You're A Better Artist Than You Think

How paper sketchbooks help you think in creative ways that screens simply can't. PLUS: Why six months of sketching literally changes how you see! ...with special guest Roland Allen, author of The Notebook: A History Of Thinking On Paper. -------- 00:00 Episode Start 03:15 Why We Don't Love Our Devices 03:45 How Paper Helps Us Think 08:39 Why Is The "Blank Page" Inspiring? 13:02 Fascination With Process 14:32 "Easy To Get Right, Hard To Get Wrong..." 16:22 How Paper Empowers Artists 23:36 The Problem Of Impermanence 25:24 How Sketchbooks Change Your Brain -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think" on all major podcast platforms: http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com -------- If you like our show, please comment, subscribe, thumbs-up, ring the bell, write a review, share with a friend, etc. Those efforts really do make all the difference in whether our show actually finds the artists and storytellers we're here to inspire and support.

How and why illustrator Amanda "Din" Duarte (Disney Lorcana, Ubisoft, Blizzard) left her solo freelance career to form a virtual studio that now employs over 40 creative professionals. PLUS: Burn out or burn it all down?  -------- 00:00 Episode Start 08:52 Freelancing Vs. Running A Studio 10:26 "The Fear Of Failing Everyone" 13:25 Knowing When To Pivot 17:00 Finding The Right Artist For The Job 21:52 Best/ Worst Advice 26:41 Who Is Your Favorite Muppet And Why? 27:26 The Magic Feather -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think" on all major podcast platforms: http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com -------- If you like our show, please comment, subscribe, thumbs-up, ring the bell, write a review, share with a friend, etc. Those efforts really do make all the difference in whether our show actually finds the artists and storytellers we're here to inspire and support. Thank you for listening!

Procreate's Kyle Webster, the Internet's favorite digital art brush builder, on why brush choice matters more than many artists realize. -------- 00:00 Episode Start 02:40  Why Brushes Matter At Studios 08:45 Why Brushes Matter For Beginners 09:27 Why You Should "Audition" Your Digital Art Brushes 10:55 Why Brushes Matter for Artistic Style 13:45 Why Brushes Matter To Kyle 15:44 How Brushes Inspire New Styles 18:09 Why Brushes Matter for Workflow 21:04 Why Brushes Matter for Speed 21:55 Best/ Worst Advice 26:51 Who's Your Favorite Muppet And Why? 28:49 The Magic Feather -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe: http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com  

Shawn Pryor, author of over sixty published books and graphic novels (most for all ages), offers insights on outlining, working with artists and the essential role of conflict in story development.  01:55 An Expansive Bibliography 03:09 Finding Something To Say 04:37 The "Conflict List" 07:17 Developing The Outline 11:32 Placing The Act Breaks 13:56 The First Draft Transition 15:27 Working With Artists 21:00 Common Problems With Comic Scripts 22:09 When Is A Script Finished? 23:59 Best/ Worst Advice 25:44 Who's Your Favorite Muppet? 26:06 The Magic Feather -------- Subscribe to You're A Better Artist Than You Think: http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Get FREE digital art brushes every month for a year when you join The Magic Box Brush Club at http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com Connect with Shawn: https://ShawnPryor.com  

KM Weiland, author of "Creating Character Arcs" and "Structuring Your Novel" reveals how to solve plot problems using "chiastic" or "mirrored" story structure. Plus: Understanding "The Thematic Lie" and building the most important structural "beat" in storytelling! -------- 00:00 Episode Start 02:15 Introduction To "Mirrored" Storytelling 03:04 The Hook And Resolution 03:37 The "Normal" World & The "New" World 05:13 Mirrored Story Structure in "Toy Story" 06:40 Join The Magic Box Brush Club 07:06 How Act Breaks Mirror Each Other 10:25 The Thematic Lie 15:47 The Midpoint As A Mirror 28:51 Solving Story Problems With "Mirrored" Structure 31:07 Structural Timing 34:46 Why Story Structure Matters 40:30 Making Story Structure Your Own 42:59 Best/ Worst Advice 44:46 What Was Your Personal Midpoint As An Artist? 48:19 Mindset Shift 51:34 The Magic Feather 57:14 End Credits -------- SPOILER WARNING: This conversation contains major spoilers for Toy Story and minor spoilers for The Godfather and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Find KM Weiland's books and blog at http://HelpingWritersBecomeAuthors.com and learn more about our mentorship program The Clockwork Heart at http://MagicBoxAcademy.com -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com  

In this episode of You're A Better Artist Than You Think: Why "time management" so rarely works for artists and four tips for a more effective solution. As creative people, we care a lot about time because our projects require so much of it. Furthermore, many, if not most of us want to spend more time working on our creative projects, not less. Even when we're successful in implementing "time management" strategies, the strategies themselves are not. That's because "time management," as it's commonly understood, is not the solution, but rather, priority management. With these four priority management tips, you'll learn how to give your best energy to what matters most in your creative life. 00:00 Intro/ Theme Music 00:17 Can't Find Time For Art? Try This... 00:56 Get Free Digital Art Brushes Every Month! 01:24 Give Your Best To Your Project 16:48 Tip #1: Make Early Easier  18:30 Tip #2: Plan For Smooth Transitions  29:16 Tip #3: Optimize Your Workspace 43:26 Tip #4: End With Preparation Get new digital art brushes with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year at http://DigitalArtBrushes.com

Victoria Ying, animation visual development artist (Tangled, Frozen, Big Hero 6) and comics creator (City Of Secrets, Harvey winner Hungry Ghost) joins for today's episode of You're A Better Artist Than You Think!  Learn how to avoid overwhelm, burnout and art-related injuries, set realistic deadlines and push through the boredom when attempting ambitious, creative projects.  Plus: Why routines aren't for everyone... -------- 00:00 Episode Start 00:22 Tip #1: Start Small 04:04 Tip #2: Accept The Boredom 06:41 Tip #3: Know Your Timelines 09:25 Tip #4: Practice Finishing 11:11 Tip #5: Routines Aren't For Everyone: 14:21 Tip #6: Find The Friction 16:17 Tip #7: Work With What Ya' Got 17:44 Tip #8: Break Down Deadlines 19:27 Tip #9: Mind Your Body 21:56 Tip #10: The Longer The Project, The More Opportunity For Setbacks 27:32 Tip #11: Just Get To The End 28:36  Tip #12: Find Your People  32:42 Best/ Worst Advice: 34:16 Who's Your Favorite Muppet? 34:46 The Magic Feather: 36:09 Read/Watch/Play/Listen -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com      

The Jim Henson Company Archives' Director and Historian Karen Falk offers insights into Jim's creative process, his collaborative style of leadership and the evolution of his characters. If you're listening on one of the audio-only platforms like Apple Podcasts or Spotify, I do want to encourage you to check out the video version on our YouTube channel where we'll feature images from the new edition of Karen's book titled "Jim Henson's: Imagination Illustrated" as well as photos and video clips from my visits to various Henson exhibits. -------- 00:00 Intro 00:11 Theme Music 00:35 Interview Begins 00:58 Jim Henson's Imagination Illustrated 03:19 More Than Muppets 06:02 Jim's Personal Touch 07:13 Jim's Fearlessness 08:32 Jim Henson The Character Designer 09:20 From 2D To 3D 10:30 A More Professional Finish 13:12 Jim Henson's Character Designers 14:27 Jim Henson The Director 16:14 Controlled Chaos 17:04 Joining The Jim Henson Company 18:22 Jim's Red Book Blog 20:35 Puppet Preservation 22:06 The Museum Partners 26:47 Character Design Evolution 30:30 The Historical Record 31:40 The Jim Henson Legacy 35:11 Karen's Unique Perspective 38:06 Credits -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com    

Author Fritz Horstman of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation reveals how color "lies" to our eyes and why that matters to artists. PLUS: Changing our relationship to color from "painful" to "playful." -------- 00:37 What Josef Albers Means To Present-Day Artists 01:24 Interaction Of Color 02:28 Science Vs Experience 03:51 Color Relativity 04:58 Playing With Color 06:04 Homage To The Square 06:49 The Personification Of Color 07:50 Rothko And Albers 11:15 Interacting With Color 15:11 Let Color Come To You 16:16 How To Play With Color 18:18 Color Intervals 18:48 The Illusion Of Transparency 19:45 Color And Music 21:27 How Color Distorts Proportion 22:55 To Open Eyes 24:56 No "Favorite" Colors 26:29 Developing Your Tolerance For Ambiguity 26:58 Color For Non-Artists 27:47 The Magic Feather -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com

