Closer&Closer Podcast (Andrea Mejia-Madriz, Dave Arcade, & Caton Vance)

Storytelling is something you don’t get often in commercial art. At least, not the way Felipe Vargas does it. He’s an expert with taking client projects and turning them into cinematic masterpieces that manage to move you in just a few seconds. Find out how he does it on this week's episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Andrea took the reins on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast. She came to share all of her expert knowledge on marketing yourself successfully as an artist, and boy did she deliver! If you’re feeling like your marketing game could use some help, you'll want to give it a listen.

Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y035gpFbslC_eqx2_G-DInWyYkOmvPtW/view?usp=sharing

Presentation Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A_rZ_CexVgXeloOZcr8SiRTNYmjR5pr1NbuhtBRl7WQ/edit?usp=sharing 

Hosted by Drew Melton.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Dave Arcade takes the guest’s seat on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast and shares the wealth of knowledge he’s gathered from his year of interviewing artists alongside Andrea.

Learn the throughlines that connect all artists from across the globe and how Dave’s story fits into it! 

Keep up with Dave on Instagram & Behance!

Hosted by Caton Vance & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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Evan Weselmann may be relatively new at freelancing full time, but he already has some excellent insight on the job. We picked his brain on comparison, finding joy in your work, and more on the Closer&Closer Podcast this week.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

This week on the Closer&Closer Podcast, we’re introducing you to C&C’s resident Meditation Teacher and Creative Coordinator, Kelsey Zahn Melton. She spent an hour schooling Andrea, Dave, and all of you listeners on how meditation can be a practical tool to help creatives and non-creatives alike (did you know that if you can breathe you can meditate?!)

Hosted by Dave Arcade and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Plenty of creatives use their work as therapy, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t benefit from actual therapy. 

Janie Glassmith, a licensed marriage and family therapist and relationship specialist, joined the Closer&Closer Podcast this week to discuss how therapy and mental health work can benefit creatives in all aspects of their lives. 

Janie Glassmith is a licensed marriage and family therapist and relationship specialist. Janie spends a lot of time helping stressed out women, millennials in quarter-life-crises, and men working on relationship issues. She is also trained in Brainspotting, which is used in tandem with talk therapy.

She loves helping creatives—people who see the world through their own lens. A gentle and collaborative style pairs well with those who need a little help transitioning from the hopes in their head to their daily reality. 

When not in the therapy office, you can often find Janie trying every coffee shop in the Greater LA area, psychoanalyzing The Office, or sipping on wine with her husband.

Hosted by Drew Melton and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

If you’re interested in hearing the philosophy around an artist’s work, this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast is for you.

Chidy Wayne popped in this week and answered the millions of questions many of you have probably wondered when looking at his work, like “how are you so good with watercolors?”, “what’s the relationship between fine art and commercial work?”, and of course, “why hands?”

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Max Loeffler's career went from 0 to 100 real quick. Graduating in 2017, Max has skyrocketed to where he is today in just 5 short years.

Wanna know how he did it? Well so did we! Check out all his spilled secrets on this week's episode.

Keep up with Max on Instagram & Behance!

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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It’s easy for animation studios to feel like a big mystery. How do they create such amazing work? How do they get connected with the coolest clients? How many people does it actually take to run the operation? 

Luckily, Ian Sigmon of Gunner was kind enough to share his answers to all of these questions and more on the Closer&Closer Podcast this week. Click the link in our bio to listen in. Who knows, you might just learn something, like how the big dogs are not that different from you and me. 

Ian Sigmon is a creative director and partner at Gunner in Detroit, Michigan. Gunner is an award-winning animation studio whose team has worked with fantastic clients both large and small. Ian never went to college, is a notoriously bad speller, and is never totally sure what he’s doing. 

Hosted by Drew Melton.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Our Marketing & Partnerships Manager Andrea Mejia-Madriz is back and ready to explain what the “partnerships” part of her title means. Learn all about what brand partnerships are, why they’re an important opportunity for any freelance creative, and how you can start participating.

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Monique Aimee returns to the Closer&Closer Podcast, and this time, we got to hear more about who Monique is as a person. You may know Monique as a Tik Tok sensation but she is so much more than that! She is a chainstitcher, quintessential New Englander, and an insanely talented curator of her brand. She gave us some life insights to learn from that is for sure, and we feel like you could also learn a thing or two. 

