The Laura Horn Art Podcast

Running a creative business is a lot like painting, sometimes you have to take things too far to know your limits. This week, Richie and I chat about this and why our 3-week break turned into 3 months. You'll hear our perspectives on burnout as well as the flipside - What happens when you slow down too much and become isolated and disengaged? We also talk about changes in the art community including the push towards more video content and the pros and cons of raw vs polished video production. Plus, we try not to gush or say too much about our upcoming artist interviews! This season we are focusing on artists that have a smaller social media following but are achieving success in different ways. We've called it the 'Redefining Success Series' and we can't wait to share it with you. The first interview will be out next week. Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/128 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

In this week’s episode, I am sharing a few posts and podcast episodes from other artists that have helped me to get back on track after a bit of a slump in my creative practice. They say a problem shared is a problem halved and I certainly have to agree with that. I’ve been taking a lot of comfort from other artists in the community and I wanted to share some of that comfort and support with you. Richie and I also reflect on this season of the podcast and talk about the positives that have come out of 2021 along with our plans for the future. We hope you enjoy the episode. This is the last episode of the season. We will be back in early May! Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/127 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

I'll just make a quick video for Instagram. It'll be easy. 5 hours later and with much cursing, I had nothing. Well actually, I did have some footage of the back of my head and some interesting shadows! If this sounds all too familiar, stay tuned! This week, Richie is taking over the mic and sharing his skills and knowledge as a videographer. Don’t worry though, it’s not super techy! This is the Keep it Simple approach to making a time-lapse video. Richie takes you through every step including setting up your equipment, finding good light, taking high-quality footage and even how to edit the video once you are done. Speaking of video, Richie has also created a little video to accompany this podcast so you can really see what is going on. The video is linked in the show notes. Also, if you are interested in a more in-depth course on making videos, make sure you register your interest at www.laurahornart.com/video-for-artists. Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/126 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

Sometimes the administration side of being an artist takes over to the point where you don’t feel like much of an artist at all! Too many hours behind the computer screen can leave you feeling tired, exhausted and full of self-doubt. When this happens something has to give! This week we chat about making painting a priority again. You’ll hear about the new collection I am working on, why I am laying low on social media and what happened when I took a break from my beloved online planner, Trello! We hope you enjoy the episode. Richie and I certainly had a good laugh about my amazing ability to overcomplicate things! If you also struggle with this balancing act and put way to much pressure on yourself, please know that you are not alone. Keeping things in balance is almost impossible but sometimes you do need to take a stand, rejig your schedule and claim those painting hours back! Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/125 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/ Email Richie with questions for his solo episodes at laurahornartinfo@gmail.com

Why are some artists so popular? And what about those artists that work really hard doing all the things (posting on social media, sending out newsletters, creating tutorials, exhibiting in galleries …) but barely see any growth in their audience year after year? That’s what we are chatting about this week. To help us answer this question, Richie and I took a look at who we follow on Instagram and why. What we noticed was that there are many different ways to stand out. From gimmicks to awe-inspiring talent, join us as we chat about what can make a difference when you are trying to be seen in a very crowded space. We also talk about how much time it can take to get attention and whether it is even worth it? Plus we hatch a plan to interview artists that are achieving success with smaller audiences and with less focus on social media. Stay tuned for that! We hope you enjoy the episode and it provides some food for thought on this tricky and often frustrating topic! Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/124 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

How many cameras do you set up? What type of light do you use for taking photos? How do you cope with Laura? Love that last question!! Just a few of the themes that Richie is diving into this week in his first solo episode. For those of you that don’t know, Richie is my husband and for the past few years, he has been working full-time behind the scenes in the Laura Horn Art business. He also co-hosts this podcast with me but this week he’s running the show! If you have ever wondered who is that Irish guy? This is the episode for you! You’ll get to know Richie really well as he chats about his background, personal creative projects and what it is like to work in the LHA Biz. Plus there are plenty of photography and videography tips! This is a warm, encouraging and honest conversation and at the end of it, I couldn’t help but think - Richie should have his own podcast!! It’s so good. I don’t think Richie would have done this episode even a few months ago but all your lovely messages have spurred him on to speak up and share all that he has to offer and my goodness he has a lot to offer! It makes me so happy to be able to share this episode with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! And yes Richie is a big softy!! Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/123 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

