The Illustration Department Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Rashin Kheiriyeh May 04, 2021

Show notes

Illustrator and Author, Rashin Kheiriyeh, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she became an illustrator—with help from her mother and the Iranian Government; what cultural differences she’s noticed while working with Publishers around the world; why your life’s experiences are worth sharing through illustration; and more.

To learn more about Rashin, visit rashinart.com.

If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

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Janna Morishima Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

Janna Morishima, Illustration and Literary Agent & Founder of Kids Comics Unite, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she co-founded Graphix—Scholastic’s Graphic Novel imprint; why she thinks the current graphic novel boom is only the beginning; what she looks for in illustrators’ portfolios; what rules to break when querying agents; and more.

If you are planning on submitting a graphic novel to a publisher or agent… the end of this episode is for you.

To learn more about Janna and her agency, visit jannaco.com. You can email Janna at janna@jannaco.co.

You can also connect with Janna inside Kids Comics Unite, the online community she founded for graphic novel creators.

Janna mentioned an blog post by Rachel Reichenbach (aka “Rainy Lune”) about Instagram engagement. You can read it here.

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Sari Levy-Schorr Apr 20, 2021

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Sari Levy-Schorr, President and Owner of Levy Creative Management, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she transitioned from being an illustration student who didn’t think she was “good enough” to being an agent who represents illustrators; and what defines a good agent/illustrator relationship.

Sari also answers questions from Patrons of the Podcast about signing with an agent; the viability of traditional art; portfolio mistakes; and more.

To learn more about Sari and her agency, visit levycreative.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Murray Tinkelman, Roger Demuth, and Bob Dacey

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The 100th Episode Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

This is our 100th Episode! To celebrate, Giuseppe Castellano has compiled short highlights from episodes 51 to 99.

If this is the first time you’ve listened to our podcast, you’ll hear from illustrators, agents, art directors, editors, publishers, museum curators and more…

Through 49 episodes, we covered a wide range of topics, including: restarting a creative career, living and working through the COVID19 pandemic; starting a publishing company; winning the Caldecott; hanging out with Jimi Hendrix; facing failure; defining illustration; and more.

Our guests were (in order): Kelly Light, Hilary Knight, Angharad Kowal Stannus, Claudia Bedrick, Johnny Temple, Rudy Gutierrez, 23 illustrators (for our 1-year anniversary episode), Shawna J.C. Tenney, Noah Klocek, Nancy Stahl, David Edward Byrd, Dian Holton, James Burns, Jeremy Wortsman, Deborah Feingold, Anita Kunz, R.O. Blechman, Joe Ciardiello, Cory Godbey, Rebecca Green, Amanda Burdan, Heather Campbell Coyle, Ella Lupo, Martin Salisbury, Sergio Ruzzier, Jim McMullan, Debbie Bibo, David Wiesner, John Cuneo, Kazu Kibuisihi, Jane O’Connor, Julia Rosenfeld, Lindsay Nohl, Luke Flowers, David Borgenicht, Daniel Abraham, Christine Von Der Linn, Greg Manchess, Matthew Carlson, David Soman, Frances Jetter, Andrew Fairclough, Chris Sickels, Dinalie Dabarera, Barbara Nessim, Victor Juhasz, Henrik Drescher, D.B. Dowd, and Uri Shulevitz

Here’s to 49 more.

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Uri Shulevitz Apr 06, 2021

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Caldecott-winning Artist & Writer, Uri Shulevitz, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how he went from fleeing the Nazi’s in 1939, to publishing his first picture book with Harper & Row in 1963; why he thought his career in picture books was over before it really began; why he wrote Writing with Pictures (and how the beloved book almost didn’t happen); why he thinks illustrators should give up on the idea of the “perfect picture”; and more.

To learn more about Uri, visit urishulevitz.com.

To purchase Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books, find it at—or order it from—a local book store.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Rufino del Carmen Arellanes Tamayo, Tintoretto, Titian, Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Arnold Lobel, Margot Zemach, and Ezra Jack Keats

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D.B. Dowd Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

D.B. Dowd—Professor of Art and American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, and faculty director of the D.B. Dowd Modern Graphic History Library—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the definition of illustration; whether illustration is or is not art; what advice he has for any illustrator looking to find their “style”; and so much more.

To learn more about D.B., visit dbdowd.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Gustave Doré, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Mead Schaeffer, Haddon Sundblom, Jim McMullan, Marshall Arisman, Bernie Fuchs, and Robert Weaver

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Henrik Drescher Mar 23, 2021

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Visual Artist, Henrik Drescher, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the early days of Henrik’s career in New York City; how artists can stoke the fire of interest and creativity; what publishing professionals mean when they say that illustration needs to be “unique”; what the word “ commercial” really means; and more.

To learn more about Henrik, visit hdrescher.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Marshall Arisman, Brian Cronin, Alan Cober, and Vivienne Flesher

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Victor Juhasz Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

Victor Juhasz—award-winning illustrator, satirist, and visual reporter—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about working “in the old school” as an illustrator in the 1970’s; the relationship between the U.S. Military and Illustration throughout history; being an artist embedded with U.S. troops; knowing when an illustration is “finished”; and more.

To learn more about Victor, visit juhaszillustration.com.

To learn more about the U.S. Air Force Art Program—and its relationship with the Society of Illustrators, visit military.com/history.

Victor mentioned the “bravura” technique in painting and drawing. For further reading on it, visit artistsnetwork.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Bernie D’Andrea, Murray Tinkleman, Jim Spanfeller, John Gundelfinger, Lorraine Fox, Stephen Kroninger, Winslow Homer, Linda Kitson, Harvey Dunn, Howard Brodie, and Miriam Troop

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Barbara Nessim Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

Barbara Nessim—Illustrator, Fine Artist, and Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame inductee—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the early days of her illustrious career—starting at Pratt Institute in the 1950’s; working as one of the very few women in illustration in the 1960’s; hanging out with Milton Glaser, Tomi Ungerer, and Gloria Steinem; being one of the first artists to “go digital”; avoiding the need to “fit in”; and more.

To learn more about Barbara, visit barbaranessim.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Artists: Robert Weaver, Bob Gale, Thomas Allen, Henry Wolf, Milton Glaser, Seymour Chwast, Ed Sorel, Reynold Ruffins, Simms Taback, Jim McMullan, Tomi Ungerer, Isadore Seltzer, and Susan Perl

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Dinalie Dabarera Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Illustrator and Author, Dinalie Dabarera, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she went from querying agents, to getting an agent, to receiving a two-book deal from Macmillan—in the span of a year; what valuable lesson she learned from illustrating her first picture book; why some illustrators feel they need permission to make the art they want to make; and more.

To learn more about Dinalie, visit dinalie.com.

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