Today we talk to designer and illustrator Avery Helm. We first knew of Avery from her posters for Pecha Kucha, and we promptly reached out after having Justin on our podcast. We talk about her massive obession with Fire Emblem, her experiences creating fan art, and approaching  our craft as stepping stones to getting better. She share her tips on keeping that mindset, spoiler alert, it's staying positive and finding healthy hobbies outside of art.

Shownotes:

00:51 - Who is Avery Helm

01:13 - What came first, design or illustration?

02:52 - Her inspirations for illustration

04:24 - Current Obsessions

05:30 - Time management

06:22 - Artist Alley and Tabling Experience

09:44 - Supportive Illustration Community

11:50 - More Focus on Creating Fanart?

13:28 - Original Work vs Fan Art

14:20 - Is Fan Art Original?

17:24 - Her top inspirations

19:02 - Twitter for Illustrators

21:07 - Instagram vs Twitter

22:16 - Avery's Design Experience

23:14 - Why Illustrators end up in Design

25:48 - How to make Winnipeg more Creative

27:21 - Transition from Traditional to Digital

29:23 - Tips on How to Start Drawing

32:27 - Understanding Your Own Style

34:47 - Advice to Aspiring Fan Artists

35:54 - Struggles with staying positive as an Artist

38:41 - Advice to the Illustrators

40:03 - How to Support Avery

Today we have the creators of the brand Vancouver Art Community Ian Kaart and Alejandro Chavarria. They created a platform that hosts events and  shows in Vancouver, helping artists do what they do best, and giving them the tools they need to succeed. We talk about building a community with trust, having a strong working relationship, and being authentic and receptive towards what you want to do. Highly recommend checking their personal work out, and if you are in Vancouver consider giving them a shout and getting involved in their shows.

If you liked this episode, please consider giving them a follow. Also consider following us on Instagram and leaving a comment or a DM to let us know what you thought of this week's episode!

Shownotes:

01:55 - Ian's Background

03:08 - Alejandro's Background

04:26 - How VAC started

06:09 - The idea of bringing people together

07:15 - Difficulty in starting a community

09:24 - Building trust in community

10:39 - Working with VAC

13:07 - For anyone who wants to learn

15:11 - Mentors

18:39 - Finding a mentor

21:13 - Being authentic in your intentions

22:23 - Their current obsessions

24:06 - The typical work day

28:43 - Dealing with people who don't take criticism

33:35 - Advice to someone starting out

36:29 - Their collaborations with the local ocmmunity

38:37 - Comparison of Canadian cities for arts

42:25 - Why artists might be getting undervalued

44:25 - VAC's message to artists

Today we have Freelance Concept Artist and Illustrator Rod Mendez join us. Hailing from Brazil, his journey as an illustrator travelling to  North America is very inspiring. We talk about the feeling of losing time and being behind, working for the companies you want to work for, and dealing with clients who don't give you creative control. Consider checking out his Artstation and his Instagram! Hope you enjoy the episode. 

Shownotes:

00:47 - Who is Rod Mendez

01:43 - Getting His Start with Illustration

03:25 - Two Big Mistakes He Made

06:53 - Feeling of Losing Time

10:41 - How to Encourage Creatives to Be Patient

14:57 - How to Build a Portfolio while Liking So Many Styles

17:02 - Applying for Companies You WANT to Work For

17:58 - Advice for Liking Multiple Styles

18:53 - Does he feel passionate about ALL his jobs?

20:29 - His Teacher's Wise Words

22:02 - When Clients Get in the Way of Creative Work

25:24 - Example of having a STRICT Client

26:32 - Discord in the Illustration Community

31:24 - Large Communities vs Small Communities

32:41 - A Typical Day for Rod Mendez

36:16 - Backlash with Family

42:24 - How Rod Treats His Students

43:19 - Cultural Differences between Brazil and Canada

44:12 - Transitioning from Traditional to Digital Illustration

50:23 - Advice to Someone Starting Out in Drawing

54:19 - The Video Game Analogy

55:24 - Rod's Final Advice

Today we hang out with Vince Blais. He's a digital content creator with an emphasis on travel content. We dive into the idea of authenticity, why everyone should vlog, as well as figuring out your own creative style. If you haven't seen his work before this, find him on Instagram and on YouTube. 

