Being a full-time fine artist and illustrator is an aspirational dream for many, and is a reality for Steven Russell Black that he’s created for himself through discipline and mileage.

Steven Russell Black is a northern California-based painter who paints surreal figurative work that highlight the beauty in the horrific. He illustrates comic covers, books, and most notably, cards for Magic: the Gathering.

In this conversation, Steven shares how his love and prioritization of his craft has brought him to being a full-time artist, the way he uses social media and consistency to build up a fan base, and how he builds multiple streams of revenue from every painting he finishes.

Steven’s Links

Website: stevenrussellblack.com

Instagram: @stevenrussellback

Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dconpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram: @originsacreativejourney

For more Rick: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rickkitagawa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more Chris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠digitalnoirstudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more DesignerCon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designercon.com⁠⁠⁠

Origins theme song: Noel Beltran

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran_⁠⁠⁠

FaceBook: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran_⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@father.bankston⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠@father_bankston⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@nathanbankston⁠⁠⁠

Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@milfs.kitchen⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠thekitchenrecordingstudio.com⁠

Have you ever wondered what it takes to launch an independent brand and immediately get a collab with Johnny Cupcakes? Jordan Fuchs knows, as he’s literally done just that.

Jordan Fuchs is the frontman of Plastic Pizza, an art-driven brand with a focus on creativity, imagination, and community. After selling his extensive lego collection to raise money for his brand, in just a few short years he went from having an idea to building a company that delivers cheesy bliss in the form of art toys, limited-edition apparel, pins, stickers, and more.

In this conversation, Jordan lays out the power of asking fearlessly for what you want, how he got to talk to Mr. Beast’s team about a collaboration, and how he used guerilla marketing to build hype for his brand.

Jordan’s Links:

Instagram: @theplasticpizza

Popshop Live: Plastic Pizza

Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dconpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram: @originsacreativejourney

For more Rick: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rickkitagawa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more Chris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠digitalnoirstudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more DesignerCon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designercon.com⁠⁠⁠

Origins theme song: Noel Beltran

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran_⁠⁠⁠

FaceBook: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran_⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@father.bankston⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠@father_bankston⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@nathanbankston⁠⁠⁠

Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@milfs.kitchen⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠thekitchenrecordingstudio.com⁠

If you’ve ever wondered about the determination and confidence needed to come from humble beginnings and build a successful career in design, look no further than this conversation with Joseph Israel Raul Bullard.

Joseph Israel Raul Bullard has cut his teeth doing design work for companies like Hulu and Dell before building his own design studio where he focuses on branding and identity packages for small businesses. He also teaches design to college students both at Austin Community College as well as via his podcast Students of Design.In this frank conversation, Joseph shares his story of growing up in a household ruled by alcoholism and the grit, determination, and confidence to escape that future for himself by any means necessary. We talk about the power of mentorship and the overlaps teaching has with good design – and Joseph shares how to leverage curiosity and YouTube to build a career.

Joseph’s Links

Instagram: @josephbullard

Students of Design IG: @studentsofdesignpod

LinkedIn: Joseph Israel Raul Bullard

Listen to Students of Design

Get in touch with Rick or Chris at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dconpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram: @originsacreativejourney

For more Rick: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rickkitagawa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more Chris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠digitalnoirstudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more DesignerCon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠designercon.com⁠⁠⁠

Origins theme song: Noel Beltran

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran_⁠⁠⁠

FaceBook: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran_⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@noelbeltran⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mixed and Mastered by: Nathan Bankston

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@father.bankston⁠⁠⁠

Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠@father_bankston⁠⁠⁠

Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠@nathanbankston⁠⁠⁠

Milf’s Kitchen Recording Studio

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@milfs.kitchen⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠thekitchenrecordingstudio.com⁠