The SneakyArt Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep 32 - Rekindling Joy with Emma Carlisle Dec 03, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Nishant speaks with Cornwall-based illustrator and artist Emma Carlisle about her work as an illustrator, and how adverse circumstances pushed her to engage in new and meaningful ways with both her art and her thousands of fans. In this respect, they speak about the many pitfalls of Instagram from the point of view of both creatives and fans. Emma talks candidly about suffering from burnout, and how she eventually rekindled the joy she would find in her work. They discuss the various influences that helped this process - including location drawing, a renewed focus on self-fulfilment, and friends with valuable lessons to share - as a model for how to craft a sustainable and fulfilling artistic career in today's world.

Follow Emma's work on Instagram, and check out her Patreon page.

To follow SneakyArt, visit Nishant's Instagram, Twitter, and website.

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This episode comes with a bonus Post-Script. In this exclusive, extended segment, Nishant and Emma unwind and chat while drawing portraits of each other. Emma speaks about having a creative consultant to guide her career. Nishant makes a case for why quick sketching can be a useful practice exercise. Become an Insider (using the link above) to catch this segment as well as see their portraits of each other!

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Ep 31 - Transforming Yourself with Virginia Hein Nov 19, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I speak with LA-based urban sketcher and educator Virginia Hein about her education to be a fine artist, her work in the toy industry, and her discovery of urban sketching. Despite intending to become a painter, Virginia found herself working in the toy industry fresh out of art school. Did she find this troubling, and how did she equip herself for the subtle differences between commercial and fine art? As an educator at Otis College of Art and Design, how does she communicate these distinctions to students today, and what skills do toy designers need today to enter this market?

We also discuss urban sketching and how that once again transformed Virginia's idea of herself as an artist, when she became a sketch correspondent on Gabi Campanario's Urban Sketchers Blog. Successful careers rarely follow a pre-determined trajectory. A consistent theme running across this conversation is the idea of 'permission' - to try styles, to do things, to be a different person than we had envisioned becoming - and how we subconsciously seek it from the various influential people and entities in our world.

Follow Virginia's work on Instagram. To follow my work, find SneakyArt on Instagram, Twitter, or visit my website.

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I share my best ideas from this episode in The SneakyArt Post - my free email newsletter.

Ep 30 - Illustrating for Science with Oliver Hoeller Nov 05, 2021

Show notes

I speak with Vienna-based researcher and illustrator Oliver Hoeller about the field of science illustration, and what he finds in the practice of urban sketching to make him a better illustrator, a more patient observer, and a happier person. He tells me about his path to a scientific career, and how he leapt at the opportunity to make his first science illustrations. We talk about where good ideas come from, and the ways an illustrator can and must build a mental library of reference material. We also speak about how he used observational drawing at a difficult time in his life to catalogue his memories and deal with adverse circumstances.

Check out Oliver's work on his website, or find him on Instagram.

Find SneakyArt on Instagram or visit my website for a summary transcript of this conversation.

☕ Like the episode? Buy me a coffee! (+ get access to the SneakyArt Discord)

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Ep 29 - Doing What's Fun with Koosje Koene Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I speak with Amsterdam based art-educator Koosje Koene about how she used the restrictions of COVID lockdown to "discover an extended version of the artist" in her, with a simple philosophy of doing what's fun. How much can be achieved by doing what is fun? Can it spark new ideas? Can it help us accomplish big, important goals too? Koosje used this period to write a book and discover a new creative outlet in abstract art, and we talk about both of these interesting projects. Koosje has been an educator and art-entrepreneur for a decade, and we speak about that with relation to her journey at Sketchbook Skool and her successful YouTube channel. We talk about the unique task of being an independent creative - the burdens and responsibilities of such a job title, and also the unique opportunities it offers in today's landscape.

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This episode comes with a bonus section exclusively for SneakyArt Insiders. Insiders receive bonus material from various podcast episodes - Ep 15 with George Butler and Ep 28 with Tomas Pajdlhauser.

Best ideas from the episode in my free email newsletter. Transcript of the conversation on my website. Find links to Koosje's work here.

Ep 28 - Unlocking Creativity with Tomas Pajdlhauser Oct 08, 2021

Show notes

I speak with Ottawa-based Tom Pajdlhauser (aka Captain Tom) about his years of work in the animation industry. I ask him about the many responsibilities of an art director, and the hierarchy of workflows involved in the creation of an animated show. We talk about how he sees the relevance of traditional drawing skills in the age of digital art.

But as a career illustrator, what does Tom gain from the practice of urban-sketching? He tells me about a motorcycle trip through SE Asia when he arrived at the intersection of travel and art, and how it changed everything for him. We also share our respective experiences self-publishing books of our art, with reference to Tom's excellent Palestine Sketchbook, and my SneakyArt of Eau Claire.

