Podcast

The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations

Arts, Business, Entrepreneurship, Visual Arts

If you want to make it in the art world, talent is key - but so is mastering the business side. The Professional Artist Podcast is where fine artists and commerce meet.

Co-hosts Miguel L. Mayher and Cristina Demiany guide visual artists through an audio gallery, exploring how to show and sell your art, land commissions, apply for artist grants, license your art, and much more.
This is where your art career begins to grow.

Miguel L. Mayher is the Director of Education at the Professional Artist Association. Previously, he worked with Google Arts & Culture, striking partnerships with national museums. He is also a Global Economic Symposium Young Fellow and a One Young World Ambassador.

Cristina Demiany is a Senior Art Business Coach at the Professional Artist Association. She formerly served as Senior Program Manager at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and as Executive Director of the National Children’s Chorus.

The Professional Artist Association is a global organization dedicated to providing real-world education for visual artists, including painters, sculptors, and fine art photographers.

Visual Arts chart
#11
Episodes
68
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
23 min
On air since
2025
Latest episode
21 hours ago

Episodes

68 episodes, newest first

  1. Choosing an Art Gallery (Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better)

    Episode 67

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day “Gallery Ready” Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Isca has worked with some of her galleries for over 20 years and treats them as business partners.

    Learn how to present yourself to galleries as a partner they’ll want to keep.

    Join us live online Nov 16–19 at 7PM ET to learn when you’re gallery-ready, how to price your work and how to present yourself with confidence.

    Register free.
    ---

    Does the right gallery partner exist for your art, and how do you know when you have found it?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, New York-based painter Isca Greenfield-Sanders is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Isca’s work is held in the collections of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. In over 25 years, she has learned to treat her galleries as business partners.

    In this conversation, Isca breaks down how to tell if a gallery is the right fit, how to build relationships with new galleries, and why a bigger, more prestigious name is not always the better partner.

    This episode is an honest look at being upfront in a business relationship and recognizing when it is time to move on.

    “I view my galleries as my business partners. They are the public face of my work”

    — Isca Greenfield-Sanders

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:41 Lake Beach: Photography, Painting, and the Process

    05:06 A Senior Show in Italy

    07:41 Building Gallery Relationships That Last for Decades

    11:36 Pink Wildflowers: A New Way of Seeing

    13:17 How to Choose the Right Gallery

    16:13 Getting Into a New Gallery Through Other Artists

    17:13 Becoming a Beginner Again: Salt Beach Woodblock Print

    18:41 Final Advice

    Connect with Isca

    Website: https://iscags.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iscags/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    21 min
  2. How to Sell Your Art (Stop Trying to Make the Sale)

    Episode 66

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day “Gallery Ready” Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Alejandra works with galleries and shows at art fairs on three continents, where she learned that collectors buy connection, not pressure.

    Learn how to present yourself and your work to galleries with that same ease.

    Join us live online Nov 16–19 at 7PM ET to learn when you’re gallery-ready, how to price your work and how to present yourself with confidence.

    Register free.
    ---

    Does pushing harder to sell your art make buyers walk away?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, geometric painter Alejandra Sieder is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Alejandra is a Venezuelan-born painter based in Australia, with work shown at art fairs in Berlin, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the USA. She spent decades as a graphic designer before committing fully to painting.

    Instead of chasing sales, she builds her career through small decisions made consistently over time.

    In this deep dive, Alejandra breaks down what to do, and what not to do, when a collector approaches your work.
    She also explains why people really decide to buy, and how to know when you are ready to leave your day job.

    This episode is a grounded look at selling without pressure and making the move to full-time artist at the right moment.

    “If you sell from scarcity, you will not sell the painting. People know when you are pushing for a sale.”

