Pencil Kings | Inspiring Artist Interviews with Today's Best Artists
245 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 102 ratingsThe Pencil Kings Podcast interviews today’s top artists to uncover the story behind their work. These interviews are created for you - the Aspiring Artist, the Hobbyist and the Professional Artist. If you are looking for inspiring and insightful interviews from artists all over the world, you’re in the right place to learn the behind the scenes stories of how these artists got started and how they turned their passion into creative art careers.
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Episodes
PK 094: Derek Rodenbeck is back to update his journey as a comic book artist and creative
June 15, 2016 07:30 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBDerek Rodenbeck is back with the latest update on his journey and things are certainly looking up! The last time we talked with him he was just starting to get some traction with his career. While we're exploring his story we also take time to look at the key changes he made along the way with how he was thinking that led to the success he is enjoying now. At the end of the episode there are clear instructions you can use to find out if you are holding yourself back like Derek was for so...
PK 093: Understanding the reality of a freelance art career
June 08, 2016 07:30 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBThere are a lot of misconceptions around the topic of making money with your art. Today we talk with Shane Madden and start to explore some of the common ideas about getting paid to create art that aren't true and hold you back. We explore the difference between the life of a studio artist and a freelance artist and how a freelancer career gives you the opportunity to really be in control of your life and schedule. You will explore the idea if you are ready to start making money with you...
PK 092: Learn to push past creative block with Youngman Brown of the Your Creative Push Podcast
June 01, 2016 07:30 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBYoungman Brown is fast on his way to having interviewed more than 100 creatives from all walks of life, and it was great to have a chance to get him to pass on some of the wisdom he's gained from all those interviews. You will learn how to get past creative block, how to balance your day job with following your creative passion, and the single most important decision that you absolutely must make when you decide to 'go for it.'
PK 091: The best advice from hundreds of artist interviews with Carl Olson of the Digital Convervence Podcast
May 25, 2016 07:30 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBWhat's the best way to start when you're just at the beginning? Talking to hundreds of artists seems like a good place, and that's exactly what Carl Olson has been doing for the past six years with the Digital Convergence podcast. Here's the interesting thing however... while he set out to learn more about skills, what he actually found along the way were some amazing business opportunities to use the skills he was learning in unique markets.
PK 090: A Blueprint for kickstarting your freelance career with Author and Illustrator Cale Atkinson
May 18, 2016 07:30 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBToday we break down the path that artist and illustrator Cale took to get his freelance career off the ground. One of the things you'll learn is just how far Cale is willing to go to make sure that his work is always getting into the hands of the right people. He even tells the stories of how many times he's been rejected and why he sees those as a badge of honor instead of being disappointed.
PK 089: How to break in as a digital artist and propel your career faster than you ever thought possible.
May 11, 2016 07:30 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBLearn how using lesser known software can help you to stand out and create unique opportunities for yourself that will help you skyrocket your career. Conrad Allan's career hasn't been 'normal' he's spoken from the stage, and even changed countries. Learn how this digital artist is approaching his career with hustle and an entrepreneur's mindset that allows him not only to grow faster than most artists, but also create unique opportunities while he's at it.
PK 088: Should Visual Artists Start a YouTube Channel?
May 04, 2016 07:30 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBPK 088: Should you start a YouTube channel as a visual artist? Freelance concept artist Nikolas Hagialas talks about his plans for doing this with fellow artist Derek Rodenbeck and outlines the important questions he asked himself first, such as: What kind of content should you be posting? Can you afford to spend time making YouTube videos? Is this really going to help raise your profile as an artist?
PK 087: Blizzard cinematic VFX artist David Luong shares his path to getting into one of the world's premiere game studios and tells us what creative life looks like outside the studio.
April 27, 2016 07:30 - 30 minutes - 21.4 MBHow do you become a cinematic VFX artist at Blizzard, one of the world's top game studios? Hear how David Luong found his dream career, and why he's committed to helping emerging artists by showing their work in his personal art gallery.
PK 086: Why do creativity and depression often go together for many artists?
