Artist Academy

As we enter the month of love, I have a little Valentine’s present for you — join Artist Academy for just $1!

Whether we’re selling ourselves on a dating app or selling our art on social media, at the end of the day we’re all people connecting with other people who might want what we have to offer.

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I break down the surprising similarities between dating and marketing your art—first impressions, confidence, response time, storytelling, and knowing when something simply isn’t the right fit. I share practical advice on presenting your work online, responding to inquiries clearly and quickly, and telling stories that make your art memorable.

At its core, this episode is about confidence, self-respect, and connection. We’re not marketing to algorithms—we’re connecting with people. If you’re ready to show up with more clarity and trust in your art business, this one’s for you.

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In this episode of the Artist Academy podcast, I have a conversation with artist and educator Josie Lewis about what it really takes to build a sustainable art career over the long term.

We talk about balancing large-scale commissions, selling work online, and teaching—while navigating fear, failure, focus, and constant decision-making. Josie shares why there’s no magic formula for success, how action creates clarity, and why learning to be okay with getting it wrong is part of staying in the game as an artist.

This episode also explores social media as a tool, intentional pricing, adapting when styles or trends shift, and trusting what Josie calls the “living path”—taking the next step before everything feels certain.

At its core, this conversation is about resilience, hope, and making art in a world that often feels heavy, while still building something sustainable and real.

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sitting down with Patrick Walgamott, an Artist Academy student who recently quit his day job to become a full-time artist.

I’ve watched Patrick’s journey for years — from getting back into painting through pet portraits to slowly building income through murals, commissions, and paint parties while working a physically demanding job. Like so many artists, he thought it would happen faster… and like most of us, it took longer than expected.

We talk about what finally pushed him to take the leap, how he handled the fear around money and stability, and why consistency and local marketing played a huge role in making it work. Patrick shares real numbers, real doubts, and the mindset shift that helped him commit fully — even without everything perfectly lined up.

If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to quit your day job, this episode will help you see what’s actually possible when you decide to go all in.

In this episode of the Artist Academy podcast, I sit down with Lennon Bone, founder of Stop the Starving Artist, to talk about why connecting with people matters more than perfect content or clever marketing.

We explore how storytelling, values, and real human experience help audiences connect with art, why fear of judgment keeps artists stuck, and how reframing marketing as an exchange—rather than manipulation—can change everything. If you’ve ever struggled with sharing your story or felt uncomfortable selling your work, this conversation will help you approach both with more clarity and confidence.

This is the last week to join Mural Money Bootcamp!

If you want a breakdown of my profit/expenses and a look into my Quickbooks, join us next week inside the Artist Academy Facebook group for a video walkthrough of exactly how I calculate my taxes, how much I spent on supplies, hiring, etc.

Join Mural Money Bootcamp

Let’s start the new year with a goal… what’s yours? In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m talking about setting big, exciting goals for the year ahead—and more importantly, how to break them down so they actually feel doable instead of overwhelming.
I share how I think about long-term income goals for artists, why I like working in phases, and what really moves the needle when it comes to hitting big numbers.

Let’s Talk Goals as a Muralist…
Instead of one massive, intimidating number, I like to think in stages:

$20K – Year 1

$50K – Year 2

$100K – Year 3

Take your big, almost-out-of-reach yearly goal and divide it into three for the first 100 days.

Money goals are fun… but action goals get results.

My Action Goals for the First 100 Days

Create something every single day

Share my creations, life, and process 4x per week

Publish 1 podcast episode per week

Apply to 4 art calls

Pitch 4 mural ideas to walls or businesses

How Do I Keep Myself Motivated?

Motivating audio in my ears

Challenges to keep me moving

And most importantly… a plan

Clarity creates momentum.

We begin the 31-Day Challenge on January 1st!

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In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m kicking off one of my favorite traditions of the year—the 31 Day Challenge—and inviting you to join me. For the eighth year in a row, I’m sharing why committing to daily creation and sharing from January 1–31 can completely change your momentum as an artist.

I walk you through what the challenge is, why it works, and how it blends creativity, marketing, and habit-building into one simple daily practice. I also share what I’m doing for this year’s challenge, why I finally decided to stop putting it off, and how this practice has shaped everything from my confidence to my career—including leading to my book, Mural Money.

We talk about choosing the right project, keeping it manageable, using tools (including AI) to reduce friction, and why creating something every day helps you find your style, grow your audience, and trust yourself more deeply as an artist.

