I had the same experience in Ireland. I wanted to explore the ancient and the feminine and beauty. It was a no no. I didn’t paint for 25 years. Became a librarian. I resigned in 2018 and am now a full time artist making a living and doing exactly what I want to do artistically and making a decent living. You’re right. The emperor has no clothes!

I’m a trafficking survivor and at first I was kinda upset about the comparison to slavery but as I listened I could see the similarities. Handlers, mental abuse and stripping of identity are core attributes of grooming and control. Anyone exposing it has integrity and is very brave, much respect for Elli.

Same in Germany, that's the reason I studied graphic-design instead of art. Social media has changed a lot. I enjoy that art is made by everyone, who loves to do it, there - art from the folks instead from a self-crowned elite.

Thank you for making me realize that I am NOT imagining all that you speak of. I have been doing battle with the gate-keepers and na-sayers for 50 years. It is too late for me to feel like a success at my age but at least I know that my feelings and suspicions were spot on.

I seems like you're saving so many people pain and agony by exposing this. Love this. Man the fact that God sent Heim to you after you prayed is everything.

Thank you for talking about this! The art school experience took me away from art and I went into nursing instead because I came out of college confused!! Now I am starting to get back to illustration after 30 years!

Ohhhh this is sooo good. Finally breaking through the walls. It is about time we shift the paradigm. This was what kept me from pursuing my art for far too long . Along with constantly hearing .."you will be a starving artist". It hit me recently..I'm over it . I will do what I love and the rest will fall Into place . This was inspiring thank you 🙏

I was in a fine arts program in the early 2000's. I was sold on the program by being told they would teach a strictly classical curriculum. They lied. It was the worst 3 years of my life. The absolute nonsense they "taught" still angers me to this day. We had to do gallery studies courses, and the gatekeeping was unreal.

Thank you, Elli and Jake, for shining this light on the“dark art” world! You just gave me courage to go on! I had a professor who gave me a D on a big self portrait project years ago because it looked just like me, she wanted me to weird it up. I was crushed and it sticks with me no matter how much success I’ve had since then. Boooo! “Pretty” artists unite! 🎉 💗

Wow, what an incredible story! I'm really curious about the secrets Haim has to be so successful. Maybe you could invite your mom to join the Podcast and share what she's learned! Love it!

I'm only 9 minutes into this discussion and I've agreed with every single thing you have said so far. So much so I had to stop to comment! Glasgow school of art graduate, 1992. It's taken me decades to feel good about my art. Thank you for speaking about this ❤️

I went to a state school in 2000, and even THERE my photo-realistic art was made fun of and called "Mall Art"! Damned near destroyed my desire to ever paint again for 20 years! Fortunately, I sucessfully ran my own business and did historical reproduction pottery in that time and slowly realized I was fed a LOT of BULLSHIT! What a GREAT podcast, never heard of the term "gatekeeping" before! Today I AM painting again, selling my work online and loving it! Thank you, and much love from New Mexico USA! ❤❤❤

Oh man this is the most interesting video I have ever watch about Art! It explains everything! The weird creepy art that we still see soooo often! For the first time I am gratefull I did not go to Art School! Thank you for that ❤

I finished my undergrad just 7 years ago in Miami and I had the exact same experience. When Elli was talking I was having a dejavu of my years in college. I spent 2 years after graduating without touching a pencil. I found every excuse not to produce anything #1 because my confidence as an artist was below 0 and #2 because the idea of having to deal on a daily basis with such people was really repugnant. My school was very "conceptual" and anything that had a decent amount of skills and work was critiqued as if it was meaningless, cold, lifeless. It took only one person to start the critique with ... it is beautifully rendered but... to encourage everyone else and the attacks began from every corner, everyone had an opinion and of course everybody had a better idea for making your work better. I ended up making art that had nothing to do with me but after graduation everything went to the trash.

Really great story. And l’haim to Haim for being a knight in white armor! We all need people like that in our lives from time to time

I'm a retired commercial artist and everything you said just resonated with my soul! It feels like it's finally becoming "all about originality and the artist"! AND, the reason those dealers acted like that? PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY! I finally figured it out.. the dealers have nothing and are nothing without the artist! YOU are their paycheck! You are their meal ticket! They are yours vengali without a purpose! For any artist who is meek or unsure of themselves, which is a pretty high number anyway, they already have the dragons to sleigh before they can even show up on the battlefield! I'll take the paintings of some unknown artist, with their hesitating lines, before I"ll even look at AI! Amen!

