The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations

The Professional Artist Association
  • 5.0 (9)
  • VISUAL ARTS
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If you want to make it in the art world, talent is key - but so is mastering the business side. The Professional Artist Podcast is where fine artists and commerce meet. Co-hosts Miguel L. Mayher and Cristina Demiany guide visual artists through an audio gallery, exploring how to show and sell your art, land commissions, apply for artist grants, license your art, and much more. This is where your art career begins to grow. Miguel L. Mayher is the Director of Education at the Professional Artist Association. Previously, he worked with Google Arts & Culture, striking partnerships with national museums. He is also a Global Economic Symposium Young Fellow and a One Young World Ambassador. Cristina Demiany is a Senior Art Business Coach at the Professional Artist Association. She formerly served as Senior Program Manager at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and as Executive Director of the National Children’s Chorus. The Professional Artist Association is a global organization dedicated to providing real-world education for visual artists, including painters, sculptors, and fine art photographers.

  1. How You Can Sell Art Prints Online (Without a Huge Following)

    5D AGO

    How You Can Sell Art Prints Online (Without a Huge Following)

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.--- Do you really need a large following to make money from your art online? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter and sculptor Kasia Frankowicz is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in Melbourne, Kasia creates bold work infused with humor. Alongside her original pieces, she has built a consistent income stream through prints… making her work accessible while expanding her collector base beyond high-ticket sales. Rather than relying on a massive audience, Kasia focused on visibility, proving that print sales can become a reliable part of an artist’s business. In this deep dive, Kasia breaks down how to generate consistent income through prints, what actually drives sales (and where most artists go wrong), and how showing up across platforms creates steady demand over time. ” Art should be for everyone and I don't subscribe to the idea that prints make your work less valuable.” — Kasia Frankowicz Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction01:22 "Wild Westie" artwork02:38 Starting Over During COVID07:28 Growing Up in Western Sydney08:42 Why Kasha Sells Prints10:02 Documenting Work for Print Sales11:59 Pricing Prints13:11 Getting Your Work Photographed14:56 Using Ads to Drive Sales16:36 "Kitchen" artwork17:33 Showing Up Everywhere Online18:54 Building Connections Through Art Fairs20:46 "1999" artwork21:33 Staying Grateful as You Grow22:39 Advice for Artists Who Don't Fit In Connect with Kasia Website: https://kasia-studio.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasia.artist/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    25 min
  2. How You Can Build an Art Career Abroad (From Nothing)

    APR 28

    How You Can Build an Art Career Abroad (From Nothing)

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- What does it take to build an art career from scratch in a country where you don’t even speak the language? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Gabrielle Reeves is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Gabrielle is an American artist working between the United States and Turkey, who made the unconventional decision to move abroad and pursue her career without an established network, local connections, or even fluency in the language. Starting from zero, she built her career step by step through persistence, visibility, and a willingness to put herself in uncomfortable situations. In this deep dive, Gabrielle shares how she created opportunities without waiting for permission, what actually led to exhibitions and gallery representation, and how consistent, small actions compound into real momentum over time. “ I have had people tell me: you're crazy to move to a foreign country and work as an artist. But I knew it's what I wanted to do.” — Gabrielle Reeves Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Building an Art Career From Scratch Without a Network 01:38 Art-Making Process: Materials Lead the Way 03:41 Working in a Detailed-Realistic Style with Surrealist Qualities 05:45 Career Choice: Music vs Painting and Becoming Serious About Art 06:10 Influence of Wyoming and Istanbul on Her Work 07:26 Travel and Study Abroad as the Path to Moving to Turkey 08:54 Moving to Istanbul Without a Network: Openings, Outreach, Residencies 10:53 Learning Turkish and Expanding Connections Through Language 15:59 Running a Career Across Continents: Logistics of Transporting Work 17:11 Shipping vs Carrying Artwork Personally (Packing Strategies) 19:49 Financial Responsibilities: Tracking Sales/Expenses and Filing Taxes 23:04 Coaching Program: benefits Connect with Gabrielle Website: http://gabriellereeves.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle_reeves_art/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    30 min
  3. What Actually Brings Opportunities to Artists (It’s Not Talent)

    APR 21

    What Actually Brings Opportunities to Artists (It’s Not Talent)

    Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free. --- Does talent get you opportunities as an artist… or does something else drive a career forward? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, paper artist Eric Standley is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Eric is a professor of Studio Art at Virginia Tech whose multi-layered paper works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. His process is extraordinarily time-intensive and that relationship with time turns out to be central to everything he has built professionally. Rather than spreading his attention across every possible avenue, Eric has developed a sharp sense of where his effort belongs and which opportunities are actually worth pursuing. In this deep dive, Eric breaks down how international gallery and museum relationships are built and sustained over time, why opportunities rarely come from talent alone, and how the discipline of protecting your attention shapes the trajectory of a career. This episode is a candid look at how professional artists navigate the gap between making meaningful work and building the relationships and structures that bring that work to the world. “I try to think as big as possible, and I also try to think as big as possible in choosing those goals.” — Eric Standley Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Committing to a Single Idea Over Time 01:53 Rule-Based Practice and Creative Constraints 03:18 Paper as a Medium04:10 Accidental Discovery of Layered Paper 05:57 Building Depth Across Layers 08:22 International Gallery Relationships 11:21 The Omnia Commission 13:09 Working Outside the Frame 16:13 Balancing Commissions with Other Work 17:25 Working with Museums 19:14 The Irreducible Installation 21:17 Consciousness, Quantum Thought, and the Work 23:33 Urgency, Time, and Artistic Focus 25:01 Working from the Heart Resources Irreducible(book) by Federico Faggin: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/essentia-books/our-books/irreducible-consciousness-life-computers-human-nature Connect with Eric Website: https://www.eric-standley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric.standley/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    27 min
  4. How You Build an Art Career (Without Waiting to Be Discovered)

    APR 14

    How You Build an Art Career (Without Waiting to Be Discovered)

    Why doesn’t making strong artwork automatically lead to a career… and what actually bridges that gap? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary artist Daryl Thetford is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Daryl left a career in psychology to build a full-time art business supported by galleries, corporate commissions, and top-tier art festivals. Rather than waiting to be discovered, he developed a system that creates consistent opportunities and income over time. In this deep dive, Daryl breaks down how to build multiple income streams, why reaching higher-level art festivals changes your earning potential, and how thinking like a business owner is essential to sustaining your work. “There are just so many ways to make money, depending on what you're willing to do or not do, in the art field.” — Daryl Thetford Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:46 Introduction to Daryl Thetford and Episode Focus 01:57 Building Paintings from Collage Elements and Urban Materials 03:51 Research-Driven Themes and Contemporary Intent 04:00 Career Shift: From Mental Health Work to Full-Time Art 06:12 Leaving Psychology: Logistical and Psychological Transition to Selling Art 07:00 Early Artwork Approach: Iconic Images and Space-Driven Composition 08:21 Sustainable Career Foundations: Festival Strategy and Multiple Revenue Streams 10:36 Main Revenue Model: Festivals, Selectivity, and Top-Tier Entry 11:00 Working With Art Consultants: How They Find Artists and What to Provide 13:09 Being Easy to Work With: Responsiveness, Timeline Commitments, No Overpromising 14:29 Creative Direction from a Fragment: “Man in a Boat Alone” Concept Development 16:09 Choosing Paths: Galleries vs Festivals and Making a Living as an Artist 17:20 Landing Major Public Commissions: Showing Capability (Loveland, Colorado) 22:55 Navigating Client/Committee Relationships in Large Projects and Settings Connect with Daryl Website: https://darylthetford.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darylthetford/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    29 min
  5. How Artists Make Money at Art Festivals (What Actually Works)

    APR 7

    How Artists Make Money at Art Festivals (What Actually Works)

    Are art festivals a gamble… or a reliable way to build income as an artist? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, fine art photographer Marisa White is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Marisa has built a thriving career through a strategic approach to the art festival circuit, turning what many artists see as unpredictable into a consistent and scalable income stream. By refining her booth, presentation, and show selection, she’s learned how to maximize both visibility and sales in high-traffic environments. In this deep dive, Marisa breaks down how to turn festivals into real income -not just exposure - what makes people stop, engage, and buy, and how to choose the right shows so you don’t waste time or money. “I can safely say that, in one weekend, I sold as much as I had in my entire art career up to that point.” — Marisa White Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:58 Artwork “Number Nine” and Flow State in Creation 03:13 Self-Portrait Photography Process 05:03 Skills and Turning Points in Marissa’s Photography Practice 07:30 From Hobby to Business: Exhibitions, Galleries, Full-Time Work 08:49 Relocation Story 12:04 How a Specific Festival Opportunity Changed Everything 14:00 Selecting Shows: Applying, Waitlists, and Last-Minute Booth Solutions 16:43 Sales Results and Scaling Up Shows 18:15 Art Festival Costs Breakdown and Strategic Budgeting 21:29 Pricing Strategy 23:20 “Most Favorite Piece” Inspiration 25:47 Sustainable Career: Coaching and Business Guidance 27:34 Coaching Takeaways Connect with Marisa Website: https://www.marisaswhite.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marisa_whitesparks/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator Ready to take the next step in your art career? We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track. Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery… …this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck. Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

    30 min
  6. How Artists Actually Sell Art on Instagram (What Works Now)

    MAR 31

    How Artists Actually Sell Art on Instagram (What Works Now)

