The Pencil Pushers Podcast

We welcome illustrator, author, and ArtCenter teacher Ellen Surrey about building a hand-drawn career with a mid-century, nostalgia-soaked visual language. Surrey describes growing up in Los Angeles with her father, Disney animator Michael Surrey (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, supervising animator for Timon in The Lion King), learning characters at home, and abandoning animation after finding it tedious. A high school ArtCenter class with Martha Rich revealed modern illustration, studio life, and community, deepening Suri's love of postwar pared-down design. Influences include Mary Blair, JP Miller, and 1960s painters like Bernie Fuchs and Bob Peak. A school project became her Mid-Century Modern Women book, helping "legitimize" her; in-person portfolio meetings led to a New Yorker assignment. She illustrates Nosy Crow's This Book Will Make You an Artist (nearly two years, heavy design/rights constraints) and announces This Book Will Make You a Scientist. She discusses scheduling, promotion anxiety, using personal projects (LA icons) to land LA Times work, teaching students to limit tools/platforms, and future goals: a written-and-illustrated kids' book, vis-dev for animation, and a movie poster, fueled by a love of film like Pee-wee's Big Adventure.

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Host: Mike Rosado

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia)

Sponsors: True Grit Supply

We welcome Ecuador-born, Los Angeles–based illustrator, toy maker, author, and filmmaker Chogrin, digging into a childhood marinated in American cartoons, Japanese fandom, and Latin American culture, plus early obsessions with drawing, He-Man, Turtles, Ghostbusters, fantasy films, and behind-the-scenes creature craft. Chogrin traces his path from art school in Philadelphia and a Cartoon Network internship (Class of 3000) to work on Adventure Time, Regular Show, and Big City Greens, then explains how the animation downturn and AI pressures pushed him deeper into freelance and indie animation. He breaks down directing Lucky Brave Sunshine with an Ecuadorian studio funded by a government grant, the festival "pay to play" reality, and his next short, Sector 1218, backed by a GoFundMe. He also describes designing toys, Guillermo del Toro buying his work, visiting del Toro's collection, and argues for transparent, ethical AI sourcing while praising collaboration, constraints, and taking bold swings.

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Host: Mike Rosado

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia)

Sponsors: Musgrave Pencil Company

Today we sit down with master woodcarver and former Disney Imagineering artist Ray Kinman, whose nearly 50-year career started when he bluffed his way into carving a restaurant sign with borrowed money, no tools, and zero experience. Kinman describes feeling "untalented," getting sparked by one supportive art teacher, then derailed by another, dropping out at 15 amid family turmoil, going through feral hippie years, learning silversmithing, and finally turning to carving when he had a baby on the way. After years of scraping by, his break came when an Imagineering senior designer spotted his Claim Jumper carving and brought him in; Kinman became a vendor on attractions like Indiana Jones Adventure and Winnie the Pooh. He argues real learning comes from mistakes, critiques test-driven schooling, explains Disney's desire for "wonky" human-made lines, and says AI and automation will make handmade work the new gold standard. He's planning a feature documentary around a Holly Theater commission and writing a book, Failing Forward.

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Host: Mike Rosado

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia)

Sponsors: Musgrave Pencil Company

Welcome folks as we sit down to chat with illustrator-author Luke Flowers, who's illustrated more than 60 children's books, including the million-selling Moby Shinobi series, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers, and storybook adaptations of The Muppet Christmas Carol and Jim Henson's Labyrinth. Flowers shares the story of growing up on a Colorado farm, discovering illustration through local illustrator Ron Adair, developing his craft at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and eventually breaking into publishing through a postcard he left at SCBWI New York that caught the attention of Scholastic. We talk process, budgeting, consistency, doubts, burnout, COVID, self-care, evolving styles, AI, and his ambitions for writing and directing.

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Host: Mike Rosado

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia)

Sponsors: Musgrave Pencil Company

We welcome the legendary lettering and graphic design artist Michael Doret, whose 5-decade

career includes work for Kiss, the New York Knicks, Disney/Pixar, and Time Magazine covers now

in the National Portrait Gallery. He talks about why he wrote Growing Up in Alphabet City,

published in late 2024, and his wanting to tell his own story before someone else did. He also

gets into how childhood visuals shaped his color and letterforms, often subconsciously, from a

Good Humor truck decal to Coney Island signage.

The conversation covers his path through tuition-free Cooper Union, mentorship under Ed

Benguiat at Photo-Lettering, a formative Push Pin stint with Milton Glaser, his sketch-first

process, declining standards in signage, skepticism about AI originality, the origins of the Knicks

logo, and his advice to work less and live more.