"The Disney Revolt" author Jake Friedman surveys the infamous animation strike of 1941, and explains why it matters to present-day artists. We consider the cost of Walt Disney's perfectionism, the painful, personal consequences of his decisions, and whether he ever learned from them. PLUS: The most influential Disney animator you've never heard of... -------- 00:49 Introduction: The Disney Animators' Strike Of 1941 04:08 Disney Vs. Disney 06:37 Art Babbitt - The Most Influential Disney Artist You've Never Heard Of  12:47 Reconstructing The Timeline Of The Disney Strike 15:37 Would The Disney Strike Have Happened Without Art Babbitt? 17:27 Loyalty Above Creativity? 19:01 Products Of Our Influences  20:08 How Walt Disney Was Like Michael Scott From "The Office" 22:44 When Disney History Repeats Itself 25:18 You Can't Fire Family 26:23 The Cost Of Walt's Perfectionism 28:41 Walt Supported His Artists (Until He Didn't) 31:37 The Emotional Ending 34:37 Did Walt Ever Learn His Lesson? 35:42 Was Walt Anti-Union? 39:15 Learn More At TheDisneyRevolt.com 39:55 Credits -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com    

Nine of my current mentees were named "Rising Stars" of 2d & 3d art by ImagineFX magazine. In this two-part interview series, they're here to share stories of artistic development and how being selected for the article affected their mindsets.  Illustrator Andrea Ivetic Vicai begins the episode with a positive spin on the more frustrating aspects of illustration. Next, animation artist Lucy Ledsam talks about finding an art career that matches your personality. VR artist Elizabeth Person and CG artist Carmen Thora Smith talk about making the switch from painting to 3d. …and finally, character designer Laura Horan presents the benefits of an agile creative process. Find links to their portfolios and samples of their art at bit.ly/ifxmb  -------- 01:18 Illustrator Andrea Ivetic Vicai: 02:17 Infinite Challenge = Infinite Inspiration  03:46 The Devil On The Shoulder  04:52 Be Your Own Best Friend  06:36 Andrea's Magic Feather  08:09 Animation Artist Lucy Ledsam: 08:48 "I'm Not Big And Bombastic..."  12:14 Advice For Non-Bombastic Artists  13:05 Lucy's Magic Feather  18:01 VR Artist Elizabeth Person: 18:26 Specialization As Curation 18:59 Switching Industries  23:14 Lizzy's Magic Feather 23:51 Disney Is Convenient  25:53 CG Artist Carmen Thora Smith: 27:06 Learning Complicated Software  28:12 Shifting Stories  29:36 Tools Do Matter  30:28 Carmen's Magic Feather 31:26 "Just-In-Time" Learning  33:08 Character Designer Laura Horan: 34:28 Don't Settle For Less  36:01 Objectivity Is Impossible  38:04 Laura's Magic Feather 39:16 CREDITS -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com  

What would you do if you learned that your artwork would be featured in an industry-leading magazine for creative professionals all over the world? …and you only had a few days to select and submit your samples, write a professional bio and a short blurb about each submission, update your website and prepare a series of social media posts to coincide with the publication date? Would you find that inspiring?  …motivating?  …terrifying? Nine of my students faced this question when they were named among ImagineFX Magazine's "Rising Stars" of 2D and 3D art. …and they're all here to talk about this career-defining moment. They'll share their initial reactions and the challenges they encountered throughout the process. They open up about their struggles with self-doubt, perfectionism, and the super-tight deadline. …and offer insights about how the experience changed them.  …probably forever.  Today, in part one of a two part series, we'll hear from Mutia Terian, Rami Juma, Dan Tompkins and Veronica Kosowski - in that order. You can find samples of their work and links to connect with each of them at http://bit.ly/ifxmb -------- 00:00 Intro 01:29 Learn More At MagicBoxAcademy.com 01:47 Mutia Terian: Animation Artist 02:50 Mutia Terian: Developing Confidence 07:07 Mutia Terian: Defining Confidence 09:54 Mutia Terian: What To Do When You're Stuck 11:10 Mutia's Magic Feather 16:49 Rami Juma: Digital Painter 17:28 Rami Juma: The Benefits Of Writing About Your Art 20:08 Rami Juma: Effort Vs. Effect 24:41 Rami Juma: When To Change Things Up 27:00 Rami Juma: Gifts From Your Younger Self 29:03 Rami Juma: How Mindset Affects Art 31:19 Rami's Magic Feather 34:13 Dan Tompkins: Character Designer 34:53 Dan Tompkins: Improving Old Art 37:07 Dan Tompkins: Saved By "Game Face" 38:01 Dan Tompkins: Drawing Yourself Out Of Doubt 39:19 Dan Tompkins: Desensitizing Yourself To Doubt 41:58 Dan's Magic Feather 43:05 Veronica Kosowski: Animation Background Painter/ VisDev Artist 44:12 Veronica Kosowski: Learning From Your Younger Self 47:05 Veronica Kosowski: The Benefits Of Life-Long Projects 48:59 Veronica Kosowski: Fear As Perfectionism 50:37 Veronica's Magic Feather (Except Not) 54:57 Connect & Subscribe -------- NEXT IN PART 2: We'll hear from the rest of the "Rising Stars" in the next episode. For your convenience, I made a Linktree where you can easily find your favorite ways to subscribe: http://linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com --------

