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

Zhiwan Cheung is a Fulbright Fellow, artist, video storyteller, and freelance web developer. His passion for art and desire to create has led him to connect with artists all over the world to tell their stories and relate art to culture. His art wishes to explore perspective, signs, and the space in which we aim to coexist with each other and nature. Zhiwan is also the host of the Seeing Color Podcast, where he invites other artists to talk about how they express their vision of the world through art as a medium. Zhiwan earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University. In this episode… What does art mean to you? How do you relate to others through conversations around their craft and how culture affects the way we view each other? Zhiwan Cheung, a Fulbright Fellow, podcaster, and artist, dives into what it means to be an artist and what others sacrifice to follow their passion.  Zhiwan also says that apart from the challenges posed in conversations about art that involves gender, race, and class, there are also many misconceptions about art school and what path to take once you’re done with your art studies. Join Mitch Bowler in this week's episode of Pencil Kings as he talks with fellow podcaster and artist,  Zhiwan Cheung, of the Seeing Color podcast, about how to engage in honest conversations about art and about the importance of creating your vision of what you want your art to accomplish. He also talks about how he encourages artists to push beyond the boundaries, the common misconceptions people have about art school, and how to forge your path after you finish your art studies. Stay tuned.

Liron Yanconsky is an artist, author, creator, and a watercolor painter. Liron is from Israel and he has started multiple businesses focused on art and health, and it’s his personal mission to inspire several artists to spread and improve their craft without foregoing the quality of their dedication to art. Liron is the owner and founder of Liron Art LLC and Liron Yanconsky Books, both of which are dedicated to spreading and educating people who wish to follow their passion in art. In this episode… What inspires us to follow our passion? And how can our passion change the lives of those around us? Art is one of the most diverse fields of study and exploration, and with so many resources at the tip of your fingers, it becomes easier to dive into your creative pursuits. Liron Yanconsky is an artist and an author, but above all, he is an educator who wishes to encourage others to pursue their passion and grow their craft.  In this week's episode of Pencil Kings, Mitch Bowler talks to Liron Yanconsky, founder of Liron Art LLC, and Liron Yanconsky Books where they discuss pursuing art and maintaining the quality of your art. Liron also talks about his passion for the arts, how he created his brand, and why he has chosen to connect with fellow artists and fans through social media. Stay Tuned. 

Sandra Coan is an award-winning photographer, industry educator, and the best selling author of Crafting Your Ideal Light. She specializes in studio portraiture, artificial lighting, and fine art film photography. In addition to running her busy Seattle, Washington studio, Sandra Coan Photography,  she also teaches photographers around the world how  to create a natural-looking light with strobes and flashes. She continues to inspire old and new photographers with her attention to detail and love for natural light photography. In this episode… How does a teacher with thousands of dollars in student loans become an award-winning photographer and public speaker by pursuing her hobby as a side hustle? How does a small studio establish their brand without compromising their brand name or their quality? Sandra Coan, best selling author and passionate photographer, has established herself as an undeniable resource for those who are looking to hone their photography skills particularly for those who want to use natural light in their photos.  In this week's episode, Mitch Bowler talks to Sandra Coan, author of Crafting the Natural Light Look: The One-Light Approach to Creating Striking Portraits with a Strobe or Flash, about her journey from teacher to photographer. She also talks about how to build your brand and leave a distinguished impression amongst your clients, what natural light means and how to use it to capture incredible photos, and find out how her latest book can help you become better at photography. Stay Tuned.

Youngman Brown is the creator of Your Creative Push Podcast, where he interviews artists from all walks of life to tell their story and how they pursue the art they love. He has aired 350 episodes since the culmination of his project and has motivated hundreds of individuals to be creative in their own way. Youngman hopes to create an environment where artists can grow and connect with their fellow creatives. In this episode… The art we choose to pursue has a way of breaking down walls and creating opportunities to connect with others. Art connects our community, and in the midst of a pandemic, we realize that taking the time to learn new things and building a community is an important part of being human existence. And Youngman Brown has made it his duty to help artists connect with each other, to build a community, and he wants to share inspiring stories of the many different artists who make up the vibrant world of art. Join Mitch Bowler in this episode of the Pencil King Show as he talks with Youngman Brown, the host of Your Creative Push Podcast, about the various artists he has had the privilege of speaking with, the importance of community in the art space, and the most common struggles of artists on a daily basis. They also talk about Youngman’s podcast, his journey back to writing, and why he decided to embrace Youtube as a new platform for his passion and advocacies. Stay tuned.