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

If you know anything about lettering and typography, you’ve probably heard of Goodtype and its founder Brooke Robinson. As the founder and creator of one of Instagram’s most popular lettering resources, Brooke knows all about overcoming fear, trusting yourself, and diving head first into the unknown.

Brooke Robinson is a creative best known for her curation of the largely popular lettering resource, Goodtype, founded in 2013 after a long bike ride down the West Coast. She published the book Goodtype: The Art of Lettering with Rizzoli in 2018. What most people don’t know is that Brooke began her art career at a young age, influenced by her mother’s beautiful oils on canvas. She created a lot of mixed media collages on heavyweight paper, integrating acrylics, typography and found imagery.

Eventually, Brooke’s art career paused to make way for a more disciplined graphic design job, post graduation, at a local Texas clothing retailer called TYLER’S. Where she also learned how to produce and manage the marketing and social media, which played a large role in leading her where she is today with Goodtype.

Brooke is a full-time creative based in Austin, TX running Goodtype and her online print shop, Sunsurfer.art, creating in the form of painting, mixed media, digital art, photography and now film. She was born in Ft. Worth, Texas and graduated from Texas Tech University.  

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

If you’ve ever struggled with marketing, this week’s podcast episode is for you.

Andrea and our Marketing & Partnerships Director Caton team up to go over the 3 major hurdles artists face in their marketing. Learn how to overcome these dilemmas and share your work like an expert on this week's episode!

Hosted by Caton Vance & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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Sua Balac’s silhouetted style is hard to miss. His work is as expert as it is outstanding, and we asked him all about it on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Keep up with Sua on Instagram & Behance!

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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With Instagram and Behance serving as the highlight reels of our careers, it can feel like every creative but you has the perfect life. However, you and I both know that is not the case, and there are a lot of challenges that come with any creative career. On this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast, Josefina Schargorodsky dives into the deep end, addressing the real-life stuff that nobody really wants to talk about.

Josefina Schargorodsky is a designer and illustrator from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her work is inspired by romantic nostalgia and the beauty of small things. She hopes her point of view and sensibility towards life is captured in her work. Her present body of work includes illustrations for publishing projects, stationery, textile designs, and product development. When she is not working, she enjoys watching documentaries, baking scones and going to bookshops.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Born and raised in Mexico, Abraham Lule’s body of illustration, typography, and packaging work is design with a human touch. In this episode, he'll be talking about working on packaged designs in Part 1 of a two-part series. He has worked for clients such as Facebook, Capitol Records, Jose Cuervo, and Diageo. He is also a Typography Excellence Medallist and the Type Directors Club recently chose him to be an Ascender. Moderated by Drew Melton (Founder, Closer&Closer).

In this episode, Jackie Roberto (Project Manager turned Agent) from the Closer&Closer team talks about project management. Why? Because there’s a method to what can sometimes be the madness. It’s one thing to be good at your craft, it’s another to deliver it. Good project management can lead to more projects and stronger relationships. This episode is moderated by Tristan Almario (Artist Marketing & Partnerships, Closer&Closer) and Dave Arcade (Illustrator, represented by Closer&Closer).

Hilary Jackendoff is, among many things, an incredibly knowledgeable human design reader. She can help you uncover how you best make decisions and how you can live as your truest self.

If that seems like something you need, or even just something you’d like to learn more about, tune in to this episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast, where she shows Dave Arcade (and all of you) how to use human design to improve your creative practice.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Not only is Caton Vance our Marketing & Partnerships Director, but he’s also a creative powerhouse in his own regard. He knows better than anyone the importance of sharing your work, no matter how vulnerable you may feel.

Hear the lessons he learned about sharing your creative pursuits on this week’s episode.

You can follow Caton on Instagram & LinkedIn!

Hosted by  Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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This week, our very own Marketing & Partnerships Manager walks you through how to create a content strategy for yourself!

Step by step, she helps you build a plan to make your social media as effective as possible and help you reach ideal clients.

