Honest Art Podcast with Jodie King

What's keeping you stuck? Is it your fear of failure? Or your fear of success?  Or maybe — and hear me out on this one — it's the fear of something else entirely. Something we're using "fear" and "success" as a blanket term for when really it's a bigger, more personal, more important concern.  On this episode of the show, I'm talking about why the fear of success and the fear of failure as an arti...

When I first picked up the paintbrush, I had no idea how much art would one day impact my life. At first, painting was just a fun hobby, a way to add some me time in my life. I didn't know that it would SAVE my life.  The truth is, though: Art heals. Not just mentally, but physically, too. In this episode of the Honest Art Podcast, I want to talk about why.  Even if you've never even so much as to...

You're in for a treat with this episode, because I'm joined by the amazingly talented Warwick Saint, award-winning photographer, painter, and mixed media artist! We discuss Warwick's journey and evolution as an artist, plus what it means to tap into YOUR own evolution to make your best, most honest art.  If you've been struggling to find your voice and your unique style as an artist, this one's fo...

I'm a big believer in doing things with intention, and that includes the art supplies I buy. I know all too well how easy is to drop big money on art supplies you don't need.  So in this episode, I'm going to show you how to save some bucks on art supplies, and be a little more intentional with the space in your studio. You'll also hear how this can impact your focus and direction with your art. ...

There's nothing quick and easy about abstract expressionist art.  We MUST avoid falling into the trap of thinking that our most honest art can come in "5 minutes or less." This isn't a hot and ready pizza — this is FINE art.  Still, staring at a blank canvas can get frustrating. But that rut may be because you're making one of the 10 mistakes I'm sharing in this episode. Trust me, avoiding these a...

What do you think makes your work unique as an artist? Is it the style you paint in, like abstract work or oil pastel paintings? Or is it something much deeper than that? I'll spoil this one for you: It's so much deeper than your "style." What makes your artwork unique is your voice, the thing that is pulled through any type of art you create. From style to style and medium to medium, your voice i...

It's time we stop making excuses, y'all. You're not stalled out on social media for your art because you're too old, too inexperienced, or even because of the algorithm. It might actually be you — because you just aren't showing up. I know it's hard, and you may even have valid reasons for not using social media for your art. That's why, in this episode, I'm going to share 7 ways you can show up,...

"Honest Art" is a phrase I use often. What started out as a simple hashtag is now the motto for my business and my life.  But after almost two seasons of the Honest Art Podcast, I realized I haven't really done a deep dive into why this phrase is so important to me —or why it should matter to you. So in this episode, I'm getting REALLY honest with you, and talking about where this phrase came from...

Are you afraid to come out of the art closet?  I get it — I've been there. I was scared to call myself an artist and open myself to the eye-rolls and the "Get a real job" comments. But you know what's on the other side of that fear? So many amazing things.  That's what guest Christen Horner and I get into for her interview on the Honest Art Podcast. Her story is amazing, and she's been right where...

Painting and hoping is not a strategy. You can't just paint a beautiful picture and HOPE that someone finds it. We as artists need to put ourselves out there and CREATE our own opportunities. Because they don't just fall from the sky.  Not sure how to create more opportunities for yourself and your art? Don't know where to start? In this episode, I'm giving you five strategies to put your art in f...

Sex and creativity…what do they have in common? Turns out, a LOT more than you may think. But how do we tap into those similarities? And how can we use them to improve BOTH? Even both at the same time?  It's what I'm digging into on this episode of the Honest Art Podcast. Tune in to see the correlation between sex and creativity, and how improving one almost always improves the other.   Make sure...

Is resolve the only thing you need to find success as an artist? Nope. In fact, I see so many artists hustling day in and day out (myself included, once upon a time). Despite all their work, they're still stuck and can't seem to get the one thing every artist needs to build a thriving art career: a sale of their work! Talking about money can be tough in this career but in this episode, I want to s...

