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In this episode of the Help! I Am Artist podcast, I'm joined by Canadian artist Valerie Capewell for an honest conversation about creativity, courage, and building a sustainable life as an artist. Valerie shares her journey from running a successful graphic design business to becoming a full-time painter, and how trusting her process, even when it feels messy or uncertain, has shaped her unique artistic voice. We talk about the creative roller coaster of making art, finding your audience, balancing business with personal expression, and why structure and consistency can actually support artistic freedom. Valerie also opens up about pricing, working with galleries, and the mindset shifts that helped her keep growing as an artist. If you've ever wondered how to keep pushing your work forward while staying true to yourself, this episode is full of insight and encouragement. Connect with Valerie Capewell: Website: https://www.valeriecapewell.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeriecapewell Want more focus in your creative practice? Download my free Focused Artist Planner here: https://www.sonjasmalheer.com/planner

Discover how Dutch realist artist Rob de Vries built a sustainable art career through consistency, calm structure, and a grounded daily creative routine. In this inspiring conversation, Rob shares how his lifelong passion for drawing Elvis Presley, his photorealistic Memories of a Happy Childhood series, and his commitment to showing up every day shaped the thriving practice he has today. Rob's story is a powerful reminder that you don't need to wait for inspiration to create meaningful work. Instead, momentum grows through simple routines, steady effort, and the willingness to keep going—especially on the days when creativity feels slow. We talk about: • Developing a disciplined daily art practice • His process as a realist & photorealism painter • Growing a loyal collector community around his Elvis art • Balancing commercial work with fine art • The role of teaching in strengthening your craft • Managing doubt, motivation, and long-term creative focus • Building a grounded, sustainable art career step by step Explore Rob's artwork and follow his journey: https://robdevries.com https://elvis-art.com If you're an artist craving more focus, structure, and clarity in your creative life, this episode offers practical encouragement and insight you can apply immediately.

Small shifts can create massive change. In this episode of the Help I Am Artist Podcast, we explore how clarity creates momentum and why tiny, consistent habits can completely transform your art practice. I'll share lessons from professional sports, stories of contemporary artists, and practical steps you can take to move from scattered goals to identity-driven habits that keep you creating with ease. If you're ready to build clarity, confidence, and steady momentum in your art practice, join me inside The Focused Artist Lab—an 8-week guided journey designed to help artists like you thrive. Doors are closing soon, and seats are limited. Learn more and grab your spot here: www.sonjasmalheer.com/lab

Are you a visual artist who's brimming with ideas, but struggling to finish what you start? Do you feel scattered—busy, yet somehow not moving forward in your art practice? You're not alone. In this episode of the Help I Am Artist Podcast, artist and coach Sonja Smalheer guides you through the powerful shift from scattered to focused. Discover why clarity is the secret ingredient for creative momentum, confident decision-making, and sustainable growth in your art practice.   Inside this episode, you'll learn: How to recognize when you're in the "scattered artist" phase Why distractions keep holding you back (and how to break free) The 10-ball analogy that will transform the way you invest your creative energy How focus touches every part of your practice—your art, mindset, message, and even your income This isn't about limiting your creativity—it's about unlocking the clarity that fuels true freedom in your art life. 💡 Special Invitation for Artists If you're ready to move past overwhelm and step into clarity, join the waitlist for the Focused Artist Lab, a guided experience where Sonja helps artists like you find focus, build confidence, and thrive with intention. Spots are limited to just 10 artists. 👉 Reserve your place today at: www.sonjasmalheer.com/lab Your art deserves clarity. And you deserve the freedom to thrive

Bianca Lever exchanged the lowlands of The Netherlands for the rolling hills of Italy where she now lives and works as a full-time artist. In this episode, Bianca discusses her challenges transitioning from a hobby to a professional artist, her inspiration, and what she is doing to attract new audiences.

If you love making art and you're secretly wanting to embrace the life of an artist. Then listen up! In this episode, I chat with UK artist Jane Beaumont. After a fulfilling career as a teacher and therapist, Jane finally took this step herself. Find out how a love note from her husband encouraged her to take the first brave steps, how she started sketching every day, soaking up inspiration on social media, and intentionally steered herself towards life as a professional artist. Mentioned in this episode: Quote: David Whyte, "Will you have confidence in what you love?"  Artists: David Hockney & William Kentridge  Connect with Jane Instagram: @janesbeaumont  Website: www.janebeaumont.art

Mish Maudsley aka Mishfit's art occupies the hinterland between street art and fine art painting. An active part of UK street art for over 15 years, she has since painted internationally from the streets of Melbourne to Europe's biggest street art festival, Upfest. Her most recent foray into the world of London art fairs follows an incredible array of live painting venues over the years. From her studio in Brighton, she is now embracing a more refined approach, combining spray paint and oil paint, to create an energetic style that captures the raw process of creativity. Clashing traditional methods with a fresh contemporary urban art edge. Inspired by the forces of nature, and a deep sense of wanderlust, Mishfit has developed a vibrant visual language of dreamlike luminous cloudscapes as a metaphor for human emotion. Sometimes interwoven with obscured figurative elements, she creates poignant, exuberant paintings which celebrate the commonalities that make us human. Enjoy Part 2 of our conversation. Website: www.mishfit.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mishfit_art/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mishfit_art

