Honest Art Podcast with Jodie King

If you're trying to control your art, you're cutting off the magic. In this episode of The Honest Art® Podcast, I'm calling out the sneaky habit that keeps artists stuck … being too attached to the end result. When you start painting already knowing how it should look, you stop creating and start performing. You shut down spontaneity, intuition, and the wild, beautiful chaos that makes Honest Art®...

Every artist dreams of gallery representation … until they learn the truth about what really happens behind those white walls.  In this episode, I'm breaking the silence about the messy, often painful truth of gallery representation. From shady contracts to missing paintings and "forgotten" payments, I'm sharing the stories most artists are too scared to say out loud, and also how you can protect...

What happens when spirituality meets real life for an artist? These 4 grounded tools and spiritual practices can help you make better art and feel more alive doing it.  In this episode, I'm sharing the 4 grounded energy practices that help me create art with more freedom, confidence, and joy. From meditation that activates emotion to grounding that clears your energy, these simple tools can shift...

AI isn't replacing artists. It's reshaping the game. Jodie reveals how to use AI as your assistant, not your competition.  In this episode of The Honest Art® Podcast, Jodie King gets real about the rise of AI in the art world … what it means for your creative career, your collectors, and your confidence.  We're breaking down: The biggest fears artists have about AI (and what's actually true) Why y...

What if one drawing could change your life? Artist David Dominguez shares how art brought him hope, courage, and purpose through creativity and how he is now helping others find the same. In this episode, we talk about fear, failure, self-belief, and what it really means to make art that matters. His story flips the "starving artist" myth right on its head.  You'll hear: The truth about fear, reje...

I lost hundreds of followers when I posted this painting. Here's why I'd do it again … and why controversy can be powerful. In this raw episode of the Honest Art® Podcast, I share the story of my most controversial painting: what inspired it, why it pissed people off, and how it ultimately deepened my commitment to creating honest, authentic work.  Yes, I got hateful comments. Yes, I felt nervous....

Scared of "being cringe" on social media? Here's how to sell art on Instagram and attract real collectors.  Most artists avoid Instagram because they're afraid of being seen, of bragging, or of looking silly. But that fear is keeping your art hidden from the very people who want to buy it.  In this episode of the Honest Art® Podcast, I break down how to sell art on Instagram without feeling fake,...

Copying your reference photos line-for-line is boring AF. Here's how to use them without losing your voice.  Many artists start with reference photos because that's what we were taught: paint the flower yellow, the grass green, the cow black and white. And while that's fine for learning, it's a fast track to creating lifeless art that looks like everyone else's.  The truth is, reference photos are...

I didn't go to art school, and I learned a LOT the hard way. When I picked up a paintbrush at 35, I had no training, no YouTube tutorials, and no clue what I was doing. Which meant I learned everything through trial, error, and a mountain of fugly canvases. In this episode of the Honest Art® Podcast, I share the 7 lessons I wish I had known sooner. The ones that would have saved me years of strugg...

Got a graveyard of abandoned canvases in your art studio? You're not alone. Every artist has a pile of half-finished or fugly paintings collecting dust. But here's the good news: they're not failures. They're opportunities. In this episode of the Honest Art® Podcast, I'm giving you 9 creative, cathartic, and sometimes rebellious ways to deal with those ghost canvases. From painting over them to cu...

Think you need a perfect website to sell your art? Total BS. Here's what actually matters (and what to skip). I've worked with countless artists who sold plenty before ever hitting "publish" on a site. But if you do have a website, you'd better make sure it's not silently sabotaging your sales. In this episode of the Honest Art® Podcast, I'm breaking down exactly what artist websites need to conne...

If all you can say about your art is how you made it, you're missing the point. Process isn't connection. And connection is everything.  Too many artists default to the "recipe list" when asked about their work. "I used bright colors, layered some texture, tried a new medium …" That's safe. That's surface-level. That's BORING.  In today's episode, I'm calling out the truth: "good enough" art is de...

