Artist Academy (Andrea Ehrhardt)

We are entering THE best time of the year to start up or gain window painting customers, and today I’m rewinding it back to this interview I did with the window painting master himself, Scot Campbell.

I started writing out my tips for window painting to record a solo episode when I remembered, wait a second, I know a guy who can explain this better than me and we’ve already recorded a full episode on the subject! I re-listened to this interview and was very surprised at the amount of info and conversation that I did not remember.

His tips for how to get window painting jobs and paint with efficiency still ring true today just 3 years later. We chat about passing around a window painting flyer, how to price yourself to get those early jobs, how to paint quickly, and take up the most space to get those eye-catching designs.

I am a BIG advocate for painting windows during the holidays because it gives you practice pitching, designing, invoicing, and bringing a customer’s vision to life on a not-so-permanent surface.

Go to Holiday Window Painting to download my window painting supply list and flyer template to help you get started.

If you’re at all interested in making some extra cash around the holidays in a creative way (via window painting) then I know you’ll love this replay episode with none other than Scot Campbell.

Scot Campbell Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@ScotCampbellwindowpainter

To download Window Supply List
https://www.artistacademy.co/HolidayWindowPainting


Have a great week! :)
Andrea
www.ArtistAcademy.co

I’ll share a list of painting hacks to make your life easier. Some of these tips are ones that I use but most are a collective of Artist Academy members sharing their knowledge and experience. Ten artist brains are better than one!

Here’s a brief list of some of the hacks, but you’ll need to listen to this to get the full explanation of each:

• Rent a towable man lift for $300 for the day to access those hard to reach heights on mural projects.
• Carry fingernail polish remover with you to remove accidental paint stains quickly.
• A pounce or reverse stencil sticker is great for getting images in places where projectors can’t (the floor).
• Use throw away plastic containers with lids (yogurt cups, egg trays, to-go trays, etc.) to store paint.
• A spray bottle adds extra moisture to keep paint from drying.
• Keep baby wipes on hand. Just do it.
• Never use fluorescent paint for exterior work. It fades. :(
• Try a step stool instead of a ladder. It’s easier on your feet, serves as a seat, and a place to set the projector.
• Tape charcoal on a stick to better sketch out mural images. You can see much better from a few feet back!
• Use 2 water bucks (1 with soapy water) to keep brushes clean.

Olga is a former teacher turned muralist. She is about to complete her second full-income earning year of full-time artistry and is set to gross over $100,000.

How did she get her start you may ask? By passing around flyers and landing a window painting job that started the domino effect into murals and more.

Listen to hear how Olga isn’t working her life away while bringing in double her teacher’s salary and still prioritizing family.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Olga Gunz (Gonzalez).


Have a great week!

Andrea
www.ArtistAcademy.co

Ashley is a former teacher who recently quit her job to go full-time with painting. She has an art school background and a solid understanding of painting techniques, and I think her quick success is a complement to that. It's not necessary to be perfectly good at painting coming right out of the gate, but it helps a lot.

I talk about business and making money and all that comes with it. But make no mistake, the more skills we have = the easier the marketing = the more you can charge.

I hope this interview inspires you to take the leap into full-time creativity and also inspires you to put in the time to work on your craft. Painting is so much more fun when you know what you're doing, but we all start not knowing. Get good, get confident.

Let me know what you think of this week's episode with Ashley Cassens.


www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.instagram.com/ashley.cassens/

Do you want us at the Artist Academy to help you create an outstanding website? Join the waitlist: www.artistacademy.co/website-builder-interest

This week’s episode is all about helping you to make your website better to gain more business via Google and organic search.

1. Photos are everything.
   Spending time taking and editing your photos to display your art in the best possible form will pay off. Good lighting, clear images taken on a quality device (I use my iPhone 12 to photograph and record all videos), etc..
   
   A photo of you holding your painting in dim lighting sitting in your kitchen says: “I do this as a hobby. Please don’t pay me very much.”
   
   A clear photo of you (wearing something presentable) standing next to your painting (that is sitting on an easel) with a professional background and great lighting says: “I am a professional. You can sign up to be on my waiting list.”
   
   
2. SEO - Search Engine Optimization
   What do you do and how would you describe your art? = Key Words
   
   Examples: Missouri muralist, logo artist, painter, Springfield artist, interior mural, exterior mural, landscape, modern mural, midwest muralist, mural artist, painter for hire, custom art, high-end art, children’s room art, kids' room decor, nursery mural…
   
   Include these words within your website in places like within your artist statement on the “about” or “contact” page.
   
   Label your photos on your computer with these words and upload them into your website.
   
   Tip: Get featured on other websites that already have a better Google search result than you. Magazines, local businesses, galleries, etc.. Use their already optimized websites to show up on Google.
   
   
3. Keep your website menu/navigation options minimal and to the point.
   KISS = Keep It Simple Stupid
   
   We all create so many different things: murals, originals, prints, pet portraits, landscapes, art lessons, logos, etc… Simplify the options.
   
   What do you WANT to do the MOST? Put those few options in the forefront.
   
   
4. How can people work with you?
   
   What are the steps they need to take in order for someone to commission you to do a job? Explain those steps quickly and clearly so customers are ready to give you what you need in order to give them a quote.
   
   
5. Easy Checkout
   Make your checkout process EASY by integrating things like Apple Pay (1 click pay) and quick shipping options. Shopify is the best online selling platform for small businesses with an easy checkout process.

Join the waitlist to have your website built for you.


Have a great week! :)
Andrea
www.ArtistAcademy.co

Brittany is a muralist based in Pennsylvania and has been in the Academy for a little over a year. Within that year she has been able to quit and replicate her day job salary by diving into full-time mural work.

I met Brittany at our Missouri Mural Meetup last year and watched the fire start within her. She went home with stars in her eyes, giving so much effort to her art business.

Things were slow at first, but I knew it was only a matter of time before one of her efforts landed. Effort (a lot of it) is the key puzzle piece that determines whether an artist will make it or not.

Listen to this week’s episode to hear exactly where Brittany put those efforts and went full-time with her art.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

Michelle is a muralist based in New Jersey and has recently had her world turned upside down - in a good way.

I know we all have these excuses as to why we are not making the moves we know we need to make with our careers, but let me tell you, Michelle’s story was not one that was easily made. But she took a leap of faith, worked hard, and now has a painting career she enjoys along with an encouraging support system to back her.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Michelle Ricalde.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

I am a painter with a goal to make money. I’m not as much of what I would consider a “true artist” who is in love with the craft and history of it all. For a long time, I was slightly ashamed to admit that.

I thought wanting to make money made me sound greedy or less than other artists. But after a while, I just said, “heck with it” and leaned into my business-minded artistic side. I’m really good at making money with a paintbrush, and I make a lot of it in not very many hours. I teach it because that’s what I’m passionate about, so if you’re at all interested in making money with a paintbrush and not just doing it for fun, then I have a big tip for you.

See, I don’t mind painting something random if someone pays me enough and I don’t mind stopping a project and walking away when it’s at the good enough stage. If a customer doesn’t have an amazing budget, then I don’t make an amazingly realistic best-of-my-ability painting. I’m okay with doing a good job, but not an amazing one if the situation calls for it. And I take that theory into the rest of my work life…

If I spent just a couple more months on my book it would be that much better. I could’ve added more humor, less rambling, and more whimsical words to help paint a picture of every story I told within the pages. But I didn’t. I called it done and moved on.

Every single time I record a solo podcast episode, I seriously consider lighting it on fire and starting over. I’m tempted to spend another hour going back over the subject I just talked about, but this time make it so much smoother.

Almost every mural design I create, at one point or another, I look at it and think why didn’t I stretch my creativity a little further to make it look just a bit better?

In the middle of painting, I’ll often want to add a small detail or change a small part, but I make myself move on and come back to it in the end. “If it still bothers me when everything is complete then I’ll add/change that part.”

But 90% of the time nothing gets changed, because the overall look of the mural isn’t reliant on a small detail.

My art business won’t crumble if a small detail is incorrect or out of place. I’ll get to it eventually, or not.

Currently, everything runs comfortably. Not perfect, but comfortable.

So, when can you call it good enough?

If the customer is happy, then it’s good enough.

If I can say that I gave at least an 80% effort, then that’s good enough for me. Because I know adding that extra 20% often takes waaaaay longer than necessary.

Let’s chat about the idea of leaving perfectionism behind and putting things out there that are good enough on this week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast.

This week’s episode features Florida-based visual artist Cody Meacham of Radley Relics. Cody crafts nostalgic miniatures inspired by beloved theme park attractions and horror films. Each piece is meticulously designed, reflecting his passion for capturing the essence of iconic haunted experiences.

Cody has worked on projects for Universal Studios and has lately nestled into his own business of collaborating with collectors to create custom pieces. He leans into the fact that his work is extremely niche and has a very unique, nailed down audience. Cody interacts with his collectors to gain insight from them as to what they might be looking for in his work.

Having that one-on-one communication with people who have already bought into his work helps him customize each piece to the liking of his fan base. Instead of starting completely from scratch every time and not knowing how it will be perceived, by getting upfront feedback from collectors he already knows each creation will be a hit. It’s genius!

There’s a fine line between doing what you love and taking outside advice to dictate what you do, and Cody is walking that line brilliantly. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Cody Meacham of Radley Relics.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

https://www.instagram.com/radleyrelics/

What creates a good offer? I believe, if you make a product that appeals to your audience enough to make them want to buy, then that is a good offer in itself. You don’t need to add any gimmicks if the product sells.


However, if the products aren’t selling, then maybe adding some kind of element, like giving the buyer a reason to buy right now, is the push it needs to complete the sale. Or maybe doubling up on the product and giving more of it is the added persuasion tactic that’s needed.


The idea for this episode came about with me watching my own spending habits take place lately. I’ll give a couple of examples…


I am currently in love with this food delivery service I’ve been using: Factor75. It’s not sponsored but what made me buy the product in the first place is what makes it relevant. My friend highly recommended it, but that wasn’t enough to talk me into it since I had already tried meal delivery services in the past and wasn’t amazed. Then she gave me her free box discount code to try it for free and I was sold. The product was amazing and I’ve been using it since!


