I sit down with Chelsea Wade — a kids' book illustrator known for her love of animals, unique South African wildlife patterns, and vibrant visual storytelling. Chelsea shares her journey from art school to self-taught success, teaching English abroad, and eventually co-creating her first children's book with a writer from across the world.

We dive deep into what it really means to thrive as an artist today — balancing creativity and business, building community online, and adapting to the evolving world of AI.

Chelsea offers practical advice for kids' book illustrators on how to:

• Attract the right writers for collaboration

• Use Instagram as a visual art diary and community-builder

• Leverage Pinterest for discovery and Etsy traffic

• Know when to turn your art into merchandise

• Align your brand with your audience

• Build career stability in the AI age

Whether you're starting out or looking to grow, this episode is packed with insight into the mindset, marketing, and making of a thriving creative career.

Follow Chelsea Wade: https://visualbloomdesigns.com

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

Alexander Notarangelo is a self-taught hyper-realistic oil painter whose mind-blowing attention to detail brings canvas to life. Alexander shares how he juggles his art practice with full-time work and Dad life—while still growing a loyal audience online.

You'll discover how he balances multiple paintings at once, how he creates engaging and authentic Instagram content for artists, and his personal take on art pricing, commissions, and mental health in the creative process.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

How Alexander developed his hyper-realistic painting style

Why working on multiple canvases fuels momentum

Instagram strategies for artists that build real engagement

Navigating mental health while creating and posting art online

The role of personal branding for artists in 2025

🎯 Key Takeaways for Artists:

Consistency and layering are essential to mastery

Authentic content builds trust and a wider audience

You don’t have to go full-time to have serious impact

Balance between creation, marketing, and mental well-being is crucial

Your creative process and personal story are powerful online tools

🔗 Follow Alexander Notarangelo

Website: https://www.alexandernotarangelo.com/

🔗 Follow Host Andy Marshall

Website: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

In this episode of the Fork in the Road podcast, host Andy Marshall speaks with artist Raheem Nelson, who is known for his work in graphic recording, digital and traditional art, and personal branding. Raheem shares insights into his creative process, the evolution of his art practice, and his collaborations with various artists, including a notable project with hip-hop artist Skyzoo. The conversation also touches on the importance of active listening in graphic recording, the role of personal style in branding, and Raheem's journey into photography and content creation.

Follow Raheem Nelson:

https://www.raheemnelson.com/

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

I sit down with Ali Sabet—a globally recognised artist known for his Japanese brushwork, expressive style, and breakthrough success in the NFT art world.

We explore his journey from a successful branding designer to becoming a full-time artist whose work now captivates collectors around the world.

Ali shares his insights on creating art with energy and intention, painting in public spaces, and navigating the fine line between commercial success and personal fulfillment.

If you're an artist, creative, or NFT enthusiast, this conversation is packed with inspiration and real talk about what it means to thrive on your own terms.

Follow Ali Sabet: https://www.sabet.art/

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

Discover how stop motion animator Tortor Smith created an award-winning short film at the legendary Aardman Studios (home of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Chicken Run). In this episode of the Fork in the Road Podcast, Tortor shares their inspiring journey into animation, from handmade craftsmanship to building a sustainable creative career.

We talk about:

The creative process behind stop motion animation

What it’s like to work at Aardman

Independent filmmaking challenges and breakthroughs

The importance of community, craft, and storytelling

Real-world advice for aspiring animators and artists

Whether you're a fan of animation, filmmaking, or creative storytelling, this episode is packed with insight and motivation.

Watch the full extended video episode on Patreon:

https://patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Follow Tortor Smith: https://www.instagram.com/animatortor

Follow Andy C. Marshall:

https://andycmarshall.com/

we sit down with the incredible Sue Brown—known in the horror world as Ursula Dabrowsky and in the art scene as Zanne Brown. 🎥🎨

From making gritty, crowdfunded Australian horror films to crafting bold, abstract works on canvas, Sue shares how she balances two intense creative identities—and what it really takes to build a thriving indie career across different worlds.

🔥 Topics we cover:

How Sue self-financed and crowdfunded FOUR indie horror films

The emotional + practical realities of ultra-low-budget filmmaking

Why she used a pseudonym to explore dark themes without compromising her fine art

The freedom that comes from writing within limitations

How she’s embracing AI in both her film and art processes

Building an audience for both film and art in the age of social media

If you’re a creative juggling multiple passions, this one’s for you.