I also share how the 31 Day Challenge pairs perfectly with my Mural Money Bootcamp, starting January 1, designed to help artists build momentum and land mural clients in the first 100 days of the year.

If you’re craving motivation, clarity, creativity, and a strong start to the new year, this episode is your invitation to show up, create daily, and start 2026 with intention.

Artist mentioned: Summer Paradiso

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with Odette Guastavino, a Netherlands-based muralist and painter whose whimsical, magical artwork stopped me mid-scroll on Instagram. What started as admiration for her art quickly turned into a conversation about style, storytelling, and building a sustainable art career—especially after I realized she had recently joined the Artist Academy.

Odette shares her journey from studying architecture to building a mural career through Facebook groups, word of mouth, and social media, and how she’s now intentionally shifting her focus toward canvas work, prints, and more flexible income streams. We talk about transitioning from client-led mural commissions to creating original, imaginative paintings that sell—often before they even make it to her website—and what helped her recent work go viral. We also explore why whimsical and nostalgic art resonates with adults just as much as kids, and how she presents her artwork in context to help buyers visualize it in their homes.

Toward the end of the episode, Odette shares one of her most powerful tools yet: how she’s using AI to mock up artwork in real interiors, speed up her workflow, and ultimately sell more paintings—without compromising her artistic integrity.

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sharing the collective wisdom of artists who are out there doing the work, growing their businesses, and proving what’s possible. I asked members of the Artist Academy who made six figures this year to reveal the biggest lessons they learned along the way.

Instead of just my perspective, you’ll hear a chorus of voices from artists at different stages and specialties, all navigating their own creative paths. Discover what helped them break through plateaus, the unexpected places they found clients, the courage it took to raise their prices, and the personal projects that opened doors they never saw coming. Along the way, I’ll share how their journeys mirror many of the wins, challenges, and mindset shifts I’ve experienced in my own career.

This episode is about possibility. It’s about seeing yourself in the stories of others, realizing you’re not alone, and getting fired up about what your next chapter could look like. If you’re craving both motivation and practical guidance, this episode will light a spark.

If I had to start completely over with zero mural experience, zero clients, and zero momentum in 2026… what exactly would I do to rebuild my mural business back up to $50,000 in the first year?

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I break down the exact steps I’d take—numbers included—to go from day-one beginner to a fully booked muralist with steady income and growing confidence. Whether you’re brand new to murals or looking to reboot your art business, this is the roadmap I wish I had when I started.

To make $50,000/year, here’s what it actually looks like:

$136/day if you worked all 365 days

OR $200/day working 5 days a week

Which equals $1,000/week — or just two $500 jobs per week

Two small $500 projects each week is incredibly doable when you know where to look and how to market yourself.

Your first goal is simple: book consistent $500 projects. These usually include:

Kids’ rooms

Bathrooms

Interior accent walls

Small logos for businesses

Window art

Simple custom pieces

Anything custom you can complete in about two days

Why start here?
Experienced muralists rarely want $500 jobs.
These beginner-friendly projects help you build a portfolio, gain confidence, and learn to work efficiently.

Once you have one month of $500 jobs lined up, you’re done taking $500 jobs.

At that point, $500 naturally becomes: $700… then $850… then $1,000…

You don’t need a new year, a new portfolio, or a special reason. You can raise your prices mid-year, mid-month, or even mid-week. Your schedule will tell you when it’s time.

Social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn depending on your area)

Posting in local Facebook groups

Sending DMs to local businesses

Reaching out to interior designers

Public art calls

Thumbtack Pro (the fastest way to get ready-to-buy clients)

Website & SEO

Referrals

Separate art accounts

Fancy branding

Business cards

These things matter later—but beginners often hide behind them and slow themselves down.

Build a portfolio

Say “yes” to most things

Try out different styles

Work with a variety of people

Practice, gain speed, build confidence

Network everywhere

Niche down into your signature style

Choose your ideal customer

Create a targeted marketing plan

Specialize and scale

Shadowing—even for a single day—is one of the fastest ways to shorten your learning curve. You’ll learn:

The tools and supplies they actually use

How to scale artwork onto a wall

Which brushes and rollers make the job easier

How to paint efficiently

How to handle real client interactions

What a full mural workday actually looks like

One day of shadowing can save you months of trial and error.

My new coaching program begins January 1, designed specifically for artists who want to start or grow their mural business with clarity, confidence, and accountability. DM me to be notified with more info.