Nitty Gritty

Bella McGoldrick and Tyler Rogers built a thriving art business by breaking every rule the traditional art world swears by.As the duo behind Looks Pretty Good, Bella is a coloured pencil artist producing hyperrealistic works inspired by mementos from the places she's lived, and Ty, with a background in design and tech, keeps the wheels of their art business turning behind the scenes.Ty's decision to join full-time only came about a few years ago, and since then the pair have doubled down harder than ever, stepping away from gallery representation to do it all themselves. Fiercely independent and headstrong, Bella and Ty are building a new way of working that challenges the traditional landscape of the art world.In one of the most honest conversations we've had on Nitty Gritty, they laid it all on the table. From content strategy experiments and hard-won hypotheses about actually selling art, to the power imbalances and flat-out incompetence they encountered with galleries, and how that gave them the confidence that they could do a better job themselves. Dollar signs, hot takes, and niche references. This one's for every working artist trying to figure out if the traditional path is really the only one.Find Bella on instagram here and the Looks Pretty Good studio here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Befriending fear has been the best decision I ever made. Today I'm flying solo and sharing the lesson that’s underpinned my creative career. In the last few months, I've made some enormous changes. I left my studio of five years, my community, and the entire foundation my creative practice had come to depend on. A choice to bite into the bitter taste of fear, hoping for something sweeter underneath.And the result? This year has seen some of my favourite works yet. I faced materials, colours and ideas I’d be avoiding. I started dancing again. I made new friends, embraced more rest, more silence, more intuition. I've been fully present with the process and as I grew and expanded, my art career has too.The lesson I’ve walked away from this with is that fear is your friend. In facing your fears as an artist, they grow smaller and you grow bigger. Listen to the little voice in your head telling you not to and choose to do it anyway. If there’s anything you’ve been afraid to face, I hope this week’s episode can be the gentle nudge you needed, and the reminder that the creative life you want often lives on the other side of fear.Follow the podcast on insta here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UNO REVERSE! Kate's on the other side of the mic this week for an expansive Q&A with Sophia D’Urso of ArtSupport.From the psychology of sales to what bubble wrap to buy, this chat spans the mindset and mechanics of building and sustaining a serious art practice.Kate shares her rules around commissions, how buyers invest in the story of you, and the not-so-sexy logistical realities of shipping, suppliers, and insurance.This no-fluff, no-gatekeeping Q&A is for anyone who’s been craving a real roadmap!Find Nitty Gritty on Instagram here, and check out ArtSupport Australia's website here and Instagram here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s that time again, and this week I’m sitting down with the talented Argentinian visual artist, Lola Erhart. Lola is a painter born in Buenos Aires and now based in the forest of Patagonia. Her figurative work takes the human body as an object of study, exploring the way emotional and fundamental parts of the human psyche can be displayed through brushstrokes. Lola’s models are friends or women close to her, resulting in an intimate reverence for her subjects.In this episode, Lola explained her practice to me, as well as some of the business processes and personal habits she has introduced to keep her work fluid and time productive. This was such a grounded conversation and gentle reminder for all creatives to listen to—if we can’t remember to make space for ourselves, it simply won’t exist. Thank you lovely Lola for taking the time to chat! Live tomorrow morning anywhere you stream your podcasts. You can find Lola and her work on Instagram here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Story time this week. In light of recent events, I wanted to share my experience with galleries — the red flags I ignored, the things I’d do differently now, and the lessons that could have saved me a lot of pain and struggle. If you’re navigating gallery relationships, big opportunities, or that uneasy feeling you can’t quite name, this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, my studio partner Holly and I sit down in Byron with self-taught ceramic artist and educator Bianca Pintan, and walk away completely energised by her passion, creativity and warmth.Bianca’s bold colours, sculptural forms, and intuitive, hand-built process grew from playful experimentation in her garage into a body of work and workshops that inspire artists worldwide. Guided by colour, emotion, and intuition, she doesn’t gatekeep, she openly shares her process through online courses, believing that generosity only expands what’s possible.We dive into sharing trade secrets, finding balance, embracing flexible plans, and what it really takes to market yourself as a self-represented artist, both organically and through paid channels.It’s a grounded, expansive conversation packed with practical takeaways, fresh perspective, and a reminder that creativity is freedom.Explore Bianca’s work and courses on her website here, and on Instagram here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m joined by UK-based artist, illustrator and curator Tabby Booth, whose work treads between illustration and traditional folk art painting. We get into the tension between being an “Instagram artist” versus a “real artist,” the snobbery that still lingers in traditional galleries, how to push through cringe to find success online, and the creative challenges of commission work.As an artist, gallery owner, and artist manager, Tabby offers a rare perspective on how the industry is shifting on all sides. She brings so much insight, honesty, and humour to this chat, plus a healthy dose of screw-the-naysayers energy.You can find Tabby’s work on her website here and on Instagram here, and check out Sailors Jail Gallery here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Table Talk takes us out of the studio and into the kitchen. Maya and Chelsea of Maria’s Byron Bay are culinary artists who blur the line between food and art - and the creative geniuses who brought my recent collection to life as caterers for the Table Talk lunch.Before the event, Holly Terry and I stepped into their kitchen to dive into their creative process, their inspirations, and the intentionality that guides everything they do. From presentation to materials, and even the way they approach clients, their practice reveals surprising parallels to life as an artist.Food has always held a special place in my heart, which is why this series grew out of a collection all about food. This chat was such a joy and a good reminder that artistry isn’t limited to studios!Check out Maria's on insta here and on their website here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m joined by Canadian ceramicist Sasha Court for a chat that’s basically creative rocket fuel. We unpack ditching the 9 to 5, breaking up with galleries, hanging onto childlike curiosity, and how she leaned into the intuitive path that’s carried her to where she is today. Sasha is pure creative fire with infectious confidence and we hope this conversation leaves feeling ready to take on the world !You can find Sasha on insta here @sashacourtstudioAnd see her website here https://www.sashacourt.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoruz7Ti40d_cDElyYiVyh1sfRnxLCZ4xg12Yrdg3bINLmwE1-2I Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thank you for being part of this big, beautiful season of Nitty Gritty!We’ve heard from so many incredible artists this season, and although they’re all on unique creative paths, some recurring themes carried through these chats. So to wrap things up, we’ve stitched together the nitty gritty bits that echoed across the season!Thank you to the listeners for your support and to all the artists for sharing so openly! In this episode, you’ll hear (in order of appearance): Abbie Rich, Musonga Mbogo, Julz Beresford, Matt Cauchi, Zoe Grey, Jonni Cheatwood, and Holly Terry ✨I hope you enjoy this little reflection, and I’ll see you very soon for Season 4! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week is just a little solo episode with Kate, as she shares some of her ideas around why comparison is a blocker for creativity and the cycle of negativity it can create within a creative practice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week its just little old me chatting about the things that i have found really help me build structure within my days of being a full time artist. I share some favourite quotes and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I sit down with my good friend and studio buddy, Holly Terry. We sit down to answer your questions, from how to price your work, the pros and con's of working with retail spaces, and the most loved materials we use. Thanks so much for the great questions everyone !! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.