gangSTAR* Creative Podcast

Michael Buffington Jr. AKA Drawaholic1124 was Born & Raised in the historic Mission District of San Francisco, Ca. He's been a professional Concept Artist doing pre-production artwork and design for over 18 years in the Video Game and Entertainment Industry. While Michael has worked on many projects in his career, his most notable gig was working as a designer on season 3 of Clone Wars for Lucasfilm Animation. For the past 17 years he's also taught at the college level. 9 years ago Michael accepted a full time job as an a College Professor and department head at a prominent University in The Bay Area. As a master curriculum designer, Michael went on to build the #1 Program for Concept Art in the US... from the ground up (BFA & MFA). It was also ranked #3 in the world in 2019.  Michael is the founder of Drawaholics Anonymous, an international drawing community with hundreds of members. Most recently he founded “Grind Before Glory”, An art fundamental skill building programmed designed to help young artist develop their foundational skills before they get to College. In this episode, we discuss... How Michael got into drawing and art The kind of skillsets needed to become a concept artist How the concept industry works Balance life as a freelancer and professor Pricing your work as a concept artist And so much more! Social Media & Links: https://www.artstation.com/drawaholic1124 https://instagram.com/drawaholic1124?utm_medium=copy_link https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTd5BtYBE/ https://www.drawaholicsanonymous.com/ www.grindbeforeglory.com @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Born in Holguin, Cuba, in the late 80's, Cinthia grew up watching her late father - classically trained Cuban painter and sculptor Daniel Santos - work. Her love of art began at a young age, and grew as a means to send her father photos and letters after his move to Mexico when she was 5. Moving to Miami at the age of 10, Cinthia's love of art shifted focus to illustration after being exposed to unlimited cartoons and comics upon arriving. While acquiring a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design and Manufacturing, Cinthia's illustration and design skills quickly turned into internships and job offers, leading to a 4 year career in apparel and textile design. Still in love with visual art, Cinthia was approached by a restaurant designer while painting a mural outside of her employer's studio in Wynwood in 2013; this was the start of Chalk & Brush! What was initially lettering a chalkboard for a neighborhood bagel shop turned into countless local businesses reaching out to Cinthia for her artistic talents. Her then-boyfriend (now husband) Ben, joined along as projects started getting larger, and eventually left his career as a pediatric ER nurse to focus on the business full time. They invested in professional training to grow their skills and kept up with design trends using Cinthia's fashion knowledge. As demand grew, Cyn and Ben shifted the focus of their company to murals, and their sign painting skills quickly gained them a reputation for painting the cleanest and most photogenic pieces in town. After eloping in 2017 (and famously sending proposals from their honeymoon), with demands for Chalk & Brush's work steadily on the rise, they decided to grow their business by assembling a team! Cinthia now focuses on creative direction and design, Ben has assistance with project management, and they both oversee and manage a 6 person paint team. They both pop in and out of projects whenever their skill sets are needed, or when they feel like getting their hands dirty! They have painted countless murals for brands, public arts projects, businesses, and are known for the popularity of their work across social media platforms. Their team helps free up time for them to stay current on trends, keep pricing competitive, and give each client the attention they deserve! Their work has been featured by national brands and truly shines through in countless of their community's most beloved small businesses. In this episode, we discuss... How Cyn & Ben got into the mural business The things you should have in your contracts to save you time, headache, and money How to hire employees for your creative business How to go about pricing murals What their process looks like when someone hires them to paint a mural And so much more! Social Media & Links: @chalkandbrush @cynno chalkandbrush.com TikTok: @chalkandcynno @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Let's welcome Laurence back for his second time on the show! Inspired by successful Entrepreneurs, Artists and Entertainers, Laurence paints vibrant portraits of some of the most influential people who have helped shape the world we see today. Having always been fascinated by understanding what it takes to achieve success  and the individual motivations behind it, Laurence paints figures who have inspired others and his own success. His work focuses on capturing the entrepreneurial spirit, hard work, dedication and persistence required to achieve whatever it is you want from life. Laurence is a self taught artist who continues to produce unique paintings with a positive message. He currently has a solo show/residency running at South Place Hotel in London until April 29th! In this episode, we discuss... Thoughts on whether artists should get their own studio Story behind how he got to collab with Rolls Royce How he partnered with Hobbycraft Different ways he's been building and connecting with his audience Everything about his new residency at South Place Hotel in London And so much more! Social Media & Links: @laurence_m_white @laurencemwhite (TikTok/Twitter/Clubhouse) Www.laurencemwhite.com Discord: https://discord.gg/8yYWhxMq @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Nicole Mueller is a San Francisco, CA based visual artist. Her work includes large-scale paintings, murals, and installations that mimic the effects of stained glass. Driven by process, her abstract works are highly saturated, built with layers of collage-like shapes. Her work explores the complexity of color, states of flux, dichotomies within painting, the transitional nature of being, and the threshold between interior and exterior, the tangible and intangible. Mueller earned her BFA in Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD in 2011. Her work has been exhibited in California, New York, and Maryland. She has been an artist-in-residence at ArtPoint (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco), the Vermont Studio Center, and Proyecto 'ace in Argentina. She has completed public projects in collaboration with the City of Alameda, California Arts Council and Downtown Alameda Business Association, ArtSpan and the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco, as well as commercial businesses throughout San Francisco. In 2017 she was the recipient of the Mark M. Glickman and Lanette M. McClure Artist Award for emerging artists in California. Mueller is also co-host of Beyond the Studio, a podcast that interviews working contemporary artists about their career paths and aims to increase transparency in the art world by hosting candid conversations about their business practices, time management, financial planning, and how they're navigating the unique challenges of making a living, creatively. The podcast received an Alternative Exposure grant in 2017 from Southern Exposure in San Francisco, with support from Facebook's Artist-in-Residence Program and the Andy Warhol Foundation. Beyond the Studio is a cultural partner of Art World Conference, and a fiscally sponsored project of Independent Arts & Media. In this episode, we discuss... How Nicole became an artist Methods she uses for pricing her different kinds of works How she gets projects booked with big budgets How to break down the costs that go into a big budget of a project All the steps that went into creating the biggest commissioned painting of her career And so much more! Social Media & Links: www.nicolemariemueller.com www.beyondthe.studio @nicolemariemueller (Instagram) @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Alvin Codner has always wanted to change the world at a young age. He has worked in the nonprofit sector, public sector, and school districts throughout the past 10 years, Alvin Codner has a history of excellence and holds the public interest very close to his heart.  Some of his gangSTAR* achievements include Peoples Choice Award at the National Arts Program, feature on FOX News for Community Arts, Arts Coordinator for The Grace Assets (One of Multi-Millionaire Derrick Grace's Business), and Teacher of the Year Nomination. This is Alvin Codner's last year as a Middle School Art Teacher transitioning to be a full-time artist. He has his BFA and his main niche is Acyclic and Oil Paintings. In this episode, we discuss... How Alvin got into the arts Working on projects within the community and for non-profits What his pricing looked like when he started doing art vs what it looks like now What his plans are for the direction of his new artwork Tips for artists who want to transition into full time And so much more! Social Media & Links: www.alvincodner.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTw-ohGYSVzozkdrPCmrNtw @mrdatslife (Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Youtube,) @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Anthony Rose is an artist and experiential art curator working with the world's most expressive artists and commercial art collectors at United By Design. He is the founder and executive director of United By Design (UXD), an art agency that elevates physical and digital spaces with murals, sculptures, and installations for brands and businesses like Chevron, Gensler, and the Houston Astros. Anthony is co-founder of Satellites Art Project, an initiative documenting the connective beauty of art and technology during moments of physical isolation and distance. Anthony is also an active contributor to nonprofits around the nation like Good Measure, TEDxSanAntonio, and the Prison Entrepreneurship Program. You can follow Anthony on Twitter, get professional on LinkedIn, connect on Clubhouse or view some recent interactions on Instagram. Of course, if you'd like to work together or invite him to speak, feel free to contact Anthony via email. In this episode, we discuss... How Anthony got into doing artwork His experience painting murals before transitioning into graphic design How he made the transition from freelancing to building his art agency His thoughts on how to price your services How to build connections with commercial clients What his biggest mistake in business was And so much more! Social Media & Links: https://www.uxdmurals.com/, https://twitter.com/AJROSEART, https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyjamesrose/, https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@ajr, https://www.instagram.com/aj_from_uxd https://www.instagram.com/satellites.project/ @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

