Pencil Kings | Inspiring Artist Interviews With Today's Best Artists

Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “I wanna do stuff because I want a finished product at the end, or I want a piece of animation, or I want a comic book at the end of it. And I’m learning everything so I can do that finished product - I’m not learning everything just so I can learn everything.” ~ Jason Brubaker. Can anyone learn how to draw? Jason Brubaker, this week’s podcast guest, certainly thinks so. And he should know. After starting out as a completely self-taught artist, he ended up working in Hollywood for 20 years, spending his last 7 years at Dreamworks working on the Kung Fu Panda trilogy. These days, he makes comics full-time, having produced titles such as the award-winning reMIND, Phobos, and Sithrah. He also finds time to help other artists, offering a wide range of resources on his website. And now, he’s include the exact same techniques he used to learn how to draw anatomy in one handy resource for artists - The Cognitive Drawing workbook. So, we caught up with him to f

Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “When you have the creative fire burning inside you, sometimes you just don’t know what to do with it and it has to come out” ~ JP Cawood. Self publishing can be a great way to get your ideas out there, but how do you even get started with a project as huge as this? In this week’s interview, we talk to JP Cawood, author of Love From Mars - a romantic sci-fi/fantasy novel. You’ll hear how she used her experience as a television developer to create the plot and characters in her book, and you’ll discover how to break a huge project down into manageable chunks to help you achieve your goals. So, if you’ve got an idea that’s been floating around your head for some time, you’ll find plenty of effective ideas in this week’s interview to take the next steps... Highlights From This Interview: Why collaborating with others (such as editors, other artists, and getting feedback) is the key to successful self publishing How to research your ideas and make sure you

Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ The Pencil Kings podcast is sponsored by Freshbooks https://www.freshbooks.com/pencilkings email: mitch@pencilkings.com “People who are motivated know that it doesn’t start with motivation - it starts with a commitment to show up. Because, if you wait for the motivation, it’s never going to come.” ~ Sean McCabe. How do you navigate your way to artistic success? After all, the path towards a successful creative career can often be a tricky one, with all kinds of hurdles to jump before you can even get off the starting blocks. And that’s exactly what happened to today’s guest - hand-drawn lettering artist and author, Sean McCabe. For two whole years, his regular posts on social media went virtually unnoticed...until, one day, people finally began to really take notice of what he was up to. So what made this shift happen? And how did Sean go from being a creative all-rounder with a day job to a successful freelance artist specializing in hand-drawn typogra

Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “What I’d say to people with a great idea is to be prepared to take a few risks, be prepared to commit time, be prepared to learn new software, and be prepared to stick with your ideas.” ~ Peter Richardson. Want to know how to turn your ideas into an animated cartoon series? Do you have a cool creative idea trapped in your head and you're wondering how to turn your idea into something more? In this week’s interview, PK member, Peter Richardson, tells the story of how his new project, Spook Squad, went from a book, to a graphic novel and eventually into an animated show. There are many important lessons inside this story and we'll break them down for you piece by piece so you can take that big idea you have and turn it into something bigger. The steps are easy once you know how. And, most importantly, you don't need to be an amazing artist to get started...because the idea is where it all begins! Interview Chapters [00:37-16:07] Introduction and Overview

Show notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “With what I’ve produced at the Evolve Art Academy, I’m very confident I could submit a portfolio to a prestigious art school and get accepted. Because that’s how much progress I’ve had.” ~ Michelle Lopez. Want to know how to become a better artist...but just don’t know where to start? Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone who wants to take their art skills further, we think you’ll find this week’s interview pretty interesting… Because you’re about to hear how Evolve Artist student, Michelle Lopez, went from being a novice artists to one who gets paid for portrait commissions...in just four months! Interview Chapters [00:37-05:07] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bowler, introduces today’s guest, Evolve Artist Student, Michelle Lopez. In this chapter, you’ll hear why listening to Kevin Murphy’s Pencil Kings podcast interview inspired her to quit her job as an IT consultant and enrol at The Art Academy...and how she made incredible pro

Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ The Pencil Kings podcast is sponsored by Freshbooks “Just put your stuff up on everything, because you don’t know where the next big thing is gonna be.” ~ Fran Krause. Want to know how to create a webcomic...that actually gets noticed?! In this week’s interview, we speak to Fran Krause, creator of the famous ‘Deep Dark Fears’ web comic. You’ll hear how he went from an established career as an animation artist to making his first web comics. And, he’ll reveal why angry reactions to one of his projects on YouTube made him reconsider which online platforms were the best home for his creations. So, if you’ve been thinking about creating your own webcomic for a while (but just haven’t gotten around to it yet), then check out this inspiring podcast interview. Because it’s crammed with great advice on what to - and what not to - do to get your project off the ground and noticed by people. Interview Chapters [00:37-03:16] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mi

Complete Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “For the people who come to me and say: ‘how did you do it and how can we do the same?’ I say find your partner. Find somebody who already has a foot in the door of the business and bring him or her something to the table.” ~ Fabrice Sapolsky. Ever wanted to know more about creating your own comic books? In this week’s interview, we speak to Fabrice Sapolsky, co-creator of the Spider-Man Noir series published by Marvel. You’ll hear how he went from growing up as a French kid who was crazy about American comics to working with highly-acclaimed fellow writers and artists such as David Hine and Carmine Di Giandomenico. But this interview is not about becoming an overnight success story in your chosen creative field. It’s an open and honest account of what it’s really like to work in the comic book industry, including the many struggles and hurdles faced by most freelance creators. So, if you’ve got an idea for a comic book that you’ve been itching

Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “At certain periods of time, the status quo should always be challenged for the better. Not a revolution, but a disruption to the way these things are done.” ~ Matt Davis. Ever wished printing for artists was more straightforward? Ever wished there was a one-stop printing shop dedicated to your needs as a creative? And, ever wished you could earn more than just a few bucks from selling your art on gallery websites? In this week’s artist interview, we talk to Matt Davis from Digital Print House - a company dedicated to supporting artists by offering an affordable, efficient and easy-to-use service. So, if you’ve ever spent hours searching for printers online, or if you’ve ever been stung by huge printing costs for a project, then you might like to know there is a better way. And, with the option to make decent money selling prints of your work via his easy-to-use website, you’ll see why Matt’s promise to artists is: “Just create. We’ll do the rest.” Inte

  Full Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “Find that thing that makes your heart sing (it sounds so cheesy, I know!) ; that thing you could draw or paint forever. Find a way to do that, and then market that and find which people buy that...and you’ll be golden! ” ~ Crystal Sully. Want to know more about how to become a fantasy illustrator? In this week’s artist interview, fantasy illustrator, Crystal Sully, reveals how she’s turned her love of drawing dragons into a successful creative career. You’ll hear about her early career as an artist, and the numerous projects she’s worked on, such as Elder Scrolls, The Dragon Lords Book Series, Lord of the Rings TCG and more. Crystal will be sharing her experiences of exhibiting at art conventions, and how she’s grown her audience via social media and targeting marketing. So, if you’ve been wondering how to make a living from making the art you love, you’ll find stacks of great advice in this interview to help you take the next steps. And, as if

Full Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “I think what’s really important is to work on a style that makes you happy. I think you have to create artwork or work in a style that you get really excited about.” ~ Anna Goodson. Can an art agency help your career? In this week’s interview, we talk to illustration agency owner, Anna Goodson. Since setting up in 1996 with a tiny budget, no clients (but stacks of ambition), Anna Goodson Illustration Agency has now grown to be one of Canada and North America’s most respected creative houses. And, over the years, she’s helped artists go from obscurity into the pages of The New Yorker and the homes of famous pop stars. So, is getting an agent the right move for you as an artist? Check out this week’s interview to find out... Interview Chapters [01:18-07:29] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bowler, introduces today’s guest, Anna Goodson, owner of the Anna Goodson Illustration Agency. She talks about how her background in advertising and fas