Give him a follow and send him a message, he's always open to discussions and sharing his insight as a creative.

Shownotes:

00:38 - Who is Vince Blais

01:40 - How he got started

05:48 - Spending a Year to Learn

09:56 - Should you start vlogging

14:39 - What he learned through vlogging

17:46 - Authenticity and Approachability

20:32 - Authenticity in your Creative Work

24:02 - Vince's Content and Purpose

26:35 - Creative Styles

32:16 - Changing Your Style

36:04 - Vince's Current Career State

38:58 - Hardest Thing He Dealt With

41:31 - Self Affirmations

44:24 - Juan's Most Important Thing

Today, Dani joins us and shares her experience doing research up north, and her journey to get to where she is today. I've known her from way way back, and her story is incredibly inspiring. We talk a bit about having a creative partner, the struggles of a student, and living a sustainable life. For anyone thinking of doing sciences, or has some curiosity of that world, hope this gives you some insight into that!

Shownotes:

00:55 - Who is Dani Nowosad

02:08 - The Origin Story

06:35 - How Juan knew Dani

08:40 - Dealing with all the barriers

12:19 - Speaking to her professor

14:33 - Gauging if your student is trying

19:09 - Being in a relationship that is creative centric

22:10 - Existing in just science

23:23 - Living waaay up north

26:48 - Having the privilege to live sustainably

28:27 - Summer 2018 in Churchill

31:34 - Judgement for living sustainably

33:15 - How much can one person contribute to the planet?

34:39 - Capitalizing on sustainability movements

36:13 - How she started a change towards sustainability in a community

39:23 - Advice for someone who struggles with science

43:45 - How to push through doubts

45:06 - When you're struggling with your GPA

45:38 - How to support Dani

We spend some time with Royal Winnipeg Ballet's Second Soloist Stephan Azulay. After being introduced to me as a chef, he shares more of his experience bouncing around the world as a dancer. We talk about taking care of your body, putting your heart out on the stage, and bringing  yourself into your role. Super fantastic discussions, and if you've ever been interested in the RWB, consider supporting Stephan and  the ballet!

Shownotes:

00:46 - Who is Stephan Azulay

03:40 - What does the ballet space look like

06:18 - The journey to a stable living as a ballet dancer

08:33 - Short term careers of dancers

10:11 - Coming back from injury

13:41 - Balancing for your body

16:50 - Bouncing around cities and beating loneliness

19:30 - Socializing with photographers

22:01 - Instagram & Social media as a dancer

24:55 - Using Instagram to scout your travel destination

27:40 - What is it about dance

33:13 - How the ballet season works

35:51 - The amount of work for one show

36:40 - Hardest thing to overcome as a ballet dancer

39:18 - Bringing yourself into the role

41:58 - Advice for someone who wants to do what Stephan does

43:13 - How to put your heart out on stage

46:28 - Opening up a restaurant?

47:27 - Doing dinner parties as a trial

50:06 - People always try to get out of paying

51:04 - Next steps

55:20 - Collaborating with photographers

58:13 - Wrap up

A couple weeks ago Kurt sent us a message saying he was enjoying the podcasts. We then asked him if he would be down to be on the show. After meeting with him, here we are now. We talked about seeking out people that share the same mentality as you, expressing gratitude, and shooting double exposures with a disposable camera. Super chill dude, so I hope you enjoy this episode. And consider sending him a message and support him on his personal project in creating a community.

