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 *...

The idea for this podcast came from a simple email I received: “Review your personal creative ‘why’. Take some time to reflect and journal on why you create art and why you are committed to your creative journey. Display your why so you can see it every day.” I had no idea why. So I went on a journey and I finally figured out that I think it’s a Venn Diagram. I actually learned a lot about myself through doing the exercises I suggest in the podcast. Here’s what I...

On this episode of the Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I chat with Design Boot Camp grads, Ellen Goodloe and Karen Hall. Ellen Goodloe Karen Hall Ellen Goodloe is a painter. Not only does she use paints, but sometimes she incorporates textiles, threads, and papers into her creations, and uses a variety of techniques to include printmaking and collage. She is inspired by the world around her, desiring to transform the everyday, the seemingly mundane, into the...

If you’ve ever wondered how an art exhibit comes together…this podcast details all of the things that went into planning mine. You can visit the exhibit webpage HERE to see all of the art in the exhibit and read a bit about each piece. Some thoughts I have on what makes a “good” exhibit: * It’s good for you and good for the venue – meaning: you both get what you want.  So what do you want?* It’s authentic to you.  Andy J. Pizza/Creative Pep Talk Podcast – True not...

Defining the skill levels of artists, whether they are beginners, intermediate, or advanced, is somewhat subjective. But here are the divisions as I see them (it’s important to note that you can be an expert in one area and a beginner in another): Technical Skills: * Beginner: Limited Technical Skills* Intermediate: Solid Technical Skills* Advanced: High-Level Technical Proficiency Composition: * Beginner: Limited Composition Understanding* Intermediate: Improved...

In this episode of the Adventures in Arting Podcast, Julie and Eileen delve into the intricacies of developing an artistic practice, emphasizing its dynamic and personal nature. The discussion unfolds in four parts, covering various aspects of an art practice. Part 1: Introduction to Artistic Practice Julie introduces the concept of an artistic practice, highlighting its multifaceted nature. She draws parallels between her art practice and other daily practices, such as...

Be sure to check out Julie’s new class: Practical Color for Painters. In episode 134 of the Adventures in Arting Podcast, Julie and Eileen explore the importance of creative reinvention, adapting to change, and connecting with new audiences. You can listen to the podcast or watch the video version: Take Aways for You: * People Change: As people evolve, as time marches on, your perspectives, interests, and skills naturally change. Reinventing yourself...