Welcome to Bench Talk — the podcast where I dive into real, honest conversations with inspiring artists, to reveal what it really takes to build a thriving creative career.<br />I’m your host, Tom Gerrard — an international artist from Australia and Co-Founder of The Art Career Academy, an online school dedicated to helping visual artists rise up and go pro. I kicked off this podcast back in 2016, when I was dreaming of going full-time with my art. And through these chats, I found the path and walked it.
Bench Talk
Claim This Podcastby Tom Gerrard
4.5(20 reviews)
218 episodes
Updated Weekly
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
60
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality57
Social0
YouTube68
Engagement92
Podcast Overview
Welcome to Bench Talk — the podcast where I dive into real, honest conversations with inspiring artists, to reveal what it really takes to build a thriving creative career.<br />I’m your host, Tom Gerrard — an international artist from Australia and Co-Founder of The Art Career Academy, an online school dedicated to helping visual artists rise up and go pro. I kicked off this podcast back in 2016, when I was dreaming of going full-time with my art. And through these chats, I found the path and walked it.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
5/4/2016
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60
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality57
Social0
YouTube68
Engagement92
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Episode Length
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Recent Episodes
June 10, 2026
BENCH TALK Podcast #221 | George Rose: Painting Globally, Colour Mastery & The Business of Muralism
How do you build an international mural career when Australia feels like the other side of the world?In this episode of Bench Talk, Tom Gerrard reconnects with George Rose in Darwin, where they've both been painting murals for the Darwin Street Art Festival. George shares her journey from painting walls across Australia to becoming an internationally sought-after muralist, working everywhere from Europe to North America and beyond.This conversation covers so much ground: the real differences between painting murals in Australia versus Europe, the nine-story murals George has created in Darwin, the meticulous design and mockup process that often takes longer than the actual painting, her deep exploration of colour and gradient work, and the physical toll of large-scale muralism (and how she's adapted).But what makes this episode particularly valuable is George's honest take on the muralism industry: why design time should be paid, why artists aren't sign writers, and how the business side of this work is often undervalued.Tom and George explore:⚡️ Building an international mural career from Australia (a place that's far from everywhere)⚡️ The stark differences between mural markets in Australia, Europe, and America⚡️ Why Europe pays less but offers beautiful walls (firewall architecture, building ratios)⚡️ The Darwin murals: two nine-story pieces painted two years apart⚡️ Designing paintings that work as individual pieces but also complement each other⚡️ The massive boom lifts and technical equipment needed for large-scale work⚡️ Why the design and mockup process matters as much as the painting⚡️ The evolution of George's colour work: from black outlines to gradient-based colour play⚡️ Building a personal library of brush patterns, textures, and collected imagery⚡️ Why flexibility on the wall is essential (artists aren't technicians or sign writers)⚡️ Recovering from shoulder injuries through functional strength training⚡️ The challenges of maintaining a studio practice while being nomadic⚡️ How Darwin's community is uniquely open to unconventional concepts⚡️ Future plans: UK, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and a potential Masters in Fine Art at Basel⚡️ Why returning to formal art education can catalyse the next shift in an artist's practiceThis episode is essential for any artist considering an international career, thinking about the business side of their work, or wanting to understand how colour, design, and intention shape large-scale muralism.🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube------🔗 WANT TO GO DEEPER?👉 Get our free Visibility Guide to learn how artists are getting seen by gallerists and collectors right now! https://www.artcareeracademy.com/visibility-guide👉 Want to learn how Tom and our art students make a great income from their art? Get a copy of our free cheatsheet here; https://www.artcareeracademy.com/creative-cashflow-guide------HOST: Tom Gerrard✦ IG | @artcareeracademy and @tom-gerrard✦ Watch on Youtube | @artcareeracademy ✦ Website | artcareeracademy.com and tom-gerrard.comGUEST: George Rose✦ Instagram | @george_rose✦ Website: georgerose.com.auIf you loved this episode, then we'd love a 5 star review and do subscribe so that you never miss an episode. Thanks for being here!