How important is it to be efficient as an artist? That’s the question I posted on Instagram yesterday and today we are unpacking your answers. There’s so much to talk about! Does efficiency take away from the magic of the process? Is it different for working artists vs. non-working artists? Can taking a break be the most efficient thing you do? Plus there were so many wonderful tips left on the IG post. Things like: using a stay wet palette, listening to helpful podcasts while painting, putting up a do not disturb sign when working, turning off wi-fi, having your artist bio and portfolio images ready to send when requested and much more! One thing that did become clear is that there are many different ways to be efficient as an artist and the choices you make will be influenced by your goals and overall vision. We hope you enjoy the conversation and if you haven’t checked out the Instagram post, you can do so here. Thank you everyone for your wonderful contributions and for helping me to create this podcast! After-all, sometimes being efficient means asking for help!! Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/122 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

With a bit of creative thinking, even the smallest space can give birth to all kinds of art! Over the years I’ve made art in various corners and spots around the home. Personally, I thought that the kitchen table was very practical. Turns out Richie wasn’t as keen! Since then I have worked in a converted garage, offsite studio and most recently a loft area in our new home. As we talk about this journey, I share some of my favourite tips and ideas for getting organised including some handy storage solutions. If you want a visual, make sure you watch our studio vlog. Yep, we finally released a new vlog episode and it’s all about my new studio space. We also chat about the rollercoaster that is creative life and what happens when we both get the blues at the same time! Plus there’s the usual dose of laughter and healthy banter to keep you company as you make art, fold laundry and do all the other little things that life throws at you. The last thing I wanted to mention, is that our 6-week ecourse, Modern Mixed Media, is now open for registration but not for long. We are limiting spaces this time and have already reached the half-way mark! If you want to join us, click here and use the coupon MMM21 to save 20% at checkout. Thanks, everyone, have a wonderful week and I hope that you’ll tune in next time! Join the Modern Mixed Media Ecourse (use coupon MMM21) at www.laurahornart.com/modernmixedmedia Watch the Vlog including the new art studio tour at www.laurahornart.com/vlog Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/121 Find me on Instagram at www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

In today's podcast, we chat about what it's been like to create our first art challenge and share a few tips and insights from behind the scenes. It hasn't exactly been plain sailing but creative life rarely is. My goodness though, it feels good to push through and be at the stage where we can say that the challenge is live. So what does it take to run an art challenge? How do you choose a theme? Where is the best place to host it? How long should it be and how do you get the word out? Just a few of the questions we’ll be answering as we chat about our experience so far. And if you want to check out our challenge, it is called the Creative Elements Challenge and it’s running from the 10-14 February. It’s a five-part free video series and you can access here. The videos will be available to view until 2 March 2021. We hope you enjoy the challenge and you also enjoy hearing about the challenge of creating our first challenge! Sign up for the free Creative Elements Challenge at classes.laurahornart.com/courses/creative-elements-challenge Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/120 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

This week on the podcast we are continuing our conversation about sketchbooks! I want to say a big thank you to everyone as we had a huge response to the first part of this sketchbook series. In the first part, we chatted about the mindset side of things and today we are diving into the practical stuff. ⠀ We cover how to choose a sketchbook and talk about common challenges including pages smearing, bleeding, tearing and sticking together. We also chat about our children starting at their new schools, the value of taking a day off to reset and our gratitude for this podcast and the community that has grown from it. After we recorded this conversation, I kept thinking about things that I left out! We might need another sketchbook conversation! At least I am learning how to say the phrase without mixing up my words. If you don’t know what I mean - take a listen to the end of last week’s episode where Richie snuck in a funny blooper! I hope you enjoy today’s instalment and don’t forget to sign up here if you want to get involved with the FREE Creative Elements Challenge. The first of 5 videos will be released on the 10 Feb! Sign up for the free Creative Elements Challenge at classes.laurahornart.com/courses/creative-elements-challenge Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/119 Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

