The Independent Artist Podcast

Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. 

As spring show season ramps up, co-hosts Douglas Sigwarth and Will Armstrong dive into the real-life balancing act of being a working artist on the road. Fresh off a demanding Florida circuit and gearing up for a run of Texas art festivals, they unpack what it takes to juggle family life, studio production, and the nonstop pace of travel.

This candid conversation explores the often unseen sid...

Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. 

Fresh off winning Best in Show at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Ecuadorian artist Nathalia Toledo Barcia joins us for a deeply moving conversation about culture, soul, and the stories embedded in her work.

Nathalia’s art lives at the intersection of painting and porcelain—where delicate surfaces become artifacts of memory and identity. Drawing from her Ecuadorian heritage, her paintings carry the visual languag...

Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. 

Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth (https://www.sigwarthglass.com/) and Will Armstrong (http://www.willarmstrongart.com/) co-host and discuss topics affecting working artists.

In this episode, we sit down with Erin Curry (https://erincurryart.storenvy.com/), an artist whose work is deeply informed by both science and lived experience. With a background in biology and a childhood shaped by parents who collected fine art and bro...

Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. 

Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth (https://www.sigwarthglass.com/) and Will Armstrong (http://www.willarmstrongart.com/) co-host and discuss topics affecting working artists.

Switching Gears in '26 is a candid conversation about what it means to keep making work when the ground feels uncertain.

We talk about the influence of legendary glassblowing artist Lino Tagliapietra, the pressure of staying creative during difficult economic and political times, and the...

Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. Before we dive into today’s conversation, Will and Douglas kick things off by talking about the whirlwind of doing the One of a Kind Show—the highs, the hustle, and what it takes to say yes to an opportunity before it slips away. They reflect on the importance of moving quickly when the window opens, trusting your instincts, and learning to spot the difference between real opportunity and di...

Welcome to The Independent Artist Podcast with your hosts Douglas and Will — the show where we pull back the curtain on the real life of working artists. In the intro of this episode, we’re talking about what it means to recharge your creative batteries after a long, exhausting season of art shows.

We’ll share how we find inspiration and motivation when burnout creeps in, and tell a story about serendipity — one of those unexpected moments that reminds us why we chose this path in the first place.

Guest: Janine DeCresenzo (https...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

When the art show season wraps up, the podcast season renews! Back on their mics, Will and Douglas catch up over topics from this year's art fairs. Somehow, these guys incorporate the following topics together into a conversation that only art fair artists can: Booth shots, food poisoning, reproductions, Plaza Art Fair, artist "collaborators," taxes, Devo, tricky installs, personal style, incestuous art collections, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and being an "Art Cop."

Visual artists...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

We are thrilled to return to the mics to record our podcast conversations, and we are touched by the love and encouragement from our listeners. With all the chaos that surrounds us, we hope to continue to share the conversations that inspire us and make us laugh. But ultimately, we hope to foster meaningful connections with fellow members of our artist community. Please help us spread the word that The Independent Artist Podcast is back on the air for your...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth (https://www.sigwarthglass.com/) and Will Armstrong (http://www.willarmstrongart.com/) co-host and discuss topics affecting working artists.

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PLEASE RATE US AND REVIEW U...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Marina Terauds (https://www.marinaterauds.com/) has always loved to draw. When she was a child, her parents would sneak her sketchpad, and while she slept, they created drawings for her to find when she awoke. She enrolled in an arts academy in 5th grade and continued her art education, earning a master's in printmaking at The Latvian Academy of Arts. She worked as a key animator for many years before she emigrated to the United States with her husband...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Cali Hobgood (https://www.photographsbycali.com/) is a traditional photographer who uses 35mm film and develops her black-and-white images in a darkroom. She finishes her work using oil paints to add color. Her imagery reflects the sensory pictures she sees in her mind's eye that depict beautiful memories from her life. These images celebrate their essential, ordinary functions yet trigger a wealth of emotional resonance from their symbolism. Cali talks about her intuitive process and recounts a story about when...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Settle in and get to know Su Abbott (https://www.susustudios.com/), an abstract painter currently residing in Atlanta, GA. She grew up in a military family and developed her sense of humor to adapt socially to that transient life. She even parlayed those talents into a career as a stand-up comic before she picked up a paintbrush. Su describes her entry into being a festival artist and her path to a successful career. Thanks for listening!