  Full Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “You can teach yourself so much from the internet these days” ~ Michael Cawood. Want to know how to make an animated short film? In this week’s interview, we speak to Michael Cawood, creator of the award-winning Devils, Angels & Dating, about his exciting new project, The Wrong Rock. You'll hear what it was like to work on big name movies, such as The Mummy, Happy Feet, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, but you'll also get a fascinating insight into what it's like to work on your own animated short film. So, if making an animated movie has been a dream of yours for some time (but you just didn't know how to get started), then check it out... Because you just might pick up all the advice and motivation you need to start work on your passion project right now. Interview Chapters  [00:37-08:21] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bowler, introduces today’s guest, UK-based artist and animator, Michael Cawood. In this chapter, you’ll hear

Full Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be done. You can always rework it.” ~ Katie Buckleitner. Want to become a magazine designer or illustrator but don’t know where to start? In this week’s interview, we hear how Katie Buckleitner landed her dream job as a digital designer for one of the world’s most iconic publications, Cosmopolitan Magazine, in New York. You’ll hear how she worked on her skills and transitioned into graphic design after initially studying fine art at college, and you’ll find out how you can do the same by developing standout personal projects to put in your portfolio. And, you’ll get a fascinating insight into the fast-paced world of a leading magazine and what it’s really like to work in this exciting environment. Interview Chapters [00:38-02:10] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bowler, introduces today’s guest, Katie Buckleitner, a digital designer for Cosmopolitan Magazine in New York. In this chapter, she talks about h

Full Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “Just let go of any intention towards making a cool drawing, and somehow that cool drawing comes of itself.” ~ Ian Ingram. Art and mindfulness are closely linked,, but what really happens in your brain when you put pencil to paper and lose yourself completely in your art? In this interview, hyperrealist artist, Ian Ingram, explains why he swapped the craziness of US city life for the more relaxed surroundings of a seaside town in Mexico… ...and why not being bombarded with advertising and the demands of 21st century culture has helped him find a new inner calm where he’s free to let his imagination roam. Interview Chapters [00:49-03:28] Introduction and Overview Your host. Mitch Bowler, introduces today’s guest, Ian Ingram, an American hyperrealist artist now based in Mexico. Having worked primarily in charcoal for the last 15 years, he’s recently started creating highly detailed self-portraits in oils which explore the human condition in deep and

Full show notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “There are so many moments in your daily life when you can actually draw! Lunch break is half an hour, you’ve finished your sandwiches in 20. 10 minutes left...what do you do? Do you go and check your Facebook status, or do you draw? If you want to be a better artist, you draw.” ~ Iris Compiet. Want to know how to have a successful art career and build your audience? In this week’s interview, fantasy artist and illustrator, Iris Compiet, reveals how concentrating on her creative career and sketching and posting daily enabled her to quit her day job as a graphic designer and become a full-time illustrator.  This inspiring interview contains the blueprint for anyone wanting to build an art career on their own terms, from how to balance your day job with your creative passion, to posting daily, finding what resonates with the audience you're building, making connections and so much more. Iris really is a shining example of what's possible when you fin

Full show notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ Want to know how to ask for feedback from an artist and take the next steps in your creative career? This episode will show you how to ask for feedback the right way, so the artist feedback you receive will be as on point as possible. It doesn't matter if you want to work in a studio or you want to work as a freelancer... Because, when you follow these key points, the feedback you receive will always be the most helpful it can be: Have a visual quality target example Who are you designing your portfolio for? Have at least 4 pieces that show what you are going for Educate yourself about the market you want to enter BONUS: How much time per day are you spending on your art? Interview Chapters [00:38-01:04] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bowler, talks about the subject of today’s short podcast episode, and reveals what inspired him to put together this handy resource of actionable tips and advice to help you take the next steps in your a

