Making It: REAL Stories of Creative Success

In this episode, host Taylor Gallegos sits down with creative generalist, previs artist, and filmmaker Brittany Biggs. Brittany shares an inside look into the world of pre-visualization (previs) animation, her transition to using Unreal Engine in major studios, and the cultural journey behind her independent short film, Mono. The two also dive into advice for aspiring artists, the impact of AI on the creative industry, Taylor's recent pivot into specialized sports murals, and their shared love for surfing in Southern California.1. INSIDE THE WORLD OF PRE-VISUALIZATION

The "Cinematography" of Animation: Brittany clarifies that previs is less about character choreography and more about cinematography. Previs artists take 3D elements, characters, and rough environments to block out scenes, set up virtual cameras, and map out lens choices—similar to shooting coverage for a live-action film.* The Sony Freedom: Currently working at Sony Pictures Animation, Brittany highlights how exciting it is to work early in a project's development. Because Sony operates without a rigid "house style," artists enjoy vast creative freedom when jumping between wildly different aesthetic worlds, such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse versus K-Pop Demon Hunters.* The Real-Time Revolution: Brittany discusses shifting workflows from traditional software like Maya—which requires massive render times to view lighting and effects—to Unreal Engine. Unreal provides real-time graphics directly in the viewport, allowing for a faster, highly experimental back-and-forth process with directors and editors.2. CRAFTING MONO: A HAWAIIAN SHARK STORY* Inspiration & Culturing Trust: Driven by a childhood fascination with sharks and a dramatic diving incident in Fiji, Brittany set out to create an impactful story about shark conservation. Recognizing she is not Native Hawaiian, she partnered closely with the Nakachi family (descendants of kākū manō, or shark guardians) on the Big Island to vet designs, protocols, and narratives with utmost respect.* A Journey Through Time: Her 10-minute animated film, Mono, utilizes a unique narrative device where a tracking shark passes through massive waves of Hawaiian history every time it dips above and below the water line—spanning from ancient Polynesian settlement to Pearl Harbor and modern commercial shark finning.* Impact & Accolades: The film had a successful festival run, winning "Best Music in a Short Film" at the Oceanside Film Festival. Today, it is integrated into educational and youth curriculums across Hawaii.3. ADVICE FOR ASPIRING CREATIVES* Follow Your Gut: Brittany emphasizes tuning out the external "noise" and skeptics who question whether you can build a sustainable career in the arts.* The Reality of Art School: While an MFA (which Brittany earned at USC) is absolutely not required to secure a studio job over a stellar demo reel, she values it for the time it gave her to discover her style and keep the door open for university-level teaching.4. NAVIGATING THE FUTURE OF ART & AI* Another Tool in the History of Art: Brittany notes that while AI apps can feel threatening to standard industry roles, it is helpful to look at it through the lens of art history—paralleling how photography threatened painters, or 3D animation threatened 2D animators. Both she and Taylor hope it will swallow mundane, repetitive tasks so creators can focus on pure human expression.Brittany Biggs is a seasoned professional animation and previs artist currently lending her talents to Sony Pictures Animation, with past stints at industry giants like DreamWorks and Disney. She holds an MFA from USC and spent four years instructing future animators at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is also the independent director and writer of the award-winning short film Mono.

Abstract artist Dawn Tappan joins Taylor Gallegos to talk about her creative process, from layered painting and sanding to using discomfort as a tool for discovery. She shares how her work evolved from realism into abstraction, why she values community in the arts, and how she balances creativity with the realities of business, pricing, and self-promotion. The conversation also explores AI, travel, and Dawn’s belief that art is woven into everyday life.Taylor Gallegos sits down with abstract artist Dawn Tappan for a conversation about process, community, and creative resilience. Dawn explains how she uses layers, sanding, and unexpected materials to keep paintings moving, why she values making art that feels fun, and how her approach has evolved from realistic illustration into a more intuitive abstract practice. The episode also touches on the importance of artist communities, supporting local art ecosystems, navigating the business side of creativity, and staying open to travel, learning, and change.KEY TOPICS* Dawn’s current series of paintings and how neon yellow helped break through a creative block.* Why she uses discomfort and “messing things up” as part of her process.* How she moved from illustration and realism into abstract painting.* Layering, sanding, and working with time as part of the artwork itself.* Her involvement in the Oceanside Art Walk and the value of community-based art spaces.* How she thinks about art as business, pricing, and self-advocacy.* Her perspective on AI, originality, and copyright.* Why she believes “everything is art” and why no one should call themselves a starving artist.NOTABLE QUOTES* “Stop calling yourself a starving artist.”* “Discomfort is actually a good thing.”* “The process is fun for me the whole way through.”* “Art is everywhere.”* “Everything is art.”GUEST BIODawn Tappan is an abstract artist known for layered, process-driven paintings that explore time, history, intuition, and playful experimentation. Her background includes illustration, realistic painting, and years of developing a more abstract and tactile studio practice. She is also involved in the Oceanside Art Walk and is deeply committed to artist community, creative mentorship, and supporting local arts.

