Par Paddy Johnson

Is any question more vexing to artists than, "What do you do?" No, because it's impossible to answer! This week on the podcast, I turned the tables and asked curator, consultant, and media personality Carrie Scott the same questions she asks artists in her interviews. What do you do? Who do you make work for? What made you decide to pursue a career…

Does advanced age feel more like a liability than a strength? Welcome to the art world, which can suuuuck for mid-career artists. Ageism in the art world is more than just a problem—it's a barrier that can feel insurmountable, especially for women artists over 60. (And yes, while it affects everyone, the impact on women is particularly harsh.) I'm …

The problem most artists don't know they have with A.I.? They aren't using it enough. If you don't use it, you won't know all it can do to help you. But you also won't be aware of its limitations. In this podcast, I walk you through exactly how AI can help you save time in the studio, and when you need to switch out the AI for an expert. Here's the…

You wouldn't think a town in the mountains would be devastated by a hurricane. That's what happens to cities on the coastlines. But we live in a world undeniably affected by climate change, so all bets are off. Today on the Art Problems podcast I speak with Hannah Cole an Artist and Accountant based in Asheville, an artist-friendly city heavily imp…

There was a time when I couldn't imagine even asking this question. Of course, you need a gallery. How else will you sell your work to collectors? But now, in the age of Instagram, substack, and websites, maybe it's not as urgent a need. You can connect with buyers on your own. Even galleries don't always think they need galleries. Many have closed…

Is it possible to leave your family for a couple of months to make art on a residency and not feel guilty for doing it? For many of us, probably not, which is why on this podcast, I speak with artist Danielle Mysliwiec about why her experience at Surf Point, The Tides Institute, and Long Meadow Art Residency is worth any guilt incurred in the proce…

What's with the dead bodies? Yes, that's an actual question from the New York fairs. This week on the podcast, I invited the artist William Powhida on to the show ostensibly to discuss what we saw last week. The discussion, though, ended up going far deeper. On the podcast, we talk about: What we want from art in an increasingly tumultuous world Wh…

Raise your hand if you feel guilty taking time off. 🙋‍♀️ You are not alone, I promise you. This is a challenge I struggle with as well, so if you've said you struggle to maintain a life-work balance this podcast is for you. Today, I'm here to walk you through what causes guilt around taking vacations and some of the mindshifts involved in giving yo…

Is there a scenario in which giving your work away for free is preferable to storing it? For more than 80 artists, the answer to this question is called the Zero Art Fair. (In other words, if the storage fees become too high, then yes, free is better than the trash.) The fair, which took place last weekend at Upstate Art Weekend, helped artists pla…

I'd like to introduce you to artist John Sproul. Over the last three years, his career has completely transformed. John is a Netvvrk member, and like so many of us, he's putting the work in. But is he doing anything different than you? In this episode of Art Problems, John talks about his path; exactly what he did, how he did it, and how Netvvrk he…

The Guggenheim Fellowship application goes live mid-August, Have you been wondering whether you should apply for a Guggenheim fellowship? Let me help you answer that question. In this episode of the Art Problems Podcast, I discuss the biases of the grant, what you need to make a competitive application, and give you tips on how to avoid getting bog…

How selfish can you be without turning into a jerk no one wants to be around? And is being a jerk an acceptable price if the result is getting what you want? I like to think the answer to that question is no, but I dive into this topic on today's episode of Art Problems because we all know artists who aren't all that generous but have a good deal o…

What will happen to your art when you die? Have you made plans? Do you feel too nervous about the thought to even make plans? The problem with this is that if you want your art cared for after your death, you have put plans in place within your lifetime. That's why I decided to speak with estate planning legacy experts Ursula Davila-Villa and Anna …

Have you ever talked to someone and instantly recognized that person as your friend and colleague? Meet Ceri Hand, a registered coach for artists, and instant friend and colleague! She's based in London. Worked at the highest levels of the art world. And knows from experience exactly what artists need to do to move their careers forward. In this in…

Have you ever had someone write about your work, but you felt it misrepresented you? Have you ever had someone post your work, but without crediting you? Or maybe they used your work without asking you if it was okay. In this episode of Art Problems, I talk about how to make the most out of less-than-ideal situations. I talk about how to get what y…

You know all those jpgs you have lying around your computer? As a random file on your computer, they're worth nothing. But what if I told you, that the hours of labor those images represent can be monetized -- and not just through the traditional gallery route. This week on the Art Problems Podcast I speak with Kelani Nichole of the Transfer Data T…

