Eliminate time-wasting decisions by discovering your style! Learn more in The Style Class on Skillshare. https://skl.sh/4cFnIej — Use my link to get 30 days of free Skillshare membership.

Decision Paralysis — or as some call it, Analysis Paralysis — is the experience of getting stuck on some kind of decision. It could be a big decision, or something very minor, but even the tiniest option can get us spinning our tires for hours or even days! If you struggle to make any kind of decisions, even sometimes, this episode is for you. I’ll open up by sharing some of my own experiences with indecision, and then I’ll share a few different illustration-specific situations where most of us might get stuck the most. I’ll share ways that I navigate these and keep moving, and of course, offer some ways you can use these in your own life.

IN THIS EPISODE

• What is decision paralysis, and how can it get us stuck?
• Why having keeping options to a minimum is necessary for the decision-impaired
• How to give yourself “outside” feedback
• What to do when you can’t stop making new iterations of an illustration
• Why finding your reason for doing anything is the key to doing it at all
• and more!

SHOW LINKS

• Illustration Coaching - http://tomfroese.com/coaching
• All My Classes - http://tomfroese.com/teaching

HOW TO SUPPORT

• Share this episode with your friends on Social Media!   
• Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe!   
• Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

• Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com
• Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese
• Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

With apologies! Stay tuned for Episode 51 — coming no later than April 8, 2025.

Working with Editorial Art Directors with Mike Schnaidt

Learn how to make Clever Conceptual Illustrations in my new Skillshare class, Drawing Ideas — https://skl.sh/40dk9rK

Mike Schnaidt is the Creative Director at Fast Company, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), and author of Creative Endurance: 56 Rules for Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Your Goals.

I picked Mike’s brain about all things Editorial Illustration, and invited him to share some deep insights on how to stave off burnout and keep going as a creative from his book, Creative Endurance.

IN THIS EPISODE

What is the difference between an art director and a creative director?

What is the best way to reach out to an editorial client?

Is Email or a Mailer the better way to get noticed?

How do art directors discover new illustrators?

What is the ONE THING you need to SHINE with your editorial clients?

What is the state of illustration today?

Is pursuing a career as an editorial illustrator a bad move in 2025?

Mike’s last-minute choice to interview a total stranger he met in a coffee shop for his book — and how that changed the whole book for him.

SHOW LINKS

Creative Endurance (the book) — https://www.mikeschnaidt.com/creativeendurance

Help Mike shape his next book — https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLScdjF1Kx4GDwqEdONKEvu349PCvxJUgydRLUMIdXxVLvVgWUg/viewform?usp=send_form

Mike’s Website: https://www.mikeschnaidt.com

Follow Mike on Instagram: http://instagram.com/schnaidt

HOW TO SUPPORT

• ​Share this episode with your friends on Social Media!   
• ​Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe!   
• ​Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

• ​Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com
• ​Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese
• ​Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

Take Composition for Illustrators on Skillshare. Learn how composition works on last year’s 2nd most-watched class! Use my link to get 30 days of free Skillshare membership. — https://skl.sh/3vtU3Ep

In this episode, I share 5 tips to help you maximize your earnings and your joy in turbulent times as an illustrator.

IN THIS EPISODE

• What it means to diversify your definition of illustration
• A guaranteed way to stand out to art directors
• Tips for maximizing the impact of your portfolio
• Overcoming creative loneliness
• Why a personal daily drawing practice is key to your professional survival 
• A listener shares her thoughts on the podcast

SHOW LINKS

• Illustration Coaching - http://tomfroese.com/coaching
• All My Classes - http://tomfroese.com/teaching
• The Studio (Creative Boom) - https://community.creativeboom.com

HOW TO SUPPORT

• Share this episode with your friends on Social Media!   
• Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe!   
• Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese

Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

CREDITS

• Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

Take "Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond " on Skillshare! -  https://skl.sh/40dk9rK (Use my link to get 30 days free).

Today I answer the question, “How did you approach getting representation and landing your first editorial clients?” 

Thanks to @sipcozyart on Threads for the question!

IN THIS EPISODE

• How do you know when you’re ready to reach out to a rep?

• What do you say to an agent when you’re reaching out?

• What is an illustration rep/agent, and what do they do?

• How I found my rep, what I sent, and why I think it worked

• How I found my first editorial projects/clients

• And more!

SHOW LINKS

Illustration Coaching - http://tomfroese.com/coaching

My Classes - http://tomfroese.com/teaching

Secret Random Episode (on Patreon) - https://www.patreon.com/posts/secret-random-48-122527763

HOW TO SUPPORT

1. Share this episode with your friends on Social Media!
2. Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe!
3. Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese

Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

Take "Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond " on Skillshare! - ⁠https://skl.sh/40dk9rK⁠ (Use my link to get 30 days free).

Jess Miller is a designer, illustrator and educator based in LA. She joins me to share her story of losing everything in the Eton fire and how her community, near and far, are rallying to support her as she starts her life all over again.

IN THIS EPISODE

SHOW LINKS

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

Take "Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond " on Skillshare! - https://skl.sh/40dk9rK (Use my link to get 30 days free).

In this episode I share my income sources in 2024, and how much of my overall earnings I took in for each one. I look into whether I'm the only illustrator who earns most of their living from outside of illustration. I'll share some helpful tips for anyone hoping to find new income sources in 2025.

IN THIS EPISODE

SHOW LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT

Share this episode with your friends on Social Media! Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe! Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit

⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠

to learn more.

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese

Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

Take "Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond " on Skillshare! - https://skl.sh/40dk9rK (Use my link to get 30 days free).

In this episode I reflect on the last trip around the sun and make some bold predictions for 2025. Be warned, I went commando in this episode — no script, no idea of how the show would go — but I think I pulled off a meaningful, if not personable, episode. (I'm speaking figuratively — I was wearing underpants, and pants, the whole time). Enjoy!

IN THIS EPISODE

SHOW LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese

Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

Kyle Webster is arguably the most influential person in digital illustration brushes, period. He started making Photoshop brushes a long time ago, leading to Adobe's acquisition of his brushes and his talent in 2017. In 2024, Kyle left Adobe and joined Procreate in very close succession. I wanted to catch up with Kyle and let him explain what happened, in his own words.

IN THIS EPISODE

SHOW LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese

Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

"An artwork is never finished, only abandoned." This is apparently a quote from Leonardo Da Vinci. If one of the greatest artists of all time had trouble knowing when his work was finished, then it's no wonder the rest of us do as well.

In this episode, I share some ideas on what it means to complete a work, how to know when you should call it done, and if that's not possible, how to responsibly abandon it.

At the end I share some important news about the future of the podcast.

IN THIS EPISODE

SHOW LINKS

Take Drawing Towards Illustration on Skillshare. Learn how to connect how you draw with how you illustrate.

https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/drawing-towards-illustration

HOW TO SUPPORT

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese

Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant