Explore every episode of the podcast Fork in the Road between starving and thriving artist

Mark Sib shares how his artistic journey began during the COVID lockdowns and evolved into a thriving creative career rooted in personal expression, community, and experimentation. From navigating the balance between commercial work and creative freedom, to discovering that his style emerged not from seeking perfection, but from painting how he felt, Mark reveals how embracing speed, spontaneity, and audience connection pushed his art beyond traditional realism and into something deeply personal.

We dive into what it truly means to be a thriving artist, building meaningful relationships with collectors, using planning as a tool but not a cage, developing multiple revenue streams, and understanding that innovation often lives in the tension between control and chaos. If you’ve ever asked yourself whether you can enjoy the process, stay authentic, and still build a sustainable art career, Mark’s story is your roadmap.

Follow Mark Sib: https://www.instagram.com/m__sib

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

Musician Virg pulls back the curtain on the realities of being a modern musician in the digital world. From her childhood discovery of synthesizers to the creation of her Italian single Martini, Virg takes us deep into her creative process, her cultural identity and Italian music, and the powerful role of collaboration in her artistic evolution. She speaks candidly about streaming, music discovery, and the harsh truth behind the lack of financial stability many artists face in today’s industry.

Virg shares why platforms like Bandcamp matter for artist support, the emotional value of owning physical music, and how AI is reshaping the conversation around creativity, authenticity, and the future of a thriving artist. This extended episode explores what it truly means to live creatively while navigating financial realities, maintain flow state as a creator, and build genuine human connection in an increasingly impersonal digital music landscape.

Follow Virg: https://linktr.ee/virgvision

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

In this episode of the Fork in the Road podcast, host Andy Marshall speaks with artist Raheem Nelson, who is known for his work in graphic recording, digital and traditional art, and personal branding. Raheem shares insights into his creative process, the evolution of his art practice, and his collaborations with various artists, including a notable project with hip-hop artist Skyzoo. The conversation also touches on the importance of active listening in graphic recording, the role of personal style in branding, and Raheem's journey into photography and content creation.

Follow Raheem Nelson:

https://www.raheemnelson.com/

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

Seeking a patron for your artistic work certainly sounds a lot better than going to get a day job. But it’s this mindset shift from Jeff Goins that has moved the needle in making me feel ok with getting a job to allow me to follow my creative passions. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject. Leave me a voicemail and I’ll respond and play it on the podcast https://anchor.fm/andycmarshall/message

So I’m trying to build a side hustle that utilises my creative passions, and I’m starting with creating kids books that’s my initial goal. Having kids has given me the drive and purpose to show to them and myself that you can follow your dreams. You don’t have to trade your most valuable asset your time in a job you hate. The only problem is now with kids where do you find the time to get your creative side hustle off the ground. How do you get the headspace? How do you get the energy? Where do you find the time? I don’t know but I chatted with a bunch of parent creators last week who are crushing it. And I’ll be releasing a video on the topic this week. So let’s start it off with the number one entrepreneur mindset coach Fred Blumenberg. I know what you’re thinking he’s an entrepreneur not a creator. That’s right but I believe they are the same in so many ways and if you are an artist and your not an entrepreneur your in trouble… that’s just my opinion man and hey it’s my podcast, so let’s get into it. If you have any tips for parents working a side hustle I’d love to hear from you. You can leave a 1min voicemail here https://anchor.fm/andycmarshall/message and I’ll play it on the podcast

I look at three eye catching ways that you can share your podcast episodes to Instagram stories by using Anchor, Spotify and Overcast. Do you have any creative ways of sharing your podcast to Instagram? If so I’d love to hear from you. You can leave a 1min voicemail here https://anchor.fm/andycmarshall/message and I’ll play it on the podcast

I’ve decided to fine tune my content strategy to focus more on my creative work in the hope I’ll get more done while documenting my creative journey at the same time. And I have incorporated Simon Sineks ‘Start With Why’ method to help me do it. Do you have a content strategy for your creative work? If so I’d love to hear from you. You can leave a 1min voicemail here https://anchor.fm/andycmarshall/message and I’ll play it on the podcast

I discuss what it has been like to document my journey using daily vlogging. I chat about the pros and the cons and why after 188 daily vlogs I’ve decided to call it quits… for the time being. If you are a vlogger or thinking about becoming one I’d love to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons of daily vlogging. You can leave me a voice message on the following link https://anchor.fm/andycmarshall/message

