About HOW TO CREATE AN ICON and make a deeper creative dent in the universe
The 'HOW TO CREATE AN ICON and make a deeper creative dent in the universe' podcast digs deeper into the hidden mechanics of creative impact—talent, timing, psychology, networks, luck, obsession, and everything in between.
In each episode I do my best to unpack the forces that turn certain art works, designs, painters, creatives and innovators into cultural catalysts.
We explore the habits, environments, and mindsets that amplify influence, and elevate some creations over others.
From creative breakthroughs to global icons—I ask what really drives fame, longevity, and legacy.
Ep 15. Comparing Saul Leiter's photography to the paintings of abstract expressionism.
Saul Leiter's photography sometimes look more like AbEx paintings than photography. In this video we explore his famous colour photographs and compare them to the paintings of Rothko, Clyfford Still, Robert Motherwell, Sam Francis, Joan Mitchell and more. Were they inspired by each other? Or do they just follow very similar aesthetic ideas? At the end of the video we extract a number of lessons we can apply to our own development as artists or photographers. Including how to learn to see like Saul Leiter.This content is primarily created to act as inspiration and education for creative souls who want to study, research and learn from iconic creative works and their creators. As such I use borrowed imagery under the ‘fair use’ policy. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. I also do my best to credit image owners and licence holders wherever I can find them. Main music theme by Lester Barnes. #creativeprocess #artisticrevelation #paintwithcamera #artisticexploration #creativedeepdents #arthistory #creativelearning
9 Apr 2026
Ep. 14 How to discover YOUR signature art style. With a little help from Paul Klee.
How does an artist know when they’ve discover their signature artistic language? Is there a Eureeka moment? It turns out there is! Discover how Paul Klee found his life altering artistic breakthrough in 1914 in Tunisia. Learn how and why it was so significant and how this moment of discovery changed all his art output and artistic legacy. And how you can do the same. Watch the video to the end where we extract key learnings and put them in to actionable creative tips.This content is primarily created to act as inspiration and education for creative souls who want to study, research and learn from iconic creative works and their creators. As such I use borrowed imagery under the ‘fair use’ policy. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. I also do my best to credit image owners and licence holders wherever I can find them. Main music theme by Lester Barnes. #creativeprocess (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/creativeprocess) #artisticrevelation (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artisticrevelation) #artisticbreakthrough (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artisticbreakthrough) #artisticexploration (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artisticexploration) #creativedeepdents (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/creativedeepdents) #arthistory (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/arthistory) #creativelearning (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/creativelearning)
29 Mar 2026
Ep 13. Where are the truly iconic watercolour paintings?
Why are there so few, if any, iconic or standout watercolour artworks in the history of art? Or am I wrong? As I hunt for the 3 most significant and impactful watercolour paintings of all time, I find the answer. And it turns out I'm wrong. Wrong in my assumption that perhaps watercolours sometimes are seen as a bit of the 'underdog' of the fine art mediums. In fact what I DO find, will delight you if you're a fan of watercolour painting. Join me as I unravel the historic status of watercolour and arrive at the answer as to why the 3 artists featured, used watercolours to find their art sweet spot. #creativeprocess #artistdevelopment #artinspiration #watercolour #artmethod This content is primarily created to act as inspiration and education for creative souls who want to study, research and learn from iconic creative works and their creators. As such I use borrowed imagery under the ‘fair use’ policy. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. I also do my best to credit image owners and licence holders wherever I can find them. Main music theme by Lester Barnes.
14 Mar 2026
Ep 12. Same bold black line. Different paths to art success. Motherwell vs. Kline.
At first glance it might look like the New York school masters of the big, bold, abstract thick black line, Robert Motherwell and Franz Kline, were painting in exactly the same way. It turns out that instead of being similar, they are in fact, complete opposites. In this video we reveal their opposing methods and figure out how totally different methods, can arrive at something visually quite similar. Main music theme by Lester Barnes.
8 Mar 2026
Ep 11. How to be an illogical, messy and utterly authentic artist
In a world of Ai gloss and perfection, 2026 needs to re-learnFrom Robert Rauschenberg and his Monogram.Rauschenberg placed a rubber tire around a taxidermy goat’s midsection to shatter the boundary between canvas and life. Let’s examine this defiant "Monogram" to prove that true innovation requires trashing the rulebook and ignoring the established artworld. By merging junk with high art, Rauschenberg validated his messy, rebellious instinct to prioritise authenticity over traditional ‘perfection.’ Let’s learn why perfection, logic and painting INSIDE the box is boring.
28 Feb 2026
Ep 10. How to go from selling your art for almost nothing to selling it for millions
'My child could've painted that!' is a phrase you hear from time to time in regards to art that at first glance seem too simple or too weird. But don't dismiss Cy Twombly too quickly. In my view he's an incredibly inspiring artist. One that takes time to understand perhaps but once you do, you'll love. Or at least this video will help you understand how Twombly, but just changing his visual language ever so slightly, managed to turn himself from New York art -world outsider, to celebrated superstar artist. With his art shifting from not selling at all, to selling for tens of millions of dollars.
This content is primarily created to act as inspiration and education for creative souls who want to study, research and learn from iconic creative works and their creators. As such I use borrowed imagery under the ‘fair use’ policy. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. I also do my best to credit image owners and licence holders wherever I can find them. Should you however find an image used here, that you are the licence owner of, and you’re unhappy with it being used, please contact me and I will remove it or replace it. Main music theme by Lester Barnes.
22 Feb 2026
Ep 9. History loves crowns. But not necessarily on the people Basquiat painted
Basquiat is an iconic artist for a number of reasons. But one of the most intriguing is his varied and often complex visual language. In this video I take a deep dent dive into that visual language and explore the meaning behind the many symbols Jean-Michel Basquiat used repeatedly. What do they mean? Why did he paint them? And why does the Basquiat crown stand head and shoulders above the other symbols? One thing’s for sure, the Basquiat crown certainly isn’t about royalty. Which is why it’s an iconic symbol that played a major role in redefining who matters in the established art world.This content is primarily created to act as inspiration and education for creative souls who want to study, research and learn from iconic creative works and their creators. As such I use borrowed imagery under the ‘fair use’ policy. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. I also do my best to credit image owners and licence holders wherever I can find them. Should you however find an image used here, that you are the licence owner of, and you’re unhappy with it being used, please contact me and I will remove it or replace it. Main music theme by Lester Barnes. #creativeprocess (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/creativeprocess/shorts) #basquiat (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/basquiat/shorts) #podcast (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast/shorts) #artistsjourney (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artistsjourney/shorts) #iconicart (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/iconicart/shorts) #visualimpact (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/visualimpact/shorts) #artistinspiration (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artistinspiration/shorts)
14 Feb 2026
Ep 8. Pain, Control and Longing? Frida Kahlo’s “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace”
While Frida Kahlo’s self-portrait ‘The 2 Fridas’ is arguably her most famous, ‘Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace’ is certainly her most intriguing. The symbolism she uses in this work of art is more difficult to decipher and offers several ways to interpret. Making this, potentially, Frida Kahlo’s most iconic self-portrait. Explore with me the emotional and historical backdrop to why Frida chose to use these specific symbols and what various different ways we can choose to interpret them. Let’s peel away the many hidden layers of these symbols and arrive, as close as we can, to the truth of what Frida herself actually felt as she created this visual icon.This content is primarily created to act as inspiration and education for creative souls who want to study, research and learn from iconic creative works and their creators. As such I use borrowed imagery under the ‘fair use’ policy. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. I also do my best to credit image owners and licence holders wherever I can find them. Should you however find an image used here, that you are the licence owner of, and you’re unhappy with it being used here, please contact me and I will remove it or replace it. Music by Lester Barnes.
1 Feb 2026
Ep 7. Who's Keith Haring, and why is radiant baby, to some, his most important figure?
Keith Haring was an American artist who invented his own graffiti-style using chalk, before developing his own line-based visual language on canvas and in sculpture. He grew from street artist to major artist during the 1980s New York city. Today, he's as much known for being an activist as an artist. In this video I'll explore deeper what few others here have done. His perhaps most famous figure. Radiant baby. #creativeprocess #artistsjourney #radiantbaby #keithharing #iconicartists #creativedeepdents
27 Jan 2026
Ep 6. Munch's The Scream explained, and why it became an icon
I want to take you beyond the usual standard explanations of Edvard Munch's iconic painting The Scream. Not only is it one of the most iconic art pieces of all time, it's also one of the most iconic images of all time. Why? What does it mean? Why did Munch paint it? And how did it manage to become so iconic?Great website on both Munch himself and The Screamwww.munch.no#creativeprocess (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/creativeprocess) #thescream (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thescream) #edvardmunch (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/edvardmunch) #podcast (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast) #artistsjourney (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artistsjourney) #iconicart (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/iconicart) #iconicdesign (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/iconicdesign) #visualimpact (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/visualimpact)
24 Jan 2026
Ep 5. How Marcel Duchamp changed the art world more than anyone else.
How did Marcel Duchamp manage to become one of art history’s most iconic individuals, even though he didn’t even really show his most famous works until the age of 76? In this episode we’ll explore Duchamp and try to figure out how this one individual managed to change the art world and the idea of what art is and can be, forever.#creativeprocess #iconic #iconicart #historyofart #marcelduchamp #podcast #creativepassion #deepdents #iconicart
10 Jan 2026
Ep 4. The Wishbone chair. Why is it a chair icon?
Find out how Denmark's Hans Wegner, 'The King of Chairs', created a timeless design icon that's as popular today as it was 80 years ago. What makes the 'Y-chair' so iconic? And is timelessness essential to reach iconic status? #creativeprocess (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/creativeprocess) #podcast (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/podcast) #artistsjourney (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artistsjourney) #creativepassion (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/creativepassion) #deepdents #creativeicon (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/deepdents)
28 Dec 2025
Ep 3. Why Helen McNicoll's dent in the universe took nearly 100 years to deepen.
Let's explore Canadian impressionist artist Helen McNicoll, and try to figure out why she had some success in her lifetime, then was nearly forgotten and then rediscovered to become world famous nearly 100 years later. #creativeprocess (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/creativeprocess) #impressionistart (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/impressionistart) #artistsjourney (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/artistsjourney) #deepdents (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/deepdents)
13 Dec 2025
Ep 2. Six creative Bernbach philosophies that'll make you more creative.
Learn why thinking differently is the key to creativesuccess. And how it'll help you becoming a better creative or artist. In this episode I summarise the best of Bill Bernbach's creative thinking, into 6 easy key takeaways.
8 Dec 2025
Ep 1. How Andy Warhol became a Superstar artist (What we can learn for our own art journeys)
We lift the hood and look at the hidden mechanics of how Andy Warhol managed to make such a deep dent in the art universe. I try to distill 10 traits that I believe were instrumental to his enormous success and impact.
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