Support the pod and unlock behind-the-scenes content, artist Q&As, and more on the Fork in the Road Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Follow Ursula Dabrowsky: https://www.instagram.com/ursuladabrowsky

Follow Zanne Brown:https://www.instagram.com/zannebrownart

Follow Andy: https://andycmarshall.com/

Subscribe for more artist interviews, creative career tips, and behind-the-scenes insights.

On this episode of the Fork in the Road Podcast, I sit down with artist and fashion designer Wildy Martinez—aka Wildflower Fields—to explore how she bridges the worlds of traditional art, AI, and NFTs while staying grounded in authenticity.

We talk about the journey from physical to digital creation, the rise of Web3 communities, and the evolving challenges and opportunities artists face in today’s tech-driven creative economy.

In this episode:

- How Wildy discovered her artistic voice in Web3

- The role of AI in fashion and creative expression

- Why community matters more than ever in Web3

- Pricing digital vs. physical art

- Building sustainable income as a modern artist

-Staying true to your values in a noisy digital world

If you're a curious creative, an emerging digital artist, or navigating your own fork in the road—Wildy's story will inspire and energize you.

Want more? The extended video version of this episode is available exclusively on our Patreon: https://patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Support the pod and unlock behind-the-scenes content, artist Q&As, and more.

Follow Wildy: https://linktr.ee/WildflowerFields

Follow Andy: https://andycmarshall.com/

Subscribe for more artist interviews, creative career tips, and behind-the-scenes insights.

In this episode of the Fork in the Road Podcast, I sit down with Frank Garcia, also known online as Artemorbid, to unpack his journey as a multi-disciplinary artist navigating the worlds of visual art, music, and YouTube content creation.

Frank shares how his creative path began with a guitar at 13, evolved into visual art, and later grew into a successful YouTube channel combining his passions. He talks candidly about balancing creative pursuits, dealing with burnout, staying authentic in the digital age, and how artists can grow and monetise their presence online.

I dive into:

🎨 How to balance music and visual art as a creator

📹 The growth of his YouTube channel Artemorbid

💡 Tips for artists embracing content creation

💻 Affiliate marketing, digital income, and community-building

🎤 The realities of being a modern creative in an algorithm-driven world

Whether you're an artist, musician, or content creator, this episode is packed with insights into what it takes to build a sustainable creative life online.

🚀 Want more? The extended video version of this episode is available exclusively on our Patreon: https://patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Support the pod and unlock behind-the-scenes content, artist Q&As, and more.

Follow Frank Garcia: https://www.instagram.com/artemorbid_guitaristmusician

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Can artists truly thrive in the digital age? In this episode of The Fork in the Road Between Starving and Thriving Artist podcast, we dive deep with S.R. Chappell—a poet, digital artist, and NFT creator—who shares her journey from traditional poetry to collage art, NFTs, and self-publishing.

We explore:

🎨 The NFT marketplace – Real talk on selling art and making a living

🤖 AI & Creativity – How technology is reshaping the art world

📢 Print on Demand - The financial realities of print on demand services

🖼️ NFTs + Physical Art – The logistics of blending digital and traditional mediums

Join us for an insightful discussion on monetising art, staying true to your vision, and balancing creativity with commercial success.

Follow S.R. Chappell: https://linktr.ee/srchappell

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

How do you turn mural painting into a thriving art business? 🎨 In this episode of Fork in the Road Podcast, host Andy Marshall sits down with mural artist Cat Dean to discuss her journey as a full-time freelancer, the business of large-scale murals, and balancing creativity with entrepreneurship.

Cat shares insights on:

✅ The evolution of mural art & painting techniques

✅ How murals act as artist billboards for new opportunities

✅ Building strong client relationships & networking for success

✅ Balancing business & creativity while maintaining work-life flexibility

✅ The role of AI in art & why human creativity still reigns supreme

Plus, hear her experiences working in extreme conditions, engaging with communities (especially kids!), and the lessons she’s learned along the way!

Don't miss this inspiring conversation for artists, freelancers, and creatives looking to grow their careers!

Follow Cat Dean: https://www.catdean.com.au/

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.