The Illustration Department Podcast

Artist and writer, Shaun Tan, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how dinosaurs helped him become an artist (and combat bullies); why 95% of the art he makes never sees the light of day; how simplicity and complexity can be synonymous; why a crisis of confidence can be a good thing; and more. To learn more about Shaun, visit shauntan.net . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Michael Youens ,...

Dave McMahon, Director of Learner and Teacher Experience Design at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the role of an Experience Designer—and how it applies to other forms of art; what 1980’s Nintendo games taught us about the inevitability of losing; what seven-word mantra everyone would do well to follow; and more. To learn more about Dave, visit davemcmahon.com . If yo...

Illustrator and author, Vesper Stamper, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how her beloved grandfather guided her early steps into illustration; why it’s important to draw attention to the repairs we make within our lives; how her podcast, Vesperisms, combats censorship; why Hilary Knight is punk rock; and more. To learn more about Vesper, visit vesperillustration.com . Artists mentioned in this e...

Mela Bolinao, Art Agent and Owner of MB Artists, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the precarious steps she took to becoming an agent; why she’s always looking at illustrators’ portfolios (and what she looks for) even when she’s closed to submissions; what she thinks is a sign of great illustrator; and more. To learn more about Mela and her agency, visit mbartists.com . If you find value in this...

Ren Renwick, CEO of the Association of Illustrators, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how illustrators can gain—or in some cases, reclaim—good mental health; how illustrators can confidently navigate the business end of illustration; why now is “the moment” for visual creators; and more. To learn more about Ren and the AOI, visit theaoi.com . An article on mental health, written by Ren, was brou...

Ben Zhu—founder of Gallery Nucleus, illustrator, and author—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about COVID19’s affect on Gallery Nucleus; the ups and downs of creating, selling, debuting, and marketing a picture book; and more. To learn more about Ben, visit benzhudraws.com . To learn more about Gallery Nucleus, visit gallerynucleus.com . Ben was a guest in Episode 7 of the podcast. To listen that inter...

Liz Frances, Publisher and Founder of Street Noise Books, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about why she started a publishing company during a pandemic; how zen designing novel interiors can be; where social and political views intersect with children’s publishing; and more. To learn more about Liz, visit streetnoisebooks.com . If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on...

Illustrator, Giselle Potter, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how an embarrassing trip to the New Yorker launched her career; how she finds stability as a professional illustrator; why it’s good to have a little  perspective—especially when you feel like giving up; and more. Artists mentioned in this episode include: Giotto , Fra Angelico , and Beatrix Potter To learn more about Giselle and her...

Laura Roode—Executive Art Director at Little Simon and Simon Spotlight, imprints of Simon & Schuster—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she and her team find illustrators; what illustrators should expect and avoid when working with art directors; how she deals with imposter syndrome; and more. If you want to send Laura your illustration work, her email address at S&S is laura.roode [@]...

Kirk Benshoff, Art Director at First Second (an imprint of Macmillan Publishers), talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the graphic novel boom; how he and his team at First Second work with graphic novel creators; and what he wishes everyone would know about graphic novels. This episode covers the nuts and bolts of publishing a graphic novel, including: the timeline from acquisition to proofing, the...

Cartoonist and Writer, Ariel Schrag, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about her first steps—starting in high school—as a comics creator; how the current discourse surrounding what illustrators and writers can and can’t do with their work has its pros and cons; how illustrators and writers can get going on the thing they want to create; and more. To learn more about Ariel, visit arielschrag.com . Artis...

Caldecott-winning illustrator and author, David Macaulay, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about his first steps in publishing—from rejections to Caldecott wins. He also shares this thoughts on: “breaking into publishing”, developing curiosity, quitting illustration, and more. To learn more about David, visit davidmacaulay.com . If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on...

