New Podcast Episode: Bill Davidson - Be Passionate & Keep it Playful

For today's episode, we sat down with Bill Davidson, a former lawyer turned passionate plein air artist, with a love for painting and teaching. He emphasizes the importance of playfulness and a growth mindset in learning art and pursuing it either as a hobby or a career. He tells us about his unique approach to painting that focuses on mastering values and shapes before introducing color, using techniques like creating gray puddles and designing compositions in black and white. Bill highlights the significance of plein air painting, not just as an artistic practice but as a transformative social experience that builds friendships and provides continuous learning opportunities. His teaching philosophy centers on breaking down artistic challenges, avoiding harsh self-criticism, and maintaining curiosity and passion throughout the creative process. He advises artists to take risks, attend workshops, and not be afraid of making mistakes, believing that style develops naturally over time through consistent practice and exploration. Finally, Bill offers resources like his newsletter "Bill's Tip Jar", his upcoming workshops, and videos to help artists improve their skills and enjoy their artistic journey.

The Art of Income - Strategies from Successful Artists

In this episode, we created a compilation of our past guests sharing their personal journeys of building sustainable careers in the art world, emphasizing the importance of starting small and being adaptable. They discuss various strategies for supplementing income, including teaching workshops, taking commissions, leveraging social media, and participating in juried competitions. Our guests candidly explore the financial challenges of being a full-time artist, advising newcomers to have a safety net, save money, and be prepared for fluctuating income. Many recommend starting with small projects like pet portraits, entering local shows, and gradually expanding one's network and opportunities. Personal stories highlight the significance of finding one's unique artistic voice and being willing to pivot when necessary. The overarching message is one of resilience, creativity, and the importance of persistence in pursuing an artistic career.

Palette & Purpose - Turning Passion into Profession

In this episode, we created a compilation of advice from past podcast guests who tell us about the practical and creative aspects of pursuing an art career. They share insights on developing artistic skills, such as painting from life, practicing consistently, and mastering fundamental techniques. They emphasize the importance of passion, dedication, and continuous learning, advising aspiring artists to find mentors, join art groups, and not be discouraged by challenges. They also discuss the need to be authentic, develop a unique style, and not be overly focused on financial success. Overall, this compilation provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the artistic journey, highlighting both the creative and practical aspects of becoming a professional artist.

Ginny Butcher - The Desire is the Gift

In this episode, we sat down with Ginny Butcher, a Wyoming-based artist who fell in love with the natural beauty there as well as the adorable cows roaming the pastures. She tells us about her artistic journey which has been characterized by perseverance, overcoming internal doubts, and learning to embrace her unique artistic voice. She initially struggled with the idea of being a full-time artist, experiencing burnout and uncertainty, but eventually found her stride by remembering to take time away from painting in order to re-charge. Ginny reminds us that the gift we have as artists comes from the desire to continue pursuing our passion and not necessarily from being naturally good at drawing or painting. She also tells us about her artistic process which involves careful planning, including creating thumbnails and studies before starting a final painting, and she emphasizes the importance of understanding fundamental techniques. She discusses her marketing strategy that centers around a weekly email newsletter that connects personally with subscribers which has also helped her successfully build a career over the past 20 years. Finally, Ginny tells us about an ambitious project she's currently undertaking and her upcoming shows!

Keith Bond - Constraints and Creative Growth

In this episode, we sat down with Keith Bond, a landscape artist who primarily focuses on painting scenes from nature, with a strong emphasis on plein air sketching as a research and reference tool for his studio work. He believes in the importance of painting from life to develop fundamental artistic skills, stressing that understanding principles like value, composition, and color provides a foundation for creative expression. Throughout his career, Keith has learned to approach plein air painting as a way to capture the essence of color, light, and atmosphere, rather than creating finished pieces, and uses these sketches as references for more contemplative studio paintings. His artistic journey began with a love for art in school, and he transitioned to being a full-time artist with the support of his wife, navigating the challenges of an art career through discipline and continuous learning. Keith advocates for building personal relationships with clients, maintaining an email newsletter, and having a strong website as key marketing strategies for artists. Finally, Keith reminds us of the value of constraints in fostering creativity and encourages aspiring artists to paint from life, return to fundamental principles, and understand that creativity is a dialogue between the left and right brain hemispheres.