Learn to Paint Podcast

A friendly case for starting a 20-minute daily art habit and how small sessions build momentum. Practical tips on simplifying setup, limited palettes, and focused exercises like color studies. Advice on using timers to pace work and lowering pressure by shifting success metrics. Ideas for fitting short practice into family life so creative time becomes realistic.

Aida Smith, a painter who built a steady practice while holding a full-time research career, talks about fitting art into commutes, lunches, nights and weekends. She describes a color-mixing breakthrough, why solvent-free oils work for her, and how reframing failure and simplifying shapes kept her showing up. Practical, honest, and encouraging for anyone juggling art and a busy life.

Many artists quietly believe there is a deadline on creativity. If you did not start young, it can feel like you missed your chance.In episode 121, Suzanne Allard about where that belief comes from and why it does not hold up.Suzanne shares her story of beginning to draw and paint in her early 50s, along with the fear, pressure, and self talk that shaped her early creative experience. Allard shares what actually helps artists move forward. Gentle entry points, low pressure practice, and learning how to stay with discomfort all play a role.This conversation is for artists who feel behind, overwhelmed, or unsure whether it is worth starting or continuing at all.In this episode, you will learn:Why starting late is more story than realityHow low pressure prompts help build momentum and confidenceThe difference between fear of judgment and fear of how you feel about your own workHow to lower pressure when your art practice starts to feel stressfulWhy creative growth requires patience, pauses, and trustAllard also shares insights into her acrylic landscape process, how she chooses references, why she works in phases, and how she balances focused learning with play.Whether you are picking up a brush for the first time or trying to reconnect with your practice, this episode offers a grounded and encouraging perspective on what it means to keep going.Art Club: Find your ad free version here.Bonus Episode (Podcast Art Club)In the bonus conversation, Allard goes deeper into how she actually works in the studio and how looseness, confidence, and expressive color are built through intentional choices rather than talent or speed.Allard shares why setting constraints, like limiting the number of shapes or colors in a painting, can make it easier to simplify and stop overworking. You’ll learn how she uses reference photos as a jumping-off point rather than a rulebook, and how shifting from object-based thinking to value- and shape-based thinking changes the way you approach landscapes.The conversation also explores how color confidence develops through play and repetition, why avoiding straight-from-the-tube color helps build a personal color language, and how reducing friction in your setup makes it easier to paint more often without overthinking materials or wasting supplies.This bonus episode is especially helpful if you are trying to loosen up, simplify complex scenes, or feel more confident making color decisions in your own work.In this bonus, we cover:Why constraints are one of the fastest ways to loosen up your workHow to think in shapes and values instead of objectsUsing reference photos as inspiration rather than instructionsBuilding color confidence through experimentation and repetitionSimplifying landscapes without losing interest or depthMaking it easier to paint more often by reducing setup frictionLearn more about Suzanne Allard:WEBSITE / Doors are open for the next round of the 20for20 Art Challenge.This is a structured 20-day challenge where you spend 20 minutes a day painting or drawing. We begin with Prep Week to help you choose a project, set up materials, and make a realistic plan so you can follow through.If you’ve been struggling to stay consistent with your art, this is a great place to start. Learn more here today!Support the show

Welcome to the conversation with Michele Usibelli!In the feature conversation you’ll discover a process that helps you create bold and loose work, explore a strategy for choosing what to paint next and you’ll learn how to build goals into your work so that every painting is a chance to improve.Extended Cut BonusIn the bonus conversation, we’ll walk through a few examples of how Usibelli makes color choices so that you can see how to make beautiful paintings without getting totally overwhelmed on the color front.Learn more about Michele Usibelli:WEBSITE / WORKSHOPS / MEMBERSHIP / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOKDoors are open for the next round of the 20for20 Art Challenge.This is a structured 20-day challenge where you spend 20 minutes a day painting or drawing. We begin with Prep Week to help you choose a project, set up materials, and make a realistic plan so you can follow through.If you’ve been struggling to stay consistent with your art, this is a great place to start. Learn more here today!Support the show

Explore the hidden costs of selling art, which can impact creative flow and personal style. Discover how physical challenges, such as storage and materials, add pressure. Time demands for packaging and marketing can be overwhelming, pulling artists away from their craft. Hear a personal story about a six-month pause from selling, revealing newfound confidence and creativity. Consider if selling aligns with artistic goals, and ponder a selling sabbatical to make more informed decisions about your art practice.