    —Alejandra Sieder

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Content Note and Introduction

    01:52 Many Territories: Identity, Migration, and Geometry

    04:39 Thirty Years Balancing Graphic Design and Painting

    07:46 Using Your Day Job to Build Your Art Career

    10:01 Labyrinth: A New Sense of Time

    13:50 Building Income Streams as an Independent Artist

    16:04 What to Do When a Collector Enters Your Booth

    19:57 Selling Without Scarcity: Letting the Painting Choose

    19:58 Golden Cave: A Decade in One Painting

    21:23 Final Advice

    Connect with Alejandra

    Website: https://alejandrasieder.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alejandrasieder/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    24 min
  3. How to Make Money as an Artist (With Multiple Income Streams)

    Episode 65

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day “Gallery Ready” Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Glory Day earns money as an artist in many ways, including through galleries. Learn how to land your first (or next) gallery now.

    Join us live online Nov 16–19 at 7PM ET to learn when you’re gallery-ready, how to price your work and how to present yourself with confidence. Register free.

    Can selling your art feel natural or does it always come with a performance?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, interdisciplinary artist Glory Day McSharry is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Glory Day is based in South Carolina and has built a thriving art business across three income streams: galleries, national art festivals, and commissions.

    Each one feeds the others in ways that aren’t immediately obvious from the outside.

    Rather than following a fixed formula, she has learned to spot opportunities and clear whatever is in the way of taking them, turning that instinct into a sustainable practice.

    In this conversation, Glory Day breaks down how to build multiple income streams from a single art practice, where to find buyers beyond traditional galleries, and how to sell your work without feeling like a salesperson.

    “Sales is a language that you learn because it has to do with helping someone give you the means to continue your practice, which happens to be money.”

    —Glory Day McSharry

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 Fancy Pantry: Personal Narrative in the Paintings

    04:04 Three Income Streams

    05:57 Breaking Down the Numbers

    07:34 Working in Series and Studio Output

    09:11 Green Puddles: Chaos, Interior Space, and Home Renovation

    11:06 The California Festival Failure

    13:28 What It Takes to Show Up Well at Festivals

    14:48 Selling Without Performing: The Philosophy Behind the Work

    19:27 Bloodlines - Monumentalizing Female Labor

    21:20 Final Advice

    Connect with Glory Day

    Website: https://www.glorydayloflin.com/aboutme

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glorydaystudio/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:
    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    24 min
  4. How to Succeed As An Artist Without Compromising Your Art

    Episode 64

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    Can you build a successful art career without letting success change the art you make?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Loribelle Spirovski is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Loribelle is a Filipino-Australian figurative painter whose psychologically charged portraits have been exhibited internationally.

    She has earned multiple selections for Australia’s prestigious Archibald Prize, including the 2025 People’s Choice Award.

    Along the way, she learned that the job side of an art career can compromise the integrity of the work itself.

    In this episode, Loribelle shares why trying to make the “right” art can hold you back, how to start earning from your art before a gallery represents you, and why working harder can eventually work against you.

    “I was trying to please these imagined judges instead of being true to what I actually wanted to paint..”

    —Loribelle Spirovski

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 Lux Aeterna: Memory, Trauma, and the Body

    05:21 Growing Up Between Cultures

    08:14 The MFA Decision

    11:32 Getting Into Residencies Without a Strong CV Yet

    14:48 How Curators Actually Find Artists

    17:03 Pricing Work When You’re Still Building Confidence

    19:44 Memento Mori: When the Work Shifts Direction

    22:17 Final Advice

    Connect with Loribelle

    Website: https://loribellespirovski.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loribellespirovski

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment.
    We read every single one.

    30 min
  5. How to Get Your Art Into Museums (What Actually Works)

    Episode 63

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    How does an artist actually get their work into a museum?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Elizabeth Barlow is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Based in California, Elizabeth has built a career that has taken her work into museums, hospitals, churches, corporate collections, and the San Francisco Opera.

    Along the way, she has learned that museum opportunities often begin long before an artist ever asks a curator to consider their work.

    In this episode, Elizabeth shares how artists can build genuine relationships with museums and curators, what to do when you don't already have a connection inside an institution, and why supporting museums can be an investment in your own career.

    She also explores a less obvious route into museum collections and why some opportunities need to be created rather than waited for.

    “I view it as an investment in my art to get to know people, to support them and to support the museum.”

    —Elizabeth Barlow

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 Empress - From Portraits in Absentia to Flower Portraits

    05:13 Getting Into Museum Collections - The Long Game of Showing Up

    08:28 The San Francisco Opera Donation - A Gift That Led to a Commission

    09:47 The Phoenix Rose - What Survived the Fire

    12:20 When Donating Work Makes Strategic Sense

    13:52 Approaching Institutions Cold

    15:18 Transfiguration - The Church Commission

    18:17 Final Advice

    Connect with Elizabeth

    Website: https://www.elizabethbarlowart.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethbarlowartist/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    23 min
  6. How to Get Your Art Discovered (Without Chasing Galleries)

    Episode 62

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    What if getting your art discovered has less to do with chasing galleries and more to do with putting your work where people can find it?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, landscape painter Thomas Sarrantonio is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Based in New York, Thomas has been exhibiting since the 1980s and has spent decades building his career around painting, teaching, and his local artistic community.

    His work has earned a Pollock-Krasner grant and gallery representation, but many of those opportunities came to him rather than through actively pursuing galleries.

    In this episode, Thomas shares how showing his work in libraries, bakeries, and other community spaces helped create unexpected opportunities, how relationships with other artists contributed to his career, and what he has learned from working with multiple commercial galleries.

    “Galleries have found me. I never really was good at selling myself, and I didn't feel comfortable doing that, so I usually just gave up on that.”

    — Thomas Sarrantonio

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction
    01:38 Field Painting : Plein Air at First Light
    04:43 Showing Up Without Selling Yourself - Libraries, Bakeries, and Community
    08:26 Practical Tips for Showing Outside Commercial Galleries
    10:55 Sunset With Storm Offshore: A Labor of Love
    15:49 Never Give Up Creative Freedom to a Gallery
    18:21 Visibility
    20:33 Final Advice

    Connect with Thomas

    Website: https://www.thomassarrantonio.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomassarrantonio/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    23 min
  7. How to Build Your Art Career With a Day Job (What Actually Works)

    Episode 61

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
    -----

    What if keeping your day job could actually help you build a stronger art career?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, ceramic artist Oami Powers is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Based in North Carolina, Oami spent nearly two decades working in clothing and product design before finding her way to ceramics.

    She has since built a nationally exhibited studio practice while continuing to work a day job four days a week.

    In this episode, Oami shares why financial stability can give artists the freedom to develop their work without rushing the process, what moved her career forward without a single defining "big break," and why taking longer to find your voice can ultimately be an advantage.

    “It takes you a while to figure out who you are as an artist, even if you're starting in your 40s like me… and having a day job allows you to do that.”

    — Oami Powers

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 Tender Tangle - A Pile of Ceramic Objects

    04:04 From Clothing Design to Clay - Finding the Right Medium

    06:51 The First Residency While Keeping the Day Job

    09:15 Working at the Museum - Learning the Art Ecosystem

    11:05 Adrift - Building a Visual Vocabulary from Memory

    13:06 Why Quitting the Day Job Too Soon Can Cost You

    16:05 What a Serious Art Career Looks Like Alongside a Day Job

    18:06 Ghost - A Piece Made from Grief

    20:38 Final Advice

    Connect with Oami

    Website: https://www.oamipowers.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oamipowersart/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    23 min
  8. How to Stop Undercharging for Your Art (And Get Paid What You're Worth)

    Episode 60

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist and muralist Pepa Ivanoff is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Originally from Australia and now based in Costa Rica, Pepa has built an international career completing 343 murals around the world in just nine years.

    Along the way, she learned that treating art like a profession also means understanding exactly what your work costs to create and being willing to charge accordingly.

    In this episode, Pepa shares how undercharging led her to resent projects she should have enjoyed, what changed when she calculated the true costs behind her work, and why knowing your value helps you identify which clients and opportunities are actually worth pursuing.

    “If you're serious about being an artist, being compensated financially for that is something that you need to get really comfortable with.”

