New Podcast Episode: Olya Babich - Dealing with Burnout

This episode is different from our others in that we sat down with our friend and colleague Olya Babich Konell to discuss a topic that I believe many of us have heard: burnout. Almost everyone at this point is familiar with the word and maybe even familiar with the dreaded feeling of not being able to motivate oneself to do the thing you usually love to do! So, we decided to make this episode to help teach you how to identify if what you're facing is actually burnout, how to help you move through it so you can gain your motivation back, and how to prevent it from sneaking back into your life. The best part is, we also discuss WHY rest is so important and how it can amp up your creativity.

Tina Garrett - Price Your Work to Make a Living

In this episode, we sat down with Tina Garrett, one of the most well recognized women artists in contemporary Western Art. Her figurative work is both beautiful and haunting and her rise to success has been inspiring and in many ways, meteoric. We discuss the key to making amazing work that moves people, overcoming blocks in the creative path, pricing your artwork in a rational way so you can live from your work, and how to find your ideal collectors who will pay what your work is worth. We also talk about how to become Tina's mentee and all of her upcoming workshops!

Kyle Ma - Mastery Before Marketing

In this episode I'm joined by our CEO Clint Watson to interview Kyle Ma, a 23 year old prodigy who began painting seriously at the age of 10 and is now a successful artist living from his work. Kyle has a deep love of nature which explains why his subject matter is primarily plein air. In this episode, we discuss the importance of taking care of your needs like bills so you can allow your creativity to flow without the stress of making ends meet, why focusing on making a masterpiece is not the right way to go when you're starting a painting, and the importance of mastery before marketing. We also discuss his upcoming workshop at Bluebird Studios in Santa Fe, NM this September.

Susan Lyon - Don't Be Your Biggest Collector

In this episode, we interviewed Susan Lyon, a figurative artist based in North Carolina who paints in a realist manner with a splash of impressionist colors. We discuss the importance of using references as a tool, tips on creating your own references, the reality of making money as an artist and pricing your work appropriately, and the joy of paying it forward by teaching others through workshops, YouTube, and her Patreon. We also discuss her participation in the upcoming Prix de West which is an art show run by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, and Susan's upcoming workshops.

Debra Keirce - Art That Makes Admirals Cry

In this episode, we sat down with Debra Keirce, a realist artist who enjoys painting Trompe L'oeil miniatures and photorealism with a narrative approach. She began as a biochemical engineer but never gave up on her dream of one day becoming an artist. We discussed her transition from engineer to artist, the importance of focusing on creating beautiful work that touches people's souls, the benefits of joining artist's clubs and organizations, and to not be afraid to "just do it".

Kevin Kelly - Excellent Advice for Living

In this episode we interview Kevin Kelly, we discuss his new book "Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier" which came out on May 2nd available for purchase through Amazon or at your local book store. This little book of aphorisms packs a punch by giving you wonderful meditations, thoughts, and advice that apply to everything from finding inspiration, to finding your missing keys. Kelly, a sought-after public speaker has given talks at numerous events around the world and is a founding board member of the Long Now Foundation, a nonprofit that is building a clock, known as the clock of the long now, that will accurately keep time for 10,000 years and is being built deep inside a mountain in West Texas. As we navigate an increasingly connected and technologically driven world, Kevin Kelly's ideas continue to guide and inspire, challenging us to embrace the future with curiosity, optimism, adaptability, and a deep appreciation for the power of human ingenuity. So sit back, relax, maybe grab a notebook to take some notes, and join us for an enlightening conversation with Kevin Kelly.