Lean Into Art

By Jerzy Drozd and Rob Stenzinger

Arts Education Design Training Visual Arts

What's Lean Into Art about?

The Lean Into Art Cast serves visual and interactive storytellers with topics and coversation that explores design thinking, creative communication, visual arts, comics, illustration, creative coding, and more.

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Lean Into Art episodes:

05.20.2021
LIA Cast 269 - Lettering & Sound Design in Clip Studio Paint (Rebroadcast)
Originally broadcast May 3, 2019. Jerzy’s begun a new comics project, and it’s been a while since we’ve had an art demo on the LIA Cast, so this week join Jerzy and Rob for a demonstration and discussion on designing...
05.13.2021
LIA Cast 360 - Daily Creative Celebration AKA Victory Donut (CWC)
Ready for another day of work, yet not feeling it. So many valid reasons to be in that situation… yet also having due dates and commitments to meet. Sometimes the work is rewarding and the outcomes too, people liking what...
05.06.2021
LIA Cast 359- Viewing Angle Tells the Story (MWS)
Working on the thumbnails for your next comic and discovered you’ve sketched dozens of pages of talking heads? We cartoonists can put the reader’s eye wherever we can imagine, so why don’t we? But how do you know where to...
04.29.2021
LIA Cast 358 - Showing Up Socially, Balancing Quality and Effort
Posting socially is something most independent creators need to work with. I've often been the show up when I've made something, share it, then mostly hang back and like other folks stuff approach. But I know that I can do...
04.22.2021
LIA Cast 357 - Write Posts Quickly With Prompts, Constraints, and Instinct
When you sit down to write a blog post is that a comfortable creative activity? Are there times when it feels like the words are stuck or just not sure how to say what you’re really trying to say? Recently...
04.15.2021
LIA Cast 356 - Prioritizing Your Work
We’ve all been there--you start out with the promise of a new day, a reasonably curated to-do list, and a commitment to make your art. And suddenly you look at the clock and it’s the end of the day and...
04.08.2021
LIA Cast 355 - Training Your Analytic Eye
Frustrated that you can’t find a way to bring the big feelings you get from others’ art into your own? Maybe you just need to train your analytic eye to level up your inferencing skills. Being able to look for...
04.01.2021
LIA Cast 354 - Creating Clarity or Inspiring Awe (CWC)
Clarity competes with other concerns when writing and illustrating - what’s a useful approach to get enough information and emotion into the page? When should you be going for clarity vs inspiring awe? Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet:...
03.25.2021
LIA 353 - Listening With Notetaking to Understand and Facilitate Groups (MWS)
Are you in meetings in person or on screen where you’re taking notes in front of folks? When we're listening to learn from a conversation even one other person or to work in a group we use a similar style...
03.18.2021
LIA 352 - Feeling Overwhelmed (CWC)
Every once in a while we feel like we're in over our heads, whether it’s due to the number of tasks we've committed to, ambiguity of the tasks, or just feeling a bigger-than-usual sense of friction between the tasks and...
03.11.2021
LIA Cast 351 - Make Your Own Time Tracker (MWS)
It’s no big reveal that time tracking and journaling can be invaluable tools to help you find the time to focus on your creative work. But how do you pick the one that’s right for you and how do you...
03.04.2021
LIA Cast 350 - Advocacy as Part of Your Creative Business
Rob feels he has a variety of advocacy ideas tangled up and thinks it’ll be super useful talking with Jerzy on today’s show - he’s been doing advocacy through comics for years! Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later...
02.25.2021
LIA Cast 349 - Panel Tools in Clip Studio Paint (MWS)
Ever wonder what those paneling tools do in Clip Studio Paint? You’ll be surprised by how much they can speed up your work. Join Jerzy and Rob for a Mini Workshop episode where they demo 3 awesome power-ups in Clip...
02.18.2021
LIA Cast 348 - Reading/Watching/Playing (CWC)
When we make things, write stories, any creative work needs input. Sometimes that’s focused research, other times it’s the indirect idea fuel of taking time to recharge, play games, watch, and read things that give us energy. Join us for...
02.11.2021
LIA 347 - Create a Fast Frequent Comics Challenge (MWS)
Ever think about participating in hourly comics day or similar comics events? Avoid entirely but think about it still? Or try and get stuck? We’re going to take the worksheet my students use in the Customizing Your Next Creative Challenge...
02.04.2021
LIA 346 - Projects that Frighten You (CWC)
Ever not try an art project because you feel some fear about the work involved? This week Rob and Jerzy look at what they do when they feel frightened about making things. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later...