April 20, 2016 07:30 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBCreativity and depression often go together for many artists, but overcoming them isn't always as difficult as you might think. In this interview, concept artist Jonah Lobe talks openly about how he learned to control his anxiety attacks, and how artists can learn to beat their fear of failure and follow their true creative dreams.
PK 085: Artist Eliot Min talks about making Manga Art and his new video game, Cerebrawl.
April 13, 2016 07:30 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBEver wanted to make Manga Art and video games? In this podcast, artist Eliot Min talks abot what inspired him to create his first indie video game, Cerebrawl, and why it's still so important for artists to hustle for every opportunity that comes their way.
PK 084: Animation director Cinzia Angelini talks about making the Mila Film
April 06, 2016 07:30 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBThe Mila Film is more than an incredibly moving animation about a young girl in WWII. It's also the result of a worldwide collaboration between 250 artists from 25 countries who volunteered their time and expertise to make it. In this exclusive podcast interview, director Cinzia Angelini tells us how this incredible project took shape, and why her mother's real-life experiences of the horrors of war are as relevant and poignant today as they've ever been.
PK 083: What is the difference between an artist and a craftsman? We explore this question and many others with extremely talented Jake Mengers.
March 30, 2016 07:30 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBThe work of Jake Mengers speaks for itself - you can see the care that goes into all of the subtle details that make up the final pieces. It's this level of expertise and expression that Jake is so passionate about and tries to bring to the table with each project he takes on. But it's not just a one man show, and we explore the difference of this high level thinking and then bring it back to understanding how each and every one of us can work to bring the same level of passion into our wo...
PK 082: Ready to get your creative career started? We explore the 3 key steps to get your career rolling.
March 23, 2016 07:30 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MBMike Clarida is back with even more information on how to get your creative career off the ground by focusing on the 3 key steps, which are: - Portfolio - Outreach - Interviews But it doesn't just stop there, because Mike dives deep into each topic to explain the more important motivating factors that need to be there throughout the whole process.
PK 081: From graduation to working at Disney. We explore just what it takes to get your creative career started and see where it can lead to.
March 16, 2016 07:30 - 43 minutes - 30 MBMike Clarida did everything right coming out of art school. He was talented, and was getting interviews at some of the biggest entertainment companies. There was a problem, however... the timing was all wrong, and instead of going straight off to work at Disney in the beginning - he had to take a different approach. This interview covers what it takes to be a standout art student, why it might be worth paying a ton of money for art school, how to get noticed in a noisy world and at the end...
PK 080: Introducing Pencil Kings Houses! Part 1 of 3: House Animation, where members are coming together to bond over their love of all things animated.
March 09, 2016 08:30 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBJeff Maksuta has been working and teaching animation for years and is the new leader of House Animation in the Pencil Kings Community. We talk about the first few assignments that are lined up for house animation and what members can expect.
PK 079: Pencil Kings community member Chaz Sutherland talks to us about his transition and what he's learned over his career as an artist.
March 02, 2016 08:30 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBHow do you develop as an artist and find a fulfilling creative career? In this episode, established artist and Pencil Kings community member, Chaz Sutherland, talks about his career so far and his plans for the future. You'll learn about studying different art subjects at the same time, and how different personalities adapt to different creative roles. Finally, you'll discover how to play to your strengths as an artist by seeking out the creative projects which you enjoy doing the most.
PK 078: Learn how a professional creative learner approaches each new subject with Marco Bauriedel.
February 25, 2016 08:30 - 36 minutes - 25 MBShould you learn the strict fundamentals of art, or actually try and follow something a little more fun? The more we think about it, the more that having fun and having a goal is the best way to learn and stay motivated. Marco has learned to draw, paint, make 3d, program, make music... in other words, he's a master at learning, and today we sat down to ask him about this learning process. During the interview we also talk about being rejected from art school and what to do when we're told ...
PK 077: We deconstruct figure drawing to its basic elements with Jon deMartin.
February 17, 2016 08:30 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBJon deMartin has spent the last 20 years exploring figure drawing and he's just released a book on how to draw figures using the same techniques as the classical artists. In this episode you'll learn about Jon's approach to figure drawing and how it's much different than the path most people take.
PK 076: Derek Rodenbeck is back with the latest update in his journey to pursure his art career.