Mish Maudsley aka Mishfit's art occupies the hinterland between street art and fine art painting. An active part of UK street art for over 15 years, she has since painted internationally from the streets of Melbourne to Europe's biggest street art festival, Upfest. Her most recent foray into the world of London art fairs follows an incredible array of live painting venues over the years. From her studio in Brighton, she is now embracing a more refined approach, combining spray paint and oil paint, to create an energetic style that captures the raw process of creativity. Clashing traditional methods with a fresh contemporary urban art edge. Inspired by the forces of nature, and a deep sense of wanderlust, Mishfit has developed a vibrant visual language of dreamlike luminous cloudscapes as a metaphor for human emotion. Sometimes interwoven with obscured figurative elements, she creates poignant, exuberant paintings which celebrate the commonalities that make us human. Enjoy Part 1 of our conversation. Website: www.mishfit.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mishfit_art/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mishfit_art

If you need some art fuel, listen to what South African artist Duncan Stewart says about art. I recently interviewed him for my podcast; his words are still resonating in my heart. 'Art is ingrained in our deepest being. Our collective experiences, DNA, genetic makeup, and contexts have made us all wonderfully unique. In our own right, every human being is a magnificent artwork.  Art can bypass our intellect and rational thinking, and it can penetrate the soul and we can be moved. It's a language by which we can connect on a deep level.' Good stuff! Now that should silence those nagging voices telling you why you even bother getting paint on your canvas, marks on your clay, or words on your paper.  You are not just making art. What you are creating has value. Without even trying, you are expressing your uniqueness (which is amazing) and you have that incredible ability to touch hearts.  If you are looking for support & connection as a working artist then definitely join us in THRIVE. Thrive is where artists meet, learn & grow to become their creative best.

From graphic designer to working artist, Duncan Stewart walks us through his journey and shares what he's learned about living as an artist along the way. Coming from a traditional family of lawyers and bankers, Duncan never saw himself becoming an artist, even with an insatiable appetite to draw and paint. Though he studied, and later worked, as a graphic designer, he eventually gave himself the opportunity to explore the underlying desire to create. At 22 years of age, while working in an advertising firm, Duncan allowed himself to explore his artistic tendencies and attended art school in Florence.  Duncan gave himself two years to understand why the pull to art was so strong. In Florence, he found his answers. Creating art provided what he needed to build a sustainable life: personal expression, connecting with people, and financial stability. Duncan explains that working as an artist is not a straightforward path, but for him, a necessary one: "Art is a difficult journey, but it's [...] who I am."  Without the funds for art school, Duncan had to get creative, and cycled from Johannesburg to Cape Town, gaining sponsors that allowed him to attend his first year. After running out of money, Duncan put on an exhibition with his student work and raised the funds necessary for his second year.   He explains his path has shown him who he is as a person and artist, and that being around great artists led him to challenge himself. Duncan notes, "[w]hen you go to Italy or when you choose your art school or when you choose the company you keep, I've realized that [you should] always aim as high as you can. Your own standard will then automatically be raised." Duncan now works across all media. From painting in oil, sculpting, or fabricating works in bronze, ceramics, or stainless steel, he pulls inspiration from life's observations, and what's happening in current culture. He reveals that his art continues to shift, becoming less figurative, and more cerebral and expressive.  Duncan encourages young artists to never stop drawing. Once you know yourself as an artist, practice as an artist, and create a network along the way. Duncan highlights the importance of art, noting, "we are art [as unique individuals], and it is a language by which we can connect at a deep, deep level." Whether invoking rage, curiosity, or love, art lets us relate to one another.     When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, Duncan wishes he would have guarded himself against others' opinions, and reminded himself to be okay with who he was. He muses he would tell himself to take more risks, taste and see as much as he can, and find mentors that grab his attention. The life of a working artist was not so much a choice for Duncan, but an inevitability. Being able to apply his natural talents let him explore the insistent internal voice that drew him towards art and creativity.      Join us next time for PART 2 of Duncan's story! *** If you want extra support in making, marketing, and building a business around your creativity then you are welcome to join me and a group of wonderful artists all over the world in THRIVE. For a limited time only I'm offering you all-access to THRIVE with immediate access to all the modules, courses, lessons, worksheets, community support, art expert & Q&A sessions for just €27.-/ month. Head over to www.sonjasmalheer.com/thrive to find out more.

