Artist Recovery Podcast Ep.21 | East LA to Star Wars,Stranger Things: Rey Paez Self-Made Illustrator - Artist Recovery Podcast

All Episodes

Artist Recovery Podcast Ep.21 | East LA to Star Wars,Stranger Things: Rey Paez Self-Made Illustrator

July 11, 2025 • 124 mins

🔥 In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with LA-based illustrator Rey Paez, whose nostalgic, rebellious art style has made waves across pop culture giants like Stranger Things, Star Wars, Topps, and more. Rey opens up in one of his most vulnerable and inspiring interviews yet, sharing how a kid born with spina bifida in East LA became a nationally recognized creative force—armed with nothing but a pencil, passion, and unstoppable mindset.
🎨 Whether you're an artist, creative entrepreneur, or someone searching for your next step, this conversation will leave you inspired to push past limitations and redefine your path.
🚀 What You'll Discover in This Episode:
✅ How Rey’s childhood love for Garbage Pail Kids & Ren & Stimpy fueled his artistic identity
✅ Overcoming spina bifida and staying grounded with an unshakable positive mindset
✅ The emotional moment that reignited his art career—after nearly giving it up
✅ Why he almost quit after visiting a top art school and how he turned rejection into resilience
✅ A behind-the-scenes story of getting commissioned by Topps for official Star Wars sketch cards
✅ The dark side of unsupportive relationships—and the creative rebirth that followed
✅ Lessons from the Reimagine Conference and how a “failed” mentorship became a launchpad
✅ The viral moment that made Pixar take notice of Rey’s art
✅ His philosophy on style, authenticity, and creating emotional impact through illustration

✨ Viral Moment:“More of this,” a Pixar artist messaged Rey after seeing his sketch of a kid making candy angels—a moment that reshaped how Rey thought about storytelling and emotion in art.
💥 Mic Drop Quote:
“It’s not about how perfect the drawing is. It’s about what people feel when they see it.”

💡 Why You Should Watch: This isn’t just an art interview—it’s a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and finding your way when the road isn’t clear. Rey’s story is raw, funny, and full of golden moments that creatives of all kinds can relate to.

🎯 Perfect For:
Aspiring artists & illustrators
Creatives recovering from burnout
Anyone seeking purpose, inspiration, or clarity
Fans of Star Wars, Stranger Things, & 80s/90s nostalgia
People who feel stuck in the “wrong path” but dream of more

#ReyPaez #ArtistRecoveryPodcast #StarWarsArt #StrangerThingsArt #IllustrationCareer #SpinaBifidaSurvivor #CreativeEntrepreneur #ArtInspiration #ReimagineConference #LAArtist #PopCultureArt #SelfTaughtArtist #IllustratorInterview #DigitalArtJourney #RichWrightUnlimited #RichWrightArtist #RenAndStimpyFan #DrawingAsTherapy #ReyPaezInterview #InspiringCreatives #ReyPaezPodcast #ArtCommunityStories

📱 Connect with Rey Paez
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reypaez1/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rey.paez
https://www.instagram.com/rey.paez.draws

💬 Drop a comment with your favorite moment or quote from Rey’s story!👍 Like if this inspired you.📌 Subscribe for more interviews with powerful creatives on the ris