This week Alice is joined by two UK gallery owners to discuss Open Call exhibitions - from the inside! When artists can sometimes feel submissions are a waste of time, two gallerists share why they choose to use this as part of their offer for artists, and the relationships which build from it. They let us in on some of the behind the scenes set-up…

Louise is in colour frustration as she uses paint in a different way out of the studio. And Alice is back from a third away event in as many weeks with some reflections about finding your direction and staying the course. What does trusting your intuition really feel like? How we debate with logic and recognising what you don't even realise you nee…

This week, we're diving into what it means to live a creative life, and what toll it takes emotionally. Is there a way to regulate your emotional state through a large project or body of work? And should you even try? As Louise starts a major new project, we discuss dopamine hits, tears, and the importance of simply being present. Find Alice Sherid…

Are submitting to open calls part of your practice? Maybe you find the rejection hard to handle? Or you're fed up of losing submission fees... This week's show was prompted by a rather shocking and sad recent scenario involving the Livingstone gallery. If you got caught up in it, you're not alone. But it prompted a discussion about whether we shoul…

This week, we're talking about the long journey from initial idea to fully fledged reality. So often people give up at the very first hurdle, but we have both learned the value of persistence in our art and our businesses. In this episode, we share what we've learned, including "no you haven't ruined it," and "stop staring at the problem." There is…

This week, we’re talking sales - or rather, we’re talking what happens if we take sales out of the equation. Alice has just finished a gallery show while Louise has a pile of finished paintings she hasn’t yet put on her website. We discuss the role that sales play in our creative process and in our ultimate satisfaction. Is it important to exchange…

Louisa Sugden is a photographer, stylist, and content creator with a large social media following and a house renovation that has taken 8 years (and counting). In this episode, Louise talks to Louisa about how she learned to slow down and enjoy life, even while living in semi-chaos, and how she has learned to share honestly on social media and Yout…

This week's episode began with a simple question: do you wash your brushes before finishing for the day? But we soon realised that work practices and studio set-up are a whole topic, so join us as we dive into storage, colour mixing, and the ways in which our spaces evolve as our work changes. Mentioned Windmill Hill ⁠The Most Fun We Ever Had Still…

In this solo episode, Louise reflects on a key principle of art-making - one that can take your art from good to great. If you want your art to connect with others, who better to learn from that Taylor Swift? Her new album is the most successful of all time, and Louise thinks she knows why. She also thinks we can all learn something from it. So if …

Matt Hughes (known as the King of Video) joins Alice to bring some ease and encouragement for artists who want to get started on YouTube. We talk about gaining confidence, what equipment you may need and Matt shares how a simple strategy can multiply your presence online. Recommended software: InShot, CapCut and repurpose.io Sign up for the Friday …

This week, Louise returns from a two-week residency in Sausalito, California, where she worked in the studio of another artist. This trip provided Louise with a huge creative boost, and in this episode, she shares 5 takeaways that she feels can help anyone do the same - without going anywhere. So if you're feeling a bit stuck, this episode is packe…

Jenny Grant is a Mixed Media Artist living in Stockholm, Sweden who has sold artwork, exhibited and run workshops all over the world. Over the years she’s developed an intuitive, unstructured, tactile and yes, messy (but fun!) process that has allowed her to create her unique style.. She’s on a mission to inspire people like you to be brave, to use…

“The pleasure we derive from journeys is perhaps dependent more on the mindset with which we travel than on the destination we travel to.” Alain de Botton This week we're catching up after Alice's trip to Bali with stories of hot hikes, vibrating water beds (?!) and more! While travel can be fun, the real benefit is how experiences like this can ch…

Do you ever find yourself rushing around, filling every moment, and then wondering why your art is disappointing? In today's conversation, we explore the topic of making space and allowing our art to breathe. Sometimes this means letting a single painting rest before working on it again, and sometimes it means taking a complete break to recharge an…

In a week a little squeezed by life admin we take time to explore how we feel about the idea of "keeping up". This often comes up for artists in the guise of keeping up with courses, with their own set projects (100 day project anyone?) or even the criteria we create for ourselves. But is there a different way to look at what we take on? https://ww…

This week, Louise welcomes guest artist Sally-Anne Ashley, who has thought very deeply about what it means to build and sustain a creative practice. In this conversation, Louise and Sally-Anne discuss the foundations to intuitive painting; explore the importance of awareness, and dive into the challenges of trusting our own intuition. This is a dee…

