Ep.019 - Dave Arcade - The Illustrator Who Builds Worlds One Obsession at a Time

Dave Arcade creates art that prompts viewers to pause and examine the landscape. It's the kind of work that invites repeated visits, revealing fresh details, small stories, and references to pop culture each time, all complemented by expertly executed craftsmanship.

In this episode, we get an unusually honest look at how those worlds come together: from obsessing over the concept to over-engineering (and then pulling back) to self-doubt. And, finally, the satisfaction of turning ambitious ideas into reality.

Dave shares how he builds complexity without losing soul, why reference and perspective are his quiet superpowers, and what happens when a commercial illustrator starts wondering where the “art” part actually begins.

Here's some of the stuff we'll cover:

• A behind-the-scenes look at Dave's process. His detailed work can be overwhelming, but understanding his approach makes it clearer.
• The setup for Dave's personal arcade game system in his office
• How to strengthen your idea muscles until a simple prompt becomes a universe
• A sprinkling of actionable software techniques you can use in your work to get incredible results

If you’ve listened to podcast episodes in the past aiming to improve your own process and felt disappointed, this episode will provide value.

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Brad Woodard

Brad is an illustrator and designer behind Brave the Woods, a full-service studio working with clients like PBS Kids, Ford, Target, and USPS. His bold, playful style and heart-led storytelling shine through everything from brand campaigns to children’s books.

View Brave the Woods

Dustin Lee

Dustin is the founder of RetroSupply, a shop for retro-inspired brushes, textures, and digital tools used by tens of thousands of creatives from indie artists to major studios. He shares what it’s really like to run a creative business while keeping it small, weird, and intentional.

View RetroSupply

Credits

Audio/video editing: Clara Wright
Cover art: Brad Woodard
Intro animation: Seth Austin
Intro music: “Snakes and Fire” (Instrumental) by Pär Hagström