Margaret Johnson had been carrying a vision for 25 years — large-scale botanical paintings that brought together her childhood love of nature, her training at the Denver Botanic Gardens, and her roots as an expressive, intuitive painter. This episode is the story of how that vision finally came to life in Emergence, her solo exhibition at the Cannon Center Art Gallery in Boulder, Colorado, curated through the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

We talk about what it really takes to say yes to the biggest show of your career — including how Margaret worked through her inner critic, built a month-by-month studio schedule, and used a strategic marketing plan that included personal invitations to key contacts in the art world. One of those personal invitations led directly to a new opportunity to place her work. That story alone is worth the listen.

We also go deep on what it means to work with a curator who helps you see the threads in your own work across 25 years, the unexpected connection to Georgia O'Keeffe that began at a childhood dinner party, and what the studio feels like after everything goes on the wall.

If you have an exhibition coming up — or you're dreaming about one — this conversation will give you both the practical roadmap and the emotional permission to go for it.

Episode 400. It's hard to believe, but here we are.

This milestone episode was recorded live aboard the Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady during the Cruise for Creatives 2026 — and it is one of the most meaningful episodes I have ever made.

Instead of a solo reflection or a single interview, I went around the ship and asked the artists who joined us one simple but powerful question: What is the power of art to you?

Each artist answered independently. No group circle, no shared answers in advance. And what came back was a beautiful tapestry of perspectives from painters, photographers, a physician, a psychologist, a children's book author, a wellness coach, and artists from Florida, Canada, the Bahamas, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

In this episode you will hear from Barbara Gerdemann, Shirley Williams, Francine Sweet, Dr. Kevin Bethel, Keith Davidson, Mary Davidson, Richard Hershberger, and Dr. Yanina Gomez — each sharing what the power of art means to them personally.

I also share two stories from my own life that shaped how I understand this question: the stick figure drawings I made in a church in Mexico City as a little boy, and the moment early in my career when a young woman stood in front of one of my paintings and quietly began to cry — because it reminded her of the last time she saw her father.

That moment changed me as an artist. It may change how you see your work too.

I also share exciting news about the Cruise for Creatives 2027 — now reimagined as a full Residency Experience at Sea running March 13–21, 2027. If you have ever wanted to step away from the studio, clear your head, and discover your next big thing surrounded by a community of serious artists, this is for you. Learn more and book your cabin at cruiseforCreatives.com.

Thank you for being here for 400 episodes. If this podcast has meant something to you, the greatest gift you can give me is a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more artists find this show.

See you at the next level.

Are you working hard on your art but still feel invisible?

In today's crowded and fast-changing art world, getting noticed isn't just about making great work. With AI, social media noise, and endless opportunities (and scams), many artists feel overwhelmed and unsure where to focus.

In this episode, I share a simple 3-step plan to increase your visibility as an artist in 2026—without the overwhelm.

You'll learn how to:

• Clarify your message so people actually connect with your work
• Choose the right visibility pathway instead of chasing everything
• Build a clear opportunity blueprint to move your art career forward

Because the truth is—waiting to be discovered is no longer a strategy.

If you want your work to be seen by the right people and create real opportunities, this episode will help you get focused and take action.