For today's episode we sat down with Robert Johnson, an accomplished artist with a love of a plethora of subject matter. Robert shares his journey from practicing law to pursuing his passion for traditional art forms like portraits, still lifes, and landscapes. He describes the influential role his brother played in introducing him to the art world and the pivotal advice he received from a teacher named Frank Wright. Robert also discusses the unexpected opportunities that arose when he committed to becoming a full-time artist, including a residency in France. Throughout the conversation, Robert emphasizes the importance of following one's deep inner motivation and being open to the universe's surprises. He offers advice to aspiring artists about finding the right galleries and marketing their work effectively.

Thomas Torak - Breathe Life Into the Canvas

To kick off season 9, we sat down with Thomas Torak, an oil painter who embraces the long held principles of classical painting. Thomas shares his journey into classical painting, inspired by a life-changing experience seeing Rubens' painting of The Prometheus. He discusses his mentors, Frank Mason and Robert Beverly Hale, and their influence on his approach to painting focused on light, space, and form. Thomas explains his technique of building up opacity and transparency to create luminous, dynamic paintings and therefore breathing life into the canvas. He emphasizes the importance of understanding anatomy and the human form to make art more relatable. He also advises aspiring artists to study the old masters, especially through copying drawings. Our conversation highlights the joy and privilege of the creative process and the goal of connecting with viewers through impactful, emotive paintings.

A Hidden Gem - Why Artists Need a Newsletter

In this episode, we compiled insights from artists on the benefits of having and maintaining an email newsletter. Our guests share how a well-curated newsletter can foster deeper connections with fans, turning casual followers into loyal supporters. You'll hear tips on how newsletters can be used to promote new artwork, offer exclusive content, and build a dedicated community outside of social media platforms. They also discuss the advantages of owning your own contact list, and share strategies for keeping subscribers interested, such as sharing behind-the-scenes stories or exclusive previews. Tune in to learn why investing time in a newsletter can lead to long-term success and growth for your art career.

Rob Rey - Cosmic Curiosity & Letting Yourself Explore

In today's episode, we sat down with Rob Rey, a fine artist who creates narrative scenes with allegorical figures representing aspects of science and space. He aims to help people feel a meaningful connection to the universe and natural world through his "Cosmic Perspective" series, which explores concepts like being made of stardust. Rob discusses his artistic journey, from being influenced by Joseph Campbell and Carl Sagan to developing his unique painting process and style. He shares the challenges of transitioning to a full-time art career, emphasizing the importance of living frugally and diversifying income streams. Rob also provides advice for aspiring artists, encouraging them to paint what they love, be patient as they build their careers, and to allow themselves to follow their curiosity. Rob's work and story remind us of the profound ways in which science, nature, and creativity can intertwine to foster a profound sense of belonging in the cosmic tapestry.

Art Marketing - More Than Just Art

In this episode, we brought together a compilation of our past guests sharing their tried-and-true marketing strategies for building a recognizable presence in the art world. They discuss the importance of chasing your own authenticity first rather than chasing the market, making sure you have social media in order for others to see your work, and they emphasize that one of the keys to having a good presence is having a professional website. You'll also hear insights on crafting your personal brand by focusing on painting what you love, writing email newsletters to keep fans connected, and networking by attending in person events and meeting fellow artists and gallerists. Additionally, our past guests recommend things like taking small business classes to improve your marketing know-how and possibly even hiring a marketing coach. For those of us navigating the business side of art, this episode provides invaluable tips on balancing genuine expression with smart self-promotion. Tune in to discover marketing techniques that can elevate your career and remember that there is no art marketing without first having art.