Talking about a bunch of things on Instagram Live today (Which is the reason why I keep randomly talking with people in the chat) I talk about what’s going on, where I’ve been 🤷‍♂️ My new baby 👶 As well as recommending a couple of new podcasts from Alan Spicer - Start Creating https://open.spotify.com/show/4p8OqNDnYh4KdXVlvErfYj?si=GeQzC0RkSvenbZiOJTln7A & The Call With Cody & Willie https://open.spotify.com/show/5vykwovZJGBbKsmOPkcuTE?si=ldKpxmolQUSgjNZrdSRU9g and chatting about what Daily Vlogger Brian Vlasich https://www.youtube.com/user/BrianVlasich has been up to.

I’m gonna tell you why as a creator you need to be using Instagram live to build your community. And How to actually go live for the greatest reach. Build your knowledge, build your relationships and we’re gonna figure all this out with some help from a couple of my creator friends.
Youtuber, video editor, photographer and content creator Jay Lippman, Jay - ‘basically if its got something to do with the camera or the things that come out of a camera that’s me’. Jay Lippman: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCarj5Fzq5drmiRiUwxPm8Uw As well as musician, illustration artist, photographer, Youtuber Frank Garcia aka Artemorbid, Frank - ‘This is cool, this is a new format’ Frank Garcia: https://www.youtube.com/user/artemorbid Join, Watch or listen to Fork In The Road
Join in on the Live creator chat's on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andycmarshall/ Listen to the creator chats in full on my podcast https://anchor.fm/andycmarshall Watch the Vlog of the Blog on YouTube : https://tinyurl.com/yc8hhkgy Do you go live? What are your thoughts on using Instagram live to build your community. I’d love to hear from you, you can send me a voice message on the Anchor platform

Welcome to Fork In The Road my midlife career pivot experiment. Where I attempt to earn a living doing work that I love, creative work. And throw the concept of the starving artist out the window and focus on becoming a thriving artist. I’m Andy Marshall and I’ve decided that this season of my life, being a daddy, is perfectly aligned with my passion to make a series of kids books. And I’m documenting my journey along the way. And today I’m chatting with a couple of Creator friends of mine on Instagram live about all things creator but mainly focusing on this idea of how going live with other like minded creators can be beneficial for everyone involved. Because as Jeff Goins author of real artists don’t starve states. Thriving artists practice in public, have mentors, and find communities of like minded creators to collaborate with. So let’s start our virtual creator community off with this Instagram live chat I had with Jay Lippman, followed by Frank Garcia.

You may have wondered where I’ve been recently. Because In the last two weeks I’ve only created a weeks worth of content. I suppose that’s what happens sometimes when you lay your values out as health, family and career. I’ve had to see a doctor and set up a mental health program. Because my anxiety has been coming back with a vengeance. And for those who don’t know, stress and anxiety can present itself in many different ways. And recently for me I’ve spent about the last four weeks feeling like someone’s giving me a bear hug or sitting on my chest, while at the same time squeezing their hands around my throat. And I figure It’s all part of this self sabotaging cycle that I need to try and break through. So if this is what’s happening, I must be doing something right.

This week I’m attempting to get clear on what it is that I’m actually trying to do and get started. I had a few days off the vlogging hamster wheel to ponder, and dangerously that’s when the voice of that lazy couch potato located somewhere in the dark recess of my brain is at its strongest. Offering continual excuses as to why I should give up. The kids book I’m actually starting today, progress is probably gonna be slow and it could be complete shit, but at least I will have done it, and in the case of a shit that’s a good thing.

I sit down with Ali Sabet—a globally recognised artist known for his Japanese brushwork, expressive style, and breakthrough success in the NFT art world.

We explore his journey from a successful branding designer to becoming a full-time artist whose work now captivates collectors around the world.

Ali shares his insights on creating art with energy and intention, painting in public spaces, and navigating the fine line between commercial success and personal fulfillment.

If you're an artist, creative, or NFT enthusiast, this conversation is packed with inspiration and real talk about what it means to thrive on your own terms.

