The Illustration Department Podcast

Artist and writer, Shaun Tan, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how dinosaurs helped him become an artist (and combat bullies); why 95% of the art he makes never sees the light of day; how simplicity and complexity can be synonymous; why a crisis of confidence can be a good thing; and more.

To learn more about Shaun, visit shauntan.net.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Michael Youens, Ann Baum, Thomas Crosby-Smith, Yōichi Kotabe, Don Freeman, and Maurice Sendak

Shaun and Giuseppe spoke at length about this image from Shaun’s book, The Red Tree.

Shaun credits A Natural History of Dinosaurs for his early artist training. You can learn more about that 1970’s book on chasmosaurs.com.

If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Illustrator and Cartoonist, Barry Blitt, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about why showing his drawings to Major League baseball players helped start Barry’s career; how he and art editor, Françoise Mouly, of The New Yorker have worked together for decades to create more than 100 covers; and why illustrators can be overly self-critical.

Barry mentions a Daily Show segment with Jon Stewart, in which Jon discusses Barry’s “Politics of Fear” cover. You can watch it on Comedy Central’s site.

Here are a few of the illustrators they mentioned: Russell Mills, Ian Pollock, Ed Sorel, Alan Cober, Joe Ciardiello, and Robert Andrew Parker.

To see a sample of Barry’s work with The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/contributors/barry-blitt.

To learn more about Barry, visit barryblitt.com.

If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Roy Freeman—scientist, artist, author, publisher, and son of Don Freeman—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about Don’s life before Corduroy; how Roy found peace with the difficult relationship he had with his father; what advice Don would share with illustrators were he alive today; and more.

To learn more about Roy and Don Freeman, visit donfreeman.info.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Al Hirschfeld, Jackson Pollack, David Edward Byrd; Beauford Delaney, and Beatrix Potter

Roy and Giuseppe talk about a short documentary of Don, his wife Lydia, and their working relationship.

If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Illustrator and Printmaker, Frances Jetter, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she wandered from photographing inmates at Rykers Island to starting an illustration career in the mid-1970’s. They discuss what it was like working with art directors in the 1980’s; why she hits political and social issues—hard; what illustrators can do to find authenticity; and more.

To learn more about Frances, visit fjetter.net.

Frances mentioned a book called, The Golden Encyclopedia of Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, and Ornament, from Prehistoric Times to the Twentieth Century. She said it was highly influential to her—and a big reason she because an artist. If you’re interested, there are used copies available through online sources.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Kathe Kovitz, George Grosz, and Larry Fink

If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Author and long-time children’s book editor, Traci Todd, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the editorial process—from her experiences as the head of multiple editorial departments; how “original” trade publishing relies on Pokemon, SpongeBob, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; what a 1975 article by Augusta Baker can teach us about the future of diversity in children’s publishing; and more.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Mariko Tamaki, Jacob Chabot, Christian Robinson, Vera B. Williams, and Don Tate

Traci and Giuseppe talk about Augusta Baker’s 1975 article, The Changing Image of the Black in Children's Literature. You can read it here.

If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.