Artful Painter

There’s a moment in life when something shifts—quietly, almost accidentally—and it takes on an unexpected new direction. For Dr. Debbie Mueller, that moment came on a rainy day in Sarasota, Florida, with a reluctant brushstroke and a “really bad painting.” It changed everything for her.
In this episode of The Artful Painter, I converse with Debbie Mueller to explore her remarkable transition from a career in medicine to becoming a full-time artist. Though she found her work as a doctor in a successful OB-GYN practice rewarding, that one “really bad painting” sparked a decade-long journey that eventually lead to her leaving medicine and to pursue painting full-time.
Debbie’s paintings are known for their luminous quality, thoughtful composition, and inviting sense of presence. She exhibits nationally, teaches workshops, and continues to expand her reach through galleries and competitions.
Here are a few tantalizing talking points Debbie shares in her conversation:
Why it’s never too late to start painting
How Debbie transitioned from medicine to full-time art
The power of daily painting challenges (and what they teach you)
A step-by-step breakdown of her painting process
How to balance self-critique without self-sabotage
Why community matters—especially for solo artists
How rejection (even at high levels) is part of the journey
Your first painting doesn’t have to be good—it just has to begin something
Growth comes from volume and repetition, not perfection
Strong artists develop self-awareness, not just technical skill
Limiting your palette can actually expand your creativity
Emotional connection matters just as much as technical accuracy

The bottom line: sometimes, all it takes is one small decision to begin. I’m sure Debbie is in for an exciting ride of her life as she pursues fine art painting full-time. I’m so glad to share with you Debbie’s story in this delightful and inspiring conversation.
Links:
Debbie Mueller Website: https://www.debbiemuellerart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbiemuellerart/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latebloomerartist/
Other Links:
Strada Easel Challenge: https://www.stradaeasel.com/pages/january-2026-strada-31-day-challenge
Monhegan Island, Maine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monhegan%2C_Maine
Oil Painters of America (OPA): https://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/
About the Artful Painter:
Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/
This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this episode of The Artful Painter, I sit down with Western artist Nicholas Coleman to talk about what actually drives his painting process — it's not just technique, but also curiosity, memory, history, and places that won't let go of you.
Raised in the studio of his father, Michael Coleman, Nicholas grew up surrounded by Native models, reference materials, taxidermy, and the working realities of the art business. What stayed with him wasn't just technique — it was a deep respect for history and for the places that shaped it.
In this episode, we discuss his return to the Coors Western Art Exhibit, the tension between authenticity and trend-chasing, his recent exploration of African wildlife inspired in part by painters like Wilhelm Kuhnert, and why he sometimes ignores deadlines to get a painting "out of his head." We also talk about art school battles, conservation history, spaghetti westerns, and what happens when an artist receives a fifty-page contract connected to George Lucas. Have I got your attention now?
If you care about painting, place, and preserving something larger than yourself, this conversation will resonate.
Nicholas Coleman is certainly my kind of artist!
Links:
Nicholas Coleman
Website: https://www.nicholascolemanart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholascolemanart/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicholascolemanart
Other Links:
Bloody Bozeman: The Perilous Trail to Montana's Gold: https://amzn.to/4rer2UQ
Henrik Coleman: https://www.henrikcoleman.com/
Mediocre Amateurs: https://www.youtube.com/@mediocreamateur
About the Artful Painter:
Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/
This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

In this edition of the Artful Painter, I have the privilege of talking with s. m. chavez (Sean Michael Chavez). He is a native New Mexican artist known for his rich contemporary-western oil paintings that celebrate both the culture and landscape of the American Southwest. Born and raised in New Mexico, his work reflects a deep connection to the region's history and culture. Chavez is especially known for his depictions of vaqueros – figures that are deeply rooted in Southwestern and Hispanic history. Vaquero is Spanish for "cowboys."
Chavez's soothing color palette of beautiful grays and muted colors, coupled with strong design skills honed from his background in illustration come together to allow him to bring his figures and landscapes alive. His distinctive voice blends traditional Western art influences with a refreshingly contemporary approach.
It's no surprise then that Chavez has caught the eye of collectors of contemporary Western art. His work has been exhibited at major venues such as The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Albuquerque Museum of Art, The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, The Couse-Sharp Historic Site, and The Briscoe Western Art Museum, and soon the Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale of January 2026.
In this engaging interview, s. m. chavez shares insights into his artistic journey, discussing the influence of his New Mexico roots and the historical narratives that shape his work. He reflects on the challenges and joys of being an artist, the importance of authenticity, and the role of literature and history in his creative process (a word you will hear Chavez use frequently in our discussion). Chavez also touches on the balance between commercial success and artistic integrity, and the evolving nature of his career.
Links:
s. m. chavez
Website: https://paintingsofthewest.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smchavezart/
Other Links:
A Harvest of Reluctant Souls: Fray Alonso de Benavides's History of New Mexico, 1630: https://amzn.to/4beLYpt
Herb Jeffries in the movie The Bronze Buckaroo (1939): https://youtu.be/NMn21nICdro?si=PQMAUucUtkP6rEPZ
About the Artful Painter:
Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/
This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