Follow Ali Sabet: https://www.sabet.art/

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The great thing about brand is that it’s a story, where as niche is a thing. You can niche down on a thing, and pinpoint your market and you can attract people who are gonna be interested in that thing. But with brand you don’t have to niche down, because as an individual your already pretty niched down. In fact older you get the more niched down you become, I recon. The only problem is the only person who cares about that niche is you. And the only way that you can attract your community is by making them care, and the only way that they are gonna care is by sharing your story, your goals and your mission. Because by telling your story you instantly become relatable. Still the majority of people still won’t care, but the world is still a very big place and you can contact most of its inhabitants in an instant. And those people who have connected and invested with your story in some way will care about what happens and will be interested. Even if they don’t buy what your selling they’ll still may support you by telling others and sharing your story.

I want to talk about personal brand, I think it's important for solopreneurs, creators, entrepreneurs, people working by themselves basically, artist, because that way people get to know your personality, your personality is your brand. They know what they’re getting, and people recognise your work by your personal brand because your fingerprints are all over it. I think you need to decided early on whether you want a business brand or personal brand. if you're one person working I think a personal brand potentially is really important because people know who they’re getting when they hire their services or they buy your book or they watch your movies or whatever, they know what they are getting. I think for a long time I was the travelling cinema guy, I was road movie mobile cinema, that was me and the thing is now that I wanted to pivot, if I pivot then I completely lose all that prior work I've done. it's almost like my CV that’s out there, it's gone. but if I'd been documenting from the beginning and building up a personal brand that kind of allows you to pivot a little bit easier and potentially bring your audience across. The whole thing with personal brand if you want to do lots of things... because everyone is talking about niche or niche if you're American, how does that fit into a personal brand?

After 150 vlogs and 20 podcasts I’ve uncovered a lot of tips, strategies, mindset tricks and hacks. And I’ve actually found some of them quiet useful, but how many am I using right now tho? One, maybe two a day when I think of them, but certainly not enough to help me as I try and create a successful career for myself. So how do I create good habits that stick? It’s pretty easy to create bad habits, maybe because they are usually the path of least resistance to get you to that quick fix. And as many people say you’ve gotta get out of your comfort zone to grow and if getting out of your comfort zone consists of doing good things then I suppose it’s time for me to get uncomfortable. It’s time for me to figure out how to make the good habits that I already know are going to help me towards my goals and find ways to make sure I’m doing them every day.

It’s time to pivot again, a pivot within a career pivot. Because now I finally think I know what I’m doing. That’s the thing with just starting without knowing the full picture. I would have never seen the full picture without starting. The key is starting, doing the things that you are passionate about and actually excite you, and just start doing them. And trust that the answer will come to you. It didn’t just come to me though, I recognised a pattern that I’d seen in my travelling cinema business - Road Movie Mobile Cinema. I was comfortable and lacking long term goals, big goals, I was just coasting. Being comfortable and not having any vision of my future I think is my biggest roadblock to succeeding, to having a successful career. And I don’t mean the Lamborghinis’ and infinity pools of Instagram kind of successful career. For me It’s about earning a living and supporting my family doing work that I love, spending time with loved ones and enjoying what I have now, not when I retire.

Happy 2019, I hope you had a good one and that your head doesn't hurt too much, or should I really call it international goalsetting day? I think a surefire way of having all your goals fail is by setting them too big, making them too grand, I'm not saying that you shouldn't make them grand but maybe it’d be a good idea to start at small achievable bits and once you can consistently - cause I think consistency is the key - To consistently do small bits every day which are gonna take you towards your goals. Once you can meet them maybe then you can start building on them and getting towards a grander or more massive achievement.

If aliens are monitoring our Instagram feed from outer space somewhere, they would definitely be planning their invasion, apart from the fact that we are all doing weird duck bum smiles. From outsiders point of view our lives are fantastic - we are on the beaches, we are climbing mountains, we are sipping Pina coladas while racing down the freeway in our Maseratis and working on our laptops at the same time. what they fail to realise is that we have completely photoshopped our lives within an inch of their lives. We've taken all of the struggling out of it, we have just shown the highlights. That's why I really want to focus this week on a movement, a Facebook group #AllHumansStruggle