David Filar is a footwear designer by trade, but an all around creative. He has the amazing opportunity to work with and manage a design and development team in the footwear industry for his full time job. He's also an artist and painter, new creator of NFT's, podcast host, volunteer on the Worcester Arts Council, and an art teacher. He believes in being a better person every single day and that we should all create to inspire others. On a more specific level, he's super proud of being able to work with Matthew Williams and Nike on a product through Vibram which allowed him to go to Milan to speak on a stage with him and travel to China collaborate as well. In this episode, we discuss... How David got into the footwear design industry What it takes to build a career in the footwear industry Tips for getting the job you really want What it's like to travel to China and other countries for work How David balances all his creative passions Creative burnout and how to deal with it And so much more! Social Media & Links: Instagram: @david.filar Twitter: @davidfilar davidfilar.com @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Inspired by successful Entrepreneurs, Artists and Entertainers, Laurence paints vibrant portraits of some of the most influential people who have helped shape the world we see today. Having always been fascinated by understanding what it takes to achieve success  and the individual motivations behind it, Laurence paints figures who have inspired others and his own success. His work focuses on capturing the entrepreneurial spirit, hard work, dedication and persistence required to achieve whatever it is you want from life. Laurence is a self taught artist who continues to produce unique paintings with a positive message. In this episode, we discuss... How Laurence got into painting How his previous career helped catapult his art business How to leverage your network to grow your fan and collector base How to use social media to market yourself How to price your artwork Best ways to connect with your audience And so much more! Social Media & Links: @laurence_m_white @laurencemwhite (TikTok/Twitter/Clubhouse) Www.laurencemwhite.com @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

