Art Juice: A podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers

This week we’re discussing the idea of success… what does it mean to be a successful artist and how do you know if you are achieving your goals? Many of us shy away from numbers and spreadsheets, but we both believe it’s vital to track key metrics in order to measure your progress. These metrics change at different stages of our career - in the early stages we can track the numbers that tell us if we are showing up consistently (things like hours spent painting and number of social media posts). Later on, we might be more interested in sales, expenses, web traffic, and social media engagement. But before you can decide what numbers to track, you really need to understand what success looks like for you - everything else flows from that key decision. Are you more interested in selling your work or in living a fulfilling creative life (or both)? Once you know where you are heading, you can determine what to measure. Mentioned Abigail Bowen Dark Days http://www.abigailbowen.com/ Hicks Gallery https://www.hicksgallery.co.uk/abigail-bowen-dark-days/ Jackson Pollock documentary Mural https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY9leqZUMIk Yvonne Lyon https://yvonnelyonmusic.com/ Susan Hart https://www.susanhartart.com/ Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Is there a perception in the art world that big is better?  Do you gain more respect if you make larger paintings? This week we debate wether size matters and share our own personal experiences of scaling up our work. We discuss the challenges of working larger, including the need to think differently, choose the right substrate and tools, and - most of all - buy enough paint. We also challenge the notion that big is better and discuss the importance of finding your own desired way of working. We feel that so much of this depends on what your work is about and what feels right to you. The right work will always find an audience, no matter the size. And if it doesn't, does that really matter if you are painting what you love? This week's chat also covers internet scams, inspirational emails, school reports that miss the mark, and Alice's first in-person art event in 2020. Mentioned Ethan Hawke TED talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRS9Gek4V5Q Polly Dutton https://www.pollydutton.co.uk/ Rachel Davies https://www.racheldavisstudio.com/abstractportraits You can see 'Canopy' on this page: https://alicesheridan.com/landscape-unlocked/ Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

As we approach "back to school" in the UK and Louise's course comes to end, we are both thinking about transitioning back to studio work. But the  Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll and in this episode, we discuss how that has manifested for each of us. From a general feeling of being scattered (Alice) to a fear of public transport (Louise) and the over-riding sense that very little is certain anymore. But since uncertainty is our new reality, how do we stay upbeat and motivated? Our wide-ranging discussion spans meditation, managing moods, enjoying the present moment, insomnia, self-knowledge, the joys of a Sunday newspaper, and how we can make more time for things we enjoy. We also discuss what keeps us from doing what we want, including the fear of becoming totally selfish, the habit of staying busy, and the danger of failing in public. In the end, we both believe that this strange lockdown time has made us re-evaluate our priorities and tune in to what we really want out of our lives. Mentioned: See Alice's latest work at The Cowshed Collective: https://www.artwavefestival.org/2020venues/cowshed-collective Alastair Campbell “Living Better”: https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/aug/30/alastair-campbell-surviving-depression-how-i-learned-to-live-with-my-enemy Annie Nightingale: “Hey, Hi, Hello” 5 decades of popular culture https://www.waterstones.com/book/hey-hi-hello/annie-nightingale//9781474616683 Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we tackle some of the false beliefs that can bring artists down.  So many of us accept our thoughts without questioning them - especially when it comes to the thoughts that hold us back. To shine a light on this issue, we decided to share some of our own past beliefs (and how we got past them). Louise's false beliefs included the idea that you have to be born with talent, the notion that artists can't make money, and the firm conviction that she would never be able to use colour (which is now her favourite part of painting). Alice's limiting beliefs included you must paint with oils, you need hours at a time to make good work, and you must have gallery representation to be taken 'seriously.'  During the conversation, you'll learn about Alice's childhood prize for colouring and Louise's 'compare and despair' relationship with 8 year-old Dale Arey.  But most of all, you'll see just how many ideas and thoughts could have stopped us in our tracks. Mentioned: Francis Bacon studio http://francis-bacon.com/artworks/studio Dreadzone 360 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOfWV4_2llU Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This is one of our more contentious episodes. A respected and highly prescient marketing guru says marketing is about to change and at least one of us disagrees. We debate his ideas along with other marketing approaches, to see if we can find the sweet spot for artists. When is it a good idea to create long-form blog posts? How can content curation help with our networking? And when is it preferable to simply share what we're doing in short emails and social media posts?  During the course of the conversation, Louise also shares a new idea she feels will help her build a new audience for her work, but Alice has her doubts. As always, we feel marketing is another area where we all have to find our own way. For some, committing to a monthly newsletter may feel good and for others it might feel like one too many commitments. Some might love the idea of curating from different sources while others prefer to simply report as they go. We hope this lively debate helps you decide what's right for you. Mentioned Alice's one-on-one coaching https://bookme.name/alicesheridan Brian Clark's podcast https://unemployable.com/podcast/ Gary Vaynerchuk You tube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctXZhXmG-kf3tlIXgVZUlw Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we’re tackling that most sensitive of topics - money. We didn’t have much of a plan for this episode - we just decided to start talking and see what happened. And what happened was a fascinating conversation about how we view money and why. Where are we generous? Where do we hold back? How does upbringing show up in our current relationship with money? Why will Alice happily buy a new car, but haggle for a £2 discount on a canvas? Why is Louise perfectly happy spending money on other peoples’ stuff, but sometimes struggles to charge a fair price for her own art? And how are we working to change our relationship to money? We also get into the financial side of an art career- for those who want to make a living from art, we consider the questions to ask yourself and the conscious steps you can take in the right direction.  Mentioned Parasite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUXfv87Wpk Reply All podcast https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all Book a personal session with Alice: https://bookme.name/alicesheridan Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Support the podcast with a small donation at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