Maybe you could give out a free digital item like a downloadable Christmas card set that people could print out for free, in order to get people on your email list. There’s no cost except a couple of hours of time designing the cards with your art on them and “Happy Holidays,” or whatever, written on the inside. Customers will opt in, and you’ll have an email system in place ready to upsell them with products you’re offering for the holidays.

Maybe it’s WOWing a customer with a custom mockup to get them to say yes to the full mural.


Another item I bought lately was a bamboo sleeper for my 9-month-old baby boy. Actually, 5 sleepers because at first, I said, “absolutely not” to the price of 1 for $36. I know they are high quality and the prints were adorable, but I couldn’t get myself to spend that on something he won’t fit in next year.


Then I received a buy 2 get 1 free email… Nope, not good enough. The next day I received a 24-hour flash sale of buy 3 get 2 offer… Sold!


I realize that art is not the same as other products. It’s typically more expensive and has a different allure than buying something you can eat or wear. But I think it’s useful to look at the reason we buy other products and somewhat integrate that thinking into our art products.


After I bought those pajamas, I received an email telling me when my order was going to be shipped, thanking me for my purchase, and inviting me to their Facebook group where they post their biggest discounts. It was also written in a very cute and non-salesy way. (I’ll read it word for word on the podcast because it was THAT good)


We should all be doing this!


What’s your can’t-say-no-to-this offer?


I’ll share mine in this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast. Listen to hear more about this subject and how I’m integrating these sales approaches into my art business.

Links mentioned:
Factor75
www.bumsandroses.com



Have a great week! :)

Andrea
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Chicago-based shoe artist Dillon DeJesus. I really enjoyed chatting with Dillon about a painting subject that I knew nothing about. It became very apparent how little I knew about his industry the more he talked about it and I’m excited to share this insight with you too.

This interview emphasizes the benefits of really diving deep into research and techniques within one niche. I often feel like a jack of all trades, which has its benefits, but this chat shines a light on the pros of becoming a master in one area. Dillon has leaned into, or rather dove headfirst into, the shoe/sports/painting industry and it is serving him well. With a customer roster of several NFL players, the dude knows his stuff when it comes to designing custom sneakers!

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Dillon DeJesus.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Denver muralist Gary Gomez. Gary has been in the decorative painting business for 20 years and his #1 tip for attracting new customers is to focus on your Google Maps page.


If you think about it, when we are looking for something new in our area, what do we do to find it? Ask Jeeves. Just kidding. 🤪 Only the early internet adopters will remember that. No, we ask Google, of course.

It would make sense to position ourselves as the go-to artist in our location by being on the first page of Google when anyone searches an art term like “muralist Missouri.”

Which, by the way, I put in my Instagram bio and it does come up on the first page of Google. 🥳


Listen to today’s episode to hear Gary’s backstory of how he got to where he is today (a booked out muralist doing all kinds of different decorative painting things) and how he lands himself on the front page of Google.


Gary's IG: https://www.instagram.com/denvermuralartist/
www.ArtistAcademy.co

I’m using AI to help generate pitch scripts, reference photos, different variations of mock-ups for murals, and to edit/caption videos.


First off, let’s address the controversial topic amongst artists lately wondering if using AI is a form of cheating. To that question, I also ask:

Is using a projector cheating? Is hiring someone to help paint half of the mural for me cheating?Is using a royalty-free reference photo cheating by copying someone else’s creation since I’m too lazy to take my own photos?

I confidently say, “Nope.”

Does the above list help save us time? Yep. And that’s what the theme of my year is all about… How to work smarter in order to work less while making more money.

It’s not about being lazy. It’s about using resources and skills together in order to create a more efficient work strategy and better outcome.

AI tools I’m currently using:
https://chat.openai.com/ to help create pitch scripts.
https://www.midjourney.com/ to create reference photos and ideas for mockups.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/enlight-photofox-digital-art/id1191337894 to create different versions of mockups to give the customer more options and examples.
https://clip.opus.pro/ to edit long-form video into short clips and add captions.

Listen to today’s episode to hear how exactly I’m using the above resources to make my work life better and more efficient.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

Today I’ll be explaining how I use a virtual assistant to make my life easier and how you can go about it too. Upfront, I really want to emphasize that this is more of a seasoned artist tool, unless you’re planning to do a lot of outreach.

I didn’t hire a VA until I decided to add another stream of revenue into my business (coaching). I already had a bread-and-butter system working and generating money for me before I started hiring. So, if you’re wondering if you’re ready to hire just yet, I’m going to guess that the majority of you are not quite there yet. BUT I think it’s still a good listen for those who want to get to the point of delegating someday.

The idea of hiring and trading money for services outside of our own art businesses takes a while to get used to. We are scrappy in the beginning with doing everything ourselves: social media, emails, invoicing, editing, and everything else piled on to painting. But it doesn’t have to be like that forever.

Things a VA can do for you:

Invoices/Contracts
Sharing your content across other social media
Help manage your inbox
Edit Videos
Spellcheck
Add products/photos to your website
Anything repetitive

When you’re ready, my best pieces of advice for hiring a VA are:

Make your very first hire be a low hourly rate so mistakes don’t cost you
Hire a VA who speaks English real good ;)
A VA can’t do things for your art business that you don’t know how to do yourself
Give clear (video) instructions on how to do every single task
Organize tasks into daily/weekly/monthly lists
Expect there to be a learning curve and correct as needed

Listen to this week’s episode to hear all about my experiences hiring a VA for the past 3 years. Learn from my mistakes and hear how I’m continually making progress on how to best utilize this service.

Links mentioned:
Lastpass.com
Iworker.co
Upwork.com


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Las Vegas tattoo artist DJ Tambe. DJ currently has thousands of people on his waiting list and charges premium rates for his tattoo services.


Today we chat about the benefits of putting yourself in the public eye in order to grow your art business and the hesitations that come with it. We all want to lock ourselves in our studio and create all day but it’s what we showcase outside of those walls that makes customers come knocking.


Talking with DJ made me realize how many similarities there are in building a business with a paint brush versus a tattoo gun. It’s the same in that you start by practicing to enhance a skill then get to networking to build a portfolio. Then it’s all about word of mouth and promotion to go up from there.


This interview is a fun look into the backstory of a very successful yet humble artist who has recently hit it big! Let me know what you think of this week’s interview with DJ Tambe.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.instagram.com/djtambe/

They say that every millionaire has 7 different streams of revenue. To me, that both sounds smart and exhausting. Today, let's chat about the different ways we can bring money in by specializing in different areas within the art niche.

There are SO MANY possibilities when it comes to making money as an artist. Check out a list of some of the options below:

But as you're considering each option, ask yourself these questions:

1. What area am I curious about enough to do a DEEP dive into?
2. What thing would I not mind talking about or sharing on social media every single day?
3. What thing would I not mind doing for free for the first year to get some traction going?
4. Do I want to do these things MORE than my current job?

Art Revenue Options:

1. Commissioned Artwork:
Be a commissioned based artist - murals, canvases, digital artwork
Wood burning
Illustrate children's books
Design logos
Pet portraits
Create art for games


Art Prints and Products:
2. Prints - digital or paper/canvas/metal/wood. Sell those prints via Etsy, a dropshipping service, etc.
Print of the Month club
Art subscription box
Create patterns for fabrics like wallpaper
Sell art supplies on Amazon
Sell images on stock sites like Shutterstock
Sell art on eBay
Sell local souvenirs
Thrift store art

3. Digital Presence and Content Creation:
Start a podcast (with ads)
Blog (with affiliate links)
(E-) Magazine
Go live online creating commissioned-based art for tips (TikTok, IG, Twitch)
Social media influencer
Content creator on YouTube
Create a course/membership

4. Art Exhibition and Events:
Art shows
Galleries
Street vending
Participate in art competitions
Paint and sip nights
White wall painting
Decorative finishing
Storefront
Live art at events

5. Art-Related Services:
Help other artists with digital mockups
Edit photo/video (train a VA to do it for you)
Art Therapist
Tattoo Artist
Give Art Lessons

I’m currently spread pretty thin with having a podcast, membership group, mural business, print business (I cut that out recently), 1 on 1 coaching, a book, all on top of my newest journey of being a new mom. I can’t imagine adding another thing right now, which keeps me from chasing the new fun thing (Instagram’s new Threads app for instance).

My biggest tip for adding another revenue stream: Have your current one on autopilot before diving into something new. Meaning, it should be relatively easy to keep your current bread-and-butter business afloat. Because the new fun project will take your attention away from the old one. It’s like starting a new business every time, only slightly easier than the first, but a new business nonetheless.

Listen to today’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast for a deeper dive into this subject, including my own personal experience with adding and subtracting profitable projects.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
And here's the link to episode 199. Wallpapers & Textiles with Peacoquette

This week’s episode features Patrycja Hannagan (PJ) of Mural Nomad. She’s a Polish muralist traveling around Australia with the goal of creating 100 murals in 100 weeks. She’s living the travel/adventure life that some of us have at one point considered, but maybe never thought was possible.


PJ gives us a front-seat view on what it’s like being a working muralist living out of a van. To some, it might look like she’s living this carefree, hippie adventure, but in reality, she’s making a great living while building up her portfolio and brand with murals from all over Australia.

My biggest takeaway from this interview was how much importance PJ places on outreach to build her portfolio. She doesn’t wait for people to find her, she goes to them. Literally, she drives in her van to different locations all over Australia. But more importantly, she does things like posting in Facebook groups, reaching out to local artists in every area, and networking with local businesses (like welcome centers) in order to hopefully get connected with another job in each area.