The daily vlog ends today... no it doesn't really, but I did think about it. Because when something is not working for me I have a tendency to just reinvent it massively, like make massive changes and I don't think that's what's really needed but in terms of not working I'm talking about the actual implementing of my career pivot stuff, actually being able to get some of these kids book stuff underway. I'm completely happy with what's happening with the vlog and the blog. I think if something is not working you don't necessarily have to throw everything out, start again and completely reinvent it. Watch or Read Fork In The Road
Vlog: https://tinyurl.com/yc8hhkgy
Blog: https://andycmarshall.wordpress.com

The biggest thing preventing me from executing, implementing, succeeding at my goals is all of the great content, videos, podcasts and all these kinds of things that I consume, that are there to help me and give me ideas. The only problem is that, you know, I get this high from all these great ideas coming into my noggin and I just think well if I just keep consuming more, and more, and more, I’ll just become brilliant. You can't become brilliant from just consuming, you’ve gotta execute as well. So I want to start a brand-new thing for me, might be cool for you was well, it's called the pause button on Podcasts, video, just stop it. You hear something great - awesome - that will work on your business or what you're trying to do. Just stop, go do it, execute on it straight away. Because you can always go back to the podcast or video but you cannot go back on yesterday or last week. Watch or read Fork In The Road Vlog: https://tinyurl.com/yc8hhkgy Blog: https://andycmarshall.wordpress.com/ Send me a voice message on Anchor.fm; https://anchor.fm/andycmarshall

Changing things up massively with this podcast, my first interview! I chat with fellow #NoSmallCreator and daily vlogger Brian Vlasich. We chat about all things Youtube, daily vlogging and his creative process. Check out Brian’s channel here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BrianVlasich

When I first started YouTube and doing all these things, the podcast and all that. I told my dad, feeling really proud ‘look I’m doing all this stuff’ and he just said ‘can you monetize it?’ and, well, I said 'I don’t know, probably not'. It’s not about that tho, It's about getting the word out there about what you doing, about your work, so people know what you’re doing. so by the time you actually create something, people already know. You don't have to go and do all this work to actually let people know that you've done something in the first place - I don't know if that makes any sense - but I'm gonna see if I can potentially monetize what I'm doing now. With a small following and see how I can start to get that in place now from the beginning of my journey and see if I can start to bring in $.50 here or there.

Discover how stop motion animator Tortor Smith created an award-winning short film at the legendary Aardman Studios (home of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Chicken Run). In this episode of the Fork in the Road Podcast, Tortor shares their inspiring journey into animation, from handmade craftsmanship to building a sustainable creative career.

We talk about:

The creative process behind stop motion animation

What it’s like to work at Aardman

Independent filmmaking challenges and breakthroughs

The importance of community, craft, and storytelling

Real-world advice for aspiring animators and artists

Whether you're a fan of animation, filmmaking, or creative storytelling, this episode is packed with insight and motivation.

Watch the full extended video episode on Patreon:

https://patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Follow Tortor Smith: https://www.instagram.com/animatortor

Follow Andy C. Marshall:

https://andycmarshall.com/

YouTube, I thought it was just basically a platform for cats doing cute things and funny accidents between people and heavy machinery. I got started on YouTube about three months ago and it wasn't initially what I was setting out to do. I was gonna have my video content on Instagram and then I’d be doing my podcasting and my blogging as well. I thought I had the video for Instagram for one minute posts and I thought why not just put them up on YouTube anyway. And it turns out that it's my number one social media channel, which is really exciting there’s so much engagement, so much community involvement, so much support, that it's really exciting and so I want to be going into what I've been doing and how far of come.

Power of the mind. Mind body connection. Making my brain work. Can I overcome my self sabotaging, kind of, things? I'm just starting to think with the ‘Career Pivot Experiment’ and trying to better myself… I got another cold and I’m wondering if the two are connected? I know there is an element of stress involved in stretching yourself and stepping outside of your comfort zone but I'm wondering if there is something that, you know, it often kinda feels like my body is trying to stop me from striving, from doing things, and I'm just wondering if there is something in that. So this week I'm gonna be exploring the brain.

Now I’ve set these daily goals I've gotta work out how exactly I'm gonna go about achieving them. I’ve already done a week on time management and I’m gonna go back and look at time management with more detail to see how I can actually achieve these goals in a day without getting too stressed, without compromising my values which I've set up as well. I'll be getting down into the nitty-gritty finding hours where I never knew that existed before optimising my time so whenever I have a couple of minutes I'll be able to put them to good use and work out how I'm gonna get a page of a kids book plus this vlog out each day, when some days I might on average get a couple of hours, but some days I get no hours and some days I might get three hours. So how my gonna make that work?