At the start of 2014, Ade Sanusi created a pioneering platform that celebrated the next generation of creative talents called Art Meets Culture. The platform is a one-of-a-kind experience, designed to celebrate, promote, and develop artists and musicians. Tapping into the importance of social media in the artist community, this unique event allowed music and art enthusiasts to come together and share their experiences, with a specifically tailored social media campaign for each show. With over 22 events curated since 2014, we have now expanded the brand into an art-driven communications platform. The goal is to continue to develop the platform that champions artists and be the absolute best at what they do. In this episode, we discuss... How Ade got to work at Universal Music and Complex Media Why he created Art Meets Culture What all goes into creating and promoting big events What his first event was like compared to his most recent events Some of the biggest mistakes he made in business And so much more! Social Media & Links: Instagram: @artmeetsculture YouTube @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Lex Monson is the Co-founder and CEO of Punkpost, where beautifully handwritten cards are mailed by artists for you. Each card is uniquely handwritten to bring maximum delight to both the sender and the recipient. Lex founded the company with her husband back in 2015 when the two decided that it should be easier to deliver happy and encouraging moments, even when you're short on time or resources. Punkpost gives people an accessible way to connect with one another in a deeper, more meaningful way. Before Lex founded Punkpost, she was the managing community editor at Brit + Co. Prior to that, she worked as a senior editor at Yelp. In this episode, we discuss... How Lex and her husband came up with the idea for Punkpost The journey from where Punkpost started and where it is today Best ways to go about pitching your idea Who her team is made up of and what their roles are Best ways to manage a virtual team What they have planned for the future of Punkpost And so much more! Social Media & Links: Instagram: @punkpostco www.punkpost.com @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Nina Arce is one of the top working makeup artists in California and Miami. Nina has worked on numerous music videos, Americas Next Top Model contestants, numerous Fashion Weeks, with many well known designers, as well as being the personal makeup artist to a number of artist and celebrities. Her work has graced the pages of several magazines and on television. Nina's calm, peaceful demeanor and incredible artistry has made her one of the most requested artists in her field. She is famous for her professionalism and incomparable art! Nina is a leader and has learned to maneuver the fashion scene and work her way to become a successful, working artist. Her ability to lead, organize and her knowledge of artistry and event planning has made her stand out amongst other makeup artist. In this episode, we discuss... How Nina got into doing makeup How she was able to work with artists, influencers, and celebrities What people look for when hiring a makeup artist What it takes to become a successful makeup artist Her journey balancing being a new mother and entrepreneur And so much more! Social Media & Links: Instagram: @ninasmakeup @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Telli is the star of WAGS Atlanta a reality television series that premiered on E! in early 2018. She is a fashion influencer/brand ambassador, working with companies such as Fashion Nova, Karl Kani, Pretty Little Thing, Monet Brand, Hairfinity, Dermalogica , Mario Badescu, and Beauty Blender , Fight Camp, and Nordic Track to name a few. She is also an entrepreneur and motivational speaker to help women empower themselves. Along with that she has created Boxing Wags Association, raising funds and delivering them into the hands of service providers and non-profits who support children and families in a variety of ways. Her events have been epic in helping raise awareness and funds to women with breast cancer along with helping out people with Spina Bifida . Not only has she modeled NY and LA fashion week, she also is a fashion designer who launched her first collection called Imperium in Los Angeles Fashion Week 2019 (that made the cover of Elle Europe and Cosmopolitan Ukraine ). In addition she now has luxurious 4 way mask that donates one free mask to frontline workers with every purchase. With the same passions as many other women, she is a partner, mother, and businesswomen, who aims to inspire and empower others. In this episode, we discuss... How Telli got onto WAGS Atlanta and what that experience was like How she's able to balance being a mom, partner, boss babe, and everything in between The details that go into the decor of her new home The process behind creating her new collection of luxury face masks What some of her biggest mistakes in business were And so much more! Social Media & Links: Instagram: @telliswift Telliswift.com Boxingwagsassociation.org @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Patricia Kaniowski is an active Real Estate Investor, who redevelops high-end homes in the Los Angeles area. As co-owner of Legacy Homevestments LLC, her job responsibilities include marketing, financing, acquisitions, project managing and design. For over 20 years, Patricia traveled the world competing in Ballroom Dance competitions and ranked in the top 7 in the world, as a Rising Star Professional. Some of her gangSTAR* accomplishments include: - Profiting over $500k on a single flip - Being featured on HGTV's Flipping 101 (Currently filming season 2) - In 8 short years have rehabbed 40 homes - Purchased and sold over $77million worth of Real Estate In this episode, we discuss... How Patricia got into ballroom dancing What it takes to be a top world ranked ballroom dancer Whether or not there's money in dance How she transitioned from professional dancing to real estate The process of how she finds and flips her properties How she got on HGTV's Flipping 101 What kind of team it takes to do what she does And so much more! Social Media & Links: Instagram: @patricia.kaniowski www.Legacyhomevestments.com @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Thomas Evans, a.k.a. Detour, is an all-around creative specializing in large scale public art, interactive visuals, portraiture, immersive spaces, and creative directing. His focus is to create work where art and innovation meet. A born collaborator and “military brat,” Detour pulls from every conceivable experience that shapes his landscapes and perspectives. Explaining Detour's work is no easy task, as ongoing experimentations in visual art, music, and interactive technologies have his practice continually expanding. With his ever-evolving approach to art, Detour's focus is on expanding customary views of creativity and challenging fine-art paradigms by mixing traditional mediums with new approaches—all the while opening up the creative process from that of a singular artist, to one that thrives on multi-layered collaboration and viewer participation. In this episode, we discuss... How Detour started his art career How he grew and leveraged his network to grow his art career How past jobs help you become a better business owner Different ways to go about pricing murals A look into the different streams of income Detour has in his business The importance of delegating tasks as you grow your business And so much more! Social Media & Links: www.iamdetour.com Instagram: @detour303 Buy His Book @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Today is my 30th birthday!!! And I'm turnin' up.....quarantine style! LOL I thought it would be cool to share some of the lessons I learned in my 20's since I'm about to embark on a new chapter entering my 30's. Tune into this episode, grab a drink, and reflect with me :) In this episode, I discuss... 30 Life Lessons I Learned In My 20's And so much more! Social Media & Links: @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

You gotta stop waiting and expecting clients and customers to come to you. You gotta go after clients and put yourself out there. It's time to start doing outreach so you can get more clients and sales! Tune into this episode to learn different ways on how to do outreach that will grow your business. In this episode, I discuss... How to do outreach on different social platforms Examples of how I do outreach Helpful tips to do successful outreach And so much more! Social Media & Links: @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Illustrator and author Lisa Congdon, living and working in Portland, Oregon, is best known for her colorful, graphic drawings and hand lettering. She works for clients around the world including Comme des Garçons, Crate and Barrel, Facebook, MoMA, REI, Target and Harvard University among many others. She is the author of eight books, including Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist and her latest book Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic. She was named one of 40 Women Over 40 to Watch in 2015 and she is featured in the 2017 book, 200 Women Who Will Change the Way you See the World. With over 400k followers on Instagram, and 14+ online classes centered around creativity and art business with well over 100k students, my convo with Lisa Congdon is definitely one you're gonna wanna tune into! In this episode, we discuss... How Lisa got into an art career as a second career and her journey to becoming a full-time artist in her 40s How she was able to quit her job and go all in on her art business What her experience was like dealing with imposter syndrome and how she got through it What it's like to work with an agent and how to go about finding one What streams of income she has in place and which one is her bread & butter Who her team consists of and how to let go and delegate And so much more! Social Media & Links: www.lisacongdon.com @lisacongdon @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Business can be stressful and overwhelming. And this is the exact reason why it's important to create processes & systems for everything in your creative business! In this episode, I discuss... Creating Processes & Systems for your creative business And so much more! Social Media & Links: @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Branding is THE most important part to creating a business. One could argue sales is more important, but branding is what ultimately creates sales! Branding isn't just the pretty stuff like your logo and colors, it's actually much deeper than that. Branding is what people think, say, and feel about you when you're not in the room. With the branding agency I run with my husband, we've helped tons of entrepreneurs from all over the world create premium badass brands.  So take a listen to this episode if you're ready to take your brand to the next level! In this episode, I discuss... 10 Steps To Creating A gangStAR* Brand And so much more! Social Media & Links: @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com Click here to Download The 10 Steps To Creating A gangSTAR* Brand PDF

Making money online is essential to all creative businesses, especially during times like these. So I wanted to share some tips that you can take action on within the next 24 hrs to help bring more money online into your business! This is a quick listen filled with lots of value bombs, so you're gonna wanna tune into this one! In this episode, I discuss... 5 Ways to boost your sales online 6th bonus tip And so much more! Social Media & Links: @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com Download The 5 Ways To Boost Your Sales PDF