    Is selling art on Instagram really about followers… or is it a skill you can learn? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Maggi McDonald is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Maggi is a Sydney-based artist who has built a full-time career through vibrant paintings and a highly intentional approach to social media. Instead of relying on luck or viral moments, she treats Instagram as a system: one that consistently attracts collectors from around the world. In this conversation, Maggi breaks down what’s actually working right now when it comes to selling art on Instagram, how she built a global audience through consistent and strategic posting, and how she converts attention into sales without feeling pushy or inauthentic. This episode offers a practical look at using Instagram as a tool and how artists can turn visibility into a sustainable income stream. “ If you are wanting to reach a global audience, and sell your art all over the world, then you need to use Instagram to your advantage” — Maggi McDonald Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:59 Midnight Garden Creative Process (Intuition vs Thinking) 04:42 Color as Therapy (Mental Health + Mood Lift) 05:34 Art as a Survival Skill Through Grief and Trauma 06:41 Turning Creativity into a Full-Time Profession 08:35 Building a Global Instagram Audience 12:15 Planning Content with Strategy 12:26 Research, Insights, and Tracking Performance Metrics 13:50 Calls to Action and Non-Salesy Selling on Instagram 14:49 Sales Tracking and Website Landing Strategy 16:55 Finding Your Unique Style and Maintaining a Posting Mindset 20:35 Boundaries, Burnout Prevention, and Time Management on Instagram 22:23 Marketing Funnels and Turning Followers into Collectors Connect with Maggi Website: https://www.maggimcdonald.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggimcdonaldart/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one.

    29 min
  7. How Artists Build a Career Without Galleries

    MAR 24

    How Artists Build a Career Without Galleries

    What if you didn’t need galleries or perfect timing to build a successful art career? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, mixed media artist Dayo Johnson is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. For over 30 years, Dayo has built a sustainable career outside the traditional gallery system… through festivals, commissions, and direct relationships with collectors. Starting with $50 booths and small local shows, she steadily grew her audience, income, and opportunities through consistency. Rather than waiting for recognition, Dayo focused on showing up turning each sale into momentum for the next opportunity. In this episode, Dayo breaks down how she turned small art shows into a full-time income, how commissions became a reliable part of her business, and the unconventional way she funds future shows through her collectors. “ Even during times, when it feels like it's not working, continue on, keep going because there's going to be something that breaks through that allows you to do what you want to do.” — Dayo Johnson Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:16 Wild Child with Sunflowers: Story and Origin of a Piece 05:47 Before Painting: Career Transition from Vocal Performance to Visual Art 08:39 Turning Art into Livelihood: $50 Shows and Keeping Going 10:10 Translating Music into Visual Art (Venus de Milo) 12:13 Vulnerability in Selling Art and Advice to Artists 13:49 Building the Business Over Time: Festivals First, Galleries Later 15:10 What Sustains an Art Career: Shows vs. Commissions Timing 16:29 Commission Approach, Volume, and Managing Big Assignments 18:26 Unconventional Funding: Collectives Program for Show Season 24:08 Commission Freedom and Creative Direction in a Door Piece 25:40 Staying Grounded and Avoiding Burnout Through Love of the Craft Connect with Dayo Website: https://www.dayoart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayoart Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one.

    28 min
  8. Redefining Success as an Artist with Alyssa Monks

    MAR 17

    Redefining Success as an Artist with Alyssa Monks

    What does success actually mean for an artist? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary figurative painter Alyssa Monks is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Alyssa is internationally known for her emotionally charged paintings that push the boundaries of traditional realism while exploring the psychological complexity of being human. Alyssa shares why she resists the pressure to manufacture a perfectly cohesive body of work, how intuition guides her studio decisions, and how her definition of success evolved away from external validation and toward a practice built around honesty in the work. This episode offers a candid look at what it means to build a career that protects your artistic integrit… and why redefining success may be the most important decision an artist makes. “If that's what you're doing it for, for the recognition the metrics that are outside of our control, It can be something that could hold you back“— Alyssa Monks Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:04 Exploring Vulnerability in Art04:50 The Journey of a Self-Portrait 08:29 The Impact of Grieving on Artistic Practice 10:57 Intuitive vs. Structured Creation 13:45 Redefining Success in Art 16:58 The Role of Community in Artistry 20:35 Finding Inspiration from Friends and Peers 23:18 Coping with Creative Blocks 26:01 Hope as a Fundamental Ingredient in Art 28:22 The Importance of Personal Connection to Work Connect with Alyssa Website: https://www.alyssamonks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssamonks/ Learn more about The Professional Artist Association: Mentoring: Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income: https://professionalartist.com/apply Membership: Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join Free Letter: Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week: https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one.

    25 min
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If you want to make it in the art world, talent is key - but so is mastering the business side. The Professional Artist Podcast is where fine artists and commerce meet. Co-hosts Miguel L. Mayher and Cristina Demiany guide visual artists through an audio gallery, exploring how to show and sell your art, land commissions, apply for artist grants, license your art, and much more. This is where your art career begins to grow. Miguel L. Mayher is the Director of Education at the Professional Artist Association. Previously, he worked with Google Arts & Culture, striking partnerships with national museums. He is also a Global Economic Symposium Young Fellow and a One Young World Ambassador. Cristina Demiany is a Senior Art Business Coach at the Professional Artist Association. She formerly served as Senior Program Manager at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and as Executive Director of the National Children’s Chorus. The Professional Artist Association is a global organization dedicated to providing real-world education for visual artists, including painters, sculptors, and fine art photographers.

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