Art + Magic

While we can talk about all of the techniques for getting new ideas, ways to weed out our influences and different aspects of our work that might need attention, none of that will take us very far if we're being held up by any of these 5 blocks.

Developing our work requires us to take risk, know ourselves well, and have the ability to show up day in and day out. Unfortunately, there are some common (yet, not always obvious reasons) why we might have a hard time doing that. In today's episode, I dig into the 5 main things that tend to stand between us and our best work and how you can address them.

Get the 5 blocks email series for additional prompts and reflections that go with this episode here.

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Today kicks off the first of a three part series all about Artwork Development. This is a vast and important topic and ultimately, I think, the core of what we should be focusing on as artists. In this episode I say more about what artwork development is and why it needs our attention, and dive into The 3 stages of Style Development. 

Understanding the common points artists hit in their development allows us to identify where we're at in that cycle and take the next best steps for our work. I talk about feeling scattered, being overly influenced, feeling disconnected to our work and more-- as well as give you the behind-the-scenes story of my of style development.

Stay tuned for part two, coming out next week!

Head to patreon.com/devonwalz for bonus episodes.

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NEW PRINTS

www.devonwalz.com/shop-prints

If you're on social media at all, you're probably familiar with the incredible Sari Shryack. Acrylic and oil painter based in Austin, Texas, Sari is known for her disco ball paintings, still lifes and embrace of color and nostalgia. She's fascinating to watch from afar, which is why I was so excited to have her on the show and get the behind-the-scenes stories on her relationship to her work, social media, having her art widely copied and cultivating connections with her audience.

– Advice for creating your best work and growing your sales

-- Much more!

IG: @not_sorry_art

www.sari.studio

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Join the newsletter here to hear about upcoming workshops, courses and new art.

If you resist writing your artist's statement, talking about your work with your audience or even just putting words to what you make for your own understanding A. you're not alone and B. I pretty much give you everything I have on the subject in today's episode.

I cover...

-- the different kinds of art writing

-- the areas you may need to develop more in your practice in order to help your writing

-- specific aspects of your work to consider writing about, or at the very least, understand for yourself

-- general tips about language, truth telling and structure

-- prompts to get you going

This episode is basically a mini workshop with a lot of info, and for that reason, I created a free guide to go along with it that includes all the tips and writing prompts I mention. 

Get the free episode guide at: www.devonwalz.com/resources

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll probably really dig my artwork development workshop, UNIQUE, that will open for enrollment in a couple weeks. Join my newsletter here to hear about it, as well as the new limited edition prints dropping next week. 

Head to patreon.com/devonwalz for bonus episodes, including *more* tips and thoughts on writing about your art.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Pennylane Shen of Dazed and Confucious. Listen to her interview here.

Art-Write by Vicki Krohn Amorose

How to Write About Contemporary Art by Gilda Williams

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Print Shop Recommendation

Pretty Good Printing

At some point, working artists are going to be faced with this crossroads. If you're struggling with whether galleries or self-selling is the better option for you, this episode will illuminate the important aspects of both that you should consider. And maybe touch on a few things you hadn't even thought about yet. I explore the pros and cons of both avenues, share my own experiences, and take a few detours about self-promotion, the biggest fallacy about working with galleries, networking, playing the long game and feeling like you're on the "outside" along the way.

Visit patreon.com/devonwalz for exclusive bonus episodes each month

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For all you working artists, this conversation is a dose of validation and a resourceful pep talk that you're gonna love. Andrea Guezzatta doesn't hold back re: her opinions about the perspectives in the art world she doesn't jive with and the things out there disguised as opportunities that really aren't. She's also extremely generous and transparent when it comes to her income streams, pricing, secrets to success on Patreon, cultivating an engaged collector base and how she feels about painting cute shit. She was SO fun to chat with and listen to, and is definitely the kind of guest that leaves you wanting a part II.

-- Her fine approach v. painting things because they're cute

-- Viewing art as a skill set and a way to make money. And divesting from the often privileged perspective of academia.

-- A break down of Andrea's income streams

-- Charging a living wage and how to balance that with what your audience is buying

-- How she makes Patreon work for her

-- The need for more play and fun in the art world

-- How doing stand up comedy has influenced her art practice and given her confidence in the world

-- What to do when you feel stuck in your process

-- How she approached her recent solo show, Stratosphere (and the time and cost it took)

-- SO much more

FOLLOW ANDREA

https://www.andreaguzzetta.com/

IG: @andreaguzzetta

"Stratosphere" solo show at Var Gallery

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Learn about + apply to the 14 week 1-on-1 mentorship program for artists here. 

I’ve been wanting to bring a curator’s perspective to this show for a long time and I’m so happy that I held out for Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy. Glitter-loving, down-to-earth and super fun to chat with, Angelik gives us some great insight into what it’s like on the curator's side of the exhibitions, the behind-the-scenes of putting together shows, how to connect with curators and navigate studio visits, and all things humor, cuteness and leisure.

FOLLOW ANGELIK

https://www.angelikvizcarrondo.com/

listen to Clay in Color: https://www.brickyardnetwork.org/clayincolor

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If you're an artist who makes stuff, chances are you're going to go through periods of not making stuff too. This can weigh on us heavily, because we often feel like we need to be making in order to be in artist (but listen in for reasons why that's certainly not true). In this episode I talk about the different reasons we might go through such periods, the external expectations that need to be addressed, coping with the big bullies like fear, comparison, self-criticism and perfectionism, and suggestions for easing your way back into making (if that's right for you at this time!).

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Today we're taking a trip down practical lane to talk about how to connect with the collectors and establishments best suited for your work. How do we figure out who are these people and places are? How do you find them? And, when you do, what's the best way to convert them from admirers to buyers? In this episode I get into how to put out the right content for the job,  do outreach, and much more on the topic. If you're wanting to make more sales and create longer term strategies for selling-- this one's for you.

Visit patreon.com/devonwalz for exclusive bonus episodes each month

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Today’s conversation with Marisa Avila Sayler is a collaborative jam session on all things WORLDBUILDING in visual art. While Marisa and I make work that is very different, one thing that we have in common in our work is that we are each creating our own-- and we have A LOT of thoughts on the subject. 

For those of you who love all things fantastical, alternate reality, otherworldly, transcendent, surreal– this episode is for you. BUT even if this isn’t your home genre or main interest, this conversation gives way to a lot topics that are relatable to most any creative: the desire to create something new and better, to use art as a way grapple with the world around us, and to give ourselves a safe haven via our process. Whether we make otherworldly work or not, artists are constantly attempting to create their own world for themselves (the very cool and meta aspect of Worldbuilding that Marisa and I talk about!).

– How we each view and define Worldbuilding in the context of visual art

-- Why we think there’s been an uptick in this kind of work and its current cultural relevance

– Worldbuilding as an act of freedom seeking and rebellion, and our personal reasons for engaging with this kind of work

-- The importance of retrospect and the role that's played for each of us

-- much more!

https://marisaanddevon.wixsite.com/world-building

www.marisasayler.org

IG: @speaking_in_rainbows

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