

The Creative Condition podcast
Ben Tallon
Welcome to 'The Creative Condition' podcast: an ongoing exploration of human creativity to help you understand and maximise yours.The show is hosted by creativity coach, Founder of The Creative Condition, and The New York Times, Adidas, and Premier League illustrator Ben Tallon.Creativity is an often misunderstood pillar of human happiness, something far bigger than artistic talent and crucial for fulfilling lives and careers. Featuring exclusive interviews with experts and thought leaders, including illustrators, rock stars, artists, sensitivity experts, designers, emergency service workers, Olympic gold medal winners, comedians, microbiologists, photographers, fighters, and many others.Supported by founding sponsor illustrationx.comAlso supported by the Ukrainian Institute https://ui.org.ua
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 7, 2016 • 1h 6min
Ep 17: Fashion Illustrator Jacqueline Bissett & Illustration agent Victoria Pearce
I wanted to draft in Jacqueline Bissett and Victoria Pearce to give me, a man preoccupied with televised wrestling, football and zombie fiction, with a very minimal understanding of the world of fashion, a valuable insight from the perspective of two people who have spent over two decades in the industry with great success.Jacqueline Bissett is a leading fashion illustrator signed to Illustration Ltd, where Victoria is a senior agent. The two take us through an entwined journey that began when Vicky's work as a stylist and then a fashion photography agent led her to Jackie, an exciting illustrator creating striking artworks in fashion. The two found their way to Illustration Ltd where Jackie thrives and Victoria plays a key role in the agency's continued global success.I meet the two as Jacqueline prepares to work live at the BAFTAs 2016, armed with a client list that includes Louis Vuitton, Selfridges, Kurt Geiger, Atelier Swarovski and Cartier. Where do we find today's fashion industry? How has the digital revolution influenced fashion and trends? Jacqueline and Vickie pull back the curtain on two very successful, complimentary and inspiring careers in a fast paced business that so many wish to enter.http://www.illustrationweb.com/artists/jacquelinebissett/view Jacqueline's illustration portfoliohttps://twitter.com/jabissett Jacqueline on Twitterhttps://www.facebook.com/Jacqueline-Bissett-Ltd-219624968150694/ Jacqueline on Facebookhttp://illustrationweb.com Illustration Ltd official websitehttps://twitter.com/Illustrationweb Illustration Ltd on Twitterhttp://instagram.com/illustrationltd Illustration Ltd on Instagramhttps://www.facebook.com/IllustrationLtd/ Illustration Ltd on Facebook

Mar 29, 2016 • 35min
Ep 16 Part 2: Graphic Design on the job with WSC Art Editor Doug Cheeseman
Part two of the 30th anniversary of When Saturday Comes special, with art editor Doug Cheeseman.Doug takes us through the magazines story, from near cessation to a survivor of the digital revolution. We talk graphic design in sport, in football, publishing in the digital world and the role of an art director.See part one for show notes

