Episode 118: The Surprising Power of Deep Focus: Why Artists Need to Work in Series

In this episode, Val and Armin dive into the concept of working in series, discussing its benefits, challenges, and how it shapes artistic development. They also explore parallels between art and science, the importance of intentionality, and practical tips for artists wanting to deepen their work through series.Key Topics:

• The definition of a series in art and its historical examples (Monet, Water Lilies, Giverny)
• The difference between developing an artistic style and working in a series
• The scientific approach to series—testing, repeating, and refining
• How working in series fosters deeper understanding and style development
• Common pitfalls such as losing energy or focus over time
• Strategies for maintaining motivation and documenting progress
• The emotional and commercial aspects of series—selling, audience reception, and personal fulfillment
• Insights from artists like Gerhard Richter on working in series at an expert level
• The importance of intentionality—setting themes, problems, or questions for each series.

Here is the information on our mentorships mentioned at the end of the episode. These mentorships are one-on-one sessions with either Val or Armin. Scheduled in blocks of four bi-weekly session at the cost of $75 per session for a total of $300 for four sessions. (dates scheduled to be convenient to all and can be on Zoom or in-person at the Studio.)

Link to Valerie's one-on-one mentorships.

Link to Armin's one-on-one mentorships.