01.28.2021
LIA 345 - Quick Flatting in Clip Studio Paint (MWS)
Jerzy and Rob share some tricks in Clip Studio Paint that will make flatting easy for beginners, and speedier for those who have been doing it a while. Sponsors for this episode Science Comics: Rockets Rob's workshops and coaching Lean...
01.21.2021
LIA Cast 344 - Getting and Believing in Rest
Join Jerzy and Rob for an exploration of how our relationship with rest affects our work. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Mining for Trouble Rob's workshops and coaching Lean Into Art Discord Thanks to our top Patreon supporters...
01.14.2021
LIA Cast 343 - Shipping Every Day
Some frequently shared advice among creative people hoping to build an audience or attract customers is to “post something every day.” Many of us find this plan reasonable, yet difficult to act out. Rob has chosen to take this practice...
01.07.2021
LIA Cast 342 - Should You Evolve Your Long-Term Project?
This week Jerzy and Rob look at the Lean Into Art project itself as a case in point. When should you check in on your commitment to a long-term project, and how do you think about evolving it while you...
12.31.2020
LIA Cast 341 - Ongoing Adventures in Illustration Using Clip Studio Paint
Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Rob's workshops and coaching Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Bruce Lee: The Tao of Gung Fu Lynda Barry's Syllabus Stan Bush G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Clip Studio Paint Thanks...
12.24.2020
LIA 340 - Year-end Extra Lean
Jerzy and Rob celebrate the end of the year by practicing an Extra Lean episode, which are emergent discussions based on what we've recently experienced in our art. You can download more of them by subscribing to the Lean Into...
12.17.2020
LIA Cast 339 - Service-Driven Design can Make it Better
What happens when you begin to navigate the creative constraints of a project with the needs of the client, the users, and yourself in mind? Are the needs behind a project simply a list of requirements, or can they be...
12.10.2020
LIA Cast 338 - R/W/P & Picking Tools for Your Experience
Jerzy and Rob get together for another analysis of what they’ve been reading/watching/playing. In the second half they’ll look at how your own experience in the making of the thing can be a factor in choosing your tools. Sponsors for...
12.03.2020
LIA Cast 337 - Where in the Blank Part 2: Creative Time Tactics
Last episode we started exploring creative time strategies and considering capacity as an overall foundation to help with being realistic about creative output. Here we continue exploring to help our future selves get the things we care about making done,...
11.25.2020
LIA 336 - Where in the Blank is the Time to Create
Creative projects need lots of things, different concerns to focus on. Each of those concerns takes time. Where’s the time to create? How can we be kind and realistic in our plans? If we do this skillfully, we hope it...
11.19.2020
LIA Cast 335 - Art Soundoff 2020 Check-in: Topics & Outcomes
Jerzy and Rob check in on their 2020 Art Soundoff journals. What themes and topics did we choose, and why? What outcomes are we hoping for with this year’s challenge? If you’re participating in #artsoundoff this year, join the live...
11.11.2020
LIA 334 - Writing and Using Digital Notes: Part 2 of Note Taking for Making
Last episode Jerzy and Rob talked about note taking on physical media, including a demonstration of taking notes. It’s a big topic, why and how you gather notes, and even how you put notes to use. Join Jerzy and Rob...
11.04.2020
LIA Cast 333 - Useful Note Taking for Making Things
Note taking can help with gathering our thoughts and set us up to build upon ideas. Join us in this note taking and note using infused episode of the Lean Into Art podcast. Jerzy and Rob will discuss how we...
10.29.2020
LIA Cast 332 - Art Tools: New Potential and Reliable Favorites
Whether digital or analog, favorite art tools have a timeline and a story to them. First you’re curious about a new way or something breaks and it’s time to try something else. Then you explore an option and have an...
10.22.2020
LIA Cast 331 - Art & Video in 2021
2020 has asked many of us to level up our skills with online teaching, learning, and presenting. Jerzy and Rob check in to see how they’ve been thinking about using a variety of video information to tell a story, to...
10.15.2020
LIA Cast 330 - Spooky and Monster Stories
Jerzy and Rob celebrate some of their favorite spooky stories and stories featuring monsters. In traditional LIA fashion, they also ask themselves why these stories appeal to them. Join the live stream to share some of your own stories and...
10.08.2020
LIA Cast 329 - Drawing for Yourself
Creating for yourself, no matter your medium, has a power to it. Recently it’d been over a month since Jerzy drew something just for him. He found it invigorating and that’s the kind of thing we find fascinating to explore....
