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 thrive. Doors are closing soon, and seats are limited. Learn more and grab your spot here: www.sonjasmalheer.com/lab

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 distractions keep holding you back (and how to break free)
• The 10-ball analogy that will transform the way you invest your creative energy
• How focus touches every part of your practice—your art, mindset, message, and even your income

This isn’t about limiting your creativity—it’s about unlocking the clarity that fuels true freedom in your art life.

💡 Special Invitation for Artists
If you’re ready to move past overwhelm and step into clarity, join the waitlist for the Focused Artist Lab, a guided experience where Sonja helps artists like you find focus, build confidence, and thrive with intention. Spots are limited to just 10 artists.

👉 Reserve your place today at: www.sonjasmalheer.com/lab

Your art deserves clarity. And you deserve the freedom to thrive

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.

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 Hockney & William Kentridge

Instagram: @janesbeaumont

Website: www.janebeaumont.art

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 methods with a fresh contemporary urban art edge.

Inspired by the forces of nature, and a deep sense of wanderlust, Mishfit has developed a vibrant visual language of dreamlike luminous cloudscapes as a metaphor for human emotion. Sometimes interwoven with obscured figurative elements, she creates poignant, exuberant paintings which celebrate the commonalities that make us human.

Enjoy Part 2 of our conversation.

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 methods with a fresh contemporary urban art edge.

Inspired by the forces of nature, and a deep sense of wanderlust, Mishfit has developed a vibrant visual language of dreamlike luminous cloudscapes as a metaphor for human emotion. Sometimes interwoven with obscured figurative elements, she creates poignant, exuberant paintings which celebrate the commonalities that make us human.

Enjoy Part 1 of our conversation.

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 nagging voices telling you why you even bother getting paint on your canvas, marks on your clay, or words on your paper.

You are not just making art. What you are creating has value. Without even trying, you are expressing your uniqueness (which is amazing) and you have that incredible ability to touch hearts.

If you are looking for support & connection as a working artist then definitely join us in THRIVE. Thrive is where artists meet, learn & grow to become their creative best.

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 Florence. 

Duncan gave himself two years to understand why the pull to art was so strong. In Florence, he found his answers. Creating art provided what he needed to build a sustainable life: personal expression, connecting with people, and financial stability. Duncan explains that working as an artist is not a straightforward path, but for him, a necessary one: “Art is a difficult journey, but it’s [...] who I am.” 

Without the funds for art school, Duncan had to get creative, and cycled from Johannesburg to Cape Town, gaining sponsors that allowed him to attend his first year. After running out of money, Duncan put on an exhibition with his student work and raised the funds necessary for his second year.  

He explains his path has shown him who he is as a person and artist, and that being around great artists led him to challenge himself. Duncan notes, “[w]hen you go to Italy or when you choose your art school or when you choose the company you keep, I've realized that [you should] always aim as high as you can. Your own standard will then automatically be raised.”

Duncan now works across all media. From painting in oil, sculpting, or fabricating works in bronze, ceramics, or stainless steel, he pulls inspiration from life’s observations, and what’s happening in current culture. He reveals that his art continues to shift, becoming less figurative, and more cerebral and expressive. 

Duncan encourages young artists to never stop drawing. Once you know yourself as an artist, practice as an artist, and create a network along the way. Duncan highlights the importance of art, noting, “we are art [as unique individuals], and it is a language by which we can connect at a deep, deep level.” Whether invoking rage, curiosity, or love, art lets us relate to one another.    

When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, Duncan wishes he would have guarded himself against others' opinions, and reminded himself to be okay with who he was. He muses he would tell himself to take more risks, taste and see as much as he can, and find mentors that grab his attention.

The life of a working artist was not so much a choice for Duncan, but an inevitability. Being able to apply his natural talents let him explore the insistent internal voice that drew him towards art and creativity.     

Join us next time for PART 2 of Duncan's story!

*** If you want extra support in making, marketing, and building a business around your creativity then you are welcome to join me and a group of wonderful artists all over the world in THRIVE.

For a limited time only I'm offering you all-access to THRIVE with immediate access to all the modules, courses, lessons, worksheets, community support, art expert & Q&A sessions for just €27.-/ month.

Head over to www.sonjasmalheer.com/thrive to find out more.