The Independent Artist Podcast

By Douglas Sigwarth/ Will Armstrong

Visual Artists! You are not alone! IAP gives voice to the working artist. Inspirational and entertaining conversations with successful road show artists. Every story delves into the process of self

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How many episodes does The Independent Artist Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 109 episodes available.

Best of The Independent Artist Podcast

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: How's Your Summer Season Going? (part 2)
How's Your Summer Season Going? – Part 2 We're back with Part 2 of our summer catch-up. After months of traveling to art fairs on different schedules, Douglas and Will reconnect to compare notes on how the season has unfolded. What starts as a conversation about recent shows—including Madison's Art Fair on the Square—quickly branches into some of the biggest topics artists are talking about this summer. We unpack Madison's fortuitous relationship with Epic Systems' renowned art-buying program. If you've ever heard an artist say they had an "epic show," this episode explains why that phrase has become part of the art fair lexicon The conversation also explores what happens when collectors try to pressure artists into making a deal, practical strategies for handling discounts without devaluing your work, the effects of Canadian wildfire smoke on shows like Ann Arbor, the ever-evolving debate over reproductions, and whether inkjet printers blur the line between hand-crafted and automation. We wrap up by reflecting on the mentors, friends, collectors, and supporters whose encouragement gave us the confidence to keep creating and build sustainable careers as artists. Settle in and enjoy Part 2 of How's Your Summer Season Going? Evan Reinheimer's new tool for artists https://artshowplus.com/Wrapping up our summer art fair seasonMadison Art Fair on the Square and what artists mean by an "epic show"When collectors try to bully you into a dealNegotiating without devaluing your workWhen—and how—to offer discountsThe impact of Canadian wildfire smoke on shows like Ann ArborRevisiting the reproduction debateHow evolving inkjet technology is changing fine artThe people who gave us the confidence to pursue an art careerLessons learned from another summer on the roadCOCONUT GROVE ARTS FESTIVAL https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14788 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram https://www.instagram.com/independentartistpodcast/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/independentartistpodcast Website https://independentartistpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@theindependentartistpodcast Email [email protected] (contact us here about advertising on our show) PLEASE RATE US AND REVIEW US.......... and SUBSCRIBE to the pod on your favorite streaming app. SUPPORT THE SHOW VENMO/ username @independentartistpodcast or through PAYPAL.ME by clicking on this link https://paypal.me/independentartistpod?locale.x=en_US Sponsors The National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA). http://www.naiaartists.org/membership-account/membership-levels/ ZAPPlication https://www.zapplication.org Support the show
August 10, 202658min
Number 2: How's Your Summer Season Going? (part 1)
Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. How's Your Summer Season Going? (Part 1 of 2) After months of traveling on separate schedules, Douglas and Will finally sit down to catch up on how the summer art fair season has really been going. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, they discuss the severe storms that have disrupted art fairs and threatened artists' livelihoods, along with the personal life changes that can make it difficult to stay focused while running a creative small business. They swap stories about memorable (and sometimes harrowing) show setups, navigating dangerous weather on the road, getting the call off a waitlist, and what it takes to think fast and go all in when opportunity arrives with almost no notice. The episode also features a conversation with fellow artist Evan Reinheimer, who shares a practical new tool he's developed to help artists and exhibitors better manage their art fair businesses. https://artshowplus.com/ Whether you're a veteran exhibiting artist, just beginning the festival circuit, or simply curious about what life on the road is really like, this episode offers an honest look at the challenges, surprises, and resilience it takes to build a career in the arts. Settle in and enjoy the ride. Topics covered:Summer art fairs and festivalsStorms, weather, and their impact on artistsPersonal challenges behind the scenesWaitlist opportunities and last-minute decisionsTraveling to shows and surviving difficult setupsEvan Reinheimer's new tool for artists https://artshowplus.com/COCONUT GROVE ARTS FESTIVAL https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14788 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram https://www.instagram.com/independentartistpodcast/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/independentartistpodcast Website https://independentartistpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@theindependentartistpodcast Email [email protected] (contact us here about advertising on our show) PLEASE RATE US AND REVIEW US.......... and SUBSCRIBE to the pod on your favorite streaming app. SUPPORT THE SHOW VENMO/ username @independentartistpodcast or through PAYPAL.ME by clicking on this link https://paypal.me/independentartistpod?locale.x=en_US Sponsors The National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA). http://www.naiaartists.org/membership-account/membership-levels/ ZAPPlication https://www.zapplication.org Support the show
August 03, 20261h 4min
Number 3: Manifestation of the Soul/ Nathalia Toledo Barcia
Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. Fresh off winning Best in Show at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Ecuadorian artist Nathalia Toledo Barcia joins us for a deeply moving conversation about culture, soul, and the stories embedded in her work. Nathalia’s art lives at the intersection of painting and porcelain—where delicate surfaces become artifacts of memory and identity. Drawing from her Ecuadorian heritage, her paintings carry the visual language of her culture while her porcelain forms feel like relics of something timeless, as if they’ve been unearthed from a personal mythology. In this conversation, Nathalia shares a belief that resonates with many artists: every piece of art carries a piece of the maker’s soul. For her, art isn’t just an object—it’s a manifestation of spirit, a form of nourishment for both the creator and the viewer. We talk about what it means to create outside the corporate system, to live with the courage—and sometimes the naïveté—of believing that art can sustain a life. Natalia reminds us that artists are constantly evolving, constantly transforming, and that staying open to change is essential to a creative life. In a world that often measures value in productivity and profit, artists quietly become something else entirely: a form of resistance. This episode is a reminder that making art is more than a profession—it’s a way of keeping the soul alive. Episode tags: Art Worth: A Festival at Clearfork- https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14014 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram https://www.instagram.com/independentartistpodcast/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/independentartistpodcast Website https://independentartistpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@theindependentartistpodcast Email [email protected] (contact us here about advertising on our show) PLEASE RATE US AND REVIEW US.......... and SUBSCRIBE to the pod on your favorite streaming app. SUPPORT THE SHOW VENMO/ username @independentartistpodcast or through PAYPAL.ME by clicking on this link https://paypal.me/independentartistpod?locale.x=en_US Sponsors The National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA). http://www.naiaartists.org/membership-account/membership-levels/ ZAPPlication https://www.zapplication.org Support the show
March 09, 20261h 49min
Number 4: Switching Gears in '26
Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth (https://www.sigwarthglass.com/) and Will Armstrong (http://www.willarmstrongart.com/) co-host and discuss topics affecting working artists. Switching Gears in '26 is a candid conversation about what it means to keep making work when the ground feels uncertain. We talk about the influence of legendary glassblowing artist Lino Tagliapietra, the pressure of staying creative during difficult economic and political times, and the strange in-between of waiting for application results for the 2026 season. We also dig into the ongoing tension between making work about something versus creating decorative work—and which of those paths is actually harder to sell. From making the work to finding the audience for it, this episode sits in the space between patience, persistence, and adaptation. We also look at how tools like ChatGPT and emerging AI technologies are beginning to shape creative thinking, workflow, and decision-making. This is a conversation about recalibration, resilience, and choosing to move forward even when the path isn’t fully visible. Episode tags: Sono Lino- documentary about Glass Maestro Lino Tagliapietra https://www.sonolino.com/ Kimball Arts Festival-https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=13821 Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival-https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14057 Art in the High Desert-https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14073 Art in the Pearl- https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=13832 Cat Tesla Business of Art- https://www.catteslaworkshops.com/ FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram https://www.instagram.com/independentartistpodcast/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/independentartistpodcast Website https://independentartistpodcast.buzzsprout.com/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@theindependentartistpodcast Email [email protected] (contact us here about advertising on our show) PLEASE RATE US AND REVIEW US.......... and SUBSCRIBE to the pod on your favorite streaming app. SUPPORT THE SHOW VENMO/ username @independentartistpodcast or through PAYPAL.ME by clicking on this link https://paypal.me/independentartistpod?locale.x=en_US Sponsors The National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA). http://www.naiaartists.org/membership-account/membership-levels/ ZAPPlication https://www.zapplication.org Support the show
January 19, 20261h 15min
Number 5: Sharing Your Authentic Voice/ Clifton Henri
Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists. A radio show just for art fair artists! Photographer Clifton Henri (https://www.cliftonhenri.com/) describes his entry into the art show world from his background in graphic design and art management. His journey to find his voice centered around his desire to see images he didn't see growing up. He chose to flip the script on traditional themes which highlight positive outcomes. Clifton shares his experience with reworking one of his pieces to celebrate Kamala Harris being elected Vice President and the recognition his work garnered. The core of his conversation is the exploration of authenticity. Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth https://www.sigwarthglass.com/ and Will Armstrong http://www.willarmstrongart.com/ co-host and discuss topics affecting working artists. Each episode is a deep dive into a conversation with a guest artist who shares their unique experiences as an independent professional artist. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram https://www.instagram.com/independentartistpodcast/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/independentartistpodcast Website https://www.sigwarthglass.com/independentartistpodcast.html YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@theindependentartistpodcast Mailing List http://eepurl.com/hwQn7b Email [email protected] PLEASE RATE US AND REVIEW US.......... and SUBSCRIBE to the pod on your favorite streaming app. SUPPORT THE SHOW VENMO/ username @independentartistpodcast or through PAYPAL.ME by clicking on this link https://paypal.me/independentartistpod?locale.x=en_US Sponsors The National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA). http://www.naiaartists.org/membership-account/membership-levels/ ZAPPlication https://www.zapplication.org Music "Walking" by Oliver Lear Business inquiries at [email protected] https://soundcloud.com/oliverlear https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yAPYzkmK4ZmdbWFLUhRNo?si=i6Y8Uc36QZWIDKIQfT3X Support the show
June 17, 20241h 1min