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Host: Mike Rosado

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia)

Sponsors: Musgrave Pencil Company

Welcome folks as we interview letterpress designer, printer, and educator Daniel Swartz, who returned to rural northern Indiana after a 2020 life upheaval, building a new practice in his late grandfather's garage studio. Swartz describes growing up around creativity, studying art at Indiana Wesleyan, shifting from illustration toward design and typography, and teaching starting around 2007–2008. After layoffs in late 2019 and a stalled job search as COVID hit, his wife returned to education while he became a stay-at-home parent, then began carving linoleum type blocks and hand-printing large work that gained traction on Instagram and sold. He explains letterpress setup, inking, proofing, kerning, and manual gradient techniques, notes prints can take about two weeks, and argues hand craft, historical awareness, and imperfection still matter amid digital tools and AI.

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Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

Host Mike Rosado welcomes illustrator/designer/comic artist Nathaniel Long, a South Carolina-based creator from the Winston-Salem area whose early Spider-Man obsession and grandfather's drawings sparked a lifelong pull toward hand-drawn craft. Long talks about choosing traditional tools for their tactile reality, studying cinema production at Bob Jones University to sharpen visual storytelling, and working full time at BJU Press on motion-graphic illustration projects like an animated "Mask of the Red Death." The conversation digs into how comics are built—outline first, then thumbnails, pencils, inks, and even physically cutting and gluing word balloons—while reflecting on shifting convention culture and the value of process.

The episode spotlights Long's Kickstarter for "Moon to Earth," a 24-page, retro-inspired space adventure one-shot he writes, illustrates, and traditionally inks, aiming to raise $3,000 by August 29, with tiers including a $15 comic and a $30 comic-plus-exclusive print.

If you're into comics, illustration, vintage sci-fi, or just seeing an artist take an idea all the way from their head to something you can actually hold in your hands, check it out—and consider supporting the Kickstarter.

🎙️ Listen to the new episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

🚀 By supporting "Moon to Earth" on Kickstarter today, you're helping another creator show what the hand-drawn arts can do.

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Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

Andrew Fairclough grew up skateboarding on the northeast coast of Australia, copying boards out of Rad Magazine, and winning a drawing contest in a skate publication at 12 years old. He went on to build a career designing for Nike, Billabong, and Rolling Stone before founding True Grit Texture Supply, whose brushes and textures are now used daily by some of the best illustrators in the world. In this episode we cover Andrew's winding path from a beach town in New South Wales through the snowboard industry in Canada, commercial design agencies in Sydney, and eventually into the illustration career and business he runs today. He breaks down how his signature pulp sci-fi and skateboard-influenced style developed, how a Skillshare class with 30 million Facebook views launched True Grit, and why delusion is the most underrated skill a young creative can have. We also get into what it means to build tools that empower artists without replacing them, the balance between running a business and staying creative, and where he sees the hand-drawn arts heading. Plus a Smashing Pumpkins deep cut that perfectly sums up why craftsmanship still matters. This episode is sponsored by Musgrave Pencil Company- use code PENCILPUSHERS at MusgravePencil.com for 10% off! 🎧 Listen to the full episode: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08WtvMb... Follow Andrew Fairclough: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindred_stu... True Grit Texture Supply: https://www.instagram.com/truegrittex... Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepencilpu... MRC Brand Design: https://mrcraleigh.com/

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

The Pencil Pushers podcast interviews stop-motion animator/director Justin Rasch, who has worked for 30 years across games, TV, and film, including ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Guillermo del Toro's Oscar-winning Pinocchio, and now directs/writes/supervises at Stump Puppet Pictures while sharing process online. Rasch recounts growing up in Florida inspired by comics, classic cartoons, Secret of NIMH, and practical effects artists, studying 2D and effects at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, then switching to CG after Jurassic Park. He describes breaking in by portfolio-hunting in 1990s LA, choosing Konami, and later leading animation at Luxoflux on projects like Shrek and True Crime: Streets of LA. Rasch explains how animation principles transfer across 2D/CG/stop motion, details his stop-motion workflow (blocking, shooting on twos, then final on ones), discusses why stop motion is hard to "control," and reflects on AI, audience interest in process, and working with Travis Knight and del Toro. He shares where to find him on Instagram and YouTube.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