    — Pepa Ivanoff

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 Entre Palmeras - A Studio Canvas

    03:17 From Surfboards to Murals - How It All Started

    04:48 Questioning the Myth That Art Isn't a Real Career

    07:25 Financial Freedom on Your Own Terms

    09:15 Saying No More Than Yes - Evolving the Commission Practice

    11:15 The Bird of Paradise Mural - A Repeat Client

    12:09 Having the Money Conversation Early

    15:25 Getting Comfortable with the Money Conversation

    16:47 How She Discovered She Was Undercharging

    18:39 The Pilates Studio Mural - A Client Who Became a Friend

    19:29 The Starving Artist Myth

    20:36 Final Advice

    Connect with Pepa

    Website: https://pepallama.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pepallama/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    22 min
  9. How to Become a Professional Artist (Even If You're Starting Late)

    Episode 59

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    Is it ever too late to become a professional artist?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Sarah Richmond is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Sarah is an Australian artist whose vibrant paintings span portraiture and wildlife.

    After spending 25 years building and running a successful business with her husband, she decided to sell their company and finally pursue art professionally.

    Today, she's exhibiting and selling her work at art fairs across Australia and the United States.

    In this episode, Sarah shares why starting later in life can actually be an advantage, how her previous business experience helped her approach art professionally, and what it took to navigate the self-doubt and vulnerability that came with calling herself an artist.

    She also discusses taking financial and career risks, building confidence through art fairs, and creating multiple ways to sell her work.

    “Anyone can do anything if they really want it. And if it brings you joy, there's no reason why you shouldn't.”

    — Sarah Richmond

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 Cocky With A Twist: Layers, Inks, and a Quirky Series

    03:32 25 Years in Business Before Taking the Leap

    06:16 The First Art Fair in Austin

    08:06 Cheers, Ladies: Living Life on Her Own Terms

    10:17 Imposter Syndrome and Backing Yourself

    13:19 Building Income Streams Beyond Art Fairs

    14:11 Out of the Dust: A Longhorn Painted for Texas

    15:23 The Identity Shift of Calling Yourself an Artist

    17:14 Final Thoughts

    Connect with Sarah

    Website: https://www.sarahrichmondart.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrichmond.art

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    19 min
  10. Why Your Art Niche Is Your Biggest Career Advantage

    Episode 58

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    What if the thing you think is limiting your art career is actually what could make you stand out?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist Gian Galang is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Based in New York City, Gian is an award-winning artist whose fascination with combat sports became the foundation of his creative career.

    By developing a highly recognizable body of work around something he genuinely cared about, he has gone on to work with major brands including the UFC, Nike, Marvel, and ESPN.

    In this episode, Gian explains why narrowing your focus can actually expand your opportunities, how a specific artistic niche can help the right audience find your work, and why being deeply aligned with your own interests gives you a better chance of standing out.

    “The highest probability of making it as an artist is to be most aligned with what you're into.”

    — Gian Galang

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction
    01:38 UFC 281: A UFC Poster
    04:38 Growing Up Obsessed with Comics and Combat Sports
    08:56 Iron Mike: A Mike Tyson Illustration
    09:59 From Combat Sports to Entertainment: How the Niche Expanded
    13:08 Why Specificity Builds Confidence with Clients
    14:41 Family Portrait
    16:11 Narrow Focus, Wide Reach: The Philosophy Behind the Niche
    18:20 Final Advice

    Connect with Gian

    Website: https://giangalang.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giangalang/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    20 min
  11. How to Sell Your Art Without Galleries (What Actually Works)

    Episode 57

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    What if the best person to sell your art isn’t a gallery?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, collaborative painters Signe and Genna Grushovenko are featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Working as a husband-and-wife team, Signe and Genna transform anonymous vintage photographs into contemporary paintings collected and exhibited throughout the United States.

    After years of working with galleries and selling their work directly, Signe and Genna now focus on art fairs, giving them firsthand experience with different sales models and the economics behind each.

    In this deep dive, they share why letting go of a revenue stream can sometimes strengthen your business, the real math behind gallery versus direct sales, and how reversing a decision they stood by for 20 years opened up an entirely new source of income.