Erin Miller Wray is an artist and designer specializing in hand painted visual branding. Erin partners directly with clients to develop unique murals and artwork designs for branded content, commercial use, outdoor advertisement, social media installations and public art. ​ EMW founded her company after merging her love of producing and design as a one-stop-shop for production, design and installation for clientele looking to create alternative forms of artwork for public engagement and commercial use. Her work focuses mainly on large-scale mural projects in an effort to increase social benefits through public artwork in communities. Through her exploration of modern, energetic shapes and colors, she hopes to enhance the well-being of community members through access to public art. EMW's pieces are inspired by the community and the history of the area around the mural site and are designed to encourage audiences to explore creativity, possibility, healthy lifestyles and engagement with others. In this episode, we discuss... How Erin got into painting murals How Erin was able to transition into being an artist full-time Some of the biggest turning points her art career What it's like to work with big corporate and commercial clients What things you should have in place to attract commercial clients How she goes about pricing her services Some of the biggest mistakes she made and what she learned from them And so much more! Social Media & Links: Www.erinmillerwray.com @ErinMillerWray @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Kristine Mirelle's life journey has been an interesting variety of adventures. From working in a tortilla factory in her childhood, to traveling 6 continents performing and sharing her music, her love for life and exploration has given her a multitude of stories and lyrics to share with the world. We could go on about her talents and accomplishments, like how she performs 250+ shows a year or won 4 consecutive national piano competitions. She's hit not only the club circuit of Los Angeles, but also entertained high rollers in Vegas at spots like Palms, the Mirage, Wynn Las Vegas, and is in especially high demand at private events for the NFL, Porsche and many more! To fully understand Kristine Mirelle, however, it's worth digging a little deeper. From her hometown of Roswell, NM, she has also displayed a knack for entrepreneurship and benevolence. Her “Lil Kristi's” line of Mexican food can be found in Whole Foods, Sprouts, and more than 100 stores in New Mexico, while appearing on various cooking shows! Perhaps most importantly, Kristine actively volunteers in countries around the world performing and teaching music. From special education centers in Thailand to AIDS stricken communities in Africa, it's part of her mission statement to counteract suffering of the world with the joy of music. Kristine is currently working on her new project "Spanglish" where she is revisiting the sounds of her Latin upbringing. She also creates resources and courses to help artists take charge of their own music careers independently. Find more info at http://www.gigmagicsystem.com In this episode, we discuss... How Kristine got into music Stepping outside your comfort zone and going after your goals Different ways to make a living with your music Record deals vs going Independent How Kristine created a tortilla chip company How she balances being a mom, musician, business owner, and educator How she got on X Factor and what her experience was like And so much more! Social Media & Links: www.KristineMirelle.com Kristine's Facebook Kristine's Instagram Learn How To Build Your Music Career @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Are you an artist or creative that finds themselves working a lot for free in exchange for "exposure"? Or just working free in general? If you said "Yes"... it's okay because we've all done it. A lot of prospects offer "exposure" as a means of payment for creative services. Unfortunately, this is because the creativity community has set this standard by saying "yes" to these kinds of opportunities, and many people aren't used to paying for creative services. This is why we have to come together as a community to set the standard, and to either get paid for our services or get something of immense value in return. It's important for you to know that "exposure" is NOT valuable because it's not guaranteed. The artist NEVER wins in these kinds of deals. This is why I wanted to share some ways to better navigate these conversations and help you come out the other end of the deal feeling like a winner! In this episode, I discuss... Why artists and creatives should stop doing work for free Ways to turn those "work for exposure" conversations into a win-win How to get clients to pay you if they want you to work for free What you should tell your friends and family if they want work for free Different ways to work with charities without having to do work for completely free And so much more! Social Media & Links: @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Sarah Stieber says she's a color-obsessed painter with healthy self esteem and terrible sense of direction. She's wanted to become an artist for as long as she can remember and has been striving and thriving in pursuit of her passion for the past decade. She spent the summer after Junior year in High School studying figure drawing in Italy and her teacher encouraged her to pursue art in college. She majored in painting at Boston University and had the opportunity to return to Italy to study abroad. In her Venice art studio she shined colored lights on her model and created her first “Electric Realism” painting, a style that has informed her work ever since. In Boston and Italy her peers and teachers always said that her paintings screamed “California!”, so upon graduation she returned home to San Diego to pursue art in the place that inspired her early work. Now she create celebratory paintings out of her San Diego art studio exploring themes of social justice, resilience, and joy. Every painting has a story, and she likes to produce films and curate exhibitions and installations (mostly covered in rainbows) to spark dialogue and offer more insight into her work. Her paintings have been showcased at the Oceanside Museum of art, the Wausau Museum of Art, and in art galleries from London to Australia. She was a featured artist At Spectrum Miami and was named by CBS On Mogul as one of “15 Female Artists You Need to Know from Miami Art Week”. And over the past few summers she has hosted “Stieber Summer Gallery”, an interactive pop up art gallery in San Diego. In this episode, we discuss... How Sarah became an artist What it's like to study art abroad How to create opportunities for yourself and ask for what you want The crazy pitch that got Sarah into Art Basel How to go about pricing your artwork How she pre-sold a series of uncreated artwork Who makes up her team and what roles they play in her business And so much more! Social Media & Links: Sarah's Instagram www.sarahstieber.com @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Imposter syndrome is something detrimental that creatives face and struggle with frequently - myself included. It is also one of the biggest reasons creatives don't value themselves and turn into "starving artists". This is why I wanted to dive deep into this topic and share a few points to help you overcome it. In this episode, I discuss... Some of my experiences with imposter syndrome 3 mindset tips Why you should never think you and your work are not valuable The best way to gain confidence and knock imposter syndrome to the curb And so much more! Social Media & Links: @devonastimpson  devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com >>> Apply For My 1hr Mentorship Call

I wanted to share my journey of how I became a full-time entrepreneur so you can get to know me better :) I always love hearing other people's backstory because everyone's journey is so different and inspiring. So I hope this episode inspires you in some way and pushes you to keep going after your goals and dreams. I shared a condensed version of my story on my Instagram. So if you want to check that out or see photos and visuals that go along with my story, just click "My Story" in my highlights! In this episode, I discuss... How I got into graphic design How a bump in the road became blessing in disguise that helped me discover my love for painting Why we started Strive & Grind and how we pivoted from a blog to a branding agency How I fell into a depression during the success of Strive & Grind and how I got through it How an art show made me angry and gave me the idea to create gangSTAR* Creative And so much more! >>> Apply For My 1hr Mentorship Call

