Standing Out and Surviving as an Illustrator Today with Tom Froese | Guest Episode

📗 Pre-order Drawing Is Important: tomfroese.com/bookBrandon Campbell (known online as @brandcamp) is a professional illustrator and former designer for Comedy Central and CNN. Brandon joins me to talk about his transition from digital motion graphics back to traditional media, his family legacy in the arts, and his unique "reverse colouring book" concept in his new book, Just Add Line.In this EpisodeThe Thrill of the Hunt: We start off discussing our love of thrifting and what we consider the "holy grails" of vintage finds.A Family Tradition: What it was like growing up with an illustrator dad who drew for Time magazine and Star Wars.Reversing the Creative Process: The ideas behind Brandon’s new book, Just Add Line, which flips the traditional coloring book on its head.The Impact of AI: Brandon’s candid non-sugar-coated take on how AI and the current economy are shifting the landscape for professional illustrators.Mindset Hacks for Better Work: How to trick your brain into having more fun by treating client assignments like personal projects.Links and ResourcesBrandon Campbell’s Website: https://www.brandoncampbell.tv/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandcamp/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brandcampPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/brandcampWork MentionedJust Add Line (Rizzoli) - https://www.brandoncampbell.tv/Birds Eat and Eat and Eat by Ed EmberleyEvelyn Ness (Illustrator) B. Dylan Hollis (Illustrations by Brandon) - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/742467/baking-across-america-by-b-dylan-hollis/9780744097603 Help Shape my Future Signature Course!My big goal this year is to create my first self-hosted course for illustrators. But I can't do it without your help! Please take my 5-minute survey at the following link. As a thank-you, you'll get 20% off the full price of the course when it launches.Signature Course Survey — ⁠Google Form Link⁠⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHIixGnxIA9gLl4WLXtxb4JsTfj5FjU6l1T9Sm0Cv2DjnDWQ/viewform?usp=header⁠Tom’s LinksWork: ⁠tomfroese.com⁠Classes: ⁠tomfroese.com/teaching⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠

Pre-order Drawing is Important — http://tomfroese.com/bookIn this episode, I take on the "myth of artistic looseness." We often envy the "spontaneous" energy of artists like Quentin Blake, but the truth is that looking effortless requires a tone of effort. I dive into why your final illustrations feel "stiff" compared to your sketches and how to bridge that gap through what I call supervised spontaneity and confidence from competence. IN THIS EPISODE • Three observations about artistic looseness • How to build "chaos" into a repeatable process.  • The Take-Two-ness of Glenn Gould: Why the best work happens in the studio, not live.  • Why even pros like Sir Quentin Blake struggle with achieving looseness. • The Exercise: A three-stage drawing challenge to help you unlock creative freedom in your drawings.EPISODE LINKS • Quentin Blake shares about his artistic neurosis in "How I draw" — https://quentinblake.com/about-drawing/how-i-draw • Glenn Gould Poster (Tom Froese, for Polaris Prize) — https://www.tomfroese.com/work/polaris-music-prize-glenn-gould • Glenn Gould's "Take-Two-Ness" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BachTheGoldberg_Variations_(Glenn_Gould_album)HOW TO SUPPORTYou can support Thoughts on Illustration by: • Sharing this episode with a friend • Leaving a comment • Leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts • Following the show / subscribing to this channel • Becoming a paid supporter here or on Patreon — ⁠https://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠FIND ME ELSEWHERE • Website — https://www.tomfroese.com • Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese • Daily Drawings — https://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and cues by Mark Allan Falk — https://linktr.ee/semiathleticDRAWING IS IMPORTANT — NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERMy new book, Drawing Is Important, is your guide to making drawing a meaningful daily habit. Through stories, insights, and exercises, it helps you draw more often—with less pressure and more joy. Available 7 April 2026 — Pre-order now! The first 500 orders get a free hand-signed book plate! Look for "get pre-order prizes" after clicking the link.Pre-order Drawing is Important — http://tomfroese.com/book