'people that sell art.... anybody can do that..." yes, right. Seems to me that this women do not understand how the market works and the level of skills that takes to run a gallery or to be an art dealer. Curatorial skills, art history skills, critic skills, entrepreneurial skill and pr skills. But after seeing her work I understand her frustration.

Thank you for this as an artist who has always know I create pretty pictures because of the beauty I see and feel doing so . I remember a time a few years ago in the Tate modern of Liverpool. Standing looking at ugly dolls and thinking I can't be an artist because I just don't get these dolls as art. And the doubt this dark art instilled in me. Now I know and see things differently. I have always been touched by the light of beauty.

As a college student in 1983 I walked into the College of Arts at my university and felt the darkness and was totally turned off to pursuing art at that time. I changed majors to Nursing and had a good career until we had children. While at home with the children I returned to art but have sold my art myself because I saw that the galleries also have that clique and a darkness where you have to make the art they want and be what they expect. Thank you for sharing. The arts world (music, theater, movies, TV, news, dance, and fine arts all have this same system. And it’s dark. But I see a new light, “beauty will change the world” Doskoevski. Nothing can keep truth, goodness and beauty from touching the hearts of the world. I love everything y’all do. God has given you a platform and your sharing so much with others may His Grace keep you and shine His face upon you. 💜

Please keep this kind of content coming. So many of us idealize being an artist so much so, that we forget the day to day logistics of it all.

The way your art class went was like "the emperor's clothes" I love your down to earth reality. AND your paintings are beautiful.

It s the same all over the world . I ve encountered the same rejection or neglect by some art galleries here in Egypt It s so sad , however , Elli has really proven that these monopolies don t always work. This video is very encouraging to any artist who s starting to show their work to the media . Elli s story is an example of resilience and even successful revenge ❤❤❤very inspiring

You are as artsy with your words as you are with your paintings. Love it how well you are formulating your thoughts and sharing your stories.

Your commentary touched my heart. It is so rare in the Art World to hear such honesty, genuineness and a spirit of generous sharing and caring. This information will be formative in my Art life going forward. Thank you.

I totally agree with everything Ellie mentioned about the gatekeepers. There are many gatekeepers in all facets of the world we live in and we have to be very careful in what and whom we share with. I thank you for sharing this information, it had to be said, and by you doing so has I'm sure saved many current, up and coming artist from such heartache. I truly appreciate your transparency and putting your heart out there 🌺 I hope to be able to enroll in one of your mastery courses in the near future. As they say in my island Bermuda, have a Bermudaful day!

So articulate and real as well as saying the truth of the snobbery and unnecessary hurtful undermining behaviour of some, hopefully Not all academics. I paid a lot of money for one semester in an open studio course and the artist/teacher undermined my enthusiasm, talked in academic jargon to an unnecessary length. Normally I would be in my happy place painting away with fellow artists around but this one person criticism and or choice of words resulted in my leaving the group. I haven’t given up painting in fact I have just returned home after participating in an artists retreat which had an encouraging teacher.

If only we all had a Heim....you' ve just described my life....not in art...but in my personal career in legal field, 25 years in law offices...took off to raise my children and never got a reasonable job offer afterwards. I was blocked because of ridiculousness....even tho I have talent, drive, diversity, on and on....to a tee...you've described my frustration in my career...WHAT A STORY you have provided!! thank you for the details and sharing. Certainly so much credibility lended in your translation of the facts of the one New York show. Im 100% on board with a new life and to pursuing my real self and future endeavors in art. I hope to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren. Thank you !!!

Omg!!!!! I love Elli. I nearly cried when she recalled that experience in NY. That is heartbreaking and took me back to my art festival experience last year. I’m at a point where I have to go back to work for a while to set myself up better for being a full time artist so I TOTALLY understand what she feared.

Born and raised in New Mexico. My art has been rejected by all the galleries here because it's not "Southwestern" since the late 80s. I'm just NOW finding a audience why my style and exploration of dark themes with a feminine twist online.

Thanks for your expertise and frankness! You've confirmed the soundness of my detestation of the very notion of "gatekeepers" all the more. Thankfully, I've bypassed this coarse system as a classical composer and pianist for years; I'll be pleased to do so as a visual artist as well.

