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Self Taught Artist

Self Taught Artist

By Lauren Kristine Art

What do Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, and I have in common? We're all self taught artists. I stumbled around in the dark as I started my artistic journey... I didn't know what paints to buy, how to varnish my work, or the differences between painting mediums. The mission of the Self Taught Artist podcast is to help artists (and aspiring artists) learn and fully discover the joy of making art. We will cover everything from the basics of painting, to how to sell your work, and beyond.
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55. Connecting With Our Artistic Motivations (The Artist Comeback Pt. 2)

Self Taught ArtistJun 03, 2023

00:00
16:20
55. Connecting With Our Artistic Motivations (The Artist Comeback Pt. 2)
Jun 03, 202316:20
54. The Artist Comeback Pt. 1 - Coming Back to Art After a Break
May 27, 202316:48
53. 9 More Household Items You Can Paint With
May 20, 202339:59
52. Gifts for Artists and Art Supplies for your Wish Lists
Dec 10, 202223:13
51. How to Add Gratitude to Your Art Making Process
Nov 12, 202216:13
50. 5 Easy Instagram Reels + TikTok Ideas for Artists
Nov 05, 202220:30
49. How to Mix the Perfect Green + Unexpected Color Mixing Recipes
Oct 29, 202210:41
48. How to Save Money When Shipping Artwork & Protect Your Art

48. How to Save Money When Shipping Artwork & Protect Your Art

Artists, 'tis the season for selling art and gifting art. Often that means you have to ship art! It's the perfect time to revisit my favorite art shipping supplies, shipping methods, and of course, how to save money shipping artwork. 

I mention www.pirateship.com on the episode since it's my favorite way to save money and time when shipping anything.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart/

Email: laurenkristineart@gmail.com

Artists - Please take a minute to rate the podcast 5 stars wherever you are listening! It helps me to keep the podcast going and reach more artists.


Oct 22, 202222:09
47. Artist Burnout - What To Do When You're Feeling Creatively Burned Out
Oct 15, 202221:45
46. 5 Things I’d Do Differently if I Were Starting From Scratch Today as an Artist
Oct 08, 202229:24
45. Beware Art Scams! How I was Targeted for a Common Artist Scam.
Oct 01, 202229:55
44. 12 Household Items You Can Paint With
Sep 24, 202233:32
43. Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop for Artists: Part 4 (Split Primary Palette)

43. Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop for Artists: Part 4 (Split Primary Palette)

FREE Worksheet Download: https://www.laurenkristineart.com/43

For a long time I struggled to mix really vibrant colors. I was buying lots of different colors of paint from the art store as I didn’t know how to mix the colors I wanted. I believed that the more colors of paint I owned, the more vivid my paintings would be. Despite owning a ton of different paint colors, I still found myself mixing mud sometimes and not understanding why certain colors didn’t “play nice” together.

I had a major lightbulb moment when I discovered the Split Primary Palette. Once I understood the split primary palette, I knew how to avoid mixing mud. It was the missing puzzle piece in my understanding of mixing color. I’m excited to tell you all about it today.

FREE Worksheet Download: https://www.laurenkristineart.com/43

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart/

Email: laurenkristineart@gmail.com

Artists - Please take a minute to rate the podcast 5 stars wherever you are listening! It helps me to keep the podcast going and reach more artists.

Sep 17, 202218:50
42. Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop for Artists: Part 3 (The Color Wheel)

42. Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop for Artists: Part 3 (The Color Wheel)

FREE Worksheet Download: https://www.laurenkristineart.com/42

We’re back this week with our Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop for Artists: Part 3. Today is all about color mixing and the color wheel. Color wheels are not just for beginners. They’re for anyone looking to take their understanding of color to the next level.

This episode will be an explanation of the artist's color wheel to help you understand what it is and how you can make use of it. As a part of this episode, I actually created a free downloadable template to help you create color wheels. The workbook has instructions for the three exercises I recommend in this episode and next week’s episode. These useful exercises can help you make three different varieties of your own color wheels. Ultimately, learning more about color and our paints.