#roadwarrior...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Have you ever dreamed of opening a brick-and-mortar gallery location to offset your time on the road? Today's guests, Chris Jackson and Laura Junge (https://lleejunge.com/), did just that when they opened the Jackson Junge Gallery (https://j2gallery.com/) in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. In this conversation, they talk about how the gallery allows Laura the time she needs to create her work, the nuances of running a gallery, and their next giant leap of faith...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Do you ever feel like that creepy, awkward person trying to "break the ice" with a potential collector? When you're off your game, you just are!  In this episode, Douglas and Will deliver their take on the most recent art fair "hot topics." They discuss Memphis, being a civilian, doing a show during the week of an election, creative ways to clean your tent and money laundering. There's just enough nauseating banter to keep you thoroughly entertained in the studio o...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Just like there is no crying in baseball,  every art fair artist knows there are NO friends at breakdown. In this episode, Douglas and Will deliver their take on the most recent art fair "hot topics." They review their most recent shows, including Armonk, Cottonwood, and Bayou City. Other conversations include challenging collectors, losing a big sale, and talking sales numbers. There's just enough nauseating banter to keep you thoroughly entertained in the studio or on the road. Thanks for l...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

When times are tough, Kina Crow https://www.instagram.com/kinacrow/ says, "Just Keep Swimming!" We welcome Kina back from season 1 as our guest cohost this week. Hear all about the fabulous Birthday party/ private showing her collectors are throwing for her in Witchita. We also talk about the Plaza Art Fair and Arts Beats and Eats. Other topics include weirdos, politics, and retiring from shows. 

#roadwarrior #art #artist #workingartist #podcast #artistconversation #positiveattitude #artistlife #independentartist #independentartistpodcast #artfair #artfairartist #e...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Making a living from our artwork comes with its unique set of challenges. For art fair artists, this involves venturing out of our solitary studios and hitting the road, searching for our audience. We risk physical and financial security, and if we can't maintain a positive attitude during adversity, that dark spiral can cycle us downward and act as a barrier to connecting with collectors. This week's conversation discusses the Pacific Northwest Tour, The St. Louis Art Fair, Emerging Artist...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

When asked about her choice to network with other show directors in order to make her show better, Sarah Umlauf says, “I’m not afraid to ask for help…….I check my ego at the door.” 

Sarah became the Executive Director for the St. Louis Art Fair https://www.saintlouisartfair.com/ in Clayton, MO in 2019, right before the global pandemic shut things down. In this conversation, she brings her experience from the other side of the industry to reveal a di...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

How are YOU handling the pressure these days? Are the struggles with road life getting in the way of your creative process? What is the right balance of studio time versus art show time for your bottom line? Are you prepared for fluctuations in buying energy due to the economy or elections? Is your baller schedule NOT so baller because the sales are off? Or are unforeseen hiccups forcing you to cancel a show that you needed to cover your...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

"Perfectly imperfect" is the motto Carol Greiwe posted to her workbench as a reminder that she was given a second chance at life. After her near-fatal brain hemorrhage, followed by the theft of all her raw materials from her studio safe, Carol found the strength to rebound from these traumatic experiences. In this conversation, she describes the vulnerability of being an independent jewelry artist and the incredible support she received from the community. 

Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth https://w...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Are you working reactively or proactively in your art practice? Do you wear the term "starving artist" like a cape? Do you remain a sole proprietor or become an LLC? How do I begin to determine my goals and chart a path toward financial stability through multiple revenue streams? These are just some of the topics that artist and career mentor, Chris Dahlquist shares for free in this special episode of the Independent Artist Podcast. 

Visual a...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Remember those critiques in art school, where the students would start pecking at each other at the first sign of blood in an attempt to impress the professor? We look back on those comments that, perhaps, stopped us from pursuing a particular body of work.

And, right now, all of us artists are under so much pressure! We discuss these various struggles we all find ourselves in. And what about AI? It’s here to stay so how do...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

A radio show just for art fair artists! Photographer Clifton Henri (https://www.cliftonhenri.com/) describes his entry into the art show world from his background in graphic design and art management. His journey to find his voice centered around his desire to see images he didn't see growing up. He chose to flip the script on traditional themes which highlight positive outcomes. Clifton shares his experience with reworking one of his pieces to celebrate Kamala Harris being elected Vice...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

A radio show just for art fair artists! When Darryl Cox's contorted filbert did not survive, he carried around its unique limbs for years. He carved into the branches, which ultimately led to the birth of his body of work. Darryl describes his Fusion Frames as similar materials that took a different path. He shares his unique entry into the art show world, how he made his work go viral, and his role on the Art in the High Desert...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

A radio show just for art fair artists! Tune in this week as Douglas and Will discuss their take on topics like academics on the jury, the line between technology vs handmade, working with designers,  and a review of Artisphere! It's an entire episode of nauseating banter, but we promise we'll have a guest in the next episode!

