miss the steps that turn a finished painting into a sellable asset. In this episode, I break down the exact workflow I use after the painting is dry. We cover the studio basics, and then move into the part most artists fo...

If you are afraid to change your art style because you might lose collectors, this episode will set you free. After 22 years as a professional artist, I have evolved through more styles than I can count. From sassy word paintings to farm animals to mixed media to abstract expressionism, every shift came with fear. What if they leave? What if I lose momentum? What if I ruin my brand? Here is the tr...

If you love making art, but worry that building an art career will burn you out, this episode is for you. Hustle culture is built on productivity and output, but artists don't thrive that way. Creativity needs openness, joy, and space. When you're depleted, you start avoiding the studio, your work feels flat, and you begin doubting yourself. In Episode 141, Jodie breaks down how to design your art...

Stuck mid-painting and convinced you ruined it? You didn't. You're just in the fuglies. In this episode, Jodie shares a 15-step checklist she uses to get out of the fog and back into flow. This isn't fluffy advice. These are practical, actionable questions you can ask the moment a painting turns muddy, confusing, or "I want to throw it away" ugly. Takeaways you can use immediately: ✨How to spot w...

If you want to sell more art, you may need to hire freelancers before you feel ready. Trying to do everything yourself might feel responsible, but it's often the fastest way to burn out and stall your sales. Hiring doesn't have to be a full-time team or a huge commitment. Strategic, part-time help frees you up to make the art and respond to buyers consistently.  Jodie shares how to identify where...

Most artists quit in the messy middle before they can build their art career. Jodie Gear didn't. She built House of Gear by taking action before she felt ready. In this episode, I'm talking with Jodie, who went from a corporate career and quiet creative longing to building a full-blown creative space and homewares brand in Australia. Jodie shares how she learned to claim the identity of "artist, h...

Art fairs can completely change the trajectory of your art career, but most artists apply in a way that lowers their chances before a juror even looks twice. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how to apply to art fairs with a stronger, more professional application package that gets noticed. From choosing the right fair for your style and price point, to submitting a cohesive body of work,...

Starting a painting is the hardest part. It can feel overwhelming, especially after time away from your studio. In this episode, I'll take you inside my art studio and share exactly how I start a painting when inspiration feels far away.  You'll learn why meditation is part of my creative process, how choosing fewer colors can unlock more freedom, and why every painting goes through the fugly stag...

2025 was messy, magical, and full of lessons. I'm sharing the truth about worth, fear, joy, and everything in between.  In fact, if 2025 had a theme, it would be uncertainty. In this honest and emotional episode, I'm sharing what this wild year taught me … about self-worth, fear, faith, and the four beliefs that carried me through the chaos. Inside you'll hear: They difference between confidence a...

Think your art isn't licensable? Wrong. Cat Coquillette is here to shatter every myth holding you back from royalties, confidence, and freedom. In fact, this episode is a masterclass in how artists actually get their work onto products at companies such as Target, Anthropologie, Netflix, Disney, and beyond. Within months, Cat was earning enough through licensing to pay her rent. Within a year, she...

Galleries, pricing, and painting meltdowns … I'm answering all of your juiciest art questions in this season's Ask Me Anything. No fluff, no filters, just honest, messy, art-life talk. We're diving into everything from what galleries want to see on the back of your canvas, to how to price your work online, to that universal "am I overworking this?" panic we all know too well. In this episode, I sh...