Welcome to the conversation with William A. Schneider.FEATUREIn the conversation you'll learn the general proportions of the face and how to adjust them for the specific face you're painting, you’ll discover a bunch of great exercises to improve your skills, plus you’ll explore the 5 buckets of knowledge that every painter needs to learn to be able to tackle, well, kind of everything. Plus a whole lot more.In the interview Schneider mentions a free ebook download called, “Mastering Proportions of the Face.” You can find that here.EXTENDED CUT BONUS [Art Club]In the extended cut bonus conversation you’ll discover what you need to get correct so that you can push your color, and we talk about why your negative self talk is hurting you more than you think and what to do about it. Find it here.Art Club: Ad free feature  here. Learn more about Schneider here:WEBSITE / WORKSHOPS / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / BLOGDoors are open for the next round of the 20for20 Art Challenge.This is a structured 20-day challenge where you spend 20 minutes a day painting or drawing. We begin with Prep Week to help you choose a project, set up materials, and make a realistic plan so you can follow through.If you’ve been struggling to stay consistent with your art, this is a great place to start. Learn more here today!Support the show

There are so many reasons why you might want to pack up a bunch of supplies and carry them off to a family trip or exotic local.There are great reasons to try just this.But there are also reasons to leave your supplies at home.So in today's mini, let's talk about why you might want to keep working while traveling, why you might NOT want to, and then if yes, how do you set yourself up for success.Doors are open for the next round of the 20for20 Art Challenge.This is a structured 20-day challenge where you spend 20 minutes a day painting or drawing. We begin with Prep Week to help you choose a project, set up materials, and make a realistic plan so you can follow through.If you’ve been struggling to stay consistent with your art, this is a great place to start. Learn more here today!Support the show

Welcome to the conversation with Sterling Edwards. Inside you’ll learn why your next go-to watercolor brush might actually be one designed for oil painters. You’ll discover a smart way to prep your paints so your colors stay clean and travel with ease. Plus you’ll find out what to look for in a photo reference that leads to a stronger design.See his painting, Entwined here. Extended Cut Bonus [Art Club]The conversation with Edwards continues in the Art Club. You’ll get a simple trick to make sure your center of interest feels integrated, not pasted on, and how using the power of opposites can instantly strengthen your paintings. Find it here.Learn more about Sterling Edwards:WEBSITE / WORKSHOPS / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAMDoors are open for the next round of the 20for20 Art Challenge.This is a structured 20-day challenge where you spend 20 minutes a day painting or drawing. We begin with Prep Week to help you choose a project, set up materials, and make a realistic plan so you can follow through.If you’ve been struggling to stay consistent with your art, this is a great place to start. Learn more here today!Support the show

Starting to paint can be tougher than it seems, plagued by fear of failure and perfectionism. The conversation dives into the common challenges artists face when beginning their journeys and offers practical strategies to overcome those barriers. Emphasizing action over perfection, the hosts encourage embracing imperfection to unlock creativity. They also introduce the #20for20 Art Challenge, inviting busy artists to dedicate just 20 minutes a day for 20 days to cultivate their skills. It's a motivational boost for anyone struggling to start!

In the conversation with Sandi Hester, you’ll discover how to tackle a new medium, what to do if you want to paint plein air but can’t seem to find the right spots, and why it’s so so so important to create protected spaces in your art practice just for the creating part, plus a whole lot more. Extended Cut Bonus [Podcast Art Club]In the Extended Cut Bonus, we talk about focal points and why you may or may not need one and Hester explains how she thinks through what she sees and how she translates that to actual layers of paint. Join the Podcast Art Club here.Videos Mentioned in the Show:Hester’s Favorite SuppliesTrip with Hester's Mom and Husband Painting Husband at Pool Learn more about Sandi Hester here:WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / YOUTUBE / SUBSTACK / WORKSHOPSDoors are open for the next round of the 20for20 Art Challenge.This is a structured 20-day challenge where you spend 20 minutes a day painting or drawing. We begin with Prep Week to help you choose a project, set up materials, and make a realistic plan so you can follow through.If you’ve been struggling to stay consistent with your art, this is a great place to start. Learn more here today!Support the show