Savvy Painter Podcast With Antrese Wood

Today, we’re talking about something that every artist encounters—but few talk about openly: rejection.Whether it’s a juried show, a gallery application, or simply putting your work on social media, the fear of hearing “no” often holds artists back in big ways. But here’s the truth: rejection isn’t the problem. It’s the meaning we attach to it that creates so much pain and paralysis.Antrese breaks down:Why rejection feels so intense—and why that’s totally normalThe science behind the physical response to rejection (it’s not all in your head)How your brain turns a simple “no” into a worst-case-scenario spiralReal stories from Growth Studio artists navigating fear, discomfort, and unexpected winsWhat it means to build rejection resilience—and how to do itYou’ll also hear about a two-month Rejection Challenge happening inside Growth Studio, and why some artists are already discovering that the “no’s” they feared are turning into surprising “yeses.”If rejection has ever stopped you from taking action, this episod

Have you ever been so immersed in your painting that you completely lost track of time? That magical moment where everything clicks, the inner critic goes quiet, and it feels like the brush is moving on its own? That’s what we’re diving into today—flow state.But here’s the twist: is flow always a good thing? Or can it actually hold you back from experimenting and growing as an artist?In this episode, I’m bringing you inside Growth Studio for a real, unfiltered conversation with artists who are wrestling with those exact questions. You’ll hear how each of us defines and experiences flow, the unexpected ways it shows up (or doesn’t), and why your version of it might look completely different from anyone else's.Whether you’ve had that dreamy, meditative painting session or you’re wondering why it feels so elusive, this conversation will make you think differently about what flow actually is—and how it might be the key to unlocking your most authentic work.In This Episode:What flow state actually feels like—

Do you often feel guilty or frustrated when you see a piece of unfinished art in your studio? Instead of seeing that as proof of something wrong with you or your art practice, let’s transform your relationship with your works-in-progress and unlock new (and often overlooked) possibilities!In this episode of the Savvy Painter Podcast, learn how unfinished work holds the key to your next creative breakthrough. I explore the various types of incomplete pieces and the emotional baggage attached to them, how to overcome the self-criticism surrounding unfinished work, how to know when it’s time to release your hold on partly-done artwork, as well as advocate for embracing the untapped potential of unfinished art as part of creating a positive practice.1:39 – How I tend to categorize unfinished work5:05 – Internal and external reasons for leaving paintings unfinished6:58 – Common negative thoughts about unfinished work and my philosophy for creating a positive art practice13:05 – How to embrace the idea of letting g

Art is inherently slow. It demands time, thought, and presence, so embracing that slowness is essential for creating meaningful work and maintaining your artistic well-being. Yet, many artists feel behind in their art journey because they’re not producing fast enough.In this episode of the Savvy Painter Podcast, I’ll challenge the idea that faster is better in the art world. You’ll discover how hustle culture distorts our perception of the artistic process and get a refreshing perspective that’ll help you reclaim the joy and depth of art-making in a fast-paced world.3:57 – The mindset that clashes with the time-sensitive nature of art creation7:51 – How social media puts pressure on artists to create faster10:54 – The drawbacks of chasing quick results with your art14:52 – The perks of embracing a slower approach with your art17:53 – Four quick steps to reclaim time, space, and creative joy in your art practiceMentioned in The Slow Art Revolution — Because Instant Results Are a ScamJoin Growth StudioSupport t

Does staring at a blank canvas sometimes cause you to question your abilities? Many artists (even those you admire) struggle with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and the current chaotic world only amplifies those feelings. But what if the only thing holding you back is the mere thought that you aren’t an artist?In this episode of the Savvy Painter Podcast, we’ll dismantle the myth of the "real" artist and explore why waiting to embody this ideal is a waste of time. You’ll discover how imposter syndrome can signal that you're in the wrong environment (not the wrong career), how external stress fuels self-doubt, and how to regain control of your thoughts and stop looking for permission to be the artist you truly want to be.3:15 – Challenge your inner critic who thinks you're not a real artist10:33 – Re-define for yourself what it means to be an artist 14:00 – The importance of identifying who you want (and don’t want) to support you 17:54 – The power of choosing to embrace imperfection and