Thank you for this sharing this heart breaking story. This is similar to being a writer trying to get a book deal. Artists are change agents. Never let anyone dull your sparkle! 🤗

As someone who just wants to paint things that look cool and beautiful I've never related so much to a description of the art college experience. I used to stress a lot more about (and I often spent more time on) my artist statement than my assignments because the concept was valued far more than the skill. We had critiques with lecturers and peers, which really focused almost solely on the concept. It often felt like the uglier something was, the lower the skill level, and the less effort put into the actual work, the higher the praise. I graduated with a BA in art in 2020, and during those four years we had almost zero painting lessons and we were fed a pile of negativity about making it as a professional artist. For a long time I had lost the joy I used to get from painting and creating, I felt that what I wanted to paint was pointless because it wasn't conceptual, and I let what was meant to be my backup job become my priority. But I never stopped feeling this pull inside of me to paint, it's not just something I want to do it's something I need to do, I know it's what I am supposed to be doing. So a few months ago I quit teaching English to focus more on painting, and last month I started the mastery programme! Thank you for creating a course that aims to inspire and encourage and not to tear you down. The Mastery programme seriously feels like the antidote to art college.

Ellie, you were so made for creating Milan Art. Your school is so amazing and you are giving the art world a massive makeover. I am so grateful for this wonderful gift you are giving me. I was in a slump with a big creative block and you have helped me break out of it. Deep, deep gratitude. 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 ❤❤❤❤😊

Finally I get to hear the truth! This podcast is a real eye opener. I never pursued art in the professional sense, but have my own website and learning as I go.

I discovered your brand yesterday and watched your live this morning here in New Zealand. I feel so blessed to have found God fearing artists! Thank you for sharing your experience and stories ❤

Elli's experiences at art college are so similar to mine in the UK in the late 80s, I was stunned listening to her as it's the first time I've heard anyone describe it with the same feelings I have myself. I've tried to explain what it was like to people and always got the feeling they thought I was exaggerating how dark, weird and twisted it was. I've seen some very weird behaviour in galleries too and much prefer to keep away from them now. Thanks for such a useful, insightful interview.

Wow Elli. Thank you ! That was so enlightening and educational. I experienced the dark world of the music industry for a number of years - your story was ‘a deja vue’ reminder of how nasty these gate keepers are. Happy to know though that there are the family establishments such as yours that one can eventually be adopted into 😅 through the Mastery program

"life" sold all of your art to make it a break even for you. The art didn't sell itself, life did. Thats pretty amazing.

Wonderful to hear an artist express their gratitude to God. God is a creator, and so are artists! Love that closeness. I appreciate your videos.🙏

Very interesting conversation. Thank you for sharing. I'm a fan of pretty pictures but also a fan of black dolls!

I heard a prominent artist say that he and another very prominent artist say that their art is not about pretty pictures, but should provoke. What??? The easiest thing to do is provoke. One can provoke just by flipping someone off in traffic! I believe in uplifting and making the world a more beautiful place. There is enough ugliness in this world. I try to counter that. I think the condescending remark about “pretty pictures” is more about insipid work, than beautiful work. Right now it seems like the popular artists are just warmed over Basquiat. I see so much of that style, lol.

Love hearing this! Thank You for talking about this.

This is insane!!! thank you for the insight!

I did not quite experience that in under grad or graduate school, but there were countless discouraging messages given to art students in both places. I had a professor in undergraduate school, who said to me, you are a good painter, but don't try to make a living out of it. The message was to paint of course, but find a way to make a living or you will starve. In graduate school it was about breaking us down, but the problem came in when there was no real build up Fortunately I had a handful of really good teachers, who I am grateful for to this day. I have been painting steadily for 25 years, and I am just now waking up to the reality that I can thrive as an artist. At this point, I don't know how, but the universe is leading to that direction. I really need help with a new mindset, and I also need a miracle with regards to self promotion. I am figuring out how I can join the milan art institute, some things have to be reorganized and I need to get straight with my finances, but I am hearing the call.

Thank you for sharing all this important information! ♥️

I really appreciate this and the other conversations you are having. I’m encouraged and inspired from them. Thank you. I finally believe that God has a place for me in the art world, after many many years (I’m 55).