Pre-order Drawing is Important: ⁠⁠https://geni.us/DrawingisImportant⁠Mike Lowery is an internationally recognized picture book illustrator and author, as well as fellow teacher and daily drawer. Mike joins me to talk about the business of illustration, finding his style, the impact of AI on the illustration industry, keeping a sketchbook habit, and using social media for illustrators.In this EpisodeThe business of illustration: The difference between making art for its own sake and making art that actually does something.Finding Mike’s style: How an art director’s preference for Mike’s sketches over his “final art” style redefined his whole approach.AI and the industry: Mike’s hesitantly-offered but well-considered assessment on AI’s impact on illustration today.Daily Drawing Practice: Mike’s advice for keeping a sketchbook, whether on the daily or on the road.This conversation covers some of the big shifts of 2025-2026 in the illustration industry, but also goes into super-practical, hands-on tips that will make a difference in your illustration practice today.Links and ResourcesMike Lowry’s Website: https://www.mikelowery.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelowrystudio Free E-book: Instagram for Illustrators (Scroll all the way down) — https://www.mikelowery.com/classes Work Mentioned: Random Illustrated Facts- https://www.mikelowery.com/random-illustrated-factsNo Sam series - https://www.mikelowery.com/portfolio/nosamHelp Shape my Future Signature Course!My big goal this year is to create my first self-hosted course for illustrators. But I can't do it without your help! Please take my 5-minute survey at the following link. As a thank-you, you'll get 20% off the full price of the course when it launches.Signature Course Survey — ⁠Google Form Link⁠ ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHIixGnxIA9gLl4WLXtxb4JsTfj5FjU6l1T9Sm0Cv2DjnDWQ/viewform?usp=header⁠Tom’s LinksWork: ⁠tomfroese.com⁠Classes: ⁠tomfroese.com/teaching⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠

Get your FREE Illustration Training Plan Worksheet (PDF) — https://www.tomfroese.com/freetrainingplan"It’s a marathon, not a sprint"—but what does that actually mean for your creative career? In this episode, Tom looks back at his biggest insights from 2025 and explains why trying to "do it all" is the fastest way to stall your progress.Using his experience as an ultramarathoner, Tom shares how to apply a training framework to your illustration practice to ensure you're building "functional strength" rather than just busy work.The Danger of Dabbling: Why multiple professional roles create competing interests.Training Blocks: How standard timelines help you build progressive fitness in your art.Functional Strength: Identifying which habits support your main goal and which ones undermine it.The Power of One: Why 2026 is the year of doing one thing exceptionally well.[Download] FREE Illustration Training Plan Worksheet[Read] 2025: The Year in Review (Substack)[Listen] The One Big Shift for Social Media in 2026I’m building a new signature course for illustrators and I need your input. Take this 5-minute survey to help me build it, and get 20% off at launch!👉 Take the Survey Here

Pre-order Drawing is Important: https://geni.us/DrawingisImportantWhat does it actually take to build a sustainable life in illustration—without burning out or chasing every new platform?In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation where I was the guest on Design Icons, produced by Noun Project. Nick Power’s questions gave me a chance to step back and reflect on my career honestly—what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what I’m still figuring out.We talk about:Lessons learned from a decade+ as an illustratorCreative plateaus and my worst year for client workWhy style is about reliability, not aestheticsHow constraints shape better workVisibility, sustainability, and what actually moves the needleThis one covers all the classic interview questions, but it gave me a chance to reflect on the basics in a real, honest way.→ Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/tomfroese→ Explore Noun Project: thenounproject.com

Become a paid supporter on Patreon— ⁠https://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠What if social media isn’t actually social anymore—and what if that changes how creatives should use it?In this monologue episode, I reflect on a growing realization I’ve been wrestling with for years: social media has quietly shifted from a space for sharing and connection into something much closer to corporate media. And many independent creatives have been doing a lot of unpaid work for big tech without fully realizing it.I talk candidly about my own experience building audiences on Instagram, YouTube, and this podcast—and why the familiar promise of “just keep sharing and it will pay off” no longer feels like a fair trade. I unpack the gambling-like dynamics of algorithms, attention, and hope, and explain the one big mindset shift I’m making as I head into 2026.This episode isn’t about quitting social media. It’s about rethinking our relationship to it, getting clearer about what we’re actually selling, and using these platforms more intentionally—as business tools, not creative homes.🙏 A huge thank-you to all paid supporters on Patreon and on Spotify. Your support makes these thoughtful, independent episodes possible.IN THIS EPISODEWhy social media now functions more like corporate media than a social spaceHow algorithms turned “sharing” into a gambleWhy the old promise of free publicity no longer works for most creativesMy own experience building large followings—and what I’ve actually gotten backThe shift from thinking like a content creator to thinking like a business ownerWhy “look what I made” isn’t enough anymoreHow clarifying your product and your customer changes everythingWhat this mindset shift means for creatives heading into 2026LINKS🎨 Inky.af — My class on creating expressive, inky illustrations using analogue techniques in Affinity (now free forever)⁠http://tomfroese.com/teaching/inkyaf⁠📗 Drawing Is Important — Book preorder available now⁠http://geni.us/DrawingisImportant⁠HOW TO SUPPORTYou can support Thoughts on Illustration by:Sharing this episode with a friendLeaving a commentLeaving a rating or review on Apple PodcastsFollowing the show / subscribing to this channelBecoming a paid supporter here or on Patreon — ⁠https://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠FIND ME ELSEWHEREWebsite — ⁠https://www.tomfroese.com⁠Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠Daily Drawings — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant⁠CREDITSMusic and cues by Mark Allan Falk:https://linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠

The State of Illustration Report with Darren Di Lieto | Episode 65What does the illustration industry really look like right now — beyond highlight reels, social media, and shiny success stories?In this episode, I talk with Darren Di Lietto, founder of Hireillo and the author of the State of Illustration report. For more than a decade, Darren has been surveying illustrators around the world to better understand how we work, how we get paid, and how sustainable illustration actually is as a career.We have an honest conversation about confidence, pricing, late payments, mental health, and the quiet pressures shaping illustrators’ lives today. We talk about who’s best positioned to thrive, where illustrators are struggling most, and why so many are being squeezed out early on in their careers.I was surprised, and honestly a little bit depressed by the numbers in the report—but Darren helps me see some of the positive takeaways as well.🙏 A huge thank-you to all paid supporters on Patreon — your support makes conversations like this possible.IN THIS EPISODEWhat the State of Illustration report reveals about the current health of the industryWhy confidence in pricing and negotiation remains such a challengeWho seems best positioned to last — and who is most at riskHow late payments and income instability continue to affect illustratorsThe impact of the cost-of-living crisis on creative careersMental health, anxiety, and confidence among working illustratorsWhat hope and resilience Darren sees in the dataWhere the State of Illustration report might go nextSHOW LINKSFrom DarrenState of Illustration report ($18USD — PDF download) — https://www.stateofillustration.comHireillo — https://www.hireillo.comDarren's website — http://darrendilieto.comFrom Tom🎨 Inky.af — My new class on creating expressive, inky illustrations using analogue techniques in Affinity (now free forever) — http://tomfroese.com/teaching/inkyaf📗 Drawing Is Important — Book preorder available now — http://geni.us/DrawingisImportantSUPPORT THE PODCASTYou can support Thoughts on Illustration by:Sharing this episode with a friendLeaving a commentLeaving a rating or review on Apple PodcastsFollowing the show / Subscribing to this channelBecoming a paid supporter on Patreon — https://patreon.com/tomfroeseFIND ME ELSEWHEREWebsite — https://www.tomfroese.comInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings — https://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and cues by Mark Allan Falk — https://linktr.ee/semiathletic

In this episode, I get honest about the tension so many of us feel around AI: the uneasiness of using it while also distrusting it. I talk about why that discomfort might actually be meaningful—and how embarrassment or shame can act as a compass for finding the line between assistance and authorship.I share a real story about how AI helps me not over-think a purchase decision with my daughter. I also share about my feelings about receiving AI-written emails. You'll learn how I think about using AI to help me without letting it replace the parts of my job that actually matter. We talk about the long game: creative confidence, limits, process, and what it really means to maintain authorship as an illustrator.IN THIS EPISODE:Why discomfort around AI is healthyThe difference between assistance and authorshipHow AI can quietly shift from convenience to dependencyWhy the process—not just the product—is central to illustrationWhy “drawing the line” is literally part of our jobTwo reflection questions to check your relationship to AISHOW LINKSPaul Kingsnorth's Substack — https://paulkingsnorth.substack.comIn the podcast I mistakenly said his Substack was called Pilgrims in the Machine. It's actually called the Abbey of Misrule, which is way more badass.Paul Kingsnorth's website — https://www.paulkingsnorth.netRethinking Creativity in the Age of AI — A more pro-AI conversation on The Future with Chris Do and Jodie Cook — https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-futur-with-chris-do/id1209219220?i=1000737893787THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!Thanks as always for supporting the podcast. Patreon and Paid Spotify Supporters make it possible for me keep doing this!FIND ME ELSEWHEREMy New Book! Drawing is Important! — tomfroese.com/links — look for the green book coverWork and Classes — tomfroese.comInstagram — instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings — instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk — semiathletic on LinktreeDRAWING IS IMPORTANT — NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERMy new book, Drawing Is Important, is your guide to making drawing a meaningful daily habit. Through stories, insights, and exercises, it helps you draw more often—with less pressure and more joy. Available Spring 2026 — Pre-order now! The first 500 orders get a free hand-signed book plate! Look for "get pre-order prizes" after clicking the link.

