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To end off season 13, we sat down with Matthew James Collins, a figurative painter, portrait painter, and sculptor living and working in Florence, Italy. Matthew traces his path from a creative childhood in Oak Park and frustration with contemporary-focused art school to then find classical, atelier-based training in Florence. Matthew explains how Old Masters like Titian, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, and Velázquez shaped his devotion to painting from life, Baroque optical effects, and the idea of following their principles—especially observation of nature—rather than copying their style. Matthew also explains how cameras and screens distort our sense of seeing, why young painters should “go cold turkey” from photographic reference when possible, and how experiencing art in person and in context is radically different from viewing it in what Matthew calls “art zoos” (museums stripped of original context). Matthew shares concrete insights on portraiture—sight-size work from life, historical palettes, thoughtful posing and lighting, and the slow, conversational sittings needed to reveal character—as well as his teaching method of painting alongside one or two students and correcting in real time. Underneath it all, the conversation keeps returning to bigger themes: the likeness of artistic voice to a lifelong "Odyssey", the role of culture and curiosity, the practical and emotional difficulty of being an artist today, and the enduring importance of making ambitious, sincere, beautifully crafted work that lives with people in everyday spaces.

Matthew's FASO site:

matthewjamescollins.com/

Matthew's Social Media:

instagram.com/matthewjamescollinsartist/

facebook.com/matthewjamescollinsartist/

Matthew's Articles:

Historical Approaches for Contemporary Portrait Practice

Dancing Faun of Pompeii: Removed From Habitat, Out of Context

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In this compilation episode, we are focusing on tips about one of the most important parts of an artistic career: collectors. Our past guests emphasize that fine art is sustained by strong, long-term relationships with collectors, not just technical skill or gallery placement. They describe collectors as people who often want a personal connection and ongoing dialogue—through conversations at shows, home salon events, and gallery openings. Many of our guests highlight using newsletters, social media, and even texting to stay in touch, share new work, and make collectors feel appreciated and involved. Several artists stress the importance of gratitude and reciprocity, from handwritten thank-you notes to remembering birthdays and asking how collectors discovered their work. Overall, collectors are not only buyers but possible friends, supporters, and “connectors” whose loyalty and enthusiasm can sustain an artist’s career over many years.

Episodes mentioned in order of appearance:

• 81 Steve Atkinson
• 87 Johanna Spinks
• 94 Karen Blackwood
• 61 Nanci France-Vaz
• 99 Heather Arenas
• 101 Joseph Gyurcsak
• 120 Kim Casebeer
• 130 Scott Ruthven
• 162 David Griffin
• 166 Miriam Schulman
• 170 Kim Lordier

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For today's episode, some of our past guests share the creative “aha” moments that transformed both their work and careers. You’ll hear how structured projects and daily discipline can unlock unexpected growth, and why understanding value matters more than obsessing over color. Our guests reveal how real artistic voice emerges naturally over time, rather than from trying to “find a style.” They also discuss the power of painting from memory and imagination instead of copying reality. Finally, they explore mindset shifts—reframing commissions, embracing the process over the product, and using creativity in marketing—as key breakthroughs on their artistic journeys.

Episodes mentioned on this episode:

• 62 Aaron Schuerr
• 77 Aaron Westerberg
• 79 William Schneider
• 118 Shuang Li
• 129 Brian Bateman
• 137 Chris Krupinski
• 139 Jeff Legg
• 144 Christine Code
• 170 Kim Lordier

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For today's episode we sat down with abstract mixed media artist Nancy Crandall Phillips, who shares her artistic journey from ceramics and fiber arts to the richly layered encaustic and mixed media work she creates today. She explains how a deep interest in the chemistry of materials (acrylic vs. oil, wax, gold leaf, papers, texture paste) and an early education in composition and edges shaped her highly tactile, artifact-like surfaces. Nancy describes her iterative, experimental process, emphasizing cycles of excitement, frustration, destruction, and rescue, and how embracing “happy accidents” and letting materials behave on their own terms is central to her work. She also discusses the emotional side of being an artist, including taking breaks from painting, dealing with frustration, and building resilience and trust in the process. Nancy also talks about the practical realities of an art career—balancing freelance accounting work with painting, entering juried shows, joining art groups, and building relationships that lead to gallery representation and auctions. Nancy closes with advice for aspiring artists to persist, cultivate community, and actively create their own opportunities, and also invites listeners to explore her work on her website and Instagram.

Nancy's FASO site:

nancycrandallphillips.com

Nancy's Social Media:

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For today's episode, we sat down with Kim Lordier, a California-based pastel artist, mom, and former flight attendant whose deep love of nature and travel strongly influences her landscape work. She began drawing and painting animals as a child, started earning money from pet portraits as a teenager, and later experienced a major turning point in 2001 when she saw a plein air demonstration and committed to painting from life. Influenced by early California and American impressionists, Kim focuses on value, shape, and expressive color, and credits key workshops—especially learning notan and studying with mentors like Skip Whitcomb—for sharpening her compositional and color skills. She speaks candidly about her longstanding struggles with negative self-talk and imposter syndrome, and how learning to detach from the “preciousness” of finished paintings and embrace the process has been her biggest creative “aha” moment. On the business side, Kim emphasizes professionalism, honoring gallery relationships, and balancing what she loves to paint with what sells, while accepting that each artist’s journey and “ladder” is unique. She advises aspiring artists to trust their instincts, avoid unhealthy comparison, respect the people working behind the scenes in the art world, and remember there is always another canvas to paint. Finally she tells us all about her upcoming shows and workshops!

Kim's FASO site:

kimfancherlordier.com

Kim's Social Media:

instagram.com/klordierart/

facebook.com/kim.lordier

Bob Newhart's "Stop it!"

vimeo.com/97370236

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For today's episode compilation we explore how artists can reframe rejection as a normal, even necessary, part of a creative career rather than a verdict on their worth. Our past guests describe rejection as an ego blow that must be met with humility, a willingness to learn, and a long-term mindset of steady improvement. Several artists share stories of painful setbacks—unsold shows, declined gallery submissions, ignored emails—but explain how these experiences fueled their determination to work harder and get better. They emphasize building a “thick skin” while still remaining open to tough, honest critique, using feedback to refine both craft and professionalism. The conversation also highlights that rejection isn’t always about the artist’s shortcomings; sometimes the fit, timing, or other person’s vision just isn’t right yet. Throughout, our past guests stress perseverance, self-awareness, and staying committed to the work itself as the healthiest way to survive and grow from rejection. All of the episodes mentioned in this compilation are linked in our show notes.

24 Kelly Eden

46 Hillary Scott

60 Gladys Roldan-de-Moras

63 Noah Buchanan

76 Chris Navarro

87 Johanna Spinks

101 Joseph Gyurcsak

121 Paul Batch

140 Donald Yatomi

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For today's episode we sat down with Stacey Peterson, a Colorado landscape painter and former chemical engineer. Stacey discusses her lifelong love of art, early influences from her creative mother and inspiring high school teachers, and how she eventually transitioned from engineering to full-time painting. She explains how problem-solving skills and professionalism from engineering transferred directly into her art career and helped her manage the business side of being a self-employed artist. Stacey shares major artistic influences, including the Canadian Group of Seven, California impressionists, and several contemporary landscape painters, as well as the pivotal mentorship with Jay Moore that encouraged her to paint what she truly loves—the outdoors. She describes her attraction to strong light effects and color in the landscape, her process of narrowing each painting to a single primary idea, and the different roles plein air studies and studio work play in her practice. On the business side, she emphasizes relying heavily on strong gallery relationships, staying active on social media for visibility and connection, and the long-term networking value of juried shows, while advising artists to keep putting in the hours since that allows one to develop a recognizable personal style. Stacey also talks about teaching, recovering from a serious leg injury while keeping up her practice with acrylic gouache studies, and shares her current focus on restocking galleries and her upcoming participation in Plein Air Painters of America and Oil Painters of America shows.

Stacey's FASO site:

staceypeterson.com/

Stacey's Social Media:

instagram.com/staceypetersonart/

facebook.com/staceypetersonart/

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For today's episode, we sat down with Stephanie Marzella, a painter living in Charleston, South Carolina, with a preference for painting intimate landscapes that pull the viewer into the scene as well as big sky landscapes that provide an escape to peace and tranquility. Stephanie discusses her artistic journey, emphasizing discipline and perseverance. She tells us how she transitioned from textile design to oil painting, and how she was influenced by the American tonalists. Stephanie highlights the importance of having a cohesive body of work, having the courage to paint what you want, and suggests making strategic moves if possible; In her case, she moved to Charleston for better artistic opportunities. She shares her experiences with social media, galleries, and the challenges of being an artist, including financial struggles and the need for a supportive environment. She stresses the significance of emotional connection in her work and the joy of seeing her paintings evoke strong reactions in viewers and discusses her spiritual approach to painting, emphasizing the emotional connection between her work and the viewer, which she believes completes the artistic process. Finally, Stephanie lists her current and upcoming exhibitions, including shows at Reinhardt Fine Art, Ballards Fine Art, and the Southeastern Wildlife Expo.

Stephanie's FASO site:

stephaniemarzella.com/

Stephanie's Social Media:

instagram.com/stephaniemarzella/

facebook.com/stephanie.marzella.5