For today's episode, we sat down with British born portrait artist Johanna Spinks. Johanna shares with us her journey of becoming a professional portrait painter after careers in journalism and makeup artistry. She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and improvement, citing her mentor Everett Raymond Kinstler's emphasis on values, curiosity, and doing one's homework. She also stresses the importance of surrounding oneself with mentors and leaving ego aside to receive constructive criticism for growth. Johanna also reminds us to protect one's mental well-being as an artist facing criticism, especially online. We also discuss tips for starting a career as a portrait painter, working with agents, honoring client expectations, and the power of capturing people's stories through portraiture. She gives us marketing strategies and advice on contracts, productivity, and balancing creativity with social media demands. Finally, Johanna tells us all about her upcoming workshop in a chateau in France focused on Renaissance gilding techniques.

Ruth Fitton - Discipline and the Journey Towards Growth

In this episode we sat down with Ruth Fitton, a realist British portrait painter with a love of naturalist melacholic narrative painting. Ruth and I discuss her beginnings as a classical musician turned full-time artist, some key overlaps in terms of discipline between music and art, her greatest influences, and excellent advice for anyone seeking to improve at the craft of painting. We also talk about the importance of maintaining a clearly defined social media page which allows the algorithm to better connect your work to the right viewers. She also emphasizes the importance of networking in person whenever possible as well as on social media. Finally, Ruth tells us about her exciting upcoming solo show at Panter and Hall in London!

Stephanie Birdsall - Conscious Painting & the Power of Intention

In this episode, we sat down with Stephanie Birdsall, a floral oil painter and pastel artist with a keen eye for creating a sense of romantic atmosphere in her work thanks to her use of natural daylight. She tells us about her artistic journey including her time at the City and Guilds of London Art School as well as her experiences with Richard Schmid, Nancy Guzik, David Leffel, and Sherrie McGraw. We also discuss how to navigate the art world including building credibility, producing high-quality work, and finding the right galleries. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of confidence, conscious painting, and being intentional with your work. She also shares with us her deep love of teaching others and also tells us about the advantages of joining painting societies and clubs in order to network and learn from like-minded individuals about how to improve at your craft. Finally she tells us all about her upcoming workshops!

Tina Garrett - Guiding You to Your Authentic Voice

In this episode, we sat down with Tina Garrett who tells us all about her upcoming online mentorship where you will be nose to canvas watching her work and solve problems in her own paintings as well as also watching her critique your work as well as others' works while helping you create a more streamlined and personalized process for your own paintings. Tina talks to us all about her wonderful online mentorships and the successes of her past students, how she was inspired by her own past of having mentors and wanting to pay it forward, and finally she emphasizes the importance of looking back into your own childhood to dig out the true inspiration that will help your artistic voice sing.

Calvin Liang - Paint Your Personal View of the World

To kick off season 7, we sat down with Calvin Liang, a successful landscape artist from China based in southern California. He tells us all about his youth starting with going to one of the most prestigious art academies in China, to when he moved to the US and began a career as an illustrator for projects such as The Little Mermaid and SpongeBob SquarePants, to finally being able to live full time from his paintings. Calvin reminds us of the importance of always keeping a high quality level for your work and why that would help galleries and collectors trust you more. He also advises that your work should always speak to you first before putting it out into the world, and also that it should show your own personal vision and not just be a copy of reality. Finally, he tells us about the pieces he will be sending to a show at Pepperdine University in Malibu with the California art club this month and his upcoming workshop in October!