Why does your art matter when the world feels heavy, uncertain, or even chaotic? If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Who am I to create right now?”—you’re not alone. But that might be the wrong question.In this episode of the Savvy Painter Podcast, we’re talking about what it means to make art during difficult times. If you’re an artist feeling disconnected, stuck, or unsure whether your work even matters right now, this conversation is for you.We’ll look at why creative burnout is so common in overwhelming seasons, how to reconnect with your practice when it feels impossible to show up, and why your art is not just valid but vital. You’ll learn how to calm your nervous system, process tough emotions without pushing them down, and use your studio as a place of resistance, healing, and humanity.Because making art isn’t frivolous, it’s how we stay connected. It’s how we resist isolation. And it’s precisely what the world needs more of.3:31 – The importance of acknowledging your emotions without letting them

How often have you heard phrases like, “Go big or go home,” or “Just put yourself out there”? Society loves to advocate for taking big risks. Yet too many end up freezing or avoiding risk-taking entirely when the leap they’re being asked to make feels too big for them. Thankfully, there’s a middle ground between taking a big risk and taking no risks at all.In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, I’ll show you the power of taking small, controlled risks to build your confidence and gradually increase your risk tolerance. You’ll see why big leaps often backfire and halt your progress, and discover how to expand your risk-taking comfort zone without overwhelming yourself.2:59 – The nervous system’s role in your risk-taking confidence and the advantage in taking small risks 8:41 – How approaching risk-taking like a ladder or video game expands your confidence15:23 – Signs that you’re taking too big a risk and techniques to regulate your nervous system when things feel too scary17:41 – How to know when it’s

When things don’t go your way in your art practice, what do you do? Like many artists, you might beat yourself up with lots of self-criticism and judgment. You’d be better off creating the habit of having your own back instead. That way, you’ll actually speed up your progress and not look back a year from now with regret that you’re still stuck in the same place.In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, I’ll reveal exactly what having your own back looks like, why it’s a crucial skill you must learn, and how not doing so can hold you back for years. I’ll also discuss the impact of creating this habit on you as an artist and how compassionate support (from yourself and/or others) helps evolve your art practice.2:53 – Why self-criticism doesn’t make you a better artist8:04 - How getting rejected isn’t really about your work10:29 – What having your own back means and why it’s a crucial skill to develop14:52 – How creating the habit of having your own back impacts your art practice17:02 – Explicit and implici

Your brain automatically runs scripts on repeat. But are those scripts helping you or playing like mini horror movies in your head? With the right mental rehearsal approach, you can create scenarios that help turn around any unsatisfactory results of your art practice. In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, we’re going to get into what mental rehearsal is and why it’s one of the most powerful, yet underutilized tools for artists. You’ll discover how you’re always mentally practicing something repeatedly, how your current results are proof, and what happens when you change what you’re rehearsing in your brain.2:24 – What mental rehearsal is and some ways you’re probably using it wrong7:05 - Why the brain makes mental rehearsal so effectively powerful (with a client example)12:42 – The effect mental rehearsing might be having on your art practice right now 14:33 – Another example of what can happen when you switch your mental rehearsal 17:19 – The difference between artists who succeed and those who stay

Is the problem really your art—or just how you’re looking at it?We’ve all been there. You step back from something you’ve just created, and your brain instantly goes, “Ugh, this is awful.” Maybe even, “What if people see this and think I have no idea what I’m doing?” That little voice in your head? It’s not just being dramatic, it’s actively sabotaging you.In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, we’re digging into how your brain warps your perception of your own work, why that inner critic is so convincing, and, most importantly, how to quiet it so you can share your art with confidence. Because if you don’t believe in your work, how can you expect anyone else to?1:58 – Negativity bias of the brain and how it affects your perspective4:07 - One Growth Studio member’s journey from self-doubt to public recognition6:52 – The cycle of doubt you experience with your work10:46 – Three steps to override your brain and overcome self-doubt16:48 – How to practice talking about your art to build confidence Mentione