Is it ever too late to start (or start over)? My guest, a widely talented artist named Betty Franks, doesn't think so.  Betty worked in customer service management for YEARS before she ever picked a paintbrush. In fact, she didn't take the leap to become an artist until she was 50.  Let Betty be proof: It's never too late to do the things your soul aches to do. And in this episode, Betty and I tal...

Rejection: What can we learn from it? THAT is the question we need to be asking, not "How can I avoid rejection?" Because we can't — failure and rejection are just parts of life. It's also a part of your journey as an artist. Rejection doesn't mean you suck. Hell, even the greats faced failure and rejection. Any time you fall down, it simply means you're showing the eff up (and learning along the...

Ever heard the saying, "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard?" As an artist, you might not think about your art as "hard work" — but it is. And hard work requires showing up consistently.  If you want to improve your skills and create your best art, if you want to take things to that next level, you HAVE to be consistent. You have to actively face down creative blocks and challeng...

WARNING: This episode is a juicy one.  We're going to be talking about something pretty taboo, so buckle up!  Disclaimer: My only goal with the Honest Art Podcast is to help artists excavate their own authentic art and freedom through creativity. Never to judge, never to be the boss of YOUR life.  And sometimes, that means exploring topics that are a little more "taboo." Because that y'all, is wha...

Offering commissions…is the effort worth the reward? That's what I'm uncovering in this episode. As an artist who has worked on several commissioned pieces, I've got a lot to say! And a lot that I think you, as a fellow artist, will find helpful.  Catch the full episode to hear about things like:  Why commissions DON'T need to be completed before the holidays (or any other special date like weddin...

Forget the rules! … except maybe these ones. Art is deeply personal and I love seeing the expression that comes alive when we, as artists, let go of our inhibitions. But when it comes to composition? Those are rules I can get behind. Because sometimes those rules are the very thing we need to turn our art in the right direction when we feeling it going off the rails.  Tune in to this episode to he...

What's on the other side of your comfort zone? Life-changing experiences, that's what.  And on this episode of the Honest Art Podcast, Ana Stapleton and I really dig into why artists NEED to look for ways to break free from our norms and find new opportunities to grow.  Because it's in those moments that we inevitably have experiences that shape who we are, not only as people but as artists. And w...

What's the one thing you need to create your best art — and sell more of it? Believe it or not, it's not the most advanced art techniques or a business school degree. It's… a spiritual practice. Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. A spiritual practice (or a self-care routine, if you prefer) is one the BEST ways to consistently hit your creative flow, and sell your best art. I'll prove it to yo...

The sky's the limit, right? When you're an artist, that feels anything but true some days. Between the gallery rejections, the side eyes when you tell people what you do for a living, and the endless effort to try and find YOUR style… this whole "artist" thing can feel like an uphill battle.  But don't give up. You were MADE to do this y'all. I just know it. Don't believe me? I've brought in a fri...

Can music boost creativity? Absolutely! Can it help us as artists make our best, most honest art? Eh…not so fast.  I'm a HUGE music lover, but I have guidelines I like to abide by when adding music to the creative process.  No, it's not about pressing play on one genre over the other. It's about making sure your music is in alignment with your mood. You can't bypass the emotional process (aka putt...

Do you know when to walk away from your art?  No matter how long you've been painting or how much natural talent you have, there WILL come a time when you don't know what that next right move is. But instead of forcing the creativity out of you, you need to know when to put down the paintbrush and walk away.  In this episode, I talk about how to know when it's time to do that, plus: Why playing it...

For years, getting my art into a gallery was how I defined success as an artist. It was all I wanted to do. It was my number one priority and I hustled hard to make it happen. But to my surprise, it didn't happen overnight like I WANTED it to. It actually took an entire DECADE after I started my art career.  Because I know gallery shows are probably a goal you have too, I wanted to share my best t...

You shouldn't have to do this art biz thing alone. And you don't HAVE to! That's the whole purpose of the Honest Art Podcast, and ESPECIALLY this week's episode.  I'm answering a few of our listeners' questions about all things business, art, and everything in between. I answer questions about:  Best practices for applying to galleries Creating art from home vs studio: Is one better than the other...