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Femininity is at the core of Josefina Schargorodsky‘s work. If you’ve ever wondered why Josefina does what she does, or how she has such a clear vision of who she is as an artist, you’ll want to catch her as she returns to the Closer&Closer Podcast this week.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Carmi Grau is super nice and her work speaks from the heart. Everything about it, from her journey to commercial art to the themes she illustrates, is organic and authentically Carmi. Hear more of her story and heart-felt advice on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Hosted by Dave Arcade and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Is holding on to the wrong things keeping you from new heights in your career? Kelly Wahlstrom's whole career has been about letting go. From her dancer origins to her current position as the Head of Brand Design at Envoy, she's developed that special skill in letting go of what's not right, and she explains how on this week's episode of The Closer&Closer Podcast. 

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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Monique Aimee is an illustrator and lettering artist from Connecticut and now living in Boston. She studied illustration at Lesley University College of Art & Design in Boston and typography in Melbourne, Australia. She is also a TikTok Partner and has amassed quite the following on the platform, with 51.7k TikTok followers at the time of this podcast. She creates a ton of art-centric content, from lettering tips to advice on how to price projects. You can check her out on TikTok using @moniqueaimee. This episode is moderated by Tristan Almario (Artist Marketing & Partnerships) & Andrea Mejia-Madriz (Artist Marketing & Partnerships).

With more than 17,000 followers, Anna Hurley (Illustrator) has learned a few things about growing a following on Dribbble. During this episode, Tristan Almario (Artist Marketing & Partnerships, Closer&Closer) finds what she's learned over the years about how to use Dribbble and other platforms to get her artwork out into the world. You won't want to miss it.

C&C's Marketing & Partnerships Manager Andrea Mejia-Madriz is the one in charge of making sure our artists are up to speed on all things marketing and social media. Today, she wanted to give you all the 411 on Reels, the format that's completely changing the landscape of Instagram. She fills you in on what the format even is, why it's important, and how you can utilize it as an artist or freelancer. 

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Dave Coleman’s definitely not a shy guy, and he opened up with us (and you!) on the podcast about his battle with chronic fatigue, family life, being a jack of all trades, and more. If you want to learn how to face every challenge head on, and do it with a smile on your face, then Dave is your guy, and this podcast is for you. Hosted by Tristan Almario and Dave Arcade.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

In the second installment of our conversation with Abraham Lule, we dive deeper into who he is as a packaging designer and how his background impacts his design process. Abraham lets us in on his passions, biggest inspirations, and his thoughts on the expedited mentality we all live in nowadays. Abraham delivers insights useful to everyone, whether you're a packaging designer yourself, a creative, or just feeling like you need some inspiration. Join us to learn even more from the incredible visionary and creative that is Abraham Lule. Moderated by Drew Melton (Founder, Closer&Closer).

Paola Saliby is the queen of evolution. Take a look at her portfolio even just a year ago and you’ll see how her penchant for change keeps her work constantly evolving, new, and fresh.

Learn what inspires her to keep upping her game on this week’s episode.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Do you ever wonder what our artists have been up to since their last episode? Well, it’s been a year since Jiaqi Wang was on The Closer&Closer Podcast, and so much has changed since then. She’s taken her work to a whole new level, become the queen of food illustration, and made a big life change. 

Learn how she managed to do so much in so little time on this week’s episode.

Keep up with Jiaqi on Instagram & Behance!

Hosted by Caton Vance & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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David Leutert is one for speaking his mind and bringing people together. He has a way of building community and staying positive even when things get tough. Tune in to this week's episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast and get to know the man behind the myth, the real and authentic David Leutert. 

Hosted by Dave Arcade and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

A lot of people may think being an artist is a glamorous profession (I’m looking at you, mom), but you and I both know it comes with its fair share of challenges. Sean Tulgetske talks finishing projects, mental blocks, comparison, and how his Gobbledygook project has helped him overcome them all on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast. (if you’re asking yourself, “what even is Gobbledygook?”, then you’ll have to head over to the podcast and find out). Hosted by Tristan Almario & Dave Arcade. 

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Bárbara Malagoli gives her best tips for increasing your creativity. One of them is to push past the bounds of what you know and experience new things, and she delivers plenty more on this week's episode!

Keep up with Bárbara on Instagram & Behance!
Hosted by Caton Vance & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.
Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.
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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.
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Dave Arcade is giving you a peek inside his mind and approach to digital murals. He is an Illustrator with a background in graphic design. His style is born of his inner designer doing its best to talk down the numerous influences of his youth. He’s a total 80’s kid and a descendant of the Hanna-Barbara and Chuck Jones lineage, so it should come as no surprise that his style is straight-up cartoons. His pieces are absurd and complex and demand more than a passing glance. If he's not pining over music gear he’s doing work for brands like Google, Nickelodeon, Disney, Adobe, Activision, and Discovery Channel. Moderated by Tristan Almario (Artist Marketing & Partnerships, Closer&Closer).

