Artist Academy

This week’s May Mural Month replay episode on the Artist Academy Podcast features the social media-famous international muralist, Kiptoe.

I knew this guy had a ton of Instagram followers (278k), even more fans on YouTube (832k), and plenty of experience under his belt. But what I didn’t know about Kiptoe was that his hustle game is next-level—and that he started traveling the world independently in his 20s, building his brand from the ground up.

He’s a great example of an artist who took the time to get really good at his craft, then pitched himself (and still continues to pitch today) to clients to land the mural jobs he wants.

This dude needs no further introduction—and I know you’re going to feel seriously inspired by this week’s replay episode with Kiptoe.

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with international muralist Nina Valkhoff for another May Mural Month episode!

Nina shares how she went from painting custom client work in the Netherlands to creating large scale wildlife murals across 16 countries worldwide. Over the years, she slowly transitioned away from painting whatever clients requested and began fully embracing her own colorful, nature inspired style.

We talk about mural festivals, traveling internationally for projects, finding creative confidence, and the importance of patience when building a long term mural career. Nina also opens up about burnout, learning to take breaks between projects, and why protecting your creativity matters just as much as improving your skills.

We also get into mural photography, documenting your work professionally, favorite paint materials, and how social media has naturally helped attract mural opportunities throughout her career.

If you’re interested in mural festivals, creative growth, and the realities of painting murals professionally, this episode is for you!

This week’s replay episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is an interview with the international street artist Peachzz (aka Megan Russell). You’ll hear Megan tell her story of how she got started with murals (using spray paint) with a theme of birds and wildlife. Her style evolved into also painting the human form, and fast forward to today with one that blends into both human and nature.

Megan got her start by applying to mural/street art festivals and shares with us her tips on how to put your best foot forward when sending in an application. She has a template that she uses and, in this interview, goes over it page by page to give you a better idea of what kind of effort is needed to land these high-competition jobs.

Megan inspires me to create more of what I want to create, as opposed to just leaning into commissioned work, and apply for bigger opportunities. I think every artist will get something from this interview, no matter if you’re a muralist or not. Let me know what you think of this week’s replay episode with Peachzz (Megan Russell).

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with Australian muralist Cat Dean for another May Mural Month episode!

Cat shares her journey from selling drawings at markets to building a full time mural career while raising two daughters along the way. Today she paints murals for schools, businesses, hospitals, and government spaces across Australia.

We talk about developing a signature style, pricing mural projects, balancing motherhood with business ownership, navigating burnout, and learning how to confidently take on bigger opportunities before feeling fully ready. Cat also shares how her detailed optical illusion murals helped set her apart as an artist.

Plus, we dive into the differences between muraling in Australia and the U.S., from paint brands and materials to marketing and client communication.

If you’re looking for encouragement to grow your mural business, trust yourself more, and keep learning as you go, this episode is for you.

This week’s replay episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is an interview with an incredibly talented Australian muralist and mentor Danielle Weber!

Danielle has built a thriving art business from the ground up, painting murals and canvases priced anywhere from $10K to $30K on average. We talk about everything from how she connects with clients through Instagram DMs to how she bought her own warehouse studio and turned it into a creative hub.

She also shares her no-fluff approach to pricing, confidence, and setting boundaries as an artist. We also dive into the importance of community over competition, building a sustainable mindset, and balancing creative freedom with business growth.

Tune in to hear how Danielle’s story proves that with strategy, passion, and a bit of grit, you can make a full-time living doing what you love, from Melbourne to anywhere in the world.

This week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is an interview with Australian muralist Patrycja Hannagan, also known as Mural Nomad. We talk about how she built a full-time mural career while traveling across Australia, what she learned from completing her 100 Mural Project, and how her business has evolved over the years.

Patrycja shares the reality behind life as a traveling muralist, from landing jobs in small towns to managing large-scale projects, teaching other artists, and building a strong community through retreats and mentorships.

We also get into some of the harder parts of being a full-time artist including burnout, grief, personal growth, and navigating unhealthy mentorship experiences in the mural industry.

If you’re interested in murals, creative business, travel, mentorship, or the behind-the-scenes reality of being a working artist, this episode is for you.

This week’s replay episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is an interview with Canadian muralist Corrado Mallia where we talk about what it actually takes to build a mural business over time.

Corrado shares how he started with cold outreach, practiced on his own, and slowly built consistent work through referrals. We get into pricing murals, what goes into quoting a project, and why it’s important to charge based on value, not just time.

We also talk about common mistakes like undercharging, skipping deposits, and doing extra work without adjusting the price, along with simple ways to avoid those situations.

If you’re working toward making murals a steady income, this episode gives a realistic look at the process and the decisions that come with it.

To kick off May Mural Month, I wanted to step outside of my usual circle and have conversations with muralists in different parts of the world. In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m talking with Toronto-based artist Tetyana Bibik.

We get into the realities of running a mural business in Canada, from pricing differences and currency gaps to a high cost of living and seasonal limitations due to winter. She also shares how she stays booked through email outreach, networking, and trade shows, and how becoming a parent has shifted the way she approaches time, pricing, and balance.

Let me know what you think of this week's episode with Tetyana Bibik.

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m talking about something that can be tough for artists to navigate… what happens when a mural gets painted over.

It’s a situation that brings up a lot of emotion, especially when a piece is loved by the community or holds personal meaning. I’ve experienced it myself, and recently my city went through a similar situation, with guest artist Austin Sepulveda, that sparked a lot of conversation. I interviewed Austin to chat about his painting techniques and what it was like being the artist commissioned to paint over a much loved mural.

The biggest takeaway from this episode is that painting is a business, and art replaced by more art is just part of it. Murals fade, building ownership changes, and new murals are painted. Finding a way to not take it so personally, or just replicate it, is the key to solving these tricky situations.

Join MURAL MONEY BOOTCAMP starting May 1st! 

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I break down what actually wins a mural job when you’re not the only artist being considered.

Because it’s rarely about price.

It’s about how you show up, how clearly you position yourself, and how easy you make it for the client to say yes.

I walk through real situations where I was up against other artists and what made the difference. This includes getting in front of the client, presenting ideas on the spot, and putting in extra effort where it counts.

If you’ve ever felt stuck competing with other artists or unsure how to stand out in an RFP or bid situation, this episode will shift how you approach it.