[Recorded on June 25, 2026]

In this episode, I'm joined by concept artist, AMANDA KIEFER!

Artstation: https://amandakiefer.artstation.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/amanda_kiefer_art

Huckleberry Mentorship: https://home.huckleberry.art/offers/caWkx6z7/checkout

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Host: Robin Chyo

Social Links: https://dodgebrush-podcast.com

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ABOUT Amanda Kiefer

Amanda Kiefer is a senior concept artist with 8+ years of video-game industry experience. She excels at problem-solving for art teams and enjoys creating original characters, environments, weapons and prop concept art.

She has worked for companies/clients such as: Firewalk Studios, Disney Imagineering, Skydance Interactive, Ironwood Games. She's also contributed to animation studios such as Shadowmachine and Dreamworks TV.

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Shared Spotlights

Ben Nicholas - https://www.artstation.com/belgianboolean

Antone Bak - https://www.artstation.com/tonetime----

Referenced Artists:

Natalie Hall - https://www.nataliehallart.com/Alan Lee - https://www.wikiart.org/en/alan-lee

John Howe - https://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/

Iain McCaig - https://iainmccaig.blogspot.com/

Art of Concord

// Adrian Majkrzak - https://ghostorbit.com

// Derek Jones - https://www.artstation.com/prismbrain

// Noax - https://www.artstation.com/noax-design

// Sheng Lam - https://www.artstation.com/shenglam

// Ryan DeMita - https://www.artstation.com/ryandemita

// Kevin Kruse - https://www.artstation.com/kevintk

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00:00:00 - Start

00:00:04 - Intro

00:00:45 - Amanda's Introduction

00:02:58 - Wheel Spin #1

00:04:47 - Natalie Hall - Tattoo Artist

00:10:08 - Behind The Scenes

00:11:57 - Amanda's Art Journey

00:13:26 - Introduction to Concept Art : J.R.R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Series

00:14:04 - LOTR Artwork by Alan Lee and John Howe

00:15:22 - Enrolling Animation and Digital Arts program at Chico State University

00:18:09 - Graphic Design gig @ Hot Topic

00:18:57 - Amanda seeing her work out in the real world

00:21:30 - Moving to LA

00:22:22 - Interning at Skydance Interactive

00:22:57 - Video Returns

00:23:05 - Working on The Walking Dead - Saints & Sinners

00:26:07 - Amanda's Personal IP: "Wayward Heavens"

00:26:39 - Attending Brainstorm School and LA Academy of Figurative Arts

00:27:15 - Character Concept Art

00:28:13 - Iain McCaig as an influence

00:39:07 - Reacting to a difficult point-in-time in our industry

00:42:53 - Horror/sci-fi horror

00:46:58 - What is "Creepy Pasta"?

00:48:59 - Silent Hill f (Neobardz Entertainment/KDE, 2025)

00:50:34 - The challenge of making something scary

00:54:57 - Wheel Spin #2

01:05:37 - Different types of portfolio expectations and the risk of being risk averse

01:09:07 - Art tests + Tailoring your portfolio

01:17:13 - Sci-fi

01:28:44 - Working on Concord

01:39:18 - Amanda's Personal IP, "Wayward Heavens"

01:41:31 - New Art: Austrennus Regulus, first Archon of the New World

01:46:50 - Making-of/takeaways

01:53:47 - Wheel Spin #3

02:07:07 - Robin's Spotlight Artist: Antone Bak

02:08:58 - Amanda's Spotlight Artist: Ben Nicholas

02:10:53 - Plugs - Amanda's Mentorship Program

02:14:26 - Outro