10.01.2020
LIA Cast 245 - Setting Up Projects for Whittling (Rebroadcast)
Some projects get the bulk of our effort and attention, yet others are those side projects that get less frequent or shorter durations of time and effort. In this episode of the Lean Into Art cast, join Jerzy and Rob...
09.24.2020
LIA Cast 328 - What is Professionalism?
This week Jerzy and Rob are joined by returning guest Gregg Schigiel to talk about the value of keeping the connections between you and your social/professional network active. Sponsors for this episode Cartoon Crossroads Columbus Rob's Store Lean Into Art...
09.18.2020
LIA Cast 327 - R/W/P & Obstacles: Chaos
Jerzy and Rob check in on what they’re reading/watching/playing, followed by another entry from the Obstacles series. Sponsors for this episode Cartoon Crossroads Columbus Rob's workshops Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Gods and Robots: Myths Machines, and Ancient Dreams...
09.10.2020
LIA Cast 263 - Public Art Drops (Rebroadcast)
This week Jerzy and Rob look at the methods and rationale for hiding pieces of original art in public. Links to sites mentioned Jake Parker's Art Drops David Zinn Jerzy's PowerCon art drops Jerzy's bowling night art drops Thanks to...
09.03.2020
LIA 326 - Creative Challenge Season 2020
This week Jerzy and Rob are joined by returning guest Gregg Schigiel to talk about the value of keeping the connections between you and your social/professional network active. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Rob's store Lean Into...
08.28.2020
LIA Cast 325 - Curiosity to Level Up
Jerzy and Rob look at the role curiosity plays in designing, creating, marketing, and acquiring other skills useful to communicating with images. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Guitar Fretter Lean Into Art Discord Thanks to our top...
08.20.2020
LIA Cast 324 - The Big Why
Jerzy and Rob check in and model the big question: why do we do the work we do? Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Guitar Fretter Lean Into Art Discord Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Greg Horvath...
08.14.2020
LIA Cast 323: Service Minded Marketing: Teaching Artist and Other Options
One way to add service to your products is to teach about how they get made. Marketing your work as an artist can be an uncomfortable second skill, though it could be more than that. Marketing your work in the...
08.06.2020
LIA Cast 249 - UX Bag of Useful Stuff (Rebroadcast)
Visual storytelling is a big theme with the Lean Into Art podcast. Also: working with what you have as a storyteller to do a myriad of things that go with not just the creative process but also presenting your creative...
07.30.2020
LIA Cast 322 - Maybe it's time to hire yourself
What do you do when you’ve got a product that you can’t find a partner for? Is it time to set it aside and try something else, or is it time to hire yourself to and go it alone? Join...
07.24.2020
LIA Cast 321 - An Exciting Unplanned Art Project or Technology Appears! Now What?
Is there an easy and useful way to find success criteria for projects in a technology you’re excited about? This week Jerzy and Rob talk about when it’s exciting and tempting to try a new (or new to you) art...
07.17.2020
LIA Cast 320 - Digital Drawing Hacks
This week Jerzy and Rob look at ways they’ve sought out more efficient approaches to drawing using digital tools. Sponsors for this episode Super Comics Challenge 2 Rob and Kate's coaching Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Ray Frenden's CSP...
07.09.2020
LIA Cast 319 - Obstacles: Managing Time, Managing Energy
This week Jerzy and Rob take a look at some of the obstacles we encounter in making our art. How do we struggle with finding time for our whittling and side projects while also trying to keep refining our main...
07.02.2020
LIA Cast 190 - Getting There Being There (Rebroadcast)
This week Jerzy and Rob are joined by returning guest Gregg Schigiel to talk about the value of keeping the connections between you and your social/professional network active. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Rob and Kate's coaching...
06.26.2020
LIA Cast 318 - Navigating Burnout
Uncertainty, unrest, new realities, and managing a side hustle can easily lead to burnout. What do you do to navigate or manage it? How can describing the systems that lead to burnout help us? Join Jerzy and Rob and share...
06.17.2020
LIA Cast 317 - Drawing Games & Setting Up Creative Spaces
Join Jerzy and Rob as we put our streaming studios through some tests! Work continues on our studios evolving, a couple episodes ago we mentioned working on our studios, learning the OBS streaming/recording app. And let's also do some live...
06.11.2020
LIA Cast 254 - Side Hustle for Product Development (Rebroadcast)
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...

What's Lean Into Art about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Lean Into Art episodes:

LIA Cast 269 - Lettering & Sound Design in Clip Studio Paint (Rebroadcast)

LIA Cast 360 - Daily Creative Celebration AKA Victory Donut (CWC)

LIA Cast 359- Viewing Angle Tells the Story (MWS)

LIA Cast 358 - Showing Up Socially, Balancing Quality and Effort

LIA Cast 357 - Write Posts Quickly With Prompts, Constraints, and Instinct

LIA Cast 356 - Prioritizing Your Work

LIA Cast 355 - Training Your Analytic Eye

LIA Cast 354 - Creating Clarity or Inspiring Awe (CWC)

LIA 353 - Listening With Notetaking to Understand and Facilitate Groups (MWS)

LIA 352 - Feeling Overwhelmed (CWC)

LIA Cast 351 - Make Your Own Time Tracker (MWS)

LIA Cast 350 - Advocacy as Part of Your Creative Business

LIA Cast 349 - Panel Tools in Clip Studio Paint (MWS)

LIA Cast 348 - Reading/Watching/Playing (CWC)

LIA 347 - Create a Fast Frequent Comics Challenge (MWS)

LIA 346 - Projects that Frighten You (CWC)

LIA 345 - Quick Flatting in Clip Studio Paint (MWS)

LIA Cast 344 - Getting and Believing in Rest

LIA Cast 343 - Shipping Every Day

LIA Cast 342 - Should You Evolve Your Long-Term Project?

LIA Cast 341 - Ongoing Adventures in Illustration Using Clip Studio Paint

LIA 340 - Year-end Extra Lean

LIA Cast 339 - Service-Driven Design can Make it Better

LIA Cast 338 - R/W/P & Picking Tools for Your Experience

LIA Cast 337 - Where in the Blank Part 2: Creative Time Tactics

LIA 336 - Where in the Blank is the Time to Create

LIA Cast 335 - Art Soundoff 2020 Check-in: Topics & Outcomes

LIA 334 - Writing and Using Digital Notes: Part 2 of Note Taking for Making

LIA Cast 333 - Useful Note Taking for Making Things

LIA Cast 332 - Art Tools: New Potential and Reliable Favorites

LIA Cast 331 - Art & Video in 2021

LIA Cast 330 - Spooky and Monster Stories

LIA Cast 329 - Drawing for Yourself

LIA Cast 245 - Setting Up Projects for Whittling (Rebroadcast)

LIA Cast 328 - What is Professionalism?

LIA Cast 327 - R/W/P & Obstacles: Chaos

LIA Cast 263 - Public Art Drops (Rebroadcast)

LIA 326 - Creative Challenge Season 2020

LIA Cast 325 - Curiosity to Level Up

LIA Cast 324 - The Big Why

LIA Cast 323: Service Minded Marketing: Teaching Artist and Other Options

LIA Cast 249 - UX Bag of Useful Stuff (Rebroadcast)

LIA Cast 322 - Maybe it's time to hire yourself

LIA Cast 321 - An Exciting Unplanned Art Project or Technology Appears! Now What?

LIA Cast 320 - Digital Drawing Hacks

LIA Cast 319 - Obstacles: Managing Time, Managing Energy

LIA Cast 190 - Getting There Being There (Rebroadcast)

LIA Cast 318 - Navigating Burnout

LIA Cast 317 - Drawing Games & Setting Up Creative Spaces

LIA Cast 254 - Side Hustle for Product Development (Rebroadcast)