Thank you so much for this podcast and shared your expirience Elli❤️

I hated it I felt crushed during university of Art it wasn’t anything like I expected but I never gave up

Thank you for this interview, it confirmed a lot of things I have long suspected.

I started out of art school selling my fine art but was unsure if I could make a living at it. Then naively applied and got excepted in a Top art school, went into packaging and graphic arts. Won major award with departments and individually (some my designs are still in stores today, or knock off of them) but ended up more managerial position to support my family. Going away from creativity more and more. Started a new career (martial arts/video production) away from the art world seeing it was a controlled business with as you called them the gatekeepers. Used my talents to create plays, stories, participated in films. In my retirement I've gone back to doing my paintings for myself. I can see how with social media you can breakout more on your own. Looking back what you said about the human heart is so true. When I was first starting out I wanted to create and leave beauty in the world. As a package designer I work for every major cosmetic company. Felt great about producing a product helped people feel better about themselves. There is such a great feeling about someone who says something about your art or is inspired by it. Thank for this and giving Schumann's definition or art. You're a true warrior and more needs to done to help artists create from their heart and inspire, lift each other as well as the public they want to communicate to.

Thank you for sharing your story Elli

Thank you for everything

There's some great information in this discussion... Thanks, guys. 🙏

This episode is so emotional I honestly was so oblivious to all the “gate keeping” until hearing this story. Thank God for parting that sea for you and it brought you to this point today

I’m about to start the Mastery program in December. Can’t wait! These videos are so inspiring and I love how classical beauty is still relevant these days

Thank you for sharing, fascinating journey and not an easy one but amazing view of the inside of the art world. Well done Elli, you are an amazing person. X

Amazing content! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I’m looking forward to joining the masterclass… Also I’m not seeing the link to the newsletter below that you mention…. I just found elli two days ago and I love the message! The effort to manifest this vision. To top it off you all speak my language and I feel welcome. Thank you❤️

Great interview. I identify so much with your story. Thank you for sharing. ❤

Your story made me cry. I am so happy that things went well for you in that art fair.

I didn't finished this video yet, but the subject is very interesting to me. Thank you for talking about that.

Great insights. Thank you!

This is so interesting. Thank you Ellie for sharing your story and encouraging us through your experience.

YES!!! “To shine light on human heart is the artist “

Thank you so much for the story. You are very brave to disclose all this information. I feel like you have paved the way through your hard work and long, suffering and soul searching. I feel your pain that you went through. You give me strength and hope to be brave and go forward my initials BB be brave/ be bold

I am sooo sorry Eli! Thank you for sharing!

Your experiences are so interesting and reflect partially what I already tough to myself. Thanks for speaking it out!!! Greets from germany!

Thank you so much! I drink up everything you put out… so informative and inspirational! ❤

I hear 5 minutes of this and I already SUPER ❤ this podcast. Super love !

Wow, Elli you are a captivating story teller! Love hearing your stories!

Elli, thank you for sharing your story. I am a second generation artist and what happened to my father just broke my heart. He was a incredible artist doing representational landscape, city scape work, but when he walked into galleries they told him that your art is too realistic...go away! He was humble, but this broke him and made him feel that he wasn't worthy as an artist. You give me hope that maybe I can get around the galleries and sell directly to collectors. Thank you!!

This is a most excellent expose on the errant kingdom culture in the art world that also provides experiential solutions to overcome and participate in the transformation of it into true Kingdom culture. Thank you! I look forward to future light infused podcasts.

I am so grateful for your video! I went through the same thing in art school.. one professor told me to abandon my oil painting project just because "painting is dead".. " why bother with representational portraits?" I didn't listen to him.. and I am so thankful because I did what I wanted at the time and I needed to.. Another experience I had was when I worked as an intern in a gallery, where I did some writing and translation from greek to english and vice versa and some photo editing for them.. but most of the time I was asked to do stuff that were not really related to how a gallery works, how sales are made etc. I didn't understand it at the time but I was always sent outside of the gallery to buy stuff they needed for the wall painter or materials an artist needed.. I started to feel like I was not learning anything important that would benefit me later other than cleaning and keeping a gallery presentable.. (then I made the connection.. I think it was because they learned I was a student of an important artist outside of university and they did not like that probably..) During my senior year I started to understand a bit of this dark control that is happening.. because our senior show was not promoted well by the school.. even though the professors seemed proud and satisfied with the result of the display etc. Unfortunately only family and uni students came to visit. When I graduated and I applied to a bunch of art institutions and projects, I realised that the world of art did not want my oil painting portraits about grief, loss and trauma .. and now I am searching of what to do next.. I have been feeling lost and confused because I wanted to be accepted by that system.. but now I can see that it is not what I really want. This video helped me understand some things better, thank you

