Artist Academy

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

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with Mark McKenna, a Western and wildlife artist who went from teaching high school art to earning up to $50K at a single show. Mark breaks down exactly how he did it...

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

We’ve...

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

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

We talk a...

It sucks to lose a mural job. Period. It also sucks to see another artist land the job you really wanted. Let’s just be real—it’s easier said than done to feel happiness for someone who got the opportunity you were reaching for.

In this week’s Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sharing stories from my own career where I’ve been on both sides of that coin. I’ll walk you through how I ove...

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I get to revisit with muralist Hibaaq Ibrahim, who first joined me years ago when she was just starting out. Back then, she had only recently quit her day job—today, she’s a full-time commercial artist in Minnesota with projects starting at $10k and a schedule that keeps her booked year-round. 

In this episode, Hibaaq shares how her...

On this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I sat down with Colorado artist Maggie Sackmann, who’s built a thriving canvas art business while raising a toddler. 

We talked about her leap from corporate life to full-time painting, why she releases quarterly collections, and how she prices her work in the $2,000–$3,000 range. Maggie also share...

This week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast features muralist Corey Paige, who turned her bold, colorful designs into a thriving business painting murals for homes, businesses, and even major brands. From experimenting with paint markers in her parents’ basement during the pandemic to collaborating with JetBlue, Dunkin’, and the New York Knicks, Corey’s journey is a mast...

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy podcast, we’re diving into budget vs. luxury pricing language—and how the words you choose can either draw in high-value clients or unintentionally invite bargain-hunters.

If you want to repel low-paying clients, avoid words like cheap, affordable, budget, quick fix. Replace them with words like investment, statement, signature, premium, transformative.

What you don’t ...

In this episode of the Artist Academy podcast, I’m diving into the heart of my mission: helping women achieve financial freedom through art. 

I’m sharing why I believe it’s so important for women to make money, how I’ve turned life’s challenges into motivation, and the freedom and respect that financial independence brings. 

In this episode of the Artist Academy podcast, I’m chatting with hyper-realistic painter and educator Christopher Remmers, and let me just say—his work is next level. I reached out to him because I was blown away by the level of detail in his paintings and just had to know what’s going on behind the scenes.

Christopher shares how he left behind a successful construction care...

In this episode of the Artist Academy podcast, I open up about something that so many artists struggle with: support systems (or the lack thereof).

This episode explores what it’s like to grow a creative career without constant encouragement from those around you. There’s a reflection on the difference between blind support and honest concern, and how to stay focused when friends or family don’t fully “get” what you're try...

After a $100K first 1/3 of the year, I’m now sitting here with zero projects on my calendar. How did this happen?! I’ll tell you in today’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast.

I take full responsibility. I burned myself out in the first part of the year, going full steam ahead with work and socials. Then spring sprung in Missouri, and I had better things to do than outreach and painting for other people—things like gard...

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m kicking off a brand-new interview series—this time shifting the spotlight away from murals and onto artists who are creating and selling canvas work, just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

I sat down with Caroline Karp, a professional artist, teacher, and creative entrepreneur who’s built a vibrant career by painting what inspires her—o...

In this episode of the Artists Academy Podcast, I’m sitting down with the wildly talented muralist Mandi Caskey—aka Miss Birdy—whose colorful, whimsical work totally stopped me in my tracks on Instagram. We talk all about how she went from painting in tunnels for fun to getting hired to paint massive fantasy-inspired murals for cities, festivals, and corporate clients.

Mandi shares how a random graffiti hangout in c...

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sitting down with muralist Lacey Hennessey to talk about how she went from painting coolers in college to building a full-time mural business. Lacey shares how she left her corporate job behind, fueled by a business-first mindset and smart use of social media to grow her audience and client base.

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m talking with muralist Naomi Haverland, whose dreamy, dimensional style is turning everyday walls into magical, mural-worthy moments. Naomi’s work is bold, playful, and packed with personality—and in this conversation, she shares exactly how she got here.

We chat about the early days of finding her voice as an artist and why she only ...

This week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast features Kendall Kippley, a muralist from Colorado who’s built a thriving career painting in the style she loves — and getting paid for it. 

Kendall shares her journey into mural-making, from an early art education surrounded by nature to apprenticing under an experienced muralist who showed her the ropes. We dive i...

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m giving you a peek inside the Artist Academy membership by sharing one of our core training videos—the second video you see when you join. It’s a step-by-step roadmap to becoming a professional muralist (keyword: professional, also keyword: profitable).

I break it all down: what to do first, how to avoid overthinking, and how to keep going when you inevitably hit those “what now?...