The Pencil Pusher's Podcast

Explore Clarence Heyward's transformation from a midlife crisis to a celebrated artist, highlighting his struggles, artistic growth, and advice for navigating the art business. Gain insights from Hayward on networking, artistic insecurities, AI influence in fine art, and the representation of black artists in the industry. PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds  

PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

Welcome folks to Episode 53 of The Pencil Pushers Podcast. In this convo, I speak to educator, painter and photographer, Nancy Carty. She also happened to be my high school art teacher. Nancy has been on my mind for a while to showcase on the podcast because of her art education background, steering budding creatives into a life in the arts for 4 decades. You can imagine there was plenty she’d learned and taught in that time. Nancy is perhaps not your average teacher. She grew up in Saudi Arabia, as an American child living in the middle east. This helped inform her roaming spirit and a love of culture and art. Nancy also talks about teaching in today’s ever-changing world, how she got her start while living and working in several towns, cities and countries, her thoughts and advice on AI and more.I love this talk with one of my biggest cheerleaders when perhaps I needed it most. I think you will too - so, sit back, relax and enjoy my chat with Nancy. PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

Todays episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast takes us into the mind of Jessica Hische. Jessica is a New York Times best selling author, graphic designer and illustrator, but perhaps she’s most known as one of the pivotal leaders in the new generation of lettering artists. With almost 20 years of experience, working with some of the biggest brands in the world, Jessica has created a career that is the envy of any creative.Listen in as I chat with Jessica about the emergence of AI, how she built her massive client list, how she balances her prolific work schedule while raising three young kids, her next big project and so much more.So, do yourself a favor…sit back, relax and listen in because you don’t want to miss this amazing chat with Jessica Hische. PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

Welcome folks to the Pencil Pushers Podcast. I’m your humble host Mike Rosado, illustrator, designer and lover of all things creative, and I talk with top tier artists in the hand-drawn arts. Today is no exception, where I talk to Nicolette Capuano, owner and primary artist for Nicolette Atelier, a bespoke mural and decorative arts studio specializing for both residential and commercial fields. I’d met Nicolette years ago in my hometown of Raleigh, and connected through social media, but that was about it. That said, I’d been watching her work from afar and I was always blown away by her skill and diversity of styles in a number of different spaces. Our talk here really showcases not only her love for the creative work, but how she took her families entreprenurial spirit into her own studio, giving her a solid business model that is surely the envy of many. Needless to say, there are lots of gold nuggets of wisdom for those looking to start their own successful studio. Nicolette was a joy to talk to as I’m sure you’ll see. So, without further ado, do yourself a favor - sit down, relax and enjoy my chat with Nicolette. PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

  Hello and welcome Leadheads to another fine episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast. I’m as always your humble host Mike Rosado and I’m thrilled to have one of my favorite past guest on the podcast once again…the lovely and talented Hayley Barry. Today’s episode is a special one as we dive into some of the most important business tips for creatives - whether you own your own studio, working freelance or work for an agency. Every creative these days needs to learn how to maximize their professionalism. Whether it’s talking about finances, how to curate your social content or how to be proactive in getting the ideal clients - this talk will leave you inspired and ready to up your game. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it. Yall, settle in, relax and enjoy my chat with Hayley. PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

Welcome once again Leadheads to another fine episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast. I am of course your humble host Mike Rosado and I am honored to be sharing some time with you today. Speaking of sharing time, I had the pleasure of sitting down at the studio with Skillshare founder, Michael Karnjanaprakorn to talk about a myriad of topics. For those of you few creatives that may have never heard or used Skillshare, they are pretty much the premiere online learning resource for creatives. Listen in as we talk about how Skillshare came to be, what he thinks about the strengths and weaknesses are between online and traditional learning for creatives, changing our mindsets about business and money as an artist and so much more. Michael was a delight to chat with and I think you’ll find this to be one of the most insightful talks we’ve had yet. So, without further ado, I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy my chat with Michael. PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

Welcome folks to another fine episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast. I am of course your humble host Mike Rosado and I’m thrilled to be sharing this next chat with my new friend Derek McDonald. Derek is a West Coast vintage inspired sign painter that holds the key to some of the greatest traditional crafts of the past 150 years. Hand painted signs are an amazing part of our industrial history and Derek is not only a talented carrier of the torch, but he’s also a massive historian of the craft, so I learned a lot. Derek not only had his own studio but also works full time at Disneyland as a sign painter. We get into the thick of his creative story, I learn more about the history of sign painting, how you too can get into the craft and what it’s like to work at Disneyland and what he sacrificed happily to get him that remarkable once in a lifetime job. Derek was a blast to chat with as you’ll soon see. So, do yourself a favor, follow him on Insta @goldenwestsignarts while you sit back relax and enjoy my chat with Derek. PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro.  Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds

EPISODE 46 LAUNNNCH! Today, I’m excited to share with you another fantastic guest to the conversation; former animator and current animation director/producer, Saul Blinkoff. Saul’s not only had a highly successful career in animation, but has spent many years touring the world, talking about how to live your best life, or like the name of his own podcast, live a Life of Awesome. Our talk ran the gamut of how to be a great leader in the creative arts to the incredible stories of working at Disney during the renaissance years in the 90's - all peppered with some of the best words of wisdom any person at any age can take with them. I had an absolute blast getting to know blast and I know you will too. Do yourself a favor - sit back, relax, grab yourself a nice cold one and enjoy my talk with Saul. ✏️ PS: Don’t forget to take advantage of our Burny Wild’s promo code just for our Pencil Pushers fans. More info on the podcast intro. 🔥 ✏️ Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild’s @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds (edited) Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound    

🔥New Episode Launch!🔥 ✏️ Today we are thrilled to be sharing our talk with the uber talented Martina Flor. Martina is widely known as one of the great lettering artists of the day, but she's also an educator, podcaster and studio head in Berlin, Germany. We went through a whirlwind of topics that start with her courageous pivot of leaving her comfy job in her hometown in Buenos Aires in Argentina two train as a lettering artist in Berlin Germany into why this is the best time in history to be a creative, how to position yourself for high profile client projects, how to do so as introverted independent creatives and her thriving academy she created for independent illustration and lettering students. ✏️ This talk was so much fun filled with all kinds of inspiring takeaways and I can't wait for you to dive in! Do yourself a favor, if you haven't already, follow her @martinaflor, stop by and tell her "hey" while you sit back, relax and enjoy our talk. ✏️ Host: Mike Rosado @ekimodasor & @mrcraleigh Post-Production: Max Trujillo @trujillomedia Sponsors: MRC & Burny Wild's @mrcraleigh & @burnywilds Martina Flor's IG Page  Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound  

Welcome Leadheads to another fine episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast. I am as always your humble host, Mike Rosado, and we’ve got another banger of an episode for you. Today, we present something a little special. As of this recording, in 1 week, I will be headed to Wilmington, North Carolina to exhibit as an artist for my new brand Burny Wild’s. This will be my first ever booth exhibit at a comic con and I thought - what better way to prepare myself than talking to my good friend and personal Obi Wan Kenobi for all things comic art, Mr. Paul Friedrich? AND what better way to share his advice than in a public forum like The Pencil Pushers Podcast. Paul is a seasoned comic con artist, having exhibited at some of the biggest comic cons in the world, like the granddaddy of the all, San Diego Comic Con. If you’re planning on having a booth at a Comic Con, this is the episode for you. Learn all the Ins and Outs of how to make your appearance a raging success. Paul was throwing flames of wisdom left and right for us and I can’t wait for you to take it all in. So, without further delay, I welcome you to sit back, relax and enjoy our chat with Paul. The Pencil Pushers Podcast is a celebration of the hand-drawn arts. I’ll be interviewing friends and idols in illustration, animation, comic-art, and more. - Mike Rosado  Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound  

Welcome folks to another fine episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast. I am, as always, your humble host Mike Rosado and today, I am pumped to share with you my conversation with graphic artist and designer, Savannah Verville. Savannah is the creator of all fine things produced for her brand, Little Savage Design. She is currently killing it on social, using her savvy business skills to share and sell her trippy and playful products on Instagram and TikTok. We talk about her growing up in a small southern conservative town, being known as the weird, witchy girl and how she managed to take full ownership of her love of all things “woo woo” and turn them into into a way to not only full embrace her true self, but to encourage others to do the same. Listen in as she also gives advice on growing your social game, how to embrace your authentic self and, first time ever on the podcast, I get a reading of my natal chart by Savannah herself. I absolutely loved spending time getting to know Savannah and I know you’ll feel the same. So, without further ado, I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy our chat with Savannah. The Pencil Pushers Podcast is a celebration of the hand-drawn arts. I’ll be interviewing friends and idols in illustration, animation, comic-art, and more. - Mike Rosado  Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound  

Welcome to another fine episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast. Today we present Mike’s chat with comic artist, Rice University Professor and author, Christopher Sperandio. Chris started from humble beginnings living in rural West Virginia to carving a deep niche in the pop art world, spanning comics, games, museum exhibitions, sculptures, installations, and television productions all around the world. Chris shares his love of creating collage-style comics, the importance of taking art and comics seriously and great advice on being the best and most authentic artist you can be, even if that means sometimes sometimes getting the occasional death threat. We’re taking a bet that this is the perfect episode for YOU, so, sit back, relax and enjoy our chat with Chris. The Pencil Pushers Podcast is a celebration of the hand-drawn arts. I’ll be interviewing friends and idols in illustration, animation, comic-art, and more. - Mike Rosado  Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound

Welcome folks to another fine episode of the pencil pushers podcast. I’m your humble host, Mike Rosado, and it’s a pleasure to be sitting here introducing to you our very first guest of 2022: Graphic Artist, Stationer and Artrepreneur, Kate Smith. Kate was such a pleasure talking to and had a story that I found super compelling. Picture if you will, marrying your high school sweetheart, working as a designer and living a successful American dream life, only to drop it all, sell everything you own, buy an Airstream for the two of you to travel the country, all while building a successful stationery design business that services some of the biggest retail shops in the world. Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Bed Bath & Beyond and more. This is the life of Kate Smith. She quickly became one of my favorite guests and I believe you’re about to find out why. So, do yourself a favor, find and follow her on Instagram @katesmithcompany, while you sit back, relax and enjoy our chat with Kate.   The Pencil Pushers Podcast is a celebration of the hand-drawn arts. I’ll be interviewing friends and idols in illustration, animation, comic-art, and more. - Mike Rosado  Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound

Today we speak with independent filmmaker and animator, Dean Lennert. Dean has a storied history of working with some of the most popular TV shows and movies of the past 30 years, including Doug, Beavis and Butthead, Sesame Street, SNL’s TV Funhouse, the Oscar award winning short, Bunny and the huge big screen hit, Ice Age. He’s also currently working on his passion project, Dear Anna Olson, a short animated film he’s been working on for over 30 years. Although we get to chat about what it was like working for creatives like Mike Judge and studying with masters like Richard Williams, what I enjoyed most of all was talking to him about Dear Anna Olson and having him share what it’s like to create an project as large and tedious as an animated film, funded solely by himself and online donations. I’ve seen parts of the film, and they just look ridiculously good. I can’t wait to see the final film. Learn about it all on this episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast -  this is a great one folks - so do yourself a favor - sit back, relax and enjoy our chat with Dean.   The Pencil Pushers Podcast is a celebration of the hand-drawn arts. I’ll be interviewing friends and idols in illustration, animation, comic-art, and more. - Mike Rosado  Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound

Ok folks - here we are with another fine episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast. I am, as always, your humble host Mike Rosado. Today we get to share with you a very special conversation with a true legend - the one and only Don Hahn. Don is largely known as the longtime producer of some of the greatest animated films of the past 50 years spanning from his start at the Walt Disney studios in the 70’s to the resurgence of the public’s love for animation with films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and much more. Don’s love of Walt Disney the man himself as well as the studio is evident in not only the films he’s helped lead, but also the books he’s written and the documentaries he’s directed. Pound for pound, I’d put Don at the top of the list for most interesting person at Disney’s studio since Walt left the stage back in the 1960’s. His perspectives as a leader working with some of the most talented creatives in Hollywood - we’re talking Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, Howard Ashman, Richard Williams, Robert Zemekis and others - has made this conversation a tough one to pack into a one hour episode. But, luckily, we got it done and I can’t tell you enough how great a conversation it was. So, do yourself a favor, grab yourself a drink, sit back back relax and enjoy my chat with Don. The Pencil Pushers Podcast is a celebration of the hand-drawn arts. I’ll be interviewing friends and idols in illustration, animation, comic-art, and more. - Mike Rosado  Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound

Welcome folks to another fine episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast. I’m your humble host, Mike Rosado and we have got another gem today with creative mastermind, Lauren Hom. Lauren is a highly prolific illustrator, lettering artist, foodie, and more with a massive social media following that’s hit meteoric heights through her persistence to pave new paths of creative expression beyond her lettering style, and in turn, invited others to do the same.What I love about her story is that she works from her gut - never afraid to listen to her intuitive muse, even at the cost of potential “failure”. She pulls from the paths of the likes of a Picasso, one who’s never satisfied with status quo, and not relying on style to define her as an artist in movement - and she works from a state of passion and curiosity that is refreshing in an era where it can be tough to pull away from what people know of your work. I found Lauren to be an absolute delight and a true dynamo who’s in her element and full of pearls of wisdom.  highly recommend you slide on over to her instagram @homsweethom to be a part of her community of creatives while you sit back, relax and enjoy our chat with Lauren.   The Pencil Pushers Podcast is a celebration of the hand-drawn arts. I’ll be interviewing friends and idols in illustration, animation, comic-art, and more. - Mike Rosado  Post production and editing by Trujillo Media Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound