Read more about the article #90 Do You Want to Try Live Painting?

#90 Do You Want to Try Live Painting?

Live painting has become rather trendy for fundraisers and weddings. Artists are hired to paint during the event and provide entertainment to the guests. One event becomes many, as artists receive more event painting opportunities through word of mouth. I go over what you need to know when discussing a live painting job, how you should prepare, what you’ll need to bring, and what to expect at the event. I also give some ideas of how you can find these opportunities.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

All of these artists are creating art at the CONTINUUM WPB Arts pop-up gallery. You can hear about that event during my interview with one of its creators, Trina Slade-Burks, in Episode 29.

Anthony Burks (Episode 27) often creates art live at events.
Eduardo Mendieta (Episode 47) creating a spray paint mural at CONTINUUM.
Various artists creating at the CONTINUUM pop-up gallery.

Jessica Hitchcock is painting live at a fundraiser for a zoo.

Read more about the article #89 Jessica Hitchcock: Creating Paintings Filled with Joy

#89 Jessica Hitchcock: Creating Paintings Filled with Joy

Artist Jessica Hitchcock paints from her home in St. Louis, Missouri, and it’s her bold colors that give her a signature look. She only recently quit her day job to devote her efforts full-time to her art business. Following a recent trip to Mexico to work with an expert to plan her new business and her year, she’s off to a great start selling her art and getting her name out there. She works hard to be known in her community, whether attending art shows or doing live painting at events. She’s also actively engaged with others through Instagram and Facebook.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Jessica Hitchcock

Jessica enjoys live painting events.
Jessica had her artwork on a wine label that was sold through Costcos all over the U.S.
Live painting at the Wall Ball event.
Jessica offers pet portraits.

Jessica’s website is jessicahitchcock.org

You can sign up for her newsletter list right on the front page of her website.

You can see where she is showing her work or doing a live painting event on her Events Page.

Jessica can be found on Instagram at jessica_hitchcock

and Facebook at jessicahitchcockart

Jessica traveled to Mexico to work with Desha Peacock. You can visit her website Sweet Spot Style to find out how she works with creatives like Jessica.

Here are some great takeaways from this episode:

  1. Jessica recommends that when you’re first wanting to get into your town’s art scene, visit art receptions, so you can see how shows are run, you can meet other artists, and ask questions about their businesses. It’s a great way to find out about art opportunities and start getting your name known.
  2. Look up hashtags on Instagram to find out what’s going on in your town. You can also use a hashtag like #yourtown artist when you post your work. That way when people are looking for local art, they can find you.
  3. A lot of artists have the community over competition attitude, meaning they are very supportive of one another. It’s great to share what we know with one another so that we will all rise.
  4. Jessica credits Instagram with being a huge reason she is a successful artist.
  5. Every artist should develop a newsletter list so that they can control their contact with their customers just in case things change with the social media platforms.
  6. Your art business income should come from many revenue streams, so explore the opportunities that are out there and find the ones you’d like to pursue.
  7. If you’d like to offer prints, ask around to other artists and explore your options locally. You may be able to find a fine art printer who can scan your large pieces and print them on your paper of choice. Jessica has also found that her printer can resize her photos for her, so she doesn’t have to do that part.
  8. Let people be a part of your process of making art, by posting photos and videos of you starting a piece, working on a piece, and finishing a piece.
  9. Utilizing the stories feature on Instagram adds a personal touch and allows people to really get to know you more.
Read more about the article #88 How to Prepare for an Art Show

#88 How to Prepare for an Art Show

Getting ready for an art show is no easy task. I’ll go through the checklist of what you need to do to finish your artwork, prepare it for a show, what kind of paperwork you need, how to promote your show, and preparing for your opening reception.  I’ll help you get your artwork ready to show it professionally and get yourself ready to meet potential customers and sell your work.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Read more about the article #87 Mary Price: Intuitive Painting in the UK

#87 Mary Price: Intuitive Painting in the UK

Artist Mary Price creates her art in Bristol, England. I was attracted to Mary’s paintings because of their bold colors, but also because you could see so many layers to them. She builds up the color and design, pulling the shapes and images out to the forefront. Mary creates her artwork in a shed in her garden, and in fact, her Instagram name is artistintheshed. She’s even painted her shed to look like one of her paintings, creating a studio anyone would love to paint in.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

Mary Price, painting in her studio/shed in Bristol.

Mary's shed.
One of her tree paintings on the side of her shed.
A closeup of her shed.

Mary Price has called her website and her Instagram artistintheshed.

Mary was inspired by the landscape paintings of Alan Cotton.

Mary described a vacation when she stayed at the Lluc Sanctuary in Mallorca. You too can stay there and be inspired by the beautiful setting.

You can purchase some of her art at her etsy shop, and later she will be offering it on her website.

Here are some great takeaways from this episode:

  1. If you’re hoping to inspire the young people in your life, keep art supplies on hand for them, like paints, paper, or a chalkboard.
  2. Instead of covering an old painting with gesso and starting over, just paint over bits of it, so you can keep the areas that you like.
  3. As you look at your world, think of how many colors you can see in one thing. Rethink how you see color, to recognize that while at first glance something appears to just have one color, in fact it really has very many colors.
  4. You can paint using all kind of mark making tools, not just brushes and pens.
  5. This might seem obvious, but you can put your art out there without the help of a gallery. You can do all kinds of self-promotion using social media.
  6. A way to connect further with artists you’ve met on social media is to do an art swap with them. It’s also an inexpensive way to add to your art collection.
  7. Mary described her type of intuitive painting beautifully. She places a load of marks on a canvas, and then responds to them and reacts to them and sees what happens. It helps that she paints in a free and loose way.
  8. Instead of doing a solo show, invite another artist to exhibit with you because it will be less work that way.
  9. If you need to get professional photographs done of your artwork, consider swapping artwork with a local photographer for this task.
Read more about the article #86 Keeping Up with Your Art Skills

#86 Keeping Up with Your Art Skills

When time or circumstances prevent you from making the art that you want, you can still use a few strategies so that you can keep up with your art skills. Whether it’s not having enough time, space, or money, I’ll give you some ideas of how you can continue to make art. Making art every day will definitely increase your art skills, so that when the circumstances are right for making the art that you want, you’ll be ready, with creative inspiration and the skills you need.

Listen here or download from iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, CastBox, or Stitcher.

If you're trying new techniques or if you just don't have enough space for large artwork, start working with smaller sizes to help develop your skills.
If a lack of time, space, or money doesn't allow for large art-making, bring a sketchbook with you so you can keep up your art skills wherever you are.