The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations

What does it really take to build a sustainable art career online… without being salesy, aggressive, or losing the joy in your work?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Marnie McKnight is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Marnie is an internationally collected Australian artist best known for her abstract paintings and Light Reading series. Emerging in 2016, she has become one of Bluethumb’s top-selling artists, with work held in private and corporate collections across more than 25 countries. Her paintings are defined by restrained palettes, emotional clarity, and a quiet warmth that invites viewers to slow down.
Rather than relying on traditional sales tactics, Marnie built her career online by focusing on visibility, consistency, and trust. She credits the internet with making her career possible… allowing collectors to encounter her work naturally and connect with it on their own terms.
In this episode, Marnie breaks down how artists can sell work without feeling like a salesperson, what actually helps collectors feel comfortable buying art online, and how steady, long-term sales are built through presence rather than pressure.
This conversation offers a grounded look at building an online art career rooted in joy, human connection, and a clear visual language that collectors return to again and again.
“What I'm trying to do in my art is actually get back the childlike quality of painting.
Just that rawness and that joy out of painting.”
— Marnie McKnight
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction 
03:13 The Importance of Joy and Human Connection in Art 
04:19 Tips for Selling Art Without Being Pushy 
05:26 The Impact of Online Visibility on Art Sales 
06:44 Finding Inspiration in Literature 
08:31 The Shift from Abstract to Figurative Painting 
10:10 Building Personal Connections with Collectors 
11:59 The Role of Color and Style Consistency 
13:42 Navigating the Challenges of Online Art Sales 
14:44 Creating Artwork with Meaning and Intention 
16:51 Balancing Business with Artistic Expression 
18:26 The Power of Community Support in Art 
19:58 Encouragement for Emerging Artists
Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here:
https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/marnie-mcknight
Links to artworks discussed:
Her artworks can be seen in the YouTube version of this podcast here.
Resources
Blue Thumb: https://bluethumbart.com/
The Other Art Fair: https://www.theotherartfair.com/
The Affordable Art Fair: https://affordableartfair.com/
Connect with Marnie
Website: https://marniemcknight.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marniemcknightart/?hl=es
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration:
https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
Join ≈1,000 committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Free training and resources:
Free training on how to find art buyers without a big following: https://professionalartist.com/find-your-next-3-fine-art-collectors/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2025-06
Free insider report on how Painters, Sculptors, and Fine Art Photographers make their art income stable and consistent: https://professionalartist.com/report/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=free_report
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one.

What does it actually take to build a serious art career without permission, validation, or institutional approval?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Robert Williams is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Robert is a foundational figure in the lowbrow and pop surrealism movements, emerging from 1960s counterculture when his work was rejected by the fine art establishment. Drawing from comic books, underground publishing, and narrative painting, he built a practice that challenged academic definitions of art while maintaining high technical standards.
For more than five decades, Robert has sustained a global career outside the academic system, building audiences and income through cultural communities rather than institutional approval. His work is now held in collections across every continent.
In this episode, Robert explains how to build a serious art career without permission… by aligning with real audiences, prioritizing narrative clarity over trends, and maintaining an uncompromising vision that endures controversy.
This conversation offers a direct look at what artistic independence actually requires beyond gatekeepers and validation.
“People throw rocks at me and I just keep going on. And I've got paintings in every continent on the earth and as happy as I can be.”
— Robert Williams
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:50 The Significance of "In the Land of Retinal Delights"  
06:08 Early Inspirations from Comic Books  
08:24 Transition to Punk Rock Art  
10:40 Building a Career Outside Traditional Art  
12:24 Navigating the Underground Comic Book Scene  
14:10 The Impact of Abstract Expressionism  
15:55 Challenges
18:30 Reflections on the Helter Skelter Show  
20:44 The Evolution of Artistic Expression  
22:00 The Role of Imagination in Art  
23:30 Facing Artistic Rejection and Validation  
25:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Creative Autonomy
Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here:
https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/robert-williams
Links to artworks discussed:
His artworks can be seen in the YouTube version of this podcast here.
Resources
Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine: https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/magazine/features/robert-williams-the-godfather/
Los Angeles County Art Museum: https://www.lacma.org/
Connect with Robert
Website: https://www.robtwilliamsstudio.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertwilliamsartist/
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration:
https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
Join ≈1,000 committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Free training and resources:
Free training on how to find art buyers without a big following: https://professionalartist.com/find-your-next-3-fine-art-collectors/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2025-06
Free insider report on how Painters, Sculptors, and Fine Art Photographers make their art income stable and consistent: https://professionalartist.com/report/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=free_report
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one.

