The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations

The Professional Artist Association
  • 4.8 (46)
  • Visual Arts
  • Updated Biweekly

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. 10h ago

    How to Sell Your Art Without Galleries (What Actually Works)

    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 if the best person to sell your art isn’t a gallery? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, collaborative painters Signe and Genna Grushovenko are featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Working as a husband-and-wife team, Signe and Genna transform anonymous vintage photographs into contemporary paintings collected and exhibited throughout the United States. After years of working with galleries and selling their work directly, Signe and Genna now focus on art fairs, giving them firsthand experience with different sales models and the economics behind each. In this deep dive, they share why letting go of a revenue stream can sometimes strengthen your business, the real math behind gallery versus direct sales, and how reversing a decision they stood by for 20 years opened up an entirely new source of income. “Nobody, I think, will sell your work with the same passion that you do.” — Signe Grushovenko Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 A Sense of Perspective 05:47 Leaving Teaching and Going All In on Sales 09:40 Why They Left the Gallery System 13:12 Mapping Desire  14:34 Selling Your Own Work Without Being Pushy 16:41 Measuring Festival Success Over Time 19:51 Adding Reproductions to the Business  23:11 Streetlight Mafia  23:59 Final thoughts Connect with Signe and Genna Website:  https://www.grushovenko.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thegrushovenkos/ 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.

    How to Sell Your Art Without Galleries (What Actually Works)

  2. Aug 18

    Artist Burnout: What It Really Feels Like (And How to Recover)

    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. --- How do you build a sustainable art career without burning yourself out in the process? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Maria Roza is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Based in Turkey, Maria creates figurative work exploring the relationship between humans, nature and our own self-identity. Since completing her master's degree in painting, she has presented three solo shows and exhibited across Europe and the Middle East. In this episode, Maria shares what artist burnout actually feels like, the habits helping her recover and build a healthier relationship with her work, and why taking a break can be difficult when your identity and career are tied to creating.  She also challenges the idea that artists should wait to be discovered and explains why creating your own opportunities matters. “You feel like your body is burning as well, but mentally you feel like you're draining out.” — Maria Roza  Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38  Red and Turquoise on The Rails 05:34 Finding Your Voice Through Solitude 09:02 What Artist Burnout Actually Feels Like 12:32 How Self-Compassion and Small Sketches Began the Recovery 16:46 Paralell Aggression  19:46 The Discovery Myth: Taking Charge of Your Own Career 24:06 The Trade 25:26 Final advice Connect with Maria Website: https://www.mariaroza.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artmariaroza/ 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.

    Artist Burnout: What It Really Feels Like (And How to Recover)

  3. Aug 11

    How Artists Build a Career in Public Art (What Nobody Tells You)

    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 really take to build a career in monumental public art? In this episode of *The Professional Artist Podcast*, sculptor Heath Satow is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Heath has spent 35 years building a career in large-scale public art, with permanent installations at the Denver Zoo, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and the 9/11 Memorial. Along the way, he has learned that the finished sculpture is only one part of the job. In this episode, Heath breaks down how artists get their first public art commissions, the financial risks behind large-scale projects, and why experience has led him to turn down opportunities that don't respect an artist's time and expertise. This deep dive offers a practical look behind the scenes of public art… and what artists need to understand before pursuing large-scale commissions. “It was just a thought, and now it's this amazing thing out in the world and that's addictive.” — Heath Satow Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction01:38 The Seed 04:09 Starting Out: Railings, Festivals, and Building a Portfolio06:48 Why Scale Becomes Addictive08:44 Transition: The Accidental Discovery of Mirror Polish Stainless11:07 How to Apply for Public Art Commissions15:10 Handling Rejection in a Competitive Field16:09 The Financial Risk Hidden in Every Commission18:08 Cor23:29 Final Advice Connect with Heath Website: https://www.publicsculpture.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/publicsculpture/ 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.

    How Artists Build a Career in Public Art (What Nobody Tells You)

  4. Aug 4

    Inside My $120K Art Business

    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.--- In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, illustrator, painter, and educator Francis Vallejo is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Francis is an award-winning artist and Associate Professor of Illustration at the College for Creative Studies. Over the past two decades, he has built a six-figure creative business by combining multiple income streams, including original artwork, teaching, illustration, commissions, and publishing. In this episode, Francis shares exactly how he built a business generating more than $120,000 per year, why so many talented artists struggle to reach that level, and the mindset shift that transformed the way he approached his career. He also explains why artists should value their expertise like any other specialized profession and how diversifying income can create long-term stability. "Art, in my opinion, can be an extremely profitable pursuit.” — Francis Vallejo Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 A Pivotal Illustration Project 03:53 The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Building Momentum 05:42 From Broke in His 20s to Six Figures: The Income Breakdown 10:54 The Alaska Residency and the Accidental Printmaking Discovery 15:08 Why Talented Artists Stay Stuck : The Mindset Shift 17:20 Talking About Your Work as a Problem You Solve 18:43 Finding Community 21:28 Final Advice Connect with Francis Website: https://www.francisvallejo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francisvallejoart/ 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