Host Mike Rosado welcomes designer/illustrator/author Jon Contino to the Pencil Pushers podcast to discuss Contino's upbringing on Long Island, his parents' craft-driven influence, and his early path from band flyers, cassette art, and self-taught HTML to charging for creative work at 14. Contino explains how his lifelong obsession with lettering, failed graffiti attempts, Photoshop experimentation, hardcore/grunge culture, and New York's grime shaped his "organized chaos" style, later balanced by a problem-solving approach to branding inspired by figures like Paula Scher. He describes career growth from a 2005 studio and a handmade clothing brand to building Contino Studio, shifting from illustration trends into larger storytelling and branding work, including Toyota, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and sports. They debate commercialization of "handcrafted," carbon-copy styles, and AI's threat, emphasizing human mistakes and youth rejecting "AI slop." Contino shares his remote studio model, intense family-driven schedule, rare client friction, flexible discovery through live conversation, a move from paper to iPad/Procreate for speed, heavy use of Figma/Framer, and excitement about revitalizing Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's brand.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

Mike Rosado interviews Raleigh-based illustrator and designer Ian Wenstrand about his highly detailed, vibrant illustrations blending cityscapes, technology, and imaginative world-building. Wenstrand describes drawing constantly as a kid, studying studio art at University of the Cumberlands (recruited to swim), and moving from production artist retouching roles into graphic design before illustration work organically became steady freelance. He self-published a children's book inspired by artists like Graeme Base and cross-section illustrators, then gained momentum through public art opportunities including a 2018–2019 Citrix window mural and later a major Film NC tourism brochure project featuring five regional illustrations packed with 50+ movie Easter eggs. He outlines his process (two sketch phases in Procreate, then Photoshop for color), time demands, work-life balance with two kids, and the importance of tight contracts to prevent scope creep. Wenstrand shares influences (IC4 Design, Moebius, sci-fi film aesthetics), discusses collaborative "Easter egg" client input, and explains why he avoids using AI, adding an AI clause to contracts and valuing the human creative process.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

Host Mike Rosado welcomes master penman Jake Weidmann to the Pencil Pushers Podcast to discuss his path from lifelong, largely self-taught drawing and sculpture to becoming the youngest certified Master Penman (at 26, in 2011). Weidman recounts being rejected from Biola University's art program, then regaining momentum through major commissions (including carving a family crest into moose antler) and learning how market feedback and viewer response complete the creative process. He explains discovering copperplate calligraphy after a classmate requested wedding invitations, attending penman conferences, and earning certification by executing his own ornate certificate. Weidmann details his process and materials (including gouache-based ink), handling mistakes (and a major vellum restoration), balancing intense work with raising four kids, collaborating with Apple for the first iPad Pro, and arguing that human craft and meaning remain vital amid digitization and Ai.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

Host Mike Rosado interviews Maggie Richardson, niece of famed Disney concept artist and illustrator Mary Blair, about Blair's life, influence, and legacy. Richardson recalls childhood visits when Blair, living bi-coastally in New York and California, brought gifts and original art, and later memories tied to Disney's orbit, including Hazel George (Walt Disney's nurse and confidant) and riding the Disney plane. She describes Blair as warm, glamorous, and collaborative, noting Blair sought others' opinions while designing It's a Small World, and clarifies Blair was not an animator but a colorist, stylist, and designer whose bold modern style challenged studio norms. Richardson outlines efforts to preserve and share Blair's personal-art archive via the "World of Mary Blair" website, exhibitions including Tokyo's "The Colors of Mary Blair," and new apparel designs based on Blair's work, with products to be sold via MagicOfMaryBlair.com; she also mentions a Mary Blair screenplay in development.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

Host Mike Rosado welcomes Scott Johnson, president of Musgrave Pencil Company, and Creative Lead Tim Delger to discuss running and reimagining one of the oldest and last U.S. pencil factories. Scott shares his unusual path from engineering and infrastructure to leading the family-owned business, focusing on preserving customer loyalty, product quality, and upgrading a 1930s facility without losing its character. Tim explains how they revived Musgrave's heritage through packaging, web, photography, and social media by "curating" historical assets and keeping the brand's charming imperfections, while acting as a strategic marketing partner. They cover why Musgrave retains a flexible, partly manual process, how pencils are made (about 24 hours at Musgrave), the global pencil-machine ecosystem, competing on value and customization rather than commodity price, new experiments like scented pencils, and why analog tools still matter in a tech-saturated world.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