She’s open about pricing strategies, including how she went from charging $200 per mural to $65,000 for her latest project. PJ is currently on mural #59 of her 100 goal, so go give her a follow @mural_nomad to cheer her on in crushing her goal within the next year!

www.ArtistAcademy.co

In this week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, we dive headfirst into two powerhouse strategies that can light a fire under your career. Oftentimes, business owners lean towards being a promoter or a creator to get sales. Which strategy is best for your personality?

Strategy #1: Are you a natural audience builder?

Do you want your sales strategy to encompass the magic of audience engagement? Whether you're casting a wide net or focusing on a tight-knit niche, your goal is to create content that turns heads. We're talking stunning photos, videos that pull people in, and the secrets of composition, lighting, and creating buzzworthy content. In this episode, we get into how to get your audience talking, sharing, and taking your work further than your social media could ever reach. Think like an artist who's all about making content that hooks people in.

Audience Builder Traits:
• Creative
• Unapologetic about sharing your art
• Willing to invest in good equipment (camera or phone to record)

Strategy #2: Are you a natural promoter?

Or maybe you're ready to jump into the deep end of sales and promotion. Understand the power of a clear offer and how to highlight what makes it beneficial to your audience. In this episode, we run through everything from old-school flyers to cold emails, event networking, and the power of social media and niche groups. Plus, we teach you how to talk about your work in a way that grabs attention, how to price it right, and how to nail that perfect 15-second pitch that hits people in the feels.

Promoter Traits:
• Likes to talk to people
• Willing to learn sales strategies
• Dedicated to repetition and persistence

The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to do both. Choosing one will bring in art sales on its own. However, if you decide to conquer both, you're setting yourself up for some serious growth.

Imagine having an eager audience waiting for your next piece and being able to effortlessly drop special deals or teasers. We've got the guidance to get you there, plus tips on seamlessly blending promotional content with your regular posts. Not to mention, we share our insights on building a loyal fanbase and getting so good at content creation or sales that it becomes second nature. It might take a bit of elbow grease and dedication now, but trust us, the future's looking bright.

The other good news is that whichever path you choose, there’s only a hard learning curve for the first while. Eventually, it will become second nature.
Oh, you thought one of these strategies should come *naturally?* NOPE! It takes work no matter which route you take, but it’s worth it.

Tune in to episode #270 of the Artist Academy Podcast for a deeper dive into this subject and to discover the strategies, tools, and mindset you need to hit your artistic goals out of the park.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

I think artists both drastically underutilize while also overly complicate the idea of creating a brand in order to sell art.

Let’s start with the overly complicated idea. Your brand is YOU. It’s not just a font, page header, or logo. It’s your style, personality, and what you can bring to the table in terms of creating. Self-awareness = brand display. I’ll explain more in this episode, but that’s the simple gist of it.

This episode is a section of my book Mural Money on the subject of how to elevate, potentially harm, and take ownership of your brand. I’ll tell stories of how I was able to do all of that (yes, including harm my brand by making poor decisions) in these 2 chapters.

I had to include this part in the book because these were big lessons learned the hard way. Every time I’m introduced to a new artist and I see them do things like dressing inappropriately, constantly showing up late, or doing anything that hurts their brand, I can’t help but think, Noooo it’s so hard to come back from that. So, this is my shoutout to my younger self if that were possible, and anyone new to the idea of being your own boss.

If you liked this sneak peek chapter of my book: Mural Money, then I highly encourage you to get the audio version of the full book with over 15 hours of listening inspiration. I’m currently running a special of just $17 for the audio version at MuralMoney.com that comes with a bunch of extras like my art supply list, pricing guide, recommended book/podcast list, and much more.

I filled this book with tips from my journey of building a profitable mural career, plus I’ve included the best of the best advice from guests I’ve interviewed on this podcast. It’s my most affordable all-in-one book of advice on art+business and if you enjoy listening to me here, I know you’ll enjoy the book too because I read it myself. The book is available on Amazon and Audible, normally for $25, but if you go to MuralMoney.com that’s where you can grab the special $17 deal while it lasts. If you haven’t listened to my book yet, this is your sign to do it!

Anyway, let’s get to it. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode all about creating your brand.

www.MuralMoney.com
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Texas muralist Whitney Hayden.


If you listened to Crystal Frye’s episode, just 2 recordings back, you’ll hear a mention of the name “Whitney” a few times. We were referencing Whitney Hayden, who you’ll be listening to today, and you’ll also hear Crystal chime in a bit too. That’s because even though they live states apart, these two organized an in-person paint session together to learn from each other. Two muralists, who are doing very well on their own, met up to collaborate and grow. I just wanted to highlight that feature before we got started because I love the idea of it so much!

I actually did not know that those two were meeting up when I asked them separately to interview. Sometimes I get these mental taps on the shoulder that sound something like, “Hey, maybe you should interview Whitney again since it’s been over 4 years since her first interview. Her business has changed so much since then and her newfound storefront would be a fun topic.” I asked, and she agreed.

This interview is really down to earth and just two longtime art friends chatting about our businesses. Whitney tells it like it is and I really enjoy that about her. This is a fly-on-the-wall kind of conversation I would’ve liked to listen to about the topic of murals, prints, and what it’s like opening up a storefront. She talks openly about where her profits are coming from, and I think the numbers might surprise you. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Whitney Hayden.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.instagram.com/muralsbywhitney/

Take a moment to reframe your mind around the idea of sharing your art on social media…

Imagine you’re another fitness influencer creating videos for Instagram, trying to make it interesting and different from all the others in an overly saturated market. How interesting is someone lifting weights, really?

Imagine you’re an insurance agent creating content. How would you make that subject interesting to your community of followers? Nobody likes to talk about insurance for fun.

Imagine you practice law and are trying to build a customer base on Facebook by sharing fun legal facts. You’d likely run out of fun facts pretty quickly. Then what?

I had a business owner friend tell me, “If I could just create fun paintings to share on Instagram, my business would be so much easier!” She was right. Being an artist on social media isn’t even fair to the rest of the jobs out there. We have it EASY.

A small percentage of our audience can do what we do, or think they can, or maybe want to try. That leaves almost 90% of social media users in awe of what we can create with paint and canvas. They watch, comment, sometimes share our photos/videos, and a small percentage will buy if we do it right.

Do it right… meaning create something appealing that gets seen by the right customer at the right price.

This week’s episode is a chapter out of my book Mural Money all about social media. I share my successes along with other fellow artists who have used a variety of social platforms as a tool to make art sales. I think you’ll get at least one new idea out of it, and I hope you are able to reframe your mindset away from the thought that social media is hard to social media is actually pretty fun and relatively easy.

If you liked this sneak peek chapter of my book: Mural Money, then I highly encourage you to get the audio version of the full book with over 15 hours of listening inspiration. I’m currently running a special of just $17 for the audio version at MuralMoney.com that comes with a bunch of extras like my art supply list, pricing guide, recommended book/podcast list, and much more.

I filled this book with tips from my journey of building a profitable mural career, plus I’ve included the best of the best advice from guests I’ve interviewed on this podcast. It’s my most affordable all-in-one book of advice on art+business and if you enjoy listening to me here, I know you’ll enjoy the book too, because I read it myself. The book is available on Amazon and Audible normally for $25, but if you go to MuralMoney.com that’s where you can grab the special $17 deal while it lasts. If you haven’t listened to my book yet, this is your sign to do it!

Anyway, let’s get to it. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode all about social media.

www.MuralMoney.com
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features North Carolina muralist Crystal Jane Frye of the EZ Easel. Crystal gets the majority of her mural gigs from Facebook and today she’s opening up about her social media strategy that’s actually more of a simple habit than a strategy.


I think artists overthink the idea of social media so much that it puts them into a frozen state of confusion or fear. We don’t post because our hair doesn’t look perfect, video editing is time-consuming, or we forget to take photos/videos throughout the process so why even try?! Right?


What if I told you that posting to social media could be as easy as stopping what you’re doing for 1 whole minute, taking a quick photo, then posting it with a one-sentence caption? That’s it. That habit, just a few times per day, is how Crystal grew her Facebook to 27,000+ followers. No fancy video editing or scheduled posts. Just her showing the world what she’s doing as she’s doing it.


Listen to hear the details of exactly what kind of photos Crystal was posting, which ones get the most shares and the full story of how she grew her mural business using Facebook.

www.ArtistAcademy.co

You know we love to talk about art money here on the podcast! This episode is all about the numbers behind a well-functioning business. I’ll be sharing some cost comparisons with the intention of convincing you to charge more for your art.

Businesses know the cost of doing business which is why I find it easier to approach a commercial job with a high bid as opposed to something residential. But even homeowners know the cost of creating and maintaining a classy property. So let’s talk about a variety of expenses, including what it cost to build my own art studio, in this money episode.

Here’s a peek at some of the numbers I talk about in today’s episode:

• I talked with a white wall painter who made $30,000 in less than 2 weeks painting an old Hardees building inside and out.
• Need a vinyl decal? $10 per square foot is a basic average rate, plus design fees… for something that won’t last as long as paint. That’s $1,000 for a 10 x 10ft wall.
• An average landscaping package for a large business building starts at $35,000.
• A large business (1 Walmart location) will pay around $70,000 per year for snow removal.
• Attending/sponsoring conferences (on a small scale) costs on average $2-10k.
• Restaurant owners are paying out several thousands of dollars every week to employees. They are not going to think twice about your $1,500 logo bid.
• Need a sign made? Expect to pay a minimum of a few thousand and upwards of tens of thousands for something that lights up.

Listen to hear a better explanation of where these costs come from and how they relate to your art business.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
www.ArtistAcademyPodcast.com

This week’s episode features Georgia-based artist Ryan Benefield.

Ryan specializes in clean-cut murals and logos for the beer industry. He started his business during the covid shutdown and went full-time not long after. He’s since built himself a very profitable art business through the process of utilizing the relationships he built at his previous place of employment.