Kenton Hoppas - Building a Creative Life Through Live Drawing and Daily DisciplineEPISODE SUMMARYIn this conversation, Kenton Hoppus shares how his creative life has become centered around a daily TikTok livestream drawing show that blends art, performance, and direct connection with viewers. He reflects on the long path that led him there, from childhood drawing, to technical illustration, bike messenger life, film and video editing, and eventually becoming a full-time live-streaming artist. A major theme is learning to trust one focused creative lane instead of constantly chasing side projects, and Kenton explains how that clarity has made his work feel more sustainable and fulfilling.SHOW NOTESKenton Hoppus talks about building a creative life around consistency, intuition, and personal connection. He shares how his livestream drawing practice on TikTok became both a business and a creative home, and why the pressure to do “more” can sometimes get in the way of doing meaningful work. He and Taylor Gallegos also discuss creative identity, style, collaboration, print sales, the role of routine, and what it means to keep making art that feels true to yourself.KEY TOPICS* Kenton’s “dream day” and how he defines a sustainable creative life.* Why his TikTok livestream show works as both art and business.* The role of names, personal connection, and audience participation in his work.* How his art style developed through sketching, sign painting, technical illustration, and experimentation.* Why he prefers focused, repeatable systems over scattered side hustles.* What collaboration and creative freedom look like in his current phase of life.* His definition of art as play, joy, and emotional exchange.NOTABLE QUOTES* “My dream day is now like every day is my dream day.”* “The live stream seems to just work without me coming up with any parameters.”* “The magic is in the sketch.”* “Only you can learn how to move forward.”* “Art is something that creates joy.”GUEST BIOKenton Hoppus is a San Diego-area artist known for his live TikTok drawing show, where he creates custom name-based artwork in real time. His background includes technical illustration, airbrushing, bike messenger culture, film and video editing, and children’s book illustration work. His current practice centers on drawing daily, livestreaming regularly, and building a creative business around a direct relationship with viewers and buyers.

Frank Golbeck, founder of Golden Coast Mead, talks with artist-host Taylor Gallegos about mead as “sunlight you can drink,” surfing, magic, regeneration, and the long game of building a creative, values-driven business.Links - goldencoastmead.com - Join the email list!!! @GoldenCoastMead  -The Regenerative Mead PodcastEPISODE OVERVIEWFrank shares how his mission is to “light people up from the inside” with mead, creating experiences where people feel beauty, connection, and awe—whether at farmers markets, art tents, or through a bottle on a store shelf. He and Taylor explore how to translate that in-person magic into branding, storytelling, and education so customers feel the depth of the product even when Frank isn’t there pouring.WHAT MEAD IS (AND WHY IT’S MAGIC)Frank describes mead as the alcohol you get when you ferment honey with water and yeast—a drink humans have enjoyed for tens of thousands of years, from African hunter-gatherers and the Mayans to Celtic druids, Shakespeare, and Beowulf. He frames mead as “a million flower visits in a bottle,” an ecosystem in a glass that can be playful, medicinal, and even used as a tool for spiritual or shamanic-style journeys when approached with intention.ORIGIN STORY AND BUILDING GOLDEN COAST MEADFrank’s first memory of mead is watching his grandfather transform a grumpy customer into a laughing storyteller with two tiny tasters, which he interpreted as a real-life potion. Years later, his grandfather’s last bottle inspired a golden, “California sunset” evening with his partner (now wife), which led him to decide to share that feeling with the world and eventually turn it into a business after time in the Navy.He walks through:* Collecting honeys around the world while deployed and realizing each honey reflects a distinct ecosystem.* Starting tiny with 5-gallon home batches before contracting with a local winery to make their first 1,000-bottle commercial run.* Spending years dialing in pricing, cash flow, and business model while often only paying themselves minimum wage.

This was such an amazing interview. Our conversation flowed like the watercolor paints, masterfully mixed by this artist/creative/community leader, Juliene Sinclair. In this episode Juliene shares how mastering color theory transformed her work, why community challenges beat perfectionism, and how painting became both her livelihood and her [email protected] on IGhttps://www.julienesinclair.com/ipaintedthat-challengehttps://www.julienesinclair.com/free-workshop-registrationSome great quotes from Juliene:“Once I understood color bias, painting finally clicked. It felt like magic.”“People think it’s silly to sit and paint. I think it’s silly not to, because of how good it is for your brain and your soul.”“Every page in my sketchbook is proof that I sat with myself instead of distracting myself.”Episode Highlights:How a deep dive into color theory and color bias during COVID turned years of frustration into ease and confidence with color.The story of shifting from selling murals and gallery pieces to becoming a watercolor and color-mixing educator in rural Montana.Inside her Color Mixing Lab course and the free weekly “I Painted That” challenge that gives hobbyists something concrete to paint.Why she champions small, imperfect, just-for-fun paintings over chasing masterpieces and gallery validation.Painting as therapy: overcoming fear of being seen, sitting with discomfort, and how a regular art practice melts anxiety.A candid take on AI art, creativity, and why embodied, communal art-making can’t be automated.