Full Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ PK 148: What Does it Really Take to Make it as a Fine Artist? “It takes application and it’s hard work, but that’s no different to building any other kind of career. Nothing comes easy!” ~ Barney Davey. What does it really take to make it as a fine artist? In this week’s interview, Barney Davey from www.artmarketingnews.com shares some of the biggest insights gained from years of experience in the art market and holds nothing back as he dives deep into what it takes to make a career as an artist. So, if you’re keen to start building a career as a working artist (but don’t know what your next steps should be), then prepare to be enlightened. Because the advice and information in this interview might just be what you’ve been looking for all along... Interview Chapters [00:37-02:02] Introduction and Overview Your host. Mitch Bowler, introduces today’s guest, Barney Davey, an expert in the art industry with more than 30 years’ experience helping artist

PK 147: Thinking of Becoming an Illustrator? How Artist, Kate Oleska, Switched Careers. Full show notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “You just have to do what appeals to you and just do it! Because that’s how you’re gonna get a job that you want to be doing. You just have to grab every minute you have, every second, and just doodle, draw, do whatever you can and don’t get discouraged.” ~ Kate Oleska. Are you thinking of becoming an illustrator...but feel stuck in an unfulfilling job? In this interview, Kate Oleska reveals how she made the transition over a number of years from her regular job as an architect to becoming a full time freelance artist. So, if you’re wondering how to get your first client or find your own style as an artist and illustrator, you should find plenty of useful insights in the interview to help you make the switch and start doing what you really love for a living. Interview Chapters [00:38-02:11] Introduction and Overview Your host. Mitch Bowler, introduces today’s gu

Full Show Notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ “You have to do the legwork. I strongly believe you have to go to the conventions and physically meet people.” ~ Kensuke Okabayashi Want to know how to become an illustrator? This week, we speak to Kensuke Okabayashi, creator of the bestselling book, Manga for Dummies, and an artist who has worked on all kinds of projects, including Magic The Gathering . So how did he get started in the industry and get his first big break? In this in-depth interview, you’ll get a fascinating insight into what it’s really like to work as an illustrator and commercial artist in the fast-paced world of game studios and advertising agencies. You’ll hear why traditional skills such as drawing and oil painting still form the foundations of a successful career as an artist, and why actually getting out there and meeting people is just as important as keeping your social media channels updated. Interview Chapters [00:00-02:07] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bo

Full show notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ Want to find out how to make an awesome art portfolio and find more clients? In this interview, we speak to Paul Yates, a concept and fantasy artist from Montreal, Canada. Since leaving uni and going freelance, Paul has scored a number of wins as an artist, including being featured in Spectrum - a leading magazine for fantasy art. However, despite this, Paul is struggling to find regular work as an artist. And that's why he reached out to us here at Pencil Kings to see if we could help. In this interview, you'll learn why having a great portfolio is only part of the package...and why making connections with fellow artists and getting involved with as many art-related events as possible is your key to finding more paid opportunities. So, if you feel stuck in your career as an artist and don't know which way to turn next, we hope some of the topics covered in this interview will give you some super-useful tips which you can start acting on right now.

Full show notes at: https://www.pencilkings.com/podcast-home/ Want to know how to make a video game? In this week's podcast, we speak to freelance concept artist, Nik Hagialas. When his main source of income dried up, he decided to put his time to good use and do something he'd always wanted to do - create his own video game. So, he started expanding on the coding skills he'd already learned in college and, working with a developer buddy, eventually came up with the concept of Mask of Semblance. In this interview, you'll hear how he taught himself to use the game development software, Unity, through watching YouTube tutorials. And, you'll discover that if you're prepared to work hard at something, there's no reason why you can't develop and release your own video game, too. Interview Chapters [00:00-02:57] Introduction and Overview Your host, Mitch Bowler, introduces today's guest, Nikolas Hagialas. In this chapter, you'll hear about his creative career so far, and why he's decided that now is the time to