At 25, Neal Malek found his calling and purpose in life as a hair stylist. Neal has now been doing hair for 6 years and often credits finding this gratifying art form with saving his life. Starting out as an assistant for just 3 months, he quickly found himself leveling up at one of the larger retail corporate salons in Orlando, Florida. In that first two years of doing hair, Neal had managed to enter and win 5 different contests that were on national and global levels! Some of the contests that he won first prize in were the Kenra's simply blonde contest for Best Ombré' Of The Year, and the Ulta Beauty and Living Proof blowout contest in 2016! He is a 4 time nominee for Behind The Chair's One Shot Hair awards for Best Pastel Hair, Festival Hair and Best Wig, but perhaps he is best known for his winning with Pravana's "Show Us Your Vivids" contest in 2016 with his “Colors of the wind” inspired work! This win catapulted Neal's career into national and global publicity. He found himself in major magazines and has even traveled to the opposite side of the world to Thailand. Neal paired his love for doing bold and bright vivid hair colors with the creation of his Instagram @Nealmhair where he has reached over 100,000 organic followers and has recently become a verified Instagram account! Hair has brought new meaning to his life and he couldn't feel more blessed and grateful. “Finally, I have a purpose in this life and I have found where I can fit in and actually make a difference!” He says. He feels like there's no other industry and career that would allow him to live up to his full potential as he is now! In this episode, we discuss... How Neal's troublesome childhood led him to spending time in jail What got Neal into doing hair in the first place What it takes to be sought after award winning hair stylist Different ways you can make money as a hair stylist Some of his biggest mistakes in the hair business How he rose to Instagram fame And so much more! Social Media & Links: IG: @nealmhair @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Sam Bennett is a critically acclaimed author, speaker, and leading authority on Highly Creative People. Sam's work has earned praise from experts and leaders around the globe like Seth Godin, David Neagle, and Keegan-Michael Key of The Key & Peele Show, using her decades of experience as a professional actor and branding consultant to unlock the creativity within others and teach them how to use it successfully within their business or career. Her genius has also been featured in publications such as NPR, Self Magazine, Daily Word, PsychologyToday.com, and ReadersDigest.com. Sam has trained over 10,000 people and sold 40,000 copies of her two bestselling books, while leading a global creativity movement, helping even the most creatively challenged people unlock their inner genius. As a professional actor, she has performed in countless shows (including roles on network television), hob-nobbed with Hollywood Elite, wrote a musical, and built a successful business helping people tap into their creativity and productivity. In this episode, we discuss... How Sam got into acting How to break the "starving artist" stereotype How to beat procrastination How you can make money as a creative Some of the mistakes a lot of creatives make And so much more! Social Media & Links: FB Business Page LinkedIn Instagram Free Procrastination Domination Starter Kit Free Webinar: You and Your Grillion Ideas - How to Manage (and Celebrate!) Your Highly Creative Brain Sam's Website @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Nikolas Elliot is the Award-Winning VP Of Sales for the 4th fastest growing company in The United States and runs one of the fastest growing Business To Consumer sales floors in the world. Nikolas is a highly praised speaker, 4x published author, and the CEO/Founder of Breakthrough Coaching Platform, The Upper Limits, CEO/Founder Of Savage Fitness Sales Academy, and CEO/Founder of Conscious Rap Label Starve Your Doubt Nikolas has dedicated his life to being the light for both men and women who are challenged by self-sabotage, low self-esteem, and procrastination. From addiction, depression, and homelessness to building an 8-figure empire, orphan activist, and an industry-leading expert - Nikolas has turned his Pain Into Purpose. Some of his gangSTAR* accomplishments include booking and performing 13 live shows, filming music videos across the nation with established videographers that have shot well known rappers like Russ and the Migos, and making $10,000 in six months off of swag, ticket sales, etc, all while running an 8 figure phone sales team and leading over 60 people. In this episode, we discuss... How Nikolas got into rapping How to get immune to rejection How he's able to balance both a high pressure 9-5 and music career at the same time What sales tactics can help all creatives better sell themselves His favorite sales and mindset resources he recommends And so much more! Social Media & Links: Instagram: @nikolaselliot YOUTUBE SPOTIFY Starve Your Doubt Facebook Group @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com Resources Mentioned: Books: Go For NoGo for No! : Yes Is the Destination, No Is How You Get There Way of the Wolf: Straight Line Selling: Master the Art of Persuasion, Influence, and Success Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal YouTube Videos: Morning Affirmations Guided Breathing

