I speak with Vienna-based researcher and illustrator Oliver Hoeller about the field of science illustration, and what he finds in the practice of urban sketching to make him a better illustrator, a more patient observer, and a happier person. He tells me about his path to a scientific career, and how he leapt at the opportunity to make his first science illustrations. We talk about where good ideas come from, and the ways an illustrator can and must build a mental library of reference material. We also speak about how he used observational drawing at a difficult time in his life to catalogue his memories and deal with adverse circumstances.

Check out Oliver's work on his website, or find him on Instagram.

Find SneakyArt on Instagram or visit my website for a summary transcript of this conversation.

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In this episode, I speak with Amsterdam based art-educator Koosje Koene about how she used the restrictions of COVID lockdown to "discover an extended version of the artist" in her, with a simple philosophy of doing what's fun. How much can be achieved by doing what is fun? Can it spark new ideas? Can it help us accomplish big, important goals too? Koosje used this period to write a book and discover a new creative outlet in abstract art, and we talk about both of these interesting projects. Koosje has been an educator and art-entrepreneur for a decade, and we speak about that with relation to her journey at Sketchbook Skool and her successful YouTube channel. We talk about the unique task of being an independent creative - the burdens and responsibilities of such a job title, and also the unique opportunities it offers in today's landscape.

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This episode comes with a bonus section exclusively for SneakyArt Insiders. Insiders receive bonus material from various podcast episodes - Ep 15 with George Butler and Ep 28 with Tomas Pajdlhauser.

Best ideas from the episode in my free email newsletter. Transcript of the conversation on my website. Find links to Koosje's work here.

I speak with Ottawa-based Tom Pajdlhauser (aka Captain Tom) about his years of work in the animation industry. I ask him about the many responsibilities of an art director, and the hierarchy of workflows involved in the creation of an animated show. We talk about how he sees the relevance of traditional drawing skills in the age of digital art.

But as a career illustrator, what does Tom gain from the practice of urban-sketching? He tells me about a motorcycle trip through SE Asia when he arrived at the intersection of travel and art, and how it changed everything for him. We also share our respective experiences self-publishing books of our art, with reference to Tom's excellent Palestine Sketchbook, and my SneakyArt of Eau Claire.

🔥🔥🔥 This episode has ~45 minutes of bonus content, available to all SneakyArt Insiders. Subscribe to become an Insider and access bonus content + other privileges!

🎨 Follow Tom's work on IG, or visit his website. ✒ Follow the SneakyArtist on IG, or visit here for a transcript.

This show is 100% independent and runs on the generous support of listeners and patrons!

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In the new episode, I speak with NYC-based artist and urban-sketcher Katie Woodward. Katie has made paintings that are both very large and very small. As a scenic artist for the theater she has worked on backdrops spanning several feet, and as an urban-sketcher she makes tiny watercolor cityscapes just a couple of inches wide.

What’s it like to make art for the theater? What is inherently different about painting big and small, and what is strangely similar to both?

Working in stage design demands a wide array of crafting skills, and Katie shares wonderful stories of some of her memorable work. We also talk about her upcoming book - Understanding Light - where she brings together the art and ideas of her favorite artists across different media.

Follow Katie's work on Instagram. To pre-order her book, visit here or find it on Amazon. Find a summarized transcript to this conversation on my website.

To support this show, and get an invite to the SneakyArt Discord, buy me a coffee. To signup for the free weekly newsletter or subscribe to the premium content, visit my Substack page.

In this episode, I speak with urban-sketcher and illustrator Anna Wilson. Anna is what I describe as a 'deliberate artist', in that she has taken strong decisions to change her career trajectory towards art and illustration.

I am always interested in speaking to 'deliberate artists', because they have such motivated and well-considered reasons for the things they do. What does a path of self-education in art look like? How do they gather influences, images, and inspirations, to guide this path? Anna tells me about the role that travel plays in shaping her perspectives, the lessons she picks from photography and carrying a little sketchbook, and what she carries from her formal education in human geography.

Check out Anna's work. To support this show, read my email newsletter, or follow me on social media, visit here.