Worksheet Download: https://www.laurenkristineart.com/42

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart/

Email: laurenkristineart@gmail.com

Artists - Please take a minute to rate the podcast 5 stars wherever you are listening! It helps me to keep the podcast going (and it makes me smile!).

Sep 10, 202222:47
41. Painting With a White Border! Tape Recommendations for Watercolor Painting and How to Remove Tape Without Ripping Watercolor Paper
Sep 03, 202221:43
40. How to Make a Home Art Studio (even if you have no space!)
Aug 27, 202226:47
39. Cheap Art Supplies from the Dollar Store
Aug 20, 202224:44
38. Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop for Artists: Part 2

38. Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop for Artists: Part 2

This week on the Self Taught Artist podcast we are continuing our Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop. This is the continuation of a multi-week deep dive into all things color, color theory, and color mixing. Last week we talked about the three dimensions of color: hue, value, and chroma. Today we learn how to use these three dimensions of color to mix any color of paint (using three easy questions).

FREE PAINT CHIPS LINK: Sherwin Williams will actually mail you 10 paint color chips for free! You get to pick the colors. Free delivery. (US + Canada)

https://samples.sherwin-williams.com/?_gl=1*3u200b*_ga*MTQ5Mjc1NTY4OS4xNjU4NjE2MzEy*_ga_BFTFS1H2E0*MTY1ODYxNjMxMS4xLjAuMTY1ODYxNjMxMS4w&_ga=2.220749214.701229359.1658616312-1492755689.1658616312

For our Color Challenge this week I recommend using paint color chips to practice your color mixing skills.

The Three Paint Mixing Questions Are:

1. Is my color too red, blue, or yellow? OR Does my color need to be warmer or cooler? (Hue)

2. Does my color need to be lighter or darker? (Value)

3. Does my color need to be dulled down or is it intense enough? (Chroma)

Artists, I think you'll love this color mixing and color theory series because it will help you to go a level deeper with your understanding of art and your artist materials.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart/

Email: laurenkristineart@gmail.com

Please take a minute to rate the podcast 5 stars wherever you are listening! It helps me to keep the podcast going.

Aug 13, 202228:03
37. Color Mixing and Color Theory Workshop for Artists: Part 1
Aug 06, 202221:37
36. Gifting Art and Selling Art During the Holidays! (Artists, your holiday preparation starts now!)
Jul 30, 202225:29
35. How to Paint More Often!
Jul 23, 202226:10
34. The Joy of Painting Small
Jul 16, 202219:51
33. Art Sales: Bouncing Back from a Bad Review or Unhappy Customer

33. Art Sales: Bouncing Back from a Bad Review or Unhappy Customer

This is the podcast episode I wish I had during a really tough time in my art journey. I'm peeling back the curtain on today's episode and sharing the low moments I've had dealing with a bad review on Etsy and trying to appease unhappy customers. Thankfully, it is rare that I have to deal with an unhappy customer. Unfortunately, they happen from time to time, even if you're doing your best to make everyone happy. I thought I was doing all the right things, and I still got a bad review when I was new to selling my art. It almost tanked my Etsy store and I felt like quitting art all together. Thankfully, I bounced back from it and learned a lot in the process. Today's episode is for anyone who has ever dealt with a bad review or may deal with one in the future. If you're putting yourself out there, these things happen from time to time. It's how you respond to them that matter! 

Whether you're selling your art on Etsy or anywhere else online, I think this is a good episode to listen to. We talk about a few things you can do to prevent bad reviews in the first place and you can learn what to do if you ever are dealing with a bad review yourself. 