Mar 29, 2016 • 42min
Ep 16 Part 1: Football visual culture: WSC Magazine is 30
When Saturday Comes Art Editor Doug Cheeseman takes us through his journey from a young football fan in Essex to art editor of one of the world's most beloved football magazines. I remember... During that gut-wrenching time of anxiety, when you’re gearing up for your graduation art show, the real world looming in the all too near future, I sat hidden between two of the floor-to-ceiling shelves in the journals section of the university library. In truth, I was sat there to escape spending more time writing the dissertation I’d lost interest in weeks earlier. Fortunately, where I sat on the heavy footstool that is more often used as a makeshift seat was perfect eye-level with an impressive chunk of the When Saturday Comes magazine archive. There I sat for the next two hours, thumbing through issue after issue of the fanzine turned magazine, reading past articles and reminiscing about bygone seasons in which my football team, Leeds United was not a circus of marvellous embarrassments. The biggest result here however, was the revelation that each edition of WSC contained 2-3, sometimes more illustrations. The publication was noted, contacts written down and immediately slotted alongside The Guardian, Leeds United and WWE in my dream client hit list. Of course, I had essays and exhibitions to worry about, but two-years later, this moment would prove pivotal. Then, in 2008, I landed my first client. I’d kept the email address for Doug Cheeseman, art-editor of WSC and after weeks of sending him sample illustrations of football’s current issues created especially for his attention, he called me up and commissioned me. My first professional freelance job triggered an ongoing relationship between art-editor and illustrator, which has taught me a lot and helped me to craft my distinct style. In this two-part special, Doug takes us on his personal journey, growing up with 1970’s and 1980’s football and his transition from lazy student to graphic designer and art-editor at WSC, one of the UK’s best loved football magazines, now in its 30th year. He also shares the story of the cult-magazine and its fascinating evolution through football’s darker days, to the filthy-rich modern day game. We discuss art-direction, graphic design and the art of pitching up – a crucial tool in the arsenal of any self-respecting creative. Football’s visual culture is covered in depth and we discuss the role of the printed magazine in the digital revolution.http://www.wsc.co.uk/ - official websitehttp://www.dougcheeseman-design.co.uk/ Doug's official sitehttps://twitter.com/WSC_magazine WSC on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/dougcheese Doug Cheeseman on Twitterhttps://www.facebook.com/When-Saturday-Comes-The-Half-Decent-Football-Magazine-113835206404/?fref=ts WSC on Facebook

Mar 15, 2016 • 51min
Ep 15: New York photographer, Marius Bugge shares an intriguing freelance success story
New York based photographer Marius Bugge takes us through his fascinating journey from Oslo, Norway, to New York city via Italy, where he works with clients including WWE, PLayboy, Ferrari, Pride and Stuff among many others.We discuss what it takes to build a reputation and network in an over-saturated market, the importance of learning from others and working with great art and creative directors.Marius also tells us all about his recent trip to Havana to photograph the New York Cosmos football team and street finds.For Marius' portfolio, check him out at http://mariusbugge.com and follow him on Instagram at @mbuggenycFor my WWE Faces of Evil set design, with Marius' photography: https://www.behance.net/gallery/9779425/WWE-Faces-Of-Evil-Set-DesignFor our 'Angels and Demons' collaboration:https://www.behance.net/gallery/10981249/(AD)

Mar 1, 2016 • 1h 2min
Ep 14: Eden Orfanos, Hollywood Makeup Artist & Art Therapist
Eden Orfanos worked for years as a make-up artist in Hollywood, on a broad range of projects, including blood for TV show, Dexter, makeup on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and cadavers for the CSI detective shows. She also worked with the likes of George Clooney, Jude Law and Kristen Stewart, along with set design, stylist and producer roles. After growing tired of the more negative tendencies in the Hollywood world, so embarked on a journey to Africa, working with deaf mute children, using art therapy as a form of communication and teaching.Eden is a rare talent with touching and fascinating stories from her unbelievably varied career and I had to record one of our conversations which I can assure you, are always far from dull! Now getting stuck into an art therapy degree, we discuss the extremes of her journey so far, the unexpected routes it has taken her and how she now starts to see much method to seeming madness with the benefit of hindsight. Eden is a testament to how we all have the scope to shift between the many disciplines in the creative industries with the right mix of personality, patience ability, desire and hard work.Please sign the petition mentioned in this show to support the arts in our education system: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/111731Check out Eden's work at: http://edenorfanos.com and also: http://edenmakeupartist.com/https://twitter.com/EdenOrfanos Eden's Twitter accountPhoto: Pablitomas http://pabloaguilar.com/ x

