Why We Create

🚨New Episode Alert🚨 A special new episode for y’all from the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create. In this episode we sat down (very cautiously I might add) with PDX based ergonomist, artist, and founder of ErgoArts, Serafine Lilien. Serafine’s career started out in the arts, and she now does work to help creatives (and folks of all kinds) stay happy, healthy, and free of any repetitive strain injuries.We got into the weeds on proper posture and the Neutral Posture Principle, the list of ‘helpful’ ergonomic chairs, stools, desks, and more – and also learned about best practices and some practical stretches artists – and anyone that sits all day – can adopt to help prevent injuries in the future. Conversation Topics include:💖 Be kind to your body, we only get one.🫸 Stretches throughout the day are important.👯 The best thing you can incorporate into your day is movement – aka, get up outta that chair and stretch your body and legs🧌 Do what you can to avoid having ‘Shrimp Back’ #wacomXPDX#community #podcast Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

As we wrap up season 3 of the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create, we take a look back to our past seasons for some of our favorite highlights and folks reasons for why they do what they do. This “best of” episode features clips from:·       Luke McGarry  @lukeymcgarry ·       Dakota Cates aka @wizardofbarge·       Colby Nichols @colbynichols·       Katie Pryde  @bookswpictures·       Kyle Webster @kyle.t.webster ·       Geneva Bowers @gdbeeart·       Liz Clayton Fuller aka @ipaintbirbs ·       Lanny Ho @lan.ny.ho·       Mike Golden aka @Droquis ·       Sarajean Chung aka @theonewithbearWe’ll be off recording more during the winter months in preparation for Season 4, coming to your ears early 2024.Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

It’s lucky number 13 for the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create. In this episode we sat down with PDX based Creative Director, Concept Artist and aspiring Improv actor, Barret Thomson of Deep Sky to dish on all things concept art, the influence of traveling, working with musicians and so much more.  Barret’s influence at Deep Sky can be seen across their amazing portfolio of work, including their in house project “It’s the Little Things” (which you can watch on YouTube) and their stellar animation for the music video for the five-part animated series called 'In Ashes 'by the Smashing Pumpkins. Barret’s personal work is just as exciting as his professional work and leads you to imagine the most fantastic stories… you know, like how did Medusa’s head get on that shield… and what would happen to you if you forgot to remove your symbiotic lung?Conversation Topics include:⛵ Steering the creative ship via Concept Art  🤷‍♂️ “What if” helps keep the wheels turnings🎭 Improv skills ARE helpful in real life🪄 Animation is Magic🐍 ⚔️ Perseus Killed Medusa (we googled)You can follow Barret on Instagram @barretthomsonYou can follow Deep Sky online at This is DeepSky on Instagram or at their website DeepSky.TV #wacomXPDX#community #podcast #conceptart #digitalart #illustration#spotify #applemusic #googlepodcast ⁠#iheartradio #podcasters Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

For the latest episode of the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create, we caught up with long time friend and collaborator Andre Luis to discuss the power of finding your tribe, cultivating community, and the struggles and successes of being a creative entrepreneur. Andre Luis founded Trojan Horse was a Unicorn (aka T.H.U) back in 2013. Since its conception, it has been a highly anticipated and highly regarded experience for both emerging and professional creatives.  Holding tight to their roots, T.H.U. is a space where creatives of all disciplines, skill levels, and backgrounds can come together to experience, and share, the power of creativity.  T.H.U. is not just the ‘main event’, but a series of experiences, meetups, workshops, and more that take place all around the globe between a vast array of communities. Conversation Topics include:🥰 Empowering creatives around the world 🎨 Creativity is key to a functional society  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 It’s all about the human connection🧚Shout out to all the mentors out there📖 Storytelling is powerful To stay up to date on what’s happening next at THU, make sure to follow them on social media and also check out their website: https://www.trojan-unicorn.com/#wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

For the latest episode of the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create, we’re syncing up with a few of our favorite local gamers, Will Lewis and Marlow Dobbe of PIG Squad and Rose City Games. They share with us what it takes to not only create your own indie game, but also cultivate an amazing community of game developers. From musicians to project managers, we discuss all of the roles involved in making a game as well as the benefits of participating in local (or via discord) game jams.  PIGSquad is a thriving community of creatives, programmers, musicians, storytellers and more – and their next jam is just around the corner, you can sign up by heading over to www.pigsquad.com Rose City Games is a game studio based in Portland, Oregon. They’re best known for their games Floppy Knights, Garden Story & World Next Door. Topics include:🤿 Dave the Diver 📂 Project Managers are important🔑 Community is key🎮 Anyone can be a Game Developer 👯 Lil guys love doin’ creative stuff You can find and follow PIGSquad and Rose City Games on social media#wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