February 10, 2016 08:30 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBDerek Rodenbeck is back with the next update on his story as he continues to work and get his name out. It's been two month since we last caught up with Derek and as always the story has a few unexpected twists and turns that left Derek living in his car for a few days, and finding traction on social media which is leading to him being busy with paid work.
PK 075: What are the fundamental skills that an artist needs in order to get started with their career?
February 03, 2016 11:00 - 33 minutes - 23.5 MBToday Shane Madden joins us to talk about which skills you need to get start in a creative career. The answers we come up with will likely surprise you because it has nothing to do with being the best artist that you can be. The skills you need are actually far easier to acquire than you may have thought possible.
PK 074: What's Really Stopping You From Making Art?
January 27, 2016 08:30 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBDo you want to be more creative...but always find there's something stopping you? In this podcast, Pencil Kings founder, Mitch Bowler, talks about his own battle with creative block and how he overcame it by learning how to have fun again with his art. Listen to his story now and see how you can shake off the rust and start believing in yourself as an artist again.
PK 073: How to finish what you started as an artist in 2016
January 13, 2016 08:30 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBWant to know how to finish what you started as an artist in 2016? Frustrated by all those unfinished projects that started with all the best intentions....but then just fizzled out to nothing? It's time to take action. And, making an impact with your art is much easier than you think - especially when you start reaching out to other artists and helping them with their artistic journey. This episode also covers the 4 critical levels of artistic development, so you can see exactly where you...
PK 072: What is the life of a concept artist like and how do you get there? Pencil Kings instructor Ahmed Aldoori drops in to tell us what it's like.
January 08, 2016 08:30 - 35 minutes - 24.8 MBEver wondered how to become a concept artist or how to approach other artists to get feedback on your work? In this podcast, Pencil Kings tutor Ahmed Aldoori talks about his career so far and how you can start creating yours
PK 071: How can you create opportunities as an artist? Learn how Grey Jabesi moved countries and hustled his way to his rewarding creative career.
December 30, 2015 08:30 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBYou might feel that the odds are against you... there are so many artists out there, and not enough jobs. It might even feel a little hopeless at times, but it doesn't have to be this way at all and in this interview we'll show you a perfect example of how you can take charge of your career and start making things happen.
PK 070: Update on starting a t-shirt business with Derek Rodenbeck.
December 23, 2015 08:30 - 42 minutes - 29.6 MBDerek fills us in on what has happened with his new t-shirt business since the last time we talked with him and things are starting to turn around. We cover an extremely important thing in this interview, which is why you need to meet your customers face to face, and why you need to select a niche that you are going after. As soon as Derek did this, everything changed.
PK 069: How does a photographer see the world differently? Aaron Kupferman shares his experiences gained through a lifetime of love of photography.
December 16, 2015 08:30 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBThis episode is a little different than the usual because we're covering photography here and there's so much that we can learn as artists by studying and understanding different mediums. While listening to Aaron's story you'll also uncover some tips that you can use to improve your own art, as well as what makes the difference between good art and technically-good art.
PK 068: This guide to buying tablets will help you understand which tablet is the right one for you.
December 09, 2015 08:30 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBVicky Rubin from TabletsforArtists.com helps us to make sense of all the different tablets that are out there and why the age old wisdom of 'just buy a wacom' may no longer be the best advice depending on what your personal sitution is. We go over a lot of different models here, so make sure to check out http://www.pencilkings.com/vicky-rubin to get all the deails on these models as well as a handy guide to buying tablets in 2015.
PK 067: How to go from a job you hate to a creative job you love? Marco Plouffe explains how he took a leap of faith and found a rewarding career.
December 02, 2015 08:30 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MBSometimes you're stuck and you just need a big change, and the funny thing is that you can go from being stuck to being totally lit up in a very short time. That's what Marco did when he decided to leave his job, move to the city and go after his dream job to be a video game artist. We'll dive into his past to see where his creative came from and look for clues along the way that you can use to spark your own career.
PK 066: What exactly does a theme park artist do, and how do you balance personal projects with your day job? Hendrik Visser explains how theme park design works and why is so fulfilling.
