She Who Paints

Rewriting Beauty Standards with AI + Breaking Into the Whitney Museum with Gretchen Andrew

In this episode of She Who Paints, I’m sitting down with the incredible Gretchen Andrew, an artist and tech visionary whose work is reshaping the conversation around beauty, technology, and societal standards. Recently, two of Gretchen’s paintings were collected by the Whitney Museum of American Art in NYC—a monumental achievement for any artist.

We dive deep into her mission of using machines and AI to challenge and redefine beauty industry norms, exploring how these technologies are influencing not just aesthetics, but the way society and future generations perceive themselves. Gretchen shares her fascinating process of integrating tech into her art practice, and how she uses it as a tool for empowerment and change.

But it’s not all about the tech—Gretchen opens up about the mindset work that fueled her journey to the Whitney, the grit it took to face rejection, and how she stayed focused on her greater vision even when the odds felt stacked against her.

Whether you’re an artist, a creative entrepreneur, or someone curious about the intersection of art, technology, and culture, this episode is packed with inspiration, actionable insights, and a fresh perspective on what it means to create for impact.

Tune in to hear:

✨ How Gretchen got her work into one of NYC’s top museums

✨ The role of AI in challenging beauty standards and shaping societal norms

✨ Her approach to rejection and staying aligned with her bigger mission

This conversation will leave you feeling inspired to think bigger, create boldly, and embrace the power of your unique voice.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

https://www.gretchenandrew.com

Host: Michelle Schultz

https://michelleschultzstudio.com

Connect with us: https://www.instagram.com/shepaintscollective/

Get the meditative painting workshop here:

https://www.michelleschultzstudio.com/products/meditative-painting-digital-workshop

In this solo episode of She Who Paints, we’re diving into the essentials of marketing for creatives—without the overwhelm. Whether you’re a painter, maker, or dreamer looking to grow your business, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you market with confidence and clarity.

We’ll cover:

--The mindset shifts every creative needs to embrace marketing as an extension of their art

-- How to identify and connect with your ideal client (hint: it’s about more than demographics)

-- The power of email marketing and why it’s your most valuable tool

-- Building genuine relationships that lead to loyal collectors and clients

-- Using incentives and urgency to inspire action—without feeling salesy

If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure about how to market your work, this episode will give you the tools to show up, share your art, and grow your creative business with heart.

Let’s make marketing feel as meaningful as the art you create. Press play and let’s get started!

Host: Michelle Schultz, fine artist.

https://michelleschultzstudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/michelleschultzart/

https://www.instagram.com/shepaintscollective/

Join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/b3302e4faa83/vip-list

Comfrt Affiliate (Cozy Sweatsuits): https://www.comfrt.com/MICHELLE04228

In this episode of She Who Paints, host Michelle Schultz is joined by astrologer and creative guide Jess Ellen to explore how the stars can help us elevate our business and artistic lives. Astrology isn’t just about horoscopes—it’s a practical and mystical tool for aligning with your natural rhythms, boosting productivity, and unlocking creative flow.

Together, Michelle and Jess dive into:

How your birth chart reveals strengths, blind spots, and creative superpowers

Using moon phases and planetary transits to plan launches, projects, and collaborations

The energy of each zodiac season and how to work with it instead of against it

Why syncing your workflow with the stars leads to more ease, inspiration, and abundance

If you’ve ever wanted to harness astrology to fuel your creativity and business growth, this conversation will give you both insight and practical steps to start aligning with cosmic timing.

🌙 Connect with:

Michelle: https://michelleschultzstudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/michelleschultzart/

Jess Ellen: https://www.instagram.com/jessellenastrology/

🌙 Get my Meditative Painting Course Here: https://www.michelleschultzstudio.com/products/meditative-painting-digital-workshop

In this solo episode of She Who Paints, host and artist Michelle Schultz shares her most powerful tips for negotiating your worth as a creative.

Whether you’re pricing your art, pitching a project, or navigating tricky money conversations, Michelle walks you through mindset shifts and practical strategies that help you stand confidently in your value—without burning out your nervous system in the process.

She covers:

– Why you should always start high and leave room to negotiate

– How to meet in the middle without underselling your work

– The importance of keeping a “good reviews” folder for those confidence dips

– How to increase your income streams for more freedom and flow

– Ways to stay grounded by negotiating from a place of safety and regulation, not fear

This episode is part pep talk, part business school for sensitives—and a reminder that asking for more is not only okay, it’s powerful.

✨ Connect with Michelle:

https://michelleschultzstudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/michelleschultzart/

Podcast Sponsor: https://houseofbettencourt.ca/links

Get my Monochromatic Meditative Painting Course Here:

https://www.michelleschultzstudio.com/discount/PODCAST?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fmeditative-painting-digital-workshop

In this episode, I sit down with artist Kristin Ruscher to talk all things visibility—from prepping for your first big art fair to embracing LinkedIn as a powerful (and often overlooked) tool for creative connection.

Kristin shares her behind-the-scenes experience exhibiting at The Other Art Fair, what she learned, and how showing up in person transformed how she sees herself as a professional artist.

She shares her experience as a first timer and all the tips and tricks she wished she knew or would do differently showing her work at a juried art fair. Get the inside perspective!

We also dive into how LinkedIn has opened unexpected doors, why it’s more than just a corporate resume platform, and how artists can use it to confidently share their work and find new opportunities.

This conversation is packed with real talk, inspiration, and practical steps if you're ready to be seen in your art career.

We cover:

🎨 How to prepare for your first art fair

💬 Conversations that lead to sales and opportunities

📱 Why LinkedIn might be your most underrated platform

🛠 Tips to confidently share your art online

Connect with us:

Host: Michelle Schultz:

https://michelleschultzstudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/michelleschultzart/

Guest: Kristin Ruscher

Website: https://kruschart.shop

https://www.instagram.com/kruschart/

Subscribe + leave a review if this helped you feel braver in your creative path!

Follow @shepaintscallective for more

https://www.instagram.com/shepaintscollective

Contact our sponsor: http://houseofbettencourt.ca/freebies

In this powerful episode, I sit down with artist and researcher Paulina Ree to explore the often-overlooked contributions of women throughout art history—and the striking parallels to the challenges and triumphs of 2025. Together, they delve into what it means to create while navigating motherhood, mental health, and the weight of invisible labor.

Paulina shares her research on forgotten female artists whose impact shaped movements without recognition, and how their stories mirror the lived experience of women making art today. This is a soulful, truth-telling conversation that uplifts the quiet power of persistence, the beauty of creative lineage, and the courage it takes to be seen.

In this episode, we cover:

-How women’s creative contributions have been erased or overlooked

-The emotional labor of motherhood as an artist

-Parallels between past female artists and today’s art world

-Strategies for protecting your mental health while making meaningful work

-Why researching female artist's lives matters now more than ever

-What we can do as women creatives now to change the narrative

xoxo

Contact

Paulina Ree: https://www.paulinareeartist.com

https://www.instagram.com/paulinareeartist/

Host Michelle Schultz: https://michelleschultzstudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/michelleschultzart/

Contact us at She Who Paints: https://www.instagram.com/shepaintscollective/

In this episode of She Who Paints, I’m opening up about something that nearly every creative faces but rarely talks about: imposter syndrome.

I share the raw truth of what it felt like to experience it in the middle of my solo art show — a moment that should’ve felt like a peak — and again while building my meditative painting course.

We’ll talk about how these inner doubts creep in just as we’re about to level up, and how they can sabotage not only our self-worth, but also our earning potential — especially for women. Inspired by Rachel Rodgers’ insight in We Should All Be Millionaires, we’ll explore how imposter syndrome keeps female creatives small and underpaid. Plus, I walk you through a simple but powerful journaling practice I use called the Triangle Technique, designed to move you through the emotion, rewire the belief, and reconnect to your desired outcome. If you’ve ever felt like a fraud or questioned your worth as an artist or entrepreneur — this episode is your invitation to reclaim your power.

In this episode: My personal experience with imposter syndrome during big milestones How imposter syndrome costs women creatives real money Why your fear is often a sign you're on the right path The Triangle Journaling Technique to move through self-doubt Encouragement for showing up anyway

✨ Learn more & connect with me: Website: www.michelleschultzstudio.com Instagram: @michelleschultz.art

Get on the waitlist for my new Digital Course on Meditative Painting.