In this episode of The Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado sit down with artist, writer, and creative director Will Carsola of Liquid Death to trace his path from drawing for laughs as a kid to shaping one of the boldest brands in modern marketing. Will talks about growing up mostly in Virginia, early influences like Garbage Pail Kids, and how humor became central to his voice as an artist. He shares stories of leaving Virginia Commonwealth University, bartending to get by, and spending years making DIY sketch comedy and early animation before YouTube helped his work gain traction. The conversation also covers his collaboration with Dave Stewart, pitching Adult Swim, and how a key creative shift led to the cult hit Mr. Pickles, which ran for three seasons and spawned the spinoff Mama Named Me Sheriff. Will then dives into his journey with Liquid Death, from creating the skull logo and early campaigns to becoming creative director, and discusses the brand's philosophy of making fun of marketing, the balance of edgy humor, and his creative approach: make things for the love of it, lower the pressure, and use "write-offs" to unlock great ideas.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

In this inspiring episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews Walter C. Barnett, a designer, art director, and multidisciplinary creative known for his work in theater, sports, and entertainment. Walter shares his journey from growing up in Portsmouth, Virginia and Wilmington, North Carolina to discovering his passion for art and design in high school. He details his college experience and internship at Clean Design, which led to various roles, including a position at ESPN and eventually becoming the Art Director for Dreamer, J. Cole's brand. Walter discusses how he meets J. Cole, collaborates on significant projects, including the Dreamer logo, and his vision for building a community of creators of color. This conversation also touches on the importance of mentorship, networking, and the value of supporting minority artists. Tune in for Walter's engaging story and his aspirations for fostering a vibrant, inclusive creative community.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews Darrell Young, an illustrator, toy designer, and comic artist based in Chicago. Darrell shares his journey from a childhood passion for comics, cartoons, and toys in the 70s and 80s to becoming a professional artist with over 25 years of experience. He discusses his time in animation working on General Mills commercials, his transition to toy design for brands like McDonald's and Wendy's, and his eventual shift to freelancing after being laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic. Darrell sheds light on his artistic process, including the impact of learning Photoshop, the importance of using reference materials, and his experiences at conventions. Throughout the conversation, Darrell emphasizes the importance of staying true to one's passion, continuously learning, and remaining adaptable in the ever-changing landscape of the arts.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers podcast, host Mike Rosado interviews illustrator Travis Knight, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Travis's work, inspired by vintage comics, punk zines, horror, and sci-fi, spans multiple mediums including painting, digital illustration, and sculpture. After a decade as a graphic designer, Travis transitioned full-time to illustration, landing clients such as Netflix, Metallica, DC Comics, and the Washington Post. Notably, his viral fake Cracker Barrel logo was even shared by Stephen King. They discuss Travis's journey from his early influences and interests in comics and horror, through his various design jobs, to his big breaks like the Stranger Things gig with Netflix. Travis also shares insights into his artistic process, his passion for analog and digital media, and recent projects including a country music dictionary.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

In this episode of the Pencil Pushers Podcast, host Mike Rosado engages in a detailed conversation with Charly Clements, a successful illustrator and educator. Charly shares her inspiring journey, starting from her university rejections in the UK to becoming a digital nomad currently based in Thailand. She discusses her transition from struggling to get into university due to a lack of direction, to refining her portfolio, and eventually starting a thriving illustration career. Charly talks about her entry into the greeting card market and the importance of learning to monetize her art, despite the lack of business education in her formal training. She highlights the importance of passive income and licensing her designs for different products, which allowed her to focus on her creative work. The conversation also delves into the theme of balancing creativity with business, dealing with ADHD, and the significance of following one's passion. Charly gives insights into the importance of fun in learning, the process of product development including her texture brush packs, and community engagement through initiatives like her portrait parties. The podcast emphasizes the value of perseverance, adaptability, and self-awareness in building a successful and fulfilling creative career.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)

Host Mike Rosado sits down with veteran animator James Lopez, celebrating his 35+ years in animation. Lopez shares stories from his illustrious career at top studios like Disney and DreamWorks, touching upon classics like 'The Lion King' and 'The Princess and the Frog.' He dives into his advocacy for 2D animation, details the creation of his independent steampunk project 'Hullabaloo,' and offers a glimpse into his mentorship efforts and future aspirations. This episode is a treasure trove for animation enthusiasts, revealing Lopez's passion, struggles, and undying commitment to the hand-drawn arts.

Host: Mike Rosado (http://mrcraleigh.com/) (http://instagram.com/ekimodasor)

Post Production: Max Trujillo (http://instagram.com/trujillomedia) Sponsors: MRC (http://mrcraleigh.com/) and Burny Wild's (http://burnywilds.com/)