Learn to Paint Podcast

The Power of Sets and Reps in Painting with Allison Moir-Smith (Ep.124) 30.06.2026 47min

Past guest (Ep.79) Allison Moir-Smith is back to talk about a project that encourages us all to use the time we do have, to paint. The project: 20 minute portraits from life. That’s start and finish, 20 minutes. And even if you don't paint portraits or want to work in this particular way, I think you’ll find the conversation has great ideas to pull into your own practice especially if you have limited time. In the conversation you'll learn why Moir-Smith believes "sets and reps" a...

Learn the Process, Then Break the Rules with JaFang Lu (Ep.123) 16.06.2026 42min

The podcast has been on hiatus... but it's back! Today I'm talking with artist JaFang Lu. In the conversation you’ll learn how to adjust your paintings based on your light source, how to build up to form, and you’ll explore a process you can try immediately on any subject. Process is such a big part of what it means to be a painter. And we spend a lot of this episode talking about both the process Lu teachers her students but then also how she changes that process for her own work. And while ...

Ep.46 with Brienne M Brown [Archive] 09.06.2026 49min

Welcome to the conversation with watercolorist, 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. Podcast Art Club: Your bonus conversation is here! In it, Brown talks composition and why you absolutely don’t need to be faithful to your reference photo. Learn more about Brienne M Brown here: WEBSITE / WORKSHOPS / INSTA...

7 Reasons to Start a 20-Minute Daily Art Habit (Mini) [Archive] 31.03.2026 20min

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 struggl...

Building a Serious Painting Practice With a Full-Time Job with Aida Smith (Ep.122) 24.02.2026 45min

Welcome to the conversation with Aida Smith! Learn more about Aida Smith: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM Many artists assume that building serious skills requires huge blocks of free time. Aida Smith proves otherwise. With a full-time career, a long commute, and a firmly established professional identity outside the art world, she has built a meaningful and increasingly confident painting practice over the past five years. In this conversation, we talk about what it really takes to grow as a painter whi...

You Didn’t Miss the Boat with Suzanne Allard (Ep.121) 27.01.2026 42min

Many artists quietly believe there is a deadline on creativity. If you did not start young, it can feel like you missed your chance. In episode 121, Suzanne Allard about where that belief comes from and why it does not hold up. Suzanne shares her story of beginning to draw and paint in her early 50s, along with the fear, pressure, and self talk that shaped her early creative experience. Allard shares what actually helps artists move forward. Gentle entry points, low pressure practice, and lea...

Using Goals to Make Better Paintings with Michele Usibelli (Ep.120) 25.11.2025 51min

Welcome to the conversation with Michele Usibelli! In the feature conversation you’ll discover a process that helps you create bold and loose work, explore a strategy for choosing what to paint next and you’ll learn how to build goals into your work so that every painting is a chance to improve. Extended Cut Bonus In the bonus conversation, we’ll walk through a few examples of how Usibelli makes color choices so that you can see how to make beautiful paintings without getting totally overwhel...

The Hidden Costs of Selling Your Work (Mini Ep.119) 12.11.2025 30min

When you think of building an art practice, your mind might go to all of your favorite artists. You think of their social media feeds and the gallery shows they promote. You dream about having one of their pieces in your home some day… and maybe you can. Because they SELL their work. But building an art practice is not the same as building an art business. And while the benefits of an art business are many… we don’t talk enough about the costs. Because if you do decide to sell your work, ther...

The 5 Buckets of Artistic Knowledge with William A. Schneider (Ep.118) 28.10.2025 47min

Welcome to the conversation with William A. Schneider. FEATURE In the conversation you'll learn the general proportions of the face and how to adjust them for the specific face you're painting, you’ll discover a bunch of great exercises to improve your skills, plus you’ll explore the 5 buckets of knowledge that every painter needs to learn to be able to tackle, well, kind of everything. Plus a whole lot more. In the interview Schneider mentions a free ebook download called, “Mastering Proport...

How to Paint or Draw While Traveling (Mini Ep.117) 14.10.2025 20min

There are so many reasons why you might want to pack up a bunch of supplies and carry them off to a family trip or exotic local. There are great reasons to try just this. But there are also reasons to leave your supplies at home. So in today's mini, let's talk about why you might want to keep working while traveling, why you might NOT want to, and then if yes, how do you set yourself up for success. Support the show

Abstracting Reality with Sterling Edwards (Ep.116) 30.09.2025 49min

Welcome to the conversation with Sterling Edwards. Inside you’ll learn why your next go-to watercolor brush might actually be one designed for oil painters. You’ll discover a smart way to prep your paints so your colors stay clean and travel with ease. Plus you’ll find out what to look for in a photo reference that leads to a stronger design. See his painting, Entwined here. Extended Cut Bonus [Art Club] The conversation with Edwards continues in the Art Club. You’ll get a simple trick ...