This week I'm looking at fixing all of my goals, actually setting in stone what I'm gonna be actually doing. But first things first, I just wanted to talk about how amazing it is, what a great time it is to be a creator. I'm really excited about how creators can collaborate these days just with their phone. You have got podcasting platforms, you've got video platforms, you’ve got all kinds of ways of working together without being in the same country, without being in the same town and this is really exciting. I was up late talking with fellow #NoSmallCreator Brian Vlasich last night on Twitter and I'm very tired, but it's all very exciting and we might be doing some stuff in the future. Watch or Read Fork In The Road Vlog: https://tinyurl.com/yc8hhkgy Blog: https://andycmarshall.wordpress.com/

This week I'll be focusing on my goals and my long-term goals like five year goals, year goal, month goal and how it comes down to even like a day goal, what I need to be getting done each day to head towards where I wanna go now.

I'm at the last bit of the Golden Circle. I'm at the last section which is the ‘what’, what am I going to do? the tangible things that you can see, smell and Hold and all that, the real stuff, rather than the brain stuff, I'm not saying that the brain stuff isn’t real but the other stuff is the practical stuff, the stuff that you know, people know what they do. I don't really know what I do yet, but, I'm hoping to find what I do and the big thing is this vlogcast, the vlogcast being the vlog, the podcast and the blog and the value of that is going to be that hopefully I can help people as Well as helping myself at the same time in working out what tips and tricks and strategies work to getting fine tuned and focused in reaching your goals. This weeks vlog playlist: How Do I Do? Is Experiment Number 8: https://tinyurl.com/yd6bxj28 Entire playlist: Fork In The Road Vlog: https://tinyurl.com/yc8hhkgy Read or Watch - Fork In The Road Vlog: https://tinyurl.com/y7ht9k9x Blog: https://andycmarshall.wordpress.com/ Send me a voice message on Anchor.fm and let’s talk career pivots and strategies to get back on track.

So with my discovering my why under my belt the next step, next stage, in the Golden circle chart, theory, strategy, whatever you wanna call it is working out my ‘How’. And I'm thinking, how am I gonna do it? Limited time, limited resources, limited technology, limited money and all these kinds of things and then I'm kinda thinking well if you want to get my creative story out to the world and I don't have any of these things that is probably my point of difference, that is my ‘How’, because if through all these experiments that I'm doing as a part of this fork in the road vlog that if I can actually make it work, then you should be able to make it work as well.

I'm back in with the new vlog format and I'll be hitting a few of the subjects which I've done before because I think they need readdressing and not because the decisions I made were wrong, but just because I didn't give them enough time to see if they were actually right or not. And this big one is my why. one of the big tools which is out there to discover your why is from a guy called Simon Sinek who did a, the second most popular TEDTalk on YouTube and all about finding your why and his tool for doing that is called the Golden Circle. The centre circle is your why, the middle circle is your how, and the outer circle is your what. using this tool you should be able discover what your purpose is, what you are passionate about what you love doing and find some direction in your career. I’d love to hear from you in the comments, find me on Instagram (andycmarshall) or send me a voice message on Anchor.fm and let’s talk career pivots and strategies to get back on track.

I’d always call this the vlog, the blog and the podcast which was a bit of a mouthful, so from now on I'm gonna call it the vlogcast. I've done 40 episodes, 40 vlogs and up until now it's all kind of been like my first draft or my ‘vomit pass’, so now it's time to do some fine tuning and work out what works and I was also trying to work out whether I enjoy it or not. I think I have to refocus, realign, readjust, pivot, call it what you will and get back to what my original goals were which was to implement some tips, tactic, strategies and hacks taken from self-help podcasters into my everyday work life as I'm trying to get a side hustle up, trying to do something that I love and earn a living doing it, and see what works I’d love to hear from you in the comments, find me on Instagram (andycmarshall) or send me a voice message on Anchor.fm and let’s talk career pivots and strategies to get back on track.

