Finding Joy in Your Style: Adam Trest on Art, Licensing & Building a Creative Life

In this episode of The Art Coaching Club Podcast, I chat with Mississippi-based artist Adam Trest, whose whimsical, pattern-rich style has grown from fine art roots into a full-blown creative business spanning product design, licensing, and storytelling. Adam shares how he found his voice as an artist, transitioned from painting portraits to developing a recognizable, license-ready style, and built a business alongside his wife that blends creative joy with entrepreneurial strategy. 🎨 Inside this episode, we discuss: Adam’s early influences and the Southern artists who shaped his visual language How he evolved from studio painting to fabric, tile, and product design Lessons learned from launching a wholesale business and retail storefront Why email marketing became his most reliable tool for connecting with collectors The power of storytelling and authenticity in growing a brand Advice for artists exploring licensing and creative business expansion Whether you're curious about turning your art into products, growing your audience off social media, or staying true to your style while scaling—this episode is filled with wisdom and inspiration. Learn more about Adam on his website and Instagram. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.