Savvy Painter Podcast with Antrese Wood

• 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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• Exploration feels like chaos. And that’s the point.

  Ever get to that point in a painting where nothing’s working the way you thought it would? Where the idea is still in there somewhere, but the canvas isn’t cooperating?That’s not a mistake. That’s the part where things get real.In this episode of the Savvy Painter podcast, we’re talking about the Exploration phase of the Creative Spiral. The phase most artists dread, not because they’re doing it wrong, but because it asks them to stay with what’s actually happening in the painting. Not the plan. Not the ideal image in their head. Just… this. Right here.It’s uncomfortable, often messy, and full of not-knowing. But it’s also where your voice starts to take shape, not as an idea, but in the act of making.🎧 Episode Map[2:55] Why your painting doesn’t match the idea in your head (and why that’s normal)[5:45] What “not knowing” really means, and why your brain fights it[9:50] Intuitive painting isn’t winging it. There is a plan. It just looks different.[12:40] The experimenter’s crisis: this isn’t what I thought it would look like[15:10] The two thoughts that tend to paralyze painters in this phase[17:30] Why looking bad might be a good sign[20:00] This is where your voice starts to show up—in motion, not in theory[23:45] What to do when you have no idea what to do next[26:00] Try this instead: make it truer, not prettier[28:30] Exploration isn’t aimless. It’s a choice to stay with what’s here, even if it’s unclear🎨 For Your Studio WallSome reminders worth keeping close:“Messy isn’t the opposite of skill. It’s how skill gets built.”“The painting gets honest when you do.”“You’re not supposed to know before you do the thing.”“It’s not a straight line, and it’s not supposed to be.”What to Bring Into the Studio With YouBecause just listening isn’t the pointA willingness to get lost, on purposePermission to make 20 versions no one ever seesCuriosity over controlThe guts to keep going when things look weird (because they will)💬 Talk to MeWhat’s your relationship with the messy middle?Leave a comment on Instagram (@savvypainterpodcast) or DM me and tell me how you know you’re in the exploration phase.You’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out in isolation. This is what we practice inside Growth Studio, week after week.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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• The Voice That Says You’re Not Ready? Fire It.

  Resistance isn’t laziness—it’s fear wearing a disguise. Let's break down the REAL reason resistance shows up right after creative excitement kicks in—and how to move forward without force. If you’ve ever found yourself avoiding the studio for no “good” reason, this one’s for you. We're going to talk about why resistance is actually a turning point in your creative spiral, not a sign to stop. Plus, hear how one artist in Growth Studio used this awareness to navigate a wave of unexpected yeses.Your Episode Map:[00:01] The real reason resistance shows up—and why it means you’re growing, not failing.[04:45] The “I AM” trap: how we confuse resistance with identity.[11:30] What your brain fears MORE than failure.[13:00] Growth Studio story: When you get what you asked for[20:00] Why your brain thinks change is dangerous—[25:00] The smallest moves to shift resistance and restore your momentum.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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