Meet celebrity chef Steven Moore, AKA "The Trendy Chef. His career began after graduating from the Riverside Culinary Academy at the age of 21. Shortly after graduating he proceeded to Florence Italy for three months to cook with Executive Chefs from different restaurants in the area to enhance his own creative techniques and skills. After returning back home to California he was hired to cook at the Coachella Music Festival, which is one of the biggest music festivals held in California. During the festival he landed the opportunity to cook for different celebrities which many of you may know, such as Pop Star Becky G, Rap Star Kid Ink, Actor Tahj Mowry and Comedian, Actor and Television Host Jay Leno. He's the Food Network Winner of Supermarket Stakeout Season 2, Episode 7 with Alex Guarnaschelli, Bobby Flay & Brooke Williamson. The Trendy Chef is also known for his viral deep fried water video on Tiktok with over 1.7 million views. Also featured on The Shade Rooms Instagram for the first ever Donut Glazed Chicken Wings Topped with Sprinkles. In this episode, we discuss... How the Trendy Chef got into cooking How he got onto the Food Network and what the behind the scenes experience is like Crazy story (never really been shared) behind why he quit his last restaurant job and never looked back What it takes to make it in the chef industry How to build a catering business and figure out pricing And so much more! Social Media & Links: www.iamthetrendychef.com Instagram: @thetrendychef Tik Tok: @Trendychef_ @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Kamilla Nichole is a Self Taught Creative Content Creator in the Social Media And Social Media Marketing space for over 5 years. She was born in the Philippines, raised in San Diego California, and currently resides in New Jersey. She moved to New York City in her early 20s to pursue modeling but fell in love with cinematography. She has worked for Fitness and Health brands and proceeds to expand her knowledge in the beauty industry, specializing in fashion, hair, skin, nails, jewelry, health & wellness. Some gangSTAR* accomplishments include working with Jeffree Star, Bellami Hair and having the opportunity to travel on several influencer trips with notable beauty brands. In this episode, we discuss... How Kamilla learned how to do cinematography without any prior education How she's able to balance both her influencer and commercial projects The main strategy she uses to get brand deals What the process looks like when working with her Who makes up her current team and how they add value to her business How she goes about pricing her services And so much more! Social Media & Links: Manager: www.fifthbull.com @KamillaNichole Kamilla's YouTube @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Leah Abucayan-Cook, widely known by her artist name "hellaLEAH", is originally from Sacramento, California, but is currently residing in Atlanta, GA working as a production designer for CNN Politics. Previously she interned at her dream job at Walt Disney Imagineering where she designed print collateral and environmental signage for Walt Disney parks, resorts, and cruise lines. She originally studied Graphic Design at the Academy of Art University of San Francisco to pursue her dream of turning a hobby into a career. At the age of 11, Leah had her own business crafting purses, bags, and wallets, and you can still find her creating commissioned portraits made entirely out of duct tape. Leah's versatile talent has taken her far in her creative ventures. She's collabed with companies like MailChimp and Punkpost, and continues to create many kinds of works of art, from digital portraits and custom door mats to murals and hand-lettered signage. Her mission is to make a positive impact on the world and inspire others with her positivity, art, and passion for design. In this episode, we discuss... How Leah landed her dream job designing for Disney How she got into duct tape art How she landed her current job as a Production Designer at CNN How to balance your work, life, and side hustles at the same time What got her into real estate investing and becoming an Airbnb host What it's like to have your art go viral and how to deal with the repercussions of viral art And so much more! Social Media & Links: @hellaleah @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

This pandemic has given us a LOT of time to reflect on our lives and businesses. We've been spending more time on social media too, and as a result, this has made us compare our successes to others. If you feel like you're not where you want to be in your life and business, listen to this episode. In this episode, I discuss... How the pandemic and social media is causing negative beliefs, comparison, and envy 3 Reasons why you currently aren't where you wanna be in your life and business And much more!   DOWNLOAD THE FREE TOOLKIT mentioned in the episode below: http://devonastimpson.com/business/22/   Social Media & Links: @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Tijana Stamenković and Dušan Tašin are the epitome of a power couple. With more than 5 years in the startup industry and many more years in the IT, branding and design industry, these two are on the fast track to creating an ultimate legacy. They are the Co-owners of their own branding & web agency, with clients from all over the world. They also created a successful print on demand photobook company called YoloBook with over 50+ employees, selling over 12+ million books, and building several headquarters that spread over several European countries. They are a young duo in their mid-twenties, that have been published on their national TV stations and in multiple newspapers, blogs, and podcasts. Tijana was also nominated for 30 under 30 by the Head of Startup Center in 2019, and was recently listed as one of the top 10 female leaders from Serbia by EU Startups. In this episode, we discuss... How Tijana & Dusan got into their creative careers What it takes to build multiple companies at the same time One of the biggest mistakes they made in their business The many crazy roadblocks they faced while building their companies How to build a great team culture How they built a successful startup company with headquarters in 4 countries and 50+ employees The sacrifices that go into creating some sort of work/life balance How to work with your significant other And so much more! Social Media & Links: instagram.com/crvenkapicica/ instagram.com/tasin_3 yolotechnology.rs zdrabranding.com @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Spectacular Smith is an American multi-platinum recording artist, entrepreneur, no. 1 bestselling author, social media guru, keynote speaker and entertainer. A dancer since the third grade, Spectacular took his childhood love of performing, into the rap group he formed with his brothers, famously known as  Pretty Ricky. And if you're a millennial like me, I'm sure you grew up blasting their music like I did. The group went on to huge worldwide success: filling arenas on the Scream IV tour, selling millions of singles and ringtones, and earning huge hits with “Grind With Me,” “Your Body,” and “On The Hotline.” Music stardom was just the first stage of Spectacular Smith's career. In his late 20s, he became the founder and CEO of Adwizar, the dominant social media brand in the urban music space that has become a multi-million dollar company ranked at #262 on the 2017 Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies in America. The company runs the Facebook pages of artists such as Bow Wow, Kevin Gates, Soulja Boy, Master P, Birdman, Bone Thugs N Harmony, and countless others. Adwizar has now grown beyond urban music into dealing with major brands, corporations, athletes, merchandising deals, and more. Spectacular is known as one of the "Top Marketing Gurus To Watch" by Huffington Post, ranks among "Top 5 Most Influential Entrepreneurs in Tech & Music"and honored as the "Innovator Of The Year" by Black Enterprise, and named one of the "Greatest and Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs" by Inc. In this episode, we discuss... How the music group Pretty Ricky formed What it takes to work with your family in the music business The shocking truth about the music industry What it takes to make it in the music industry How he got back on his feet after his dead lost all of his money and kicked him out of the house How he built his multi-million dollar marketing company, Adwizar How investing in self-education beats investing in college any day And so much more! Send Spectacular A Text Message: Text "#masterclass" to 786-661-1224 Social Media & Links: @iamspectacular adwizar.com spectacularacademy.com @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Lizzie Snow is a visual artist originally from New Zealand, working under her artist name 'fortyonehundred'. Inspired by fractals in nature, Lizzie creates contemporary explorations of the mandala and free flowing artworks. The mediums Lizzie engages in include original artworks, internationally commissioned murals, limited edition prints & collectables, and collaborations with brands and artists worldwide such as Lululemon, Converse, Peugeot, Blunt Umbrellas, TopShop, AllBirds, Whittaker's and more. With a master's degree in Fine Arts, a Bachelor of Design degree and over 100,000 followers online, Lizzie continues to grow her artist brand and business while inspiring the world with her captivating artworks. In this episode, we discuss... How she started her art career at age 18 while attending college A few of her embarrassing moments One of the biggest mistakes she made in her art business How she was able to land big clients How she prices her artwork and services The keys to being a successful artist And so much more! Social Media & Links: http://www.fortyonehundred.ca @fortyonehundred http://facebook.com/fortyonehundredart @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Sarai Garcia is the CEO, Founder, & Designer behind TheNailShop by SB, which is an online boutique that designs and creates luxury press on nails. With over 100k+ followers on Instagram, she has been able to take her love for designing nails and turn it into a thriving and successful dream business.   Some of her gangSTAR* accomplishments include being able to work full-time in her business with her husband and family, surpassing 6 figures in revenue, being featured in Billboard's Christmas catalog, and recently being featured in Allure magazine.   In this episode, we discuss... how she got into designing press on nails how she learned how to market her business online and on social media what steps she took to grow her following and business on Instagram tips that can help you grow your business on Instagram her processes and systems, and what happens once an order is placed what goes into pricing her nail sets and so much more!   Social Media & Links: https://thenailshopbysb.com/ @thenailshop.sb https://www.facebook.com/thenailshop.sb @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