Kay Fraser, Senior Art Director at Capstone, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about her path to becoming an art director—from Buenos Aires to Minnesota; how she and her team look for—and work with—illustrators; what the best practices are when emailing art directors; and more. If you want to email Kay a link to your portfolio, click here . If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid su...

Darryl Cheng—author of The New Plant Parent and creator of House Plant Journal—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about being a plant parent; how he approaches house plant care, technically and philosophically; why illustrators should avoid “plant blindness” when it comes to growing or illustrating plants; and more. To learn more about Darryl, visit houseplantjournal.com . If you find value in this podc...

Ellen Kokontis—Art Director at Cottage Door Press—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the circuitous route she took to becoming a children’s book art director; what she looks for in illustrations (beyond “I know it when I see it”); what three big mistakes she sees illustrators make; and more. To learn more about Ellen, visit ellenkokontis.com . If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a...

Illustrator and Author, Rashin Kheiriyeh, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she became an illustrator—with help from her mother and the Iranian Government; what cultural differences she’s noticed while working with Publishers around the world; why your life’s experiences are worth sharing through illustration; and more. To learn more about Rashin, visit rashinart.com . If you find value in th...

Janna Morishima, Illustration and Literary Agent & Founder of Kids Comics Unite, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she co-founded Graphix—Scholastic’s Graphic Novel imprint; why she thinks the current graphic novel boom is only the beginning; what she looks for in illustrators’ portfolios; what rules to break when querying agents; and more. If you are planning on submitting a graphic nove...

Sari Levy-Schorr, President and Owner of Levy Creative Management, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she transitioned from being an illustration student who didn’t think she was “good enough” to being an agent who represents illustrators; and what defines a good agent/illustrator relationship. Sari also answers questions from Patrons of the Podcast about signing with an agent; the viability o...

This is our 100th Episode! To celebrate, Giuseppe Castellano has compiled short highlights from episodes 51 to 99. If this is the first time you’ve listened to our podcast, you’ll hear from illustrators, agents, art directors, editors, publishers, museum curators and more…  Through 49 episodes, we covered a wide range of topics, including: restarting a creative career, living and working through t...

Caldecott-winning Artist & Writer, Uri Shulevitz, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how he went from fleeing the Nazi’s in 1939, to publishing his first picture book with Harper & Row in 1963; why he thought his career in picture books was over before it really began; why he wrote Writing with Pictures (and how the beloved book almost didn’t happen); why he thinks illustrators should give...

D.B. Dowd—Professor of Art and American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, and faculty director of the D.B. Dowd Modern Graphic History Library—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the definition of illustration; whether illustration is or is not art; what advice he has for any illustrator looking to find their “style”; and so much more. To learn more about D.B., visit dbdowd.com...

Visual Artist, Henrik Drescher, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the early days of Henrik’s career in New York City; how artists can stoke the fire of interest and creativity; what publishing professionals mean when they say that illustration needs to be “unique”; what the word “ commercial” really means; and more. To learn more about Henrik, visit hdrescher.com . Artists mentioned in this episo...

Victor Juhasz—award-winning illustrator, satirist, and visual reporter—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about working “in the old school” as an illustrator in the 1970’s; the relationship between the U.S. Military and Illustration throughout history; being an artist embedded with U.S. troops; knowing when an illustration is “finished”; and more. To learn more about Victor, visit juhaszillustration.com...

Barbara Nessim—Illustrator, Fine Artist, and Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame inductee—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the early days of her illustrious career—starting at Pratt Institute in the 1950’s; working as one of the very few women in illustration in the 1960’s; hanging out with Milton Glaser, Tomi Ungerer, and Gloria Steinem; being one of the first artists to “go digital”; avoiding...

Illustrator and Author, Dinalie Dabarera, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she went from querying agents, to getting an agent, to receiving a two-book deal from Macmillan—in the span of a year; what valuable lesson she learned from illustrating her first picture book; why some illustrators feel they need permission to make the art they want to make; and more. To learn more about Dinalie, vis...