We covered a LOT of ground with Jill Senft on the podcast this week. From getting degrees to NFTs, we dove into everything and anything that makes Jill the amazing artist she is.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Katie & Ilana are both the co-owners of the ultra-successful platform Goodtype and creative freelancers, so you already know they have a ton of advice to give.

Not only are they teaching you their best lessons on this episode, but they’re bringing you The Kernference so you can learn from their whole network! Also, did we mention our Founder & CEO, Drew Melton, will be speaking at The Kernference?! Oh, yes! Get all the deets and more on this week's episode! 

You can follow Kaite & Ilana on Instagram and GoodType here!

Hosted by Caton Vance & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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Gustaf Hjalmars is one of those artists that just has his s*&% dialed. Whether it’s his super tight style, his family life/work life balance, or his great relationships with his clients, it seems like he does it all. Listen in to learn from a legend and get your design and creativity nerd out on right alongside Gustaf and Dave.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Alejandro Parrilla and Dave Arcade are two peas in an illustrative pod, and they spent some time bro-ing it out on the C&C Podcast this week. They share some of their common highs and woes and explain how they’re able to commiserate with and relate to each other instead of competing (which is pretty major). 

Hosted by Dave Arcade and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Anna Hurley’s positivity shines through every aspect of her life, from her relationships to how she approaches her work. If you want to hear why and how she maintains this sunshine-y outlook, tune in to this episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast!

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

How does one go from wanting to be a dentist to an artist? It’s a question that's been gnawing away at us ever since we met Jarom Vogel. Tristan Almario and Dave Arcade decided to sit down and learn about this incredible leap and more of what makes Jarom, Jarom on this week’s installment of the podcast.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To leaen more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Lindsey Made This knows how to go all out for her career. Whether it’s her prolific client work, her elaborate personal projects, or her incredible marketing efforts, she’s always working on something to take her art and her career to the next level.

Learn how she constantly raises the bar for herself on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Anna Rupprecht is an artist who’s not afraid to put herself out there. She’s sure of herself, outspoken about her beliefs, and willing to leave her comfort zone. Sounds intimidating, right?

She lets us in on how she got to where she is today (and believe us, it wasn’t an easy journey) on this week’s episode of The Closer&Closer Podcast.

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

In the world of commercial illustration, digital seems to be the law of the land. Which would make Roberts Rurans and his work a bit of an outlaw. Roberts creates gorgeous analog pieces and holds beauty as a core value of his work, which feels like a lost art in a culture of simplicity and utility.

Hosted by Dave Arcade and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

There's something about Nike. It can be a commercial featuring your favorite athlete or the feeling of putting on a brand new pair of Air Force 1's. It's a dream for many to work on such an iconic brand that transcends culture. Mary Yeager is a brand marketer based in Los Angeles. After graduating from the University of Oregon, she started working for Nike in LA. She has been with the company for five years and works as a Brand Marketing Manager for Nike Direct. Mary embodies Nike and we're in for a treat. Tristan Almario and Dave Arcade learn how she stays on top of projects, failures, and what it takes to work on Nike.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

For more information about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Bárbara Malagoli‘s work is in a world of its own. This week on the Closer&Closer Podcast, she explains the inspiration behind her utopian, dream-like illustrations and shapely, feminine subjects. To hear how she builds these magical worlds, and why they’re so important to her, listen in.

Hosted by Dave Arcade and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Anna Pers Bräcke knows the key to success is doing what scares you.

She takes all her trials and tribulations and turns them into opportunities and bright, candy-colored futures. Learn how she does it on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Keep up with Anna on Instagram & Behance!

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Follow us on Instagram @closerandcloserco!

Have you ever heard the term, “Draw what you know”? C&C artist Helen Li has, and she’s learned how to turn that statement from limiting to empowering. She talked to us about her ever-expanding passions and experiences on this week’s episode of the C&C Podcast, and boy, are we feeling inspired. Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz & Dave Arcade.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Are you curious about how Diana Beltran Herrera creates her incredible paper sculptures? So were we, so we invited her onto the Closer&Closer Podcast to tell us about what brought her to such a unique and complex medium, her process, her love of nature, and more.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Jiaqi Wang is the definition of a hard worker. She’s always working on something new and exciting and one upping her last piece in the process. Learn more about how she commits to (always) raising the bar on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Drew Melton (Founder of Closer&Closer) and Dave Arcade (Illustrator; repped by Closer&Closer) have an honest conversation about the benefits, drawbacks, and realities of being repped as a freelancer in today's art world.

Curiosity, play, and discovery. Those are the three tenants of creativity according to C&C illustrator Nate Williams. They’re how he approaches all of his incredible creations, from his client work to his personal illustrations to his side projects (like apps, websites, and blogs). He is the king of practice what you preach, and this week he's preaching his knowledge of play here on the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Simone Tai is part meditation teacher, part speaking coach, and full time wizard. If you’re wondering how to gain confidence, tell your story, and create your best art, then this week’s podcast episode is for you.

Simone Tai is a British meditation teacher and public speaking coach based in LA where she lives with her husband Sean. Simone left a 20 year career in TV to teach meditation full time and began her coaching business at the start of the pandemic. Simone now runs courses in mindfulness, public speaking and video content creation. Her clients range from solo entrepreneurs ready to transform their speaking skills and online presence to big TV production companies looking to support their teams with valuable life skills.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

It goes without saying that ‘getting a grip on things’ can feel rather difficult in uncertain times. However, it seems to us that Drew Melton and José Reyes have cracked the code on this. If there are two people who have mastered the whole “making peace with uncertainty” thing, it’s them. Find out how they do it on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast. 

If you're new here, José is the Founder and Creative Director at Metaleap Creative. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Turkey, New Mexico, Utah and Florida, José has spent almost 20 years leading award-winning brand launches, magazine redesigns, and digital efforts on behalf of Metaleap’s clients.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Henri Campeã’s a person who’s completely and totally true to his values. In every aspect of life, including his commercial illustration work, he makes sure he’s giving back to his community and creating work that feels like him.

If you want to learn how he lives his values day in and day out, and how you can do the same, check out his episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman. 

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Lindsay Stripling’s work is completely informed by her passions. From magical realism to human psychology, you can see the touches of each of these interests in her paintings. She talks about what inspires her to paint what she does on this week's episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast!

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Colin Hesterly will be discussing all things animation, including his creative process, what it means to be an animation director, how to find clients, and more. Colin is an award-winning, Tiki Drinkie loving, Jungle Cruise vibin' California native, working as a Director and Illustrator within the animation industry. Inspired by a sense of wonder and nostalgia, his career began as a freelance artist for a variety of companies and brands around the globe. His success as a storyteller led him to produce six animated short films that each garnered a Vimeo Staff Pick. His creative process focuses on the art of 2D Animation and character-driven narrative. With work spanning across a broad range of artistic fields, from TV to Film Titles, Short Films, and Commercials. Moderated by Drew Melton (Founder of Closer&Closer).

Creative Boom is one of the leading platforms for the creative industry, and Katy Cowan is the founder and mastermind behind the operation.

She joined us on the Closer&Closer Podcast and shared her path to Creative Boom and how she got the platform to where it is today.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Everybody has that one friend that’s always doing a million different things, and seems to be doing them flawlessly; Travis Pietsch is that friend. He took some time out of his busy schedule to be on the Closer&Closer podcast and tell us all about how he keeps a full-time job, does the whole freelance thing, and runs an e-commerce business all while being a family man. Hosted by Tristan Almario & Dave Arcade.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Ever heard the term “horror vacui”? It means “a fear or dislike of leaving empty spaces, especially in an artistic composition” and both Bene Rohlmann and Dave Arcade share in this rather unique feeling (which is fitting since they are both rather unique guys).

Bene discusses dealing with horror vacui, how fatherhood has affected his work, and more on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

This week we are coming in hot with the one and only José Reyes, Principal & Creative Director at Metaleap Creative. José earned his B.F.A. from Savannah College of Art and Design and founded Metaleap Creative shortly thereafter in 2002. His being born in Puerto Rico and then raised in Turkey, Utah, New Mexico and Florida, has sparked his curiosity of all things; which keeps him traveling and searching for inspiration in the world around him. He's an absolute titan in the creative industry and will be sharing his story on the importance of getting fired. Moderated by Drew Melton (Founder of Closer&Closer). 