In light of recent events, I thought it'd be great to use my platform and have a discussion with my black husband, Kevin Stimpson, about everything going on. These past few weeks have been emotionally and mentally stressful and draining for both of us. We both have been working on our businesses while also spending a ton of time talking to and educating non black people, posting to social media, doing research, and so much more.   I originally planned to release this episode the end of last week, but I just didn't have time or energy to do so.   On Saturday (6/6/20) we marched with 7,000 people for 6 miles in downtown San Diego, Ca... and it was POWERFUL and PEACEFUL! So much positive change has happened already as a result of the protests, uproar, and even riots. I've never seen soooo many non-black people standing up and with the black community, as well as doing so much self work and reflecting.   This is a new civil rights movement. And I'm so proud to be on the right side of history for my future kids and future generations. #blacklivesmatter   In this episode, we discuss...   The whirlwind that's happening as a result of George Floyd's murder   Racism and the kind of racism we've experienced   Being a black man in America   What Black Lives Matter means   Stories from real American Black History   How to talk about what's going on   What actions you can take to support the black community   Resources & Links:   http://devonastimpson.com/gangstar-creative/blm/     Social Media & Links:   kevinstimpson.com @kevin_stimpson @blackbossmovement @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com

Dan Lam is an artist and sculptor residing in Dallas, TX. Known for her bold and unique sculptures, she rose to popularity and prominence through social media, particularly Instagram. Her body of work ranges from gallery exhibitions to large scale installations to brand collaborations. She exhibits in the US and internationally and has upcoming shows in Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, California.   Dan was born in the Philippines while her family was immigrating from Vietnam to the United States. She was raised in Texas where she received her Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of North Texas in 2010. She received her Masters in Fine Arts in 2014 from Arizona State University.   Some of her gangSTAR* accomplishments include having a full feature in Juxtapoz Magazine, a pop-up large scale installation at the ICA Boston, a permanent public sculpture at Industry City in Brooklyn, NY, and being Facebook artist-in-residence.   In this episode, we discuss how she creates these colorful sculptures, how she was able to become a full-time artist, how she got her work into museums, what goes into pricing sculptures, and so much more!   Social Media & Links: bydanlam.com instagram.com/sopopomo @devonastimpson devonastimpson.com artbydevona.com  

Ann Le made her mark in the Youtube space during the rise of social media in 2009 with over 1.6 million viewers from across the world. Her work has appeared in television and publications such as Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Covergirl, HGTV, The Morning Show, The Today Show, Tubefilter and many more. Aside from creating digital content and working with Fortune 500 brands, she also consulted established and renown brands like Chanel, HGTV, Disney and many others on Youtube creation. “It started as a hobby and I wanted to find like-minded friends” - Ann Le   In this episode we discuss how Ann built her following, how to collaborate with other creators, what it looks like to partner with Fortune 500 brands, and more!   Follow her:   @annlestyle   www.youtube.com/anneorshine   www.co-creativeminds.com   /////////////////////////////////////////////////////   Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative:   @devonastimpson     DevonaStimpson.com     ArtByDevona.com

Shomi Patwary is a Bengali-American video director and producer who leaves his abstract and left-field mark on any project that comes his way. With a skillset that covers all aspects of audiovisual storytelling, whether directing or music producing, Shomi is additionally a talented cinematographer, editor, graphic and web designer.   At the 2016 Much Music Awards, Shomi was nominated for Video of the Year, Best Hip Hop Video and Best MuchFact Video for “Might Not” By Roc Nation's Belly featuring The Weeknd. Shomi has also worked with stars like Beyonce, A$AP Rocky, The Weeknd, Diplo, Shah Rukh Khan, Major Lazer and many others. And he has also worked with global corporations like Disney, Apple, Adidas, Bacardi, Mtn Dew, and more.   In this episode, Shomi shares his journey from graduating with a computer science degree to becoming one of the top filmmakers in the music industry, how he cultivates his relationships with clients, the behind the scenes process of a creating a music video, and more!   Give him a follow:   @shomipatwary   http://illusivemedia.com/     //////**     Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative:   @devonastimpson     DevonaStimpson.com     ArtByDevona.com

Milena Yesayeva is the founder of Champagne Bisou, which is a custom liquor bottle design company. These custom liquor bottles are better known as Glam Bottles ™️.  Since 2015, she's been designing beautiful bottles for major celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Mariah Carey, Lil Pump, Jlo & many more.   In this episode we discuss her path to discovering her passion of designing Glam Bottles, how she was able to build such a high profile list of clientele, and how designing Kylie Jenner's infamous 21st birthday bottle was one of the greatest highlights of her business, but how it also led to the downfall and how she was able to may a come back.    Give her a follow:   @champagne_bisou   */////     Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson   DevonaStimpson.com   ArtByDevona.com

Mallory Dawn, or better known by her artistic persona “Icecream and Cupcakes”, is a professional fine artist based out of Las Vegas, USA. She uses a variety of mediums including spray paint, ink, pigment, pencil and acrylics to craft mystifyingly surreal, rich-coloured paintings of the female form. The internationally-selling painter often layers complex, intoxicating patterns with enchanting floral motifs that make her canvases and murals a truly eye catching spectacle.   The Ohio-born artist's work is placed in countless high-profile venues. Some of these include the permanent art collection for The Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas, the Mural Oasis in Primm, NV and the World Trade Center in New York. She has also achieved numerous accolades from organizations such as Las Vegas Weekly (named “woman of Intrigue” 2017), has been featured in Lufthansa in-air magazine and had front page coverage in LVRJ Arts & Entertainment magazine. Mallory is also a graduate of Ohio State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Product development & Design.   Give her a follow:   www.icecreamandcupcakes.com   @icecreamandcupcake   @themallorydawn     */////     Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson   DevonaStimpson.com   ArtByDevona.com