Jumping back into productivity with a positive mindset. The biggest thing to start with is to know how much time you've got to work with, and from there work out what your goals are, and then try and realistically work out what you can get done in the time available. Being a stay at home dad initially feels like time is of a minimum, but when I looked at it there’s little snippets of time all over the place, half an hour here, an hour there. So what I'm looking at doing for these little snippets of time is applying the Pomodoro method which is pretty much a cool name for a tomato timer, you know it could be called the egg method, that doesn't really sound as cool and that's only a couple minutes anyway. So Pomodoro method is about short burst of 25 minutes or so where you focus a hundred percent on that job, try and get that specific task done within that amount of time and when the timer goes that's it, you're done, you're finished. I’d love to hear from you in the comments, find me o

we sit down with the incredible Sue Brown—known in the horror world as Ursula Dabrowsky and in the art scene as Zanne Brown. 🎥🎨

From making gritty, crowdfunded Australian horror films to crafting bold, abstract works on canvas, Sue shares how she balances two intense creative identities—and what it really takes to build a thriving indie career across different worlds.

🔥 Topics we cover:

How Sue self-financed and crowdfunded FOUR indie horror films

The emotional + practical realities of ultra-low-budget filmmaking

Why she used a pseudonym to explore dark themes without compromising her fine art

The freedom that comes from writing within limitations

How she’s embracing AI in both her film and art processes

Building an audience for both film and art in the age of social media

If you’re a creative juggling multiple passions, this one’s for you.

Support the pod and unlock behind-the-scenes content, artist Q&As, and more on the Fork in the Road Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Follow Ursula Dabrowsky: https://www.instagram.com/ursuladabrowsky

Follow Zanne Brown:https://www.instagram.com/zannebrownart

Follow Andy: https://andycmarshall.com/

Subscribe for more artist interviews, creative career tips, and behind-the-scenes insights.

I have decided that my career pivot in storytelling is going to take a shot at doing a kids book. If I’m to have a decent crack at getting a kids book illustrated, written, illustrated, published, all that kind of stuff. I need to be able to make drawing as easy as possible for me and accessible for me like waiting for my drawing desk to be clean, and the climate to be perfect, and to be no distractions that's not gonna happen. So I need something where I can draw whenever, and wherever I am and that will be my phone and I found a really cool app called Adobe Draw which allows me to illustrate with my finger and so where ever I am, sitting down, I can use my phone as a notepad and just start illustrating my kids book rather than mindlessly scrolling Facebook I’d love to hear from you in the comments, find me on Instagram (andycmarshall) or send me a voice message on Anchor.fm and let’s talk career pivots and strategies to get back on track.

This week I'll be attempting to discover my why, my what, and why how do I actually have a successful career doing something that I love. I’d love to hear from you. You can find me on Instagram (andycmarshall) or send me a voice message on Anchor.fm and let’s talk career pivots and strategies to get back on track.

Hello and welcome back to this weeks episode all about time. ‘G'day mate! How's it going? Are you at work? Or are you at work-work?’. Work = your fun crafty job the job that you love and your work work = your shit kicker job which pays bills. The best thing about working for yourself is also the worst thing about working for yourself. It’s this perceived idea of freedom. You need to treat your work like your work-work or you're never gonna get anything done you need to turn off your notifications turn off your phone if you have to you need to find the perfect zone where you can focus on the stuff that you need to get things done. I’d love to hear from you in the comments, find me on Instagram (andycmarshall) or send me a voice message on Anchor.fm and let’s talk career pivots and strategies to get back on track.

So here I am at episode (Experiment) one, way out of my comfort zone, thanks to Gary Vaynerchuk. So why get out of my comfort zone in the first place? when I could be comfortable, I could be perfectly comfortable. But then three words kept rattling around in my head, ‘Document, Don't Create’ and as a filmmaker, or wannabee filmmaker and creative storyteller well I just keep hearing document, document, documentary, documentary, filmmaker! And with my recent decision to close the doors on the business I created, and in favour of finding meaningful work that was in line with my new season of my life being a stay at home dad I thought, what better time to shoot a documentary than when I'm in the middle of my career pivot experiment crisis thing. YouTube - Gary Vee - Document, Don’t Create - https://youtu.be/RVKofRN1dyI iTunes - Gary Vee - Document, Don’t Create - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rant-document-vs-create/id928645257?i=1000397562570&mt=2

