Kyle Lambert.

How do you turn an entire season of Stranger Things into a single image? Kyle Lambert joins longtime friend Howard Pinsky to talk about the craft, pressure, and creative decisions behind one of television’s most recognizable poster series.

Kyle traces his journey from drawing VHS covers as a kid to sharing iPad paintings online, creating the viral Morgan Freeman portrait with his finger, and landing his first movie-poster opportunity with Super 8. He explains how that project led Netflix and the Duffer Brothers to contact him separately—and why he had no idea how big Stranger Things would become.

They get into the details of Kyle’s workflow: sketching on the iPad, assembling and painting in Photoshop, building layered assets for different formats, and adding textures and highlights that evoke traditional illustration. Kyle shares why he uses both tools, how he keeps enormous files organized, and how even a small client request can mean hours of work.

Kyle breaks down the storytelling behind the posters, from watching early episodes and searching reference libraries to solving compositions with quick thumbnail sketches. He reveals the unexpected reference behind Eleven’s outstretched hand and explains how he balances the cast, relationships, locations, and mood within a single frame.

The conversation also explores perfectionism, tight deadlines, the pressure of following a successful first poster, and the strange feeling of seeing your artwork everywhere—from billboards to merchandise and tattoos. Kyle reflects on the influence of Drew Struzan and John Alvin, how his own style has evolved, and adapting that visual language for projects such as One Piece.

To close, Kyle answers community questions about timelines, inspiration, and the most challenging Stranger Things poster. His advice for aspiring artists is simple: share the kind of work you want to be hired for, and give people a chance to see what you can do.