Ryan’s self-awareness allows him to play up his strengths and hire out his weaknesses in a way that both saves time and headaches even in his first few years of business. Ryan’s a member of our Artist Academy Masters program and a great example of how surrounding yourself with upper-level artists can up level your own art business.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Ryan Benefield.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

Happy May Mural Month! I had to end this month with a chapter from my book, Mural Money, all about how to start and grow a mural business from the ground up. Extremely fitting to this month’s mural theme, right?

This is a snippet of chapter 7 that explains how I leveraged the power of a small city to create a name for myself. I used to think that I needed to travel outside of smalltown Springfield, Missouri to find work. I used to tell myself that well-paid job opportunities weren’t possible in my area. I was wrong, and I’m glad I figured it out before moving across the country.

If you like this sneak peek chapter of my book: Mural Money, then I highly encourage you to get the audio version of the full book with over 15 hours of listening inspiration. I’m currently running a special of just $17 for the audio version at MuralMoney.com that comes with a bunch of extras like my art supply list, pricing guide, recommended book/podcast list, and much more.

I filled this book with tips from my journey of building a profitable mural career, plus I’ve included the best of the best advice from guests I’ve interviewed on this podcast. It’s my most affordable all-in-one book of advice on art+business and if you enjoy listening to me here, I know you’ll enjoy the book too because I read it myself. The book is available on Amazon and Audible normally for $25, but if you go to MuralMoney.com that’s where you can grab the special $17 deal while it lasts. If you haven’t listened to my book yet, this is your sign to do it!

Anyway, let’s get to it. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode all about becoming the go-to artist in your area.




www.MuralMoney.com
www.ArtistAcademy.co

Transitioning from being an employee to working for yourself is a crazy mental shift that nobody seems to talk about.


Today’s episode is all about highlighting some of those shifting thoughts to hopefully help you take on a leadership role faster, or at least know you’re not crazy when that shift seems tough!



www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Michigan-based muralist Kevin Burdick. I was so excited to chat with an artist who predominantly uses spray paint since I know very little about it but want to.

I was surprised to hear that Kevin uses acrylic spray alongside a roller with latex. He rolls THEN sprays using a mix of airbrush and cans. Why did I never think of combining these techniques before?! I ordered some Kobra and Montana Gold cans directly after closing out this interview.

I expected to get some spray tips from this conversation, which I did, but what I didn’t expect to come away with was a reminder that I paint because I love it and not just for profit. Kevin loves what he does and it really shows in his work. His spray murals have so much energy, movement, and bright colors. They almost POP off the wall!

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Kevin Burdick.

www.ArtistAcademy.co

Kevin Burdick IG: https://www.instagram.com/kevscraps14/

Find mural festivals here 👉 https://www.instagram.com/streetartcalls/

Paint mentioned: Kobra and Montana Gold

Happy Mural Month! Today’s episode is all about everyone’s favorite topic: art money. “How do I price my art project?” is typically the question I get asked the most, so let’s chat about it.

Here’s a few tips and general overview of the things I go over in this episode:
My 3 main methods of pricing:

• Square Foot- 100 sqft x $25 per sqft = $2,500
• Time- How much time will it take me to complete this project?
• By Project- What are the general budgets for this type of project?

Factors to consider:

• Experience- The better you are, the more you can charge.
• Location- The higher the cost of living in an area, the more you can charge.
• Popularity- The more sought after you are, the more you can charge.

Bid Strategies:

• Over/Under- Give a starting price and a max price to help gauge where their budget falls within the two.
• High/Low Options- Give a simple sketch and an amazing sketch to help the customer visualize what a low and high budget can get them.
• Base Price + Add-ons- Give the price for the bulk of the mural then additional charges for smaller details.

BIG TIP! - Give the price over the phone or in person to gauge their reaction in real time and play on that. This helps eliminate ghosting!

Download the pricing guide: www.ArtPricingGuide.com



www.ArtistAcademy.co

Happy Mural Month! This week’s episode features California-based muralist and business mind Derrik Diza.

Not long ago, I came across one of Derrik’s posts in a Facebook group talking about how he’s getting new business and advising other artists on how they can too. Another business-minded artist looking to share industry “secrets” in order to help others make more money with a paintbrush? Hello! I had to introduce myself and get him on the podcast.

Derrik and I talked on the phone about business for an hour prior to this conversation, then another hour after we concluded the interview. Basically, we both love the topics of murals+money+mentorship, and it’s so motivating for me to chat about it with someone else as interested in it as I am.

I think you’ll find this chat motivating because Derrik breaks down the process of pitching and sets realistic expectations for results. This is the non-sexy side of running an art business but as he’s proved in his own business, if you put in the work the results will follow.

Here’s the pitch rundown:

1. Personalize (don’t sound like a robot)
2. Give Credibility (list companies you’ve worked with in the past)
3. Mural Showcase (share impressive images of your work)
4. The Process (what does working with you entail?)
5. Set Expectations (share what the starting cost would be)

For a better explanation and examples of this process, listen to this week’s episode all about pitching with Derrik Diza.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

Derrik's IG: https://www.instagram.com/influentialwalls/

There’s nothing like having an art (best)friend that just *gets* you.

But for those who don’t have an art-minded gang of supporters hanging around, the first question you might be asking is, “Where do I find *my* people?”

🥁 Well, first I suggest searching online. Creepin’ on someone’s Instagram can give a decent indication as to whether we would like to meet them in person or not.

THEN Google their address and show up to their house unannounced with some art supplies and say something like, “Let’s be friends. I know all about you already.”

Jk… I mean, you can try that but maybe there’s a better way…

Like joining in on one of our Mural Meetups this summer. Yea, that might be the less stalkerish route. 😜

In this episode of the podcast, I talk about past meetups where artists have literally met their art best friend and have gone on to do projects with them all across the U.S.

I also fill you in on plans for future meetups like this summer in Missouri and *JUST ANNOUNCED inside our Artist Academy FB group* a possible meetup in the Dominican Republic. 🥳

Listen as I try to talk you into taking a chance, traveling outside your comfort zone, and meeting a group of artist strangers in hopes of connecting with new friends and finding your people. It has worked out for many artists I’ve personally known in the past few years and I’m hopeful that it will work out for you too.

Make this the year of taking chances and being glad you did. ❤️


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode will give you a flash of nostalgia as we chat with Tim Jacobus, the illustrator for the famous Goosebumps series by author R.L. Stine!


Tim shares all about his experiences in the illustration business back in the 90s and compares them to today’s digital methods. He is an open book when it comes to answering all questions about his creative process. From sketching out the iconic cover ideas to color blocking and choosing the perfect layout. It’s a lot more methodical than I realized!


Tim is a master illustrator and I feel so honored to have been able to chat with him about his experiences in the industry. If it’s been a minute since you’ve laid eyes on a Goosebumps cover, do yourself a fun favor and check out Tim’s Instagram where you’ll get a refresher on just how eye-catching his work is. I’m even more impressed looking at his work now, as an adult artist, as I was looking at it as a kid years ago.


Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Tim Jacobus.

Tim Jacobus IG: https://www.instagram.com/timjacobus/

To take a deposit or not to take a deposit? That is the question in this week's episode.

I’ll also be talking about the pros and cons of asking for money upfront, how much to ask for, and how to collect it.

I’ll share all of the different ways I’ve taken a deposit for a canvas or mural project in the past 10 years of running an art business, so you can decide which method is right for your business.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Florida-based artist Samm Wehman.

Samm has been a part of the Academy since the early days (a few years ago) and this is actually her second interview. You can find her first on episode #45. I told you she’d been around for a hot minute!

We decided to do a second interview (something I rarely do) because her art business has expanded so much, along with her mindset around spending her hard-earned art money.

We focus a lot on the mental shifts that happen from the early days of hustling as an artist to the later years of THRIVING as an artist. I’m excited to share this unique human with you again. Go give her a follow on Instagram so you can see exactly how colorful and compassionate her world is.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Samm Wehman.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

Samm's IG Link: www.instagram.com/sammwehmanart/

This year’s theme is all about figuring out ways to work less while making more. A few of the ways I’m doing that are… 🥁

Pricing myself higher. 🤑
That sounds like a no-brainer, right? Make more = charge more. I feel like I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time, but those low-budget projects seem to sneak on my calendar. Not anymore!

Using higher quality paint and investing in tools to speed things up.
Listen to hear what my paint store bill was for just 1 project. 😅 But hey, one coat paint takes half the time as spending more hours on two coats!

Continuing to hire so I’m not doing 100% of the work all the time.
Shoutout to the many Artist Academy artists for coming to lend a hand on projects, and my virtual assistant, Ann, for making my life easier and more organized. 🙌🏻

Investing in courses. 🤓
Yep, I drink my own Kool-aid when it comes to buying information and learning from those who have done it before me in order to speed up the learning curve.

Letting go of my least profitable income sources… and doubling down on my most profitable ones.
Listen to today’s episode to hear what exactly those are. I think one might surprise you!

www.ArtistAcademy.co
Mural Supply List Link: https://www.artistacademy.co/artsupplylist

This week’s episode features Missouri based artist and sculptor Susan Sommer.

This was a big interview for me because I’ve been hoping to connect with Susan for years now! She’s a big time artist in my area. Like, not just big on Instagram like me, but big in real life with charging $50,000+ for her original paintings.

She has several popular murals in my city of Springfield and her well established name has earned her the opportunity to be a featured artist for sports events like the Kentucky Derby and the Olympics. I told you, she’s a big deal!

Listen to hear how Susan got her start as an artist with a lot of hard work and no professional training. You know I ask about pricing and tips on how to open doors of opportunity as a working artist. Listen to hear her unique answers and perspective on an evolving art/sculpture/mural industry.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Susan Sommer.




Andrea

www.ArtistAcademy.co

The first mural I ever painted was for free and took me an entire summer to complete. Obviously, procrastination played a part in that, alongside using the wrong brushes, cheap paint, and having no actual idea how to apply paint (large scale). I learned a lot with that first one.

Fast forward to today... This week I’m painting a large mural for the local college where I earned my painting degree. I’m charging $5,000 and it will take me a whopping 2 days in total to complete. There’s a little more than 10 years difference between that first project and this one.