In part one of this series, graphic novelist and literary agent Tori Sharp shared tips on pitching to publishers, how story guides design, and the challenge of creating honest art.  Now, in part two, Tori talks about stories as "sense-making" devices, urges the importance of celebration breaks during long projects, and shares her experience as an autistic artist. Once again, our production coordinator, Mari Gonzalez Curia, who is currently seeking representation for her first original graphic novel, joins me as co-host. -------- 00:57 Agent Vs Creator 01:32 Magical Or Terrifying? 02:43 Shouldn't You Be More Excited? 04:24 Taking Celebration Breaks 06:45 Why "Get Out Of The House" Is Good Writing Advice 07:38 Stories As "Sense-Making" Devices 09:26 Neurodivergence & Artistic Development 10:53 Good Teachers Are Good Listeners 11:26 The People Who Can Only Hear Your "Voice" 12:28 Developing Adult Characters In Stories For Kids 14:31 Feeling "Seen" By Stories 19:36 How Has Your Mindset Changed? 21:05 The Best Advice You've Ever Received 21:44 ...And The Worst? 22:45 The Magic Feather -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com

Graphic novelist and literary agent Tori Sharp shares tips on pitching to publishers, how story guides design and the challenge of creating honest art. Our Production Coordinator, Mari Gonzalez Curia, who is currently seeking representation for her first original graphic novel, joins me as co-host. This is the first of a two-part series. -------- 00:45 Meet Tori Sharp 02:59 Tori's First Comics 05:19 Do You Consider Your Work Nostalgic? 09:24 Coursework Vs. Conversations 11:46 Understanding Passion 13:15 The Challenge Of Creating Honest Art 17:25 A Quick Note From Future Chris 17:44 Continuing Education 19:37 Passion Is Past-Tense 21:17 Rediscovering Her "First Love" 23:02 Tori's "Scariest" Project Yet: Just Pretend 24:36 Managing Panic 25:32 The Unique Challenge Of Sequential Art 28:57 Developing A Visual Style 30:48 Discovering Synesthesia 31:45 Imperfect Perspective 33:06 The Emotional Process Of Pitching 36:52 Pitching Multiple Projects At The Same Time 40:32 Next In Part Two 40:45 Credits -------- Next, In Part 2: Tori talks about stories as "sense-making" devices, urges the importance of "celebration breaks" during long projects and shares her experience as an autistic artist. Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com

Animation visual development artist and background painter Amy Lewis shares insights about the vitality of professional networking, balancing perfectionism with self-acceptance and the attitude she expects from her students and crew. This is the second in a two-part series. -------- 00:00 Introduction 01:42 The Struggle Of Self-Critique 05:52 Growing Confidence - Brass Bands And Bullies 09:13 How Amy Beats The Odds 12:11 The Vitality Of Networking 14:21 Happy Little Trees 15:14 Amy's Current Mindset 16:37 Evaluating Amy's Old Portfolios 18:26 The Mindset Amy Recommends For Her Students And Crew 19:38 The Best (And Worst) Advice Amy Ever Received 22:29 The Magic Feather 25:30 Anything Else? 26:41 Credits -------- Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com