Jul 09, 202239:46
32. Art Staycation
Jul 02, 202235:22
31. Art On Vacation
Jun 25, 202231:11
30. How to Sign Your Art!
Jun 18, 202225:14
29. Easy Hack for Brighter Colors and Improved Paint Mixing
Jun 11, 202208:52
28. Loosen Up Your Painting Part 2: My Favorite Method!
Jun 04, 202213:36
27. Loosen Up Your Painting! 11 Tips for Loose Art and Expressive Painting!

27. Loosen Up Your Painting! 11 Tips for Loose Art and Expressive Painting!

This episode was a listener suggestion! You can contact me at @laurenkristineart on Instagram or email laurenkristineart@gmail.com

How to loosen up your painting! I’ve heard from many of you artists that you would love to learn to paint in a looser style but you don’t know how! It's a very common artistic goal to loosen up your painting. Loose paintings are expressive, masterful, and confident – and who doesn’t want to be all three of those things!?!

The hard thing is that while loose painting looks effortless, I’m sure you all know by now that it’s actually really hard. The tendency to overwork your art is strong! It’s easy to do too much, add more details, and keep going – and it's hard to know when to stop.

Today, I'm sharing 11 tips for loosening up as an artist and how to paint loose and expressive brushstrokes. 

Also, once you finish this episode, go check out Part 2! I've recorded a bonus episode this week with one of my best tips for loose painting and how to loosen up your artwork. I'm going to walk you through it step by step!

Jun 04, 202231:50
26. Sell More Art Through Market Research
May 28, 202223:35
25. Can't Draw? No Problem! 3 Methods to Bypass Drawing

25. Can't Draw? No Problem! 3 Methods to Bypass Drawing

Can’t draw? No problem! Today on the podcast I'm sharing 3 methods to bypass drawing altogether and just get painting. A perceived lack of drawing skills stops a lot of people from getting into painting. They think they can't paint if they can't draw well. Guess what!? That's 100% not true. You don’t have to draw to be a good artist. If you are good at drawing, you may also be interested in today's episode because these methods can speed up your artistic process by using some of the tools I talk about.

The star of today's show is my Light Box / Light Pad! Here's the Amazon link to the one I purchased and love using in my art studio: Amazon Light Box This nifty device gives me a shortcut to skip drawing and get painting faster. Plus, I feel more confident exploring new subjectmatter in my artwork and painting when I start with a sketch from a reference photo and my Light Box. 


Please take a minute to rate the podcast 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Plus, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

If you want to reach out, my email is laurenkristineart@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart/

I'll be back next week with another new episode. This season you can expect more art tips and tricks, breakdowns of useful painting techniques, and, of course, lots of information on selling your art and starting an art business out of your creative hobby.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0755C2CBF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1


May 21, 202217:17
24. Use the good stuff! Stop hoarding your art supplies or saving them for the perfect occasion!
May 14, 202220:06
23. Impostor Syndrome as a Self Taught Artist
May 07, 202217:03
22. Why Work on Multiple Paintings at a Time? Better Art!
Apr 30, 202220:00
21. Etsy Fee Increase: Should I sell art on Etsy or start my own online store?

21. Etsy Fee Increase: Should I sell art on Etsy or start my own online store?

If you are new to Etsy, click this link for 40 FREE LISTINGS: https://etsy.me/2QuEqrL 

The Self Taught Artist Podcast is BACK! Painters, Creatives, Artists, and Aspiring Artists -- It's time for Season 2 of the Self Taught Artist podcast and I'm so glad you're here with me. On today's podcast episode we are talking all about the Etsy fee increase that just went into effect this month. It has been all over the news lately, and it has a lot of artists wondering: Should I sell on Etsy or start my own online store? There are lots of considerations when deciding what you want to do and it has a lot to do with the maturity of your art business and the size of your audience. 

If you decide you are ready to create your own online store to sell your art, I suggest www.bigcartel.com on the podcast as a great online store option for artists and creators. If you need a way to get discounted shipping labels for your art business, I suggest www.pirateship.com. These are two great sites that help you to replace Etsy if you so choose. 

