Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers

Last year we ran a special event called Your Best Art Year Ever, in which we led 3,500 people through a planning process to ensure that 2020 would indeed be their best year ever. Of course then Covid came along and threw everything up in the air. Nevertheless, life continued and this week, we’re looking back on our plans to see where they went well, where we had to change course, and whether we learned anything that we can take into 2021. Our conversation spans dreaming big dreams, setting clear goals, understanding your motivation, and the need for flexibility when things change. We also answer a listener question from Jennifer, who is struggling with how to stay authentic in her work.

Mentioned

The Practice by Seth Godin https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practice-Seth-Godin/dp/0241470048

Buy the Purely Abstract artist lesson bundle HERE

Find the full Artist bundle including Alice's lesson HERE

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

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Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we feature our third positive lockdown story - this time, our guest is American artist Rachel Davis, who transformed her attitude and her art business when Covid forced the closure of an important show and the cancellation of all her plans. Initially depressed and listless, Rachel was inspired into action after a friend held a successful online event. Despite her lack of technology experience, Rachel decided to launch her own virtual open studio and subsequently designed and managed a successful online fundraiser. She also had work selected for several prestigious shows and made a rather special sale. We both found Rachel's story super-inspiring and we hope you enjoy it too.

Mentioned:

Rachel Davis https://www.racheldavisstudio.com/

This American Life Kid logic  https://www.thisamericanlife.org/605/kid-logic-2016

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week's episode was inspired by two different listener questions. Cathie asked whether likability matters when it comes to appreciating art (for example, does it matter that Gauguin might not have been the nicest person?). Meanwhile, Pam asked how much she has to reveal about herself in order to sell her work. We decided it would be interesting to debate this idea of the artist persona and how much it matters. Our discussion begins with great artists who were, let's say, less than perfect. Does the fact that Caravaggio committed at least one murder mean that we can't appreciate his art? If he had been alive today, would he have been shunned by galleries and collectors, thus depriving us of his work and influence? And how much does it matter if we find out that our favourite artists have traits and habits we don't like?

We then go onto to discuss the importance of persona when it comes to selling our own work. How much - if anything - do we need to reveal? How honest do we need to be? Is it enough to simply show our work - or do we need to show more of ourselves? And what are the key messages we should be sending?

Mentioned

Alice's Connected Artist Club https://alicesheridan.com/artists/

Maggi Hambling documentary https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000nx23

Mary Wollstonecraft statue https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/10/mary-wollstonecraft-finally-honoured-with-statue-after-200-years

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we're returning to a listener question from episode 93, when Cherrie asked if we knew of any positive lockdown stories. As the UK enters a second national lockdown, we decided to talk with two artists about how they have made the most of this strange year. First, Alice talks to Faye Bridgewater, who has really stepped up her game in 2020, earning success after success as a result of her courage and hard work. Then, Louise chats to Gwynne Penny, who shares a heartwarming story of turning negative feelings into a beautiful and inspiring creative project. Both these conversations are a reminder that we cannot control what happens, but we can control how we react to it. We also discuss our progress on our work and send our best wishes to Tracey Emin as she recovers from major surgery following a cancer diagnosis.

Mentioned

Faye Bridgewater https://www.fayebridgwater.com/

Gwynne Penny https://www.gwynnepenny.com/

Gwynne's book https://www.gwynnepenny.com/memories-of-st-ives-in-print/

The Painter and the Thief trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ohk9IQrmSc

Pamela Caughey video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6CsWdF-854

Join us

Alice's Connected Artist Wait List https://alicesheridanstudio.mykajabi.com/connected-interest

Louise's Art Tribe sign-up page https://thispaintinglife.mykajabi.com/art-tribe

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we answer listener questions from Maroulla, Caroline, Helen and Jane, who all wanted to know about finishing and presenting work. We start with titles... how important are they? Is it OK to go with 'untitled' or can a creative title enhance the impact of a painting? And how do we come up with titles for our own work? We also share our secrets for sealing and varnishing work, cover a variety of framing options, and finally discuss our approach to packaging (including where we think we can improve). As usual, we also catch up with what we've both been up to (spoiler alert - lots of painting this week!) and enjoy a special letter about creativity written by the author Kurt Vonnegut to a class of schoolchildren.

Mentioned:

Morten Lassen contemporary painter

Rebecca Hossack Gallery

Join us

Alice's Connected Artist Wait List https://alicesheridanstudio.mykajabi.com/connected-interest

Louise's Art Tribe sign-up page https://thispaintinglife.mykajabi.com/art-tribe

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

With only two months until Christmas, this seems the perfect time to revisit a topic we first discussed in episode 43 - how to encourage people to consider giving your art as a holiday gift (or requesting it as one for themselves!) This time, we cover the importance of good copywriting; the benefit of a flexible returns policy; and the value of offering gift certificates. We also suggest ways to create and market less expensive items such as prints, coffee table art books, mugs, and calendars, and we discuss how "drop shipping" firms can reduce costs and workload. In other news, Louise has had a breakthrough on some large paintings that she feels have really pushed her into new territory and this sparks a discussion about what that means. What does it feel like to be working in a new way? How do we recognise what works and re-create those conditions over and over again? 

