448. Safe Route vs High Art Profit

448. Safe Route vs High Art Profit

Are you building the art career you actually want, or the one that simply feels safest? In this week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast [http://www.artistacademypodcast.com/], I'm diving into a mindset shift that's been on my mind lately: the idea that many artists unknowingly limit their income by limiting the types of opportunities they're willing to pursue. Using examples from both the art world and beyond, I'll explore the difference between low-ticket, high-volume work and higher-value services that require more skill, confidence, and commitment. We'll talk about pricing, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and why learning the hard thing is often what leads to the biggest rewards. If you're ready to think bigger about what's possible for your art business, this conversation might be exactly the push you need.

447. The Long Game

In this week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast [http://www.artistacademypodcast.com/], I'm sharing a reminder that I think every artist needs to hear from time to time: just because things are slow doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. A year ago I found myself staring at an almost empty schedule. There were opportunities floating around, but nothing seemed to be sticking. I found myself questioning whether I was being too selective and if I needed to change course. Fast forward to today, and I'm in one of the busiest seasons of my career, juggling multiple large-scale mural projects and booking months ahead. The funny thing is, there wasn't a magic marketing strategy, a viral post, or a big breakthrough moment that changed everything. In this episode, I'm talking about what I've learned from experiencing both the slow seasons and the busy ones. I share why I believe so much of success comes from compounded effort, how becoming more selective with projects has shaped my business, and why I'm focusing on reinvesting in my work while the momentum is here. If you've been showing up consistently and wondering if your efforts are making a difference, I hope this episode encourages you to keep going.

446. Luxury 24-Karat Gold Portraits with Shirley Yang Crutchfield episode

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast [http://www.artistacademypodcast.com/], I’m chatting with artist and former tech entrepreneur Shirley Yang Crutchfield [https://www.instagram.com/shirley/] about her journey from startup founder to luxury portrait artist. After stepping away from a successful career and becoming a mother, Shirley found herself facing an identity crisis that ultimately led her back to art. Through years of experimentation, she discovered a unique niche creating highly detailed portraits of accomplished women using traditional 24-karat gold water gilding techniques. We talk about finding your niche, building a personal brand, creating meaningful client experiences, and balancing ambition with fulfillment. Shirley shares how she transformed a centuries-old gilding process into a modern celebration of women who have overcome challenges and built remarkable lives. We also discuss pricing, marketing, collaborations, social media, PR, and the importance of creating work that feels authentic to who you are. If you're trying to figure out what you want to be known for as an artist, or you're navigating a major life or career transition, this episode is for you.

445. Kiptoe - USA - May Mural Month

This week’s May Mural Month replay episode on the Artist Academy Podcast [http://www.artistacademypodcast.com/] features the social media-famous international muralist, Kiptoe [https://www.instagram.com/kiptoe1/]. I knew this guy had a ton of Instagram followers (278k), even more fans on YouTube (832k), and plenty of experience under his belt. But what I didn’t know about Kiptoe was that his hustle game is next-level—and that he started traveling the world independently in his 20s, building his brand from the ground up. He’s a great example of an artist who took the time to get really good at his craft, then pitched himself (and still continues to pitch today) to clients to land the mural jobs he wants. This dude needs no further introduction—and I know you’re going to feel seriously inspired by this week’s replay episode with Kiptoe.

444. Nina Valkhoff - Europe - May Mural Month

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast [http://www.artistacademypodcast.com/], I’m chatting with international muralist Nina Valkhoff [https://www.instagram.com/ninapelirroja/] for another May Mural Month episode! Nina shares how she went from painting custom client work in the Netherlands to creating large scale wildlife murals across 16 countries worldwide. Over the years, she slowly transitioned away from painting whatever clients requested and began fully embracing her own colorful, nature inspired style. We talk about mural festivals, traveling internationally for projects, finding creative confidence, and the importance of patience when building a long term mural career. Nina also opens up about burnout, learning to take breaks between projects, and why protecting your creativity matters just as much as improving your skills. We also get into mural photography, documenting your work professionally, favorite paint materials, and how social media has naturally helped attract mural opportunities throughout her career. If you’re interested in mural festivals, creative growth, and the realities of painting murals professionally, this episode is for you!