Do you ever feel anxious or freeze up when someone asks about your work? You want people to see and love your art, but talking about it can feel overwhelming. And if you struggle to talk about your art, you might miss opportunities to connect with potential buyers.In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, we’re diving into why learning to talk about your art is so important. I’ll share how your words can shape the way collectors experience your work, what it really costs to stay silent, and why there’s no “wrong” way to talk about your art—even if it feels intimidating.4:24 – Why your art won’t speak for itself and why you need to help it10:26 – What happens when you stay silent instead of engaging with potential buyers13:36 – How connection shapes a collector’s experience and influences their decision to buy17:40 – How talking about your art builds confidence and conviction in your work20:37 – The impact of clear communication when applying for shows, grants, and residencies22:07 – The biggest fears arti

As a kid, did you wish you were like Cinderella and had a fairy godmother who could just wave her magic wand and president you with whatever you wished? Unfortunately, this idea of a fairy tale character coming to save the day is every bit as fantastical as the art police scenario talked about last week. Just as no one is coming to arrest you, no one is coming to save you, either.In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn how to be the hero of your own story instead and give yourself the best odds to succeed as an artist. I’ll share the scope of the responsibility you need to take on, provide insights and suggestions to help you get clear on and envision what you want inside and outside the studio, discuss the importance of focusing on what you can control instead of what you can’t (like social media algorithms), and more.3:55 - How to stack the odds in your favor and give yourself the chance to create the practice you want6:39 - How to envision your perfect day and the results you want to get

Do you believe that if you think outside of the box and actually apply that thinking to your work that the art police will come to arrest you or take away your brushes? As absurd as that seems, refusing to follow your instincts as an artist because of your fear of negative nancy voices still has the same effect on you. You’re so worried about doing everything “by the book” that it causes you to question your decisions and your work, to the point where you stop yourself from doing it.So in this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, we’ll dismantle the myth that there’s a correct way to create, show, or sell your art and that some invisible authority is waiting to catch you in the act if you stray away from doing it “right.” I’ll also give you some truths, strategies, and tools to help you more easily embrace your creative inner voice and artistic instincts without fearing others’ negative beliefs or thoughts.1:24 - The irony of being an artist living in a world with other human beings4:06 - How fear of the art

Noticing the small wins you’ve gained can have a big impact on your practice as an artist. That insight was what I loved hearing about most in my conversation with Leslie Rae Cannon, an artist from Atlanta, Georgia and a member of Growth Studio. She graduated with an art degree from Presbyterian College, and now as an empty-nester has traded in carpools and play-dates for canvases and paint brushes.In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn how small wins have helped Leslie grow as an artist, from overcoming her fear of putting her work out there to becoming really selective about which gallery she allows to show her art. You’ll also hear about the importance of developing a supportive community and how that’s helped Leslie recognize her own progress.1:34 - A sense of who Leslie is and what she’s discovered about herself as an artist5:56 - The process Leslie goes through when working on or in between projects8:56 - How Leslie felt inspired to create her hydrangea collection and allowed herself

Do you feel a twinge of anxiety or regret settle in after you’ve set a goal? It’s similar to how people often feel after making a big purchase. You get really excited about your goal, only to feel this wave of doubt sink in. I call this goal phenomenon “goal remorse.”In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, we’ll dive deeper into what goal remorse is and why it pops up. I’ll also give you some tips to calm the overthinking of your goal, help you feel good about your decision, and stay on track with your vision.1:36 - What goal remorse is, why you feel it, and questions to ask yourself when the goal you’ve set is too vague7:57 - A close cousin of “shiny-object syndrome” that leads to goal remorse and the bigger win you gain by committing to your goals14:20 - How recognizing that you’re in a negative thought pattern, challenging it, and reframing it will help defuse it17:00 - One of my favorite and constantly used tools for calming down the nervous system19:19 - The power of self-hypnosis or mental rehears