Nick Liefhebber is deep, insightful, and honest on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast. He talks rejection, positive confrontation, personal work, and more. Can you believe we fit all of that in under 45 minutes? (We are still in awe ourselves!)

Hosted by Drew Melton and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

This week we're diving deep into the career of David Leutert for his return to The Closer&Closer Podcast. He shares where he started, how he got to where he is, and where he sees himself going. In his 6 years as a freelancer, he’s hit some major career milestones and has some unique tools he’s leveraged to get there. Find out what these tools are on this week’s episode

Keep up with Dave on Instagram & Behance!

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Follow us on Instagram @closerandcloserco!

Lettering is all about saying something, but is your lettering saying something important? This is a question Abraham Lule asks himself with every stroke. Abraham gives this advice and so much more on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast. 

Keep up with Abraham on Instagram, Dribbble, & Behance!

Hosted by Caton Vance & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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Butler Looney, Creative Director at Ginger, works at the intersection of creativity and mental health. He joined us on the C&C Podcast to discuss working with clients, his mental health journey, creativity, and how all of these topics are intertwined.

Hosted by Dave Arcade and Andrea Mejia-Madriz. 

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Last week’s podcast episode leave you hungry for more?

Learn how to wrap up your content strategy in a neat little bow from our very own Marketing & Partnerships Manager. You’ll never be left wondering how to grow your socials ever again!

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Follow us on Instagram @closerandcloserco!

We’re ecstatic to let you all know that this week, THE Jen Hood is joining us on the Closer&Closer Podcast and sharing all her freelance and design secrets.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Hoodzpah Design. If you HAVE been living under a rock (welcome back to the real world), Hoodzpah Design is the incredibly successful brand identity and type design studio owned by Jen and her twin sister, Amy.

Her podcast episode is full of every golden freelance nugget you could ever want, so what are you waiting for?

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

After 84 episodes, we’re saying goodbye to the Closer&Closer Podcast (at least for the time being). Hear some of the best insights, conversation tidbits, and more on our final episode.

Hosted by Caton Vance & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

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Dave Arcade described Aysha Tengiz‘s work as “delightfully strange-Matisse-meets-trippy-kids,” and we whole-heartedly agree. Lend an ear as she discusses where extroverts go for inspiration, how she balanced her perfectionist nature with play and exploration, and more on this week’s episode of the C&C Podcast.

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Everyone that sees Andrew Nye’s work knows it’s uniquely his. And how did he land on such a one-of-a-kind style? It may sound too good to be true, but he did it 100% organically.

Want some inspiration for finding your own style? Tune into this week's episode of The Closer&Closer Podcast to hear more about his journey to finding his style and intention behind his work.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Learning how to juggle deadlines, hobbies, family, a social life, and personal work can make finding balance a struggle. Luckily, we invited Joshua Noom on the podcast to show you the ropes.

Joshua is a Florida based designer specializing in detailed and bold illustration combined with an organic sense of typography. If he's not working on a new project, he's probably geeking out over records and sneakers.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Mel Cerri walks you through her story and gives you all her best advice on making that transition. Mel is an artist on our roster you all know and love. But did you know she wasn’t a full-time freelance letterer until the start of 2022? Find out how she found the confidence to leave an unfulfilling full-time gig on this week's episode. 

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

After Drew's last appearance on our podcast, there were still so many questions to be answered: What does Closer&Closer do for their artists? How do you find your voice as an artist? How does one find their style? What should you be doing if you're wanting representation? Find out more alongside your hosts, Tristan Almario and Dave Arcade.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Whitney is an entrepreneurial producer with an obsession for film and a passion for strategy. Beyond producing impactful, stunning creative she believes that there’s tremendous opportunity in production to find and create strategic efficiencies to build long lasting equity and growth. After producing for 10 years in the ad and entertainment space, she decided to pursue her MBA with Wharton in order to gain a forest view and build opportunities to revolutionize the production industry. She is seeking to leverage her production expertise and entrepreneurial education towards her next endeavor as a member of a leadership team and ultimately c-suite towards the future success of an organization. In this episode, we learn about her journey working from Hollywood to Advertising and the power of relationships. Moderated by Tristan Almario (Artist Marketing & Partnerships, Closer&Closer).