What does it feel like to have a breakthrough in your art? How do you know it’s actually a breakthrough and not just a fluke success? And how do you keep the momentum going once the initial serotonin rush has subsided and you realise there is a lot of work still to do? Last week Alice predicted that a breakthrough was on the way for Louise, and that turned out to be very prescient. In this episode she shares what happened, what she plans to do next and why power tools will play an important role. We also answer a listener question about whether it’s acceptable for a workshop leader to physically change a student’s work, sparking an interesting discussion about teaching styles and student boundaries. Books Mentioned:  No Night is Too Long - Barbara Vine https://www.amazon.co.uk/Night-Too-Long-Barbara-Vine/dp/0517799642 Moon Tiger - Penelope Lively https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=moon+tiger&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 The Pilot’s Wife - Anita Shreve https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pilots-Wife-Anita-Shreve/dp/0349110859 How to Paint a Dead Man - Sarah Hall https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Paint-Dead-Sarah-Hall/dp/0571315631/ Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

This week, we discuss how to handle a slump... those times when you turn up to work, and put in the hours, and yet nothing goes right; somehow the well has run dry, When this happens it's so easy for us to start berating ourselves, but actually we both believe this is a natural part of the process. Alice has always believed in taking breaks, but Louise finds that difficult since painting is the most joyful thing she does. So we brainstorm solutions and offer tips and strategies for anyone experiencing the same thing. Alice's suggestions include stepping back to assess what has been working and what hasn't. Louise thinks getting outside input might be one solution.  Whatever the solution turns out to be, Alice believes this is a breakthrough moment and so we end our discussion with a challenge for Louise - go explore her newest idea and just see where it leads. This is an honest and open look at one artist's process - the good and the bad - and we hope it encourages you if you ever feel down about your work. Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

The idea for this episode was sparked by the book "Coaching the Artist Within" by Eric Maisel which Alice has been revisiting. If you've ever caught yourself thinking you must be 'this' or 'that' in order to be a creative success this might help you shift your ideas. We talk about the author's ideas on dualistic thinking. Too often, Maisel suggests, we feel we must choose one way or another, without allowing for the possibility that we could actually be both.  In fact, he argues, a truly creative life requires us to allow in one more than one possibility.  We discuss this idea in the context of self-judgment, defining our art style, and the rules we place on our work. We also debate the idea of doing 'meaningful work' and answer a listener question about selling prints. We both believe that prints can be a valuable addition to your business, but as with anything their success will depend on the time and energy you put into them.  Mentioned:  "Coaching the Artist Within" - Eric Maisel Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Do you ever find yourself wishing you had fewer artist followers on Instagram? Do you worry that you're not reaching enough buyers? Do you strive only for gallery owners and interior designers? This week, we're flipping this issue on it's head to highlight the positive aspects of a strong artist network.  As we discuss this issue, we share our own experiences and the benefits we've gained from building relationships with our peers. These benefits include painting sales, business advice, collaborations, and surprising opportunities - not to mention the fun we've had! We also answer a listener question about framing, share the inspiring story of an American singer-songwriter, and touch on the cycle of expansion and contraction in our work. Mentioned: Jason Isbell's Youtube concert Shilpe Agash on Instagram Tara Leaver's IG story highlights  Find us and sign up for our newsletters at: www.alicesheridan.com www.louisefletcherart.com Submit a question at bit.ly/artjuicepodcast Buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/artjuice Follow us on Instagram: Alice @alicesheridanstudio Louise @louisefletcher_art Credits "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License