Artist Academy

Hosted by Andrea Ehrhardt

Business Entrepreneurship Arts

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447

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Jun 2026

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June 15, 202630 min

448. Safe Route vs High Art Profit

Are you building the art career you actually want, or the one that simply feels safest? In this week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I'm diving into a mindset shift that's been on my mind lately: the idea that many artists unknowingly limit their income by limiting the types of opportunities they're willing to pursue. Using examples from both the art world and beyond, I'll explore the difference between low-ticket, high-volume work and higher-value services that require more skill, confidence, and commitment. We'll talk about pricing, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and why learning the hard thing is often what leads to the biggest rewards. If you're ready to think bigger about what's possible for your art business, this conversation might be exactly the push you need.

June 8, 202620 min

447. The Long Game

In this week's episode of the Artist Academy Podcast, I'm sharing a reminder that I think every artist needs to hear from time to time: just because things are slow doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. A year ago I found myself staring at an almost empty schedule. There were opportunities floating around, but nothing seemed to be sticking. I found myself questioning whether I was being too selective and if I needed to change course. Fast forward to today, and I'm in one of the busiest seasons of my career, juggling multiple large-scale mural projects and booking months ahead. The funny thing is, there wasn't a magic marketing strategy, a viral post, or a big breakthrough moment that changed everything. In this episode, I'm talking about what I've learned from experiencing both the slow seasons and the busy ones. I share why I believe so much of success comes from compounded effort, how becoming more selective with projects has shaped my business, and why I'm focusing on reinvesting in my work while the momentum is here. If you've been showing up consistently and wondering if your efforts are making a difference, I hope this episode encourages you to keep going.

June 1, 202636 min

446. Luxury 24-Karat Gold Portraits with Shirley Yang Crutchfield episode

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with artist and former tech entrepreneur Shirley Yang Crutchfield about her journey from startup founder to luxury portrait artist. After stepping away from a successful career and becoming a mother, Shirley found herself facing an identity crisis that ultimately led her back to art. Through years of experimentation, she discovered a unique niche creating highly detailed portraits of accomplished women using traditional 24-karat gold water gilding techniques. We talk about finding your niche, building a personal brand, creating meaningful client experiences, and balancing ambition with fulfillment. Shirley shares how she transformed a centuries-old gilding process into a modern celebration of women who have overcome challenges and built remarkable lives. We also discuss pricing, marketing, collaborations, social media, PR, and the importance of creating work that feels authentic to who you are. If you're trying to figure out what you want to be known for as an artist, or you're navigating a major life or career transition, this episode is for you.

May 27, 202634 min

445. Kiptoe - USA - May Mural Month

This week’s May Mural Month replay episode on the Artist Academy Podcast features the social media-famous international muralist, Kiptoe. I knew this guy had a ton of Instagram followers (278k), even more fans on YouTube (832k), and plenty of experience under his belt. But what I didn’t know about Kiptoe was that his hustle game is next-level—and that he started traveling the world independently in his 20s, building his brand from the ground up. He’s a great example of an artist who took the time to get really good at his craft, then pitched himself (and still continues to pitch today) to clients to land the mural jobs he wants. This dude needs no further introduction—and I know you’re going to feel seriously inspired by this week’s replay episode with Kiptoe.

May 25, 202640 min

444. Nina Valkhoff - Europe - May Mural Month

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with international muralist Nina Valkhoff for another May Mural Month episode! Nina shares how she went from painting custom client work in the Netherlands to creating large scale wildlife murals across 16 countries worldwide. Over the years, she slowly transitioned away from painting whatever clients requested and began fully embracing her own colorful, nature inspired style. We talk about mural festivals, traveling internationally for projects, finding creative confidence, and the importance of patience when building a long term mural career. Nina also opens up about burnout, learning to take breaks between projects, and why protecting your creativity matters just as much as improving your skills. We also get into mural photography, documenting your work professionally, favorite paint materials, and how social media has naturally helped attract mural opportunities throughout her career. If you’re interested in mural festivals, creative growth, and the realities of painting murals professionally, this episode is for you!