Mitch Bowler is an artist and he is the founder of Pencil Kings, a company that helps artists hone their skills and develop their craft. He is also the co-founder of Evolve Artist Training, a program meant to help creatives develop their professional art skills. Mitch has worked for more than two decades with various artists and has worked behind the scenes for companies such as Pixar, Activision, Marvel, and Dungeons and Dragons. In this episode… Taking the time to hone your art skill without the right resources can be extremely difficult. While there are plenty of guides and manuals on how to draw, finding the proper structure that compliments your learning style and furthers your skill is what Mitch Bowler aims to do. And this is exactly why he founded Pencil Kings, to help young artists embrace and enhance their artistic ability and open up doors for them in the colorful world of the arts. Join Mitch Bowler, host of the Pencil Kings podcast, as he talks about his journey and his passion for the arts with John Corcoran of Rise25. Mitch talks about growing up without mentors but still being able to find ways to further his craft, why he’s so intent on transforming art education, and how people can pursue art wherever they are with whatever means they have. Stay Tuned.   

Mitch Bowler is an artist and he is the founder of Pencil Kings, a company that helps artists hone their skills and develop their craft. He is also the co-founder of Evolve Artist Training, a program meant to help creatives develop their professional art skills. Mitch has worked for more than two decades with various artists and has worked behind the scenes for companies such as Pixar, Activision, Marvel, and Dungeons and Dragons. In this episode... What was the first thing you remember drawing? Was it a toy truck, your parents, or scribbles left up to interpretation? Perhaps you continued to draw to gain experience in one of the most diverse industries? Or maybe you didn't like your art and decided to focus on other things until you found yourself wanting to explore your creative prowess? Regardless of the reason, you have decided to pursue art in its many mediums, and choosing which one to go for may be a bit confusing. Mitch Bowler hopes to help solve these questions of what to do next and how you should learn and include the lessons you learn in art into your professional space.  Join Mitch Bowler, host of the Pencil Kings podcast, as he talks about his journey and passion for the arts with John Corcoran of Rise25. Tune in as Mitch discusses the different avenues for people to learn and hone their skills and talents in the arts, the importance of using the right tools, and how having a mentor can be a big boost to aspiring artists.

Lauren Panepinto is the Vice President & Creative Director at Orbit Books at Hachette Book Group, and in this episode, we'll deep dive into what it takes to break into the world of book illustration, and as you'll learn it's not always about being 'the best artist' in the room. There's so much info jam-packed into this that if you're looking to get into book covers I suggest that you take notes throughout the entire interview because this is your blueprint. 00:38 - What does really 'getting out there' look like for a book cover art director 01:49 - How Lauren approaches portfolio reviews to help artists get clarity on what their next steps could look like 03:44 - Info on the cheat sheet guides that Lauren helped put together to instruct artists on their next steps 05:11 - How did you get into the world of art directing, and what does a book cover art director do? 11:27 - What does an art director look for in a portfolio that artists might not be thinking about? 15:55 - How to start building a portfolio specifically for book covers (and why including type in your work often makes it look worse) 22:14 - What catches Lauren's eye when she's looking at a portfolio so you can stand out? 26:38 - Which books do you recommend to get a good sense of the best work that you can use to research and inform your own style? 29:20 - Why subject matter knowledge is more important than technical skills as an artist 31:35 - How to make life easier for the art director (and increase your chances of getting hired over and over again) 38:41 - Advice for the first phase of your career in book covers, before you land your first job 40:43 - How much of a difference is it when you meet someone who could hire you in person vs just emailing someone quarterly updates Check Out Lauren on the Web: Web: http://www.laurenpanepinto.com/ Twitter: @Planetpinto Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauren.panepinto Instagram: @planetpinto Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/planetpinto/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenpanepinto Links Mentioned in This Episode: Marc Scheff - https://www.marcscheff.com/ Artistacon - https://www.artistacon.net/ Drawn and Drafted - http://www.drawnanddrafted.com/ Art Business Bootcamp PDFs (Lauren & Marc's artist cheat sheets) https://gumroad.com/drawnanddrafted Make Your Art Work - https://www.makeyourartwork.com/ Orbit Books - https://www.orbitbooks.net/ Jon Schindehette - https://theartorder.com/ Richard Anderson - https://www.artstation.com/flaptrapsart Donato Giancola - https://donatoarts.com/ --------- Looking for a fun, easy-going approach to learning art? http://www.pencilkings.com Want to learn to create realistic artwork? http://www.pencilkings.com/evolve Grab Mitch's Book: Digital Artist Career Blueprint Physical Book: https://amzn.to/2VmUybF EBook: https://amzn.to/2Xo4P9g