Interview with Raymond BiesingerHow do you defend your creative work when clients underpay, misuse your images, or ignore copyright entirely?In this episode, I talk with Montréal-based illustrator, artist, and author Raymond Biesinger, whose new book 9 Times My Work Has Been Ripped Off (Drawn + Quarterly, 2025) is part memoir, part self-defence guide for independent creatives.Raymond pulls back the curtain on wage theft, unauthorized usage, blurred legal lines, and the everyday realities illustrators face when protecting their work — and their livelihood.This is a wide-ranging, candid conversation about money, boundaries, professionalism, and what it really takes to survive as an illustrator today.🙏 A huge thank-you to all paid supporters on Patreon — without you, this show wouldn’t exist.IN THIS EPISODE• What “being ripped off” really means (hint: it’s not just stylistic copying)• Why wage theft is rampant in the creative industries• The blurry, case-by-case nature of copyright enforcement• How creatives can strategically bluff to protect their work• Why talking openly about money is essential for healthier creative careers• The role of mood, timing, and resources in deciding whether to pursue a dispute• How Raymond developed his signature collage-driven style• The surprising story of a fan who copied his style — and how it turned into something positive• What Raymond hopes independent creatives will take away from the bookSHOW LINKSRaymond BiesingerWebsite — https://fifteen.caInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/raymondbiesinger📕 9 Times My Work Has Been Ripped Off (Drawn + Quarterly, 2025) —  https://drawnandquarterly.com/books/9-times-my-work-has-been-ripped-off/📘 305 Lost Buildings of Canada — Goose Lane Editions — https://gooselane.com/products/305-lost-buildings-of-canada?_pos=1&_psq=305+lost&_ss=e&_v=1.0From Tom🎨 SLO-FI Illustrations (new Skillshare class) — 30 days free: https://skl.sh/4nbo3KT📗 Drawing is Important — now available for preorder: https://geni.us/DrawingisImportantSUPPORT THE PODCASTYou can help Thoughts on Illustration grow by:• Sharing the episode with a friend• Leaving a rating or review• Following the show• Becoming a paid supporter on Spotify or on Patreon — https://patreon.com/tomfroeseFIND ME ELSEWHEREWebsite — https://www.tomfroese.comInstagram — https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings — https://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and cues by Mark Allan Falk — https://linktr.ee/semiathletic

What is the secret to making cohesive illustrations? Also known as unity and harmony, this is the elusive quality that makes your illustration feel "whole". In this episode, I look at why that sense of unity is harder to achieve in digital work, and how thinking in terms of physical media and physical reproduction methods can bring your images together. I introduce what I call The Five Stars of Cohesiveness—Purpose, Drawing Style, Medium, Reproduction Method, and Application—and show how, when these align, your work gains that solid, self-contained presence we all chase. Using Ben Shahn’s The Shape of Content as a case study (read on for visual examples), I unpack how medium and black-only printing worked hand-in-hand to create unusually cohesive results—and how we can borrow that logic in our digital workflows. If you’ve struggled to make your digital illustrations feel unified—and want a concrete framework to diagnose why—this episode is for you.IN THIS EPISODE“Truth to materials” — keyword materialsThe Five Stars of CohesivenessHow physical constraints shape shape your style—and why limitless tools can derail itCase study: Ben Shahn’s expressive linework printed black-only in The Shape of ContentWhy your chosen medium is the central star, influencing both idea and outcomeIllustrating for print (even when your art never gets printed)Try This: would your piece hold up in black-only? as a 2–3 colour Riso print?Classes and resource recommendationsSHOW LINKSBen Shahn — The Shape of Content (book) — https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674302426“Illustration” (definition/context) — general reference — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IllustrationMy Skillshare: Illustrating for Letterpress (technical limits → clearer decisions) — https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/impress-meSlo-Fi Illustrations (analogue paradigms in a digital flow) — https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/slofiillustrationsDi Ujdi — Introduction to Risograph Printing (layered colour thinking) — https://skl.sh/47BXNm5HOW TO SUPPORT / LISTEN If you’d like to support this podcast and hear the full version of monologue episodes like this one:Join on Patreon for as low as $3/monthBecome a paid subscriber on Spotify ($2.99/month)I also post monologues as full articles on Medium.FIND ME ELSEWHEREMy New Book! Drawing is Important! — tomfroese.com/links — look for the green book coverWork and Classes — tomfroese.comInstagram — instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings — instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk — semiathletic on Linktree——————DRAWING IS IMPORTANT — NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERMy new book, Drawing Is Important, is your guide to making drawing a meaningful daily habit. Through stories, insights, and exercises, it helps you draw more often—with less pressure and more joy. Available Spring 2026 — Pre-order now! The first 500 orders get a free hand-signed book plate! Look for "get pre-order prizes" after clicking the lin