Creative blocks are the kryptonite to our work flow. I'm sure you've hit a few of them while trying to productive during this quarantine. In this episode I share the 10 Ways To Get Through Creative Blocks that have worked for me.    The book I reference in this episode is Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert :)   */////   Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson DevonaStimpson.com ArtByDevona.com

Alli K Design was founded by Alli Koch in 2014. An artist based in Dallas, TX - Alli has turned her passion for art and design into a full time career. The author of  2 published books “How to Draw Modern Florals” and “Florals by Hand” she is on a mission to inspire others to create as well. You can find Alli's artwork on murals all around the DFW area and throughout the US, as well as merchandise in stores all around the country.   When she isn't designing artwork, Alli is speaking on topics such as business and entrepreneurship to fellow creatives- whether it's on a panel or on her podcast, Breakfast with Sis, which she records with her Dad every Saturday morning.   While Alli has been able to work with some incredible companies such as Lululemon and Fossil and created things that have been nationally recognized, her favorite part of her job is still drawing from her bed while cuddling with her cats and drinking a Chick-Fil-a sweet tea.   Follower her: @allikdesign  www.allikdesign.com */////   Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson DevonaStimpson.com ArtByDevona.com

Nicole Harris is the Owner and Creative Director of Dreams In Detail (DID) – a leading Los Angeles based full-service luxury event planning and design firm. Awarded for producing some of the most luxurious and innovative celebrations worldwide, Nicole has garnered an industry-wide reputation for her extensive design portfolio, and her unparalleled ability to bring a vision to life. Motivated by her passion for visual aesthetics, Nicole incorporates fresh ideas inspired from interior design and fashion. With over a decade of experience, Nicole has a deep-rooted understanding of client needs, resulting in her ability to curate highly personal and innovative weddings and events, down to the smallest detail. Nicole's events captivate and interest an impressive list of top celebrities and iconic brands, including The Los Angeles Lakers, Gary Vaynerchuk, Shawn Mendes, The Backstreet Boys, LA Chargers, Kane Brown, NFL, VaynerMedia, NYX, Melanie Fiona, Beauty Bakerie and ULTA Beauty. Her work has been seen in numerous premier industry, wedding, and lifestyle, magazines, blogs, and publications. Most notably, her widely-published work has been featured in The New York Times, The Knot, Forbes, HuffPost, and Celebrity Style Weddings. As a leading authority in producing world-class events, Nicole is a sought-after event planning consultant, and key-note speaker. Give her a follow: Website: https://www.dreamsindetail.com  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfKRAKgy0c5ojWawYOxU0iA?view_as=subscriber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by_nicoleharris/ *///// Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson DevonaStimpson.com ArtByDevona.com  

Stephanie Boutari is a Canadian/Egyptian artist and designer. Born and raised in Bahrain, Stephanie came to Canada in 2005 for her post-secondary education, completing her bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture at the University of Waterloo. It was during her master's thesis that she gravitated back to her roots in art, exploring urban art and murals as a medium through which her thesis focused on the role of architecture's outer surfaces both historically and in the contemporary urban environment. Stephanie pursues her passion for the arts full-time as an independent artist and designer living and working in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. She's worked with big brands such as Shutterstock and Shopify.   Give her a follow: www.stephanieboutari.com @stephboutari *///// Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson DevonaStimpson.com ArtByDevona.com

Flox is an artist from New Zealand who made her first mark on the inner cityscape of Aukland in 2003. She's known for her vibrant and colorful native birds, ferns, and flowers painted with spray paint and stencil. Over the past 20 years Flox has expanded her practice into prints, publications, murals, graphic design, live painting, projects, workshops for both school and the wider public, collaborations, charity work and both group and solo exhibitions. She's one of New Zealand's most recognized contemporary artists. Her work is seen everywhere from Berlin, Hong Kong, New York, Taiwan, India and the US. Give her a follow: @floxnz www.flox.co.nz *///// Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson DevonaStimpson.com ArtByDevona.com

Queue *Cardi B voice* "CORONAVIRUS!" lol .. Times are definitely hard right now for many of us, but this pandemic has blessed us with more free time to grow, learn, reflect, work, build, and create. In this episode Devona shares 4 things you can do to grow your creative business during quarantine.  *///// Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson DevonaStimpson.com ArtByDevona.com

Roxy Prima and Phoebe Cornog are the co-founders of Pandr Design Co. which is a boutique design agency specializing in murals in Southern California. Working in a wide variety of mediums and methods, they tailor their work to any brand strategy. They are known for their bold, unapologetic statement pieces and have worked with companies such as Visa, Target, the Minnesota Vikings, the Phillies, Lululemon, and Tilly's to name a few. They are also passionate about teaching other creatives to run a successful business. Through their online resources, classes, webinars, and talks, they help give creatives the tools they need to run six figure business. In 2019, they started a nonprofit organization, called Ladies Who Paint, that is dedicated to empowering female artists. Each year they host a mural festival in San Diego where they fly 10 female artists from around the world for a once in a lifetime trip to install a large scale mural. They also run the podcast Drunk on Lettering where they interview creatives over cocktails each week. Give them a follow: @pandrdesignco www.pandrdesignco.com @ladieswhopaint www.ladieswhopaint.org @roxyprima @phoebecornog @drunkonlettering *///// Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson DevonaStimpson.com ArtByDevona.com

In the cheerleading world, Santwon McCray is a 5X World Champion, Collegiate national champion, All-American, and Champion Ring Designer. In the entertainment world he's an actor, comedian, MC, singer, stuntman, voice over artist, and more. Santwon has worked on projects, live events, radio & talk shows, music videos, Tv & Films with celebrities such as Todrick Hall, RuPaul, Jordan Sparks, Wayne Brady, Floyd Mayweather, Kevin Hart and many more. Currently the newest cast member of MTV/VH1s Wild N' Out! Give him a follow: Twitter.com/iamsantwon Instagram.com/iamsantwon TikTok: @iamsantwon *///// Check out more of Devona & gangSTAR* Creative: @devonastimpson DevonaStimpson.com ArtByDevona.com