08/13/2026
Tune into our 184th FASO Podcast: Ned Mueller — Patience, Perseverance, Practice, & Passion
Ned Mueller Artist, , an American artist and longtime illustrator-turned-fine-painter, is known for his strong drawing, expressive plein air and figurative work, plus decades of teaching and mentoring artists around the world.
He shares his lifelong journey in art and talks candidly about facing serious health challenges, chronic pain, and burnout risks, and how having something meaningful to get up for—his painting practice and the support of his wife Karen—has kept him going.
Drawing on decades of experience, Ned emphasizes the “four P’s”: patience, perseverance, practice, and passion, urging artists to find subjects they truly love so their excitement shows in the work.
He underscores the importance of strong fundamentals—especially drawing and values—explaining that you must first learn to paint what you know, then what you see, and ultimately what you feel.
Ned also advises artists to simplify by thinking in big shapes, values, and edges, to do lots of small studies (in plein air and the studio), and to keep sharpening their skills through critique groups, workshops, and consistent practice. Throughout the conversation, he offers grounded yet hopeful insight into building a sustainable art life: do the work, keep learning, accept the hard realities of the art market, and let your love for painting carry you through the long haul.
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