Join Here!https://mailchi.mp/michelleschultzstudio/blue-meditative-workshop

In this episode, author Shelby McFadden takes us on a journey through the haunted threads that weave together her writing, ancestry, and everyday life. We talk about the real ghost stories that inspired her latest book, her writing routine as a mother, and how her connection to ancestral magic and tarot informs both her creativity and her healing. Shelby opens up about the mental health challenges that come with being a sensitive storyteller and how writing has become both her anchor and outlet.

Whether you're drawn to the paranormal, the creative process, or the honest balancing act of motherhood and magic—this episode is for you.

We cover:

What inspired her latest book

Her writing routine and creative rituals

The role of motherhood and its affect on being an author

Ancestry and inherited magic

How tarot influences her intuition and process

Mental health and the emotional cost of sensitivity

Finding grounding as both a writer and a mother

And of course Real ghost stories and how to protect yourself from dark spirits.

Grab a cup of tea (or something stronger) and settle in for ghost stories, deep truths, and the sacred art of telling them.

Find Shelby Here:

https://www.shelbynmcfadden.com/grove-hollow-book-series

https://www.instagram.com/shelbynicoleauthor/

Your Host Michelle Schultz:

https://michelleschultzstudio.com

Join my Collector's Circle https://mailchi.mp/b3302e4faa83/vip-list

Sponsor: Soma Lumin

https://www.somalumin.com Use code MICHELLE to get 20% off

Aura Painting and Photography - Shop Here:

https://www.michelleschultzstudio.com/products/aura-portraits-the-official-painting-and-photo-package?_pos=2&_psq=aura&_ss=e&_v=1.0

In this deeply honest conversation, Michelle sits down with artist Courtney Griffin to explore the quiet, seismic shift of becoming a mother for the first time. Together, they speak to the invisible threads connecting us to our maternal lineage—the mother line—and how our ancestors whisper through our creative work, even (and especially) when the work is slow, messy, or unseen.

Courtney shares her transition from full-time artist and entrepreneur to new motherhood: the shedding of schedules, stepping away from Instagram, and redefining success without urgency. They talk about the pressure of productivity in a culture obsessed with output, and how soulful artist emails can be acts of devotion, not marketing.

This episode is a love letter to the ones who feel unseen in their motherhood. A reminder that this moment is not forever. That age is not something to fear but a deepening of voice, of purpose. And that our creative lives are not linear, not a race—but a rhythm we learn to trust.

Whether you’re in the thick of new motherhood, reimagining your creative path, or simply craving a more human conversation about art and life—this one is for you.

Find Courtney Here:

https://courtneygriffinart.myflodesk.com/links

Find Host, Michelle Schultz:

https://michelleschultzstudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/michelleschultzart/

Join my email list here:

https://www.michelleschultzstudio.com/pages/collector

Please leave a review and reach out to us @shepaintscollective on IG!

In this powerful episode of She Who Paints, Michelle is joined by Canadian artist, author, and mother of three, Brandi Hofer—a creative force known for her bold, expressive portraits and her mission to empower women through art. Brandi opens up about the challenges of burnout, the pressure to do it all, and how hitting rock bottom became the catalyst for redefining her life and creative career.

Her artwork has been featured on national television, in international publications, and exhibited at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery. Brandi’s work is collected and celebrated by notable creatives and influencers including Jillian Harris, Sarah Baeumler, Jenna Kutcher, Andrew Salgado, Jann Arden, and Sarah Nicole Landry.

Brandi shares how she rebuilt her life and art business with intention, boundaries, and joy. If you're a creative soul navigating burnout or seeking alignment in your practice, this conversation is filled with inspiration and truth.

Connect with Brandi Hofer:

Website: www.brandihofer.ca

Instagram: @brandihofer

Book: Color Me Happy

Connect with Michelle Schultz:

Website: www.michelleschultzstudio.com

Instagram: @michelleschultzstudio

Join the Collector Circle: Sign up here

She Who Paints: https://www.instagram.com/shepaintscollective/