Uploaded August 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Marshall talks with Stan about Gabriele Rico’s book “Writing the Natural Way”. The two look at how artists can borrow from a writer’s toolbox of exercises and thought processes to improve creativity. You’ll hear how these techniques can help you brainstorm more effectively, leverage creative tension, properly revise your work, and ultimately get more in touch with the creative process.
Timecodes:
1:03 Intro
3:44 “Writing the Natural Way”
11:23 Clustering
20:25 Clustering and Composition
23:26 Creative Tension
29:08 Marshall’s Inspiration
33:54 Identifying Your Problem
41:58 Celebrating the “Aha Moment”
45:42 Sign Mind versus Design Mind
47:56 Revision
50:50 Principles
55:29 Coming Full Circle
1:00:00 Recreating and Nuance
1:02:53 Combinatory Play
1:12:36 What’s your thang?
Show Links (some contain affiliate links):
Writing the Natural Way by Gabriele Rico - amzn.to/2Vh78yH
The Natural Way to Draw by Kimon Nicolaïdes - amzn.to/3A55iQk
Clustering examples - static.proko.com/media/images/stan/clustering-examples-wood-turn-letting-go.jpg
Story by Robert McKee - amzn.to/3loG9fh
Cast Away - amzn.to/3jiPYsj
Bob and Wanda Duncan - oklahoman.com/article/2109874/husband-wife-writers-team-up-for-success
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury - amzn.to/3jf2Lw6
Marshall’s book reviews - marshallart.com/HOME/reviews
On Writing by Stephen King - amzn.to/3ymTdoX
Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz - amzn.to/3ynU9JP
Developing an Illustration - proko.com/500
Analyze This - amzn.to/3rOMMbS
The Tell-Tale Head (Simpsons Episode) - imdb.com/title/tt0756398
James Gurney heatmap - static.proko.com/media/images/stan/james-gurney-heatmap-eye-movement.jpg
Chernobyl (HBO show) - amzn.to/3A2myFJ
The Mindscape of Alan Moore - amzn.to/3xlX8RR
Hit Makers - proko.com/494
Rick Griffin - rickgriffindesigns.com
Tree Thumbnail Clusters - static.proko.com/media/images/stan/diane-tree-thumbnail-clusters.jpg
Fractals - Hunting the Hidden Dimension - NOVA documentary - amzn.to/3fl97IX
The Book of Trees by Manuel Lima - amzn.to/3ylBvSZ
The Isley Brothers - It’s Our Thing amzn.to/3rQofDj
“Draftsmen” is available in audio. Subscribe on these platforms to keep up to date:
Spotify: bit.ly/DraftsmenPodSp
Stitcher: bit.ly/2JLMShh
Apple: bit.ly/DraftsmenPodA
Google: bit.ly/DraftsmenPodG
#arttips #creativeprocess #bookreport
FOLLOW PROKO:
Marshall's Art - marshallart.com
Email Newsletter- proko.com/subscribe
Instagram - instagram.com/stanprokopenko
Twitter - twitter.com/StanProkopenko
Facebook - facebook.com/prokotv
Tumblr - stanprokopenko.tumblr.com
Pinterest - pinterest.com/stanprokopenko
ABOUT DRAFTSMEN:
Stan Prokopenko and Marshall Vandruff are art instructors. If you love the arts, particularly the craft of drawing and painting and image-making… and you want to level up your skills or even make a living with your skills, we are here to answer your questions. We’re here to offer you advice, refer you to our resources, share your love of the craft and maybe inspire you! Learn to Draw - proko.com Marshall Vandruff - http://www.marshallart.com. Subscribe to the podcast at bit.ly/DraftsmenPod
CREDITS:
Hosts - Stan Prokopenko (http://www.stanprokopenko.com), Marshall Vandruff (marshallart.com/)
Production Assistance - Alex Otis (instagram.com/alexotisillustration/), Charlie Nicholson (instagram.com/shloogorgh/)
Editing - Sierra Tillman (instagram.com/blu_perceptions/), Charlie Nicholson
Intro Animation - Cody Shank (codyshank.com/)
Intro Jingle - Tommy Rush (instagram.com/tommyrush/)
Music Used with Permission Intro - The Freak Fandango Orchestra
Marshall talks with Stan about Gabriele Rico’s book “Writing the Natural Way”. The two look at how artists can borrow from a writer’s toolbox of exercises and thought processes to improve creativity. You’ll hear how these techniques can help you brainstorm more effectively, leverage creative tension, properly revise your work, and ultimately get more in touch with the creative process.