Mentioned

Contrado https://www.contrado.co.uk/

Red Bubble https://www.redbubble.com/

The Rabbit Hole  https://www.nytimes.com/column/rabbit-hole

Kate Green http://kategreenart.com/

Join us

Alice's Connected Artist Wait List https://alicesheridanstudio.mykajabi.com/connected-interest

Louise's Art Tribe sign-up page https://thispaintinglife.mykajabi.com/art-tribe

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Back in March, as we all went into lockdown, we speculated about how the pandemic would affect artists. (see episode 66)

This week, we are revisiting the topic to find out. The episode was prompted by Cherrie Trelogan, who asked if we knew of any positive lockdown stories and we both rubbed our hands in glee because we know of too many to list in just one hour! 

Our discussion begins with our own situations, and as seems to be customary, we find ourselves in very different places. Lockdown has left Alice feeling a little out of sorts, although new ideas are bubbling up. Meanwhile, Louise has resolved what she will do with her Ted Hughes paintings and this has given her new energy and focus. But going beyond ourselves, we share just a few of the positive stories we know including fundraisers, books, virtual events, online sales, and the surprising success of art supply retailers. The conversation is really uplifting and just proves that, as creatives, we are better placed than anyone to make a go of things in tough times.

We also answer a listener question about gallery relations - "what to do when a gallery returns your work?" - and Louise shares an inspiring letter.

Mentioned:

Carlene Bronner https://www.newartforyou.co.uk/artist=Carlene%20Bronner

Rachel Davis fundraiser https://www.racheldavisstudio.com/fundraiser

Abigail Bowen's Dark Days series http://www.abigailbowen.com/dark-days-part1

Gwynne Penny https://www.gwynnepenny.com/memories-of-st-ives-in-print/?v=79cba1185463

Tracy Elizabeth Downing https://www.traceyelizabethdowning.com/my-poetry-book-moems-in-mind

Faye Bridgewater https://www.fayebridgwater.com/

Karen Stamper episode 63 https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/ebq61i

Ted Hughes letters https://www.amazon.co.uk/Letters-Ted-Hughes/dp/0571221394

Join us

Alice's Connected Artist Wait List https://alicesheridanstudio.mykajabi.com/connected-interest

Louise's Art Tribe sign-up page https://thispaintinglife.mykajabi.com/art-tribe

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week’s topic was inspired by a question from Sharon Mayfield who wrote “can you discuss imitation and originality. Is there any such thing as ‘original’ work these days? Is it ‘wrong’ to reflect styles of work or techniques we’ve seen used by other artists?”

This week, we discuss the difference between ‘stealing like an artist’ and copying. Of course we are all influenced by those who have gone before - it could not be otherwise. So how do we distinguish between taking an idea or technique and using it to inspire our own unique work, and simply copying what someone else has done? What does it mean to be influenced? How can you tell that's what's happening and when do you know you've crossed a line? And what does Austin Kleon mean by his idea of 'stealing like an artist'? We also share some information on copyright laws in the UK and US - but be warned that we are not experts! It does, in the end, all come down to common sense. And usually, if you are taking from someone else, you know when we have gone too far.

Mentioned

Steal Like an Artist : Austin Kleon  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steal-Like-Artist-Austin-Kleon/dp/0761169253

Ted Hughes - Poetry in the making https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poetry-Making-Handbook-Writing-Teaching/dp/0571233805

US copyright:

UK copyright digital images and the internet: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/481194/c-notice-201401.pdf

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we're discussing the ways in which we motivate ourselves and move our work forward. Sometimes that comes from external input such as workshops, groups and one-on-one coaching. Sometimes we find the inspiration within ourselves. In this episode, we share our experiences of workshops, discuss how we choose the right teachers, and make suggestions on how you might evaluate a course before signing up.  Questions to ask include whether you prefer learning in a group, how much instruction you want (vs exploring on your own), and whether you enjoy listening to the person leading the workshop. Alice makes the point that when we are drawn towards a specific workshop, it can often be a sign that we should explore that topic on our own. Often it's worth asking whether you can teach yourself what you need to know, either from online videos, books, or just through practicing in your studio. We also discuss finding the motivation internally - how can you ensure that you feel good about your work so that you want to go into your studio? How can you find the motivation to show up regularly? And how can you create the right emotional state for yourself so that you can move your art forward? 

Mentioned:

Trust by Jonathan Hall https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb2k

Ghosts - BBC -https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m00049t9/ghosts

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we discuss how to attract a following for your art - a topic that was prompted by a question from Maureen, who wrote:  “Could you discuss the challenging task of selling artwork? It’s all very well to produce a good selection of work, maintain a well-designed website, upload to Saatchi (or wherever) and add the best hashtags until you’re blue in the face! However the stumbling block in my case is clearly apparent. I, like many other artists, have no great following. Building a following takes years for the average person. I’d love to hear your thoughts.”

We actually agree with Maureen - all those things mean nothing without a following and yes it takes years to build a big following - but it doesn’t take years to start attracting new people to your work and it doesn't take much for you to start selling paintings. In this episode, we share how we each developed our audiences, particularly via Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Our tips include choosing one or two platforms rather than trying to do everything; showing up consistently; acting like a pro even at the very beginning; focusing on sharing things that are of interest to others rather than just selling; engaging with others; and above all - being yourself.

Mentioned:

Ira Glass: The Perpetual Struggle to Find Your Creative Voice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAMbguAg1zM

"Ted Hughes: an unauthorised Life" by Jonathan Bate: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00W0TMW7S/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Find us and sign up for our newsletters at:

www.alicesheridan.com

www.louisefletcherart.com

Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast

Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice

Follow us on Instagram:

Alice @alicesheridanstudio

Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits

"Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License