Setting goals isn’t just about the end result; it’s also about personal growth and transformation. You feel disappointed and perhaps like you’re spinning your wheels a bit when you don’t achieve what you’ve set out to do. And a struggle to decide the ‘right' goal for you might be getting in the way of that feeling of satisfaction, happiness, and pride in your art practice.So how do you choose if you have a million ideas and feel like you can’t pick just one to go with? In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn about the common fears associated with goal-setting and the part your brain plays in the process. I’ll also give you some practical tips to help you decide which goals to pursue.1:58 - What setting goals helps you avoid and common struggles of artists who don’t have clear goals8:32 - Why artists struggle with choosing the “right” goal and trusting their decision16:34 - Why your brain creates obstacles to achieving your goals and how to deal with it21:09 - How to decide if you feel

There’s an affliction going around lately within artistic circles. You might be experiencing it too, even if it’s just a small voice or whisper in the back of your head. The affliction is the thought that, “My art doesn’t matter”. Now, your immediate reaction might be to refute this and tell yourself, “Of course it matters/” And I agree and am here to remind you that, yes, your art does matter. But this constant nagging doubt could make you feel like an art practice isn’t worth having after all.In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn about what’s special about your art and exactly why it matters, not just to you but to other people as well. I’ll also discuss why you believe it doesn’t matter and how your approach to your work could change if the thought was completely non-existent in your mind.3:20 - Why you sometimes believe that creating your work doesn’t matter and how it leads to dissatisfaction in your practice8:09 - The most beautiful thing about being an artist and how it showcases a

Money and pricing your art can feel like tricky, even uncomfortable topics, but they’re also some of the most powerful conversations we can have as artists. Why? Because our beliefs about money and pricing often run deep and show up in ways we don’t even realize. They influence how we value our art, how we show up for it, and ultimately, how we create a practice that truly supports and sustains us.In this final roundtable episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, I’m joined by Growth Studio members Merrie Koehlert, Leslie Cannon, and Beverly Woodhall. We dig into how your thoughts about money and pricing impact your relationship with your art, and we get real about the hidden mindset blocks that can hold you back. Whether it’s pricing your work with confidence, valuing your time, or shifting your money beliefs, this conversation is filled with insights to help you move forward and thrive as an artist."1:23 - Quick self-introductions for Merrie, Leslie, and Beverly as artists2:56 - Assumptions about money as

As artists, we go through several phases on our way to creating pieces. It all starts with this period of play and discovery that I call the exploratory phase, and to talk about it with me are Growth Studio members Sabrina Setaro, Alyssa Marquez, and Jess Fredrick.In this roundtable episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, you’ll go on a deep dive into the first stage of artistic creation: the exploratory phase. Sabrina, Alyssa, Fredick, and I will discuss what happens in this stage and what they’ve discovered about their work in the process, techniques to balance play with purpose during your exploration, how they avoid overwhelm and overthinking during this discovery phase, and more!1:10 - The five phases of artistic creation4:27 - Sabrina, Alyssa and Jess tell a little bit about themselves8:00 - What the exploratory phase looks like for each roundtable participant in their studio14:05 - Allowing further experimentation and how to keep frustration at bay during this phase24:48 - More experimentation techniques

Welcome to another roundtable series! This time I’m joined by Growth Studio members Louisa Jornayvaz, Braighlee Rainey, Jack Wray, and Elisabeth Svendby in a discussion about finding your voice as an artist.In this episode of The Savvy Painter Podcast, you’ll learn about what it means to find your voice and ways you can connect with it. You’ll also get personal insights into how the participants’ have connected with their voice and how it brings meaning into their artistic practice.1:37 - Braighlee, Louisa, Elisabeth, and Jack quickly introduce themselves3:27 - How they define what the artist's voice means to them8:46 - How to know when you’re connected to your voice11:00 - How your background can impact your art and the journey of finding your voice19:52 - How each roundtable participant has progressed in finding their voice26:35 - Why this journey isn’t straightforward and how it can evolve as you continue to walk the path33:59 - Advice if you’re really not sure where to look to help you discover your