In honor of the upcoming quarterly tax payments, I’m sharing an episode from Sunlight, my favorite podcast about taxes, money, and managing your art career. About this episode, podcast host, artist, and accountant Hannah Cole writes, Have you ever wondered what questions you should ask when you’re hiring a new accountant? Today, I’m explaining some…

I asked that question of Get the Picture author Bianca Bosker on this week's episode of Art Problems. And let me tell you, the answer was every bit as thrilling as asking the question. In Bosker's New York Times bestselling book, she spends five years working at galleries, and artist studios, as well as interviewing the Whitney Biennial curators an…

Are you feeling stuck? Your art isn't selling. Your opportunities are dwindling. You're wondering if it's time to throw in the towel. Let me answer that for you really quick: No. In this podcast, I talk about what to do when sales are down, and the answer isn't quitting. It's experimentation in the studio. Have a listen and let me know what you thi…

You know how every other headline for the past year has been about the sinking art market? Well, we're finally starting to see the light. In this week's episode of the Art Problems podcast, I discuss two fairs and an art show in Chelsea and how art sales are finally on the rise! Relevant links: Join the Netvvrk membership!…

You know what sucks? Feeling like you've been stuck in the same place career-wise for years on end, with no solution insight. You're tired. And you're demoralized. What if I told you I could give you a way to feel better, even if for just a short while? Well, I've got you. In this podcast I give you two easy exercises that will help build your conf…

Heather Bhandari knows artists. She's spent her 25-plus-year career in service of helping them build their careers. She's written books, organized conferences, put together learning centers, taught classes, and helped manage legacies. And that's why I asked her on the podcast. In our conversation, Heather discusses: Positive changes to the art worl…

Doesn't the art world drive you nuts? There are all these rules of conduct you're supposed to follow, but then you're also supposed to know all the times when those rules don't apply. It's like you need the equivalent of a degree in engineering, just to get your foot in the door. (In reality, that degree is probably more like an MFA from Yale.) Wel…

Are artists getting the short end of the A.I. stick? Faced with a loss of potential revenue, many artists are questioning the value of A.I. models that train on their artwork to produce artwork for users at no cost. Zero dollars from your labor isn't a good deal. In this episode of Art Problems, I discuss the short comings of using licensing to dea…

One of the great frustrations with the art world is the nonsense terms you have to interpret and apply to your practice. Are you an emerging, mid-career, or an established artist? NOBODY KNOWS. It's different for every application you fill out. What if I told you, I had a solution to this problem? A set of terms where you could easily see your EXAC…

Do I really need to read ArtForum? This and other media-related questions on this episode of Art Problems. We dive into: The state of the media and how it effects you and your practice. When you should start thinking about making a catalogue of your work and their purpose. Whether using paid publications like New American Painting is worth your mon…

In honor of the Whitney Biennial, I'm sharing an episode of Pep Talks for Artists on how to work an opening. In this episode Podcast host and producer Amy Talluto talks with Mandy Wilson Rosen about the book "How to Work a Room" by Susan RoAne to see if it jusssttt might have some helpful tips inside for artists. Spoiler alert: It does. It's chock …

I am back from the LA fairs, hoo boy, do I have some impressions. There was so much to do and see relative to New York’s Frieze week, that I started to wonder if New York would continue to be the economic center for art! In this podcast I discuss the biz, trends, and art so you have all the information you need to know whether participating in the …

I know, I know. I'm basically promising the answer to life in an eight-minute podcast! Well, it's not quite that, but this week on the Art Problems Podcast I talk about how understanding your goals and audience can give you the answer to pretty much any question you have about artist statements. And I'll tell you this now: The answers won't stop wi…

Almost every artist will need to take an extended break from art making at some point in their career. Whether that be due to child rearing, the loss of a parent, or a significant move, the job of getting back into the game can be just as challenging as the disruptions that took you away from the studio. You're probably worried that... You have vis…

In this podcast Have you ever exchanged gifts with someone and only to learn that the present you got them is waaaaay more expensive then the one they got you? Awkward! In this Valentine's Day podcast on connection and mailers, I talk about how social currency and exchange works much the same way. If you're asking someone for their email, and you'r…

Making any sort of career plan often results self-discovery. In this episode, I speak to three Netvvrk members, Jon Laustsen, Karey Kessler and Arden Bendler Browning about what they've learned through the process. Jon talks about how using a typewriter helped him connect to the process better. Karey talks about the discovery that the length of the…

Are you struggling to find time to do every god damn thing? Of course you are. You're an artist. That's why I started this series on goal setting. In this podcast I speak with artist and Netvvrk member Cadence Giersbach about how she sets priorities and gets things done. Giersbach describes the importance of focusing on the things that are within y…

