Six Tools to Stop Treating Your Studio Like a Courtroom
What to do when you catch yourself in “courtroom mode”You named it. You know you're doing it. You can hear yourself cross-examining every brushstroke, cataloging evidence that you're not good enough, delivering a guilty verdict before the paint dries.But what do you do when you catch yourself mid-spiral?This one's the follow-up to Your Studio Isn't a Courtroom — the practical side. Because recognition without tools leaves you stuck watching yourself repeat the same pattern. And if you've ever thought okay, I see it now, but how do I stop? — this is for you.In this episode:The simplest redirection tool (it sounds too easy, but it creates the split-second of space you need to choose differently)How to shift from prosecuting questions to investigating ones — and why "what's wrong with this?" keeps you trappedWhy experiments can't fail, but verdicts always doThe friend test: would you ever talk to another artist the way you talk to yourself in your head?What to do when you freeze — one concrete action that interrupts the spiral and starts the conversation with your painting againWhat your studio's actual job is (and why forgetting this turns every session into a trial)This episode's for you if:You can see the pattern now, but you don't know how to interrupt it once it startsYou stand there analyzing instead of painting, trying to figure out the move that won't get you criticizedYou're tired of the harsh voice winning every time — but kindness feels like giving upYou want tools that work in the moment, not theory you have to remember later—--------------------------------LINKS: https://savvypainter.com/356-your-studio-isnt-a-courtroom-make-yours-the-safest-place-to-create/Do you spend more time thinking about making art than actually making it? Start things you never finish? Make work and then stack it against the wall, facing inward, so you don't have to look at it?If any of that sounds familiar, I'd love to chat.Click here: savvypainter.com/survey to tell me what's going on. If it seems like I need more info, I'll reach out to schedule a call.Thanks so much!Support the showAnd hey - if this episode hit home, do me a favor, leave a review on Apple Podcast or come say hi on Instagram: @savvypainterpodcastI’d love to hear this episode resonated you. ❤️
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17:06
Why You Can't Finish a Painting (And What to Do About It)
You look around your studio and see them everywhere — canvases turned to the wall, paintings shoved under the bed, works-in-progress stacked in corners. Each one started with complete conviction that this time would be different. But somewhere around the messy middle, you bailed. Again.And now you're wondering: What's wrong with me?Nothing. You're not lazy, you're not lacking discipline, and you're not broken. You're doing something that makes complete sense when you understand what's actually happening underneath the behavior.In this episode:The moment when every painting goes sideways — and why your brain mistakes that moment for failureWhat you're actually avoiding when you start a new canvas (hint: it's not the painting)Why "finished" doesn't mean what you think it means — and how that misunderstanding keeps you stuckThe real cost of a studio full of unfinished work (it's more than just clutter)Six concrete strategies to break the pattern and actually complete somethingWhat to expect:A clear-eyed look at why you abandon paintings, what finishing actually requires, and how to build the muscle to stay with your work when it gets uncomfortable. No pep talks. Just the truth about what's happening — and what to do about it.This episode's for you if:Your studio is filled with more unfinished work than completed piecesYou keep telling yourself "this one will be different" — and it never isYou're tired of starting over every time a painting hits the hard partYou want to finish something for once, even if it's not perfectDo you spend more time thinking about making art than actually making it? Start things you never finish? Make work and then stack it against the wall, facing inward, so you don't have to look at it?If any of that sounds familiar, I'd love to chat.Click here: savvypainter.com/survey to tell me what's going on. If it seems like I need more info, I'll reach out to schedule a call.Thanks so much!Support the showAnd hey - if this episode hit home, do me a favor, leave a review on Apple Podcast or come say hi on Instagram: @savvypainterpodcastI’d love to hear this episode resonated you. ❤️
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26:32
You Took Time Off. Now What?