Cindy Hohman from ArtMarketingProject.com helps artists market and sell their work by showing them how to be effective and efficient with marketing and empowering them to take the reins themselves.  In addition to working with artists one on one she also teaches marketing at the university level. She works with a large range of artists from abstract artists to those working in illustration and photography. 3:30 - How does your marketing advice apply to artists in different markets? 6:47 - A lot of skills in life come down to 10% learning and 90% doing, but have you found this also to be true when it comes to marketing? 09:20 - Using strategy, so you're not spinning your wheels and doing things that feel icky 11:10 - How to help artists through the paralyzing fear of having too many options 15:04 - Discussing the size of the artist's audience and how that can affect (or not) the ideas of bringing new projects and products to market 17:05 - How to start building an audience (both with and without social media) 25:17 - The main way Cindy works with and helps artists... by getting them to do the things they know they should, but are procrastinating on 31:40 - Exploring the idea of the artist mindset 34:25 - Who are the right types of artists to work with Cindy to help improve their marketing? 35:52 - How can artists stand out and have their work be seen?

Ever since meeting Derek I've been fascinated by his lifestyle and willingness to explore, discover and continually reinvent himself. As a comic book creator, father, photographer, traveler, bodybuilder... there's just so many different interesting angles and I always love keeping up to hear what Derek has been up to recently. 6:07 - Derek catches us up on what's been going on since the last time we talked when he had just left on a road trip to 'be more one with nature' 14:10 - Travelling through Death Valley and rescuing someone from a burning truck 16:44 - Earning an income while on the road and being 'irresponsible' while having the trip of a lifetime 18:40 - How traveling together can test and grow your relationship 20:18 - Making money with Pokemon Go and how that experience taught him that money isn't everything, and how Derek is making money now on Craigslist 27:02 - What happened after the trip, and how Derek is finding creative fulfillment through Photography after so many years spent working as a comic book creator 36:25 - As someone who was interested in and working on comics before, and knowing what you know now, what would you tell your former self about comic books specifically? 41:10 - Advice to wannabe comic creators 43:57 - Pivoting and creating new creative projects to stay inspired

Arthur Haywood is working to creating art that inspires people to learn and want to read about the stories behind what the viewer sees. He is a classically trained painter and has created an incredible body of work for his book, The Great Library. In this interview, we talk about Arthur's journey and how he learned from several different schools to develop the skillset he now has. 1:30 - How Arthur and Mitch met at Artistacon when Arthur was showing his book of work 2:55 - Arthur describing his book covering scholars from the ancient library of Alexandria and what inspired him to undertake such an ambitious project 7:00 - How video games can allow us to get a glimpse into the past and experience locations like the Great Library of Alexandria 8:52 - Arthur discusses the time it takes to create his paintings which are done in the classical style 11:00 - Discussing the time it takes to create great work and the mental shift that has to happen to fully understand the art-making process 25:00 - The difference between "Owning" knowledge vs only having theory 29:50 - What's next for Arthur --------- Links mentioned in this Episode: Artistacon: https://www.artistacon.net Grand Central Atelier: https://grandcentralatelier.org Maryland Institute College of Art: https://www.mica.edu Caimbridge Street Studios: http://www.cambridgeststudios.com Check out more of Arthur’s Work at: Web: http://www.arthurhaywood.com Arthur's Book, The Great Library: http://www.arthurhaywood.com/p/the-great-library.html --------- Looking for a fun, easy-going approach to learning art? http://www.pencilkings.com Want to learn to paint like Arthur? http://www.pencilkings.com/evolve Grab Mitch's Book: Digital Artist Career Blueprint Physical Book: https://amzn.to/2VmUybF EBook: https://amzn.to/2Xo4P9g