    “Nobody, I think, will sell your work with the same passion that you do.”

    — Signe Grushovenko

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 A Sense of Perspective

    05:47 Leaving Teaching and Going All In on Sales

    09:40 Why They Left the Gallery System

    13:12 Mapping Desire

    14:34 Selling Your Own Work Without Being Pushy

    16:41 Measuring Festival Success Over Time

    19:51 Adding Reproductions to the Business

    23:11 Streetlight Mafia

    23:59 Final thoughts

    Connect with Signe and Genna

    Website: https://www.grushovenko.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrushovenkos/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    26 min
  12. Artist Burnout: What It Really Feels Like (And How to Recover)

    Episode 56

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    How do you build a sustainable art career without burning yourself out in the process?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Maria Roza is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Based in Turkey, Maria creates figurative work exploring the relationship between humans, nature and our own self-identity.

    Since completing her master's degree in painting, she has presented three solo shows and exhibited across Europe and the Middle East.

    In this episode, Maria shares what artist burnout actually feels like, the habits helping her recover and build a healthier relationship with her work, and why taking a break can be difficult when your identity and career are tied to creating.

    She also challenges the idea that artists should wait to be discovered and explains why creating your own opportunities matters.

    “You feel like your body is burning as well, but mentally you feel like you're draining out.”

    — Maria Roza

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 Red and Turquoise on The Rails

    05:34 Finding Your Voice Through Solitude

    09:02 What Artist Burnout Actually Feels Like

    12:32 How Self-Compassion and Small Sketches Began the Recovery

    16:46 Paralell Aggression

    19:46 The Discovery Myth: Taking Charge of Your Own Career

    24:06 The Trade

    25:26 Final advice

    Connect with Maria

    Website: https://www.mariaroza.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artmariaroza/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    28 min
  13. How Artists Build a Career in Public Art (What Nobody Tells You)

    Episode 55

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    What does it really take to build a career in monumental public art?

    In this episode of *The Professional Artist Podcast*, sculptor Heath Satow is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Heath has spent 35 years building a career in large-scale public art, with permanent installations at the Denver Zoo, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and the 9/11 Memorial. Along the way, he has learned that the finished sculpture is only one part of the job.

    In this episode, Heath breaks down how artists get their first public art commissions, the financial risks behind large-scale projects, and why experience has led him to turn down opportunities that don't respect an artist's time and expertise.

    This deep dive offers a practical look behind the scenes of public art… and what artists need to understand before pursuing large-scale commissions.

    “It was just a thought, and now it's this amazing thing out in the world and that's addictive.”

    — Heath Satow

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction
    01:38 The Seed
    04:09 Starting Out: Railings, Festivals, and Building a Portfolio
    06:48 Why Scale Becomes Addictive
    08:44 Transition: The Accidental Discovery of Mirror Polish Stainless
    11:07 How to Apply for Public Art Commissions
    15:10 Handling Rejection in a Competitive Field
    16:09 The Financial Risk Hidden in Every Commission
    18:08 Cor
    23:29 Final Advice

    Connect with Heath

    Website: https://www.publicsculpture.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/publicsculpture/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    26 min
  14. Inside My $120K Art Business

    Episode 54

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
    ---

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, illustrator, painter, and educator Francis Vallejo is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Francis is an award-winning artist and Associate Professor of Illustration at the College for Creative Studies.

    Over the past two decades, he has built a six-figure creative business by combining multiple income streams, including original artwork, teaching, illustration, commissions, and publishing.

    In this episode, Francis shares exactly how he built a business generating more than $120,000 per year, why so many talented artists struggle to reach that level, and the mindset shift that transformed the way he approached his career.

    He also explains why artists should value their expertise like any other specialized profession and how diversifying income can create long-term stability.

    "Art, in my opinion, can be an extremely profitable pursuit.”

