Drawing Inspiration

Mike reflects on the life changes that can impact a creative and shares some of his recent works. Amy Maricle stops by the podcast to talk about her new book, “Draw Yourself Calm” which taps into those patterns all around us in nature. She shares her journey from art therapist to creativity teacher through blog posts, social media posts, videos and courses. Mike and Amy explore slow drawing, paper...

Mike talks about a few art updates and announces some YouTube videos are coming soon. Mike is then joined by Alyssa Doggett to talk about her creative journey. As an early career artist, Alyssa has found her creative path lined with watercolor, gouache and acrylic. She has leveraged social media to share her artwork which highlights the beauty of Nova Scotia and its surroundings. Etchr Mike on You...

Mike announces the winner of the Etchr sketchbook giveaway. Mike also has some conference tickets to share. Zoe Fitchet joins the podcast to talk about her journey from being the arty one to designer and then pursuing her dream. She talks about her early works and then they explore her love of animals and how her artwork is supporting conversation worldwide. From miniature drawings in colored penc...

Mike announces a new partnership with Etchr and talks about the upcoming Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference. Mike is then joined by Mesa Schumacher who talks about her career in medical and science illustration. Mike and Mesa discuss her educational background and her ability to find success in creating stunning representations of the natural and biological world. She not only shares her too...

Mike creates some more watercolor on black paper. He then shares his plan for a solo art retreat. Cassy Draws joins the podcast to share her creative journey from being an early creative to graphic design, Twitch streamer and fine art. She talks about her recent experiences and videos around acrylic painting by sharing her process, tools and her approach to new pieces. Mike and Cassy explore the b...

Mike reflects on a small flood as well as some recent artwork. Hannah Shand then joins the podcast to talk about her journey from fashion design to a becoming successful artist with a focus on rendering birds in ink. Mike and Hannah explore her art, inspiration, tools, and also talk about photography. Hannah drops some golden nuggets of advice for all creatives and she provides two homework exerci...

Mike Hendley shares a sketchbook tour on Instagram and talks about some of his entries in his perpetual journal. Mike visits a local tulip festival to create some sketchbook entries outside. Inspired by the outdoor experience, Mike does an overview of his current plein air/urban sketching set-up. He covers everything from where to sit, what tools work and how to set up the best creative experience...

Mike has a productive couple of weeks and is set to appear as a guest on another podcast. Google Art Director Matthew Cruickshank joins the podcast to talk about his latest Google Doodle exploring Route 66. Matthew talks about his early days with Warner Brothers and Disney and how his sketchbook brought him to Google. Make Do podcast Frog and butterfly   Mouse in tulip Butterfly Firefly larva...

Mike continues with his entries in his perpetual journal and some other studies with ink and watercolor. Mike also creates an alternative for those interested in supporting him and the podcast. Paul Heaston sits down with Mike to talk about his journey from drawing whales to his MFA and now urban sketching. He talks about his teachers' powerful influence on his creative journey and how he sought c...

Mike talks about his recent perpetual journal entries, an Instagram reel, and celebrates some friends who have reached 100 episodes of their podcast. Mike also talks about his live draws, being kind to yourself, and using social media for your own needs. Mike is then joined by Craig Williams. Craig has an interesting story from a science degree to illustrating some interesting animals in his home...

Mike reflects on some recent live draws, discusses reference photos, and is ready for acrylics. Mike is then joined by Lara Call Gastinger to talk about her journey from nature to science and art. She talks about her award-winning botanical work as well as her interactions with her followers via Patreon and live draw events. She covers her process and speaks to some of her recent work. She also ta...

Mike continues his live draw sessions on Instagram and talks about how to become a guest. Mike is then joined by Glen Southern who has been working in 3D modeling for over 20 years. He shares his journey and then they dive deep into the hardware and software that allows for the magic to happen. They cover desktop apps but spend much more time on the iPad as a creative tool. They also touch on 3D p...

