Paid 2 Draw

On the first in-person recording in Paid 2 Draw history, Vicky and Dave chat with illustrator and designer Giulia Hartz about her client work, personal projects and her online community.  Giulia opens up about how she copes with uncomfortable feelings by customizing her living space with encouraging words and witty jokes. Turning dark thoughts into funny art, the physical act of painting calms her down in times of uncertainty.  To connect with her audience, Giulia mixes nostalgic toys from her childhood with unexpected ironic messages to create tension, comedic relief and an almost meme-like quality in her illustrations.  She has successfully created a personal brand by being true to herself. Giulia regularly engages with her online community by sharing personal experiences, meeting up for coffee dates and sending her followers on sticker hunts around the city. She even delves deep into technical tutorials and sharing knowledge with The Hearts Club — her devoted followers on Patreon.  _________ SHOW NOTES: • “The Freelance Manifesto: A Field Guide for the Modern Motion Designer", Joey Korenman • Drop-Shipping Services: Printify, Printful, Moteefe _________ FOLLOW GIULIA: Instagram: @giuliahartz Website: giuliahartz.com TikTok: @giuliahartz Patreon: patreon.com/giuliahartz LinkedIn: Giulia Hartz Behance: be.net/giuliahartz _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

Paid 2 Draw is back with an all-new season! On the first episode, Vicky and Dave get to talk to the almighty Dave Arcade—a cartoon surrealist and visual storyteller from Salt Lake City, Utah. Dave explains how he found his hyper-intricate isometric style and shares his approach to creating uniquely personal work by simply drawing what you think is cool. He talks shop about his background in advertising, early cartoon influences, his passion for music, why VectorMagic is better than Image Trace, and what exactly ruined NFTs for him. Will AI art replace illustrators? Despite the rapid advancements in AI technology, Dave remains optimistic about the future. In the end, he thinks, no one’s willing to support the death of an artistic industry. So there you go. Another episode chock-full of doom talk, guitar pedals and Adobe bashing. Don’t miss this super-interesting conversation among three peers about the ups and downs of drawing for a living! _________ FOLLOW DAVE: Instagram: @davearcade Website: davearcade.com Behance: be.net/davearcade _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok. _________ Hosted by Viktoria Cichoń and David Leutert. Music by Amanda Deff. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

Abraham Lule is a Mexican designer, typographer and art director based in New York. He describes his hand-crafted packaging and branding work as “design with a human touch.” With an unparalleled work ethic, Abraham is eager to learn new tools and techniques whenever he gets the chance. He always makes time for personal projects to improve upon his brush lettering skills.  His background in dancing and choreography has informed the way he approaches his design work today. Wearing many different hats as an independent designer, Abraham is all about getting things done. He doesn’t want to waste his or anyone’s time.  On this week’s episode of Paid 2 Draw, Abraham gives listeners valuable advice about the importance of presentation, collaboration and hanging out with the right people. Because if you’re working with talented folks it’s reflected in your own work. And quality is at the forefront of everything he does. To say it in Abraham’s words: “Good design lasts forever.”  _________ FOLLOW ABRAHAM: Instagram: @abrahamlule Website: abrahamlule.com Behance: be.net/alule Dribbble: Abraham Lule _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok. _________ Hosted by Viktoria Cichoń and David Leutert. Music: Amanda Deff --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

Diana Beltrán Herrera is a Colombian artist and designer who uses paper to create and transform things. With a sharp eye for detail she is a living example of why it pays off to take the time to specialize in one thing.  From Bristol, UK, Diana talks to Vicky & Dave about why she stuck with paper as a medium, how she connects with nature and what her pristine lab-like studio means to her — all while dropping inspirational quotes every 10 seconds.  On this hour-long group therapy session she tells listeners about the importance of play and why you should have fun doing what you do. Diana truly encourages you to make the most of your life. Don’t miss this super-inspiring conversation about the power of patience, passion, paper-craft and procrastination! ✨ _________ FOLLOW DIANA: Instagram: @dianabeltranherrera Website: dianabeltranherrera.com TikTok: @dianabeltranherrera Behance: be.net/dianabeltranherrera1 LinkedIn: Diana Beltrán Herrera _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok. _________ Hosted by Viktoria Cichoń and David Leutert. Music: Amanda Deff --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

Monique Aimee is a multidisciplinary artist based out of Boston. Her work ranges from digital illustrations to hand-painted murals to chain-stitch patches — all with themes of empowerment and self-care. She studied illustration in Boston and typography in Melbourne. On this episode of Paid 2 Draw, she explains how she went from being a sign maker in a basement for Whole Foods to becoming a super-successful freelance illustrator, working for clients like Disney, Netflix, Snapchat, Coca-Cola, Patagonia and Chronicle Books.  Monique shares her journey from Massachusetts to Australia and Japan, and now back to Boston. She talks to Vicky and Dave about the importance of saying ‘no’ and how she made six figures as a freelancer. The three illustrators discuss everything from chain-stitching to community work and superior toilets. Monique also describes how she found a way to improve her time-management skills. She gives valuable tips on how she finds time for self-care in between client work, teaching herself animation and sharing her process, knowledge and experiences on TikTok. After all, she’s just a human. And she googles stuff, too.  _________ FOLLOW MONIQUE:  Instagram: @moniqueaimee TikTok: @moniqueaimee Website: moniqueaimee.com _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok.  _________ Hosted by Viktoria Cichoń and David Leutert. Music: Amanda Deff  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