I share this to hopefully put into perspective the idea that everyone starts from the bottom and sometimes the climb is slow but always worth it. I’ve learned a few painting tips in between there and now, but also how important it is to go after what you want in the form of pitching yourself for the job you want, instead of waiting for it to come to you.

This week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is a snippet from my book: Mural Money. I wrote it last year and if you like this podcast, I know you’ll very much enjoy the Audible version of my book too. I explain in great detail how I built my business, from that first mural until now, and how you can grow yours too.

Pitching myself to possible customers has played a big part in that journey, and in this chapter, I’ll share some of those pitching tips with you. Enjoy!

This week’s episode features Pennsylvania-based artist Andrea Fairservice.

What I liked most about my chat with Andrea was how relatable she is. Aside from having the same name, she reminds me a lot of myself with all the different art things she has going on.

She does commissions and prints, live streams on Twitch, has subscribers on her Patreon, sends out email blasts and all the art marketing things combine together to make up her own unique art business.

I ask her about all the things including which method drives the most sales and I think her answers might surprise you.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Andrea Fairservice.




www.ArtistAcademy.co

Pricing art is a hot topic and one that I believe truly has no right or wrong answer. However, this pricing strategy is one that has helped me book more commissions and often increase the budget of my customer’s projects, as opposed to getting ghosted.

The strategy involves giving your customer 2 options…. Meaning, give a price and design that you think would fit the customer’s needs while not breaking the bank. Then give a second price and design that goes above and beyond what they asked for.

It’s amazing to me how people will miraculously find more room in the budget for a design they LOVE.

At the same time, giving two examples helps to explain why certain projects cost what they do. Taking time, space, final details, and all things into consideration.

Listen to today’s episode on the Artist Academy Podcast to hear how I’m using this strategy within my art business (with exact budget quotes)!

www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Victor Ving of the Greetings Tour.

Ya know, the “Greetings from…” murals we’ve all seen in various cities around the United States. I even replicated a version of the idea to paint in my own hometown of Springfield, Missouri and have gotten several jobs simply from the recognition of it.

I am a huge advocate of finding out what works, making it your own, and putting in the effort to make murals happen. This is exactly what Victor and his wife did to get his project started.

If your city is lacking in the mural department and does not currently have a “Greetings from” mural, I highly encourage you to take the initiative and create one! Obviously, don’t copy Victor’s style and always reference where you got the idea in the first place to give credit to the founder, but for every small-town artist out there who is looking for an idea to get your name out there, this is it!

Listen to hear how Victor got his project started, the hoops he has to jump through to make it happen, and take notes to make a plan of your own.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Victor Ving of the Greetings Tour.


www.ArtistAcademy.co
greetingstour.com/bio

Things go wrong all the time… so let’s chat about it!

I put together this list to hopefully give you a heads up on what’s to come, so that you don’t make the same mistakes as often, but also to normalize that having things go wrong is just part of the job. It’s no big deal.

• Scheduling- AKA not leaving enough time in between projects.
• Using the wrong materials, mostly the wrong paint.
• Forgetting things.
• Spilling paint on clothes, sidewalk, carpet, etc..
• Height issues- Lifts, ladders, scaffolding…
• Pricing (undercharging)
• Contracts- I’m really bad about the legal stuff.

Listen to this week’s episode to hear an explanation of each reason, including stories of each from my own art business.
Do you find these things going wrong for you too? Let me know!



www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Washington state-based nature artist Gianna Andrews.

Gianna has figured out her niche (nature), created products and takes custom commissions surrounding said niche, and written a book on the subject to help aspiring artists learn to do the same.

This all came after a bike accident that left her hospitalized with a body brace and nothing to do but sit still, heal, and create.

During her recovery process, Gianna realized her love for art and the possibility of making it into a business. Through lots of trial and error, she’s figured out a system that works for her. One that allows her to create, make a profit and still have time to enjoy being out in nature.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Gianna Andrews.



Gianna's website: giannaandrews.com

www.ArtistAcademy.co

My New Year’s resolution is to figure out how to work less and make more while sticking to a quality work/life integration schedule. Heavy on the “life” part, specifically family, specifically my new baby boy.

So, how is this even possible with all the things requiring my attention?
It's possible because I don’t fill my weekday painting calendar to the max. Leaving just one workday per week completely open has been a game changer to my business, mental clarity, and overall happiness.

Reasons to schedule a “me/office/studio day” every single week:

• Because we work for ourselves and we can.
• It leaves room for project spillover.
• It leaves room for a last-minute commission that we REALLY want to do.
• It’s good for the soul. Reset, refresh, and jumpstart creativity.
• It makes room for extra time with family.
• Time to work on the painting idea that’s been lingering in the back of our minds.
• Time to clean/organize our studio/car.
• Time for sketches/invoices/website updates.

Listen to this week’s episode to hear an explanation of each reason. This is the first step to making more by working LESS!


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Cleveland, Ohio-based muralist Lisa Quine.

I really enjoyed my chat with Lisa. She has this positive, honest energy that comes from someone who has just come out of the thick of building her business, already having figured out so many things, while at the same time still growing.


We chatted about her unique pricing strategy and how it came to be her standard way of doing things after years of experience. We even unexpectedly got onto the subject of juggling work with new motherhood, a topic favorite of mine lately, when I realized that she too is expecting a baby soon.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Lisa Quine.



Have a great week! :)


Andrea
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode highlights some of the Artist Academy Advanced members who have successfully made $100,000 or more this past year.

I asked them to summarize where their sales came from, how they attracted customers, and to give their best piece of advice as to how they got to where they are today.

Because that’s what we all want to know, right? How the heck are artists out there making a great living with a paintbrush?! This episode gives you examples of how a variety of artists “made it” in their industry.

Check them out! 👇

Lyssa England
(episode 69)

Lacey Crime
(episode 207)

Jodi Trujillo
(episode 186)

Samm Wehman
(episode 45)

Hibaaq Ibrahim
(episode 185)

Chelsea Blosil
(episode 171)

Ryan Benefield



Have a great week! :)

Andrea

www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Australia-based artist Carmel Jenkin.

Carmel has built her art business up to what most artists aspire to live up to one day: Someone who creates from the heart rather than constantly running on the commission hamster wheel. Yep, she paints whatever she wants and that happens to be a series of abstract female figures.

Her unique niche has attracted the attention of multiple collectors, and she even did a pregnant woman series which I was very intrigued by given my current pregnant status at the time of this interview. Carmel shares how she built her art business around such an emotionally charged niche and her strategies for selling.

There’s a lot of energy and knowledge that can come from someone like her who is currently in the thick of figuring out her methods through trial and error, all while having some big wins along the way. She’s an open book about this crazy but fun art business rollercoaster ride. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Camel Jenkin.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
Carmel's IG: https://www.instagram.com/carmeljenkin/

If I had to do it all over again, this episode is all about how I would go from having no commissions on the books to making six figures quickly.

Looking back on past years at things I’ve done right, the things that ended up being a waste of time, what’s been most profitable, and what has NOT. I now know how I would cut out months or even years from my journey to earning six figures.

WARNING: These recommendations are not for the lazy artist. ;)

For anyone looking to achieve this six-figure goal, I want to welcome you to join the Artist Academy this year.

We have many members inside the group who have gone through the tutorials, utilized all the tools including our supportive artist community, and are now available to help YOU reach your big goals too!

Apply at www.ArtistAcademy.co to get the first quarter started with a bang!

The 31-Day Challenge begins January 1st! Are you joining in?

This week’s episode explains what this challenge is all about, how you can benefit from completing it and gives examples of past successes.

If you’re looking to make 2023 your most profitable year yet, committing to a challenge like this will help create the success habits needed to make that goal a reality.

Creating art every single day is the first step to kickstarting the momentum needed to get your productivity up to the level of a career artist. #31DayChallenge #ArtistAcademy



www.ArtistAcademy.co
Here's Tiffany's IG account: https://www.instagram.com/lucidtlcarts/

This week’s episode features California-based muralist Morgan Bricca.

I have stumbled upon the more experienced version of myself in Morgan. I could talk to her for hours. She has the confidence and positivity of an experienced artist; One who has dealt with the past trials of owning a business but happily perseveres because she knows from years of experience how the profits far surpass the struggles.

For example, her project minimum nowadays is $7,500. Yep, I said minimum. Granted she lives in one of the wealthier parts of the United States where customers are happy to pay. Still, she knows her worth, sticks to what she’s good at, and has built up a wealth of knowledge about the subject of murals, so much so that she wrote a book on it: The Mural Artist’s Handbook. This woman needs no further introduction.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Morgan Bricca.

https://www.morganmurals.com/
The Mural Artist’s Handbook
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Southern California-based wedding painter Nicolette Martin.

This conversation will make you ask yourself, “Should I try wedding painting?” Between the amount of fun she’s having creating these one-of-a-kind pieces combined with the high profitability factor sprinkled on top, this seems to me to be the perfect way to make a great living as an artist.

Nicolette fills us in on all of her “secrets” to getting started in this very niche industry, including her pricing strategy to book gigs for $2,500 a pop on average!

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Nicolette Martin.



www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.instagram.com/nicmartin_event/

About once a week or more I’ll get an inquiry in my inbox that goes something like this:

“Hi! I’m a new artist trying to get my start in the art world and could really use some advice. Could you please let me know how you are able to make art your full-time career? How are customers finding you? If you have any tips for me I would greatly appreciate it!”

Not to be mean in any way, but I give a good chuckle at these messages every single time I receive one. As if I could give anyone a quality answer to that very loaded question in a simple email or direct message response.