November 25, 2015 08:30 - 53 minutes - 37.2 MBToday we explore how artists create artwork for theme parks, and why theme park design is such an interesting challenging career. We'll also cover how to make video games in your free time, and how to find a team of video game makers so that even if you're all alone at the moment you can find people to work with on exciting creative projects.
PK 065: want to do even more with your art by printing your designs onto real objects? Dennis Brown lets us in on how he's prepping his printed works for a convention.
November 18, 2015 08:30 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBWhere do you start if you want to start printing your work onto other surfaces to create things like tshirts, patches, buttons and stickers? We dive deep into the answers to these questions in this interview.
PK 064: What does finding your voice as an artist really mean? Brendan Carroll explains how he found his way as a fine artist.
November 11, 2015 08:30 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBFinding your voice is one of the hardest things to do as an artist, and sometimes it's even harder to know when you're on the right track. In this interview you'll learn what one artist did to find his voice by surrounding himself with other artists and continuing to work until he had something that he was ready to bring to the world.
PK 063: What makes Pixar so special to work for and how can you be a better storyteller? Noah Klocek gives us insights into how to be a better artist. PK 063: What makes Pixar so special to work for and how can you be a better storyteller? Noah Klocek giv
November 04, 2015 08:30 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBThere is a lot of golden wisdom in this episode. You'll learn why collaboration is so important and why you can have an impact on the world with your art no matter where you're working. We'll also dive into how you can be a better story teller and shockingly it has everything to do with what happens before you ever start drawing.
PK 062: From a call center to working on big budget films... Dane Hallet shows how attitude and personality can really open doors in your art career.
October 28, 2015 07:30 - 40 minutes - 28.4 MBToday's story is extremely inspiring and shows you just how far you can take an opportunity when you really go for it.
PK 061: How to kickstart your career after an extended break and why now is such an amazing time to be a creative.
October 21, 2015 07:30 - 51 minutes - 35.8 MBYou may not realize it, but there is a revolution happening in the creative arts. We are right in the middle of the self-publishing revolution, and we are just at the beginning of a major shift in the way that media is consumed. All of these things are combining into the perfect storm where you can take your ideas and have the resources that you need to get your projects out into the world.
PK 060: How do you change careers and become an artist? Matthew Griffin tells his story of how he successfully made the jump to becoming a full time artist.
October 14, 2015 07:30 - 40 minutes - 28.5 MBListen and learn the steps to go through when you're ready to make the jump and begin your career as a professional artist. You'll also hear about what to do when you get knocked down, who to turn to for advice and what to ask them to kickstart your own creative career.
PK 059: What does an established artist get from visiting the museum? Find out how Donato Giancola has continued to develop and find inspiration for his career.
October 07, 2015 07:30 - 38 minutes - 27 MBWhat does an experienced artist see when he goes to the museum and how does he take that information and translate it back into his work? That's what we're covering in this episode of the Pencil Kings Podcast.
PK 058: Learn how to time your applications so you can work on the projects that mean the most to you with Brian Blasiak.
September 30, 2015 07:30 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBWhat if you knew exactly when the hiring managers would be looking for new people for their project? That's exactly what we cover in this episode so that you can have the best chance possible to send in your resume at the right time.
PK 057: Want to break into a big name studio? Kelly Christophers tells us how she was able to work her way into a position at Weta - one of the world's best visual effects studios.
September 23, 2015 07:30 - 34 minutes - 48.1 MBWhat if you live somewhere that doesn't have the opportunities that you're looking for in your career? Kelly will tell you how she moved to New Zealand and got her foot in the door at Weta, and the rest as they say - 'is history.' She also talks about how she manages to stay creative and explore her artistic side outside of work, even when in the middle of a production and in crunch mode.
PK 056: How does an artist successfully change and evolve their style? That's what we're talking about in this interview with visual artist Dennis Brown.
September 16, 2015 07:30 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBLearn how Dennis Brown uses the exploration of new artistic mediums to come up with completely new styles while still sticking to his roots.
PK 055: What to have a career as a fine artist? Jane Radstrom explains everything that you need to know to go from wherever you are at right now to getting your work shown in a professional gallery.
