From Designer to Full-Time Artist: Building a Creative Life That Lasts
Release Date: 02/14/2026
From Designer to Full-Time Artist: Building a Creative Life That Lasts
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
In this episode of the Help! I Am Artist podcast, I’m joined by Canadian artist Valerie Capewell for an honest conversation about creativity, courage, and building a sustainable life as an artist. Valerie shares her journey from running a successful graphic design business to becoming a full-time painter, and how trusting her process, even when it feels messy or uncertain, has shaped her unique artistic voice. We talk about the creative roller coaster of making art, finding your audience, balancing business with personal expression, and why structure and consistency can actually support...
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How Consistency Shapes a Meaningful Art Career
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
Discover how Dutch realist artist Rob de Vries built a sustainable art career through consistency, calm structure, and a grounded daily creative routine. In this inspiring conversation, Rob shares how his lifelong passion for drawing Elvis Presley, his photorealistic Memories of a Happy Childhood series, and his commitment to showing up every day shaped the thriving practice he has today. Rob’s story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to wait for inspiration to create meaningful work. Instead, momentum grows through simple routines, steady effort, and the willingness to keep...
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Feeling Overwhelmed in Your Art Practice? Discover the Secret to Building Creative Momentum
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
Small shifts can create massive change. In this episode of the Help I Am Artist Podcast, we explore how clarity creates momentum and why tiny, consistent habits can completely transform your art practice. I’ll share lessons from professional sports, stories of contemporary artists, and practical steps you can take to move from scattered goals to identity-driven habits that keep you creating with ease. If you’re ready to build clarity, confidence, and steady momentum in your art practice, join me inside The Focused Artist Lab—an 8-week guided journey designed to help artists like you...
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From Scattered to Focused: Clarity in Your Art Practice
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
Are you a visual artist who’s brimming with ideas, but struggling to finish what you start? Do you feel scattered—busy, yet somehow not moving forward in your art practice? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Help I Am Artist Podcast, artist and coach Sonja Smalheer guides you through the powerful shift from scattered to focused. Discover why clarity is the secret ingredient for creative momentum, confident decision-making, and sustainable growth in your art practice. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: How to recognize when you’re in the “scattered artist” phase Why...
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Discovering Artistic Passion Later in Life
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
Bianca Lever exchanged the lowlands of The Netherlands for the rolling hills of Italy where she now lives and works as a full-time artist. In this episode, Bianca discusses her challenges transitioning from a hobby to a professional artist, her inspiration, and what she is doing to attract new audiences.
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From Teacher to Professional Artist
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
If you love making art and you’re secretly wanting to embrace the life of an artist. Then listen up! In this episode, I chat with UK artist Jane Beaumont. After a fulfilling career as a teacher and therapist, Jane finally took this step herself. Find out how a love note from her husband encouraged her to take the first brave steps, how she started sketching every day, soaking up inspiration on social media, and intentionally steered herself towards life as a professional artist. Mentioned in this episode: Quote: David Whyte, "Will you have confidence in what you love?" Artists: David...
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Part 2 - Interview with UK Artist Mish Maudsley
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
Mish Maudsley aka Mishfit's art occupies the hinterland between street art and fine art painting. An active part of UK street art for over 15 years, she has since painted internationally from the streets of Melbourne to Europe’s biggest street art festival, Upfest. Her most recent foray into the world of London art fairs follows an incredible array of live painting venues over the years. From her studio in Brighton, she is now embracing a more refined approach, combining spray paint and oil paint, to create an energetic style that captures the raw process of creativity. Clashing traditional...
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Part 1 - Interview with UK Artist Mish Maudsley
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
Mish Maudsley aka Mishfit's art occupies the hinterland between street art and fine art painting. An active part of UK street art for over 15 years, she has since painted internationally from the streets of Melbourne to Europe’s biggest street art festival, Upfest. Her most recent foray into the world of London art fairs follows an incredible array of live painting venues over the years. From her studio in Brighton, she is now embracing a more refined approach, combining spray paint and oil paint, to create an energetic style that captures the raw process of creativity. Clashing traditional...
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Part 2 : From Graphic Designer to Working Artist
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
If you need some art fuel, listen to what South African artist Duncan Stewart says about art. I recently interviewed him for my podcast; his words are still resonating in my heart. 'Art is ingrained in our deepest being. Our collective experiences, DNA, genetic makeup, and contexts have made us all wonderfully unique. In our own right, every human being is a magnificent artwork. Art can bypass our intellect and rational thinking, and it can penetrate the soul and we can be moved. It’s a language by which we can connect on a deep level.’ Good stuff! Now that should silence those...
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Part 1: From Graphic Designer to Working Artist
HELP! I AM ARTIST Podcast
From graphic designer to working artist, Duncan Stewart walks us through his journey and shares what he’s learned about living as an artist along the way. Coming from a traditional family of lawyers and bankers, Duncan never saw himself becoming an artist, even with an insatiable appetite to draw and paint. Though he studied, and later worked, as a graphic designer, he eventually gave himself the opportunity to explore the underlying desire to create. At 22 years of age, while working in an advertising firm, Duncan allowed himself to explore his artistic tendencies and attended art school in...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Help! I Am Artist podcast, I’m joined by Canadian artist Valerie Capewell for an honest conversation about creativity, courage, and building a sustainable life as an artist. Valerie shares her journey from running a successful graphic design business to becoming a full-time painter, and how trusting her process, even when it feels messy or uncertain, has shaped her unique artistic voice.
We talk about the creative roller coaster of making art, finding your audience, balancing business with personal expression, and why structure and consistency can actually support artistic freedom. Valerie also opens up about pricing, working with galleries, and the mindset shifts that helped her keep growing as an artist.
If you’ve ever wondered how to keep pushing your work forward while staying true to yourself, this episode is full of insight and encouragement.
Connect with Valerie Capewell:
Website: https://www.valeriecapewell.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeriecapewell
Want more focus in your creative practice? Download my free Focused Artist Planner here:
https://www.sonjasmalheer.com/planner