Please take a minute to rate the podcast 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Plus, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

If you want to reach out, my email is laurenkristineart@gmail.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart/

I'll be back next week with another new episode. My plan is to release a new podcast weekly until I run out of ideas for Season 2 :-) This season you can expect more art tips and tricks, breakdowns of useful painting techniques, and, of course, lots of information on selling your art and starting an art business out of your creative hobby. 



Apr 24, 202228:12
20. Creative Coaching: How to Start Selling Your Art with Debbie Igram (@DebbieIgram)

20. Creative Coaching: How to Start Selling Your Art with Debbie Igram (@DebbieIgram)

Thank you to our guest artist Debbie Igram (@DebbieIgram) for participating in this episode! Go check out her gorgeous art on Instagram and hit the follow button so you can follow along with her journey. https://www.instagram.com/debbieigram/

Today we have an extra special episode. You may remember a few weeks ago I threw out an idea to all of you listeners out there - I was looking for a volunteer for a new type of episode I'm calling creative coaching. I wanted to get one of you on the show with me to work through a challenge you're facing with your art. Debbie (@DebbieIgram) answered the call and volunteered. She is a watercolor and acrylic artist who wants to take a brave step forward and start selling her art. 

This is a different kind of episode and we work out issues and brainstorm ideas in real-time. I loved chatting with Debbie and I am so grateful for all she shared with the Self Taught Artist Podcast community in this episode. You're going to love it, so let's get on with the show! We talk about so many things related to selling your artwork - payment, shipping, pricing, marketing, and more.

I mentioned my postage scale on the episode. Check it out here on Amazon ($10.99 in the USA): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9NQ8GX/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_DD88V8NYWVG0HYVE4BYX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 

I also mentioned PirateShip.com for shipping discounts at USPS. You can find out more at https://www.pirateship.com/

If you want to sell on Etsy, don't forget I have a code for 40 FREE Listings to get you started: https://etsy.me/2QuEqrL 

May 24, 202152:16
19. 3 Apps I Can't Live Without (for Photographing My Art and Sharing it on Instagram)
May 12, 202117:25
18. Etsy SEO - How to Sell More Art on Etsy

18. Etsy SEO - How to Sell More Art on Etsy

If you are new to Etsy, click this link for 40 FREE LISTINGS: https://etsy.me/2QuEqrL 

This week we're talking about how to sell more art on Etsy. The secret is to invest some time improving your Etsy SEO. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. There are millions of listings on Etsy, so the question is how can you stand out? I'm sharing my practical tips for improving the reach of your Etsy shop. This episode applies to all artists, painters, and creatives who want to be selling their art on Etsy (or who want to sell more art on Etsy). 

Email: laurenkristineart [at] gmail.com

Get 40 FREE ETSY LISTINGS: https://etsy.me/2QuEqrL

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart/ 

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/laurenkristineart

Website: https://www.laurenkristineart.com 

Apr 25, 202125:04
17. Finding Your Artistic Style
Apr 20, 202122:32
16. Odds & Ends - Art Shows, Artistic Style and Consistency (or lack thereof), and More
Apr 08, 202120:03
15. What To Do If You Don't Love Your Own Artwork
Mar 28, 202111:01
14. Special Effects Using Acrylic Mediums and Additives
Mar 22, 202121:30
13. Packaging and Shipping Art
Mar 16, 202117:58
12. Finishing Touches When You Sell Art & How to Elevate The Buyer Experience
Mar 16, 202119:56
11. How to Evaluate Your Art and Diagnose Issues
Mar 07, 202115:31
10. The *Best Value* Art Supplies

10. The *Best Value* Art Supplies

Get the free MEGA LIST of value art supplies here: https://selftaughtartist.vipmembervault.com/ 

Today we're talking all about what art supplies will give you the best value. We want to make great archival quality work that will have vibrant colors and look really professional… but we don't want to break the bank. Today, I'm sharing how to get the best bang for your buck with acrylic paint, watercolor paint, paint brushes, paper, canvases, gesso, varnish, and more. 