In this episode, I speak with Berlin-based illustrator and artist Felix Scheinberger. Felix once described illustration as "applied imagination" and in this conversation I try to learn more about where this imagination comes from, and how it can be nurtured.

What is the role of on-location drawing in feeding this imagination? What are some ways to strengthen your imagination over time? What is the role of observation, what is the job of interpretation, and how can the artist translate the ideas in their mind into a visual language universally understood?

This episode took me into the mind of an illustrator whose work enchants me because it seems effortless, even though it is anything but. Felix makes his art with a carefree finesse that takes many, many years to master.

• Check out Felix's work on IG or visit here to buy his art
• Find SneakyArt on IG
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In this episode, I speak with Ian Fennelly, an artist and urban sketcher in the UK. Ian paints his urban environments in vivid, rich, and sometimes fantastical color-scapes. His lines and colors cleverly contrast the tussle between representing objective reality and subjective emotions. As Ian likes to point out, he is not recreating a scene, but creating art from a scene. The title of this episode is based on the title of Ian's latest book and is an apt description of his artistic process. His paintings are the result of looking and looking again, patiently building layer upon layer of observation, emotion, and artistic judgment.

• Follow Ian Fennelly - IG | Website
• Buy Ian's book - "Layers of Looking"
• Follow SneakyArt on IG, or visit the Website to see a transcript of this episode.
• Join the Facebook group of the podcast.
• Subscribe to the SneakyArt Post - a weekly newsletter where I elaborate on these podcast conversations, and share my journey of self-education to become an artist.

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In this episode, I speak with oil painter and urban-sketcher, Marc Taro Holmes, about his evolution over the years as an artist.

Marc worked in the early gaming industry, when both games and design programs were rudimentary. Later, as an urban-sketcher, he started the Citizen Sketcher blog, led numerous workshops, wrote several books, and inspired countless artists with his annual events - OneWeek100People and 30x30 Direct Watercolor.

Over the past few years, Marc has retreated from social media, and started using oil paints on canvas in his home-studio. What caused this shift? What do oil paints offer him that watercolors do not? Does he miss painting outdoors? In finding answers to these questions, I learned that Marc’s story is one of continuous evolution, motivated by his interests, surrounding influences, and life circumstances.

Links:

• To support this show, buy me a coffee!

• Marc’s work on Instagram + Citizen Sketcher blog

• 30x30 Direct Watercolor + OneWeek100People

• Free instructional cheat-sheets on Marc’s website

• SneakyArt on Instagram + Website (for a transcript)

In this episode, I speak with Mumbai-based artist, illustrator and urban-sketcher Zainab Tambawalla, about her sketch-reportage project to tell the story of 6 artisans practicing different trades in the city of Mumbai, India. She shares stories from their lives, professional struggles, and the enormous hardships of the past 2 years. Her project urges us to notice the lives of people who are often at the edges of our tunnel vision. It invites us to pay attention to our urban landscape in a more conscientious and empathetic manner.

We talk about Zainab's journey as an artist, her work in the animation industry, and her turn towards becoming a freelance illustrator. What does urban sketching have to offer someone who has been drawing and painting their entire life? We talk about the value of exploring new media and styles of expression, and discuss how drawing on location can help us appreciate the culture and history of the places we live in.

- If you liked this episode, buy me a coffee as a show of support. - To discuss this episode with me and other listeners, join our private Facebook group. - Subscribe to my free, weekly newsletter - Find an episode summary and links to other episodes on the SneakyArt website.

I speak with painter and storyboard artist, Alex Hillkurtz, about working on Hollywood storyboards and how it informs and influences his art today. We discuss how storyboards are made, what they are used for, and the lessons they have for every artist in terms of composition and framing. Alex tells me about picking up painting at a later stage in life, and how his ideas about control and precision changed as he worked in watercolors. We talk about picking up ideas and inspiration from cinema, fine art, and our fellow artists. Alex also shares his recent experience putting his thoughts together as a book - "Sketching Techniques for Artists".

Follow Alex on Instagram, or visit his website to stay updated with his latest work.

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To support this show, visit here and buy me a coffee. :)