logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
54m 57s

How Small Wins Impact Your Art Practice ...

Antrese Wood
About this episode

Noticing the small wins you’ve gained can have a big impact on your practice as an artist. That insight was what I loved hearing about most in my conversation with Leslie Rae Cannon, an artist from Atlanta, Georgia and a member of Growth Studio. She graduated with an art degree from Presbyterian College, and now as an empty-nester has traded in carpools and play-dates for canvases and paint brushes.

In this episode of The Savvy Painter podcast, you’ll learn how small wins have helped Leslie grow as an artist, from overcoming her fear of putting her work out there to becoming really selective about which gallery she allows to show her art. You’ll also hear about the importance of developing a supportive community and how that’s helped Leslie recognize her own progress.

1:34 - A sense of who Leslie is and what she’s discovered about herself as an artist

5:56 - The process Leslie goes through when working on or in between projects

8:56 - How Leslie felt inspired to create her hydrangea collection and allowed herself more freedom in painting them

15:25 - Leslie’s transition from being really excited about her work to wanting to show her work

19:37 - One way that people have been drawn to some of Leslie’s paintings and a recent decision that saved her from sitting in frustration

26:10 - How Leslie has evolved into the habit of consistently putting her toe in the water to get her work into a gallery

33:50 - The impact of Leslie’s belief in the law of attraction and manifestation on her success

39:17 - How Leslie has gotten into the practice of noticing her small wins

41:26 - How Leslie shifted from trying to get in front of as many people as possible to being able to pick and choose her shows

47:37 - What today’s Leslie would tell herself (or other artists) if this were three or four years ago


Mentioned in How Small Wins Impact Your Art Practice with Leslie Rae Cannon

Leslie Rae Cannon Art | Instagram

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

How to Confidently Price Your Artwork Without Overwhelm

How to Stop Procrastinating and Finally Price Your Artwork

Julep Gallery | Dunwoody Gallery

Join Growth Studio

Support the show

Up next
Jul 4
John David Wissler - Looking Up
JD Wissler 1963-2025This is a re-broadcast of an episode from August 2015.JD was an incredible painter and a beautiful soul.Go outside. Look up. Be in awe of what you see. ❤️Support the show 
1h 15m
Jul 3
A Quiet Practice To Build Unshakable Confidence
You ever look at another artist and think, “Ugh—I wish I had their confidence”?That thing they just seem to have—like it came standard and yours got left out?Yeah. Let’s talk about that.This week’s episode breaks down the myth that confidence is something you’re either born with ... Show More
25m 26s
Jun 6
Why Rejection Hurts—and What to Do With It
Today, we’re talking about something that every artist encounters—but few talk about openly: rejection.Whether it’s a juried show, a gallery application, or simply putting your work on social media, the fear of hearing “no” often holds artists back in big ways. But here’s the tru ... Show More
23m 54s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
Artist Kelly Corbett
In this podcast interview, Patrick speaks with Kelly Corbett, a talented landscape painter based on Vancouver Island, Canada. They discuss Kelly's journey from being a professional photographer to becoming a full-time artist with a successful online presence and substantial local ... Show More
40m 30s
Aug 2020
Bridget R Cooks on Alma Thomas
In episode 37 of The Great Women Artists Podcast, Katy Hessel interviews the world-renowned art historian Bridget R Cooks on the SENSATIONAL and PIONEERING Abstract artist, ALMA THOMAS (1891–1978) !!!! [This episode is brought to you by Alighieri jewellery: www.alighieri.co.uk | ... Show More
54m 17s
Nov 2024
Artist Bob Gherardi
Join us for an inspiring episode of the Art Marketing Podcast as we sit down with artist Bob Girardi, who shares his incredible journey from struggling illustrator to successful fine artist. Discover how Bob transformed his approach to marketing, embraced local art fairs, and fou ... Show More
43m 57s
Jul 2024
146. Andrea Bowers
Los Angeles-based artist Andrea Bowers has made art that activates for more than 30 years. Bowers works in a variety of mediums, from video to colored pencil to installation art, and explores pressing national and international issues. Her work combines an artistic practice with ... Show More
46m 13s
Mar 2025
S6-E3: Annie Osburn: A Life in Words & Art
Annie Osburn is an award-winning author featured in such publications as National Geographic Traveler, Southwest Art, and Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. Initially resistant to her talent as a writer, it seems the universe insisted she embrace it. After being introduced to an ed ... Show More
40m 58s
Dec 2024
Navigating the Art World with Emily McElwreath
In this episode, Marina Granger speaks with Emily McElwreath, a powerhouse in the art world with over 18 years of experience as an adviser, independent curator, art educator, and host of The Art Career Podcast (listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-career/id1 ... Show More
1h 17m
Nov 2024
Creative Momentum with Art Coach Christine Garvey
Christine Garvey is an artist, coach, and the founder of A Mighty Practice. Her paintings and installations have been exhibited internationally, including exhibitions with Galerie Circulaire (Montreal), International Print Center (New York), and The Contemporary Austin. Garvey’s ... Show More
38m 32s
Nov 2024
Art at Home with Emily Hadley [271]
Have you ever felt frustrated about how best to showcase your art so that collectors can see it in the best light? Today's guest is an expert at it - in fact she's made a second career out of bridging the gap between artists, art collectors, or just people who want a colourful ho ... Show More
58m 17s
Nov 2024
Maria Balshaw on Museums (+ Tracey Emin, Frida Kahlo, and more!)
I am so excited to say that my guest on the GWA Podcast is Maria Balshaw. Currently serving as Director of Tate, a position she has held since 2017, Balshaw began her career as an academic and lecturer in cultural studies. At the dawn of the 2000s, she swapped this to become Dire ... Show More
44m 22s