September 09, 2015 07:30 - 30 minutes - 25 MBEver wondered how to become a fine artist? In this interview we go over the steps that anyone can follow to get your work shown in galleries all over the country, and how to overcome the common roadblocks that artists face when they want to get started.
PK 054: Need to inject some life into your drawings? Learn how Jesse Aclin keeps his drawings quick, loose, and fresh while at the same time continuing to always push the boundaries of his creativity.
September 02, 2015 07:30 - 29 minutes - 23.7 MBAre you looking for a high energy and accessible art style to get excited about trying with your own work? Today's guest explains how he's able to stay so loose and continue to have fun being creative with his dynamic style.
PK 053: Learn the simple secret that one artist used to explore his creativity every single day for an entire year with James Cornette.
August 26, 2015 07:30 - 33 minutes - 27 MBWhat does it really take to stick with the habit of drawing every day? The answer is so simple that it may surprise you. In this interview we find out what it took one artist to stick to his creative pursuits for 365 consecutive days.
PK 052: Want to know how to support yourself as an artist? Oliver Wetter dives deep into the world of Patreon and how artists are using it to support their creative lifestyles.
August 19, 2015 07:30 - 27 minutes - 22.8 MBLearn how to support yourself as an artist so you can give your creative side projects the attention they deserve by allowing your fans to help support you. It's easier than ever to make this happen today and this interview with Oliver Wetter will show you exactly how to take the next step.
PK 051: How to use collaboration as your secret weapon to advance in art and in life. Mat McCosker gives us the inside scoop on his collaborative workplace and why this is such a great way for creatives to work.
August 12, 2015 07:30 - 22 minutes - 18.8 MBHave you been going at it alone and not making much progress? In this episode you'll learn why working with other people can help accelerate anything that you are putting your attention towards, and it doesn't mean that you have to be an expert either - this way of working is available right now to anyone in the world.
PK 050: We follow up with Derek Rodenbeck to hear how he's doing on his journey to transition from a comic book artist to starting his own clothing line.
August 05, 2015 07:30 - 25 minutes - 24.1 MBHere's the latest update on Derek Rodenbeck's story of transitioning from a comic book artist to starting his own clothing line.
PK 049: From creating your own style, to going to a top tier art school, and seeing the world through new eyes - we cover it all in this week's episode with concept artist Brandon Pike.
July 29, 2015 07:30 - 27 minutes - 22.8 MBAre you struggling to come up with your own style of art? Brandon Pike outlines how he got started, and the unique way that he sees the world that has enabled him to come up with a great cartoon style.
PK 048: Want to leave the studio and go freelance? Josh Viers talks about how he made the transition and is now running his own concept art business.
July 22, 2015 07:30 - 31 minutes - 25.9 MBAre you ready to make the leap and become a freelance artist? Josh Viers shares with us the steps that he took to make the big leap of going out on his own a whole lot less risky. He also shares the steps that you can take to get yourself ready to make your own leap.
PK 047: How do you get your first job as a digital artist and what kind of opportunities are even out there? Morten Jaeger talks about the path that he took to work on feature film projects.
July 15, 2015 07:30 - 24 minutes - 20.1 MBHow do you get your first job as a digital artist and what kind of opportunities are even out there? Morten Jaeger talks about his journey and the path that he took by getting into an unrelated field before trying to work on feature film projects.
PK 046: Can you learn to produce top quality artwork when you live in a country that has less opportunities? Mohammad Hossein from Iran tells the story of how he learned and how he's working for some of the biggest companies in the world.
July 08, 2015 07:30 - 21 minutes - 17.4 MBCan you learn to produce top quality artwork when you live in a country that has less opportunities? Mohammad Hossein tells his story of how he is able to create truly amazing artwork and freelance for some of the world's biggest companies, even though he is living in one of the most highly sanctioned countries in the world at the moment - Iran.
PK 045: Ever wondered what it's like to work at top studios like Blizzard? Brandon Martynowicz talks about his experiences working on some of the games ever made.
July 01, 2015 07:30 - 27 minutes - 22.5 MBEver wondered what it's like to work at top studios like Blizzard? Brandon Martynowicz talks about his amazing career working for some of the biggest studios and projects and how he landed a job at Lucas Arts right out of art school.