It’s not a midlife crisis, it’s a midlife, career pivot experiment called Fork In The Road, and I’m Andy Marshall the human guinea pig that’s going to be subjecting myself to a barrage of self help career, tips, tactics and hacks every week in an attempt to Discover my, why, my what, and my how can i actually have a successful career doing what I love? Links for next weeks experiment YouTube - Gary Vee - Document, Don’t Create - https://youtu.be/RVKofRN1dyI iTunes - Gary Vee - Document, Don’t Create - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rant-document-vs-create/id928645257?i=1000397562570&mt=2

On this episode of the Fork in the Road Podcast, I sit down with artist and fashion designer Wildy Martinez—aka Wildflower Fields—to explore how she bridges the worlds of traditional art, AI, and NFTs while staying grounded in authenticity.

We talk about the journey from physical to digital creation, the rise of Web3 communities, and the evolving challenges and opportunities artists face in today’s tech-driven creative economy.

In this episode:

- How Wildy discovered her artistic voice in Web3

- The role of AI in fashion and creative expression

- Why community matters more than ever in Web3

- Pricing digital vs. physical art

- Building sustainable income as a modern artist

-Staying true to your values in a noisy digital world

If you're a curious creative, an emerging digital artist, or navigating your own fork in the road—Wildy's story will inspire and energize you.

Want more? The extended video version of this episode is available exclusively on our Patreon: https://patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Support the pod and unlock behind-the-scenes content, artist Q&As, and more.

Follow Wildy: https://linktr.ee/WildflowerFields

Follow Andy: https://andycmarshall.com/

Subscribe for more artist interviews, creative career tips, and behind-the-scenes insights.

In this episode of the Fork in the Road Podcast, I sit down with Frank Garcia, also known online as Artemorbid, to unpack his journey as a multi-disciplinary artist navigating the worlds of visual art, music, and YouTube content creation.

Frank shares how his creative path began with a guitar at 13, evolved into visual art, and later grew into a successful YouTube channel combining his passions. He talks candidly about balancing creative pursuits, dealing with burnout, staying authentic in the digital age, and how artists can grow and monetise their presence online.

I dive into:

🎨 How to balance music and visual art as a creator

📹 The growth of his YouTube channel Artemorbid

💡 Tips for artists embracing content creation

💻 Affiliate marketing, digital income, and community-building

🎤 The realities of being a modern creative in an algorithm-driven world

Whether you're an artist, musician, or content creator, this episode is packed with insights into what it takes to build a sustainable creative life online.

🚀 Want more? The extended video version of this episode is available exclusively on our Patreon: https://patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Support the pod and unlock behind-the-scenes content, artist Q&As, and more.

Follow Frank Garcia: https://www.instagram.com/artemorbid_guitaristmusician

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Can artists truly thrive in the digital age? In this episode of The Fork in the Road Between Starving and Thriving Artist podcast, we dive deep with S.R. Chappell—a poet, digital artist, and NFT creator—who shares her journey from traditional poetry to collage art, NFTs, and self-publishing.

We explore:

🎨 The NFT marketplace – Real talk on selling art and making a living

🤖 AI & Creativity – How technology is reshaping the art world

📢 Print on Demand - The financial realities of print on demand services

🖼️ NFTs + Physical Art – The logistics of blending digital and traditional mediums

Join us for an insightful discussion on monetising art, staying true to your vision, and balancing creativity with commercial success.

Follow S.R. Chappell: https://linktr.ee/srchappell

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

How do you turn mural painting into a thriving art business? 🎨 In this episode of Fork in the Road Podcast, host Andy Marshall sits down with mural artist Cat Dean to discuss her journey as a full-time freelancer, the business of large-scale murals, and balancing creativity with entrepreneurship.

Cat shares insights on:

✅ The evolution of mural art & painting techniques

✅ How murals act as artist billboards for new opportunities

✅ Building strong client relationships & networking for success

✅ Balancing business & creativity while maintaining work-life flexibility

✅ The role of AI in art & why human creativity still reigns supreme

Plus, hear her experiences working in extreme conditions, engaging with communities (especially kids!), and the lessons she’s learned along the way!

Don't miss this inspiring conversation for artists, freelancers, and creatives looking to grow their careers!

Follow Cat Dean: https://www.catdean.com.au/

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

El Paso artist Diego ‘Robot’ Martinez doesn’t just make art—he lives it. In this episode of the Fork in the Road podcast, Diego reveals the relentless work ethic, creative hustle, and strategic mindset that transformed his passion into a full-time career.