Feb 18, 2016 • 1h 3min
Ep 13: What makes for news worthy creative projects? Design Week explain
I illustrated on a monthly rotation for Design Week, a heavyweight player in the creative press world, from late 2009 until it's end as a print magazine in 2011. Shortly afterwards, Angus Montgomery became the editor of it's new online publication format. I wanted to meet Angus and discuss the challenges he faced in steering the magazine from 25 years of print newsstand prominence into an entirely digital existence. Plunged into the ever deeper digital ocean of content, he had to think laterally, tell strong stories to stand out in the face of overwhelming competition for clicks and become very fluid in responding to such a fast moving platform. We discuss how we as creative professionals can ensure our work is news worthy, what makes an attractive story in the design world, the Design Week Awards, the broad content in Design Week and its mind-bending print archive of the publications history.Show Notes:http://www.designweek.co.uk/ - Design Week official websitehttp://awards.designweek.co.uk/ - Design Week awardshttps://twitter.com/Design_Week Design Week on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/AngusMontgomery Angus Montgomery's Twitterhttps://www.facebook.com/DWDesignWeek/?fref=ts Design Week FacebookBen Tallon's 'Freelance State of Mind' columns: https://www.designweek.co.uk/author/ben-tallon/

Feb 3, 2016 • 56min
Ep 12: Sarah Beetson, illustrator & head of Illustration X talent recruitment
With a moniker like 'the Rainbow Crusader,' artist, illustrator and head of Illustration Ltd joins us to discuss her signature neon, pop style of image making, fashion design and impressive list of clients in the arts. Sarah tells us about her role as head of talent recruitment at Illustration Ltd, how she has come to so perfectly embody her creative style through personality and interest in fairground visual identity. Sarah takes us on a journey to her dream project, a crowd-funded residency at Coney Island in New York City.http://www.illustrationweb.com/artists/SarahBeetson/view Sarah Beetson on Illustration Ltdhttp://www.sarahbeetson.com/ Sarah Beetson official sitehttps://twitter.com/sarahbeetson Sarah Beetson on Twitterhttps://www.instagram.com/sarahbeetson/ Sarah Beetson on Instagramhttps://www.facebook.com/sarahbeetsonillustrator/?fref=ts Sarah Beetson Facebook

Jan 19, 2016 • 1h 14min
Ep 11: Ray Richardson, London painter, described as 'the Martin Scorsese of painting.'
London painter, Ray Richardson has been described as 'the Martin Scorsese of painting.' His filmic compositions of scenes that suck in the viewer, allowing them to envision their own book-ends to the powerful moment depicted as only Richardson can, invite us into his own London.We talk about his upcoming show, 'London Soul' at Beaux Arts, the strong presence of English Bull Terriers in his work, working in Chicago and his path from Goldsmiths University at a time when conceptual art was becoming prominent, to becoming one of the UK's most respected painters.http://rayrichardson.co.uk/ Ray's official websitehttps://twitter.com/RayRichardson1 Ray on Twitterhttps://www.facebook.com/Ray-Richardson-Londons-No-One-149640825114988/?fref=ts Ray's official Facebook pagehttps://www.instagram.com/rayrichardson1/ Ray's Instagram

Jan 5, 2016 • 57min
Ep 10: PR, communication & self-promo insights with editor & former PR specialist David Woods
Humm Media work with a wide range of clients to create striking and unique PR and communications campaigns. David Woods, one half of Humm, offers us a unique insight into the world of PR, communications and marketing your work in an original way.We discuss the importance of the personal touch and storytelling when aiming to stand out and reach your target audience and client base. We cover social media, e-etiquette, the importance of the human touch and why many artists, designers and other creative professionals struggle with self-promotion and marketing. We all face the challenge of channeling our personality and character into our work and we touch upon how others read that as a brand.Follow David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidpaulwoodsHumm Media official website: http://www.hummmedia.com/Humm Media on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HummMedia

Dec 14, 2015 • 1h 2min
Ep 9: Sandra Dieckmann, artist, illustrator and maker discusses what makes a creative style
We join German artist, illustrator and maker, Sandra Dieckmann at her fantastic 'Mama Wolf' studio and shop to talk about her popular nature inspired artworks.Sandra talks about fairytale influences, growing up in Germany and her prominent positioning in the Etsy and makers scene.We talk about the David v Goliath challenge of making money from hand made goods as an independent maker, especially when faced with heavyweight Christmas competition from the likes of John Lewis, Liberty's and other department stores vying for your festive pennies.Sandra's official site: http://www.sandradieckmann.com/Sandra's Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SandraDieckmannSandra on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandradieckmannSandra's Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/sandradieckmann/Sandra's Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/DieckmannSandra