Why is Starting so Hard? And What to Do About it (Mini Ep.115) 09.09.2025 25min

If you love it...it should be easy, right? RIGHT?! But it turns out there are some challenging parts of learning to paint. Even before you can figure out technique or styles or concepts... you actually have to start. In today's mini episode, let's talk about the different places you'll be starting, why starting is so hard and what you can do about it. Guests mentioned in the episode: Mark Mehaffey, Ep.5 Sterling Edwards, Ep.116 (coming soon) Lisa Daria Kennedy, Ep.14 Kimberly Kell...

Creating Protected Spaces with Sandi Hester [Archive, Ep.93] 27.08.2025 57min

In the conversation with Sandi Hester, you’ll discover how to tackle a new medium, what to do if you want to paint plein air but can’t seem to find the right spots, and why it’s so so so important to create protected spaces in your art practice just for the creating part, plus a whole lot more. Extended Cut Bonus [Podcast Art Club] In the Extended Cut Bonus, we talk about focal points and why you may or may not need one and Hester explains how she thinks through what she sees and how ...

Landscape Painting with Melanie Morris [Archive, Ep.86] 12.08.2025 46min

In the conversation with Melanie Morris you’ll discover the benefits of painting a reference photo multiple times, how your first steps don’t start with paint, and why a timer may be your key to staying present while you work. Plus a whole lot more. Ad Free Podcast Art Club Version here. Extended Cut Bonus [Podcast Art Club] Morris talks about how to create sky holes in your trees and a really inventive idea for how to get great references when you travel. Available now in the Podcas...

Building Work Through Glazes with Wayne Jiang (Ep.114) 29.07.2025 44min

Artist Wayne Jiang works in three distinct styles including one pulled directly from the studios of the Old Dutch Masters. And the reason you might find this especially surprising is because the artist works in acrylics. He takes advantage of acrylics fast drying times and extreme flexibility of the medium to create modern paintings with historical underpinnings. In the conversation, you’ll explore how to control the absorbency of your surface—and why that actually matters. You’ll disco...

The Artistic Power of Sketchbooks with Steve Griggs (Mini Ep.113) 15.07.2025 33min

When I say sketchbook, you might be thinking of a book with thin paper where you’d use a graphite pencil to draw. And that absolutely IS a sketchbook. But when guest Steve Griggs talks about sketchbooks he means a book filled with watercolor paper, which he uses for everything, drawing, painting, thinking and maybe most importantly developing ideas. In this mini episode, you’ll get practical tips for different ways to use a sketchbook. You’ll learn how to walk through the development of an id...

Building Small Works in Plein Air with Remington Robinson (Ep.112) 24.06.2025 40min

Welcome to the conversation with Remington Robinson. Inside, you’ll discover what to prioritize in the first 20 minutes of a plein air painting, how to think through your scene in terms of paint, and you’ll get some great advice for how to make the most of the time when a brush isn't in your hand, plus a whole lot more. Special Bonus [Art Club] When I was interviewing and then editing Robinson’s interview, I was really struck by those Style Development Years. We look at Ro...

4 Color Harmony Strategies (Mini Ep.111) 10.06.2025 23min

Have you ever finished a painting and something just feels… off? You could have a color harmony problem. The good news: you’ve got straightforward ways to fix the issue. In today’s episode we’re tackling color harmony. We’re going to explore what it is, why it matters, and most importantly, how to get it in your work including your very next painting including 4 strategies for creating color harmony in your work. Episodes Mentioned in the Show: Julia Katz, Ep.110 Jennifer Balkan, Ep.108 Joan ...

Building Strong Values with John Salminen (Ep.38 Archive) 28.05.2025 48min

Welcome to the conversation with watercolorist John Salminen. You’ll learn how darks and lights work together to create luminosity, why it’s important to have those value 9s, and well value, value, value. Plus a whole lot more. Podcast Art Club: Dive into dominance and how Salminen uses edges in your bonus episode here. Learn more about John Salminen here: WEBSITE / WORKSHOPS / FACEBOOK Support the show

How to Get Depth & Distance in Your Work (Archive, Ep.39) 13.05.2025 13min

Perspective is a tool you can use to create depth and distance in your work. There are a few types of perspective tools but in today's mini episode we are focusing in on a super approachable one: Atmospheric (or Aerial) Perspective. Podcast Art Club: How 3 Different Artists Use Perspective in Their Work Support the show