We dive into:

✅ The grind of making art a viable income

✅ How community & family shaped his journey

✅ The importance of documenting the creative process

✅ AI, NFTs & the future of art

✅ The struggles of shipping artwork & sustaining momentum

Follow Diego: https://linktr.ee/diegorobot

Follow Andy: https://andycmarshall.com

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

In this episode of the Fork in the Road podcast, Andy Marshall talks with artist and musician James Lee about the transformative power of art, creativity, and mental health. James shares his journey—how art helped him navigate childhood trauma, psychosis, and healing. He explores the role of dreams in his creative process, his experience with synesthesia, and the impact of NFTs on the future of art. This conversation highlights the importance of community, expression, and using creativity to make a difference.

🔹 How art became a tool for healing

🔹 The link between synesthesia, music, and visual art

🔹 The role of dreams in creativity

🔹 How NFTs are shaping the art world

🔹 Why community support is key for artists

Join the conversation and discover how art can change lives.

Follow James: https://linktr.ee/jams2blues

Follow Andy: https://andycmarshall.com

Support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

Tier 1 - The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

Tier 2 - The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

Tier 3 - The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

#Art #Creativity #MentalHealth

In this engaging conversation, Raheem Nelson shares his journey as a graphic recorder, photographer, and vlogger, emphasizing the importance of style as a form of self-expression. He discusses his recent achievements, including a magazine feature and his approach to YouTube content creation. Raheem offers valuable networking tips for creatives and delves into the intricacies of graphic recording, highlighting its value in client engagements. He also shares his aspirations for future projects, including an arts festival and a new comic book inspired by music.

Takeaways

Style is a powerful form of self-expression.

Working with experienced photographers can enhance your skills.

YouTube shorts are effective for audience engagement.

Networking should focus on genuine connections.

Graphic recording adds value to meetings and events.

Future projects include an arts festival in New Haven.

Limited edition art creates scarcity and value.

AI can assist in content creation but should not replace the artist's touch.

Building a personal brand involves collaboration with meaningful brands.

Art should reflect the artist's vision and soul.

Follow Raheem Nelson: https://www.raheemnelson.com/

Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

Support the podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/ForkInTheRoadPodcast

Patreon members receive:

The Scenic Route: Extended 1 hour video interview

The Short Cut: Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

The Artists Highway: Monthly one-on-one video call to talk about ways we can help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions, access to the weekly deep dive blogs and the extended hour long video podcast.

How do you break into painting without formal training? Artist Lissy Elliott shares her journey from political cartoons to abstract art, landing her first exhibition, and making her first sales. We dive into the power of documenting your creative journey online, finding time to create, and building meaningful connections with collectors.

Lissy also reflects on the influence of her neighbor, Pro Hart—who, like her, had no formal training yet made a name for himself on the international art stage. Join us for an inspiring conversation on making art your life’s work!

Topics We Cover:

🔹 From political cartoons to abstract art

🔹 Landing her first exhibition & making sales

🔹 Connecting with collectors & seeing her work in their homes

🔹 The benefits of sharing your creative journey online

🔹 Finding inspiration on Instagram

🔹 How creativity shapes us as people

🔹 The impact of Pro Hart & self-taught artists

Join me on Patreon for a 1 hour extended interview You can also receive my thriving artist roadmap, a weekly deep dive into ways to help your art business thrive. Get to ask podcast guests questions. Plus get to chat with me about your art business, bounce around ideas and we’ll try to figure out some ways to help you thrive as an artist.

How do you thrive as a musician in today’s changing industry? In this episode of Fork in the Road, host Andy Marshall reconnects with past collaborator Jason Sweeney—a prolific composer and musician who has been crafting soundscapes since the late ‘80s. From underground bands (The Millards, Pretty Boy Crossover) to composing for theatre, Jason shares insights on collaboration, artistic vision, and surviving outside the mainstream music industry.

If you’re a musician, artist, or creative navigating the digital landscape, this episode is a must-listen!

🔗Follow Jason Sweeney: https://linktr.ee/soundslikesweeney

🔗 Follow Andy Marshall: https://andycmarshall.com/

🔗 Support the podcast on Patreon for extended video podcasts and more