Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood

• 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.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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• Your Studio Isn’t a Courtroom—Make Yours the Safest Place to Create

  Ever notice how one “wrong” brushstroke can send you into a spiral? You’re standing in your studio, brush in hand, and suddenly the inner courtroom opens up. The judge, jury, and executioner? All you.This episode is about what I call self-aggression. Those tiny but brutal ways we attack ourselves for daring to experiment, for not being perfect, for being… human. And here’s the thing: it’s costing you way more than you realize.I’ll walk you through why we confuse self-criticism with professionalism, how it’s secretly strangling your creativity, and what happens when you trade all that punishment for curiosity instead. (Hint: your studio becomes the safest, most exciting place to create.)You’ll hear real stories from Growth Studio: Leslie catching herself in an “auction spiral,” Megan reframing her supply list, Scott protecting his energy, and Cece navigating the push-pull of play vs. control. Plus, I’ll share a micro-meltdown of my own and how I turned it around.If you’ve ever started an apology tour before showing your work, or if you’ve ever thought “I’m such an idiot” mid-painting—this one’s for you.Your Episode Map0:23 – The brushstroke that ruins everything (or does it?)1:59 – How “I’m such an idiot” sneaks into your studio5:49 – Why being hard on yourself isn’t “professional” (it’s poison)7:39 – Curiosity vs. criticism: the C in CREATE that changes everything8:32 – What self-aggression is secretly costing you (spoiler: it’s huge)13:12 – Real Growth Studio stories: auctions, supply lists, and saying no25:00 – My own meltdown over a 2-inch drawing36:01 – The truth bomb: self-trust is the ultimate creative flexFor Your Studio WallWords worth pinning next to your easel:“Curiosity opens possibilities. Criticism shuts them down.”“Failure isn’t evidence against you—it’s information for you.”“Your studio is not a courtroom. Make it a laboratory.”“Treat yourself like your favorite student.”“The way you talk to yourself shows up on the canvas.”What to Bring Into the Studio With YouA daily rep: catch one micro-aggression and reframe it with curiosity.Neutral share rule: present your work without the apology preface.Constraints as safety: same size, same tools, familiar setups = freedom to explore.A pre-painting intention: I’m here to explore, not to be perfect.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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• Expansion: Where ‘This Is Fine’ Turns Into ‘What Did I Just Do?

  Welcome to the finale of our CREATE spiral series! Today we're diving into expansion - when you're ready to be seen in a bigger way but the thought of taking risks makes your heart race.I share my three circles framework for understanding your capacity for risk: comfort zone, stretch zone, and terror zone. Plus the crucial piece most artists miss - how to recharge after expanding so you can take progressively bigger steps without burning out.What You'll Learn:How to read your nervous system to know when you're stretching vs. pushing too farThe difference between healthy recharging and avoidanceCommon expansion mistakes that lead to burnout or stagnationWhy expansion creates an upward spiral back to curiosityPractical steps to start expanding strategically this weekKey Takeaway: You don't have to be fearless. You just need to take one small, strategic risk and then care for yourself afterward.Perfect for artists ready to submit work, raise prices, or share more boldly - without the overwhelm.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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• C.R.E.A.T.E. Spiral: What Trust Actually Looks Like in Your Studio (part 5/6)

  If you’ve ever felt like you want someone else to approve every brushstroke before you can call a painting “done”… this episode is for you.We’re at the T in the C.R.E.A.T.E. Spiral, and it’s a big one: TRUST.Not blind trust. Not perfectionist trust that only kicks in after everything looks flawless. We’re talking about real, moment-to-moment self-trust—the kind that guides your decisions while you’re still unsure.This episode breaks down:Why we’re wired to outsource approvalHow to build trust as a tangible, daily practice (not just a mindset)What it actually looks like to trust yourself in your studio—even when doubt shows upYou’ll leave with small, doable actions to build that trust muscle—without needing to overhaul your entire process.Your Episode Map1:00 — Why we’re wired to seek approval—and why it’s not your fault4:00 — When copying helps you grow… and when it starts holding you back7:18 — The simplest trust-building practice: say what you like and don’t like, out loud10:26 — Trust isn’t confidence—it’s resilience11:45 — How to stop spiraling and guide your own development15:13 — Three small ways to practice trust this week—no perfection required16:48 — Every time you choose yourself over fear, your inner artist gets louderWhat to Bring Into the Studio With You(Because listening is just the beginning)This week, try making one decision in your painting process without asking anyone else. Pick a color, title, price, or direction—and don’t crowdsource it. Just follow it through and observe what happens.Then DM me on Instagram @savvypainterpodcast and tell me what you noticed. I love hearing how this lands for you.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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• You Didn’t Get Lucky. You Got Aligned.

  Ever wonder why your studio feels… suspiciously quiet?Like things are finally working—but instead of celebrating, you start spiraling?Welcome to the Alignment phase of the CREATE Spiral.In this episode, I break down the strange emotional landscape of finally clicking with your voice—and why that ease can actually feel more unsettling than resistance. You’ll hear why this moment of calm might be the biggest sign that you’re doing it right.We’ll talk about:The inner voice that whispers “This is too easy—what’s the catch?”Why your brain interprets ease as dangerHow alignment isn’t a plateau, it’s a powerful shift in momentumWhat changes (and what doesn’t) in your studio when you’re in this phaseAnd most importantly—how to trust this part of the journey without self-sabotaging your way out of it.Your Episode Map:[01:25] What alignment actually is—and why artists feel so uneasy here[03:27] The eerie quiet of self-trust (and why it feels off)[05:35] Your voice gets the mic for the first time[07:41] You still feel discomfort—but you’re not layering judgment on top[09:11] “Growth = struggle” is a lie we need to unlearn[10:23] What alignment looks like in your studio day-to-day[13:06] The question to ask when you feel ease: “Is this what I want?”[15:15] Why it feels like things are falling away—not being added[17:24] Craving chaos? You might be ready to expand[18:32] Alignment = your voice getting stronger[21:32] You didn’t get lucky. You got aligned.Words worth pinning next to your easel:“This isn’t a plateau. This is what it feels like when you’re no longer working against yourself.”“The quiet is your voice finally getting a turn at the mic.”“You still feel discomfort. You’re just not spiraling from it anymore.”“You didn’t lose your edge. You stopped fighting yourself.”“You’re not stuck—you’re integrating.”What to Bring Into the Studio With YouNotice what’s not there: fewer cranky voices, less panic, more space.Reframe the weird quiet as a sign of progress—not a problem to fix.Pull out your last few paintings—look for patterns, not problems.Let it be enough. This phase doesn’t need a breakthrough to be valuable.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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