What really happens when you return to your art — and how to make work again without getting stuck in what could have been.You took time off from your art. Maybe it was a few months. Maybe it was twenty years.You built a life, raised kids, held it together, paid the bills — and now you’re trying to come back. But instead of feeling proud of everything you carried, you feel... behind. Disconnected. Like you lost something. Like you’re supposed to apologize for the years you weren’t painting.This episode is about that feeling — and why it’s lying to you.This one’s for artists who made a real-life choice — and now can’t shake the feeling they’re starting all over again.If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking I should’ve found a way or stared at a canvas wondering how much time you wasted... yeah. You’re in the right place.In this episode:The invisible comparison that’s keeping you stuck (hint: you’re measuring yourself against someone who doesn’t exist)Why “I’m behind” feels so convincing — and what your brain’s actually doing when it feeds you that lineWhat this costs you beyond just lost time (it’s happening right now, while you’re listening)The part nobody talks about: why that gap wasn’t wasted, even when it feels like it wasOne shift that’ll change how you walk into the studio tomorrowWhat to expect:No pep talk, no punishment. Just a clear-eyed look at what comes next — and how to make work again without dragging shame in with you.This episode’s for you if:Coming back feels harder than stepping away ever didYou can run a household or a business — but still feel like a beginner when you pick up a brushYou’re proud of your choices and gutted by what you didn’t get to do — both can be trueYou’re in it right now, wondering if it’s even worth trying to paint againDo you spend more time thinking about making art than actually making it? Start things you never finish? Make work and then stack it against the wall, facing inward, so you don't have to look at it?If any of that sounds familiar, I'd love to chat.Click here: savvypainter.com/survey to tell me what's going on. If it seems like I need more info, I'll reach out to schedule a call.Thanks so much!Support the showAnd hey - if this episode hit home, do me a favor, leave a review on Apple Podcast or come say hi on Instagram: @savvypainterpodcastI’d love to hear this episode resonated you. ❤️
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23:11
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23:11
I See You Scrolling Instagram Instead of Painting (Nine Patterns That Keep You Stuck)
Ever spend half your studio time staring at a painting, mentally ripping it apart, but never actually picking up the brush? Or maybe you're scrolling Instagram right now instead of being in your studio. (I see you.) You're not broken. You're just stuck in a pattern. And once you can name it, it loses its power.In this episode, I'm walking through nine specific, observable behaviors that show up when artists are working through self-doubt. Not vague struggles. Actual patterns you can recognize in yourself.Because here's the thing: when you go from "What's wrong with me?" to "Oh, I'm doing that serial abandoner thing again," everything shifts. It's not a personality flaw. It's just a pattern. And patterns can change.In This Episode:[3:09] The Serial Abandoner — Starting painting after painting, always convinced the next one will be different[5:00] The Mental Critic — Spending half your studio time cataloging what's wrong instead of actually painting[7:53] The Comparison Scroller — More time on Instagram than at the easel, using other artists' work as proof you're not good enough[10:00] The Permission Seeker — Asking everyone's opinion before trusting your own eye[14:09] The Hiding Perfectionist — Making work, then stacking it facing the wall, waiting until it's "good enough"[15:34] The Apologizer — Can't show work without immediately explaining everything that's wrong with it first[17:03] The Workshop Collector — Taking class after class, convinced you need one more technique before you're ready[23:54] The Overthinking Planner — Hours planning the perfect painting in your mind, but never committing to canvas[25:34] The Corner Repainter — Repainting the same spot seventeen times while ignoring the rest of the paintingIf you recognize yourself in one or more of these? You're in good company. This is what shows up for skilled artists working through doubt. The episode walks through what's actually happening underneath each pattern and what to practice instead.Want to work with me? Join Growth StudioPrivate Coaching for artists Do you spend more time thinking about making art than actually making it? Start things you never finish? Make work and then stack it against the wall, facing inward, so you don't have to look at it?If any of that sounds familiar, I'd love to chat.Click here: savvypainter.com/survey to tell me what's going on. If it seems like I need more info, I'll reach out to schedule a call.Thanks so much!Support the showAnd hey - if this episode hit home, do me a favor, leave a review on Apple Podcast or come say hi on Instagram: @savvypainterpodcastI’d love to hear this episode resonated you. ❤️
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30:30
Safety, Self-Trust, and the Secret to Creating Without Fear
What does it really mean to have your own back as an artist? In this episode, I share why safety isn’t just about gloves and turpentine — it’s about building trust with yourself in the studio. When you know you won’t tear yourself down for “failing,” you’re free to take risks, explore messy ideas, and grow in ways you never thought possible.This conversation comes straight from my own sketchbook experiments and our 30-day Self-Trust Challenge inside Growth Studio. You’ll hear how awkward blind contour lines, negative space trees, and even 100 “bad” drawings can become proof that you’re on the right track.Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:Episode Map[0:42] Why self-trust always begins with safety — and why that has nothing to do with paint fumes.[3:29] The awkward stage that makes most artists quit — and how to stick with it.[7:51] Five drawings that “failed” — or five steps closer to something new?[15:48] The messy middle: where ideas sprout before they make sense.[20:58] Could you survive 100 “bad” paintings to reach the one that works?[25:42] Why doubt and frustration don’t mean stop — they mean human.[26:34] Kindness as a creative strategy: how to meet yourself without criticism.[29:29] The ultimate reframe: safety, trust, and the artist you’ve always wanted to be.Do you spend more time thinking about making art than actually making it? Start things you never finish? Make work and then stack it against the wall, facing inward, so you don't have to look at it?If any of that sounds familiar, I'd love to chat.Click here: savvypainter.com/survey to tell me what's going on. If it seems like I need more info, I'll reach out to schedule a call.Thanks so much!Support the showAnd hey - if this episode hit home, do me a favor, leave a review on Apple Podcast or come say hi on Instagram: @savvypainterpodcastI’d love to hear this episode resonated you. ❤️
Savvy Painter, hosted by Antrese Wood, offers a treasure trove of insights artists can't afford to miss. Visit https://savvypainter.com Antrese's teachings focus on nurturing a creative mindset and prioritizing mastery over perfection, making it a must-listen resource for artists worldwide.Whether you're an emerging artist looking to hone your skills or an established pro seeking fresh perspectives, the show offers practical advice and inspirationBut the real magic happens when you apply Antrese's teachings in your own studio. Her guidance can help you unlock new levels of creativity and growth in your art. If you're serious about elevating your skills and mindset, join Growth Studio—a unique opportunity to work directly with Antrese and join an amazing community of like minded artists.
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