Animation visual development artist and background painter Amy Lewis (SpongeBob, Moominvalley) talks about establishing a freelance animation career from Europe, the most devastating rejection of her career and the amazing opportunity that followed. This is the first of a two-part series. -------- 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Meet Amy Lewis 02:11 Amy's Early Influences 05:03 Frustration With University Art Programs 07:02 Experimenting With Illustration 08:05 "I've Found My People..." 09:49 Amy's First Big Break 14:08 Another Year Of Skill Building 15:33 Moominvalley & Art Directing In Lockdown 16:45 Knowing What You Don't Want 18:50 Amy's Dream Job Disappointment 21:33 SpongeBob SquarePants 24:13 The Brave Locomotive 25:52 Amy's Artistic Development 32:17 Next In Part 2 32:31 Credits/ Hidden Track -------- Next, In Part Two: Amy shares insights about the vitality of professional networking, balancing perfectionism with self-acceptance and the attitude she expects from her students and crew... Claim your 100% free, lifetime membership to The Magic Box Brush Club and get new digital art brushes (Procreate or Photoshop) with accompanying tutorial guides every month for an entire year: http://DigitalArtBrushes.com Subscribe to "You're A Better Artist Than You Think": http://Linktr.ee/ChrisOatley Mentorship: http://MagicBoxAcademy.com

http://HowToBecomeAProfessionalArtist.com *At the time of this recording, Chris' mentorship The Clockwork Heart is accepting applications. Email Support@ChrisOatley.com to schedule an interest meeting and apply. *IN THIS EPISODE:* In this episode of "You're A Better Artist Than You Think," Chris Oatley, founder of The Magic Box Academy and Visual Development Artist for Disney, DreamWorks, and Sony Pictures Animation, helps artists identify what to look for in a creative mentor. ...and he shares a personal story about the time one of his music mentors helped him overcome a fear he didn't even know he had. This is part one in a series. 0:01 - Introduction 0:21 - A Potential Mentorship Gone Wrong  2:20 - Collaborative Mentorship 4:08 - Defining "Mentorship" 6:08 - Our Definition 6:52 - Great Mentors Help You Help Yourself 13:10 - Homework 14:44 - "Autonomy" by The Bright Sigh

In this episode of "You're A Better Artist Than You Think," Chris Oatley, founder of The Magic Box Academy and Visual Development Artist for Disney, DreamWorks, and Sony Pictures Animation, helps digital artists and visual storytellers de-stress their creative process through the revival of classical workflows. You'll find guidance in the timeless methods of legendary illustrator J.C. Leyendecker and modern examples like The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, Aliens, Up, and Cuphead that will reduce overwhelm and frustration in your workflow while also boosting your efficiency and confidence. Get clear, relevant feedback on your work and personalized career guidance through Chris' mentorship at HowToBecomeAProfessionalArtist.com

Pixar Animation Studios was always known for quality storytelling, but in the early years of CG feature animation, they also set the standard for design. CG feature animation was considered by many (even mainstream audiences) inherently inferior until the turn of the 21st century.  The fur and lighting effects in Monsters, Inc. were remarkable in 2001 (and they still hold up) but in 2003, Finding Nemo's visual art finally and fully transcended the technological limitations of the new medium. When interviewed about how they created such stunning imagery, the Pixar artists often cited their meticulous research. Whether it was sketching professional ballet dancers in preparation for Fantasia's dancing hippo sequence, living in Latin America for months at a time during development for Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros or hiring legitimate apex predators as models for The Lion King, Disney artists were willing to do whatever it took to achieve their characteristic verisimilitude.  …so why wouldn't Pixar? They got the Nemo art team certified for scuba diving. The Up artists flew to Venezuela to paint the world's tallest waterfall. The Cars team went on an epic road trip across the legendary US Route 66, the Ratatouille team wined and dined at fancy restaurants in Paris… …and the Toy Story 3 team toured…  …landfills. That's right… The Nemo people swam around a coral reef. …and the Toy Story 3 people swam around in literal human garbage.  …but the movie probably wouldn't have created a cultural phenomenon it did if the artists hadn't been so committed to authenticity. This is the second in a three-part lesson for artists who are ready to develop effective professional practices upon which they can depend for efficiency, consistency and quality in their work.  Today we'll talk about the importance of working from reference - even when it stinks.  We'll bust five common myths about reference. …myths that if left un-busted put your portfolio at risk of landing in the trash. This is "You're A Better Artist Than You Think." I'm your instructor Chris Oatley and this is part two in my series titled "Why Artists Need To Slow The Hell Down." Get clear, relevant feedback on your work and personalized career guidance through my mentorship at HowToBecomeAProfessionalArtist.com There you can also subscribe to this free course via email and get every new lesson delivered directly to your inbox as soon as they become available. Next, In Part Three: We'll explore the relationship between practice and projects by applying a product design concept to the process for developing our visual stories.