Shownotes:

00:10 - Who is Kurt

00:52 - From Design to Photography

02:29 - His first successful double exposure

04:38 - Where to find his first double exposure photo

05:50 - What is it about double exposure

07:30 - Capturing story

07:52 - How has the 2M podcast affected Kurt

10:14 - Building a community

10:49 - Why he engaged with 2M

11:45 - Kurt's version of creating community

14:27 - Double Exposure project

15:28 - Accountability through the podcast

16:22 - Kurt's current creative journey

17:48 - Imposter syndrome

18:43 - Beating imposter syndrome

19:59 - Reaching out and showing gratitude

23:28 - Reaction to being asked to speak on the podcast

25:46 - Advice to someone starting out

27:05 - Finding the personal truth

28:35 - Doing a cyanotype class

31:42 - What is the simplest advice that's most important to follow

33:39 - How to support Kurt

This episode, we talk to Matsya and Abrar, hosts of the podcast Movies with Matar. I actually had no idea what they did before they showed up to record, but once we got to talking it was just on. We talk about the current movie industry state, writing a compelling story, and watching La La Land. Huge thanks to them, so definitely check them out on their socials and listen to their podcast!

Shownotes:

01:06 - Who is Movies with Matar

02:33 - Podcast Origin Story

05:09 - Movie writing origin

05:40 - The post movie watch conversations

07:29 - Structuring the podcast

10:59 - Developing the podcast over time

13:54 - Live Podcast & Podcast Battles

15:24 - Neuroscience in movies

18:22 - Where is the podcast going

20:27 - Turning it super professional

21:50 - Why we talk about the media we've consumed

23:40 - The current state of movies

27:53 - Capitalism & Creativity in Movies

30:58 - Some movies aren't for some audiences

32:19 - Thoughts on La La Land

33:15 - Movies for the entertainment value

38:28 - Writing a compelling story

40:28 - "Would people really want to watch this?"

41:49 - Our podcast is La La Land

43:14 - Sacrificing some creative direction for better reception

45:40 - Getting too lazy to write

47:53 - Their advice to anybody wanting to start a podcast

53:30 - Movies with Matar Preroll

54:28 - Matsya's one piece of advice

56:35 - Hard to fake on a podcast

57:04 - Juan's advice to Movies with Matar

59:49 - Follow them!

1:02:17 - Which episode should you listen to?

This episode, we talk to Sherry Sobey. Owner of Generation Green and Acorn Cafe, I actually messaged her since Serena pointed me to The Wildflower Project. Little did I know we would share so many similar perspectives when it comes to wellness and life. We talk about finding out where you're meant to be, expanding on your passion, and  the growth from being vulnerable. Hope you enjoy.

Shownotes:

03:50 - Not being big on sales

05:14 - Who is Sherry Sobey

05:57 - Why is it called Acorn Cafe

07:16 - Wellness and Wildflower Project

10:21 - Her best manifesting tool

11:36 - Her motto in life

12:11 - Excitement for people crossing her path

12:35 - Finding out where you're meant to be

13:08 - How do you become more welcome to new encounters

14:38 - Expanding on your passion

15:11 - The secret for when it doesn't work out

16:06 - The worst thing that could happen

16:52 - Being an instant gratification type society

19:15 - We want to experience things

19:56 - Her development last year

23:37 - Power in vulnerability

25:30 - "You SHOULD do X"

28:37 - Being there for someone

31:02 - Getting shushed a lot

32:34 - Trusting your intuition

35:24 - Hopping on bandwagons and being respectful

37:51 - Being real in the maker space

45:46 - Collaboration over Competition

47:51 - Advice for starting out

54:57 - What's next

This episode, we talk to Mason Calanza. I met him through my old job at a company called iQmetrix and we bonded over things like Pokemon amongst other nerdy things. We gush out over Into the Spiderverse's art direction, dive into explaining design and personal branding, and explore ways in which we can stay creative through a busy schedule. Be sure to give him some love on Instagram!