Janice Chang knows what it’s like to be a young freelancer in 2021 because… well… she is one. She brought all her insider knowledge and advice as our resident “young, successful creative” to the Closer&Closer Podcast this week! Insights include (but are not limited to): inspiration, art school, freelancing, agency life, etc.

Hosted by Dave Arcade and Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Being perfect is incredibly overrated, and no one knows this better than Kati Szilágyi. She’s the best at rolling with the punches, embracing the imperfections in her work, and creating the most beautiful chaos you’ve ever seen (if only we could channel that skill into the chaos of our daily lives!).

She dives into all of this and more on this week’s episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Jonathan Ball can tell you everything you need to know about lettering (maybe it is because of his last name? You know Ball… like a ball point pen!). He brought all his knowledge and professionalism onto the Closer&Closer Podcast this week, just for you.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

This week on the Closer&Closer Podcast, illustrator Raúl Soria opens up about dealing with creative ruts and the way his relationship to illustration has changed throughout the years.

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Nuria Boj may be young, but she’s done it all, from photography to graphic design, motion design to illustration. On this episode of the Closer&Closer Podcast, Nuria discusses how she has used each genre to help her master the craft of staying focused and letting her voice shine through her work.  

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Raul Urias, C&C illustrator and master of art in his own regard, took a deep dive into his work this week on the Closer&Closer Podcast. He’s a well seasoned vet, who taught us a lot, like… a lot a lot... Everything from the importance of studying to collecting wells of inspiration to letting your culture influence your work. 

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co

Mike Burdick’s got some serious advice-giving prowess, and he puts it to good use on this week’s episode of the C&C Podcast. If you want to learn more about how a pro, über talented illustrator improves his craft, then this is the episode for you. He delivers both practical tools and food for thought to help you be the best illustrator you can be.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Neph Trejo is an Associate Creative Director at Disney with a long history as a creative. He fills us in on his creative journey, his favorite parts of working with freelancers, and how to build trust with a client on this week’s episode. 

Neph is an award-winning graphic designer with 10+ years experience working as a Creative Director, Designer, Art Director, Photographer, and Director in the apparel, entertainment, consumer electronics, hospitality and automotive industries. He is currently the Associate Creative Director at Disney. To quote from his LinkedIn profile: “​​perfectly crafted is my ultimate goal. No matter the medium – print, digital, experiential, broadcast, film – you can bet my heart is in it.” 

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

Sign up for The Community!

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

You know how most people are either left brained or right brained? Well, Jessica, the CEO and co-Founder of Playbook, is both! She’s found a way to both sharpen and combine her seemingly-opposite skill sets by finding people who make her better.

Learn how to do this yourself on this week’s episode of the podcast!

Check out Playbook, a visual cloud storage platform for creatives.

Hosted by Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

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To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Follow us on Instagram @closerandcloserco!

Emma Tucker is the Deputy Editor at Creative Review, meaning she has her finger on the pulse of everything and anything going on in the creative industries. Not only that, but she has experience in the ad world and as a freelancer. Some may say she’s an expert on all things creative.

Hosted by Dave Arcade & Andrea Mejia-Madriz.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

Sign up for The Dose!

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Follow us on Instagram @closerandcloserco!

Mentorship is truly the key to success. That’s why this week, we brought Drew’s mentor, Matt Shatto, onto the podcast to give you a taste of his wisdom. He may be a business owner, but Matt is a creative at heart, and he knows just about everything there is to know about balancing business and creativity, finding your voice through hardship, and choosing mentors who help you better your practice, whatever that may be.

Hosted by Drew Melton.

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman.

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co.

Links

• The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge: https://www.amazon.com/Brain-That-Changes-Itself-Frontiers/dp/0143113100
• DNRS: https://retrainingthebrain.com/ 
• Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hansen: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwiring-Happiness-Science-Contentment-Confidence/dp/0385347316
• The Hoffman Process: https://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/

Mel Cerri is the definition of amazing. She's a self-taught, kick-ass, illustrating mother, and she injected us all with a little inspiration to do what we love this week on the Closer&Closer Podcast. Hosted by Tristan Almario & Dave Arcade.  

Podcast Art by Dave Coleman

To learn more about Closer&Closer, visit www.closerandcloser.co