This week, we’re talking titles. Yep, that stage when you think the work is complete - and there’s still the process of coming up with a title for your masterpiece. Does it even matter what we choose? Do they make you more or less likely to buy a painting? From locations to the disappointment of “untitled” we look back over some of our favourite wa…

Often a sensitive and uncomfortable topic, but the question of how to price your art is essential to consider - and to confront if you are to avoid getting stuck in the weeds of self-doubt! In this episode we run through some common pricing strategies artists use and cover the pros and pitfalls of each of them to help you determine prices when you’…

Today we're talking about that tipping point moment when you know things need to change which happens at various stages of the creative path. There are times when we need a little nudge, time to reflect or sometimes even to be given permission to create what we desire OR to strip back and gain some clarity as we craft the next stage of our journey.…

If you want to sell art (or workshops or mentoring), what's the most effective way? You might think of galleries or art fairs or group exhibitions or social media, but in our experience, the answer is none of those. In our experience, the good old email list our most effective sales tool. And yet, many of us struggle to send emails - perhaps we fee…

As artists, we rarely lack ideas. But how do you nurture those ideas so that they come to full fruition? It's possible to rush that first inkling, so that it never has a chance to reach its full potential. It's also possible to have so many flashes of inspiration that you never find a focus. Both Alice and Louise are feeling the need to make a nurt…

How do you use sketchbooks? Do you make beautiful illustrative drawings or is your book more of a scrapbook? Do you work regularly in sketchbooks or only now and then? And do you prefer loose sheets or actual books? This week we're diving into all this and more. Sketchbooks are a place we return to time and again to regroup, gather ideas, or simply…

The art of selling may not feel like it comes easily, but today Sara Dalrymple joins Alice to talk about how artists can see this differently. We talk about preserving your no. 1 asset, a key non-negotiable you must be prepared for, and more than one reason why artists are perhaps BEST placed for making sales - once you have a few things adjusted a…

Roll on 2024! It's been a while since we've recorded together and we really enjoyed getting back together for this catch-up chat. Our primary focus this week is the the differing ways we have both begun the new year. Alice eased in to 2024 with a lot of family time, while Louise took an exciting trip to New York ... and yet perhaps we're not so dif…

As we bounce (?!) back into 2024 after a seasonal break I'm joined by JoMcCarthy for an informal discussion around how we find ourselves using Instagram - or planning to. This isn't a strategy plan, or top tips for getting the best marketing results, but about how we use the platform, and finding ways to enjoy what it offers. We dip into phone addi…

As we head for our Christmas break, we look back on 2023 and ask ‘how did it go?’ For this episode, we pulled out planners and notebooks to look back on what we hoped to achieve and how it all went. This process can be so valuable; the pause is a chance to reflect on your priorities and an opportunity to realign them if need be. It can also be an o…

This week, we’re all about inspiring women. Louise reveals a surprising fascination with medieval history, and explains how it led her to reflect on the value of patience, persistence and self-belief even when it seems unwarranted. If one determined woman can beat seemingly insurmountable odds to find a long-dead King, what might we be capable of? …

This week, we answer a question from a new listener who has recently begun to paint. Eric is wondering how to make the leap from copying images to making his own unique work. This question sparked a discussion about the ways in which artists find their own unique path. For us, this has included gathering visual references, noticing (and valuing) ou…

Let’s talk about events - specifically, getting ready for them. As Alice prepares for Manchester Art Fair, we share our top tips for event prep. When you do you order frames? How can you promote the event in advance? What should you store in your event box? How will you take payments? What kind of shoes should you wear? (!) These are just some of t…

This week, we've been thinking about measuring - specifically about choosing what we measure, and how that can (and should) change over time. The truth is that what gets measured tends to get done - by tracking things, we place our focus on them, and when we place our focus on something, we are more likely to do it. Over the years, we have chosen t…

This week, we revisit episode 228 (an interview with author Christine Coulson) and discuss the key ideas we found inspiring. In the process, it's possible we have defined a framework for creativity - a set of ideas that can ignite new ideas and new ways of working for anyone. If you feel you want to take your work forward in new or different ways, …

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with writer Christine Coulson, whose background as a writer for the Metropolitan Museum of Art has inspired her to create a unique book; "One Woman Show" is a novel that uses the structure of museum wall labels to weave together the captivating life story of Kitty. This is a discussion about using restruction…

Can you design a better painting? This week we answer a listener question about how we use design in our paintings, including the use of line. As we discuss the benefits or constraints of an informed academic approach vs intuition Alice draws on her graphic design background and perhaps the dangers of 'getting it right' too soon. As you look at you…