What happens when an artist transforms her deepest moments into a thriving community of artists? In this deeply moving episode, returning guest Becky Joan Springer reveals how she turned personal struggles into a powerful artistic practice that now fills international retreats and creates healing spaces for others.  Her journey from teaching local workshops to hosting sold-out retreats across the...

Don't be caught by surprise. This episode of the Honest Art Podcast will equip you with the must-know topics to protect your art, manage your money, and build a thriving art career. It's time to become the legally and financially savvy artist I know you can be. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interes...

After two traumatic brain injuries, everything changed for Cheri Carandanis. She was forced to give up a distinguished 25-year career as a critical care flight nurse in the U.S. military, where her identity was deeply intertwined with her profession.  Cheri faced unimaginable challenges, but when prescribed creativity to heal damaged brain pathways, her rehabilitation became a lifeline. Art became...

I'm going to let you in on a secret…my art career took off not by adding more tasks, but by intentionally letting go of a few bad habits. 6 to be precise. It was a surprising shift from the typical "do more" mindset, and once I committed to stopping these patterns, I finally saw real momentum. Listen to this episode to get the behind-the-curtain look at how simple shifts changed everything…and how...

Are you censoring your art to please others, or shrinking your voice because you think you're "not enough"? In this episode of the Honest Art Podcast, I'm calling B.S. and challenging artists to stop watering down their authentic identity — those messy, "too much" parts. Why? Because that raw, unedited truth is a magnet for collectors, the fuel for unshakeable confidence, and the defiant middle fi...

It's time to ditch the "it's too late" mindset. My guest on this episode of the Honest Art Podcast, former Studio Elite member Brenda Sulmonetti, proves that you can become an artist at any age.  Tune in to hear her story about going from hobbyist to pro (with gallery representation!) in just a few years. She reveals exactly how she made it happen — the mindset shifts, the communities that changed...

What makes a gallery want to go all in when it comes to representing your art? Listen to this episode to learn the not-so-secrets every emerging artist needs to know. We'll talk about how to stop positioning yourself as a hobbyist and start showing up professionally, how to improve visibility, and how to maintain your unique, artistic voice in the process! Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so...

Waiting for the moment when you can turn your art hobby into an art career? This episode of the Honest Art Podcast is all about how to know when it's time, and what to do once you make that leap. You'll find that becoming a pro is less about waiting for a permission slip and more about showing up consistently, embracing discomfort, standing in your values, and ultimately…acting like a pro before y...

I'm so excited to introduce you to Stacy Solodkin, an abstract artist who embodies authenticity and the power of saying "YES!" to what you love.  Tune in as she shares her inspiring journey of letting go, trusting impulse, and putting her incredible work out into the world. You'll be inspired to prioritize your creative needs, get clear about what you want, and be inspired to take the next step, e...

Is your creativity losing the battle against life's demands? In this episode, I talk about the uncomfortable truth about why consistency, not talent or inspiration, is the real secret to showing up. I'll break down practical time-blocking strategies that protect your creative sessions, techniques that build resilience, and studio habits that generate consistent flow.  If you want to maintain your...

This guest interview is everything I've been waiting to share since 2020. I've been a fan of this artist's work since first glance, and today, I finally get to welcome him to the show. In this episode, the highly talented, highly sought-after Benny Bing — whose work has been collected by celebrities like Alicia Keys, Dave Chappelle, and The Weeknd  — and I dive into what raw, authentic creativity...

"Why do you create art?" is a question that stumps many artists, but it's one everyone should know the answer to. Why? Because your WHY is your most powerful business tool, and getting clear on it may be the thing you need to sell more art in 2025. But here's the thing — it's already something you have inside you. It just needs to be uncovered. In this episode, I'll show you how to do it, and you'...

Join me as I welcome art consultant Amy Sawtelle to the show for an insider's look at the world of art consulting. Amy and I talk about how consultants like her bridge the gap between creativity, passion, and building a thriving art career.  We'll dig into topics like how artists can find the right consultant, what services they provide, and why maintaining your authentic artistic voice remains yo...