The Sketchy Van Podcast

Find Michael Hampton's content here: https://figuredrawing.info/products/d... You have to love the process more than the product to succeed as an artist. Putting yourself in the way of luck means showing up to do the tedious work. This talk explores how sweat equity and failure turn a hobby into a career. Peter's site: http://swords.co.nz

Ultimate Sketching Course! https://www.proko.com/s/rMQf?af=706140

In this episode, I sit down with a master builder of high-fidelity collectibles to break down what it actually takes to create hard, complex creative work at scale. We talk about why discipline isn’t “anti-creative” — it’s how you give creativity the seriousness it deserves. The guest walks through the real pipeline behind premium collectibles: splitting big projects into small tasks, assigning clear ownership across teams, and using constant communication to avoid surprises. We dig into the craft side too — the fundamentals like anatomy and composition, and why learning them is less about perfection and more about making progress with achievable goals. Then we shift into the operator reality: balancing storytelling with business, money, and sustainability — including how anxiety and sleepless nights don’t magically disappear, even when you’re successful. This is a conversation about showing up consistently, building with intention, and creating a career that lasts — especially if you’re an artist, designer, filmmaker, or anyone trying to make something meaningful and real.

Ultimate Sketching Course! https://www.proko.com/s/rMQf?af=706140

In this episode, I sit down with Richard Taylor, co-founder of Wētā Workshop, to talk about what it actually takes to build hard creative things at scale. We get into anxiety, self-doubt, and why those feelings never really go away, even after decades of success. Richard shares how Wētā Unleashed was built, why creativity needs to stay physical and tactile, and how massive projects still start with simple ideas, rough sketches, and instinct. We talk about balancing craft with business, why obscure skills often turn into real careers, and what success looks like beyond awards and recognition. This is a conversation about showing up, trusting your gut, staying flexible, and building a creative life that actually lasts. If you’re an artist, filmmaker, designer, or anyone trying to make something meaningful, this one’s for you.

Ultimate Sketching Course 20% presale ! https://www.proko.com/s/rMQf?af=706140

In this episode, I sit down with TB Choi, character concept artist and illustrator, to talk about why fan art is not a waste of time, and how most of her professional opportunities actually came from personal work she made purely for herself. We get into why she believes artists should create first and find their audience later, how overthinking career logic can kill creativity, and what it really means to build a sustainable art life without burning out. We also get into imposter syndrome, social media comparison, why goals matter more than motivation, and how to balance fundamentals with personal obsession.

Follow TB: https://www.instagram.com/tb_choi/?hl=en

Ryan Benjamin’s Intro to Drawing (great for basics): https://www.proko.com/s/nkat?af=706140

Ryan Benjamin’s Drawing Dynamic Characters: https://www.proko.com/s/ioLV?af=706140

Michael Hampton’s Introduction to Figure Construction: https://www.proko.com/s/VPvP?af=706140

Morgan Weistling’s Portrait Painting (super inspiring): https://www.proko.com/s/ruu4?af=706140

If you want to help me keep making these, you can support me here (thank you so much if you do ❤️):

https://www.patreon.com/KristianNee

And here’s my website with my courses and other stuff I’m working on: https://www.kristiannee.com

 

Some courses I recommend if you’re looking to improve your art: Morgan Weistling’s portrait painting (super inspiring):

https://www.proko.com/s/ruu4?af=706140

Come hang out with us in the Discord — it’s a chill spot for artists to share work, ask questions, and chat:

https://discord.com/invite/gRzTWbS2Bb

If you liked this, consider subscribing so you don’t miss future episodes. Thanks so much for watching and being here. #drawing #sketch #podcasts