The Illustration Department Podcast

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Michelle Komie, publisher for art and architecture at Princeton University Press, and DB Dowd, author and professor of design at the Sam Fox School at Washington University, about illustration’s past; what reading has to do with illustration; how they—the publisher and the writer—approached the making of DB’s book, Reading Pictures; and more.

Find Reading Pictures, at your favorite bookstore, or at pres...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator and author, Greg Pizzoli, about how some of his characters reflect his own multitudes; why “for now” are two very important words for aspiring book creators; what simple step illustrators can take if they want to write; and more.

To learn more about Greg and his books, visit gregpizzoli.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Kay Healy, Matt Curtius, Matt Phelan, Zachar...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to bookseller and founder of Forage Books, Tamlyn Ancone, about how an independent book store isn’t just a place to buy books; how she stocks her store—literally and morally; what book-buyers are looking for (it’s not AI); and more.

To learn more about Tamlyn and Forage Books, visit foragebooksksq.com.

A few things that were mentioned in this episode:

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Don’t...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to designer and illustrator, Brandon Campbell, about what making a bed has to do with illustration; how illustrators can improve the artistry of their line; what it means to listen to your work; and more.

To learn more about Brandon, visit brandoncampbell.tv.

Find Brandon’s book, Just Add Line, here or at your favorite bookseller.

Correction: Giuseppe mentioned that Harold Ross asked Gloria Steinem to infi...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and artist, Rafael Lopéz, about how illustrators can approach color fearlessly; why fun, community, and discipline are a creator’s holy trinity; what it means to give all children the stories they deserve; and more.

To learn more about Rafael, visit rafaellopez.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Mary Blair, Alice and Martin Provensen, Charley Harper, J.P. Miller, Jon Klassen, Ch...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, teacher, and author of Drawing Is Important, Tom Froese, about the pleasures and pains of podcasting; why doing things in small increments is a real way to reach big creative goals; how creativity isn’t just about creating; and more.

Find Tom‘s book, Drawing Is Important, here, or at your favorite bookseller. To learn more about Tom, visit tomfroese.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode in...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning book creators, Erin and Philip Stead, about how illustrators can know if they’re going in the right direction; why artistic (read: human) “mistakes” are important; what cynicism and conformity do to creativity; and more.

Find Phil’s A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic here or at your favorite bookseller. Learn more about Erin at erinstead.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode includ...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator and instructor, Gérard DuBois, about his twenty-five-year award-winning run; how he approaches complex editorial assignments; what it takes for your illustration career to get rolling; and more.

To learn more about Gérard, visit gdubois.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Edel Rodriguez, Robert Neuman, Henrik Drescher, Chris Buzelli, Brad Holland, Brian Cronin, Fran...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Honor-winning children’s book illustrator and author, Brian Lies, about what “broccoli books” are, and why he’s not a fan; how he did and didn’t get the Caldecott call; what it means to be driving, not driven; and more.

To learn more about Brian, visit brianlies.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include:  Oge Mora, Harry Devlin, N.C. Wyeth, Helen Oxenbury, John Burningham, Randolph Caldecot...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Karina Granda, Art Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, about how she looks for illustrators, and what makes a portfolio stand out; what the downside is to responding to an illustrator’s cold email; how book-making is a team sport; and more.

To learn more about Karina, visit karinagranda.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Brandon Dorman

If you find value in this podcast, conside...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning author and multimedia artist, Selina Alko, about why illustrators who say, “I’m not a writer” are almost always wrong; how she approached Otherwise Known as Judy the Great—her poetic ode to Judy Blume; why every creative needs to be their own best friend; and more.

To learn more about Selina and her books, visit selinaalko.com.

You can find Otherwise Known as Judy the Great here, or at your ...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Simone Friend and Beth Johnson, the partners behind Friend + Johnson, about why social media is a double-edged sword for illustrators… and agents; what we must all agree on, no matter what you think about AI; what illustrators should focus on; and more.

To learn more about Friend + Johnson, visit friendandjohnson.com.

Here is the episode with Daniel Abraham that Giuseppe referenced.

Artists mentioned in th...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to lettering artist, New York Times best-selling author, and co-founder of Studioworks, Jessica Hische, about how her first children‘s book came to be, and the two audiences for the book she didn’t anticipate; what value good design brings to our lives; why it’s never too early to think about your legacy; and more.

To learn more about Jessica, visit jessicahische.is.

Learn more about Studioworks here.

Artists...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Sarah Getz, the daughter of illustrator and renowned New Yorker cover artist, Arthur Getz, about supporting her father’s artistic legacy; what made his New Yorker covers work so well; what advice he would share with illustrators today; and more.

To learn more about Arthur, visit arthurgetz.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Philip Guston, Willem de Kooning, Wells Moses Sawyer, Robert Weaver, ...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator and author, Júlia Sardà, about why children’s book creators should feel free to explore “darker” themes; what her approach is to using color; why self-criticism doesn’t have to be a bad thing; and more.

To learn more about Júlia Sardà, visit juliasardaportabella.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Caravaggio, Diego Velazquez, Carson Ellis, Eugenia Mello, Rebecca Green

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Matt Curtius, illustrator at Gina and Matt, and educator at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, about how he and his wife, Gina Triplett, make art together; what it means to work within creative boundaries; what the benefit is of an active practice of making; and more.

To learn more about Matt, visit ginaandmatt.studio.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Gina Triplett, Martha Rich, Chris Buz...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to literary agent and founder of Heirloom Literary and Media, Elena Giovinazzo, about publishing’s waiting game; why it’s normal for us to feel “self-I don’t know”; how illustrators can avoid getting buried in the querying trenches; and more.

To learn more about Elena and Heirloom, visit heirloomliterary.com.

Photograph © Joanna Maguire

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Giuseppe Castellano talks to New York Times best-selling author, cartoonist, and educator, Bob Eckstein, about why we shouldn’t be “open” to AI; how an artist can know when their work of art is done; why Bob wants illustrators to worry less; and more.

To learn more about Bob, visit bobeckstein.com.

Find Bob on Substack.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Maira Kalman, Steve Brodner, Sam Gross, James Thurber, Charles Saxton, Bo...

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, caricaturist, journalist, author, educator, lecturer, and political commentator, Steve Brodner, about the alchemy of illustration; what he looks for in a portrait; who illustrators should really listen to; and more.

To learn more about Steve, visit stevebrodner.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Peter Kuper, Andrea Arroyo, Brad Holland, Greg Manchess, Yuko Shimizu, Anita Kunz, He...