In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, contemporary painter Bethany Stephan is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Bethany is a realist painter based in Arizona whose work is inspired by the landscapes of the American Southwest. Working primarily on panel, she is known for bold color choices, dynamic compositions, and a willingness to break traditional rules.
After more than two decades in a demanding IT career, Bethany built her practice nights and weekends before transitioning to full-time painting. Her persistence led to national recognition, including acceptance into major Oil Painters of America exhibitions.
In this deep dive, Bethany shares what it truly takes to move from a day job into a sustainable art practice… not through urgency, but through long-term planning. She explores how artists recognize when their work has outgrown their current life, how peer support and accountability accelerate growth, and why building a sustainable rhythm matters more than working endlessly, while also offering practical insight into pricing, and navigating the emotional realities of leaving a stable career.
This episode offers a grounded, honest look at designing a life around your art. One built on timing, peer support, and rhythms that allow both the work and the artist to endure.
“How long can I stand to continue to do the job I don't want to be doing anymore? My soul was starting to feel like I am wasting time. I need to be doing what I am supposed to be doing, which is painting.”
— Bethany Stephan
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Bethany's Transition from IT to Art
01:54 Overcoming the Fear of Failure
02:28 Knowing When to Commit Fully to Art
03:09 How to Build a Sustainable Rhythm
05:12 The Emotional Challenges of Transitioning
07:27 Building an Art Business
10:12 Professional Recognition and Benchmarks
13:55 The Importance of Community and Peer Support
15:34 Pricing and Visibility Strategies
17:50 Expanding Artistic Practice
20:27 The Value of One-on-One Coaching
23:56 Overcoming Isolation in the Art World
25:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here:
https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/bethany-stephan
Links to artworks discussed:
Her artworks can be seen in the YouTube version of this podcast here.
Resources
Scottsdale, Arizona art school: https://www.scottsdaleartschool.org/
OPA (Oil Painters of America): https://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/
Connect with Bethany
Website: https://www.bethanystephan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethany_stephan_art/
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration:
https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
Join ≈1,000 committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Free training and resources:
Free training on how to find art buyers without a big following: https://professionalartist.com/find-your-next-3-fine-art-collectors/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2025-06
Free insider report on how Painters, Sculptors, and Fine Art Photographers make their art income stable and consistent: https://professionalartist.com/report/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=free_report
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one.

In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, painter Tyler Loftis is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Tyler is a Professional Artist Association member and an American painter trained at the New York Studio School and the New York Academy of Art. His work moves fluidly between abstraction and figuration, driven by process rather than predetermined outcomes. At the core of his practice is a commitment to democratizing access to the art world.
His direct, disciplined, and deeply authentic approach to both art and business led to something rare: the sale of a single painting for seven figures through a private collector relationship, completed outside the traditional gallery system.
In this deep dive, we look beyond the headline moment to examine the years of intention, responsibility, and structure that made it possible. Tyler breaks down what artists often misunderstand about high-value private sales, how collectors decide who they trust with major investments, and why treating your practice with professional seriousness is essential at every level.
This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how long-term collector relationships are built, how trust compounds over time, and what it truly takes to reach your highest price points while staying fully aligned with your vision.
“You’re not trying to sell paintings. You’re trying to find people who believe in support and who connect with your work..”
— Tyler Loftis
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Overview
01:00 The Importance of Authentic Connections
02:50 Art as a Journey
05:10 Dropping Out and Finding Purpose
07:50 The Business of Art
11:20 Forging a Path Outside the Gallery System
13:50 Art as Service and Community
16:00 The Impact of Major Sales
18:00 The Role of Collectors
21:30 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here: 
https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/tyler-loftis

Resources
- New York Studio School: https://www.nyss.org/
- New York Academy of Art: https://www.nyaa.edu/
- Global Green: https://globalgreen.org/
Connect with Tyler
- Website:  https://www.tylerloftis.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerloftisart/
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
- Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration:
- https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
- Join ≈1,000 committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Free training and resources:
- Free training on how to find art buyers without a big following: 
https://professionalartist.com/find-your-next-3-fine-art-collectors/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2025-06
- Free insider report on how Painters, Sculptors, and Fine Art Photographers make their art income stable and consistent: [https://professionalartist.com/report/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=free_report]
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one.

In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, Professional Artist Association member and contemporary sculptor Lisa Roet is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Lisa is an Australian artist whose work examines the shared DNA and emotional terrain between humans and primates. Working across monumental public sculpture, film, installation, and research-based practice, her art asks urgent questions about biodiversity, evolution, and what it means to be human—making complex ideas visible at a public scale.
For more than three decades, Lisa has built an international career outside the traditional gallery system. Her projects are frequently realized through grants, institutional partnerships, and cross-sector collaborations, requiring long-term vision, rigorous research, and sophisticated logistical planning.
In this deep dive, Lisa offers a rare and transparent look at what it takes to sustain large-scale, public-facing art. She breaks down how artists can navigate funding bodies, structure partnerships that protect creative control, and balance artistic risk with the practical realities of production.
This episode offers essential insight for artists interested in public work, ambitious projects, and alternative career models—showing how research-driven practice, strategic collaboration, and persistence can support a long-term, impactful art career beyond the gallery system.
“ You have to be careful with understanding how markets are working… who your client base is, being genuine with yourself and being careful with your practice while at the same time taking risks.”
— Lisa Roet
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:32 Importance of Research in Artistic Practice
04:10 The Influence of Jane Goodall on Lisa's Work
08:10 Creation and Concept of "Golden Monkey"
12:38 Challenges of Large-Scale Public Art
16:44 Overview of Business and Income Streams
20:52 Navigating Funding Applications
23:35 Lessons Learned from the Art Market
25:42 Balancing Risks and Integrity in Art Practice
26:22 Conclusion
Access the members-only full unabridged conversation here:
https://hub.professionalartist.com/c/deep-dives-vault/lisa-roet
Links to artworks discussed:
Her artworks can be seen in the YouTube version of this podcast here.
Resources:
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology: https://www.rmit.edu.au/
McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery: https://mcclelland.org.au/
Serpentine Galleries: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/
Connect with Lisa
Website: https://www.lisaroet.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaroet/
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Join 50,000+ artists getting Free advice & inspiration:
https://professionalartist.com/podcast/#join-free-artist-letter
Join ≈1,000 committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professionalartistaccelerator
Free training and resources:
Free training on how to find art buyers without a big following: https://professionalartist.com/find-your-next-3-fine-art-collectors/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2025-06
Free insider report on how Painters, Sculptors, and Fine Art Photographers make their art income stable and consistent: https://professionalartist.com/report/?utm_source=PODCAST&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=free_report
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe, share it with another artist and leave us a review. We read every single one.