Lean Into Art

How do we think about projects and products? Jerzy and Rob recently watched Jake Parker’s video on "you need a product not a project" which prompts our conversation in this episode. Jerzy and Rob consider what we mean by projects and products and see all kinds of useful tools in both categories. We explore conceptual tools you can pick and choose from to make your own creative development work for you. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Rob and Kate's coaching Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: You Need a Product not a Project Inktober Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Stephen Stone-Bush Sophie Lawson Myrjamvdv Dave 'Sri' Seah Keri Goble Billick This week's 2 Minute Practice Roll a 6 sided die. Sketch a simple creature/abstract character for each number you get on the die. 1st roll, shape influence: 1–6: dot, line, triangle, square, circle, blob 2nd roll, mood: 1–2: happy, 3–4: grumpy, 5–6: confused/silly 3rd roll: number of characters to draw Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerz

Positioning yourself in an industry/community can involve identifying what makes your art or service distinct. How do we think about developing language to explain what makes our work unique, and what are the pitfalls of thinking about this topic? Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Rob and Kate's coaching Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Jerzy's Documenting Your Classroom Experience Webinar LIA Cast 304 - Developing a Workshop or Event Thanks to our top Patreon supporters DADO Gail Bushman Metal Witch Sketchbook Project Katherine Sugrue Ashley Knapp This week's 2 Minute Practice Draw circles for two minutes Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

This week Jerzy and Rob are joined by returning guest Gregg Schigiel to talk about the value of keeping the connections between you and your social/professional network active. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Rob and Kate's coaching Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Gregg's YouTube channel Gregg's website The Jackie and Laurie Show Gregg's TeePublic Store Gregg on Instagram Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Greg Horvath Rachel Ross Becca Hillburn India Swift Keri Goble Billick This week's 2 Minute Practice Write down questions to connect with someone in your network Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Occasionally Rob and Jerzy like to remind themselves to make space for reading, watching, and playing. Join us for an exploration of media we engage with for relaxation and inspiration. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Mining For Trouble Rob and Kate's coaching Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Stargazing Hey, Kiddo The American Dream? Samurai Cat Gobblet Dare to Lead Taking the Work Out of Networking: An Introvert's Guide to Making Connections That Count Save the Cat! Writes a Novel One Piece Warship Iland Arc Tekken 7 Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Tim F Sophie Lawson Chris Watkins Jonathan Wornson Nate Marcel This week's 2 Minute Practice Write for 2 minutes Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Creative process has an objective progression in some ways. There you are with an idea at one point in time, stuff happens, now you are in the future with something you created. Would you do your next project in the same way? How much do you consider structuring your work along the way? Join Jerzy and Rob for a discussion about our mental models for our projects, digging into examples of our recent work, and in part extending the conversation from LIA 149 - Chunking Your Workflow. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Rob and Kate's coaching Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Deconstructing Creativity: The 4 Roles You Need to Play to be Fully Creative A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative Rob's Medium posts Writing Down the Bones The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Thanks to our top Patreon supporters JS Taskis Becca Hillburn Brandon Dayton Stephan Black Jodels Pox Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Dave.Sri Seah returns to the Lean Into Art Cast for a discussion on his annual Groundhog Day Resolutions plan. Join us for an exploration on finding the work that’s meaningful to you, setting goals for that work, and supporting those goals throughout the year. Sponsors for this episode Science Comics: Rockets: Defying Gravity This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Links mentioned: Dave.Sri Seah's Emergent Task Planner Dave.Sri Seah's 2018 Groundhog Day Resolutions The Productivity Accrual Bucket Sid and Dave's Unnamed Podcast Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Spencer Hallam Becca Hillburn Shauni Redfearn Stephan Black JS Taskis Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter

Join Jerzy and Rob for an exploration of the incidental parts of making art and teaching, and how that can be used to develop workshops, presentations, or demonstrations that appeal to hosting organizations. Sponsors for this episode The Kids' Comics Awards Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling - Journal and Workshop Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Jerzy's Webinar - Documenting Your Classroom Experience Drawing User Journey Maps to Design User Experiences, Gather Ideas, and Collaborate LIA Cast 301 - 2 Minutes to Practice Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Becca Hillburn Chris Watkins Katherine Sugrue Ashley Knapp Keri Goble Billick Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

Ryan Estrada returns to the Lean Into Art Cast! This time we’re talking about the joys and challenges of making things with the people closest to you. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling - Journal and Workshop Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Banned Book Club Ryan's website Science Comics: Rockets Art and Science Punks Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Cameron Callahan Jonathan Wornson Mike White k JS Taskis Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

Jerzy shares some of the classroom activities he uses to get students thinking hard about the various design choices presented when designing characters for visual storytelling. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling - Journal and Workshop Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Tubi.tv Video Game Construction Kit: Underwater Tomato Ninja Edition The Kids' Comics Awards Open Nominations Rob's Medium Blog Drawing Hands Detached from the Body Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Brandon Dayton Dave 'Sri' Seah Gail Bushman Tim F Keri Goble Billick Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

Join Jerzy and Rob as they discuss ways to practice little habits that can feed and support aspects of our art, business, and beyond. They’ll be revisiting the Lean Into Art Quests as a way to consider how to explore smaller creative habits learning from ways the Quests were too ambitious for frequent practice. This smaller practice could be useful skill and habit building anything from writing, drawing, communicating visually, to handling the planning or strategy or hustle of your business: all the things that go into being a viable, healthy, creative professional. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling - Journal and Workshop Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: LIA Quests Jerzy's Inktober 2019 Project Jerzy's Inktober 2018 Project Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Greg Horvath [Stephan Black](http://twitter.com/BlacksSideshow Becca Hillburn Stephen Stone-Bush Cameron Callahan Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram

Constructing a community around ideas we care a lot about and want to help others make use of: pursuing your art, developing it to where you want it to be, even teaching what you’ve learned along the way. Join Jerzy and Rob for a discussion of the themes we’ve planned and discovered over 300 episodes of Lean Into Art and where we’re excited to go and celebrate with you with this podcast and community. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling - Journal and Workshop Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: LIA Cast 01 - Good Teachers are Good Students LIA Cast 100 - Starting, Clarifying, Expressing, and Serving LIA Cast 200 - Project Retrospective by Example Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Good to be Curious [Stephan Black](http://twitter.com/BlacksSideshow Becca Hillburn k Cameron Callahan Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

Last week we reflected on our professional adventures in 2019. This time we look ahead to thinking about what we want to learn and how we want to creatively grow in 2020. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling - Journal and Workshop Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Team Human Comixlaunch The Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival Cartoon Crossroads Columbus Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Greg Horvath Becca Hillburn Mike White Myrjam Katherine Sugrue Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

Every year is worth reflecting on, both Jerzy and Rob had interesting professional adventures in 2019 and now it’s 2020! Perfect time to look back and ask what we learned from those adventures. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Mining for Trouble Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling - Journal and Workshop Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Being There When a Team is Starting Their First Design Journey Calendly Thanks to our top Patreon supporters k Spencer Hallam JSTaskis Jesse Kauffman Ashley Knapp Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

For many of us it’s the holiday season at the end of 2019, so Jerzy and Rob take a look at what they’re reading/watching/playing to refresh and relax before striking out into 2020. Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling - Journal and Workshop Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition The Mandalorian on Disney+ Making Comics by Lynda Barry Beat Saber Klaus How to Stop Worrying and Start Living Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Jonathan Wornson Tim F Chris Watkins Metal Witch Sketchbook Project Sophie Lawson Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

Making minicomics has been a celebrated topic on the Lean Into Art Cast. They offer a low-risk way to get some practice on your craft, test out ideas for larger works, or explore the emotional journey of creative work in a short, manageable way. But what if you don’t have any ideas that you want to try out? Join Jerzy and Rob for some discussion and classroom exercises Jerzy’s used to lower the threshold for starting. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Adventurers for Hire Goal Setting Using Design & Storytelling Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Rob & Kate's Journaling Tools Pre-Release Save the Cat Minicomics Zine Template How to make a one-page zine Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Mike White Spencer Hallam Gail Bushman Dave 'Sri' Seah Nate Marcel Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

It’s time for a fresh look at why mini-comics are so great. Join us for a discussion on the advantages mini-comics offer when added to your art practice. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Adventurers for Hire This Panda Needs You Lean Into Art Workshops Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Jesse Kauffman Jodels Pox Tim F Ashley Knapp Cameron Callahan Links mentioned in this episode Laffy Meal, by Pranas Naujokaitis Kosmo-Knot Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitter Support the show via Patreon Lean Into Art Patreon

Continuing our “obviously” series of favorite topics, Jerzy and Rob are discussing what’s so great about journaling and reflection as a habit just for their own sake and especially when you’re working on planning goals. Join in for a discussion of finding the time to reflect, making it easier on yourself to journal, and why we find these tools so darn useful! Sponsors for this episode Four Million Years Later Rob & Kate Coaching/Mentoring Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Rob & Kate's Journaling Tools Pre-Release Rob's Experience Inventory The Emergent Task Planner Thanks to our top Patreon supporters k Stephen Stone-Bush Good to be Curious Rachel Ross Myrjam Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

Join Jerzy and Rob for a discussion on the role of gratitude in creative endeavors and how being intentional about expressing gratitude changes the way one might feel about the work. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Mining for Trouble Rob & Kate Coaching/Mentoring Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: David Seah's Emergent Task Planner Ray Frenden's Brushes The Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Nathan Seabolt Espree Devora Myrjam India Swift Kim Holm Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Twitter Rob on Twitter Lean Into Art on Twitter Support the show via Patreon Lean Into Art Patreon

Similar in spirit to our last episode about comics we visit another obvious in hindsight topic. It’s been a while since Jerzy and Rob have talked about what’s so great about UX, so if you’re in the mood for a joyous discussion on being inclusive and thinking systemically about your users, this is an episode for you. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Mining for Trouble Rob & Kate Coaching/Mentoring Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: The $300 Million Button The Field Guide to Human Centric Design Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Jodels Pox Stephan Black Good to be Curious Greg Horvath JS Taskis Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch

It’s been a while since Jerzy and Rob have talked about what’s so great about comics, so if you’re in the mood for a joyous discussion on visual communication, this is an episode for you. Sponsors for this episode Boulder and Fleet: Mining for Trouble Rob & Kate Coaching/Mentoring Lean Into Art Discord Links mentioned: Scott McCloud's books on comics The Lexicon of Comicana Comics & Sequential Art Art of Making Comics 100 Demon Dialogues Jerzy's Nerd Nite talk on 80s Cartoons Thanks to our top Patreon supporters Jonathan Wornson Tim F k Ashley Knapp Nate Marcel Connect with Jerzy and Rob Jerzy on Instagram Rob on Instagram Lean Into Art on Twitch