May 26, 2026
BENCH TALK Podcast #220 | Yakob Morley
In this engaging interview, artist Jacob Morley shares his journey from tattooing to painting, his creative process, and how moving to the Mornington Peninsula has influenced his art and lifestyle. Discover insights on building a sustainable art career, the importance of space organization, and the joy of experimenting with different mediums. In this episode we explore: Transitioning from tattooing into painting and mixed-media art. ⚡️Mornington Peninsula move reshaped lifestyle and artistic direction. ⚡️Building modular studio spaces to support creative flexibility. ⚡️Balancing commercial work with personal artistic practice. ⚡️Folk art and street signage inspire visual language. ⚡️Experimenting across painting, woodworking, and assemblage techniques. ⚡️Navigating art sales, online presence, and creative authenticity. ⚡️Future projects focused on growth, collaboration, and experimentation. 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube Loved this episode? Hit subscribe and give us a 5 star review. This means so much, thank you! ------ HOST: Tom Gerrard ✦ IG | @artcareeracademy and @tom-gerrard ✦ Watch on Youtube | @artcareeracademy ✦ Website | artcareeracademy.com and tom-gerrard.com GUEST: Hiroyasu Tsuri (TWOONE) ✦ Instagram | @t_w_o_o_n_e ✦ Website | https://hiroyasutsuri.com/ ------- WANT MORE? 👉 Get our free Visibility Guide to learn how artists are getting seen by gallerists and collectors right now! https://www.artcareeracademy.com/visibility-guide 👉 Want to learn how Tom and our art students make a great income from their art? Get a copy of our free cheatsheet here; https://www.artcareeracademy.com/creative-cashflow-guide
May 13, 2026
BENCH TALK Podcast #218 | TWOONE - The First Guest, 10 Years Later — What a decade as a working artist actually teaches you
Mural artist Hiroyasu Tsuri (TWOONE) was the very first guest on the BenchTalk art career podcast ~ ten years ago, on a rooftop in Melbourne with a dictaphone and no plan.Today he's one of the most compelling working artists in the world — painting large-scale murals across Japan, Malaysia, Morocco and Hong Kong, living in rural Italy and building an art career entirely on his own terms.In this artist interview, I sit back down with Hiroyasu a decade later to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable art career ~ the creative philosophy, the long game and why embracing what you can't control might be the most important thing a professional artist can do.A decade later, Hiroyasu is living in a farmhouse in rural Italy, painting monumental walls across Malaysia, Morocco, Hong Kong and Japan and preparing for a major gallery exhibition in Victoria responding to the Ukiyo-e collection at Latrobe Regional Gallery. The work has expanded. The life has grown. And yet, he'll tell you himself, he still doesn't feel like he's mastered his own technique.That's not a confession. That's the whole philosophy.In this special anniversary episode, Hiroyasu and I sit back down together and talk about what a decade in the art world actually looks like from the inside. The creative philosophy that drives the work, what happens when you stop trying to fix your mistakes and start incorporating them, why Hiroyasu deliberately paints walls anyone can walk past rather than spaces only art people enter and what staying curious has done for his career that chasing mastery never could.In this episode we explore:⚡️The calligraphy lesson Hiroyasu learned as a kid in Japan and how it became the foundation of his entire practice⚡️Why he deliberately works with tools he can't fully control ~ and what that produces⚡️How moving from Berlin to a small Italian village changed the way he works and finds inspiration⚡️What murals do for communities that galleries simply can't⚡️The moment a byproduct became the product ~ how his lightbox series was born entirely by accident⚡️Walking between paintings: why action stimulates more ideas than sitting and thinking ever will⚡️Where Hiroyasu is headed next If you've ever wondered what 10 years as a professional artist actually looks like - then this is it.🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📺 Watch the full episode on YouTubeLoved this episode? Hit subscribe and give us a 5 star review. This means so much, thank you!------HOST: Tom Gerrard✦ IG | @artcareeracademy and @tom-gerrard✦ Watch on Youtube | @artcareeracademy ✦ Website | artcareeracademy.com and tom-gerrard.comGUEST: Hiroyasu Tsuri (TWOONE)✦ Instagram | @t_w_o_o_n_e✦ Website | https://hiroyasutsuri.com/-------WANT MORE?👉 Get our free Visibility Guide to learn how artists are getting seen by gallerists and collectors right now! https://www.artcareeracademy.com/visibility-guide👉 Want to learn how Tom and our art students make a great income from their art? Get a copy of our free cheatsheet here; https://www.artcareeracademy.com/creative-cashflow-guide
218 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Bench Talk?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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