PLUS there's an exclusive freebie for all you wonderful listeners. I put all these supplies into a **mega list** with photos, descriptions, and even some prices to help you wade through the overwhelming options of art supplies. It's printable if you want to take it to the art supply store or you can just bookmark it to come back to it as needed. Best of all, it's totally free. So if you want to get the companion guide to this episode, head to https://selftaughtartist.vipmembervault.com/

Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart 

My website is https://www.laurenkristineart.com

Mar 01, 202125:43
9. How to Push Past Fear and Create Your Best Art Ever
Feb 23, 202118:01
8. Varnish: the final step in making professional quality art
Feb 15, 202118:36
7. How to Start Selling Your Art - Selling Art on Instagram, Start an Etsy Shop, and Building Your Own Website
Feb 11, 202120:46
6. Beat Creative Block! 10 Ways to Get Un-Stuck When you have Artist's Block.
Feb 01, 202112:13
5. How to Prime a Canvas for Acrylic Painting (the gesso episode!)
Jan 18, 202120:15
4. All About Commissions - Are you ready to tackle commissions as an artist?
Jan 11, 202118:53
3. Answers to Common Painting Problems: What to do if your color mixing turns to mud, you need to erase a watercolor mistake, your pastels won't stay in place, and more!

3. Answers to Common Painting Problems: What to do if your color mixing turns to mud, you need to erase a watercolor mistake, your pastels won't stay in place, and more!

https://www.instagram.com/laurenkristineart/

https://www.laurenkristineart.com

Today's episode of The Self Taught Artist Podcast answers a number of common questions I get regarding common painting problems. There are quite a few things that can go wrong in the art-making process, and I'm excited to share some of the little tips I have. Save this episode for later - you never know when you'll need these little hints. While you're at it, hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode of the Self Taught Artist podcast. 

Here are some of the questions we'll answer today:

1. What do you do when you're working on a painting on paper - could be watercolors, gouache, or acrylic, and by the time you finish the piece, the paper is curled or buckled? How do you get it back to laying flat?

2. When I varnish my acrylic paintings I have smudging that occurs and blurs my colors together. It also blurs my pastel marks. What do I do?

3. I can't paint consistent lines! When I try, they end up wobbly and uneven! Is there anything I can do?

4. Can I mix different paint brands together? Can I mix oil paint and acrylic paint? 

5. Help! I forgot to clean my brush after my last painting session and left my brush out overnight. It's hard as a rock. What should I do now?

6. My acrylic paint dries too fast! What can I do?

7. My watercolor is streaky sometimes- especially when I try to paint a large area, like a big sky. Those are the times I want the smoothest color and yet, I tend to end up with hard lines and streaks. What can I do to avoid this?

8. When I mix colors as I paint, I often get muddy looking colors - or they end up looking dull and flat. What's up with that?

Until next time, happy creating my friends!

Dec 27, 202027:35
2. All About Acrylic Paint - the best brands, how to save money, and what acrylic paint characteristics matter for your art style.
Dec 22, 202018:56
1. Oil Paint vs. Acrylic Paint vs. Watercolors Vs. Gouache - The Great Paint Showdown

1. Oil Paint vs. Acrylic Paint vs. Watercolors Vs. Gouache - The Great Paint Showdown

The great painting medium showdown. What type of paint is right for you? 

On today's episode of Self Taught Artist, we dive into the specifics of oil paint, acrylic paint, watercolors, and gouache. Each medium has advantages and disadvantages that are worth exploring. As a new painter, it can be hard to understand the difference between these types of paints and what you can do with them. I try to demystify paint types as much as possible with this simple primer.

Dec 17, 202011:36
Helping Beginner & Intermediate Artists Thrive

Helping Beginner & Intermediate Artists Thrive

I'm sharing all the tips I wish I knew when I started painting.  Welcome to the Self Taught Artist podcast!

Dec 16, 202002:13