As a visual artist, you love spending time creating your art. It's fun and exciting to turn what you are passionate about into something you can share with others. However, trying to find ways to promote & sell it effectively is another story altogether.  How can something you are so committed to do be so frustrating at the same time? This is a question serial entrepreneur, marketing expert & television producer Mauritz Briët asked himself. It struck him that the artists he knew were having a hard time connecting what they were creating with an audience ready to buy their art.  'Artists have colourful lives and great stories to tell, yet many don't know how to use their personalities to share and connect with their audiences.' Mauritz's fascination with the creative soul motivated him to start a brand spanking new online art selling platform, Artists Attic Online.  According to Mauritz, thousands of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and objects are stored in countless studios and attics. It's his mission to bring all that unseen art down from the dusty attic and showcase these artworks on his new online platform. In this episode, Mauritz shares his vision for art and artists including some hot tips for artists wanting to sell their art online. Enjoy our conversation.   Check out Artist Attic Online Looking for ways to Market & Sell your Art? Download your free guide here. ->https://www.sonjasmalheer.com Need extra support & connection. Join our artist group.

Can you remember where you were this time last year? How did you feel about your art? What were your aspirations? This year might have sprung you some surprises, but you hung in there, showed up, and got to work. Your journey as an artist won't always be smooth and easy. Your income will fluctuate, your energy will shift, and your focus will change as projects come and go. Growing as an artist is a continual process of anticipating, pivoting, and learning. Not all your actions will be as successful. It's often in these not-so-successful moments that real growth happens. As 2021 draws to a close, take a moment to envision where you would like to be this time next year? Where do you see opportunities & growth for your art practice? In this episode, I'll be highlighting five areas of your art practice that you can restructure and align to see more growth….no matter what is happening in the world.   Free Art Marketing Guide As a visual artist, you know better than anyone else that it's hard to stand out & sell your art.  The good news is getting your art seen & appreciated is not rocket science you just need to know how... and I'd love to show you. In my new E-Book, 10 Art Experts Share their Top Art Marketing & Selling Tips Download your FREE Guide today to future-proof your art practice & see more growth in 2022 Access your FREE GUIDE here

You've carefully created your art and are ready to share it with the world. It's time to get your art into the hands of your potential buyers. Your next step is to market your art.   Marketing may feel overwhelming, but promoting your work can be just as creative and satisfying as making your art. It's never been a more exciting time for artists to promote and sell their art. The online space offers you powerful opportunities to connect with audiences you may never have considered before.   Your first step in creating an effective marketing plan for your art and getting more out of your social media is to understand better who your art audience is. Who is this mysterious art buyer?  Where can you find the right audience to promote and sell your art to? You may have heard the saying: 'If you plan to reach everybody, you will invariably reach nobody.' So true, especially when it comes to selling your art.   The more defined your art audience is, the easier and more effective you'll be able to reach them. In this episode, we'll be taking a closer look at how you can start to define your potential art buyers. Find out how you can use the online space to ask, listen to & survey your audience.  There is valuable information at your fingertips that you can use to refine your posting, adjust your marketing and fine-tune your message.   P.S. As a visual artist, you know better than anyone else that it's hard to stand out & sell your art.  The good news is getting your art seen & appreciated is not rocket science you just need to know how... and I'd love to show you.   In my NEW E-Book, 10 Art Experts Share their Top Art Marketing & Selling Tips   Download your FREE Guide today if you're ready to be more visible, get noticed & attract the right buyers   Access your copy here

From a young age Dido had 2 big passions. Music & Art! In this episode, Dutch Artist, Dido de Beer shares her journey of how she turned these passions into a budding art profession. Dido found her niche. Take a listen and discover how getting really specific about her style helped her build her business and connect with the right art buyers. Find out what inspires her and what hot tips she has for all those creatives wanting to turn their hobby into the life of a working artist. BONUS: Dido has a special gift for all the Help I Am Artist Podcast Listeners.  Head over to https://www.sonjasmalheer.com/dido to access 2 of Dido's favorite pop icon wallpapers which you can download as a musical background for your mobile device.

When his parents celebrated their wedding anniversary Ramon surprised them with a special gift. He turned a block of plaster into his very first piece of sculpture. He loved the process so much that he simply kept making and creating. After being rejected by the art academy Ramon found his way and now tests the limits of his materials in his studio in The Netherlands where he makes personalized sculptures for private & business commissions both locally and around the globe. In this episode Award-Winning Dutch Sculptor Ramon Schalkx shares more about his artist story and what motivates him to make his art. This episode is filled to the brim with practical tips and valuable insights into how artists can successfully win and complete art commissions. As promised Ramon has prepared a special worksheet for artists looking to work on commissions. In this valuable document, Ramon explains the 4 steps that you can use to turn those often nerve-racking commissions into memorable occasions.  Head over to my website to download this free special worksheet. Go to www.sonjasmalheer.com/commission Find out more about Ramon: https://www.ramonschalkx.com https://www.instagram.com/ramonschalkx/