099 Overcoming Artist Money Blocks with Denise Duffield-Thomas

Someday I’ll do a solo show. Someday I’ll enter that prize. Someday I’ll launch my website. Sound familiar? In this solo episode of Paint Rest Repeat, I’m talking about how to turn your art dream into reality, and why the thing that’s missing usually isn’t talent, time or capability. It’s structure. If you’ve ever worried that getting organised will squash your creativity, I’m making the case for the exact opposite. We talk about why so many art dreams quietly stall, what a wisteria vine can teach you about your art business, and four simple habits that turn one big dream into small, doable steps. I also share how structure (and a very good friend) got me through a one-off makers market that landed right in the busiest month of my year. Whether you paint purely for joy, you’re dreaming of your first sale, or you’re growing an established art business, you’ll walk away with a 10-minute next step you can take this week. Full show notes and links available at https://www.permissiontopaint.co/blog/dream New here? Grab a free resource to get started ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources ⬅️ Ready for more? Find out how we can work together ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/coaching ⬅️ Resources & Mentions: The 2027 Permission to Paint Planner (digital + 20 signed printed copies): https://www.permissiontopaint.co/planner Leave a question for the podcast: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/podcast Join the free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/permissiontopaintfreecommunity Free Artist Resources - Access the library of free resources to help you grow as an artist. https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosgervayart Follow the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@rosgervayart?sub_confirmation=1 Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosgervayart Get weekly art biz tips straight to your inbox: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/stay-connected Leave a review to help other artists find the show: https://rosgervayart.com/blogs/art-for-the-heart-blog/how-to-leave-a-podcast-review-on-apple-podcasts Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/paint-rest-repeat-podcast-for-artists/id1597004305

What if painting isn't only something you do, but the way you find your way back to yourself? In this episode of Paint Rest Repeat, I'm joined by artist Amy Kim for a heartfelt conversation about identity, motherhood, letting go of control, and being yourself in your art. Amy studied art more than twenty years ago, then stepped away. She was convinced she wasn't creative enough or brave enough to be an artist. After years of design, teaching and raising her daughters, she realised she no longer knew who she was. Painting became her way back. We talk about how her structured art education in Korea shaped her once hard-edged style, why she's now learning to paint more intuitively, and the series about her grandmother that revealed what she'd been carrying all along. Amy also shares the story behind her upcoming group exhibition, 'Being', and why real-life connection between artists and audiences matters so much. If you've ever lost touch with yourself, or wondered whether your art is "good enough", this conversation is a gentle reminder that being you is exactly what makes your work connect. Full show notes and links: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/blog/amy-kim-art-identity New here? Grab a free resource to get started ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources Ready for more? Find out how we can work together ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/coaching Resources & Mentions: Amy's website and the 'Being' exhibition call-out: https://www.byamykim.com Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amykim.art The 2027 Permission to Paint Planner (digital + limited print run): https://www.permissiontopaint.co/planner Leave a question for the podcast https://www.permissiontopaint.co/podcast Join the free Facebook community https://www.facebook.com/groups/permissiontopaintfreecommunity Free Artist Resources - Access the library of free resources to help you grow as an artist. https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rosgervayart Follow the YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@rosgervayart?sub_confirmation=1 Connect on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rosgervayart Get weekly art biz tips straight to your inbox: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/stay-connected Leave a review! It helps other artists find the show. https://rosgervayart.com/blogs/art-for-the-heart-blog/how-to-leave-a-podcast-review-on-apple-podcasts

