Artist Academy

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with fine artist Rebecca King, whose journey into full-time art is equal parts inspiring and refreshingly honest. Rebecca walks me through the years she spent experimenting with style and medium before discovering her signature look—those calming, cool-toned abstract pieces created with acrylic inks. Hearing how she pieced together her creative identity over time is such a good reminder that your style doesn’t magically appear… you build it.

We also dig into the business side of things: how Rebecca priced her early work, how her first small wins at art shows fueled bigger steps, and how she now structures her collections, email launches, and print releases. Her process is thoughtful and strategic without feeling overwhelming, and she shares how she uses her email list as the engine behind most of her sales.

The part that hit me most was the emotional shift that pushed her into full-time art—a combination of burnout, loss, and the desire to finally lean into the work she was meant to do. Rebecca’s path is such a beautiful example of what’s possible when you trust your intuition, communicate with your collectors, and show up for your creativity with intention. If you’re building an art business with meaning, this conversation will feel like a deep breath and a roadmap all in one.

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m rewinding to one of my favorite interviews with window painting legend Scot Campbell—a man who’s painted over 70,000 windows in his 44-year career. Scot breaks down exactly how to get started in window painting: from pricing your first jobs and handing out flyers to painting bold, eye-catching designs fast.

We chat about how this fun, low-pressure art form can boost your income during the holidays and even open doors to bigger mural projects. Scot shares genius tips—like using paint rollers to save time and painting big, simple shapes that grab attention. His creative approach (and hilarious stories of painting in costume!) will leave you inspired to get out there and pitch your first window gig.

Ever look back at your first mural and cringe just a little? In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my very first paid mural—the $350 job that had me spending three scorching days in the sun, a sketchy ladder, and a whole lot of “what was I thinking?” moments.

I’ll share what that project taught me about pricing, safety, and preparation—lessons I wish I’d known before climbing that ladder with the wrong paint and too much optimism. These early mistakes shaped how I run my mural business today, from choosing the right materials to confidently quoting big projects and staying safe while doing what I love. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to fine-tune your process, this episode will help you skip the struggle and learn from my first-mural fiasco.

Resources mentioned:

Mural Supplies → artistacademy.co/supply

Mural Pricing Guide → artistacademy.co/pricingguide

$17 Audio Book → MuralMoney.com

HEADS UP! I will be taking on a new small group of artists to coach more intimately with meetings every week starting January 1st. If you are interested, message me and I will put your name on a list to let you know as soon as it becomes available. You are perfect for this coaching if you have a few photos of your work and need guidance on bigger projects, what to say to customers, how to land jobs, or if you get stuck not knowing what to do—I’m on call.

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m diving into one of the trickiest parts of being a working artist—what to do when hiring help or collaborating with another artist doesn’t go as planned. 

Recently I had back-to-back coaching calls asking me questions that centered around the complications that arise when artists work together. They asked, “Have you ever had drama with coworker artists?” I laughed because oh boy have I! I’ve hired friends to work with me that didn’t work out. I’ve under and overpaid artists. I’ve experienced expectations not being met and the complications that came with it. I’ve worked with people who are great communicators and others who held issues in and let it build up to the point of exploding on a job site. I feel like I am the perfect person to talk about this subject having been on all ends of this issue. 

What do you do when…?

Tips:

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, we’re tackling that all-too-relatable question: “What the heck do I post today?”

I recently sat in on a Chamber of Commerce presentation about social media, and it got my wheels turning about what our customers really want to see from us. So, I pulled together a list of post ideas designed to boost your visibility, connect with your audience, and maybe even spark a few new mural leads.

When people see you online frequently, they remember you, recommend you, and you inspire ideas for their home or business.

Tune in to hear how a simple list of creative prompts can reignite your posting strategy and remind you that consistency, authenticity, and a touch of creativity are all it takes to stay top of mind—and booked out.

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with the 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.

Danielle 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.

Have you ever wondered how some fine artists make real money selling originals at art shows while others struggle to get traction?

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with Mark McKenna, a Western and wildlife artist who went from teaching high school art to earning up to $50K at a single show. Mark breaks down exactly how he did it—without fancy connections or a massive following. He shares the pivotal lessons he learned from his mentor, Greg Beecham, about pricing your art higher (and why collectors actually prefer it that way), connecting with buyers authentically, and how being likable and generous can open more doors than any marketing tactic.

We also talk about his leap from teaching to full-time art, how he balances family life while painting 30 hours a week, and why art shows are still one of the best ways to build genuine relationships with collectors today.

If you’ve ever thought, “Could I really make a living selling my paintings?” — Mark’s story is proof that you absolutely can, with the right mix of strategy, confidence, and heart.

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sharing how I’m using my birthday week to boost art sales, clear out the studio, and make selling fun again through my favorite Q4 strategy — hosting an art auction. You’ll hear exactly how I set it up, from starting bids and pricing tactics to creating excitement (and even turning bidders into future mural clients).

We’ve worked really hard all year to grow our audience (audience = buyers) and gain the attention of potential customers. Now is the time to sell to them. 

We’ve spent the year practicing our craft to create our best-quality work. Now is the time to share that work with the people who’ve been watching and waiting to buy. 

Let’s take all that hard work, creativity, and momentum from this year — and turn it into real results. It’s time to sell confidently, have fun with it, and finish the year strong.  

Birthday promo! Join the Artist Academy for $299 for one year and get a free one-on-one coaching call with me! CLICK HERE

In this special midweek episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I sit down with Meg Wagler, the powerhouse behind Springfield’s Overlay Music and Arts Festival. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to pull off a mural festival—from raising funds and navigating nonprofit hurdles to rallying volunteers and making sure artists are paid fairly—this conversation gives you the full behind-the-scenes picture.

Meg shares the story of Overlay’s beginnings, the setbacks of COVID, and the partnerships that have helped it grow into a thriving nonprofit. We talk about the challenges of balancing passion with sustainability, the importance of valuing public art as more than just philanthropy, and how murals can spark pride and cultural identity in a community.

And of course, we give you a preview of this year’s festival! Expect live mural painting, DJs, skateboarding, interactive art installations, a community dining hall, and more—all happening this weekend in downtown Springfield. Whether you’re an artist, an arts supporter, or just curious about the power of public art, this episode will leave you inspired.

This week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast features the amazing artist, educator, and traveler Elida Field. Elida’s story is all about resilience—navigating divorce, raising three kids as a single mom, and building a thriving art career through teaching, commissions, retreats, and now her new book Nobody Dies in Art Class.

We talk about her journey of creating after-school art programs, leading 33+ international art tours, and how travel continues to spark her creativity. Elida also opens up about her upcoming sabbatical year where she plans to travel to 50 countries at age 50 (yes, 50!).

If you love art, travel, or just need some inspiration to keep going through life’s transitions, this episode is for you.

I’m also sharing details about our upcoming Costa Rica Mural Meetup in January 2026. Imagine painting murals in the jungle, yoga in the mornings, amazing Costa Rican food, and excursions with fellow artists. It’s going to be unforgettable.

 Get all the info and see the mockups here: www.artistacademy.co/meetup