Learn to Paint Podcast

The podcast has been on hiatus... but it's back! Today I'm talking with artist JaFang Lu. In the conversation you’ll learn how to adjust your paintings based on your light source, how to build up to form, and you’ll explore a process you can try immediately on any subject. Process is such a big part of what it means to be a painter. And we spend a lot of this episode talking about both the process Lu teachers her students but then also how she changes that process for her own work. And while ...

In the conversation with Melanie Morris you’ll discover the benefits of painting a reference photo multiple times, how your first steps don’t start with paint, and why a timer may be your key to staying present while you work. Plus a whole lot more. Ad Free Podcast Art Club Version here. Extended Cut Bonus [Podcast Art Club] Morris talks about how to create sky holes in your trees and a really inventive idea for how to get great references when you travel. Available now in the Podcas...

When I say sketchbook, you might be thinking of a book with thin paper where you’d use a graphite pencil to draw. And that absolutely IS a sketchbook. But when guest Steve Griggs talks about sketchbooks he means a book filled with watercolor paper, which he uses for everything, drawing, painting, thinking and maybe most importantly developing ideas. In this mini episode, you’ll get practical tips for different ways to use a sketchbook. You’ll learn how to walk through the development of an id...

Have you ever finished a painting and something just feels… off? You could have a color harmony problem. The good news: you’ve got straightforward ways to fix the issue. In today’s episode we’re tackling color harmony. We’re going to explore what it is, why it matters, and most importantly, how to get it in your work including your very next painting including 4 strategies for creating color harmony in your work. Episodes Mentioned in the Show: Julia Katz, Ep.110 Jennifer Balkan, Ep.108 Joan ...

Perspective is a tool you can use to create depth and distance in your work. There are a few types of perspective tools but in today's mini episode we are focusing in on a super approachable one: Atmospheric (or Aerial) Perspective. Podcast Art Club: How 3 Different Artists Use Perspective in Their Work -----------#20for20ArtChallenge 2026----------- Build an art practice that fits in the life you're living now. Join us for next #20for20ArtChallenge. Join us here! Support the show

There are many ways to approach your painting practice—and each one serves a different purpose. In this Mini, we’ll briefly explore three core approaches: one-off paintings, painting in a series, and developing a cohesive body of work. We’ll break down how they differ, and then we’ll dive deeper into building a body of work—what it is, why it matters, and the steps you can take to start creating one with intention. Mentioned in the Show: Jennifer Balkan, Ep.108 Debbie Miller, Ep.15 Alice Sher...

So many guests on the show encourage their students to do studies. And yet… you still feel resistance. In today's Mini, let’s talk about what that resistance might look like and how to start pushing back. Mitchell Albala Interview [Ep.104] Mitchell Albala Bonus Conversation [Patreon] How to set up a grid for grid drawing [Instagram] 5 Pieces of Prep That Can Help You Make Looser, Bolder and All Around Better Paintings [Blog] -----------#20for20ArtChallenge 2026----------- Build an...

The #20for20ArtChallenge wrapped up on January 20th, but the lessons from it will stay with me all year. In this Studio Chat Mini, I break down what I thought I would learn over 20 days—and how what I actually learned turned out to be even more valuable. From managing art time at your worst time of day to rewiring your brain to be less negative, these insights can help any artist. Want to join us for the next challenge? Learn more here! Here's my writing about the project by day on Instagram....