British printmaker and painter ALISON SAUNDERS makes no bones about it—she doesn’t like boring beige. While her bold use of color belies her initial career as an accountant, Alison generously offers her professional insight on how to track expenses for art shows, weekly business check-ins and an old-school index card system to manage inventory. Alison also shares personal stories about growing up in a family of artists and making art during times of emotional upheaval.

MIKE LYON, a Kansas City-based artist creates meticulously detailed large-scale drawings using marks made by traditional tools manipulated by non-traditional means, usually computers he has built and coded to suit his artistic vision. After using his innovation skills in the family cattle hide business, Mike returned to his art, becoming an innovator in wood block and post digital printmaking. With an innately curious mind, Mike also creates handcrafted guitars, ukuleles and other furniture, plays the violin in the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, and holds a 4th degree black belt in karate.