Draftsmen

Stan and Marshall talk about the frustrating "intermediate plateau" a stage where artists feel stuck. They explore causes like boredom, complacency, and unclear goals, and give advice on how to push through using feedback, mentorship, passion projects, and risk-taking. SHOW LINKS (some contain affiliate links): Animal Anatomy For Artists by Joe Weatherly (Foreword by Marshall Vandruff) - https://a...

Stan and Marshall break down how to learn color by combining theory and practice without getting stuck in rules. They explain hue, value, and saturation, share stories about their own color frustrations, and outline exercises like using limited palettes, plein air painting, and master studies. You’ll learn why repetition, observation, and balancing intuition with knowledge are key to developing yo...

Stan and Marshall discuss how the art industry is always changing, facing challenges like economic downturns, tech advances, and shifts in consumer behavior and the importance for artists to adapt to survive. Industries go through cycles, and the art world is no different. Stay resilient, improve your skills, and be open to new ways of working, like collaboration, using technology, or finding alte...

Long-term projects require dedication, focus, and patience, often starting with a big goal and breaking it into smaller, manageable tasks. Marshall and Stan discuss the crucial way to stay motivated by celebrating small wins and maintaining a balance between work and rest to avoid burnout. Collaboration can help, but knowing when to delegate is key. The two also talk about embracing unexpected bur...

Marshall and Stan discuss the importance of cinematic perspective in storytelling, emphasizing how camera placement, movement, lighting, and color can influence the audience's emotions and perceptions. By manipulating these elements, artists can create dynamic and engaging narratives. They also touched on the contrast between continuity and dialectic approaches in film editing, using examples from...

In this special SDCC panel, Stan is joined by Marvel artists and instructors from the course to share their personal journeys and offer advice for aspiring comic book artists. Learn what it takes to become a professional comic artist straight from the experts themselves. Find out how long it took them to get their break at Marvel, why they create comics, and get insider tips for getting a job in t...

This episode follows painter Stephen Bauman's journey from graffiti artist to fine art professional. He discusses his beginnings tagging buildings in Miami, training at the prestigious Florence Academy, and developing his artistic skills and philosophy. Bauman provides insights into mastering figure drawing, finding inspiration, judging good art, and creating work that is beautifully crafted. Step...

Legendary artist and instructor Glenn Vilppu sits down for an intimate discussion on his artistic journey, sharing wisdom and advice for mastering fundamentals like gesture drawing and developing your own artistic voice. Vilppu explains his training under old master artists and transition from painting to animation, emphasizing imagination over imitation. He provides tips on how to study classical...

Former Disney animator Aaron Blaise discusses his rapid journey to animating major characters at 21, losing his wife and leaving Disney, and starting an art education website to pass on artistic knowledge. Blaise also talks about his lifelong obsession with drawing animals, gaining inspiration from mentor Glen Keane, and the traditional hand-drawn animation process at Disney. Aaron Blaise - creatu...

This interview with Steve Huston covers his journey from comic books to fine art painting, his unique style combining realism with abstract expressionism, and his insights on figure drawing. Steve explains his mastery of lighting and form, approach to conveying emotion through art, and thoughts on engaging audiences. He also covers some of his artistic philosophies and the path it took to becoming...

This interview with illustrator Karl Kopinski covers his artistic journey, from early influences like fantasy novels and biology books to honing his skills at Games Workshop. Karl provides an inside look at freelancing for big brands like Magic: The Gathering and Netflix, building an accidental social media following thanks to his wife's encouragement, and the discipline needed to draw for 10+ hou...

Jeff Watts is the founder of the Watts Atelier and Stan's art instructor. Stan recently got to invite him into the Proko studio to film a special Draftsmen podcast where they discuss his own artistic journey, the elusive Reilly method, and more. If you want to learn more about the Reilly Method, check out Jeff’s new course on Proko. You’ll learn the academic approach which emphasizes the use of rh...

Marshall and Stan give their thoughts about the book The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups.  Skull sketchbook samples - https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/s4e2/notes Kim Jung Gi memorial sketchbook samples - https://www.proko.com/course-lesson/s4e2/notes MC Escher - https://static.proko.com/media/images/stan/draftsmen-s4-e2-mc-escher-hand-ball.jpg Heinrich Kley - https://stati...

A lot of things in the art world have changed since the last time Marshall and I talked, perhaps nothing more so than AI art. More and more artists are wondering what this emerging technology means for them. That’s why, in this episode, Marshall and I will catch up and discuss the current landscape of AI art, its ethics, and potential uses. Btw, the same day that we recorded this episode, Steven Z...

Stan and Marshall are here to address the many creative blocks posed in the last episode of Draftsmen, and provide long-awaited solutions. The two discuss ways to get over creative blocks, be they cultural, emotional, or otherwise. Learn how to recognize and grow past your limits and continue on your creative journey. Show Links (some contain affiliate links): Kirsten Zirngibl - https://kirstenzir...

Sometimes it can be difficult to get your creative juices flowing. Using two books, How to Be More Creative by David D. Edwards and Fishing for Elephants by Larry Moore as touchstones, Stan and Marshall discuss some of the most common creative blockages, where they come from, and what impact they can have on artists. Show Links (some contain affiliate links): How to be More Creative by David D Edw...

Stan and Marshall take their long-awaited trip to the Getty Museum in Los Angeles! Hang out with the two as they walk through the museum, and later discuss art, museum-going etiquette, best options for museum buddies, and much more. Show Links (some contain affiliate links): Cesar Santos - https://proko.com/251 Bouguereau A Young Girl Defending Herself against Love - https://static.proko.com/media...

Once upon a time, two podcasters, Stan and Marshall, sat down to discuss the complex art of storytelling, and how to do it right. The two chatted about what makes stories work, and the process, principles, and components that go into successful stories. The End. Show Links (some contain affiliate links): Kristian’s Sketchy Van Podcast: https://linktr.ee/KristianNee Lost in Space - https://amzn.to/...

Stan and Marshall sit down with industry veterans Brian Murray and Dan Fraga to discuss the art of storyboarding! Brian and Dan reveal how they each got their start in the industry, the craft itself, and offer some tips on how prospective artists can get a leg up in this competitive business. The group also talks about how this advice applies to artists of all backgrounds and aspirations. Check ou...

Stan and Marshall are here to answer some more of your pressing art-related questions from the last batch of voicemails ever. The two address topics like the importance of persistence, what to focus on after school, graphite versus charcoal, and the age-old conundrum surrounding the graceful acceptance of positive feedback. Show Links (some contain affiliate links): Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betr...

All good things must come to an end, and podcasts are no exception. The Draftsmen podcast is coming to a close-- but that doesn’t mean Stan and Marshall’s friendship is! The two reminisce over the laughs, deep discussions, and favorite moments they’ve had together over the course of the podcast. Then, they talk about the future and what new adventures and content that may be in store. Show Links (...

Join Stan and Marshall in their conversation with Ben Zhu, a former student of Marshall’s who also happens to be the founder, owner, and curator of Gallery Nucleus. Ben has years of experience as an artist and gallery owner, so he also has an abundance of wisdom to share with artists looking to get their work into a gallery. He’ll tell you how you can get your foot in the door, ways to make yourse...

What is talent? Are we born with it, or can it be nurtured and encouraged in anyone? This time, Stan and Marshall are back in the Draftsmen studio to talk about Daniel Coyle’s book, The Talent Code. They talk about how to grow your own talent, ways to practice, and how to change your mindset to help yourself flourish. Show Links (some contain affiliate links): Dodgeball Clip - https://youtu.be/peU...

Epiphanies are an important but elusive part of the creative process. Marshall and Stan discuss the different types of epiphanies that they’ve experienced throughout their lives, the importance of those realizations, and pitfalls one can run into in the pursuit of an epiphany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve got more questions, and Stan and Marshall have more answers! In this episode, the two tackle questions about postgraduate training, bad advice for beginner artists, getting over anxiety about entering art school as an older artist, making prints of your artwork, moving for your career, and searching for good resources for studying perspective. SHOW LINKS (some contain affiliate links): Draf...