Scott Biersack aka @youbringfire is a freelance designer specializing in lettering and type design based in Phoenix, AZ. He’s worked for clients like Adobe, Bacardi, BuzzFeed, Netflix, Snapchat, Starbucks, and Target. Living by the mantra “No Work, All Play”, Scott brings his fire for creating to every new creative challenge.  In episode 5, Vicky and Dave have an honest conversation with Scott about mental health, burnout and the pressure of social media. But also less depressing stuff like collaboration, sustainability or trying new things. They talk about ways for designers to make a difference and affect meaningful change. Scott recently started teaching type design at ASU and is going back to school to become a musician — all while working full-time as a freelance designer. Some might say he is juggling a little bit too much, but you'd be surprised how much you get done when you wake up at 4:30am.  _________ FOLLOW SCOTT:  Instagram: @youbringfire Twitter: @youbringfire TikTok: @youbringfire Website: youbringfire.com _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok.  _________ Hosted by Viktoria Cichoń and David Leutert. Music: Amanda Deff  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

Helen Li is an Australian illustrator and tattoo artist living in Poland. She has worked for clients like Nike, Google, Adobe, Dropbox and Snapchat, and has illustrated the book “The Art of Drag” for Nobrow. Her work is full of joy and personality. On the 4th episode of P2D, Helen talks about her journey from Sydney to New York and Warsaw. And how her path led her from finance to graphic design to ultimately her dream gigs — full-time illustration and tattooing. She gives listeners a deep-dive into how she developed her signature style, the importance of humor in her work, and how drawing buff babies was the pinnacle of her career.  Vicky and Dave have a candid conversation with Helen about dealing with social anxiety and accepting failure as part of the process. But also about embracing who you are and not letting self-doubt get in the way. Because your ideas are valid. Helen loves her job and wants to keep working until something fails. Retirement isn’t really something she is looking forward to. So she even started training her left hand to draw — just in case. Hear all about it on one of the objectively funniest episodes of season 1!  _________ FOLLOW HELEN:  Instagram: @helen.of.koi Website: helenofkoi.com _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok!  _________ Hosted by Viktoria Cichoń and David Leutert. Music: Amanda Deff  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

Martina Flor is a lettering artist, author and educator. Based in Berlin, she runs one of the world’s leading studios in lettering design and custom typography. On this episode Vicky & Dave talk to Martina about her journey from Argentina to the Netherlands and to Germany. How she found a sense of belonging in the type community, what teaching has taught her about her own process, and how her background in acting has helped her become a great public speaker.  By asking “How can we help people with what we do?”, Martina and her team have impacted the work and businesses of thousands of brands and creatives all over the world. She also talks about ways for creatives to diversify their income streams and how to combine their various skills to create a unique career for themselves. Martina thinks the future of lettering looks bright. And she still loves getting to draw letters every day.  _________ FOLLOW MARTINA: Instagram: @martinaflor Twitter: @MartinaFlor Website: martinaflor.com Listen to her podcast Martina Flor’s Open Studio. And sign up to Leap Now — her 4-month group coaching and mentorship program. _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok! _________ Hosted by Viktoria Cichoń and David Leutert. Music: Amanda Deff  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

On the second episode of Paid 2 Draw, Argentinian illustrator and graphic designer Eugenia Mello talks to Vicky and Dave about how to dance with a pencil. Her beautiful work is full of movement, emotions and vibrant colors. She talks about how growing up in the Caribbean has informed her style and what an impact dancing and ballet have had on her approach to image-making and visual storytelling.  Eugenia tells listeners about the importance of understanding your process, being centered (during a proverbial pirouette) and finding something that feels true. The conversation addresses both dealing with imposter syndrome and being proud of your work. Eugenia really covers it all. She is very tired, but at least she's not dead. So she can keep on going.  _________ FOLLOW EUGENIA  Instagram: @eumiel Twitter: @eumiel Website: eugeniamello.com Behance: be.net/eu_  _________ If you liked this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. And follow Paid 2 Draw on Instagram and TikTok.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message

Nicole Rifkin talks about the importance of giving back to the community that made you and how the DIY punk scene influenced her career path. She talks about how working hard all the time was her choice and how lucky she has been to have so much support. On the very first episode of Paid 2 Draw, Vicky and Dave have a heart-felt discussion with Nicole about kindness, competition, pro bono work, dying alone, and of course, Cheese Wednesdays — the ultimate perk of being freelance. Don’t miss out on this inspiring conversation between three illustrators! And remember: “Don’t work for cops.” _________ FOLLOW NICOLE Instagram: @nicolerifkin Twitter: @nicole_rifkin Website: reformforest.com _________ SHOWNOTES  Litebox (Illustration Rates)  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/paid2draw/message