The Illustration Department Podcast

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning cartoonist, author, and comedian, Jason Chatfield, and award-winning illustrator and creator of Ten Minute Artist , Adam Ming, about what they like and don’t like about Substack, how it can benefit illustrators creatively and financially; and more. To learn more about Jason and Adam, visit jasonchatfield.com and adamming.com . Artists mentioned in this ep...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to children’s book illustrator and character designer, Toshiki Nakamura, about the all-important three months before and after a picture book’s publication; what his approach is to character design for clients like DreamWorks and Netflix; what your past, creatively or otherwise, has to do with your future; and more. To learn more about Toshi, visit artoftoshi.com . If you...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to comics creator, writer, and educator, Ali Fitzgerald, about where art and art education intersect with social justice; what we can learn from the life and work of Käthe Kollwitz; how art can—especially in trying times—offer connection and solace; and more. To learn more about Ali, visit alifitzgerald.com . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Bill Watterson, Gary...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to cartoonist and author, Grant Snider, about how he aligns his creative life; what similarities there are between illustration and Grant’s work in orthodontics; why artists should zigzag every now and then; and more. To learn more about Grant, visit grantsnider.com . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Shaun Tan, John Hendrix, Bill Watterson, and Mike Lowery If yo...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Terry Brown, former director of The Society of Illustrators, about his time at the Society; what’s behind the Society’s disparity between men and women award-winners; how life is made up of many different but connected chapters; and more. Learn more about The Society of Illustrators by visiting societyillustrators.org . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Bob Pe...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Sam Viviano, award-winning cartoonist, and former art director of MAD Magazine , about his membership in MAD ’s usual gang of idiots; what the careers of Norman Mingo and Jack Davis can teach today’s illustrators; why creatives, even the worrywarts, should keep on keeping on; and more. Sam can be found on Instagram . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Steve Bro...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Genevieve Bormes, Deputy Covers Editor for The New Yorker , about how she oversees the magazine’s covers; what real and scary questions artists ask themselves; what lesson all creatives need to learn and relearn; and more. Genevieve’s email address at The New Yorker is genevieve_bormes(at)newyorker.com. Artists mentioned in this episode include: Bob Staake, Peter de Sè...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to author and long-time New Yorker cartoonist, Michael Maslin, about the reasons why Michael chronicles the history of cartooning; what differentiates a cartoonist and an illustrator; what “being there” means for cartoonists… and illustrators; and more. To learn more about Michael and Inkspill , visit michaelmaslin.com . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Liza Don...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Mary Ann Naples, the COO & Publisher of Publishers Marketplace, about what it means (and why it’s hard) for publishers to sell books to book-sellers; what value PM brings to the publishing community; what advice all creatives should follow, if they want to be a publishing or published professional; and more. To learn more about Publishers Marketplace, visit publish...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator and author, Brian Selznick, about Brian’s approach to illustration; what’s wrong about the “tap into your inner child” advice for writers; why you should only compare yourself to yourself; and more. To learn more about Brian, visit brianselznick.com . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Chris Van Allsburg, David Macaulay, Fred...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to The Bancroft Brothers about how they approach character design; which lesser-known animation greats deserve more love; what it means to animate from the heart; and more. Listen to The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast at bancroftbros.libsyn.com , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Artists mentioned in this episode include: Alex Hirsch, Peter de Sève, Carter Goodrich...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and character designer, Nicholas Kole, about how being stubbornly buoyant has helped his creative career; what “feeling” has to do with character design; why artists might want to follow the 80/20 rule; and more. To learn more about Nicholas, visit nicholaskole.art . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Shiyoon Kim, Nico Marlet, Cheyenne Curtis, Robb...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator, Sol Cotti, about how a little shamelessness can go a long way in establishing an illustration practice; why illustrators should generate ideas without using generative AI; why now is the time for illustrators to share their work; and more. To learn more about Sol, visit solcotti.com . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Horace Pippin a...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to artist and illustrator, Marc Burckhardt, about “real opportunities” for illustrators; how Generative AI is a degradation of the making and perception of art; what “talent” really is among creatives; and more. To learn more about Marc, visit marcburckhardt.com . Artists mentioned in this episode include: C.F. Payne, Anita Kunz, and Greg Manchess If you find value in thi...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, author, and educator, Jessie Kanelos Weiner, about the healing properties of watercolor; what it means, with respect to mental health, to be “the movement”; what three words all creatives need to hear; and more. To learn more about Jessie and her book, Thinking in Watercolor , visit jessiekanelosweiner.net . In this episode, Giuseppe’s Substack post, What...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Lori Steel, Literary Agent and Founder of SteelWorks Literary, about launching a literary agency amid concerns (from some) surrounding the health of the children’s book industry; what she looks for in a children’s book creator; what Henry David Thoreau can teach illustrators; and more. To learn more about Steelworks Literary, visit steelworksliterary.com . Artists ment...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator, fine artist, and dreamer, Charly Palmer, about why he focuses on doing better, and on putting love out into the world; why artists should work on their relationship with their art; why he thinks there’s no such thing as a self-taught artist; and more. To learn more about Charly, visit charlypalmer.com . Artists mentioned in this episode inclu...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Arabelle Liepold, Executive Director of The Society of Illustrators, about the past, present, and future of the Society; why illustrators should consider becoming members; what the Society can be for… society; and more. To learn more about the Society, visit societyillustrators.org . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Norman Rockwell, Dean Cornwell, Charles Dan...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to the folks behind The Edward Gorey House (as well as other Gorey fanatics and aficionados) about the life, work, and house of Edward Gorey. The first half of this episode was recorded at Gorey’s 100th birthday gala, which was held at The Mansion at Ocean Edge in Brewster, Massachusetts. Special thanks go to The Edward Gorey House’s director and curator, and assistant di...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator, Sarah Gonzales, about what the Ezra Jack Keats Award brought to her creative practice; why using traditional media and digital media is not an either/or proposition; what piece of very good advice she has taped to her wall; and more. To learn more about Sarah, visit sgonzalesart.com . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Ezra Jack Keats...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to cartoonist, writer, and comic, Emily Flake, about her work as a staff artist for The New Yorker ; what “rejection” is and isn’t for illustrators (and comics); what it means to burden our work with the weight the world; and more. To learn more about Emily, visit emilyflake.com . Artists mentioned in this episode include: Jason Chatfield, Julia Wertz, Roz Chast, Sam Gros...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to one of the nation’s most prolific illustrators, Bob Staake, about how his creative approach aligns and differs between editorial and children’s book illustration; why children’s books shouldn’t have messages or morals, but rather truths or shares; what having a 50-year illustration career comes down to; and more. To learn more about Bob, visit bobstaake.com . Artists m...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to writer, producer, and co-creator of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra , Michael Dante DiMartino, about the challenges he faced in self-publishing his young adult novel, Both Here and Gone ; how he weaves emotions like grief, depression, and anger into appealing stories for a young audience; how artists can bring balance to their creativ...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Skylar Smith, Professor of Liberal Arts at the Ringling College of Art and Design, about why there’s no time like the present to start learning about illustration history; whether an illustration is fully complete without the interpretation of an audience; what Generative AI and a lawsuit by Albrecht Dürer have in common; and more. You can find Skylar on LinkedIn . Art...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Leslie Mechanic, art director at Simon & Schuster, about what catches her eye in an illustrator’s portfolio; why saying “it’s a competitive market” isn’t the most accurate take on the illustration industry; what all illustrators should know about the art director/illustrator relationship; and more. To learn more about Leslie, visit lesliemechanic.com . If you find...