If you caught the last episode, you'll know it was all about what actually worked when I first started selling my art. This time, I'm sharing the other side: what didn't. In this solo episode, I'm walking through 5 mistakes I made when first starting out. None of them happened because I wasn't committed enough. They happened because nobody showed me the potholes before I drove straight into them, and because these mistakes are sneaky — they don't feel like mistakes while you're making them. If you're making some sales but it all feels a bit chaotic behind the scenes, or you're just beginning and want to skip a couple of years of unnecessary struggle, this episode hands you the shortcuts I had to learn the long way. Full show notes and links available at https://www.permissiontopaint.co/blog/start-selling-2 New here? Grab a free resource to get started ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources ⬅️ Ready for more? Find out how we can work together ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/coaching ⬅️ Resources & Mentions: Part 1: How I Started to Sell My Art (Part 1 of 2): https://www.permissiontopaint.co/blog/start-selling-1 Art for the Heart enrolment open 9–17 September 2026, with a $7, 7-day trial: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/afh Leave a question for the podcast https://www.permissiontopaint.co/podcast Join the free Facebook community https://www.facebook.com/groups/permissiontopaintfreecommunity Free Artist Resources - Access the library of free resources to help you grow as an artist. https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rosgervayart Follow the YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@rosgervayart?sub_confirmation=1 Connect on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rosgervayart Get weekly art biz tips straight to your inbox: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/stay-connected Leave a review! It helps other artists find the show. https://rosgervayart.com/blogs/art-for-the-heart-blog/how-to-leave-a-podcast-review-on-apple-podcasts

How did I actually start selling my art and what would I do differently if I were starting today? In this solo episode, I'm taking you back to my very first art sale (spoiler: it was my mum), and sharing openly about everything I tried in the early days — a pricey and pointless Etsy shop, garage-sale-style markets, boosted Instagram posts with no strategy, and art competitions that weren't even a good fit. More importantly, I'm sharing the five things I wish I'd prioritised from the beginning: my vision, my style, my story, my people, and my invitation. These are the fundamentals that actually move the needle, whether you're waiting for your first sale or you've already made many. If you want to sell more art without falling into the overwhelm of endless advice and shiny tactics, this episode is for you. Full show notes and links available at https://www.permissiontopaint.co/blog/start-selling-1 New here? Grab a free resource to get started ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources ⬅️ Ready for more? Find out how we can work together ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/coaching ⬅️ Resources & Mentions: Join the free Sell Your Art Your Way Challenge (starts Monday 7 September 2026): https://www.permissiontopaint.co/sellyourart Leave a question for the podcast https://www.permissiontopaint.co/podcast Join the free Facebook community https://www.facebook.com/groups/permissiontopaintfreecommunity Free Artist Resources - Access the library of free resources to help you grow as an artist. https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rosgervayart Follow the YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@rosgervayart?sub_confirmation=1 Connect on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rosgervayart Get weekly art biz tips straight to your inbox: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/stay-connected Leave a review! It helps other artists find the show. https://rosgervayart.com/blogs/art-for-the-heart-blog/how-to-leave-a-podcast-review-on-apple-podcasts

Do you ever feel like your art business is constantly asking for more time, content and energy than you actually have to give? In this solo episode, Ros explores how to build an art business around your real life—without giving up on your ambitions. You’ll learn four practical principles for creating a sustainable art business, including how to assess your real capacity, choose a business model that suits your circumstances, identify your biggest current hurdle and focus on small actions you can realistically repeat. Because the problem isn’t always your motivation or discipline. Sometimes, the problem is a plan that was designed for somebody else’s life. If you’re growing your art business around children, paid work, caring responsibilities, health limitations or limited pockets of time, this episode is for you. Full show notes and links: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/blog/build-an-art-business New here? Grab a free resource to get started ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources ⬅️ Ready for more? Find out how we can work together ➡️ https://www.permissiontopaint.co/coaching ⬅️ Resources & Mentions: Download The Real-Life Artist’s Guide to Your Next Art Biz Move: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/art-business-guide Leave a question for the podcast https://www.permissiontopaint.co/podcast Join the free Facebook community https://www.facebook.com/groups/permissiontopaintfreecommunity Free Artist Resources - Access the library of free resources to help you grow as an artist. https://www.permissiontopaint.co/resources Connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rosgervayart Follow the YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@rosgervayart?sub_confirmation=1 Connect on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rosgervayart Get weekly art biz tips straight to your inbox: https://www.permissiontopaint.co/stay-connected Leave a review! It helps other artists find the show. https://rosgervayart.com/blogs/art-for-the-heart-blog/how-to-leave-a-podcast-review-on-apple-podcasts