
Learn to Paint Podcast
Every month, you'll hear conversations with artists and teachers about how to get better at painting. Conversations will cover topics for all levels of painter from beginning to advanced. We'll explore everything from tools and techniques, color theory, composition and design to habits and goals.
Latest episodes

May 24, 2022 • 47min
Ep. 51: Painting Falling Water with Julie Gilbert Pollard
This week, I welcome back Ep. 25 guest Julie Gilbert Pollard to discuss falling water. You’ll learn how to simplify the complexity of falling water and get advice on how to approach reflections and shadows in both still water and moving water. We focus on watercolor but the ideas work across any medium. ---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

May 10, 2022 • 48min
Ep 50: Hashim Akib
In the conversation with acrylic painter Hashim Akib, you’ll discover a unique way to mix your acrylic paints, how to look beyond your local influences, and explore strategies you can use to create looser paintings.Gloss & High Gloss Art Club Members: In your bonus episode with Akib, we dive into drawing, what you can do with reference photos and a whole lot more. (Plus get access to an additional 15 bonus conversations.) ---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

Apr 26, 2022 • 30min
Ep. 49: 7 Reasons to Start a 20-Minute Daily Art Habit (Mini)
The “I don’t have time to paint” problem is one all of us face. But in today's episode, we explore all the benefits of starting small. You’re going to learn how to shift your success metrics, get some ideas for what you can do in 20 minutes and how just a small amount of daily practice helps you and those you love get ready for a larger art practice. Today we’re going to discover the mighty power of 20 minutes. So if you don’t paint consistently but want to or are struggling with finding time in your schedule, this is the show for you. For show notes, including links to the blog article I mention, head to learntopaintpodcast.com/podcast/episode49.And to join me in the spring 20for20artchallenge2022 head to learntopaintpodcast.com/20for20artchallenge to learn more. ---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

Apr 4, 2022 • 52min
Ep 48: Louise Fletcher
Welcome to the conversation you’ll learn the difference between working fast and being rushed, how to move between working intuitively and analytically, and why you always want to follow your own joy. Plus a whole lot more.Podcast Art Club - This episode comes with a fantastic bonus episode where we move from mindset into more technical pieces. You’ll discover a new reason why you might want to reach for a limited palette, some advice on composition and a few pointers on how to critique your own work. PLUS, Podcast Art Club have access to additional bonus conversations with guests. ---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

Mar 22, 2022 • 33min
Ep 47: Understanding Light & Shadow with Sarah Sedwick (mini)
Ep 22 guest Sarah Sedwick is back this week to talk about the light and shadows in your paintings. In the conversation, you’ll learn the anatomy of light and dark, the questions Sedwick asks when she’s starting a new painting, and a bunch of things to keep an eye out for when you’re studying your own still life set up. Plus a whole lot more.In the conversation, we talk about two specific paintings, “Blue Breakfast” and “Cuties in Blue.”---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

Mar 8, 2022 • 50min
Ep 46: Brienne M Brown
In the conversation, you’ll discover Brown’s pigment strategy, how to use opaques even if you are primarily a transparent painter and why sometimes the goal needs to be an ALMOST finished painting.Gloss and High Gloss: Your bonus conversation is ready. In it, Brown talks composition and why you absolutely don’t need to be faithful to your reference photo. Listen here.---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

Feb 22, 2022 • 25min
Ep. 45 Painting Deep Dive with Debbie Miller (Mini)
Episode 15 guest Debbie Miller is BACK for a second mini episode and we're talking about two of her paintings, primarily "Coffee Break" and a little bit "Out of the Blue."---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

Feb 8, 2022 • 46min
Ep.44: Jose Trujillo
In the conversation with Jose Trujillo, you’ll learn the power of focusing your efforts on the painting discipline instead of the final painting product, how discomfort is part of the learning process and the advantages and disadvantages of experimentation.Gloss and High Gloss Patreon Friends of the Show:Your bonus conversation is ready. It’s a small one but it’s packed with some good stuff. We focus in on how Trujillo can and does paint up to 14 hours a day. And maybe that’s not how long you work each day, but there are some great lessons in there for painting MORE. Including how he approaches his references so that he can paint… everything.---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

Jan 25, 2022 • 34min
Ep. 43 Paint Pigments with Gamblin (Mini Episode)
We often talk about color on this show…hue, value, saturation… but at the heart of all of that is the pigments themselves. In Mini Episode 43, I sit down with Mary Weisenburger from Gamblin and we get down to the nuts and bolts of what makes paint paint.And while we look through the lens of oil paint in particular, so much of what we talk about is true for acrylic, watercolor, and gouache as well. Show notes here:https://www.learntopaintpodcast.com/podcast/episode43Support the show here:https://www.patreon.com/learntopaintpodcast---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show

Jan 11, 2022 • 50min
Ep. 42: Kellee Wynne Conrad
This week I'm talking with mixed media artist Kellee Wynne Conrad! In the conversation we talk about the challenges of not going back to your old self, the opportunities of limitations and Conrad walks us through her five principles of color. Plus a whole lot more.Gloss and High Gloss Patreon Friends of the Show: Your bonus conversation is ready on Patreon. We discuss burnout and the power of letting go of old work and those ideas never realized. It might make you think about your own space and materials differently. I know it did me.---Each week, discover 3 ideas you can put to work in your next painting. Sign up for free here: www.learntopaintpodcast.com/newsletterSupport the show