The Living Artist

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston conjures up his inner McConaughey to talk about desperation. We all know it (and even feel it) when we encounter it, but how do we know if we are giving off desperate vibes in our own world? Learn how to spot if you are coming off as a bit desperate and how to curb this to get better results in your art career and life. Preston gives examples galore fr...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston covers the topic of collecting art from both the perspective of the collector, and the artist. Discover some helpful nuggets that will help you to better collect and be collected. There are many different tiers of art collectors and artists out there. Discover which one you may fit into and how to move on up, if that is what you want to do. Enjoy the e...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston encourages us to find simplicity in what we do. Especially when it comes to problems and over-efforting, can we find a solution that gets us to the same place in a more simplistic way? Many times, the correct path or solution is the one that is right under our nose the whole time. As Tim Ferriss would say, "what would this look like if it were simple?"...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston comes to you live from the center of the "bomb cyclone" to share random thoughts on a rainy day. A few topics covered include filtering your reality, cultivating social graces, and adapting to unforeseeable challenges. Stay safe and dry out there and listen to this episode by the fire with a warm cup of cocoa. Enjoy! For more information on Preston M....

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston sits down with Los Angeles based artist Brent Estabrook . This is a broad conversation with lots of wonderful nuggets for artists and collectors alike. Brent shares with Preston his origins transitioning from Dental Surgeon (in the making) to artist, developing his recognizable artistic style and brand, the mindset and practices of a successful artist...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston wraps up 2022 with some holiday thoughts and sentiments moving into the New Year. What worked for you this year? What didn't work? How can we use what we have learned to propel us into 2023? Preston takes the opportunity with this episode to check in and meet you where you are right now. It's a perfect opportunity to reflect, have gratitude and absorb...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston interviews artist, photographer and "reluctant musician" Kelly Garni . Kelly started his career as a founding member and bassist for the band Quiet Riot (which he played with for their first two albums), before transitioning to a career as an EMT, then photographer and fine artist. Kelly speaks with Preston about his new book Naked Vegas , where he exp...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston encourages us all to fall in love with ourselves a bit more. 'Tis the season after all. Having a love affair with yourself sets everything else in motion and has positive ripple effects that carries over into all other aspects of your life and art. So settle in with a warm blanket, light a fire and get ready to fall in love... with yourself. <3 Enjo...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston talks intentions. This ain't your normal intention setting conversation though... Learn how to set intentions to be the artist you want to be in your life and career. Once you have convinced your brain, your body and actions will follow. This is powerful as it changes the way you make decisions in your day to day life. Learn how to upgrade your mindset...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston checks in after the Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend with a follow-up episode about simplicity. He talks about striking a balance in our life and art as well as harnessing our energy into bursts of creativity and extreme focus. Applying the 80/20 Principle to our art practice as well as our lives. Many of the best artists throughout history have d...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston sneaks in an episode about Black Friday. This is not your typical Black Friday episode however, nor is the advice given herein... Preston poses the question of whether we should even participate in Black Friday sales and advertising? He goes on to give his opinion and past experiences with this holiday sales period. Should you take part, or should you...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston reflects on life and art after a recent birthday. It is an episode about insights that can only come from a period of self-reflection. Many of these insights can be applied to your life and art, but it is also an episode that encourages you to take stock in your own life. What is working, what have you learned so far, what are your new goals, and what...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston sits down with Morgan Fox . Morgan is a curatorial assistant with Art in Embassies , an office of the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History at Furman University, and received her Master of Arts degree in Art and Museum Studies at Georgetown University in 2017. She has also studied and worked at...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston delves into the topic of anxiety. Not only has Preston experienced intense bouts of anxiety in his own life, but he has also come across a large number of artists who also suffer from it. So many in fact, that it became apparent that it was a topic worth devoting a whole episode to. Learn how anxiety can affect us as artists and a handful of techniques...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston relaxes into the topic of "settling" in our art and careers. Is it okay to settle, or compromise our integrity as artists? Preston gives many examples of settling in our art and how to change our mindset and even factor in a bit of compromise in our art practice. We are always adapting as artists and the concept of compromise and integrity will also ch...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston warms himself up into an episode about authenticity. How do we be ourselves more in our lives and work? Well, we can start by quieting the noise and peeling back all of the layers that have been added to us over the years by society. We can then get back to our purest selves and create art that is unabashedly "us" at our core. This is what the world wa...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston talks about overcoming creative blocks and general disillusionment through using our own obstacles and cultivating our interests. Many times in our lives, the obstacles that are in our way turn out to be the path forward as well. As artist also, we should have no shortage of interests in our lives. Get obsessed with whatever you are interested in now (...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston sits down with Alex Farkas, Co-Founder and Gallery Director of UGallery . Alex co-founded UGallery in 2006 with the goal of helping emerging artists connect with patrons. As one of the first ever online art galleries, UGallery significantly improved the opportunities available for artists. The gallery has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, and...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston talks about "protecting yo energy". It all started with a shirt sighting at a local taco shop in Los Angeles and grew into a pretty solid mantra for life and art. As artists, we are very vulnerable to energy drainage, suckage and manipulation. Learn how to avoid some of this and "protect yo energy" and flow. For more information on Preston M. Smith and...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston talks about dealing with trauma. More specifically, how our art practice can be used to heal and express the complex emotions that come from painful past and present experiences. Preston shares how art has saved his life more times than he can count and how it is a wonderful tool that is cathartic for both the artist and viewer. This is a mellow and pe...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston talks about questioning our own thoughts and limiting beliefs. Some of these negative thoughts and beliefs could have initially been constructed with good intentions, but now could be a major barrier in your growth and career as an artist. These can come in the form of rationalizations, myopic categorizations, cynicism, and many more. Learn how to spot...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston talks about a concept that he labels the "artist savior complex". Tune in to this episode to find out what can be done to break this mentality that can be so detrimental to our success and growth as artists. Enjoy! For more information on Preston M. Smith and his artwork, visit https://www.pmsartwork.com , or follow him on Instagram at https://www.inst...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston gets down and dirty with... gardening? That's right, it will all make sense. Take care of your life, business and art practice with the same care you would tending to a beautiful garden. After all, they all need attention, love, patience, problem solving, fertilizer and the occasional pruning. Listen to this episode and learn how to get your "garden" t...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston has a conversation with Orange County based artist and designer Nancy Hadley . Nancy has had quite the career working as both a fine artist and premier designer for residential and commercial spaces through her company Nancy Hadley's FAC, and on numerous hit television shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition , Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares ,...

In this episode of The Living Artist, Preston talks about creating and working on a budget. We all have to start somewhere, and we all have to work with some sort of budgetary constraints at any stage of our careers. This episode is all about finding ways to continue working no matter what your budget is. It is full of tips on finding affordable and even free materials, as well as sparking creativ...