Lean Into Art

The endeavor of making art in an emotionally and financially sustainable way can be stressful (meaningfully so). But what how do you navigate this when a big life event occurs? Join Jerzy and Rob for a discussion on navigating big changes. Links to sites mentioned The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Holmes and Rahe stress scale Sponsors for this episode The Kids' Comics Awards Art and Science Punks Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Shane W Smith k Nathan Seabolt Shauni Redfearn Sophie Lawson Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Rob and Jerzy have talked about the various ways they’ve explored maximizing their time to chip away at projects. This time they’re looking at what happens when you draw for no other reason than to relax. Links to sites mentioned Meditation for Artists - The Automatic Drawing Technique Sponsors for this episode The Kids' Comics Awards This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Greg Horvath Chris Watkins Gail Buschman Myrjam Sophie Lawson Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Gathering impressions from research questions you have by exploring an event can help you with making choices about what you make. Join Jerzy and Rob for a discussion of how Rob prepared for doing some field research at the recent CES event, talk about some of the things he saw, and what it’s like to try to learn in that big busy environment. Links to sites mentioned Jupyter Hashphotos CES Sponsors for this episode Amazon Academy This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Jodels Pox MuShinGirl Mark Faulk Becca Hillburn Robert Clemmons Jr Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Freelancing, creative independence, Ryan Estrada, and more! We've talked about sustaining our creativity on Lean Into Art Cast 89, but what about leveraging our creativity to sustain us? How do you avoid the creative work you don't want to do and find the jobs that bring you creative (and monetary) satisfaction? We're joined once again by Ryan Estrada, author of the blog post How to Get Hired. Together we'll talk about how characterizing the work you want to do and presenting yourself well might bring you closer to landing the gigs you are excited about. Links mentioned in this episode: Broken Telephone, Ryan's latest Kickstarter campaign LIA Cast 84: Showcasing Yourself and Getting a Reaction How to Quit Working for the Man - ComfyCon panel with Ryan and Jerzy PC Mag reviews your comics, but you have to pay to refer to the review Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on TwitterRob on Twitter Lean Into Art on Twitter

Jerzy and Rob kick off the new year by looking back at old character designs and giving them an update. What concerns are you addressing when iterating on a design? Whom are you solving the creative problems for? Links to sites mentioned Gregg Schigiel's Stuff Sketched Stuff Said Podcast The Front: Rebirth Robo Force Sponsors for this episode Amazon Academy This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Kelly Ishikawa Tim F Kim Holm Katherine Sugrue Robert Clemmons Jr Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

It’s the last show of 2018, so Jerzy and Rob are going to forego a formal topic and take on another batch of questions provided by the Leaners. Join the live discussion to ask some questions of your own! Links to sites mentioned VGM Con Eyeo Festival A2CAF TCAF SPX CXC ALA Annual MICE Michigan Reading Association Conference NerdCamp MI Sponsors for this episode Science Comics: Rockets This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Becca Hillburn Rachel Ross India Swift Nate Marcel Ben Odgren Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

When we look back at the year, what are some ways to dig up useful data about we’ve done, what we intended to do, and how we feel about it all? Join Jerzy and Rob for both reflection and discussion of this past year and how we’re getting ready to plan goals for next year. Links to sites mentioned Bullet Journal The Emergent Task Planner Flawless Execution Sponsors for this episode Science Comics: Rockets This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters k Marc Faulk Metal Witch Sketchbook Project Gail Buschman Ashley Knapp Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Talking about improving your visual memory on the LIA Cast with Brandon Dayton! Have you ever noticed that sometimes the best drawings you make are the ones for which you have a very clear mental picture? Have you ever tried to draw something from reference materials and just can't accurately capture it? Is the first situation simply a moment of "inspiration," and the second situation "artistic funk"? How might things change if we consider the difference between seeing and object and perceiving an object? By improving our visual memory skills, might we one day be able to draw entirely from memory like Kim Jun gi? This time we have a discussion on the role of perception in illustration with guest Brandon Dayton, who shares some tips on how to improve your visual memory and draw with improved accuracy. Links mentioned: Brandon's Batman 2000 illustration Brandon's Quizlets The Talent Code Stephen Rousar's Memory Drawing The Lean Into Art Patreon campaign, where you can now find Extra Lean episodes! Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Ben Odgren Owen Jollands Jesse Kauffman Nate Marcel Sophie Lawson Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram

We’re nearing the end of the year, holiday seasons have begun. Now that Inktober and Art Soundoff creative challenges are past, Jerzy and Rob have a discussion on what they’re reading, watching, and playing. Links to sites mentioned Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction by Neil Gaiman The Weight of Glory, by C.S. Lewis The Four Loves, by C.S. Lewis How to Invent Everything, by Ryan North Crackdown Svengoolie Sponsors for this episode Science Comics: Rockets This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Chris Watkins Jodels Pox Spencer Hallam Cameron Callahan Dave Seah Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

A truth for many of us is we have to hold down some other jobs while we hustle to make our art. How do we think about this friction between keeping the lights on and developing new products? Speaking of which, Rob and Jerzy are wrapping up their Art Soundoff entries and have some reflections on using creative challenges to develop new products. Is an art challenge a good chance to set aside time to make new things? How does it change your relationship and experience with the challenge? Links to sites mentioned Becca Hillburn's tweet on hustling Art Soundoff Sponsors for this episode Science Comics: Rockets This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Greg Horvath Keri Goble Billick Gail Buschman Ashley Knapp Rachel Ross Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

In this episode of the Lean Into Art Cast, Jerzy and Rob explore warming up visually for generating ideas. We’ll walk through and practice, a generative approach that’s a bit of prompting and bit of randomness that works both solo and in groups. Then we’ll explore more about the why, when, and how of this sort of generative practice exercise. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Adventurers for Hire This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top 5 Patreon supporters Casey Snipes India Owen Jollands Nick Berstein Myrjam Kim Holm Links mentioned Writing Down the Bones Jake Parker on the 8-minute Drawing Challenge Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter Support the show via Patreon Lean Into Art Patreon

We’re halfway through Art Soundoff 2018! Jerzy and Rob check in on how they’re engaging with this yearly commitment and how they’re thinking about the second half. Sponsors for this episode Science Comics: Rockets This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Metal Witch Sketchbook Project Jodels Pox Katherine Sugrue Brandon Dayton Jonathan Wornson Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Exploring more of the benefits of reflection & new reflection strategies on the Lean Into Art Cast! The value of reflecting on one's work and experience has bubbled up repeatedly on the Lean Into Art Cast. Reflecting with intention helps you: Focus on an upcoming task Improve memory retention Clarify your intended goals and perceived outcomes Find valuable insights for career course-correction We've modeled our own reflection strategies in past episodes: LIA Cast 66 - Reflecting on Last Year, Planning for Next Year LIA Cast 70: Mastering Your Schedule with David Seah But what are "reflection strategies?" Is it simply keeping a journal? A private blog? Scraps of notes on index cards? Should this journaling be private, or is there any benefit to be found in sharing it? This time we're joined by Ashley Knapp, a cartoonist and author who has explored many reflection methods in an effort to reach readers and improve her work. Together we'll unbox how reflecting more intentionally can improve your work and help clarify your message to potential readers. Thanks to our Patreon Supporters Gail Buschman - @nightengailart on Facebook Shauni Redfearn - @shauniredfearn on Twitter Kelly Ishikawa @kellyofishikawa on Twitter Shane W Smith @Shane_W_Smith on Twitter Nathan Seabolt @n_seabolt on Twitter Links mentioned: Ashley's audiobook, Phony Potion Peddler’s Plight Ashley's Audioboo feed Day One Habit RPG The Emergent Task Planner Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brene Brown 59 Seconds: Change Your Life in Under a Minute, by Richard Wiseman Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, by Jane McGonigal The Lean Into Art Patreon campaign, where you can now find Extra Lean episodes! Connect with Jerzy and Rob Lean Into Art Google+ Page Jerzy on Twitter Rob on Twitter Lean Into Art on Twitter Support Lean Into Art on Patreon

Art Soundoff, the creative challenge all about reflecting on your creative process via an audio journal, is entering its fourth year. Join Jerzy and Rob for a discussion exploring how we can improve on this challenge for all who take part whether it’s your first or fourth year. Along the way we’ll explore what’s new for Art Soundoff 4.0, why we’re so into the idea still, and why we invite others to join in the fun. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Adventurers for Hire This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Kelly Ishikawa Mark Faulk Myrjam Robert Clemmons Jr Jodels Pox Links mentioned in this episode Art Soundoff Inktober Sketchbook Summer The Chud With a Dream Thunder Punch Daily The Polytechnicast Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter Support the show via Patreon Lean Into Art Patreon

Jerzy’s back from the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE) and ready to file a report on the show. Rob and Jerzy take the opportunity to think about what tabling at a convention looks like for them in 2018. Sponsors for this episode Amazon Academy This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Tim F Chris Watkins Gail Buschman Mark Faulk Nate Marcel Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter