The Professional Artist Podcast: Art Business Transformations

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In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, illustrator, painter, and educator Francis Vallejo is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Francis is an award-winning artist and Associate Professor of Illustration at the College for Creative Studies.
Over the past two decades, he has built a six-figure creative business by combining multiple income streams, including original artwork, teaching, illustration, commissions, and publishing.
In this episode, Francis shares exactly how he built a business generating more than $120,000 per year, why so many talented artists struggle to reach that level, and the mindset shift that transformed the way he approached his career.
He also explains why artists should value their expertise like any other specialized profession and how diversifying income can create long-term stability.
"Art, in my opinion, can be an extremely profitable pursuit.”
— Francis Vallejo
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 A Pivotal Illustration Project
03:53 The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Building Momentum
05:42 From Broke in His 20s to Six Figures: The Income Breakdown
10:54 The Alaska Residency and the Accidental Printmaking Discovery
15:08 Why Talented Artists Stay Stuck : The Mindset Shift
17:20 Talking About Your Work as a Problem You Solve
18:43 Finding Community
21:28 Final Advice
Connect with Francis
Website: https://www.francisvallejo.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francisvallejoart/
Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:
Mentoring:
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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

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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 does it actually take to build a career creating high-paying commissions for interior designers?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, abstract painter Lara Scolari is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Lara is an Australian abstract artist whose nature-inspired paintings are collected internationally across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Alongside her exhibition career, she has built a thriving commission business working with leading interior designers and has expanded her practice through licensing partnerships, including luxury rug collections.
In this episode, Lara explains how artists can build relationships with interior designers, what a professional commission process looks like from inquiry to installation, and why preparation, consistency, and a polished presentation matter more than waiting for the perfect opportunity.
"You've gotta put yourself out there. You've gotta back yourself. You have to take the risk that may not end in anything.”
— Lara Scolari
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 Yellow Water Cruising
05:00 Translating Paintings into Rugs and Licensing
07:40 Building an International Exhibition Career
10:16 Wendy's Bolt 
10:48 How Greg Natale Walked Through the Door
13:40 The Interior Designer Commission Process
16:09 Where Designers Discover New Artists
17:48  Snorkeling With Matisse
18:55 Final advice
Connect with Lara
Website: https://larascolari.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larascolari/

Learn more about The Professional Artist Association:

Mentoring:
Apply to join 99 artists for unlimited 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring to grow your art income:
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Membership:
Join 1,000+ committed artists around the world for less than $1, £ or € a day: https://professionalartist.com/join
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.

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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's the biggest money mistake keeping artists from building a sustainable career?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, sculptor and public artist Matt McConnell is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
For more than 25 years, Matt has built a career creating large-scale public art while learning the financial systems required to sustain a creative business.
From budgeting complex commissions to pricing work with confidence, he's discovered that profitability starts long before a project begins.
In this episode, Matt explains why undercharging is only part of the problem, how understanding your true costs changes the way you price your work, and how saying no to the wrong projects can ultimately make your business more profitable.
" You have to decide that you are comfortable saying what something costs at risk of losing it”
— Matt McConnell
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:41 Crescent
05:32 Pricing Large-Scale Projects Without Losing Money
11:16 Helix Series
13:10 The Psychology of Charging What You're Worth
17:55 Infinity
20:38 Why Budgeting Is the Most Important Skill an Artist Can Learn
23:38 Final thoughts
Connect with Matt
Website: https://www.mattmcconnell.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcconnellstudios/
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 happens when the creative industry changes faster than your career plan?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, artist, illustrator, and educator Wouter Tulp is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world’s fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Over several decades, Wouter has repeatedly adapted his career as the creative industry evolved.
Rather than relying on one role or income source, he built a sustainable practice through illustration, education, personal work, and professional relationships.
In this deep dive, Wouter shares how artists can protect their creative voice, build multiple income streams, and stay visible as AI and new technology reshape the industry.
"Instead of learning a trick you can create a vision and you can tell a story, and I think that's something AI can never do.”
— Wouter Tulp
Timestamps:
 00:00 Introduction
 01:38 Daily Gesture Drawing Practice
 03:47 Pivoting the Career
 08:54 AI and the Future of Creative Work
 10:45 Balancing Client Work with Personal Painting
 13:24 The Jazz Painting 
 14:49 What AI Can Never Replace 
 17:40 Native American Portrait Series
 19:12 Letting Go of External Validation
 21:00 Final thoughts
Connect with Wouter
Website: https://www.woutertulp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woutertulp/
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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Do curators discover artists… or do artists create the opportunities to be discovered?
In this episode of The Professional Artist Podcast, figurative painter Alia El-Bermani is featured by the Professional Artist Association (https://professionalartist.com/join), the world's fastest-growing global community for committed fine artists.
Alia's work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Rather than waiting for opportunities to find her, she built a career by intentionally connecting with curators, staying in touch over time, and creating professional relationships that led to long-term collaborations.
In this deep dive, Alia shares what it actually takes to get on a curator's radar, why rejection is often the beginning of new opportunities, and how thoughtful outreach can grow into long-term professional relationships that shape a career.
“You need to continually find curators that will help support you and put you in places that you never even dreamed of.”
— Alia El-Bermani
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:38 The Futures We Behold: Dreaming Beyond the Patriarchy
03:24 Income Streams and Studio Structure
06:38 Playing the Long Game: Career Advice to Her Younger Self
07:54 How to Get a Curator Into Your Studio
10:09 The First Outreach Email
11:10 Vessel: Grief, Loss, and the 2019 Solo Show
14:36 Applying for Grants
17:14 Hear Me: Community and Peer Support
18:27 Final Advice
Connect with Alia
Website: https://alia-fineart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliapainter/
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.