For the latest episode of the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create, we’re heading into the flat graphic territory of adobe illustrator, discussing all things clean lines, tidy color palettes and the ‘Modern Vintage’ aesthetic. We sat down with the master of flat graphics himself, Tom Whalen aka @strongstuff to dish on everything from layers, to typeface, and how to balance multiple characters in one composition. From his first invite to a gallery show, to his current work with large organizations like Mondo and Disney (to name a few), Tom’s work is iconic, stylistic, and packed with industrial strength illustration skills.  Topics include:🍊 Orange based color palettes💕 Designing by feel📂 The importance of Layers, Layers, Layers🔑 Simplicity can capture all the details🎁 Collectibles are cool 📅 Keep a tidy schedule  You can find and follow Tom on Instagram and all social media platforms at his aka Strongstuff#wacomXPDXFind and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Listen in while we drift into the magical, delightful, and surrealist worlds created by none other than international artist Nicolas Barrome Forgues in our latest episode of the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create. Speaking to us from his home in France, Nico shares with us behind the scenes stories from some of his largest projects, his early day as an aspiring artist, and his love for Spielberg, Lucas, Spongebob and surrealist art. Topics include:🌲 Surrealist landscapes👹 Mischievous creatures🥰 Loving your creations😎 Being Unique🤝 The power of collaboration🖌️ Trying as many techniques as possible🤖 Love for Sci-fi, Kaiju and amazing creaturesYou can find and follow Nicolas Barrome Forgues on Instagram and all social media platforms #wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

We’re studying the tomes and channeling all our strength for episode 8 of the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create. Listen in while we journey through the world of wizards, goblins, and trolls (oh my!) with So.Cal based artist Dakota Cates, better known as the Wizard of Barge. Dakota shares with us his insights into living a magical life and just what it takes to become the Stepfather of Fantasy. Topics include:🧙‍♂️ Wizarding👨‍🍼 Daddies and Step-Daddies📖 Studying the Tomes🥰 Daily Affirmations🛹 Skateboarding✨ Magic the Gathering🐸 Muppets🙏 The importance and appreciation of great Mentors👕 Super rad Merch You can find and follow Wizard of Barge on Instagram and all social media platforms at #WizardofBargeIf you want to support and purchae his rad merch - head here to his WEBSITEFind and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXDid you know that being a skilled Dungeon Master can also translate to becoming a skilled Creative Director?  In episode 7 of Why We Create, we sat down with the brilliant and talented Illustrator, Creative Director and storyteller, Colby Nichols. From his work at Portland, Oregon design studio Jolby, to his current endeavors in the gaming industry, we get the full story and more on his preferences on everything from Metallica and Mario, to Coffee or Beer. We hope you enjoy the ep. You can find and follow Colby on Instagram  #wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)What makes your city, town or neighborhood so great? For us here in Portland, one of our greatest poitns of pride is the iconic and Eisner award winning Comic Book store, Books with Pictures.  For episode 6 of the official @wacom podcast, Why We Create, we sat down with founder, neighborhood historian, avid reader, and comics afficionado, Katie Pryde. Katie shares with us her amazing journey in creating and running the 2022 Eisner Award winning comic book store, Books with Pictures. From consulting start ups to crafting curated lists of what to read, Katie is the go-to person for finding new and exciting reads in Portland. We stand firmly with Katie and the entire team at Books with Pictures in saying that Comics are for Everyone. You can find and follow Books with Picture here: https://bookswithpictures.com/https://www.instagram.com/bookswpictures/?hl=en  #wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community #spotify #applemusic #googlepodcast ⁠#iheartradio #podcasters Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXWhat happens when the love for good food, good stories and great art collide? For episode 5 of the wacom podcast, Why We Create, we sat down with Brett Warnock, Chief Editor of Kitchen Table Magazine. Kitchen Table Mag combines illustrations, stories and recipies, into a comic/zine like layout that focus on the people behind some of Portland’s favorite restaurants, food carts, and bars. Like a delicious mirepoix for the Pacific Northwest foodie. In this ep. Brett shares with us his beginigns as a publisher in the comics industry to his life now, prepping and gettng ready for the 6th issue of the magazine. We dish on all things mayo (is it actually great?), our favorite restaurants, and the secret to making your own salad dressing.Look and ask for Kitchen Table Magazine at your Portland area book, grocery and comics shop.You can find and follow Kitchen Table Mag here: https://kitchentablemagazine.com/shop/https://www.instagram.com/kitchentablemag/Some other cool folks mentioned in this episode:Erica’s Soul Food @EricaspdxLe Bistro Montage @le_bistro_montage_ala_cartBobs Red Mill https://www.instagram.com/bobsredmill/Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)Dust off your art supplies, grab your favorite paint brushes and lets make some marks. For episode 4 of the official #wacom podcast, Why We Create, we’re talking to the brush-master himself, Kyle T. Webster. For digital artists and #photoshop enthusiasts, Kyles name will automatically sound familiar. For those not in the loop of digital art lingo, Kyle is the person behind the amazing brush sets featured on Adobe illustration and painting programs like Photoshop and Fresco. Kyle joined the team at Adobe a few years ago after already reaching rock star status in the art sphere by selling his custom created brushes on his own.Not only did we talk about our favorite brushes and how we use them, we also dug into some of the advice Kyle has followed to get to where he is. Not only is he an incredible illustrator, he’s an amazing educator and mentor. His career has taken him to so many places and now a meditative drawing app, Lines of Zen.  From how to find your own style to remembering to take those doodle breaks, we hope you enjoy the episode. You can find and follow Kyle here: @KyleTWebster on Instagram@KyleTWebster on YouTube@kyleTwebster on TwitterSome other cool folks mentioned in this episode:Bobby Chiu: @digitalbobertJohn Hendrix @johnhendrix #wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community ⁠ #adobe #illustration #drawing #digitalart #kylebrushes#spotify #applemusic #googlepodcast ⁠#iheartradio #podcasters Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXFor Ep 3 we spoke with skilled photographer, Joshua Jordan.  Joshua shared with us his love of portrait photography and his humble beginnings capturing images of his grandparents and family.  We also spent some time nerding out on our favorite gear, photo and studio lighting techniques and the differences, and similarities, between portrait and product photography.  Make sure to listen to the end and let us know which part of the process is your favorite…. Shooting/capturing the image or editing/retouching?    You can find and follow Joshua here:  Website: http://www.joshuajordanphoto.com/Instagram: @JoshuaJordanPhoto Twitter: @JJPhoto_S/O to a few of our favorite Photography shops https://prophotosupply.com/  @prophotosupplyhttps://www.bhphotovideo.com/   @bhphoto #wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community ⁠ #photography #retouching#spotify #applemusic #googlepodcast ⁠#iheartradio #podcasters Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find our podcast ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)For our second episode of ‘Why We Create’, we sat down with publisher and artist, Mark Siegel to chat about the creation of his publishing company, First Second Books, the magic behind a collaborative workflow, and the power of sequential storytelling. You can find and follow Mark at the links below: 01FirstSecond books on Instagram 01FirstSecond books on Twitter#wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community ⁠ #spotify #applemusic #googlepodcast ⁠#iheartradio #podcasters Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find our podcast ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)We’re kicking off Season 3 of ‘Why We Create’ with one of our favorite artists, twitch streamers and Clip Studio Paint enthusiasts, Sarajean Chung aka The One with Bear.  