Jeffrey Pickett shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Jeffrey, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
That’s a thought-provoking question, though my answer came quickly. For me, integrity stands above intelligence and energy because it reflects one’s true character. Intelligence is invaluable, and energy is essential for accomplishing goals, but without integrity, both can fall short. To me, integrity means treating people with genuine respect, living by strong morals and ethics, showing empathy and kindness, and being trustworthy in both words and actions. It is the quality I value most in myself and the one I look for most in others.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I fancy myself a visionary creative director and entrepreneur with a distinguished career in visual art and animation. My journey began in Denver, then Chicago. and later Nashville, creating groundbreaking work for commercials and music videos. I later founded Pickett Productions in St. Louis, an animation studio through which I produced thousands of projects for top-tier clients, including Anheuser-Busch, the St. Louis Cardinals, KTLA, Whitewater West, Blackmore’s Night, and Creative Kingdoms – creators of MagiQuest.
As an early adopter of technology in the creation of art and animation I am a big fan of all things digital. After selling my studios in St. Louis where I focused more on running the business and directing projects I got back on the computer and trained up on the Adobe Creative Suite. It reminded me of why I got into this business in the first place and rekindled my love of creating images and motion. I have fully embraced A.i. in all phases of my work and find it remarkable that what used to take a large studio weeks of work can now be done in mere days by a single person.
Now semi-retired and working from my home studios in western Colorado, my main focus is on ideation, script development, video production and animation (with a distinct talent for developing characters and bringing them to life). Freelance work has been booming over the last couple of years and I am thrilled to be a part of the creative process. I recently created 4 music videos, a songwriters website, and have been working on graphics and animation for a themed attraction and escape room.
You can explore my portfolio at redlandscreative.com or follow me on Instagram at @redlandsusa to see my latest A.i. art.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I think about my earliest memories of feeling powerful, several moments stand out—times when I realized I could achieve something simply by setting my mind to it.
At five, I remember coloring a picture of a black panther so completely and smoothly with crayon that it gleamed with a waxy shine. I was proud of the patience and focus it took, and for the first time I recognized I had artistic talent. That realization gave me a sense of power.
By ten, my curiosity led me to write letters to every state capital asking for information about their state. Fourteen wrote back with brochures and facts, and though I wished all fifty had responded, I learned that the real power was in trying—not in the outcome.
As a teenager, I discovered the thrill of entrepreneurship. At thirteen, my brother and I started a lawn mowing business. At sixteen, I bought a two-ton truck and launched a hay-hauling operation. Both ventures gave me a strong sense of independence and capability.
But perhaps the most memorable experience came when I set my heart on owning an HO scale train set. With no money of my own, I signed up to sell Christmas cards door to door, knowing that one of the prizes was the train set I wanted. After selling them all and sending in the money, I received the train just before Christmas. Setting it up, I realized it only ran in a simple circle—and the excitement faded quickly. Yet, the true reward wasn’t the train itself but the lesson: with focus and determination, I could accomplish my goals, even if the reality didn’t always match the dream.
Looking back, those moments taught me that power is less about control or possessions and more about belief, effort, and resilience.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of failure has been one of the most persistent challenges in my life. At times, it has stemmed from competitiveness, and at others, from a desire to avoid mistakes altogether. This fear has influenced many areas—public speaking, business decisions, relationships, and even smaller moments like dancing or offering a simple prayer at the dinner table.
I’ve often set unrealistic standards for myself, equating anything less than perfection with failure, which in turn led to procrastination, hesitation, or heightened anxiety. Over time, I’ve realized that this mindset can be just as limiting as failure itself.
To manage it, I’ve developed coping strategies such as deep breathing, careful preparation, and practice to reduce anxiety and build confidence. Most importantly, I’ve been working to shift my perspective—understanding that failure is not a reflection of my worth, but an inevitable and valuable part of growth. While embracing failure has never come easily to me, I continue to learn that progress often comes through the lessons failure provides.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Anyone who knows me would say that family matters most to me. I grew up in a large, loving family in the Midwest, long before digital devices shaped how people connect. We spent our days playing games, going to the lake, sharing meals, and celebrating holidays together. Those experiences instilled in me a deep appreciation for tradition, connection, and values that I’ve carried into my own life and passed on to the next generation.
Although time and distance have taken us in different directions, the bond remains unshakable—a constant reminder that family is both our foundation and our future. As Alex Haley wrote, “In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.”
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I live by the motto that anything worth doing is worth doing well. I approach each piece of artwork as if it could hang in the Louvre, every animation as if it might be reviewed by Pixar, and every graphic as if it will be measured against the work of Milton Glaser or Andy Warhol. When you give your best and take real pride in your work, recognition becomes secondary—you’re left with the satisfaction of knowing you have no regrets.
Steve Jobs captured this idea perfectly when he spoke about a master carpenter using quality wood on the back of a chest of drawers, even though no one would ever see it. That standard of excellence—caring about every detail, visible or not—is something I strive to embody in my own work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://redlandscreative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redlandsusa/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pickettusa/
