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 Keith Glidewell 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.

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.

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.

What You’ll Discover:

• How a single life pivot pushed Keith to fully commit to art
• Why daily discipline matters more than “talent” in illustration and animation
• How Instagram became Keith’s main driver for paid creative work
• The inside story behind the Cat-e-Corner animated world and Keith’s role in shaping it
• Why AI art divides creatives—and where it actually fits as a tool
• The hidden emotional cost of giving up on your dreams for stability
• How family, identity, and creative purpose overlap in unexpected ways

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

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 "Fig Rig" camera system 01:48:33 - Surviving as a creative 01:59:06 - Voice Acting 02:01:12 - GAME TIME