🔥🔥🔥 This episode has ~45 minutes of bonus content, available to all SneakyArt Insiders. Subscribe to become an Insider and access bonus content + other privileges!

🎨 Follow Tom's work on IG, or visit his website. ✒ Follow the SneakyArtist on IG, or visit here for a transcript.

This show is 100% independent and runs on the generous support of listeners and patrons!

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Ep 27 - Understanding Light with Katie Woodward Sep 24, 2021

Show notes

In the new episode, I speak with NYC-based artist and urban-sketcher Katie Woodward. Katie has made paintings that are both very large and very small. As a scenic artist for the theater she has worked on backdrops spanning several feet, and as an urban-sketcher she makes tiny watercolor cityscapes just a couple of inches wide.

What's it like to make art for the theater? What is inherently different about painting big and small, and what is strangely similar to both?

Working in stage design demands a wide array of crafting skills, and Katie shares wonderful stories of some of her memorable work. We also talk about her upcoming book - Understanding Light - where she brings together the art and ideas of her favorite artists across different media.

Follow Katie's work on Instagram. To pre-order her book, visit here or find it on Amazon. Find a summarized transcript to this conversation on my website.

To support this show, and get an invite to the SneakyArt Discord, buy me a coffee. To signup for the free weekly newsletter or subscribe to the premium content, visit my Substack page.

Ep 26 Becoming an Illustrator with Anna Wilson Sep 10, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I speak with urban-sketcher and illustrator Anna Wilson. Anna is what I describe as a 'deliberate artist', in that she has taken strong decisions to change her career trajectory towards art and illustration.

I am always interested in speaking to 'deliberate artists', because they have such motivated and well-considered reasons for the things they do. What does a path of self-education in art look like? How do they gather influences, images, and inspirations, to guide this path? Anna tells me about the role that travel plays in shaping her perspectives, the lessons she picks from photography and carrying a little sketchbook, and what she carries from her formal education in human geography.

Check out Anna's work. To support this show, read my email newsletter, or follow me on social media, visit here.

Ep 25 - Applying Imagination with Felix Scheinberger Aug 27, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I speak with Berlin-based illustrator and artist Felix Scheinberger. Felix once described illustration as "applied imagination" and in this conversation I try to learn more about where this imagination comes from, and how it can be nurtured.

What is the role of on-location drawing in feeding this imagination? What are some ways to strengthen your imagination over time? What is the role of observation, what is the job of interpretation, and how can the artist translate the ideas in their mind into a visual language universally understood?

This episode took me into the mind of an illustrator whose work enchants me because it seems effortless, even though it is anything but. Felix makes his art with a carefree finesse that takes many, many years to master.

Check out Felix's work on IG or visit here to buy his art
Find SneakyArt on IG
To support this show, buy me a coffee!
Subscribe to my weekly email newsletter
Join the private FB group for the podcast

Ep 24 - Looking in Layers with Ian Fennelly Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I speak with Ian Fennelly, an artist and urban sketcher in the UK. Ian paints his urban environments in vivid, rich, and sometimes fantastical color-scapes. His lines and colors cleverly contrast the tussle between representing objective reality and subjective emotions. As Ian likes to point out, he is not recreating a scene, but creating art from a scene. The title of this episode is based on the title of Ian's latest book and is an apt description of his artistic process. His paintings are the result of looking and looking again, patiently building layer upon layer of observation, emotion, and artistic judgment.

Follow Ian Fennelly - IG | Website
Buy Ian's book - "Layers of Looking"
Follow SneakyArt on IG, or visit the Website to see a transcript of this episode.
Join the Facebook group of the podcast.
Subscribe to the SneakyArt Post - a weekly newsletter where I elaborate on these podcast conversations, and share my journey of self-education to become an artist.

If you like this show, show your support and buy me a coffee. It's that simple!

Ep 23 - Evolving as an Artist with Marc Taro Holmes Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I speak with oil painter and urban-sketcher, Marc Taro Holmes, about his evolution over the years as an artist.

Marc worked in the early gaming industry, when both games and design programs were rudimentary. Later, as an urban-sketcher, he started the Citizen Sketcher blog, led numerous workshops, wrote several books, and inspired countless artists with his annual events - OneWeek100People and 30x30 Direct Watercolor.

Over the past few years, Marc has retreated from social media, and started using oil paints on canvas in his home-studio. What caused this shift? What do oil paints offer him that watercolors do not? Does he miss painting outdoors? In finding answers to these questions, I learned that Marc's story is one of continuous evolution, motivated by his interests, surrounding influences, and life circumstances.

Links:

To support this show, buy me a coffee!
Marc's work on Instagram + Citizen Sketcher blog
30x30 Direct Watercolor + OneWeek100People
Free instructional cheat-sheets on Marc's website
SneakyArt on Instagram + Website (for a transcript)

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