In this heartfelt follow-up to Episode 1, Colin and Stephen Bradley reflect on the lessons learned from a lifetime in art and self-employment.

Stephen asks Colin what advice he’d give to his younger self — sparking an honest, down-to-earth conversation about confidence, family, and seizing opportunities when they appear.

Colin shares how “just giving it a go” led to pet portraits, teaching, and eventually a lifelong career, and why having a family gave him the motivation to make it all work.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Reflection on Career Choices

02:56 Confidence and Pursuing Opportunities

06:13 The Importance of Teaching and Sharing Knowledge

09:02 Balancing Family Life and Self-Employment

11:57 The Role of Family as Motivation

15:10 Conclusion and Future Discussions

It’s a thoughtful, inspiring listen, reminding us that confidence builds with every step, and that sometimes, the right path begins with simply saying yes.

🎙️ New episodes every week for this limited 4-part series.

After 6 months since their last episode, Colin and Stephen Bradley return with a brand-new limited series of the Colin Bradley Artcast.

In this first episode, Stephen sits down with his dad, Colin, to revisit the pivotal moments that shaped his journey from running a carpet-cleaning business to becoming a full-time artist and art teacher.

They discuss:

• What Colin might have done if he hadn’t pursued art

• How a chance conversation led to opening his first gallery

• Why he never feared failure when starting out

• How his sales and people skills shaped his teaching and demonstration career

• The fulfilment of inspiring thousands through his work

It’s an honest, reflective, and heartwarming conversation about risk, purpose, and the joy of doing what you love.

In this episode Stephen and Colin discuss Colin's latest art project, a challenging dog portrait. They explore the creative process, the techniques involved, and the artistic choices made to enhance the final piece. Colin shares insights into overcoming challenges in interpretation and the importance of making the artwork appealing. The conversation also touches on the philosophy of original art versus prints and concludes with a look at future plans for art classes and demonstrations.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Family Update

(02:41) New Art Project Overview

(05:51) Challenges in Artistic Interpretation

(08:40) Techniques and Artistic Choices

(11:52) Progress and Artistic Insights

(14:56) Conclusion and Future Plans

In this episode , Stephen and Colin Bradley discuss various topics related to art, including the challenges of creating cat art with reflections, the intricacies of miniature art, and updates on new classes and the online shop. Colin shares insights into his creative process, the techniques he uses, and the joy of exploring new artistic challenges.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcoming Summer and Family Updates

01:55 Exploring the New Cat Picture

12:50 Diving into Miniature Art

21:25 New Classes and Shop Updates

In this episode of the Colin Bradley Art Cast, Stephen and Colin Bradley discuss various updates in the art community, including the revival of their online shop, the discontinuation of Fabriano Ingres paper, and the exploration of alternative papers. They also showcase Colin's recent artwork, particularly a cat portrait, and delve into the techniques used in pastel art, emphasising the importance of colour shapers. The episode concludes with a call for community engagement and feedback.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Updates

(03:00) Reviving the Online Shop

(05:53) Challenges with Fabriano Paper

(08:49) Exploring New Paper Options

(11:58) Colin's Recent Artwork

(17:57) Techniques and Tips for Artists