Until You Make It

Pushing Creative Limits: Navigating the Rejects Shoot, the Burnout Philosophy, and the "Hollywood Slop" Epidemic

A holiday dive into scrappy VFX, AI munchkin nightmares, and how sharing your work builds a creative career!

<p>What happens when creative grit meets a shifting digital world? In this episode of _Until You Make It, Chris and Mike sit down with illustrator and character designer <strong>Keith Glidewell</strong> to explore the real-life evolution of an artist—pivoting majors in college, discovering a voice through compulsive sketching, becoming a stay-at-home dad, and finding the fire that pushed him into professional illustration. From Instagram-driven work and band art to producing animated shorts for Cat-e-Corner, Keith shares how life, family, and discipline completely reshaped his career path.</p> <p>As the conversation deepens, the crew unpacks the state of modern creativity: the rise of AI art, what it steals, what it enables, and what it risks. They dissect client expectations, the temptation of shortcuts, whether “prompt artists” count as artists, and how much of the future belongs to genuine human collaboration. It’s honest, funny, vulnerable, and full of the kind of creative shop talk most people never get to hear.</p> <p>Whether you're figuring out your own artistic path, wrestling with AI fatigue, or just here to laugh at raccoon-infested punk demos and parenting revelations, this one goes deep.</p> <p>What You’ll Discover:</p> <ul> <li>How a single life pivot pushed Keith to fully commit to art</li> <li>Why daily discipline matters more than “talent” in illustration and animation</li> <li>How Instagram became Keith’s main driver for paid creative work</li> <li>The inside story behind the Cat-e-Corner animated world and Keith’s role in shaping it</li> <li>Why AI art divides creatives—and where it actually fits as a tool</li> <li>The hidden emotional cost of giving up on your dreams for stability</li> <li>How family, identity, and creative purpose overlap in unexpected ways</li> </ul> <p>If you care about making things—honestly, imperfectly, and with as much humanity as possible—this episode cuts right to the heart of the creative process</p> <p>00:00 - Catching up 01:52 - We suck at sports 04:15 - Other life updates 14:41 - Who's our guest? 17:44 - Keith's life updates! 20:33 - Keith's incredible illustration work 34:30 - What is Ditz and Bug Rock? 39:23 - Cat-e-Corner (Animated Shorts) 45:47 - Is AI killing collaboration? 01:12:42 - Does having a family impact your art? 01:19:43 - Sleep schedule nightmares 01:23:21 - Indie film vs Indie animation 01:33:56 - Camera nerd talk 01:37:37 - Mike's new &quot;Fig Rig&quot; camera system 01:48:33 - Surviving as a creative 01:59:06 - Voice Acting 02:01:12 - GAME TIME</p>

<h1>Episode Notes</h1> <p>What happens when branding chaos meets creative grind? In this episode of Until You Make It, Chris and Mike sit down with designer Chris Rumeau to dig into the messy middle of making things—from sketching hundreds of logos on graph paper to rebranding a local coffee shop, chasing clients through Instagram reels, and figuring out how merch design can carry a career. Along the way, The Bitterheat’s debut video gets dissected, flag football strategy gets way too serious, and the crew debates whether “Razor the Mattress Salesman” was actually cool.</p> <p>From logo dumps and stinger experiments to AI visuals, the crew unpacks how creative work actually happens: late nights, weird tangents, and plenty of trial and error. It’s a mix of design shop talk, production talk, and accidental comedy—all in one episode.</p> <p>What You’ll Discover: How sketching logos by the hundreds can unlock a brand identity Why merch design is a secret bridge for musicians and artists How Instagram reels can actually land real clients The comedy of signatures, stingers, and failed branding experiments The pros and cons of letting AI “help” with creative work</p> <p>Whether you’re grinding through freelance projects, chasing music dreams, or just here for the ridiculous side stories, this episode blends practical lessons with plenty of laughs.</p> <p>00:00 – New Name? The SEO Struggles of <em>Until You Make It</em> 07:00 – The Bitterheat: First Release and Behind-the-Scenes Stories 14:00 – Guest Chris Joins: From Coffee Shops to Graphic Design 20:00 – The Process: Sketchbooks, Logos, and Finding Clients 27:00 – Creative Balance: Music, Merch, and Video Work 35:00 – Signatures, Branding Experiments, and Razor the Mattress Guy 42:00 – Passion vs. Profession: Why We Create (and for Who) 50:00 – Wrapping Up with Lessons Learned and Next Steps</p> <p>Find out more at <a href="https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co" rel="nofollow">https://until-you-make-it.pinecast.co</a></p>

Mike and Chris take an honest look at affordable anamorphic gear, lens character, and filmmaking trade-offs.