The Illustration Department Podcast

Giuseppe Castellano talks to New Yorker writer, cartoonist, and visual journalist, Liza Donnelly about Liza’s early days as a cartoonist; what James Thurber has meant to her, personally and professionally; how illustration—cartoons or otherwise—is the greatest form of communication; and more.To learn more about Liza, visit lizadonnelly.com.Listen to Liza’s conversation with Judy Gold.Check out Liza’s best-selling Substack, Seeing Things.Learn more about the Hamilton King Award here.Artists mentioned in this episode include: R.O. Blechman, Mort Gerberg, Whitney Darrow, Jr., Charles Addams, James Thurber, Ethel Plummer, Ilonka Karasz, Helen Hokinson, Barbara Shermund, Roberta MacDonald, Lorraine Fox, Michael Maslin, Barry BlittOriginally published on January 2, 2024. If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and author, Lauren Paige Conrad about how much illustrators should and shouldn’t care about their work; what it means to be “productive”; how appreciating small wins can help creatives see the big picture; and more.To learn more about Lauren, visit laurenpaigeconrad.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Lian Cho, Jon Klassen, Carson Ellis If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to literary agent at Root Literary, Jessica Saint Jean about what comparison titles are, and whether they have value; what else you should have ready to submit, when an agent shows interest; how children’s book illustrators can play the long game; and more.You can find Jessica on Instagram.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Janell Cannon, Christian Robinson, Leo Lionni, Marc Simont, Beatrix Potter, Remy Charlip, Lane Smith If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator, writer, and filmmaker, Gris Grimly about how cancelled or postponed projects can be positive, even magical, steps forward; how making art helps process trauma; how creatives can avoid being misguided; and more.To learn more about Gris, grisgrimly.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Dave McKean, John J. Muth, Edward Gorey, Charles Addams, Arthur Rackham, Lisbeth Zwerger, Sam Kieth, Mercer Mayer, Simms Taback If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Sara Frazetta, co-founder of Frazetta Girls, and granddaughter of Frank Frazetta, about her relationship with her grandpa; who Frazetta influenced, and who influenced him; what illustrators today can learn from Frazetta; and more.Learn more about Sara and Frazetta Girls at frazettagirls.com.You can buy Taschen’s The Fantastic Worlds of Frank Frazetta from their website.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Titian, N.C. Wyeth, Mark Taylor, Hal Foster, Milton Caniff, and Joseph Clement CollOriginally published on January 9, 2024. If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and educator, Marcos Chin about the one lesson he hopes all students of illustration take to heart; how illustrators can “keep the demons of jealousy away”; why asking “what is it like to be me” is an important question all of us should ask; and more.To learn more about Marcos, visit marcoschin.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Christina Lee, Marshall Arisman, Anita Kunz If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator and writer, Angie Kang about how winning a major award can affect one’s relationship with their creative process; what Angie’s bad (and good) art days look like; how illustrators can minimize their bad art days; and more.To learn more about Angie, visit angiekang.net.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Oliver Jeffers, Christian Robinson, Julia Sardá, Mike Lowery, Bernie Fuchs, Shawn Harris, Gracey Zhang, Paul O. ZelinskyAngie mentioned the literary platform, submittable.com.Here is Giuseppe’s Substack publication about thoughtfulness. If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to literary agent and founder of The Anjali Singh Agency, Anjali Singh about how she brought Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, Persepolis, to the U.S.; what common, subjective excuse is given for many rejections in publishing; how you can find a literary agent; and more.To learn more about Anjali, visit anjalisinghagency.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Myra El Mir, Art Spiegelman, Aya Ghanameh, Angie Kang, Nicole Georges If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Roz Chast, long-time cartoonist for The New Yorker, about the early days of her career; how she works through anxiety and artist’s block; what women cartoonists throughout history have meant to her; and more.To learn more about Roz, visit rozchast.com.Roz mentions Bartleby, the Scrivener.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Lynda Barry, Sam Gross, Jules Feiffer, Stan Mack, Mark Alan Stamaty, Ethel Plummer, Mary Petty, Ilonka Karasz, Helen Hokinson, Barbara Shermund, Roberta Macdonald, Charles AddamsOriginally published on March 29, 2022. If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, Brett Helquist about how challenging it can be for illustrators to make time to make art; how he approaches character design; what artists need on their creative journeys; and more.To learn more about Brett, visit bretthelquist.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Robert Neubecker, Hank Ketcham, Christian Robinson, Howard PyleFind Brett’s book, The Haunted Playground, at your favorite bookstore, or by visiting penguinrandomhouse.com. If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.