Mike creates a 3D render of his art for a visually impaired friend and continues his live draws. Mike is then joined by artist, poet, and astronaut Dr. Sian Proctor to talk about her creative journey. They explore her early interest in science and nature and how her career in science led her to unleash the artist and poet within. Dr. Proctor shares her experience as an artist and poet in space and...

Mike talks about his new role as an Artist Ambassador for Pentel Canada. He also talks about his recent works using a mix of different media including 3D printing. Mike is then joined by self-taught artist Eric Romero whose representational style embraces work that reflects the influences from New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. His influences from the old masters are evident in his work. They ta...

Mike plays with colored pencils on black toned paper and revisits graphite with a wonderful photogenic gecko. Mike is then joined by Shima Star who is an amazing artist he met through Clubhouse. They talk about her journey from exploring creativity in secret to creating and then following her own path. Shima talks about her inspiration for her work and mediums. She also speaks to building a large...

Mike reflects on 2021 and the success of the podcast. He also touches on some recent watercolor and colored pencil pieces. Cole LaBounty McNair then joins the podcast to talk about his journey in art from a young age to where he is now. They talk about education, skill, inspiration, and building your brand. Cole shares some insights around his success and his approach to running a creative busines...

Mike talks about a recent course, some new pieces in his online store as well as revealing his 2022 theme. Mike is then joined by Marta Witkiewicz who talks about her journey from the forests and meadows to Poland to a world of magic and fantasy. Marta talks about her demons and how art has provided her with a safe harbor. She shares her technical skills, her love of writing, and her thoughts abou...

Mike talks about a change to Patreon, some new artwork, and setting your theme for 2022. Mike is then joined by artist and educator Ian de Hoog who shares his creative journey that involves music and art. Ian goes into detail about his tools and his approach to creating. They explore his recent works and talk about his current course on watercolor. Ian also shares homework that will provide you wi...

Mike brings some snow and talks about Nomad Sculpt for iPadOS. Stephanie Darlene Greenwald joins the podcast to talk about how she recently rediscovered her art again after spending two decades as a graphic designer. She shares her expertise as an artist/illustrator as well as a businesswoman and a single parent. She talks about how she creates, what inspires her and some things she has learned al...

Mike talks about his recent mushroom ink piece and shares a view into his pencil case. Mike is then joined by Stephen Silver to talk about the creative journey that has allowed him to work at Disney, Nickelodeon, and many others. Stephen shares what inspires him and how he arrived at the point of being an artist as well as a teacher. He talks about what he has learned as a teacher and he shares wh...

Mike takes an episode to reflect on being a creative over the last couple of months. He explores some of the challenges we experience and considers how to build a recipe for recovery for your creative practice. He then answers questions about creating mushroom ink and then painting with it and ends with what a short shutdown of Facebook and Instagram means for creatives. Tree frog in ink Sam Gille...

Mike talks about a very special crossover episode of this podcast. He also talks about Inktober and an NFT drop. Bethan Burton, artist and host of the “Journaling with Nature” joins the show to talk about capturing and documenting the world around us. She talks about fine-tuning your senses and using intentional curiosity to find the hidden secrets at our feet. She shares her experiences in empowe...

Mike talks about some recent work, podcast starter packs, and Inktober plans. Artist and writer Glendon Mellow joins the podcast to talk about scientific illustration also know as #sciart. He talks about his journey from a fine art degree, to retail and then writing for Scientific American. Mike and Glendon talk about the tools of the trade and how being a dad impacts your art. They also talk abou...

Mike completes another page in his nature journal, visits a local historic site and talks about prompts like #sciartseptember and Inktober. Artist and teacher Gayle Kabaker joins the podcast to talk about her creative journey from fashion illustrator to portraiture and cover design. She recently complete her seventh cover for The New Yorker Magazine. She has also done work with Vital Voices includ...

Mike prepares some starter packs for those interested in a list of curated episodes around certain topics. He also shares a strategy in how to share your work. Alvin Chong joins the podcast to talk about his beginnings and his journey from creativity and back again. Alvin talks about his art, his tattoo business, and how the lockdown opened up new possibilities for him online. Podcast starter pack...