In each episode of The Artful Painter, the tagline (or show description) is: "Art lessons for artists, collectors, and people who love art." However, most of the episodes published so far have focused on artists and their stories. It's time to switch that up a bit and focus on collectors. In this episode I converse with two wonderful people I met a few years ago at a workshop hosted by the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. They are: Doug and Susie Haugen, art lovers who have a passion for art, art collecting, and forging friendships with living artists whose works adorn their walls in their Ackworth, Georgia, home.
Whether you are a collector or artist, you will be inspired by the Haugen's enthusiasm for supporting today's living artists. To me, one of the primary take-aways from this conversation is the importance of cultivating connections and friendships with artists and others who love art. Visiting artists in their homes, visiting galleries, and going to art shows are all a part of their joy of collecting. The bonds of friendship with living artists become an important part of the story behind each painting they display in their home.
In this episode of The Artful Painter, I have the privilege of engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Doug and Susie Haugen about their journey becoming avid art collectors. They discuss the growth of their collection, the significance of Western art (both traditional and contemporary), and the personal connections and friendships they've formed with artists. The Haugens share stories of their favorite pieces, the artists they've met, and the meaningful experiences that have shaped their collection.
Cozy up with your earbuds and a cup of coffee and listen to Doug and Susie's inspiring story. This one will make you smile.
Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaugen56/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susie.haugen
Booth Western Art Museum: https://boothmuseum.org/
About the Artful Painter:
Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/
This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Artful Painter returns! It's good to be back in the saddle again.
My friend, Chris Kolupski kindly and patiently agreed to help me dust off my recording equipment and bring the Artful Painter back to life. Chris was originally featured back in episode 56 published back in 2021. That was a couple of years before we loaded up the wagons and moved to the Western Slope of Colorado.
In this edition of the Artful Painter, Chris Kolupski talks about his unique artist education experience he calls: "Paint Out West."
To me, Chris Kolupski is The Indiana Jones of Outdoor Painting – and for good reason! He's not only an excellent landscape painter and educator, he is an adventurer who loves painting the American South West. Of course, any adventure can certainly come with its own perils. Chris calmly takes these mis-adventures in stride. In this episode he shares the following experiences:
He crashed his car into a cow in the middle of the night in New Mexico!
Chris made daring attempts to rescue a camera that fell over a cliff!
He escaped prosecution after getting caught inadvertently trespassing while teaching a class.
In the middle of Navaho land, Chris founds himself on a horse that doesn't want him on his back
And then there's that time he got told off by a rude photographer in Arches National Park!

Tune in for a blend of humor, inspiration, and practical advice.
I'd like to welcome you to this edition of The Artful Painter!
Links:
Chris Kolupski
Paint Out West with Chris Kolupski: https://www.chriskolupski.com/page/30053/paint-out-west-on-demand Website: https://www.chriskolupski.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriskolupski/
Featured earlier on The Artful Painter: https://theartfulpainter.com/artful-painter/chris-kolupski-56
Other:
Artist JR Sanders: https://www.instagram.com/jrsandersart/
Books by Author Craig Childs:
The Wild Dark: Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light: https://amzn.to/4mXFnTt
House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest: https://amzn.to/4m9JiLK
Tracing Time: Seasons of Rock Art on the Colorado Plateau: https://amzn.to/4m8RonO
Virga & Bone: Essays from Dry Places: https://amzn.to/42nLRCE
Stone Desert: https://amzn.to/4npuDwY
About the Artful Painter:
Website: https://theartfulpainter.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artful.painter/
This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.