The FASO Podcast

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https://artists.boldbrush.com/p/the-faso-show

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For today's episode we sat down with Trent Gudmundsen, a professional oil painter whose life and work are shaped by his family, rural Idaho surroundings, and decades of experience. He says plein air painting taught him more about composition, color, and light than classroom study, and advises beginners to use inexpensive panels so they can experiment without worrying about wasting materials. For artists pursuing a career, he stresses keeping expenses low because income from art can be unpredictable. His career advice is to focus on a recognizable subject or style at first, then broaden your work once people know what you do. He also encourages artists to take creative risks, let go of imagined criticism, and make room for interests beyond their main art form to allow them to grow their creative expression. Finally Trent tells us about his participation at the upcoming public Zion’s Bank art show in the Salt Lake City area.
Trent's FASO site:
https://www.trentgudmundsen.com/
Trent's Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/trentgudmundsen/
Trent's Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@TrentGudmundsen
Trent and Lorajean's Sculptures:
https://www.frosthollowfarm.com/

Join our next FASO Show Live!
https://artists.boldbrush.com/p/the-faso-show

Learn the magic of marketing  with us here at BoldBrush!
boldbrushshow.com
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For today's episode we sat down with Mick McAndrews, a professional watercolor artist from Pennsylvania who turned to painting after a long career in IT and has spent decades developing his craft. He credits practice, design fundamentals, workshops, and learning from failed paintings with helping him grow as an artist. His watercolor approach embraces the medium’s unpredictability and aims for “sophisticated simplicity,” using shapes, values, and edges to suggest rather than depict every detail. Mick encourages artists to paint regularly, keep learning, and approach their work with confidence, even when the result is uncertain. For those seeking a professional career, he recommends sharing work through exhibitions, art organizations, networking, and a well-maintained website and newsletter, in other words: get out of the studio and into the world. He also described his teaching, plein air experience, Alaska-inspired paintings, and involvement with the Whiskey Painters of America. Finally, Mick mentions that he teaches workshops throughout the year at the Wayne Art Center in Pennsylvania, with more planned in New Jersey, Georgia, and Maryland, and is exploring a possible upcoming workshop in Italy.
Mick's FASO site:
https://www.mickmcandrewsfineart.com/
Mick's Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/mickmcandrewsfineart/
The Whiskey Painters of America:
https://whiskeypainters.org/

Join our next FASO Show Live!
https://artists.boldbrush.com/p/the-faso-show

Learn the magic of marketing  with us here at BoldBrush!
boldbrushshow.com
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In this episode, we sat down with Brenda Boylan, a lifelong creator who moved from corporate graphic design into fine art, working primarily in oil painting in recent years while continuing to value pastel. Brenda discusses her journey from studying applied art and working as a graphic designer for Nike and Jantzen to building a career in fine art. She describes discovering pastel through local artists and workshops, and explains its vivid, tactile qualities as well as the care it requires in framing and handling. Reflecting on her career, Brenda says corporate work taught her discipline, while creating itself—not sales—is what keeps her going; she also highlights people skills and self-care as important for an art business. She encourages artists to connect with other creatives through local groups, plein air painting, conventions, and open studios, where they can learn from one another and build relationships. For growing an art business, she says people skills matter: building genuine connections with collectors and fellow artists can help sustain a career. Finally, Brenda tells us about her participation in Portland Open Studios, where visitors can see her work and oil and pastel stations.
Brenda's FASO site:
brendaboylan.com/
Brenda's Social Media:
facebook.com/tendustyfingers/
instagram.com/brendaboylanart/

Join our next FASO Show Live!
https://artists.boldbrush.com/p/the-faso-show

Learn the magic of marketing  with us here at BoldBrush!
boldbrushshow.com
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To kick off season 16, we sat down with Donna Montgomery, a retired teacher and accomplished watercolorist who looked at her own landscapes and felt something was missing. What she found was play: she now treats her studio days like a kid's day at the playground, layering line, color, collage, and more into intuitive abstracts. Donna says letting go of the fear of mistakes—and embracing the messy middle—helped her find greater creative freedom. She encourages artists to make time for regular studio practice, try things without worrying about wasting materials, and learn to recognize when a painting feels finished. She also highlights the value of community for learning the business of art, finding opportunities, and staying connected. Her advice to aspiring artists is to do the work, discover what feels authentic, build a cohesive body of work, and have the courage to put it out into the world. Finally, Donna tells us about her watercolor workshops at Simcoe Woods Community Center.
Donna's FASO site:
https://donnamontgomeryart.com/
Donna's Workshops:
https://donnamontgomeryart.com/events
Donna's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/donnamontgomeryart/

Join our next FASO Show Live!
https://artists.boldbrush.com/p/the-faso-show

Learn the magic of marketing  with us here at BoldBrush!
boldbrushshow.com
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For today's episode, we sat down with Nicole Troup, a Pennsylvania-based portrait artist and instructor who specializes in oil and charcoal commissions, leads workshops both online and in person, and runs her storytelling-driven nonprofit initiative, Portraits for a Cause. Nicole emphasizes the importance of saying yes to opportunities such as exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations, even when they feel outside your comfort zone, because those “yeses” often open unexpected doors for your career. She advises artists to join local and national art organizations, both for community and for the practical benefits of newsletters, exhibition calls, teaching opportunities, and referrals. Nicole stresses branding yourself clearly (for her, branding herself as a portrait artist) so that when someone needs that specific kind of work, your name comes to mind. In terms of style and artistic voice, she recommends looking more at your own work than at others online, building on what feels natural such as your own brushstrokes, colors, and tendencies, instead of constantly comparing yourself. For balance, she suggests setting clear work hours and boundaries so art doesn’t eclipse health and family, and using a separate studio space if possible to reduce distractions and increase focus. Finally, she encourages artists to follow what genuinely excites them because that intrinsic motivation is what sustains a long-term, meaningful art career. Don't forget to check out her website to see her upcoming workshops such as her upcoming online workshop with the Scottsdale Artists’ School, and her art retreat “Sketchbook Adventures in Italy".
Nicole's FASO site:
nicoletroupmasterpiece.com/
Nicole's "Portraits for a Cause":
nicoletroupmasterpiece.com/collections/139905
Nicole's Upcoming Workshop "Sketchbook Adventures in Italy":
hotelleonemarche.com/en/retreats/art-retreat-italy/sketchbook-adventure-in-italy-nicole-troup/
Nicole's Social Media:
instagram.com/nicoletroupmasterpiece/
facebook.com/nicoletroupmasterpiece/
Nicole's YouTube Channel:
youtube.com/@nicoletroupmasterpiece