    — Francis Vallejo

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 A Pivotal Illustration Project

    03:53 The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Building Momentum

    05:42 From Broke in His 20s to Six Figures: The Income Breakdown

    10:54 The Alaska Residency and the Accidental Printmaking Discovery

    15:08 Why Talented Artists Stay Stuck : The Mindset Shift

    17:20 Talking About Your Work as a Problem You Solve

    18:43 Finding Community

    21:28 Final Advice

    Connect with Francis

    Website: https://www.francisvallejo.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francisvallejoart/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    24 min
  15. How Artists Get High-Paying Interior Design Commissions

    Episode 53

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    What does it actually take to build a career creating high-paying commissions for interior designers?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, abstract painter Lara Scolari is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Lara is an Australian abstract artist whose nature-inspired paintings are collected internationally across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the United States.

    Alongside her exhibition career, she has built a thriving commission business working with leading interior designers and has expanded her practice through licensing partnerships, including luxury rug collections.

    In this episode, Lara explains how artists can build relationships with interior designers, what a professional commission process looks like from inquiry to installation, and why preparation, consistency, and a polished presentation matter more than waiting for the perfect opportunity.

    "You've gotta put yourself out there. You've gotta back yourself. You have to take the risk that may not end in anything.”

    — Lara Scolari

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction
    01:38 Yellow Water Cruising
    05:00 Translating Paintings into Rugs and Licensing
    07:40 Building an International Exhibition Career
    10:16 Wendy's Bolt
    10:48 How Greg Natale Walked Through the Door
    13:40 The Interior Designer Commission Process
    16:09 Where Designers Discover New Artists
    17:48 Snorkeling With Matisse
    18:55 Final advice

    Connect with Lara

    Website: https://larascolari.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larascolari/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    21 min
  16. The Money Mistake Most Artists Keep Making

    Episode 52

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
    ---

    What's the biggest money mistake keeping artists from building a sustainable career?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, sculptor and public artist Matt McConnell is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    For more than 25 years, Matt has built a career creating large-scale public art while learning the financial systems required to sustain a creative business.

    From budgeting complex commissions to pricing work with confidence, he's discovered that profitability starts long before a project begins.

    In this episode, Matt explains why undercharging is only part of the problem, how understanding your true costs changes the way you price your work, and how saying no to the wrong projects can ultimately make your business more profitable.

    " You have to decide that you are comfortable saying what something costs at risk of losing it”

    — Matt McConnell

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:41 Crescent

    05:32 Pricing Large-Scale Projects Without Losing Money

    11:16 Helix Series

    13:10 The Psychology of Charging What You're Worth

    17:55 Infinity

    20:38 Why Budgeting Is the Most Important Skill an Artist Can Learn

    23:38 Final thoughts

    Connect with Matt

    Website: https://www.mattmcconnell.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcconnellstudios/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    26 min
  17. The One Artist Skill AI Will Never Replace

    Episode 51

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
    ---

    What happens when the creative industry changes faster than your career plan?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist, illustrator, and educator Wouter Tulp is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Over several decades, Wouter has repeatedly adapted his career as the creative industry evolved.

    Rather than relying on one role or income source, he built a sustainable practice through illustration, education, personal work, and professional relationships.

    In this deep dive, Wouter shares how artists can protect their creative voice, build multiple income streams, and stay visible as AI and new technology reshape the industry.

    "Instead of learning a trick you can create a vision and you can tell a story, and I think that's something AI can never do.”

    — Wouter Tulp

    Timestamps:
    00:00 Introduction
    01:38 Daily Gesture Drawing Practice
    03:47 Pivoting the Career
    08:54 AI and the Future of Creative Work
    10:45 Balancing Client Work with Personal Painting
    13:24 The Jazz Painting
    14:49 What AI Can Never Replace
    17:40 Native American Portrait Series
    19:12 Letting Go of External Validation
    21:00 Final thoughts

    Connect with Wouter

    Website: https://www.woutertulp.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woutertulp/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    23 min
  18. How to Get Curators Interested in Your Art with Alia El-Bermani

    Episode 50

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
    ---

    Do curators discover artists… or do artists create the opportunities to be discovered?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, figurative painter Alia El-Bermani is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Alia's work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

    Rather than waiting for opportunities to find her, she built a career by intentionally connecting with curators, staying in touch over time, and creating professional relationships that led to long-term collaborations.