There’s sooo much more to it than any one suggestion I could give. In fact, that’s why I started this podcast and wrote an entire book on the subject of getting started in the art world. Also, that book ended up being over 400 pages and a 15-hour audible because I couldn’t stop myself from including a variety of stories and strategies that worked for me in order to “make it” as a full-time artist. If you’re finding yourself asking any version of that question, or wanting to, then I highly encourage you to check out my book: www.MuralMoney.com

This episode is a chapter torn out of it that highlights how you can attract customers. For all of those artists out there who have already read the book, THANK YOU! It was published almost exactly 1 year ago, so I think listening to this one chapter again might help jumpstart your memory of my crazy long book. If I find something I like, I’ll revisit it a year or so later because more often than not, I’m in a completely different place in my business/life and can think about the subject in a new way. For all of you rereaders, I hope that’s the case for you.

For anyone just hearing about this for the first time, I want to encourage you to give yourself a holiday present by purchasing the Audible version. I recorded the entire 15-hour book myself with added highlights you won’t find in the paperback version. Plus, you can listen while you paint! It’s a win/win.

www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Washington-based muralist Glynn Rosenburg.

Glynn’s journey is yet another one of those artists made by the pandemic stories we love to hear when a good thing happens from an unlikely circumstance. She’s been growing her mural business since and already has a record $7,000 month under her belt!

I’m switching things up a bit with this one and interviewing an artist who is fairly new in her career because I think you will be able to relate to her journey a bit better than some of the 20-year veteran artists we’ve had in the past. Glynn is currently in the thick of it and shares what methods she’s using to gain new customers as a new artist.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Glynn Rosenburg.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features traveling muralist Carmen MacLeod. Carmen joined the Artist Academy about a year or so ago after listening to the podcast for a while, and now has found herself in Vietnam on a workaway program creating murals in exchange for free housing and food.

She reminds me of myself 10 years ago. She’s doing the thing that most of us think would be fun to do but might not have the balls to do it. Or the thing that we all wished we did back when we were young and had nothing tying us down, right?

She’s living the solo female traveler life while building her art brand and gaining new experiences all at the same time. Carmen is another one of those people I like to follow out of curiosity about what they’ll do next and where they’ll end up next year. If you’re interested in signing up for Workaway, I have the link posted here in the notes.

In this episode, we’re going to talk about how she prepared to quit her day job, how she saved up for this adventure, and the experiences she’s been having thus far.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Carmen MacLeod.

Workaway Link: https://www.workaway.info
You can also listen to her podcast through this link: 👇 https://open.spotify.com/show/4HXOWmenji3nJDcAYEszZj?si=H8Citg5-RfqEa4gAcca83w&nd=1

www.ArtistAcademy.co

I just finished my last mural project of the year in preparation for maternity leave. Talk about waiting until the last minute. I’m taking time off to have a BABY… is this real life?!

My idea for painting while pregnant this year did not go as planned…

I thought I would hustle hard during the summer and then take the last few months off, assuming a time would come when I wouldn’t be able to physically paint murals anymore… But that is NOT what happened.

In the best way, my plans changed.

August came around (the start of my third trimester) aaaand I still felt fine. Same with September, October, and now November. Actually, I found that keeping my body moving and my mind busy was the best possible thing for me. I kept moving so much that I ended up earning a whopping $65k in my third trimester! And the cherry on top of that statement is that I did it without sacrificing my rest, social schedule, or mental peace. Basically, I didn’t work myself to burnout, or even close to it, like I’ve been known to do in years past.

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast I take a look back at how I earned $65k in 3 months by sharing where my customers came from, pricing strategies, etc..

I’ll also be sharing what I really felt like carrying a baby in my belly while muraling, how I did my best to avoid paint chemicals, made a schedule that worked around my physical limitations, and a few other common questions I’ve been getting this year.


www.ArtistAcademy.co.

This week’s episode features British Columbia-based artist and adventurer Jessa Gilbert.

Jessa creates these giant, stylized nature murals and sells her canvas originals and prints through local shops. Also, she’s a wilderness guide for part of the year. Talk about integrating your work life with your nature-adventure life. Jessa is the ideal example of someone who stays true to the specific art style she wants to create and builds an art career around her own niche.

You’ll hear us chat about Jessa’s first-ever giant mural experience and how intimidating it was. Fast forwarding to today, she’s an open book about how having multiple revenue streams keeps her business going no matter what season she’s in.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Jessa Gilbert.


www.ArtistAcademy.co

In this week’s episode, I’m celebrating finally hitting the big 100,000 follower mark on Instagram after a little over 5 years of effort creating 1,700 posts. The majority of those shared posts over the last couple of years were in the form of videos, more specifically Instagram Reels.

Reels are THE main way I have grown a following recently, so today I wanted to share my top video ideas plus editing tips in hopes of inspiring you to create and grow right along with me.

Get the downloadable guide with links to the video examples I explain in this episode here: https://www.artistacademy.co/video

This week’s episode features Florida-based artist and muralist Kole Trent.

Kole is living the stereotypical cool guy, hippie-style, freedom-embracing life. He hustles with his art business for half the year then spends the remaining months traveling in his van wherever the wind takes him. He’s learned to let go of what doesn’t matter, dematerialize, and embrace the life that he is called to live.

I like to follow people like this on social media because you never know where they’ll end up. It wouldn’t surprise me if Kole fell off the digital train completely for a year and jumped back on telling us how he just spent his time circling the globe in search of new inspiration in whatever way he deemed fit.

He’s the kind of person who’s going to do whatever he wants to do and he’ll find a way to make it happen. For example, he’s even creating his own space coast mural festival starting this year.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Kole Trent.


https://www.instagram.com/kole.trent/
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode is all about organizing, batching, and repurposing content to make your promotion efforts easier, specifically around the upcoming holiday season.

This topic is top of mind because I’m currently batch recording podcast episodes and all the things while preparing to make my own life much easier in the coming months when I take maternity leave. I’m working a bit more strategically right now expecting that I’ll be busy/distracted later on, and I think some of my methods could work in your future self’s favor too.

Basically, one step I’m taking is to batch-record videos and take photos of the products I plan to promote and sell during the holidays. This makes it easy for me to just grab content from my stockpile, add a quick caption, and post while I’m working on future commissions.

Listen to hear the many other ways I’m planning ahead and how you can too!


www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.artistacademy.co/HolidayWindowPainting

This week’s episode features Florida-based muralist Derek Donnelly.

The thing that really stuck out to me through Derek’s interview was his strive to create an artistic community in the St. Pete area. Doing this art thing all by ourselves is just scratching the surface of how much fun creating for a living can be.

Having just come off another Artist Academy Mural Meetup, and getting to spend the weekend with other like-minded artists, I can attest to how important it is to connect with other artists. If anything, having artsy conversations about business and life makes me feel less crazy. Being an artist is an odd job, and complementing that with odd people (because let’s face it, artists are awesomely odd) helps connect the dots, in an odd way. Derek gets this and so much more. Also, he lives in a shipping container, which I think is awesome!

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Derek Donnelly.


www.ArtistAcademy.co
Derek Donnelly's IG: https://www.instagram.com/saintpaintarts/

This week’s episode features trash sculpture artist Stephanie Hongo of Sugar Fox.

I’ve been loving all of the advice from all the various artists I’ve been interviewing lately on the podcast. Getting away from my bread and butter, murals, and branching out to chat with digital artists, gallery owners, and people like Stephanie who creates trash sculptures, has been eye-opening to all of the many directions one can take with their art career.

Today you’ll hear us talk about all of the hurdles that come with creating something unique. Shipping issues, social acceptance, and being put into a categorical box are a few things we cover during our chat.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Stephanie Hongo of Sugar Fox.

Stephanie Hongo Website: https://sugarfox.net/

www.ArtistAcademy.co

If you’ve ever thought about selling prints, now is the time to start getting your system set up and ready for the holiday wave of orders.

Today I’m going to share my past experiences with selling, promoting, and creating prints to help you figure out if this could be a profitable option for your art business.

In the beginning, I tried everything to make money with art. Nowadays I’m more focused on where the big money’s at: murals. But every year around the holidays I promote print sales as a purchase option on my website because October through December has always been the best time for me to sell them.

In short, my selling process goes like this:
(After you’ve fine-tuned your artistic skill and have created something worth duplicating…)
1 Create a listing on your website and a process that makes purchasing EASY.
2 Figure out who is interested by way of email capture.
3 Upsell throughout the process.
4 Create an incentive to buy now.
5 Share progress to demonstrate social validation.

Listen to hear details of each step! If you need done-for-you templates, exact email wording, and more behind-the method strategies to make this print selling process as easy as possible, join us for the 4th Quarter Success Plan inside the Artist Academy Membership:
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Switzerland-based lettering expert Stefan Kunz.

If you’re at all into letters you’ve probably stumbled upon Stefan’s work somewhere on the internet. The dude has over half a million Instagram followers, as well as being spread out across various social media. He creates for big-name brands like Coca-Cola, has built his business to the point of hiring others to help, and also teaches his ways to anyone hoping to learn a bit about lettering.

Overall, the thing I took away from interviewing Stefan is that he’s very clean. Let me explain… The way he presents his work is professional. His courses and marketing are very thought through. His photos and videos are well edited. He takes the time to polish his methodical approach to this art business world. All of that just makes me think of the word “clean.” Maybe something similar to clean-cut, polished, or smooth.

After listening to this interview, check out his photos/videos/courses to get a further view of what I mean. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Stefan Kunz.

Courses: https://courses.stefankunz.com/?affcode=527238_hvliwzfm

www.ArtistAcademy.co

Today's episode is a sneak peek into how we are starting our 4th quarter planning inside of the Artist Academy Advanced Membership. My intention for releasing this members-only content out onto this public podcast is to:

Help you set goals and create a plan to work backwards to actually achieve those goals.
Tease you with what we are doing inside the Academy for our 4th Quarter Success Plan in hopes that you will join us and really start taking your art business seriously during the most profitable time of year.
I know a lot of current members listen to the podcast, but sometimes miss my weekly videos, so this is a call to those members to jump back into the group to devour this strategizing content for the next few months. Give me your attention and I will make it worth your time!

Let me know what you think of this week’s sneak peek episode all about goal setting and strategizing for the 4th quarter.


Join us inside the Artist Academy Advanced by applying at www.ArtistAcademy.co.

