How often have you heard phrases like, “Go big or go home,” or “Just put yourself out there”? Society loves to advocate for taking big risks. Yet too many end up freezing or avoiding risk-taking entirely when the leap they’re being asked to make feels too big for them. Thankfully, there’s a middle ground between taking a big risk and taking no risks at all. In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, I’ll show you the power of taking small, controlled risks to build your confidence and gradually increase your risk tolerance. You’ll see why big leaps often backfire and halt your progress, and ..read more

When things don’t go your way in your art practice, what do you do? Like many artists, you might beat yourself up with lots of self-criticism and judgment. You’d be better off creating the habit of having your own back instead. That way, you’ll actually speed up your progress and not look back a year from now with regret that you’re still stuck in the same place. In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, I’ll reveal exactly what having your own back looks like, why it’s a crucial skill you must learn, and how not doing so can hold you back for years. I’ll also discuss the impact of creatin ..read more

Your brain automatically runs scripts on repeat. But are those scripts helping you or playing like mini horror movies in your head? With the right mental rehearsal approach, you can create scenarios that help turn around any unsatisfactory results of your art practice.  In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, we’re going to get into what mental rehearsal is and why it’s one of the most powerful, yet underutilized tools for artists. You’ll discover how you’re always mentally practicing something repeatedly, how your current results are proof, and what happens when you change what you ..read more

Is the problem really your art—or just how you’re looking at it? We’ve all been there. You step back from something you’ve just created, and your brain instantly goes, “Ugh, this is awful.” Maybe even, “What if people see this and think I have no idea what I’m doing?” That little voice in your head? It’s not just being dramatic, it’s actively sabotaging you. In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, we’re digging into how your brain warps your perception of your own work, why that inner critic is so convincing, and, most importantly, how to quiet it so you can share your art with confidenc ..read more

Do you ever feel anxious or freeze up when someone asks about your work? You want people to see and love your art, but talking about it can feel overwhelming. And if you struggle to talk about your art, you might miss opportunities to connect with potential buyers. In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, we’re diving into why learning to talk about your art is so important. I’ll share how your words can shape the way collectors experience your work, what it really costs to stay silent, and why there’s no “wrong” way to talk about your art—even if it feels intimidating. 4:24 – Why your ar ..read more

As a kid, did you wish you were like Cinderella and had a fairy godmother who could just wave her magic wand and president you with whatever you wished? Unfortunately, this idea of a fairy tale character coming to save the day is every bit as fantastical as the art police scenario talked about last week. Just as no one is coming to arrest you, no one is coming to save you, either. In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn how to be the hero of your own story instead and give yourself the best odds to succeed as an artist. I’ll share the scope of the responsibility you need to ..read more

Do you believe that if you think outside of the box and actually apply that thinking to your work that the art police will come to arrest you or take away your brushes? As absurd as that seems, refusing to follow your instincts as an artist because of your fear of negative nancy voices still has the same effect on you. You’re so worried about doing everything “by the book” that it causes you to question your decisions and your work, to the point where you stop yourself from doing it. So in this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, we’ll dismantle the myth that there’s a correct way to create ..read more

Noticing the small wins you’ve gained can have a big impact on your practice as an artist. That insight was what I loved hearing about most in my conversation with Leslie Rae Cannon, an artist from Atlanta, Georgia and a member of Growth Studio. She graduated with an art degree from Presbyterian College, and now as an empty-nester has traded in carpools and play-dates for canvases and paint brushes. In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn how small wins have helped Leslie grow as an artist, from overcoming her fear of putting her work out there to becoming really selective a ..read more

Do you feel a twinge of anxiety or regret settle in after you’ve set a goal? It’s similar to how people often feel after making a big purchase. You get really excited about your goal, only to feel this wave of doubt sink in. I call this goal phenomenon “goal remorse.” In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, we’ll dive deeper into what goal remorse is and why it pops up. I’ll also give you some tips to calm the overthinking of your goal, help you feel good about your decision, and stay on track with your vision. 1:36 - What goal remorse is, why you feel it, and questions to ask yourself w ..read more

Setting goals isn’t just about the end result; it’s also about personal growth and transformation. You feel disappointed and perhaps like you’re spinning your wheels a bit when you don’t achieve what you’ve set out to do. And a struggle to decide the ‘right' goal for you might be getting in the way of that feeling of satisfaction, happiness, and pride in your art practice. So how do you choose if you have a million ideas and feel like you can’t pick just one to go with? In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn about the common fears associated with goal-setting and the part y ..read more