    In this deep dive, Alia shares what it actually takes to get on a curator's radar, why rejection is often the beginning of new opportunities, and how thoughtful outreach can grow into long-term professional relationships that shape a career.

    “You need to continually find curators that will help support you and put you in places that you never even dreamed of.”

    — Alia El-Bermani

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 The Futures We Behold: Dreaming Beyond the Patriarchy

    03:24 Income Streams and Studio Structure

    06:38 Playing the Long Game: Career Advice to Her Younger Self

    07:54 How to Get a Curator Into Your Studio

    10:09 The First Outreach Email

    11:10 Vessel: Grief, Loss, and the 2019 Solo Show

    14:36 Applying for Grants

    17:14 Hear Me: Community and Peer Support

    18:27 Final Advice

    Connect with Alia

    Website: https://alia-fineart.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliapainter/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    20 min
  19. Building an Art Career Without Art School (What Actually Works)

    Episode 49

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.

    ---

    What if the biggest advantage in building an art career has nothing to do with art school?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, geometric artist Nima Nabavi is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Nima spent 15 years building businesses before becoming a full-time artist.

    Without a formal art education, he applied entrepreneurial thinking to his creative practice… ultimately building a career that includes sold-out exhibitions, museum acquisitions, and large-scale public installations.

    In this deep dive, Nima shares the unexpected business decision that helped launch his career, why talent alone rarely creates momentum, and how understanding business fundamentals gave him an advantage when approaching galleries and collectors.

    This episode offers a practical perspective on building an art career from the ground up… and why the skills that create opportunity often extend far beyond the studio.

    “The very beginning was the hardest part. And so if you can do anything to extend the lifespan of your career in the very beginning, I think there's a big payoff down the line.”

    — Nima Nabavi

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:38 Roswell 2223: Scale and Creative Freedom

    04:22 From E-Commerce to Art: Finding the Practice

    08:24 Posting the Work and Getting the First Show

    11:02 Signal: The Museum Projection Piece

    14:44 Pricing Strategy for a Sold-Out First Show

    21:25 Noon : Collaborative Work with Jason Seif

    24:24 Top lessons

    Connect with Nima

    Website: https://www.nimanabavi.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nimanothome/

    Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

    Mentoring:

    Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:

    https://professionalartist.com/apply

    Membership:

    Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join

    Free Letter:

    Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:

    https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator

    Ready to take the next step in your art career?

    We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.

    Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…

    …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.

    Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free

    If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment.
    We read every single one.

    27 min
  20. How Artists Build Long-Term Gallery Careers

    Episode 48

    Show notes

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free

    Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
    --

    How do artists build gallery relationships that last not just years… but decades?

    In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Betsy Eby is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.

    Betsy began her career painting in her basement while working day jobs.

    Today, she is represented by galleries across the United States and in London, with exhibition schedules booked years in advance.

    Her career has been built through long-term gallery partnerships, consistent exhibitions, and a deep commitment to her studio practice.

    In this deep dive Betsy shares what keeps galleries invested in an artist over the long term, why relying on a single gallery is rarely enough to build a sustainable career, and how artists can grow the business side of their practice without compromising the work itself.

    “ I was painting in my basement, I held various day jobs … and then a gallery picked me up in Seattle. Right now my exhibitions schedule is booked until 2029.”

    — Betsy Eby

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction

    01:44 Isles: Encaustic Process

    05:01 Music, Health Crisis, and the Work's Evolution

    10:04 Building a Career in Seattle

    12:57 Sustaining Long-Term Gallery Relationships

    13:53 Chromatic Frequencies: The Painting Process

    16:00 Why Museums Matter

    17:00 Working with Multiple Galleries

    19:39 Scriabin's Mystic Chord: Grief and the Dark Palette

    22:35 When to Leave the Day Job

    24:39 The Red Paintings and Evolving Past Success

    25:20 Final advice

    Connect with Betsy

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    27 min