After a week in which Alice's Facebook account was hacked, we discuss the negative sides to social media, emails and online life in general. Is there a way to build community and market our work without having to constantly guard against people who don't deserve our attention? Whether it is scammers trying to take your money, hackers trying to take…

In this solo episode, Louise explores the idea of critiques and feedback. When is is valuable to seek critique? What kind of feedback is helpful? And how does this all relate to finding our own authentic, unique way of making art? We'd love to hear your thoughts as we suspect this is different for everyone, but we hope it offers some food for thoug…

How do you feel about emails? Do you like receiving them? Do you use them effectively to market your artwork? Or do you find the whole idea a giant turn-off? This week we discuss the ins and outs of email marketing, share our own experiences, and even learn a few things along the way. If you find yourself wondering how to sell more art, or struggli…

This week we're tackling the topic of vulnerability - what does it mean for artists and why does it matter? In this wide-ranging discussion, we touch on the relationship between vulnerability and risk-taking; the importance of connecting with your work and your audience; and the fears that hold us back from showing our true selves. We close with a …

Recently we have both been reevaluating parts of our life - both work and home. Perhaps this has to do with chronological age, but perhaps it also relates to the stages we've reached in our careers. All creatives are inherently driven by the desire to make new things, but success can sometimes lead us to settle into comfortable repetition. Personal…

Eight years ago, Carlene Bronner was told she had only 18 months to live. Luckily, that prognosis was wrong and today she joins Louise to discuss how the illness spurred her into new efforts with her art, and where those efforts led her. Carlene's journey has been remarkable and she now sells her artwork around the world. Our conversation covers th…

This week's solo episode finds Louise musing on a quote from the writer Cheryl Strayed, who describes how she found her way with her writing. Instead of trying to write an amazing book, she says she simply "surrendered to the idea of my mediocrity" and then started writing anyway. This phrase seems to capture so much of what it means to be an artis…

This week we were inspired by two different creative documentaries to consider what we might learn from two rather unexpected masters of their craft; from developing a persona to where we look for outside validation. We discuss constructing in the process of creating, the benefit outside influences can bring - and when to say no! There are also pra…

What do you want from your art life? In this episode, Alice and Louise discuss the trials and joys of navigating through their own art careers. How do you know when it's time to change? And how do you find the courage to make that change, when there is no way of knowing the outcome? In this honest conversation, we emphasise the importance of reflec…

Debbie Taylor-Kerman is a New York-based artist who paints about the issues that most concern her. This week she joins Louise to discuss her life and her work. Debbie shares her formative experiences as a fish-out-of-water art student and explains how that time resonates in her work even today. Her early feelings of isolation and of never being "go…

This week, we share our thoughts on Meta's new social media platform Threads. Do you need to join? Do you have time to make the most of it? Is this something to help with your art career/business, or is it just a nice way of meeting new people and having interesting chats? Our conversation touches on introversion vs extroversion, the beauty of a pl…

“I think, no, you're not a real artist. I think we can all agree, Alice is not a real artist because she doesn't want to draw villages." And so it exists... amidst the every day trials of backache, family commitments we still carry around a load of rubbish ideas about what creativity looks like. So, today we are encouraging something different and …

This week Louise is joined by Trayci Tompkins, a south African native who recently uprooted her life and her art practice and moved to the UK. As artists, many of us crave change and yet change can also derail us - especially when we don't take the time to understand and acknowledge just how much we have been affected. Change can leave us completel…

This week, we’re discussing the benefits and challenges of showing our artwork, whether that is online or in person. Making art is a deeply personal experience but, for many of us, showing our work is also a vital part of the process. We made the work as a way of communicating something, and it's not communication unless someone else sees it. On th…

Drowning in piles of paper? Find it hard to decide what you still need to keep in your studio...? Today we take a closer look into the psychology of your creative space with Helen Sanderson, author of The Secret Life of Clutter. With a creative background herself, Helen believes in our key strengths; we are resourceful and have a strong desire to g…

Alice and Louise are together for the first time in weeks and their arty catch-up turns into an exploration of the importance of honouring our own creative processes. This includes resting when necessary, but also understanding when you need to take action. When is it worthwhile to push a little, and to test out different ideas before settling on a…

Well, hello and welcome to this rather different episode where Alice is put on the spot (gently!) by Jo McCarthy who works as a mentor for creatives - and also within Connected Artist Club (it's open now - but we close on 31st May, so don't delay!) This conversation digs a bit deeper into what it really means to build a creative life... is it alway…