May 20, 202637 min

443. Peachzz - Europe - May Mural Month

This week’s replay episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is an interview with the international street artist Peachzz (aka Megan Russell). You’ll hear Megan tell her story of how she got started with murals (using spray paint) with a theme of birds and wildlife. Her style evolved into also painting the human form, and fast forward to today with one that blends into both human and nature. Megan got her start by applying to mural/street art festivals and shares with us her tips on how to put your best foot forward when sending in an application. She has a template that she uses and, in this interview, goes over it page by page to give you a better idea of what kind of effort is needed to land these high-competition jobs. Megan inspires me to create more of what I want to create, as opposed to just leaning into commissioned work, and apply for bigger opportunities. I think every artist will get something from this interview, no matter if you’re a muralist or not. Let me know what you think of this week’s replay episode with Peachzz (Megan Russell).

May 18, 202638 min

442. Cat Dean - Australia - May Mural Month

This week on the Artist Academy Podcast, I’m chatting with Australian muralist Cat Dean for another May Mural Month episode! Cat shares her journey from selling drawings at markets to building a full time mural career while raising two daughters along the way. Today she paints murals for schools, businesses, hospitals, and government spaces across Australia. We talk about developing a signature style, pricing mural projects, balancing motherhood with business ownership, navigating burnout, and learning how to confidently take on bigger opportunities before feeling fully ready. Cat also shares how her detailed optical illusion murals helped set her apart as an artist. Plus, we dive into the differences between muraling in Australia and the U.S., from paint brands and materials to marketing and client communication. If you’re looking for encouragement to grow your mural business, trust yourself more, and keep learning as you go, this episode is for you.

May 13, 202634 min

441. Danielle Weber - Australia - May Mural Month

This week’s replay episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is an interview with an incredibly talented Australian muralist and mentor Danielle Weber! Danielle has built a thriving art business from the ground up, painting murals and canvases priced anywhere from $10K to $30K on average. We talk about everything from how she connects with clients through Instagram DMs to how she bought her own warehouse studio and turned it into a creative hub. She also shares her no-fluff approach to pricing, confidence, and setting boundaries as an artist. We also dive into the importance of community over competition, building a sustainable mindset, and balancing creative freedom with business growth. Tune in to hear how Danielle’s story proves that with strategy, passion, and a bit of grit, you can make a full-time living doing what you love, from Melbourne to anywhere in the world.

May 11, 202658 min

440. Patrycja Hannagan - Australia - May Mural Month

This week’s episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is an interview with Australian muralist Patrycja Hannagan, also known as Mural Nomad. We talk about how she built a full-time mural career while traveling across Australia, what she learned from completing her 100 Mural Project, and how her business has evolved over the years. Patrycja shares the reality behind life as a traveling muralist, from landing jobs in small towns to managing large-scale projects, teaching other artists, and building a strong community through retreats and mentorships. We also get into some of the harder parts of being a full-time artist including burnout, grief, personal growth, and navigating unhealthy mentorship experiences in the mural industry. If you’re interested in murals, creative business, travel, mentorship, or the behind-the-scenes reality of being a working artist, this episode is for you.

May 6, 202647 min

439. Corrado Mallia - Canada - May Mural Month

This week’s replay episode of the Artist Academy Podcast is an interview with Canadian muralist Corrado Mallia where we talk about what it actually takes to build a mural business over time.Corrado shares how he started with cold outreach, practiced on his own, and slowly built consistent work through referrals. We get into pricing murals, what goes into quoting a project, and why it’s important to charge based on value, not just time.We also talk about common mistakes like undercharging, skipping deposits, and doing extra work without adjusting the price, along with simple ways to avoid those situations.If you’re working toward making murals a steady income, this episode gives a realistic look at the process and the decisions that come with it.