    Inside My $120K Art Business

  5. Jul 28

    How Artists Get High-Paying Interior Design Commissions

    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 actually take to build a career creating high-paying commissions for interior designers? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, abstract painter Lara Scolari is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Lara is an Australian abstract artist whose nature-inspired paintings are collected internationally across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Alongside her exhibition career, she has built a thriving commission business working with leading interior designers and has expanded her practice through licensing partnerships, including luxury rug collections. In this episode, Lara explains how artists can build relationships with interior designers, what a professional commission process looks like from inquiry to installation, and why preparation, consistency, and a polished presentation matter more than waiting for the perfect opportunity. "You've gotta put yourself out there. You've gotta back yourself. You have to take the risk that may not end in anything.” — Lara Scolari Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction01:38 Yellow Water Cruising05:00 Translating Paintings into Rugs and Licensing07:40 Building an International Exhibition Career10:16 Wendy's Bolt 10:48 How Greg Natale Walked Through the Door13:40 The Interior Designer Commission Process16:09 Where Designers Discover New Artists17:48  Snorkeling With Matisse18:55 Final advice Connect with Lara Website: https://larascolari.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larascolari/ 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.

    How Artists Get High-Paying Interior Design Commissions

  6. Jul 21

    The Money Mistake Most Artists Keep Making

    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's the biggest money mistake keeping artists from building a sustainable career? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, sculptor and public artist Matt McConnell is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. For more than 25 years, Matt has built a career creating large-scale public art while learning the financial systems required to sustain a creative business. From budgeting complex commissions to pricing work with confidence, he's discovered that profitability starts long before a project begins. In this episode, Matt explains why undercharging is only part of the problem, how understanding your true costs changes the way you price your work, and how saying no to the wrong projects can ultimately make your business more profitable. " You have to decide that you are comfortable saying what something costs at risk of losing it” — Matt McConnell Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:41 Crescent 05:32 Pricing Large-Scale Projects Without Losing Money 11:16 Helix Series 13:10 The Psychology of Charging What You're Worth 17:55 Infinity 20:38 Why Budgeting Is the Most Important Skill an Artist Can Learn 23:38 Final thoughts Connect with Matt Website: https://www.mattmcconnell.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcconnellstudios/ 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.

    The Money Mistake Most Artists Keep Making

  7. Jul 14

    The One Artist Skill AI Will Never Replace

    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 happens when the creative industry changes faster than your career plan? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist, illustrator, and educator Wouter Tulp is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Over several decades, Wouter has repeatedly adapted his career as the creative industry evolved. Rather than relying on one role or income source, he built a sustainable practice through illustration, education, personal work, and professional relationships. In this deep dive, Wouter shares how artists can protect their creative voice, build multiple income streams, and stay visible as AI and new technology reshape the industry. "Instead of learning a trick you can create a vision and you can tell a story, and I think that's something AI can never do.” — Wouter Tulp Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 Daily Gesture Drawing Practice 03:47 Pivoting the Career 08:54 AI and the Future of Creative Work 10:45 Balancing Client Work with Personal Painting 13:24 The Jazz Painting  14:49 What AI Can Never Replace  17:40 Native American Portrait Series 19:12 Letting Go of External Validation 21:00 Final thoughts Connect with Wouter Website: https://www.woutertulp.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woutertulp/ 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.

    The One Artist Skill AI Will Never Replace

  8. Jul 7

    How to Get Curators Interested in Your Art with Alia El-Bermani

    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 curators discover artists… or do artists create the opportunities to be discovered? In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, figurative painter Alia El-Bermani is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists. Alia's work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Rather than waiting for opportunities to find her, she built a career by intentionally connecting with curators, staying in touch over time, and creating professional relationships that led to long-term collaborations. In this deep dive, Alia shares what it actually takes to get on a curator's radar, why rejection is often the beginning of new opportunities, and how thoughtful outreach can grow into long-term professional relationships that shape a career. “You need to continually find curators that will help support you and put you in places that you never even dreamed of.” — Alia El-Bermani Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:38 The Futures We Behold: Dreaming Beyond the Patriarchy 03:24 Income Streams and Studio Structure 06:38 Playing the Long Game: Career Advice to Her Younger Self 07:54 How to Get a Curator Into Your Studio 10:09 The First Outreach Email 11:10 Vessel: Grief, Loss, and the 2019 Solo Show 14:36 Applying for Grants 17:14 Hear Me: Community and Peer Support 18:27 Final Advice Connect with Alia Website: https://alia-fineart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliapainter/ 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.

    How to Get Curators Interested in Your Art with Alia El-Bermani
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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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