Artist Academy

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sitting down with Artist Academy member Michael Quiroz for another Quit Your Day Job episode. In this series, I talk with artists who are navigating the transition from traditional jobs to full-time careers as artists. Michael shares how an unexpected layoff became the push he needed to finally pursue a career as a muralist after years of working in engineering.We talk about getting started without an established portfolio, finding clients through Thumbtack, and taking on different painting projects to build experience and generate income. Michael also shares how connecting with other artists through mural meetups led to collaborations, new opportunities, and valuable relationships.If you've been thinking about leaving your traditional job to pursue art full-time, Michael's story offers an honest look at the process and what it takes to start building a business around your creativity.

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m talking about the costs of ladders, scaffolding, and lifts for mural projects. If you’re taking on bigger walls, knowing what equipment you need and how much it costs can help you plan your budget and avoid underpricing your work. I’m breaking down the numbers for buying and renting equipment, including single-level scaffolding at $300–$400, double-decker scaffolding at around $1,000, and lift rentals that can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,000 a day depending on the equipment. I’ll explain when buying makes sense, when renting is the better option, and how I decide what a project requires before putting together a bid. I’ll also cover ways to manage equipment costs, from asking clients if they already have a lift available to working directly with rental companies to find the right setup. And because working at height comes with real risks, we’ll talk about the safety considerations that go along with these decisions. The goal is to help you budget more accurately, work efficiently, and protect your profits as your mural business grows.

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sitting down with Dani Liana for another success story within the Quit Your Day Job series. After years in the restaurant industry, Dani traded her serving shifts for a paintbrush and committed to building her mural business full-time this past year. Since making the transition, Dani has landed projects worth tens of thousands of dollars and reached her two-year income goal in just four months. She shares how she finds clients, approaches pricing, and turns word-of-mouth referrals into bigger opportunities. We also get into the challenges behind the success, from juggling motherhood and demanding project deadlines to navigating costly mistakes on the job. Dani’s experience shows how muralists can build a thriving business even in smaller communities. We explore what it takes to move beyond occasional commissions, price your work with confidence, and turn your artistic skills into a sustainable career.

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with my friend and Artist Academy member, Tara Juozitis, who’s currently leaving her six-figure job in product management to pursue art full-time. After starting her art company in 2024, she jumped into murals and has been growing her business while balancing a demanding career and family life. We talk about where her mural jobs are coming from, the benefits of investing in marketing, and what she's learned from hiring help to quickly get her to where she wants to go. Tara also shares how she manages her busy schedule while making time for her growing business, and why having the right support has made a big difference. If you’ve been thinking about quitting your day job but aren’t sure if you’re ready, Tara shares how she’s growing her mural business while still working full-time. We also talk about taking on projects outside your comfort zone and figuring things out along the way.

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m talking with Laura Thompson, a window painter with over 20 years of experience. She shares how window painting became an additional income stream in her art business and how artists can take advantage of the holiday season. We discuss how to find clients, choose the right paint and supplies, and price your work. Laura also shares how she uses social media to attract customers, plans her schedule around the Christmas rush, and turns window painting jobs into opportunities for more mural work. From getting your first client to learning how to work more efficiently, Laura offers practical advice for artists who want to try something new and earn more from their skills. If you’ve been looking for another way to grow your art business, window painting might be worth exploring! Get Laura’s Five Steps to Window Painting e-book HERE!

In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m joined by Stephen Ridley, a British pianist, artist, and entrepreneur with a pretty incredible story. He started playing piano when he was just two years old, went on to study at Durham University, and eventually landed a job in investment banking. But despite the success and security, he knew it wasn’t the life he wanted. Stephen eventually left banking, bought a £100 second-hand piano, and took it onto the streets of London. That decision led to a career that has taken him to more than 60 countries, performing for audiences all over the world and eventually building his own music education company. We talk about what street performing taught him about putting your work out there, getting feedback, and building confidence. Stephen also shares his thoughts on rejection, making money from your art, and knowing when to say no. There are so many similarities between what Stephen has experienced as a musician and what we experience as painters. His story is a great reminder that there isn’t one specific path you have to follow to build a career as an artist, and sometimes taking a completely different path can lead you somewhere you never expected.

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sitting down with my friend and Artist Academy member Ariane O’Day. I’ve known Ariane for about five years, during which I’ve had the privilege of watching her painting career blossom over time. She started out teaching and bartending but quickly realized those jobs were taking time away from the creative career she really wanted. Ariane shares what it took to finally let go of safety nets, find clients in a new community, and turn one opportunity into many through word of mouth. We also talk about the confidence she gained through attending Mural Meetups and how that experience helped her take on bigger projects. If you’re an artist who dreams of leaving your day job and making a living with your art, I think you’ll really connect with Ariane’s story. There’s no single path to becoming a full-time artist, but sometimes the biggest step is simply deciding to stop letting the thing that pays your bills keep you from building the career you actually want.

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m talking with Brittany Wolfe of Painting with a Twist in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has been with the franchise for nearly 16 years and talks about how she was able to build a successful paint-and-sip studio, and how you can too. We talk about why she chose the franchise route, the support that comes with it, and everything that goes into keeping a studio running. From marketing and hiring artists to managing the finances and making sure customers have a great experience, there’s a lot more happening behind the scenes than you might think. We also talk about her partnership with Birch Tree Communities where she brings art to adults with mental disabilities. As part of the project, participants paint their own birch trees, with each individual tree coming together to create a larger collaborative piece of artwork. She shares what she’s learned from working alongside her husband, balancing motherhood and business, and what makes someone a great instructor. We talk about finding your own personality as a teacher and remembering that the creative side of being an artist needs the business side to support it. Let me know what you think of this week’s episode with Brittany Wolfe! Check out Wolfe Studio Art to see more of her work.

“Your worst client will teach you more about your business than your best one ever will. They’ll show you every gap in your process, every weakness in your communication, every boundary you didn’t set.” In this episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m sharing some of the worst customer experiences I’ve had throughout my mural career and the business lessons those experiences taught me. From an unpaid project that ended up in court to mistakes I discovered in my own contracts, these stories weren’t always easy to go through, but they showed me exactly where my business needed to improve. I’ll talk about the importance of clear communication, detailed sketches, contracts, deposits, getting approval for changes, and setting boundaries before problems happen. Because difficult customers don’t always mean you have a bad customer. Sometimes, they reveal where your systems, communication, or boundaries need to be stronger. If you’re a mural artist or creative business owner, this episode will help you recognize potential problems before they become expensive ones. My goal is to give you practical lessons you can apply to your own business without having to learn them the hard way.

In this week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m talking about selling original canvas art and how I unexpectedly sold about $7,000 worth in just three weeks. I’ve made more than a million dollars with murals, but only around $50,000 from original canvas work in the last 13 years. So these recent sales really surprised me, especially because some of the paintings had been sitting around for many years. I’m sharing my pricing strategy to sell, and the different ways these paintings finally found buyers. I talk about getting out of my own head when someone actually wants to buy, and how my art connects with those right buyers in a way I never thought it would. But more than anything, this episode is a reminder to play the long game. Just because something doesn’t sell today doesn’t mean it won’t sell years from now. Keep painting and keep putting your work out there because you never know when the right person is going to find your art.