Timecodes:
1:03 Intro
3:44 “Writing the Natural Way”
11:23 Clustering
20:25 Clustering and Composition
23:26 Creative Tension
29:08 Marshall’s Inspiration
33:54 Identifying Your Problem
41:58 Celebrating the “Aha Moment”
45:42 Sign Mind versus Design Mind
47:56 Revision
50:50 Principles
55:29 Coming Full Circle
1:00:00 Recreating and Nuance
1:02:53 Combinatory Play
1:12:36 What’s your thang?
Show Links (some contain affiliate links):
Writing the Natural Way by Gabriele Rico - amzn.to/2Vh78yH
The Natural Way to Draw by Kimon Nicolaïdes - amzn.to/3A55iQk
Clustering examples - static.proko.com/media/images/stan/clustering-examples-wood-turn-letting-go.jpg
Story by Robert McKee - amzn.to/3loG9fh
Cast Away - amzn.to/3jiPYsj
Bob and Wanda Duncan - oklahoman.com/article/2109874/husband-wife-writers-team-up-for-success
Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury - amzn.to/3jf2Lw6
Marshall’s book reviews - marshallart.com/HOME/reviews
On Writing by Stephen King - amzn.to/3ymTdoX
Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz - amzn.to/3ynU9JP
Developing an Illustration - proko.com/500
Analyze This - amzn.to/3rOMMbS
The Tell-Tale Head (Simpsons Episode) - imdb.com/title/tt0756398
James Gurney heatmap - static.proko.com/media/images/stan/james-gurney-heatmap-eye-movement.jpg
Chernobyl (HBO show) - amzn.to/3A2myFJ
The Mindscape of Alan Moore - amzn.to/3xlX8RR
Hit Makers - proko.com/494
Rick Griffin - rickgriffindesigns.com
Tree Thumbnail Clusters - static.proko.com/media/images/stan/diane-tree-thumbnail-clusters.jpg
Fractals - Hunting the Hidden Dimension - NOVA documentary - amzn.to/3fl97IX
The Book of Trees by Manuel Lima - amzn.to/3ylBvSZ
The Isley Brothers - It’s Our Thing amzn.to/3rQofDj
“Draftsmen” is available in audio. Subscribe on these platforms to keep up to date:
Spotify: bit.ly/DraftsmenPodSp
Stitcher: bit.ly/2JLMShh
Apple: bit.ly/DraftsmenPodA
Google: bit.ly/DraftsmenPodG
#arttips #creativeprocess #bookreport
FOLLOW PROKO:
Marshall's Art - marshallart.com
Email Newsletter- proko.com/subscribe
Instagram - instagram.com/stanprokopenko
Twitter - twitter.com/StanProkopenko
Facebook - facebook.com/prokotv
Tumblr - stanprokopenko.tumblr.com
Pinterest - pinterest.com/stanprokopenko
ABOUT DRAFTSMEN:
Stan Prokopenko and Marshall Vandruff are art instructors. If you love the arts, particularly the craft of drawing and painting and image-making… and you want to level up your skills or even make a living with your skills, we are here to answer your questions. We’re here to offer you advice, refer you to our resources, share your love of the craft and maybe inspire you! Learn to Draw - proko.com Marshall Vandruff - http://www.marshallart.com. Subscribe to the podcast at bit.ly/DraftsmenPod
CREDITS:
Hosts - Stan Prokopenko (http://www.stanprokopenko.com), Marshall Vandruff (marshallart.com/)
Production Assistance - Alex Otis (instagram.com/alexotisillustration/), Charlie Nicholson (instagram.com/shloogorgh/)
Editing - Sierra Tillman (instagram.com/blu_perceptions/), Charlie Nicholson
Intro Animation - Cody Shank (codyshank.com/)
Intro Jingle - Tommy Rush (instagram.com/tommyrush/)
Music Used with Permission Intro - The Freak Fandango Orchestra
