Leo Hughes

Use the smile-with-teeth method. 'No can do and keeping it for later,' and 'That spot's mine, but the street loves you.' If they argue, shrug and close the door. Works better than TED talks.

Started with a budget friendly student set and it made the learning curve painless. Aim for small tubes so you can squeeze only what you need and keep the rest sealed. More small colors beats a few giant tubes when you want punchy results without waste. If the box includes a larger tube of white that is a bonus because you will use it for almost every mix. For saturation look for labels that mention good pigment load and opaque colors. Craft paint is cheap but often chalky and thin so it can take many coats. Student ranges sit in the sweet spot for price and vibrancy. To slow the dry time, keep a fine mist of water on your mixing area, cover puddles with parchment between breaks, and paint in the shade rather than under a heater or in direct sun, it makes a big difference.

Time box each chat and give yourself a clean exit trigger like refilling your drink or a quick check-in with the host. Mirror back one sentence of what they said, then add a reason and a verb, like I need to catch Morgan before she heads out, so I'm going to swing over there. If they are mid-story, tap the pause by saying I don't want to interrupt, this sounds great, but I have to step away for a minute. Keep your body angled toward the path you'll take so your feet tell the story. No fancy scripts, just a friendly thanks, a reason, and movement.