On this podcast (recorded over three weeks), I share my highs and lows, break throughs and frustrations with a drawing class I’m taking at the Danforth Art Museum in Framingham, MA. Overall, this experience reminded me that the creative process often involves pushing beyond simple exercises. It’s about synthesis — connecting ideas — and allowing for unexpected discoveries. The key is to continually experiment and to lean into the structure of your art practice for...

An Artwork Statement is a piece of writing that gives context to a specific artwork. It often explains the meaning, inspiration, techniques, and context behind a specific artwork or series. Your statement may address the materials used, the process, and the narrative or concept behind the piece. The purpose is to provide deeper insight into a particular piece, helping viewers connect with and understand the specific artwork on a more intimate level. It often accompanies the artwork in...

This episode covers the Adventures in Arting podcast’s origin story, technical challenges, evolution, ups and downs, and the significance of surpassing 21 episodes, and most importantly: a bit about Mom’s upbringing and relationship to art. ​ And as always, you get to enjoy the dynamic between us — our banter, shared experiences, and future plans for the podcast. ​ The podcast blends personal anecdotes, technical insights, and reflections on the growth and dedication that drive us...

From her home in northern British Columbia, Canada, through her video lessons on her website and YouTube, Angela Fehr has created a community of watercolor lovers that spans the globe. She wants every painter to know the freedom of fearless self expression and she has made it her mission to share this empowering message through lessons in heart-prioritizing watercolour technique and loose intuitive painting. More than anything she demonstrates that the most...

Today on the podcast we’re chatting about Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: Growth Mindset: * Definition: A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort, learning, and persistence. * Characteristics: Embracing challenges, persisting through setbacks, seeing effort as a path to mastery, learning from criticism, and finding inspiration in others’ success. * Example: A person with a growth mindset will likely believe that...

Lydia Leonard left this comment on my YouTube channel: “I’ve been following you for years and always marvel at your genius! Moving walls? So smart! I sort of have the same thing but I have a hard time putting everything back where it belongs! I’ve been trying to reorganize but I get distracted by all the cool things I find. Do you have any focusing ideas to keep me motivated?“ Specific to her magpie issue, which is also an issue I have, is the notion of “future me.”  I do...

I like to think of the podcast as a conversation — between me and Mom — between me and Mom and a guest — between me and Mom and YOU! Thank you so much to all of you who leave comments and send emails. We read them all and appreciate them all. This Listener Mail episode is packed with so many thoughtful comments from you guys! Thanks! Links: * Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns * Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco  *...

As I mentioned in the previous podcast, Mom and I snuck in the night before the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) here in Boston — The museum’s annual Art in Bloom event at the end of April.  This is always one of my favorite events of the year.  In case you don’t know what Art in Bloom is: It’s a weekend festival that transforms the MFA’s galleries into a floral showcase, with floral designers and garden clubs from across the region carefully crafting arrangements inspired by the museum’s...

Mom and I snuck in the night before the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) here in Boston — The museum’s annual Art in Bloom event at the end of April.  This is always one of my favorite events of the year.  In case you don’t know what Art in Bloom is: It’s a weekend festival that transforms the MFA’s galleries into a floral showcase, with floral designers and garden clubs from across the region carefully crafting arrangements inspired by the museum’s artworks.  The MFA invented the “Art...

The title of this episode is a bit of a double entendre.  We’re going to discuss my personal art practice and the parts I’ve devised for it, but in doing so, we’ll also be discussing the framework I’m using for the online community: My Art Practice. On the podcast I begin by talking about where the idea for My Art Practice came from and then I talk you through the vision… …the various parts of the core curriculum… …and then what I think you’ll take away from the...

We have a very special guest for this episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast: Carolyn Dube! Carolyn Dube is a mixed media art explorer and educator who found freedom through play. She explores the colors of the rainbow, avoids rules whenever possible, and lets the little kid inside her free as she shares her colorful journey. You can find her sharing the play at aColorfulJourney.com, designing stencils for StencilGirl Products and teaching...

On today’s podcast, Mom and I are discussing self-care, the Worcester Art Museum, and a mixed media collage class I taught in Hartford. Links: * Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns * Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco  * Monthly Membership: https://bit.ly/JulieMembership  * Take an online class: https://balzerdesigns.com/Classroom/ * Shop: https://www.juliebalzer.com/shop.html  * Let’s connect on...