EPISODE NAME DROPS
@bethradtke_
@kiddceramics
@schwegmannstudios
@jaymcdougallart
@marjirawsonjewelry
@keithgraceart
@fusionframesnw
@decresenzojwlry
@e...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

We are back after three weeks on the road and have some stories to tell! Tune in this week for our reviews of Main Street Fort Worth, Southlake, and New Orleans Jazz Fest. Spoiler alert: We have weather! And we've lost Uptown! There is a lot to talk about!!

EPISODE NAME DROPS
@harmstonarts
@causeyteri
@scott.causey
@andrewsovjani
@ginapannorfi
@spake.thomas
@diane_harty_hats
@duke1001
@brennaklassenglanzer
@bethbojarskipaintings
@juliagilmoreart<...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

William Kidd taught high school ceramics for 30 years while simultaneously pursuing his career as a professional artist. Bill credits his stable income with allowing him to create the work he wanted to make without the pressure of having to sell. He describes how his nature-based work has evolved to the point that the inspiration for his new work emanates from his own finished pieces. Describing himself as a humble potter, Bill Kidd says he "no longer has anything to prove...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Whether you've been on the road for a month, like Will, or home for an extended period, like Douglas, we can all relate to feeling "stuck." In this week's conversation, we explore the advice from a hipster poet who says, "If you can't sit down and write, stand up and live!" Both cohosts share their experiences with resets and new beginnings, as well as the unexpected journeys that have infused inspiration into their process.

Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Since childhood, Lisa Kattenbraker has been on "A Mission for Magic" in her artwork and life. Her narrative batiks are expressions of her own experiences, often tinged with nostalgia as she explores her past, her ancestors, her role as a mother and grandmother, and literally sews stories together with ancestral threads.  In this conversation, she shares the mystery behind the desire to create personal stories that also resonate with collectors. Often, the viewer brings their unique connection to the work, i...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

When Christopher Jefferies caught the glassblowing bug in high school, he charted a course that would ultimately result in building his own glass shop by "paying his dues." From working on Dale Chihuly's team to sleeping on the floor of a Czech hot shop, Christopher immersed himself in the fast-paced environment of production glass studios that created hundreds of pieces daily. Once he launched his own studio, his work evolved into multiple-element wall installations on a large scale. Christopher talks...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Step into the mind of Matthew Naftzger! "Stubborn!" he says, "I don't want to work in a shitty job just to pay for an expensive house. I don't even want to make artwork I don't want to make." Living and working out of a box truck or buying abandoned houses to renovate are ways he feels free. In his pursuit of "choosing a life," Matthew describes how he has adapted his behavior to how his brain works. Discovering as an...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Randy Thomae has embarked on a journey that has resulted in a radical realignment in their quest to be their best self. At first, Cammy Rahore was their alter ego, a persona and drag name they adopted as they traveled the country in pursuit of their art career. Once they embraced that being trans was indeed their superpower, Cammy's ultimate goals have shifted to include saving the lives of trans people through their artwork and as a role model by...

I'm not anxious.........you're anxious! What a tumultuous time of year for an art fair artist! Application results, economic struggles, and a whole host of other challenges can beat down even the most optimistic of humans.  In this episode, we try to make sense of 2023, as we navigate creatively into this New Year. Tune in as Douglas https://www.sigwarthglass.com/ and Will http://www.willarmstrongart.com/#/ try to make sense of it all in a thoughtful and entertaining way!

Call for Entry (CaFE) website https://www.callforentry.org/

Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth https://www.s...

I'm not anxious.........you're anxious! What a tumultuous time of year for an art fair artist! Application results, economic struggles, and a whole host of other challenges can beat down even the most optimistic of humans.  In this episode, we try to make sense of 2023, as we navigate creatively into this New Year. Tune in as Douglas https://www.sigwarthglass.com/ and Will http://www.willarmstrongart.com/#/ try to make sense of it all in a thoughtful and entertaining way!

Call for Entry (CaFE) website https://www.callforentry.org/

Visual artists Douglas Sigwarth https://www.s...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

As a child, Athlone Clarke https://www.athloneclarke.com/ used his drawings to communicate with his mother, who passed away giving birth to him. This therapeutic activity developed a perception in Athlone that is the foundation of his creative process as a visionary artist. When describing his artistic style, Athlone says he wants to be surprised with each artistic outcome and avoids defining limits that will "contribute to the building of his own prison." He aims to make his most...

Working Artists! You are not alone! Listen to these entertaining and inspirational podcast conversations with working artists.

Carrie Pearce https://www.carriepearce.com/ experienced every artist's nightmare, a creative block. Fearing that her creativity was broken, she went back to school to teach and in the process, discovered her bliss. This metamorphosis propelled her forward into a new body of mixed media work.  James Pearce https://pearcepearce.com/ has been working with wood his entire life, inspired by the generations of woodworkers before him. James is fascinated with mechanisms and implements them into his aesthetic. He struggles wi...