This week’s episode features Missouri based artist and sculptor Susan Sommer.

This was a big interview for me because I’ve been hoping to connect with Susan for years now! She’s a big time artist in my area. Like, not just big on Instagram like me, but big in real life with charging $50,000+ for her original paintings.

She has several popular murals in my city of Springfield and her well established name has earned her the opportunity to be a featured artist for sports events like the Kentucky Derby and the Olympics. I told you, she’s a big deal!

Listen to hear how Susan got her start as an artist with a lot of hard work and no professional training. You know I ask about pricing and tips on how to open doors of opportunity as a working artist. Listen to hear her unique answers and perspective on an evolving art/sculpture/mural industry.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Susan Sommer.




Andrea

www.ArtistAcademy.co

The first mural I ever painted was for free and took me an entire summer to complete. Obviously, procrastination played a part in that, alongside using the wrong brushes, cheap paint, and having no actual idea how to apply paint (large scale). I learned a lot with that first one.

Fast forward to today... This week I’m painting a large mural for the local college where I earned my painting degree. I’m charging $5,000 and it will take me a whopping 2 days in total to complete. There’s a little more than 10 years difference between that first project and this one.

I share this to hopefully put into perspective the idea that everyone starts from the bottom and sometimes the climb is slow but always worth it. I’ve learned a few painting tips in between there and now, but also how important it is to go after what you want in the form of pitching yourself for the job you want, instead of waiting for it to come to you.

This week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is a snippet from my book: Mural Money. I wrote it last year and if you like this podcast, I know you’ll very much enjoy the Audible version of my book too. I explain in great detail how I built my business, from that first mural until now, and how you can grow yours too.

Pitching myself to possible customers has played a big part in that journey, and in this chapter, I’ll share some of those pitching tips with you. Enjoy!

This week’s episode features Pennsylvania-based artist Andrea Fairservice.

What I liked most about my chat with Andrea was how relatable she is. Aside from having the same name, she reminds me a lot of myself with all the different art things she has going on.

She does commissions and prints, live streams on Twitch, has subscribers on her Patreon, sends out email blasts and all the art marketing things combine together to make up her own unique art business.

I ask her about all the things including which method drives the most sales and I think her answers might surprise you.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Andrea Fairservice.




www.ArtistAcademy.co

Pricing art is a hot topic and one that I believe truly has no right or wrong answer. However, this pricing strategy is one that has helped me book more commissions and often increase the budget of my customer’s projects, as opposed to getting ghosted.

The strategy involves giving your customer 2 options…. Meaning, give a price and design that you think would fit the customer’s needs while not breaking the bank. Then give a second price and design that goes above and beyond what they asked for.

It’s amazing to me how people will miraculously find more room in the budget for a design they LOVE.

At the same time, giving two examples helps to explain why certain projects cost what they do. Taking time, space, final details, and all things into consideration.

Listen to today’s episode on the Artist Academy Podcast to hear how I’m using this strategy within my art business (with exact budget quotes)!

www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Victor Ving of the Greetings Tour.

Ya know, the “Greetings from…” murals we’ve all seen in various cities around the United States. I even replicated a version of the idea to paint in my own hometown of Springfield, Missouri and have gotten several jobs simply from the recognition of it.

I am a huge advocate of finding out what works, making it your own, and putting in the effort to make murals happen. This is exactly what Victor and his wife did to get his project started.

If your city is lacking in the mural department and does not currently have a “Greetings from” mural, I highly encourage you to take the initiative and create one! Obviously, don’t copy Victor’s style and always reference where you got the idea in the first place to give credit to the founder, but for every small-town artist out there who is looking for an idea to get your name out there, this is it!

Listen to hear how Victor got his project started, the hoops he has to jump through to make it happen, and take notes to make a plan of your own.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Victor Ving of the Greetings Tour.


www.ArtistAcademy.co
greetingstour.com/bio

Things go wrong all the time… so let’s chat about it!

I put together this list to hopefully give you a heads up on what’s to come, so that you don’t make the same mistakes as often, but also to normalize that having things go wrong is just part of the job. It’s no big deal.

• Scheduling- AKA not leaving enough time in between projects.
• Using the wrong materials, mostly the wrong paint.
• Forgetting things.
• Spilling paint on clothes, sidewalk, carpet, etc..
• Height issues- Lifts, ladders, scaffolding…
• Pricing (undercharging)
• Contracts- I’m really bad about the legal stuff.

Listen to this week’s episode to hear an explanation of each reason, including stories of each from my own art business.
Do you find these things going wrong for you too? Let me know!



www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Washington state-based nature artist Gianna Andrews.

Gianna has figured out her niche (nature), created products and takes custom commissions surrounding said niche, and written a book on the subject to help aspiring artists learn to do the same.

This all came after a bike accident that left her hospitalized with a body brace and nothing to do but sit still, heal, and create.

During her recovery process, Gianna realized her love for art and the possibility of making it into a business. Through lots of trial and error, she’s figured out a system that works for her. One that allows her to create, make a profit and still have time to enjoy being out in nature.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Gianna Andrews.



Gianna's website: giannaandrews.com

www.ArtistAcademy.co

My New Year’s resolution is to figure out how to work less and make more while sticking to a quality work/life integration schedule. Heavy on the “life” part, specifically family, specifically my new baby boy.

So, how is this even possible with all the things requiring my attention?
It's possible because I don’t fill my weekday painting calendar to the max. Leaving just one workday per week completely open has been a game changer to my business, mental clarity, and overall happiness.

Reasons to schedule a “me/office/studio day” every single week:

• Because we work for ourselves and we can.
• It leaves room for project spillover.
• It leaves room for a last-minute commission that we REALLY want to do.
• It’s good for the soul. Reset, refresh, and jumpstart creativity.
• It makes room for extra time with family.
• Time to work on the painting idea that’s been lingering in the back of our minds.
• Time to clean/organize our studio/car.
• Time for sketches/invoices/website updates.

Listen to this week’s episode to hear an explanation of each reason. This is the first step to making more by working LESS!


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Cleveland, Ohio-based muralist Lisa Quine.

I really enjoyed my chat with Lisa. She has this positive, honest energy that comes from someone who has just come out of the thick of building her business, already having figured out so many things, while at the same time still growing.


We chatted about her unique pricing strategy and how it came to be her standard way of doing things after years of experience. We even unexpectedly got onto the subject of juggling work with new motherhood, a topic favorite of mine lately, when I realized that she too is expecting a baby soon.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Lisa Quine.



Have a great week! :)


Andrea
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode highlights some of the Artist Academy Advanced members who have successfully made $100,000 or more this past year.

I asked them to summarize where their sales came from, how they attracted customers, and to give their best piece of advice as to how they got to where they are today.

Because that’s what we all want to know, right? How the heck are artists out there making a great living with a paintbrush?! This episode gives you examples of how a variety of artists “made it” in their industry.

Check them out! 👇

Lyssa England
(episode 69)

Lacey Crime
(episode 207)

Jodi Trujillo
(episode 186)

Samm Wehman
(episode 45)

Hibaaq Ibrahim
(episode 185)

Chelsea Blosil
(episode 171)

Ryan Benefield



Have a great week! :)

Andrea

www.ArtistAcademy.co