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 Pearl Horng, an artist who balances part-time work as an ER doctor with her career as a professional artist, and says both medicine and painting demand focus and many decisions. She learned to approach plein air painting as a way to understand light and place, rather than a test of whether she can produce a perfect finished painting. Instead of dismissing unsuccessful work, she recommends reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and what one might try differently. Pearl says an artistic voice develops through consistent practice, not by forcing a style or chasing the market. She credits mentors with helping her build skills and discipline, including the habit of showing up and continuing even on difficult days. Her advice to artists is to remember why they love painting, experiment, start lots of paintings, and keep working through discouraging stretches.
Pearl's FASO site:
https://www.horngstudio.com/
Pearl's Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/phorngartist/

Join our next FASO Show Live!
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!
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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/