In this episode we learn all about the life of a professional freelance artist, the joys of washi tape and the realities behind being an OG twitch streamer. We get the inside scoop on Sarajean’s creative career, her journey from skilled freelancer to working alongside us at Wacom on several projects, and also working with one of our favorite software partners, Clip Studio Paint and Graphixly. We leave no stone unturned and discover the meaning behind her moniker, the One with Bear, and dig deep into her love for analog mediums as well as her favorite flavors of Doritos.You can find and follow Sarajean at the links below: https://lynkfire.com/TheOneWithBear #wacomXPDX#podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate  #community ⁠ #spotify #applemusic #googlepodcast ⁠#iheartradio #podcasters Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find our podcast ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)Get ready for the #RoseCityComicCon special of the wacom podcast ‘Why We Create’. For episode 14 we sat down with animator and storyboard artists, Ben Lane and Todd Hoppmeyer. From the Simpsons to Inside Job, we got down in the mix of just what does it take to be a storyboard artist. Is it possible to hide hidden gems in the shows your working on, and just how does Ben do what he does?From #ToddFacts to so many jokes, we hope you enjoy the episode.  You can follow the fellas on Instagram here:Ben Lane @weezllane Todd Hoppmeyer @toddhoppart#wacomexperience #PDX⁠ Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find our podcast ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)For Ep 13 of the wacom podcast ‘Why We Create’ we sat down with the man behind some of the most hyped sneakers in the world, the current head of Donda industrial design, the Godfather of Dad shoes himself, Steven Smith. Steven’s influence in the industry can be traced back to 1986 when he started at New Balance. It was the early days of sneakers and running shoes and Steven was at the forefront of designs that are still sought after today. He’s responsible for the creation of the New Balance 574, 997 and 1500; the Reebok Instapump Fury; The Nike Shox Monster, Air Streak Spectrum Plus and the Nike Air Spiridon Cage 2 and many more. In his current role as the head of Donda industrial design, Steven’s reached the pinnacle of freedom when it comes to design, innovation and dreaming and is now tasked with leading the industry into the future. You can follow Steven on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stevensmith/ Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find our podcast ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)For Ep 12 of the wacom podcast ‘Why We Create’ we sat down with Brooklyn based artist, twitch streamer, and all-around awesome guy, Lanny Ho. From traditional block prints to tattoos, Lanny is a true multi-disciplinary artist that has the ability to shift from medium to medium without skipping a beat. His bold and graphic line work is perfectly suited for both prints and tattoos, and sometimes pops up in his ceramic works. You can catch him live weekly on twitch or in person at any of the upcoming tattoo conventions he and his studio mates from @hadesinquisition1683 may be attending. Give him a follow, support his twitch stream, and join us in becoming a faithful member of the ‘Ho’-army <3 https://www.twitch.tv/lannyho https://www.instagram.com/lan.ny.hohttps://lannyho.com/ #wacomexperience #PDX⁠ #podcast ⁠ #creative ⁠ #community ⁠ #conversations⁠ #reallife ⁠ #truestories⁠ #illustration #painting #art⁠ #cosmic #blackgirlmagic#hovergirls #gdbee #fantasty #scifi #magic #dreamy#spotify #applemusic #googlepodcast ⁠#iheartradio #podcasters Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find our podcast ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)For Ep 11 of the wacom podcast ‘Why We Create’ we had the honor of speaking with artist, inventor, director, fabricator, Rube Goldberg aficionado and who we claim may be the most trusting person on the planet, the talented and brilliant, Bob Partington. If you’ve been on this world a while and remember the glory days of MTV and music videos, you’ve probably seen Bob’s handy work. Or possibly you saw him on his tv show ‘ThingamaBob’ which aired on the History Channel. Or if you’re one of those people that love a good commercial or ad spot and find yourself lured into the television by the spectacular display of what seems to be the worlds largest treadmill, well… then you’ve almost definitely seen Bob’s work.  After starting on a path as an engineer in Canada, Bob ended up in New York with a Masters in Fine Arts from NYU. He worked in stop-motion at MTV’s Celebrity Death Match where relationships with artists and musicians set him in the direction of music and experimental video. Things came full circle in 2014 when Bob took home a Moonman for OKGO’s ’The Writing’s On the Wall’. His unique way of thinking landed him a world record and a Webby for ‘The World’s Slowest Rube Goldberg’ and is behind inspired projects for Stella Artois, Apple, Samsung, Ford and Volvo for which he won three Cannes Lions. He has also helmed events for Xbox, Wendy’s, IBM and IKEA. Find and follow Bob on Instagram @bobpartington https://www.bobpartington.com/ Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community

Find us on all the socials: WacomXPDXYou can find our podcast ‘Why We Create’ on all major podcast platforms (visit our lnk.bio)For Ep 10 of the wacom podcast ‘Why We Create’ we’re diving into the world of events, conferences and the skillful people that make them happen. We’re speaking with the creative mind behind @btconf Beyond Tellerrand, Marc Thiele. From his early days as a web developer and creative, Marc had the vision to bring people together and share knowledge, inspiration and the love of all things tech. Beyond Tellerrand is back after a short break due to covid and is exciting to get back to connecting likeminded individuals. Make sure to follow Marc and all of the events he runs on social media. https://beyondtellerrand.com/https://marcthiele.com/Find and Follow the Wacom Experience Center on all the socials: WacomXPDX#wacomXPDX #podcast ⁠ #creatives #whywecreate #community