The conversation explores Lavi Daniel’s artistic philosophy, life journey, and views on creativity, consciousness, and the purpose of art. The discussion ranges from practical artistic advice to deep philosophical reflections on awareness, intuition, and the interconnected nature of reality.
Daniel emphasizes that art is not primarily about technique or intellectual concepts but about awareness, surprise, and poetic expression. His career path was unconventional—leaving formal art school, living in a teepee in the redwoods, studying indigenous textiles in Borneo, and eventually developing his artistic voice through persistence and intuition.
A recurring theme is that great art emerges from stillness, trust, and deep curiosity rather than rigid planning or analysis. Creativity, according to Daniel, comes from cultivating conditions where surprise and insight can occur.
The interview also explores how mindfulness, psychedelics, nature, and exposure to great art can expand perception and deepen creative expression.

In a profound conversation with Lavi Daniel, we explore how creative expression can transform pain into art. This lifelong artist shares his journey of turning life's struggles into meaningful work that resonates on a deeply human level.Host Taylor Gallegos and Lavi discuss the delicate balance between creating beauty in challenging times and addressing the harsh realities around us. They examine how art serves as both escape and mirror—reflecting our humanity while helping us process difficult truths.Whether you're creating through personal hardship or feeling the weight of global events, this conversation reminds us why we need "the poetry, the artwork, the gathered humanity" now more than ever.Instagram: @lavi.artistWebsite: lavidaniel.net::Produced by Snapjack Studios http://snapjackstudios.com/© 2025 Taylor Gallegos Art, LLC. All rights reserved.

What happens when you stop trying to formulate creativity and start trusting your instincts instead? In this episode of Making It: REAL Stories of Creative Success, host Taylor Gallegos sits down with Lynn Abate Johnson  @lajbiz  to talk about breaking free from rigid creative formulas. Lynn shares her journey from following prescribed systems to developing what she calls an "un-marketing" approach—where inspiration trumps structure every time.Together, they explore how authenticity beats strategy, why Lynn refuses to cage her creativity in hard frameworks, and what it really means to show up as yourself in a world obsessed with formulas. From her accidental path to becoming a two-time international bestselling author to building community without scripts, Lynn proves that the best creative work happens when you leave space for whatever wants to emerge.Whether you're tired of forcing your art into someone else's system or ready to trust your own creative instincts, this conversation brings a raw look at what it really means to make it on your own terms.Website: lynnabatejohnson.com::Produced by Snapjack Studios: http://snapjackstudios.com/Copyright 2025 Taylor Gallegos Art, LLC. All rights reserved.

What if the secret to selling art wasn’t about building funnels or following someone else’s script—but about becoming *more* of yourself?

In this episode of *Making It: REAL Stories of Creative Success*, host Taylor Gallegos sits down with artist and storyteller Ryan Stover to talk about how chasing someone else’s sales strategy nearly took the soul out of his art—and how he got it back. From cookie-cutter marketing advice to $18K coaching programs, Ryan opens up about the journey of trying to “make it” as a professional artist—and what changed when he started trusting his own excitement.

We talk about:

* Why the energy that creates art isn’t the same as the energy that sells it

* The danger of trying to sell like someone else

* Following your highest excitement—and watching the universe respond

* How to share your story *and* your art (without feeling like a sellout)

* Using AI as a tool, not a replacement, for human creativity

This episode is a real one for any artist standing at the crossroads of hustle and heart.

---📬 Subscribe to Ryan’s newsletter and view his work:https://www.ryanstoverart.com

🎧 Full episode available on:YouTube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts

---📽️ **Produced by Snapjack Studios** https://www.snapjackstudios.com

© 2025 Taylor Gallegos Art, LLC. All rights reserved.

What happens when you grow up in a world where dancing, drawing—even joy—are forbidden? In this powerful episode, muralist Andrea Solorzano opens up about her journey from a restrictive upbringing to reclaiming her voice through art. With honesty, heart, and a little fairy magic, Andrea shares how she transformed her inner darkness into color, connection, and purpose.

We explore:

• The emotional and spiritual toll of growing up in a controlling environment

• How Andrea rebuilt her relationship with creativity and spirituality

• Why butterflies, murals, and mystery gardens fuel her artistic mission

• The burnout she didn’t see coming—and what her acupuncturist taught her about true creative balance

• Her shift from survival mode to service: art as a gift, not a grind

Whether you're just starting out or deep in your creative career, Andrea’s story is a moving reminder that art can save you—and that making it doesn’t always mean hustling harder. Sometimes, it means nourishing yourself enough to fly.

Check out Andrea's work: https://www.solorzanofineartgallery.com/

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🎙️ Making It: REAL Stories of Creative SuccessProduced by Snapjack Studios → www.snapjackstudios.com© 2025 Taylor Gallegos Art, LLC. All rights reserved.