Dear Ellie and Jake- just amazed at what you have described- you could have been talking about the art college I go to in Brisbane -Australia. Very heartwarming to realize I am not going insane and has confirmed I haven’t imagined the similar dark art and gate keeping culture within many of the art faculties here. In our college you can also throw in age discrimination as many of the older students are treated as obsolete human beings. As someone not a part of what we secretly call “the club” here I feel proud I retain my own authenticity and individuality as much as possible- despite poor marks- but Cs do get degrees and I will continue to believe in “pretty” pictures and try to inspire others with art that can uplift and even put a smile on a persons face as well as try to send on a message/ even if it is just one to create a little joy in the often sad and disappointing world in which we live . I have also tried to develop empathy for the gatekeepers and their minions who probably act out of fear and are not brave enough to try honesty as the approach. Thank you for your generosity and for being lovely and integrity centred people.

You're so inspiring!! 💗

A professor at my school insinuated that painting a realistic landscape wasn’t worthy. Looked down on it. Made me change my direction. (I was young and impressionable).😢 now I’m painting watercolor pet portraits, landscapes, still life’s. I’m selling. It brings joy to me and people. Plus I’m hearing the “kingdom” word. Only one Kingdom for me. God’s Kingdom. I love Jesus and I feel like art should be beautiful. ❤ Thank you for this honest podcast. I’m subscribed and watch your channel.

Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom how to navigate the art world. So good insights, thank you very much ❤🥰💕

So glad I clicked on this video. Thanks🤙

Thank you

Nice insight, thank you.

It feels like a place of kindred souls. Thanks for this honest content.

Super enlightening and interesting. WOW!

That story was insane!! Great story. Being on the journey of being a painter, i felt that.

I knew I wasn’t crazy. Thank you for sharing this

Thanks so much

Thanks for such candid talk. Winner. 👍👍

Love this!

It is good to hear more of your story.

I love how you say 'Ellie' Shine the light on a human heart❤🥰

Fascinating story getting closer to signing up 😊

Só good!! Thank you for a wealth of knowledge!! I feel so blessed!! I am starting to create my first artworks after a lifetime of believing I am not good enough. God stopped me in my tracks and said it is now time for art. I só want to shine His light on people's hearts! I have a lot to learn. Thank you for all the free information. I am so thankful!❤

This was very enlightening and interesting regarding the gatekeepers and elitism of the art world - definitely helped me Be weary or what to look out for! Good thing I intend going the independent route anyway.

Brilliant interview

I have no words to explain how aligned I am with everything Ellie said, and I love her for that! As an artist, every time I go to a contemporary art gallery and see their smug and ugly pretense of art, their long and pretentious explanations of why you should believe that some childish smudges on canvas are amazing art I just tell to myself: I will never be part of this world! I will do what I think is beautiful and what I believe in or not do it at all! Thank you Ellie, you are a ray of hope for every artist out there! ( I am enrolled in Milan Art Masteries and I love it so far!)

Hello. I was watching this video, and I thought of something that happened to me many years ago. Since then I have self published my books, music, and I compose music for movies, and television too. I heard the worse from many, but I didn't listen to anyone. I kept searching for different options, and found solutions. My music is being used for videos now. My books are being read too. I learned to keep going, because those people that are out there will hold you back. I felt encouraged by observing others. Thank you for your video. It's very positive, and very important.

Art is the communication of the soul. That which cannot be said, but only shown and experienced.

beautiful testimonial

This is very helpful. My gallery has been a great venue to collectors.

Great insight. I was always apprehensive about dipping toes into this foggy world of who knows who. So at the end of the day it's all about human connection and that perhaps makes it a bit easier.

I would love to know how Han navigated those conversations with the collectors. Examples of Selling the Art. Fascinating interview! Thanks

A quite evil system that seems to release the stress from selling from the artist but most of the time it’s actually disabling, abusing and stressing the artist