Giuseppe Castellano talks to one of the nation’s most prolific illustrators, Bob Staake, about how his creative approach aligns and differs between editorial and children’s book illustration; why children’s books shouldn’t have messages or morals, but rather truths or shares; what having a 50-year illustration career comes down to; and more.

To learn more about Bob, visit bobstaake.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Drew Struzan and Barry Blitt

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to writer, producer, and co-creator of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, Michael Dante DiMartino, about the challenges he faced in self-publishing his young adult novel, Both Here and Gone; how he weaves emotions like grief, depression, and anger into appealing stories for a young audience; how artists can bring balance to their creative lives; and more.

To learn more about Michael, and his novel, visit michaeldantedimartino.com.

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Skylar Smith, Professor of Liberal Arts at the Ringling College of Art and Design, about why there’s no time like the present to start learning about illustration history; whether an illustration is fully complete without the interpretation of an audience; what Generative AI and a lawsuit by Albrecht Dürer have in common; and more.

You can find Skylar on LinkedIn.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Jules Feiffer, Norman Rockwell, George Petty, Miné Okubo, Arthur Szyk, J.C. Leyendecker, Al Parker, Saul Tepper, Norman Bridwell, Beatrix Potter, Todd McFarlane, James Montgomery Flagg, Seymour Chwast, Hilary Knight, Ashley Bryan, Tomi Ungerer, Tex Avery, Eric Carle, George Herriman, Caravaggio, and Albrecht Dürer

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Leslie Mechanic, art director at Simon & Schuster, about what catches her eye in an illustrator’s portfolio; why saying “it’s a competitive market” isn’t the most accurate take on the illustration industry; what all illustrators should know about the art director/illustrator relationship; and more.

To learn more about Leslie, visit lesliemechanic.com.

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to visual artist and illustrator, Asia Orlando, about why she turned away from interior design and architecture to become an illustrator; how one can leverage their past experiences, good and bad, to help define their present; why persistence really is the key to an illustration practice; and more.

To learn more about Asia, visit asiaorlando.com.

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to comic book artist, character designer, and author, Brett Bean, about why Brett wishes he had his own book on drawing when he was starting out; why adjectives and verbs come before nouns with character design; what it means to keep your goals and dreams in your own hands; and more.

To learn more about Brett, visit brettbean.com.

Brett’s book, Draw!, can be found here.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Brian Ajhar, Nathan Fowkes, Sara Frazetta, Pascal Campion, Walt Stanchfield, Andrew Loomis, and George Bridgman

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Dan Chudzinski, Director of Curation and Exhibitions at The Mazza Museum, about what being a curator literally and occupationally means; why artists should make art, not excuses; what the masters’ fingerprints and clothing can teach us; and more.

To learn more about Dan and the Mazza Museum, visit mazzamuseum.org.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Adrienne Adams, Dan Andreasen, Joan Anglund, Mitsumasa Anno, Edward Ardizzone, Mary Azarian, C.F. Payne, Bernie Fuchs, Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyendecker, Pontormo, H.A. and Margret Rey, Susan Einzig, Peggy Fortnum, N.C. Wyeth, Steven Gammel, William Wondriska, and Bertha Boye

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator and author, Chris Haughton, about the unfortunate difference between information and fact; what oral culture’s four R’s are, and why they matter for children‘s book creators; what advice Aristotle has for illustrators, and more.

To learn more about Chris and his book, The History of Information, visit chrishaughton.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Jim Field, Benji Davies, and Richard Outcault

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator, Paul O. Zelinsky, about what his former Yale professor, Maurice Sendak, thought about social media; why he’s aways wondering at point he can get away with not being good enough; where illustrators can find validation (hint: it’s not in an award); and more.

To learn more about Paul, visit paulozelinsky.com.

The book trailer for Z is for Moose, in which Sendak and other illustrators voice characters, can be seen here.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Maurice Sendak, Sophie Blackall, Brian Floca, Brian Zelsnick, Ben Shahn, David Stone Martin, Louis Darling, Betsy Lewin, Lois Lowry, Javaka Steptoe and John Steptoe

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Honor-winning, New York Times best-selling illustrator and author, Christopher Denise, about why “show, don’t tell” is advice children’s book creators should avoid; how an anthropomorphized animal can look more like a mascot, and why that’s bad; how no illustrator working today knows, entirely, what they’re doing; and more.

To learn more about Christopher, visit christopherdenise.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: N.C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, David Macaulay, Uri Shulevitz, Louis Darling, E.H. Shepard, Inga Moore, Fred Marcellino, Alice Bolem Preston, and Charles Santore

If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. 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, our best-selling Substack, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.