This week’s episode features Montana-based wildlife artist James Corwin.

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “It might be kinda cool to own a gallery one day,” then James is your guy to follow. Not only does he own a gallery and sell $20,000 originals, but he’s also located in one of the most beautiful wilderness locations in the states: Hamilton, Montana.

Nestled next to the mountains, James sells his wildlife art through his gallery as well as being represented by 30 other galleries nationwide.

He’ll give you some tips on how to go about getting your art into a gallery that fits your style, along with telling his story about how he got to where he is today, and all the little gems in between.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with James Corwin.


www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.jamescorwin.com/

This week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is a look at Dionne Woods’ interview with me all about NFTs.

Dionne has her own membership (she actually inspired me to create the Artist Academy) and podcast, and sometimes she asks me to come on as a guest speaker to share some knowledge about social media, creating viral videos, or in today’s case NFTs.

Today’s episode was recorded inside her membership group with her members and herself asking me all the crypto questions trying to understand what an NFT is and how it works. These are basic-level explanations for anyone just deciding to possibly dabble in the NFT world.

I’ll share my beginner experiences, successes, and plans for future NFT possibilities. If you want a deeper dive into the NFT world I have full videos to explain every bit of the creation and selling processes inside the Artist Academy Advanced Membership. If you come away from this thinking, “woah, that’s a lot,” just know we all had the same reaction at first! But I can help you through it if you decide you want even more info.

By the way… I’m speaking this year at Dionne’s Empowering Creativity Retreat in Branson, Missouri! I’ll be showing her audience how I create my viral videos while painting live on stage. If you would like to join in the fun and learn from Dionne and myself live in person this fall, check out the link in the notes to see what the weekend entails.

Empowering Creativity Retreat- https://www.theturquoiseiris.com/workshops-retreats/


www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.instagram.com/painttalkspodcast/

I love talking to people who live outside the box and today’s guest definitely fits that description. This week’s episode features watercolorist Andrea England.

Andrea lives with her husband on an evermoving sailboat, adventuring coast to coast. She combines her love of the water with her art business by creating original watercolor pieces and prints. She also diversifies her income by offering painting/sketching classes on top of everything else.

I hope this interview inspires you to dig deep into what your true interests are and take action towards them. Andrea is proof that you can make money through art the unconventional way. Even with a number of obstacles in the way such as the lack of wifi because, ya know, she lives on a boat, she’s still making it happen.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Andrea England.


www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.instagram.com/andreaenglandart/

I’ll let you in on a little secret… Something that puts my mind at ease whenever I’m deciding what to post, what paint, and what direction to go in next. Nobody gives a shit about what you do or don’t do.

Nobody cares if you paint something completely off the wall that has absolutely nothing to do with your current genre. All that does is show you’re versatile. Nobody cares if you take a break from posting on social media for a week/month. They only notice when you show up.

Just relax knowing that this art thing isn’t as serious as you sometimes might make it out to be in your head.
On the flip side… how do you make your audience give a shit about what you’re creating?

Let’s chat about all the different ways to put the attention onto your art in order to gain more orders, commissions, and make money with your art in this week’s episode of the artist academy podcast.

www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features THE social media famous international muralist Kiptoe.

I knew this guy had a lot of Instagram followers (265k), even more YouTube fans (707k), and a lot of experience under his belt. But what I did not know about Kiptoe is, first, his hustle game is crazy strong, and second, how he got it all started traveling around the world independently in his 20s building his brand.

He is a great example of an artist who took the time to get really good at what he does, then pitched himself (and continues to keep pitching still today) to customers in order to get the mural jobs he wants.

This dude needs no further introduction and I know you’re going to feel inspired by this week’s episode with Kiptoe.


https://www.instagram.com/kiptoe1
www.ArtistAcademy.co

Raise your hand if you’ve found yourself stuck on the commission ferris wheel. Constantly creating for customers (because ya know, money $$$) while not finding the time to use your art skills to create for yo-self.

I created the Series Six Challenge to help jolt myself back into creativity mode during the late summer weeks. This serves 2 purposes:

1- To light that creative spark again.
2- To prep for the 4th quarter and give my audience something fresh to purchase during the holidays!

In this week’s episode let’s chat about how this challenge has been successful in years past, and how to figure out a plan for your upcoming series.


https://www.artistacademy.co/challenge

This week’s episode features Louisiana based muralist Kassie Voisin.

Due to my current infatuation with all things babies caused by my current pregnancy, I asked Kassie to come back on the podcast to chat about her recent adventures into motherhood.

Kassie was one of the first guests I had on this podcast and since then I’ve gotten to watch her continue to grow her art business while becoming a boy mom in the recent year. You know those people who you kind of know, met maybe once, but you keep up with them on social media and feel like you know them more than you actually do? Kassie is one of those for me and I can’t help but root her on through this crazy journey.

This chat gets very much away from the painting subject and onto baby-type advice, so for anyone completely uninterested in starting a family this episode might not be for you. But for anyone interested in the ups and downs that come with integrating a baby into the painting life, let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Kassie Voisin.


https://www.instagram.com/kassie.voisin/
www.ArtistAcademy.co

What would you say if I could promise you that I could magically teleport you into a room full of eligible buyers? People who have the funds to afford your high-ticket items, are looking to buy, and just need to be introduced to your work. Would you be up for it? Although the process, in reality, isn’t as magical as you might be imagining, it is possible.

Every time I paint at a charity banquet I’m surrounded by this exact scenario. No, not every person in the room asks to buy my art, and not every person falls in love with my unique style, but it’s a room full of opportunity that often pays off. Not to mention the fact that donating your time to these events to help them raise money for their organization is a great thing in itself.

Download my notes on how to create this opportunity for yourself at:
www.artistacademy.co/livepainting


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features France-based colored pencil artist Sema Martin.

In light of my current pregnancy, I asked Sema, a former podcast guest, to chat with me about her recent adventures in motherhood. Selfishly I’m interested in her experiences especially because it’s so recent.

She has a 6-month-old, meaning she’s currently in the thick of the baby stages, and I want advice! I’ll likely interview several more new momma artists, but this is just the start of this mini motherhood series.

Sorry guys without kids, this might not be an episode for you. But for anyone curious as to what this type of lifestyle is like and to anyone who has done this before, I think you’ll enjoy our chat all about art and babies.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Sema Martin. You can also check out her first podcast interview all the way back to episode # 95.


www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.instagram.com/artistsemamartin/

Are you looking to be hired onto a project to gain experience OR are you at a point where having a helping hand could benefit your art business?

In this episode, I shared a few stories of my hiring adventures with bringing on complete newbies all the way up to more experienced artists, and everything in between.

How do you find help? What do you pay them? How do you ensure that the project goes smoothly with so many working parts? Listen to find out!

www.ArtistAcademy.co

his week’s episode features 46-year-old TikTok star, artist, and mother, Andrea Nelson.

If you think TikTok is just for kids or the algorithm is long past favorable to art, think again! Andrea will give you tips on how to create better videos and “sell” online without actually selling.

You’ll love this guest and how open she is about business! In just a couple of short years, she’s built an art career she loves and shares tips to inspire you to do it too, at any age!

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Andrea Nelson.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
www.adreamoradayart.com

This episode is all about the subject of how to handle the local artist competition and turn it into a helpful community.

There are going to be heated situations that arise from conflict between you and another artist in your area or online. How do you deal with it?

Listen to hear how I approached a variety of different situations having been on both ends of the conflict. Spoiler alert: simple communication solves everything!

ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Canada-based artist/educator/podcaster DKleine.

I was first introduced to him through the NFT’s for Newbies podcast and became immediately intrigued by the fact that this guy is a teacher who has found a way to make money as an artist online through NFTs.

The idea of making easy money by sitting behind a computer amazes me, if you haven’t figured that out yet. So, I brought him on the podcast to explain a bit more in-depth how he got his start with art and NFTs, and how he’s making sales. Because that’s the magical question, right? How can one make money through art? Lucky for us, he shares his “secrets.”

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with DKleine.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.instagram.com/dkleineart

This week's episode on the Artist Academy Podcast is something that I believe has been one of the reasons why I’ve had such a smooth mural career.

Taking the time to step back and think logically before reacting has saved me in many situations. Burning bridges over emotional reactions and decisions vs. looking at it from more of a logical standpoint can not just cost you referrals, but arguably something more important, it can cost you your peace of mind.

In this episode I’m going to be sharing some of my personal business experiences, plus ones that I see pop up frequently with other artists, to give examples of emotional vs logical situations.

I don’t want to scare you by talking about some negative things that come up when dealing with customers, but rather help you be better prepared for when these situations arise.

www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode is an introduction to Jordan Giha’s project: WXLLSPACE.

Doesn’t it seem like there are a small number of top artists getting a ton of high-profile work while other equally talented artists are left in the dark, mostly due to a lack of exposure?

Jordan hopes to bridge the gap between muralists and the customers who want to hire us by putting together a platform that helps connect the two. His goal is to help those artists who don’t have a large following or the giant resumes get work to jumpstart their art careers.

Sound like a good idea to you? Me too! Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Jordan Giha all about his new project: WXLLSPACE.

https://www.artistacademy.co/muralmaster
www.wxllspace.com

This week’s episode features South Carolina muralist Randall Kane.

I was actually having a bad day before I sat down to interview Randall yet you’d never know because I instantly fed off of his energy and turned positive. I hope this chat does the same for you today.

We talked about trying many different routes to make money as a creative, a different perspective on pricing, and what it’s like to paint with snakes. I’ll let him explain.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Randall Kane.

https://www.artistacademy.co/muralmaster
https://www.instagram.com/rkanedesign/

This week's episode on the Artist Academy Podcast features a northern United Kingdom muralist James Carter.

James has been dabbling in paint and street art for many years but just recently went full-time into the mural business during the Covid lockdown. It’s quite a different landscape for artists working across the pond.

