The Business of Art - Podcast Review
Interviews, and Conversations
Podcast Logo: The Business of Art with Mark McKenna
The Business of Art Podcast is the third in our series of Art business Podcasts reviews we are doing here on Department 45, in our pursuit of finding the best information and knowledge on small business for artists and creatives. The business of Art podcasts, is hosted by Mark Mckenna, an American painter that focuses on oils and western motifs. Mark is based in the American west and draws most of his inspiration and themes from his environment and the history of the American west. The podcast is a part of his developing art career which currently covers a successful portrait business as well a course package he sells through the podcast covering both business and technical part of painting and portrait business. This is a common ad presented in his podcasts. The Podcast has at time of writing (oct. 2025) 32 episodes and drops an episode every couple of weeks. Three episodes were reviewed for this article. Episodes 30, 31, and 32, all reviewed on Apple Podcasts app for IOS.
Content, Format and Delivery
In our search for the best art business podcasts, we’ve so far had two podcasts where the host is speaking to the listener and speaking on a topic or theme they wish to review, The Business of Art podcast is an interview podcast. This being the first in our series that has guests with regularity we have a more dynamic exchange of ideas, which is really refreshing. The interviews/episode are quiet long, about an hour and half for most episodes and they consist of Mark the host, doing a very light interview with a selected artist. The artists that we heard in the review, were two western wildlife painters, and one sculptor who worked in bronzes. All three artists, were local to the American west and all had a similar media and artistic focus as the host, being American western wildlife and historical themes in paint or sculpture.
We say a light interview as the host doesn’t give many prompts to his interviewees and often allows them to speak at length on topics with their rarely being much a red thread through the interview. Several of the interviews have periods of rambling and a lack of focus which extends the listening time and with some stronger editing could bring the play time down or with stronger interview guidance could be more relevant or interesting.
The artist interviewed will tell of their own background, how they got started and then speak of their artist journey, and experience. This is where I find the podcast brings out its value, since in sincere conversation between the host and the interviewed artist we get a great piece of perspective on the journey of each artist to their current position. Each journey being to some degree indirect and unique due to most not having had a straight path to artistry but often in roundabouts and after other careers have moved to be full time artists. These stories give great insight into the journeys that professionals have taken to reach that key goal of full-time artistry, and perspective like this makes the journey we each have in our own artistry more nuanced. Hearing other people’s story always helps put ours into perspective. The artists journeys shared in each episode has been the core value I have drawn from the podcast as I listened.
Additionally, most of the interviewed artists, speak of key details and ideas they have had on their journey which can resonate with you as you listen and draw on your own story. One artist speaks about how they find going to other artists studio as being a great inspiration for him, as well as going to art shows and exhibitions in his community for no other reason than networking with other artists, buyers, and people in this community that he’s a part of. That insight is very valuable to me personally as I find that myself to be one of the more difficult things to get started with. While each artist’s journey is interesting and complex the ideas, they share are often interesting even if they are not directly applicable to your own story.
One common theme that comes across all the artists interviewed and one that I felt was important to call out was the importance that each put on community, communication, and network. This being with artists, clients, local business, and community people, effectively anyone you engage with in your daily life. Having strong conversations and good communication with these people each of the interview people said was key to their success at all levels from starting out to current. Speaking with and listening too people was at the core of each of their success and something I imagine is part of all our success. Having a comfort to engage with clients, businesses, your community, and fellow artists, helps build up everyone, and you’ll never know how might have a solution, support or just a minute to listen, that can change the direction of your art.
It’s worth mentioning with many of these artists being exclusively American western artists, a lot of the contextual information can be of limited value due to is hyper focus on that area and space.
Summary
The Business of Art Podcast is our first podcast I struggling to recommend in its current format. The value in this specific podcast is in the interviewed artists individual journeys to success and artistry. Hearing how they find success and what steps and ideas they have developed in their business journey is one that I always personally value as all paths is valid and can help give new and struggling artists, encouragement, and ideas on how to manage their own journey.
That aside, this podcast makes you work for this value. The host does not manage the interview well, with no real guidance or focus, leading to very long episodes, one and a half hour on average, and a fair amount of meandering and rambling. This could be shorter and with a harder edit or a stronger guided hand of the host, we can get that gold, with more respect for the listener’s time.
Additionally, while this review only covered three episodes (ep. 30, 31, 32) the full focus on western art and artists, that are like the host means that the perspective provided by the artists can be quite limited. While interesting to understand the western art scene in America I don’t think consistently interviewing the same types of artists, provides as much nuance as artists with other media, themes, locations, or such could provide over time. I feel I’ve heard all I need from the podcast in the episodes I’ve heard, the podcast in my opinion would need to expand its scope and range to remain interesting beyond what I’ve heard so far.
Therefore, I can’t give this a recommendation unless you see the value in American Western art, or the artist journey they inspire.
Now if you’re journey is proving difficult or if you have a project you need help and support to develop please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at timh@department45.eu, the comment section below or DM us on our Instagram @department45.eu. We specialize in your journey and will work with you to cover areas like financial situation, pricing or product development bringing your idea into a full series of ideas and actions. We work with you for you.
Thank you for your time and interest.
Tim H.