Have you ever launched an exhibition space and then tortured yourself over whether to include yourself in a show because you know it will look bad? Or struggled over whether to send an email to gallerist or a DM over instagram because someone followed you, but you're not sure if DMing a welcome is friendly or spam? Welcome to the world of art world…

In this episode of Art Problems, I take on a vexed topic for many artists: goal setting! Is it even worth setting goals when it's so difficult to know where your opportunities will come from? Short answer: Yes. I talk to artist and Netvvrk member Heather Beardsley about the process she used to set her goals, and how she achieved them. And you know …

Last year, I predicted what 2023 in the art world would look like. This week, I take a look back at those predictions, share what I got right and wrong, and make new ones for 2024. Spoiler alert: We've got big structural changes ahead. It's hard to say how those changes will play out, but discuss the benefit of approaching shifts with cautious opti…

Do you have an internal ticker tape running tracking one anxiety to the next? Many of us who struggle with fears that our ambitions for our art will never align with our careers find end of year planning stressful. That's why, in this podcast, I invited artist and meditation expert Kristen Jordan to the podcast. (Psst: She also manages the Netvvrk …

Is conventional wisdom shifting? Many believe art fairs and artists shouldn't mix. One artist described it to me as watching your parents have sex. It's not something artists want to do! But not everyone agrees. In this episode I speak to artist Mark Joshua Epstein about his experience at the Miami art fairs and why he believes the stigma associate…

Is there a way to escape the demoralizing FOMO many artists experience during the Miami art fairs? In this episode of Art Problems, I discuss the ceiling many artists feel during this time of year, how to insert yourself into the fairs, and how not to feel like this whole art endeavor-thing is pointless. Spoiler alert: The whole art thing is not po…

This week, I conducted an experiment: I took a survey that identified problems for standard businesses by revenue stages and examined how those problems aligned with the average artist's studio practice. Surprise! The metrics didn't line up. So, I used the framework for the business stages to create my model for artists. This podcast shares what I …

In this episode, I discuss the abundance of triggers liable to make you feel a little more sensitive about your career this time of year including the Miami art fairs, holiday sales, and an art market recession. I also discuss what you can do when you start feeling all the feels. We often get in our own way when we become self-conscious about visib…

Do you really need an artist residency? You know it helps a CV, but how much? Will it help other aspects of your career? In this episode, I talk about how to determine if you need a residency and how to find the residencies best suited to your needs. If you've been stressing over whether you should spend time at a residency or how to find one, this…

Is your lack of tech literacy stressing you out? Are you worried you're too old to get the hang of new technology? Maybe you're not old, and reasonably tech-savvy, but still stymied by constant tech updates? Today on the podcast I invite my mother, Jacqueline Johnson, to talk about her use of technology. She is not a master of technology. But, at a…

Is your body not working as well as it did when you were twenty? Is this affecting your studio practice? Welcome to the joys of mid-career! In this episode of Art Problems, I speak about the importance of seeking out good healthcare so you can sustain your work in the studio. Try different types of support. Use what works for you. Trust your body. …

In this episode, I talk to artists Barbara Nitke, Natalya Kochak, Laurence Elle Groux (goes by Elle) to talk about how they used the Netvvrk membership to help them secure their Chelsea show Mind Body and Soul—a Chashama exhibition at 320 West 23rd Street in New York. We go through the process of how they met, how they got the show, the resources t…

Let me guess. You have a million things to do to move your art career forward, but you're only one person, and you're struggling to find time in the studio, let alone do all the other tasks. You need one job, not four. In this episode of Art Problems, I discuss how to get the time you need in the studio. The solutions I have aren't sexy, and some o…

Does anyone even read art criticism any more? For years, the prevailing wisdom told us that the art industry needs art criticism to grow. And yet, today, the industry is larger than ever; the number of professional art critics in the country is dwindling, and those writing reviews aren't having them read. So, do we need art criticism? Is art critic…

In this podcast, Paddy Johnson discusses how you can participate in the art world at the level you want to participate when you are afraid that your work isn't at that level. What are the symptoms of self doubt? How can simple avoidance behaviors be mitigated? And how can more complex fear-driven avoidance be tackled? The answers to all that and mo…

In this podcast, Paddy Johnson and artist William Powhida discuss the increasing cost of museums, art fairs, application fees, and travel impacting artists and how to beat them. You'll learn: Where to stay when visiting New York that won't cost $500 or more a night How to avoid a large fair entrance fee And how to lower the cost of museum fees…