What if my best work gets stuck here? What if I mess up a spread and ruin the whole journal? Why can’t I stick with a theme? It’s taken me eight years to move past these fears and cultivate a sketchbook practice that not only makes me happy but is also beneficial for my art. This is such a big topic that Richie and I have decided to devote two episodes to it. In today’s episode, I am talking about how I overcame my sketchbook anxiety and next week we’ll dive into the practical stuff including supplies and how to deal with warping, pages sticking together and other sketchbook challenges. We hope you enjoy the episode and don’t forget to pop your name on my newsletter list if you want to join in on the Creative Elements Challenge starting on the 10 Feb. Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/118 Join my newsletter list at https://www.laurahornart.com/newsletter Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

It's not always easy to get back into creative work after a break. You can feel overwhelmed with too many ideas or struggle to even make a mark on the page. Or as you'll hear about in today's episode, you can plan a big studio day and end up going for breakfast, having a hair cut and doing a bit of shopping! It would be fair to say that Richie and I are easing our way into 2021! So with that in mind, come join us for a relaxed chat about: Getting used to our new studio set-up including the longer commute. Resisting the urge for shiny new things. Gouache paints I am talking about you! Cooking up a free 5-part video series called the Creative Elements Challenge. Goal setting and why we are letting go of the chase for more IG followers. Reinforcing helpful beliefs such as ‘bad art is better than no art’ and ‘10 minutes is enough time to be creative’ We hope you enjoy the conversation and if the Creative Elements Challenge sounds like your cup of tea, make sure you join the LHA newsletter list for all the details. Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/117 Join my newsletter list at https://www.laurahornart.com/newsletter Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

How much value do you place on your creative time? Have you set things up in a way that makes it easy to jump right in? If you need some inspiration in this area, you’ll love my guest today. I am chatting with Sarah Simon! Sarah is the designer, artist-illustrator and author at The Mint Gardener.  Based in Seattle, Washington, Sarah creates and teaches lush watercolours inspired by the diverse variety of herbs, flowers and trees grown in her urban garden. In this conversation, Sarah shares how it all began including the pivotal moments that lead her to start painting, set up her Etsy shop (The Mint Gardener) and focus on art full-time. This brings up many interesting topics including the challenge of calling yourself an artist, how to recharge when art becomes a job and the value of getting creatively organised. And of course, there are plenty of tips on how to get started with watercolour! Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/116 Find Sarah on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/themintgardener Find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurahornart/

With the end of the year fast approaching, this week I felt the urge to talk about planning! And in particular, how I use Trello to get organised and stay focused throughout the year.  Trello is a tool that I often get asked questions about so if you are curious about what it is and how you could make use of it in 2021, stay tuned. For anyone that doesn’t know what Trello is, it’s an online organisational tool that you can download for free here. While I do my best to explain it in this podcast episode, I’ve also, with Richie’s help, created a free video so you can get a visual and see how I have my Trello set up. In this episode, Richie and I also talk about our general approach to planning. This includes the changes we have made as our art business has grown, getting to grips with numbers and building flexibility and freedom into our schedules. Whether you use Trello or another planning method, this episode is packed with tips and ideas to help you get excited and ready for the year ahead. So grab a cup of tea and make yourself comfortable. It’s time to do some planning! Watch the free Trello video at www.laurahornart.com/trello-for-artists Download Trello at www.trello.com Follow me on Instagram @laurahornart Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/115

Well, it's finally happened! We are in our new home and this is the episode where we get to chat all about it and answer your questions! Thank you, everyone, for your lovely messages and for encouraging us to make this house related episode. Well, let’s be honest I didn’t really need the encouragement but Richie did! In this episode, we talk about where we have moved to, why we have made this change and what it has been like to finally get those keys after months of anticipation! I chat about how my art might change now that we are here and what I am thinking of as far as a home studio set-up. Meanwhile, Richie talks about his new practice of combining morning walks with meditation. We hope that you enjoy this special house-moving episode! Follow me on Instagram @laurahornart Find the show notes for this episode with all the links at https://www.laurahornart.com/thepodcast/114 Check out the LHA Resource Library at https://www.laurahornart.com/resources