In this interview, we chat about the differences and similarities compared to painting in the United States. It’s refreshing to hear James’ welcoming view on things like painting in public, plus he gives us some tips on using spray and a bunch of stuff in between.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with James Carter.

https://www.artistacademy.co/muralmaster
https://www.instagram.com/durhamspraypaints

This week's episode on the Artist Academy Podcast features Nashville-based muralist Tarabella Aversa.

I love talking with fellow muralists about the day-to-day tasks, the customer outreach, and most of all, the money that comes from this line of work. It’s so funny the similarities that all of these muralists from across the globe have, but I’m intrigued every time someone tells me something different.

In this interview, Tarabella talks about starting out with photo op-art, which gave her the exposure to kick start her mural career (same as me), but there were so many differences in our pricing strategies (I price by the hour, and she prices by square foot) and our artist competition demographics (a male-dominated crowd surrounds her and all I see are other female muralists).

There’s no 100% correct way to break into this industry which is why I love giving you a variety of methods from a variety of artists so that YOU can decide for yourself the best way to go about it.

Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Tarabella Aversa.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
www.artistacademy.co/muralmaster
https://www.instagram.com/tmamurals/

This week's episode on the Artist Academy Podcast features East coast muralist Lacey Crime.

Lacey is in the Artist Academy Membership, and we were chatting one day when she told me that her goal for the year was to make $100,000 painting murals.

Then, not long after, she shared that she had already made half of that goal just in the first quarter of the year! I said, “Let’s hop on a call to chat about how you’re making this possible for yourself so we can let other artists know too!”

www.artistacademy.co/muralmaster
https://www.instagram.com/laceycrimeart/

This episode is a sneak peek into the NFT course inside the Artist Academy Master’s Program.

Before I visually show artists how to buy Ethereum, create a Meta Mask account, link it to OpenSea, and all the techy stuff in between, I stress how important it is to think through why we are creating these NFTs in the first place.

If you’re unsure what an NFT is exactly, don’t worry, I will explain it in the program, or you can listen to episode 197 to get a head start. This is the next step that involves planning out your creation strategy; before we go into pricing, minting, and promoting.

Why would someone buy your NFT? I’ll help you answer in this sneak peek training video. Let’s get started!

www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://opensea.io/ArtbyAndreaEhrhardt

In this week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, we will have a Student Spotlight with Kristi Goss.

I’m not sure if you know this, but every Monday, I go live with one of my amazing Artist Academy Advanced students to get to know them better and give direct advice on their art business.

There are many artists who come into the Academy who go through the content, watch the videos, and still have some questions about their own unique circumstances. That’s why I opened up these 1-on-1 chats called Student Spotlights to help answer their questions and steer them in the right direction.

Kristi asked some really great questions and I think you can benefit from hearing the answers, as well as the rest of our conversation.
Let me know what you think of this week’s Student Spotlight episode with Kristi Goss.


www.ArtistAcademy.co
www.instagram.com/kristigosspaints

This week’s episode is not only a look into what an Artist Academy Scholarship entails, how to apply, and all of that fun stuff. We are also going to talk about how best to approach the application process, talk yourself up, and open doors for yourself with a variety of opportunities.


www.ArtistAcademy.co/scholarships
https://opensea.io/ArtbyAndreaEhrhardt

This week’s episode features Nashville based artist/actress/comedian Elisabeth Donaldson.

As you know, I’m a big fan of video, so you can imagine how much fun I was having geeking out over Elisabeth’s video tips throughout this interview. I liked getting a different perspective from someone who isn’t primarily just an artist, but rather she is more an actress/comedian which is a profession that relies on a camera. Communicating, entertaining, and having a stage presence is part of her job and I think we can take so many great tips from this different perspective.

If you’re struggling with video or just don’t understand the benefits of learning it, you’re going to find this episode very beneficial. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Elisabeth Donaldson.


👉 https://www.instagram.com/elisabeth.donaldson/

👉 www.ArtistAcademy.co

This episode is a sneak peek chapter from my book Mural Money.

Chapter 5: Motivation to Practice talks about when I was working to build my customer base locally so I didn’t have to travel for work anymore.

I had it in my head and often said out loud, “in order to make good money, I need to travel outside of Missouri.” I fully believed that because all of my experiences so far working art and promo jobs told me that this was true.

But it absolutely was just a story I made up in my head. It’s very possible to build a business wherever you are and make a great living.

This chapter is a look at how I motivated myself to do that.

www.MuralMoney.com
www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week's episode features Belgium based painter Anastasia Trusova. My artist friend Shannon Joy referred Anastasia to me, who prefaced her introduction as "This is the artist I most admire. Her style, way of life, everything. This is what I want to accomplish too".

When I reached out, I had no clue that Anastasia couldn't speak English, which made this interview very interesting. She volunteered her gracious husband to translate, and we gave it a shot. This gives you a look at what artists from across the world are doing to make money as a creative.

It's funny because the tactics are very similar, specifically, the strategy to donate a painting to meet future collectors, much like I suggest doing with live painting at charity banquets. Do whatever you can to get in the room and be seen by people who could be turned into a customer.

Please stick with me through this multilingual interview, and let me know what you think of this week's episode with Anastasia Trusova.

https://www.instagram.com/atrusovaartist/

www.ArtistAcademy.co
www.MuralMoney.com

Which stage are you in?

1. The Scaredy Cat
2. The Hustler
3. The Spoiled One
4. It’s Time to Pivot


www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Nashville-based wallpaper and textile artist, Sarah Walden of Peacoquette. I personally sought out Sarah and invited her onto the podcast to selfishly pick her brain about wallpaper.

There is so much more to it than I thought (isn’t everything?) and I’m currently weighing the options of diving into my own wallpaper/textile collection. Sarah makes it seem so fun and gives so many bits of advice on ways to make things easy on ourselves while creating custom pieces.

I know you’re going to love this very different take on the art world. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Sarah Walden of Peacoquette.

www.ArtistAcademy.co
https://www.sarahmasonwalden.com

I took a customer to court. Listen to hear how you can protect yourself from legal situations like this one.

www.ArtistAcademy.co

This week’s episode features Dallas based digital artist Allo. He is an award winning artist who creates minimal, abstract, and interactive art using AR. In this chat we talk about all things NFTs and aim to keep it super simple for anyone wondering if the digital world could be right for your art business. Let me know what you think about this week’s episode all about NFTs with Allo.

https://www.instagram.com/allo.art/
www.ArtistAcademy.co

If you like hearing interviews like this in your ear, if they inspire you, then I want to encourage you to download the Audible version of my book Mural Money. It’s a condensed version of all of the best tips given from guests of this podcast, plus my own words of wisdom to help you get started in any art industry, plus stories of lessons learned that I’ve never told before. You can pick up a copy at www.MuralMoney.com, and again I highly recommend the Audible version. My book is for any artist, especially those wanting to make a profit from a paint brush. I’ll see you next week!

If every millionaire has 7 different streams of income, how many should an artist have? In this episode, Andrea shares how she’s currently diversifying her income and talks about a number of different options for you to consider.

The question of how to diversify your income really comes down to this: Does this new avenue align with your core values enough to make putting in the extra effort worth it?

www.ArtistAcademy.co
www.MuralMoney.com

This week’s episode features Michigan based artist Austin Fabinski. Austin is my go-getter in the Academy since joining almost 2 years ago. He’s always up for a challenge and trying anything and everything to make this art career thing work. From books to art prints, shows, and going viral on TikTok, he’s done it all. I think this is a great look at the effort needed to go full time and I hope it inspires you to give a little extra this week. It all adds up. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Austin Fabinski.

https://www.instagram.com/austinfabinskiart/
www.ArtistAcademy.co

Download the free guide to help you nail down your pricing system at: www.artpricingguide.com
www.ArtistAcademy.co
www.MuralMoney.com

This week’s episode features Missouri based muralist Samantha Cox, who just happens to be one of my best friends. Samantha’s journey is going to be very relatable to a lot of the mom listeners. She shares how she went from the stay at home mom role to boss babe business owner with a lot of tough mental shifts in between. I’ve personally gotten to witness this because I’ve coached her from day 1 until she was able to stand on her own this year. Her confidence is currently at an all time high and continuing to grow, but it started from a pretty low place. Since quitting her day job she’s happier than ever and I hope this interview gives you the inspiration you need to do the temporary hard thing to experience the good things in the long run. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Samantha Cox.

www.Instagram.com/artbysamanthacox

Let’s chat about ways to spend money in order to make more of it.
Andrea goes through, line by line, the different ways she has spent money this past year in order to make more of it. Whether it’s for an immediate return or playing the long game, there are a variety of ways to spend in order to increase cash flow.

www.ArtistAcademy.co

www.MuralMoney.com

This week’s episode features Canadian wildlife artist Sarah McComb-Turbitt. Sarah is the perfect example of someone who takes things one step at a time, and has a very methodical approach to building her art business. She learns a new skill by pouring her everything into it then moves on to the next task. This makes sense considering her background is in science. She’s a biologist turned artist, and I know you’ll love all of her stories. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Sarah McComb-Turbitt.

What went right last year for your art business? What lessons did you learn? What are your goals for the coming year? Andrea shares her tough 2021 lessons learned and BIG 2022 goals to help inspire you to dream big too!

www.ArtistAcademy.co

www.MuralMoney.com

Today we have another episode of the Quit Your Day Job series where I interview members of the Artist Academy Advanced, our private group mentoring membership program geared to helping artists thrive. I’m interviewing Shannon Joy who is from where I am, Springfield, Missouri but is currently on vacation in Hawaii. She carved away some time to chat with me about her dive into full-time art. I’ve met Shannon in person many times this past year both on mural projects and off. I first had her out to help paint a project at a local park, then another for a business, then another, and each time she’s helped more and I’ve done less. Now she’s out on her own in the art world and making a living with a paint brush. Listen as we chat about everything that happened in between that helped her go from working a job she didn’t like to now into a full time creative career. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Shannon Joy.

www.ShannonJoy.art

www.ArtistAcademy.co