This one is a doozy. Mom and I definitely do not see eye-to-eye at all on this topic and it makes for a very lively conversation! Maria Popova at The Marginalian wrote a 2013 blog post called “Art as Therapy: Alain de Botton on the 7 Psychological Functions of Art”  It’s an exploration of the book “Art as Therapy” by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong.  I read an interview with Alain de Botton and I loved everything he had to say about the function of art. “Art can help...

I stumbled across a post from Dr Louise R Mayhew on Instagram: @louisermayhew that blew my mind. She shared a post with a cover slide that says: “Did you know that there’s more than one art world?”  There are at least four she goes on to say: * Experimental* Traditional* Retail* Community On the podcast Mom and I discuss the details of the categories as Dr. Mayhew lays out and add our own thoughts to the mix. I find it to be a really useful rubric. What do you...

You guys leave so many great and thoughtful comments. Mom and I wanted to discuss them and I hope to make this a regular feature of the podcast. Keep the great comments coming! Links: * Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns* Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco * Monthly Membership: https://bit.ly/JulieMembership * Take an online class: https://balzerdesigns.com/Classroom/* Shop: https://www.juliebalzer.com/shop.html * Let’s connect on...

Talking about your artwork effectively can enhance how it’s perceived and understood.  Talking about it ineffectively can make people less interested in your work. One of the big keys is to consider your audience. Generally speaking, you’re going to be speaking to: Fellow Artists, Art Folk (Curators, Gallerists, Collectors, Etc.), or the General Public. During the podcast, we go over how to handle each type of conversation so that you’re understood and of interest to your...

Mom came up with today’s topic. It’s a fair question. Do you think that the artistic life is solitary or based in community? Links: * Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns* Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco * Monthly Membership: https://bit.ly/JulieMembership * Take an online class: https://balzerdesigns.com/Classroom/* Shop: https://www.juliebalzer.com/shop.html * Let’s connect on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balzerdesigns/ *...

“Putting yourself out there” refers to various strategies artists use to gain exposure, connect with audiences, and advance their careers. During this podcast we’ll talk about some ways to make the process of putting yourself out there easier – especially if you’re an introvert or insecure. Remember that putting yourself out there is a gradual process, and it’s okay to take it at your own pace. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and acknowledge the courage it takes to share your...

This week we are continuing our discussion about our abstract art likes and dislikes. Here is some of the artwork we discuss on the podcast: Click on any image to view it larger. On the podcast I also share a list of 15 questions you can ask yourself when viewing abstract art in order to better understand and appreciate it. Links: * Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns* Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter:...

In this episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I are discussing our likes and dislikes when it comes to abstract art. Here’s a peek at some of the art we are looking at in part one: Click on any of the images for a larger view. Tune in next week for part 2! Links: * Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns* Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco * Monthly...

I recently asked my newsletter subscribers what was the biggest obstacle to their creativity and many people said: time. Nobody has “free time.”  But we all can make time for art.  Even though my job is art-related, it doesn’t mean that I get to make art all day.  I try to set aside at least 10 minutes a day to do some personal work just for me.  Let me help you figure out how to make time for art in your life. There are two stages of this process: identify the problems and...

You know how they say that you are what you eat?  Well, I think you are what you consume on social media.  Just like a diet you eat, what you visually and mentally consume can affect your mood, energy, and general health.  And just like a regular diet, it’s personal. On the podcast, Mom and I discuss WHY you might want to change your social media diet as well as HOW you can do it.

Everybody always talks about finding their personal style.  The single biggest key to that style is you.  So your knowledge of yourself and understanding of how to put yourself into your art is key to having a style. So who are you? I think there are five key pillars. During the podcast I give you an activity — a series of 5 questions to answer – to help you discover your personal style. The reason so many people say that the key to finding your personal style is...

Embracing the Unknown: The Power of Starting Before You’re Ready Starting before you’re ready is a mindset. It’s about the courage to dive into creative projects without the safety net of full preparation. During this podcast we will explore this concept and delve into its pros and cons. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk about mindset. Links: * Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns* Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco *...