Allan McKay is an Emmy Award winner for his outstanding work in visual effects. He is a Los Angeles-based visual effects supervisor and technical director. Allan is responsible for the visual effects in Game of Thrones, Avengers Endgame, Evil Within 2, The Equalizer, Blade, Star Trek: Into Darkness, and many more. He has over 20 years of experience working with different studios, such as Blur Studio, Whoodoo Studios, and ProMotion Studios, early on in his career.

Allan McKay is a graduate of Queens College of Art, Griffith University, South Bank Campus. 

In this episode…

What does it take to follow your dreams as a creator? The irony of pursuing your dreams is that you may fail and yet that failure does not indicate the end of your journey but rather, a possible beginning. Allan McKay, an award-winning visual effects supervisor and technical director in Hollywood, California, explains how he started to pursue his dream at the age of 14 and discovered his interest in visual effects and the expansion of the field.

In this week's episode of Pencil Kings, Mitch Bowler talks with Emmy Award-winning VFX supervisor and technical director in Hollywood, Allan McKay, about visual effects and his desire to explore it further and share his passion about film and design with other people. Tune in as they talk about the importance of putting your best work forward, the benefits of measuring your progress, and how embracing failure can quite possibly lead to your success.

Zhiwan Cheung is a Fulbright Fellow, artist, video storyteller, and freelance web developer. His passion for art and desire to create has led him to connect with artists all over the world to tell their stories and relate art to culture. His art wishes to explore perspective, signs, and the space in which we aim to coexist with each other and nature. Zhiwan is also the host of the Seeing Color Podcast, where he invites other artists to talk about how they express their vision of the world through art as a medium.

Zhiwan earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University and his Master of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

In this episode…

What does art mean to you? How do you relate to others through conversations around their craft and how culture affects the way we view each other? Zhiwan Cheung, a Fulbright Fellow, podcaster, and artist, dives into what it means to be an artist and what others sacrifice to follow their passion. 

Zhiwan also says that apart from the challenges posed in conversations about art that involves gender, race, and class, there are also many misconceptions about art school and what path to take once you’re done with your art studies.

Join Mitch Bowler in this week's episode of Pencil Kings as he talks with fellow podcaster and artist,  Zhiwan Cheung, of the Seeing Color podcast, about how to engage in honest conversations about art and about the importance of creating your vision of what you want your art to accomplish. He also talks about how he encourages artists to push beyond the boundaries, the common misconceptions people have about art school, and how to forge your path after you finish your art studies. Stay tuned.

Liron Yanconsky is an artist, author, creator, and a watercolor painter. Liron is from Israel and he has started multiple businesses focused on art and health, and it’s his personal mission to inspire several artists to spread and improve their craft without foregoing the quality of their dedication to art. Liron is the owner and founder of Liron Art LLC and Liron Yanconsky Books, both of which are dedicated to spreading and educating people who wish to follow their passion in art.

In this episode…

What inspires us to follow our passion? And how can our passion change the lives of those around us? Art is one of the most diverse fields of study and exploration, and with so many resources at the tip of your fingers, it becomes easier to dive into your creative pursuits. Liron Yanconsky is an artist and an author, but above all, he is an educator who wishes to encourage others to pursue their passion and grow their craft. 

In this week's episode of Pencil Kings, Mitch Bowler talks to Liron Yanconsky, founder of Liron Art LLC, and Liron Yanconsky Books where they discuss pursuing art and maintaining the quality of your art. Liron also talks about his passion for the arts, how he created his brand, and why he has chosen to connect with fellow artists and fans through social media. Stay Tuned. 

Sandra Coan is an award-winning photographer, industry educator, and the best selling author of Crafting Your Ideal Light. She specializes in studio portraiture, artificial lighting, and fine art film photography. In addition to running her busy Seattle, Washington studio, Sandra Coan Photography,  she also teaches photographers around the world how 

to create a natural-looking light with strobes and flashes. She continues to inspire old and new photographers with her attention to detail and love for natural light photography.

In this episode…

How does a teacher with thousands of dollars in student loans become an award-winning photographer and public speaker by pursuing her hobby as a side hustle? How does a small studio establish their brand without compromising their brand name or their quality? Sandra Coan, best selling author and passionate photographer, has established herself as an undeniable resource for those who are looking to hone their photography skills particularly for those who want to use natural light in their photos. 

In this week's episode, Mitch Bowler talks to Sandra Coan, author of Crafting the Natural Light Look: The One-Light Approach to Creating Striking Portraits with a Strobe or Flash, about her journey from teacher to photographer. She also talks about how to build your brand and leave a distinguished impression amongst your clients, what natural light means and how to use it to capture incredible photos, and find out how her latest book can help you become better at photography. Stay Tuned.