The SneakyArt Podcast

I speak with Singapore-based educator and artist Paul Wang about the way he dances, using line and color, across the page. Paul finds art in the middle of urban chaos and he paints it with dramatic colors and meandering lines. His composition is informed by his education in interior design and theatre production. He tries to tell a story with every piece, and that influences every artistic decision on the page - color and line, conflict and collaboration, work and play. Paul and Suhita Shirodkar have been running the aptly-named Sketching Play Lab since March, with participants from around the world meeting over Zoom. We talk about his work as an educator and urban-sketching instructor, the different ways he encourages people to approach their art practice to find joy, as well as the things he has learned from being in the USk community. Follow Paul’s work on IG or visit his website to see his art + get info on the Sketching Play Lab. To see SneakyArt, visit my website, check out my IG or Linktree. Read a transcript of this conversation and find related links on sneakyartist.com/podcast. Support my work with a cup of coffee!

I speak with Toronto-based urban-sketcher Marek Badzynski about being an impatient artist, using a fude nib fountain pen, and selling art to tourists from different countries. While both of us like to finish drawings quickly, we discuss the importance of getting started quickly. We talk about making it easier to get started on an empty page and how that is often the biggest barrier of all. It was good to reconnect with Marek after our last meeting at USk Chicago 2019. I hope you enjoy our conversation, and I would love to hear what you think of it! Find Marek's work on Instagram. You can also follow SneakyArt on Instagram or Twitter. If you liked this episode, you can now indicate your support at the cost of one cup of coffee! To read a transcript of our conversation, or catch links to related subjects, click here.

In the latest episode, I speak with traveler and urban sketcher Luis Simoes about his journey around the world. Luis quit his job as a graphic designer (in his early 30s) to backpack around the world, drawing all the interesting sights he would see. What motivates a salaried, young person to take on a life of less comfort, certain risks and constant instability? Is there really a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow? Or is the goal the journey itself? This conversation became the longest session I have recorded yet, because I had so many questions and he had so many stories. But do not be intimidated, for there is a small break in the middle - to recap and reassess before we continue with Luis' adventures. If you like this show and would like to support my work, you can now do so at the simple cost of one cup of coffee - Buy Me A Coffee! Check out the World Sketching Tour on Instagram or at www.worldsketchingtour.com. You can find my work (SneakyArt) on Instagram as well or visit www.sneakyartist.com. There will be a transcript of this episode and shownotes with links at www.sneakyartist.com/podcast.

Suhita Shirodkar, an artist and educator from San Jose, shares her dynamic approach to capturing life through swift sketches. She discusses finding artistic inspiration in fleeting moments and how regular drawing helps her evolve. Suhita emphasizes the joy of urban sketching and the emotional connection with her subjects. The conversation also touches on the power of color, the importance of community during the pandemic, and breaking down barriers in art education, promoting creativity and collaboration for all.

I speak with artist and travel-sketcher Matthieu Letellier (Mat Let) about his experience as an artist under lockdown in Paris. Mat just self-published a book titled “28 m2”, referring to the size of his apartment. In a way, it was also the size of his world during lockdown. He records the view out of his window, rues the loss of previously made plans, and finds beauty in unexpected places. We talk about how he became an artist while trying to tell stories of the world. ------------------------- Find Mat’s work on IG @matlet. Get in touch with him to grab a copy of his fantastic book. SneakyArt is on IG @thesneakyartist. You can also visit www.sneakyartist.com. Find shownotes, a summarized transcript and links related to our conversation at www.sneakyartist.com/podcast. I would love to hear what you think of this episode. Get in touch to share your thoughts and ideas.  Links: Jacques Tardi - French comics-artist of WW1 graphic-novel,"It was the War of the Trenches" Herge, the creator of the Tintin comics Goscinny & Uderzo, creators of the Asterix comics Felix Schienberger, artist and urban-sketcher Marielle Durand, graphic designer and urban-sketcher USk Paris, on the Urban Sketchers page

I speak with artist Donald Owen Colley about the things he draws and says inside his sketchbooks. I am pleased to call Don a good friend with whom I have drawn many times. Everytime we get together to draw, we talk about all kinds of things. This episode is also a bit like that. I ask him about the ways in which he finds character and beauty in his urban surroundings, while not shying away from the ugly aspects of our world. Follow Don’s work on IG @don.colley54 or www.buttnekkiddoodles.com. Find a transcript for this episode and related links at www.sneakyartist.com/podcast

In this episode, I speak with Silicon Valley engineer and artist Uma Kelkar, about what it means to "paint like an engineer". We speak about Uma's education, growing up middle-class in Pune (India), and the role art has played in her life. Uma uses her art as a way to find emotional contentment while pursuing creative goals. Painting like an engineer is a challenge to balance artistic pursuits with a scientific career, in a way that each informs and influences the other. Find Uma's work on IG @umapaints or www.umakelkar.com A transcript for this conversation (with links) can be found at www.sneakyartist.com/podcast.  

In this episode, I speak with Shari Blaukopf, an educator and urban-sketcher in Montreal. We talk about the importance of seeing well in addition to painting well, using a blogging routine to improve self-expression, and the importance of failure. How does Shari bring incremental progress to her art? How does the USk global community inspire her to draw? This episode contains a lot of great advice. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. Find transcripts and links from this conversation at www.sneakyartist.com/podcast Catch Shari's work on https://shariblaukopf.com/. To see more SneakyArt, visit www.sneakyartist.com.

In this episode, I speak with artist, Paul Heaston. We discuss how he became an urban sketcher, and the early days of the USk blog. What made Paul switch from life-size canvases to pocket-size sketchbooks? What does Urban-Sketching offer him that a studio could not? Paul Heaston is one of my good friends in the USk community, and I learn new things every time we speak. I believe it will be a useful conversation for you too. Follow Paul on IG at https://www.instagram.com/paulheaston. To see #SneakyArt, find my work at https://www.instagram.com/thesneakyartist.

Hello and welcome to the SneakyArt Podcast. In this podcast I have conversations with urban sketchers about drawing on location. This episode works as a brief introduction to the show. To learn more about urban sketchers, visit www.urbansketchers.org. Catch my work at www.sneakyartist.com. To reach out with your comments and thoughts, email me nishant@sneakyartist.com. I would love to hear from you!