The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations

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In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist and muralist Pepa Ivanoff is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Originally from Australia and now based in Costa Rica, Pepa has built an international career completing 343 murals around the world in just nine years. 
Along the way, she learned that treating art like a profession also means understanding exactly what your work costs to create and being willing to charge accordingly.
In this episode, Pepa shares how undercharging led her to resent projects she should have enjoyed, what changed when she calculated the true costs behind her work, and why knowing your value helps you identify which clients and opportunities are actually worth pursuing.
“If you're serious about being an artist, being compensated financially for that is something that you need to get really comfortable with.”
— Pepa Ivanoff

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 Entre Palmeras - A Studio Canvas
03:17 From Surfboards to Murals -  How It All Started
04:48 Questioning the Myth That Art Isn't a Real Career
07:25 Financial Freedom on Your Own Terms
09:15 Saying No More Than Yes -  Evolving the Commission Practice
11:15 The Bird of Paradise Mural - A Repeat Client
12:09 Having the Money Conversation Early
15:25 Getting Comfortable with the Money Conversation
16:47 How She Discovered She Was Undercharging
18:39 The Pilates Studio Mural -  A Client Who Became a Friend
19:29 The Starving Artist Myth
20:36 Final Advice

Connect with Pepa
Website: https://pepallama.com/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pepallama/

Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Mentoring:
Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:
https://professionalartist.com/apply
Membership:
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Free Letter:
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Ready to take the next step in your art career?
We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.
Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…
…this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.
Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free
Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
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Is it ever too late to become a professional artist?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Sarah Richmond is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Sarah is an Australian artist whose vibrant paintings span portraiture and wildlife. 
After spending 25 years building and running a successful business with her husband, she decided to sell their company and finally pursue art professionally. 
Today, she's exhibiting and selling her work at art fairs across Australia and the United States.
In this episode, Sarah shares why starting later in life can actually be an advantage, how her previous business experience helped her approach art professionally, and what it took to navigate the self-doubt and vulnerability that came with calling herself an artist. 
She also discusses taking financial and career risks, building confidence through art fairs, and creating multiple ways to sell her work.
“Anyone can do anything if they really want it. And if it brings you joy, there's no reason why you shouldn't.”
— Sarah Richmond

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 Cocky With A Twist: Layers, Inks, and a Quirky Series
03:32 25 Years in Business Before Taking the Leap
06:16 The First Art Fair in Austin  
08:06 Cheers, Ladies:  Living Life on Her Own Terms
10:17 Imposter Syndrome and Backing Yourself
13:19 Building Income Streams Beyond Art Fairs
14:11 Out of the Dust: A Longhorn Painted for Texas
15:23 The Identity Shift of Calling Yourself an Artist
17:14 Final Thoughts

Connect with Sarah
Website: https://www.sarahrichmondart.com/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/sarahrichmond.art

Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Mentoring:
Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:
https://professionalartist.com/apply
Membership:
Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
Free Letter:
Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:
https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Ready to take the next step in your art career?
We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.
Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…
…this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.
Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free
Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
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What if the thing you think is limiting your art career is actually what could make you stand out?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist Gian Galang is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Based in New York City, Gian is an award-winning artist whose fascination with combat sports became the foundation of his creative career. 
By developing a highly recognizable body of work around something he genuinely cared about, he has gone on to work with major brands including the UFC, Nike, Marvel, and ESPN.
In this episode, Gian explains why narrowing your focus can actually expand your opportunities, how a specific artistic niche can help the right audience find your work, and why being deeply aligned with your own interests gives you a better chance of standing out.
“The highest probability of making it as an artist is to be most aligned with what you're into.”
— Gian Galang

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 UFC 281: A UFC Poster
04:38 Growing Up Obsessed with Comics and Combat Sports
08:56 Iron Mike: A Mike Tyson Illustration
09:59 From Combat Sports to Entertainment: How the Niche Expanded
13:08 Why Specificity Builds Confidence with Clients
14:41 Family Portrait
16:11 Narrow Focus, Wide Reach: The Philosophy Behind the Niche
18:20 Final Advice

Connect with Gian
Website: https://giangalang.com/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/giangalang/
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Mentoring:
Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:
https://professionalartist.com/apply
Membership:
Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
Free Letter:
Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:
https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Ready to take the next step in your art career?
We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.
Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…
…this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.
Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free
Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
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What if the best person to sell your art isn’t a gallery?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, collaborative painters Signe and Genna Grushovenko are featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Working as a husband-and-wife team, Signe and Genna transform anonymous vintage photographs into contemporary paintings collected and exhibited throughout the United States.
After years of working with galleries and selling their work directly, Signe and Genna now focus on art fairs, giving them firsthand experience with different sales models and the economics behind each.
In this deep dive, they share why letting go of a revenue stream can sometimes strengthen your business, the real math behind gallery versus direct sales, and how reversing a decision they stood by for 20 years opened up an entirely new source of income.
“Nobody, I think, will sell your work with the same passion that you do.”
— Signe Grushovenko

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 A Sense of Perspective
05:47 Leaving Teaching and Going All In on Sales
09:40 Why They Left the Gallery System
13:12 Mapping Desire 
14:34 Selling Your Own Work Without Being Pushy
16:41 Measuring Festival Success Over Time
19:51 Adding Reproductions to the Business 
23:11 Streetlight Mafia 
23:59 Final thoughts
Connect with Signe and Genna
Website:  https://www.grushovenko.com/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thegrushovenkos/

Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Mentoring:
Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:
https://professionalartist.com/apply
Membership:
Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
Free Letter:
Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:
https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Ready to take the next step in your art career?
We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.
Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…
…this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.
Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.

Free 4-Day Challenge for artists: https://professionalartist.com/free
Join us live and online to make your next art show your best, design a paid workshop that's yours alone, or land your work in the right gallery. Register free.
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How do you build a sustainable art career without burning yourself out in the process?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Maria Roza is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Based in Turkey, Maria creates figurative work exploring the relationship between humans, nature and our own self-identity.
Since completing her master's degree in painting, she has presented three solo shows and exhibited across Europe and the Middle East.
In this episode, Maria shares what artist burnout actually feels like, the habits helping her recover and build a healthier relationship with her work, and why taking a break can be difficult when your identity and career are tied to creating. 
She also challenges the idea that artists should wait to be discovered and explains why creating your own opportunities matters.
“You feel like your body is burning as well, but mentally you feel like you're draining out.”
— Maria Roza 
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38  Red and Turquoise on The Rails
05:34 Finding Your Voice Through Solitude
09:02 What Artist Burnout Actually Feels Like
12:32 How Self-Compassion and Small Sketches Began the Recovery
16:46 Paralell Aggression 
19:46 The Discovery Myth: Taking Charge of Your Own Career
24:06 The Trade
25:26 Final advice

Connect with Maria
Website: https://www.mariaroza.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artmariaroza/

Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Mentoring:
Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:
https://professionalartist.com/apply
Membership:
Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
Free Letter:
Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration every week:
https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Ready to take the next step in your art career?
We are hosting a free 4-Day Challenge online to help artists like you get back on track.
Whether that’s making your next art show your best ever, designing a paid art workshop that is uniquely yours, or getting your artwork into the next right-fit gallery…
…this live, virtual, and interactive challenge will help get you get unstuck.
Register to get a free pass here: https://professionalartist.com/free
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review/comment. We read every single one.