Creatives across borders

Selom Sunu is a British-Ghanaian character designer and illustrator whose works include the Google Doodle of Andrew Watson, CBeebies JoJo and Gran Gran show, and Children's books by publishers like Penguin and Harper Collins. What you may not know is his business and marketing background, the late start to his illustration and animation career, the story behind his mentorship with an experienced Disney character designer, positioning using LinkedIn, influences, workshops, passion for adult education, work-life balance as a father and husband.
Tune in to learn about

• His late career transition from a business and marketing to illustrations and character design
• How he came about his mentorship with a renowned character designer at Disney and the mentoring process
• The role of LinkedIn and opportunities he's had like Disney Television Animation, Mercury Filmworks, Google among others
• Resources for developing your skills in the animation and illustration industry
• Useful tips for other creatives to follow

A summary of the show including related links can be found in this post:
https://wafunkpublishing.com/creatives-across-borders-selom-sunu/

Ori (short for Orianna) Bellardi is a Venezuelan toy maker, 3d maker and painter. She has worked with award winning artists such as Dapo Adeola and Chris Chatterton bringing their characters alive in colourful mind-blowing 3d printed and painted toys. Interestingly, Ori's journey started from the kitchen having practiced and worked as a chef for 15+ years across Venezuela, India, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands. Today, through persistence, perseverance and quest for excellence, Ori has found a way to translate her creativity in the kitchen to toy making. In this interview, she walks us through her journey, processes, mentors, projects, struggles, high points and more. If like me, you're curious about 3D printing, this is also a very educative interview as she breaks it all down to the basics. I've included chapters so you can navigate to different segments within the podcast.
Tune in to learn about

• Ori's career transition from chef to toy making.
• Her step by step process of 3d printing and painting including the tools and costs involved.
• Ori's projects, influences and mentors.
• Ori's career highlights, struggles and more insights into her background.
• Useful tips for other creatives to follow

A summary of the show including related links can be found in this post:
https://wafunkpublishing.com/creatives-across-borders-ori-bellardi/

Flavia Drago is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator from Mexico. She is best known for her signature use of horror characters for captivating children's picture books which include, Gustavo the shy ghost, Leila the perfect witch and Vlad the fabulous vampire . Her fascination and works also form the context of her current PhD at Anglia Ruskin University where she's researching horror as a genre in children's picturebooks. In this interview, we talk through her journey from the start and across different countries. We also examine topical issues like how her works are perceived across cultures given the varying connotations of horror-like subjects. Plus, we touch on what spooks Flavia (if any), her perspectives on horror as a genre, current and future projects, agents and much more.
A summary of the show including related links can be found in this post:
https://wafunkpublishing.com/creatives-across-borders-flavia-drago/

🎨 From Ballet Shoes to Picture Books: The Creative Journey of Momoko Abe | Creatives Across Borders 🌍
In this inspiring episode of Creatives Across Borders, I sit down with the incredibly talented Momoko Abe—Japanese-born author, illustrator, and creative powerhouse behind the hit picture book Avocado Asks.
We explore Momoko’s unique path from aspiring ballerina in Tokyo to filmmaker in London, and ultimately, to becoming a rising star in the UK children's book scene. She opens up about:

• Her cultural transition from Japan to the UK
• Breaking into traditional publishing
• The influence of Ukiyo-e and kawaii culture on her work
• Winning awards and working with the likes of John Agard and Jeanne Willis
• The real talk on making a living as a creative—and why she still works a part-time job in TV 🎬

Whether you're an aspiring illustrator, a fellow creative, or just curious about the global journeys artists take, this conversation is packed with insight, warmth, and encouragement. 💫

Dapo Adeola is a renowned children's book illustrator, author and storyteller. Join us as Dapo shares his journey, current and future projects, and invaluable advice for aspiring creatives. Discover the inspiration behind his acclaimed works, such as "Look Up" - winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize -
and "Hey You," and learn about his innovative approaches to storytelling and business.
📌 Topics Covered:
• The essence of agent representation and approaches to landing the right agents
• Insights on working with publishers and managing freelance projects
• The importance of diversifying creative work and exploring different mediums
• Strategies for monetizing art, including prints, pins, and merchandise
• Why he includes a "no commissions" disclaimer on his Instagram
• Practical tips for managing the business side of being a creative
• Debunking different myths about the children's book publishing industry
• Learning resources for starters and experienced creatives alike
A summary of the show including related links can be found in this post:
https://wafunkpublishing.com/creatives-across-borders-dapo-adeola/