The Illustration Department Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ella Lupo Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

Founder of Purple Rain Illustrators, Ella Lupo, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she became an agent; what it was like being an illustration agent in the late 1990’s; when illustrators should and shouldn’t chase “style” trends; how “bad agents” give “good agents” a bad name; how COVID19 is affecting the illustration community; and much more.

To learn more about Ella, visit purplerainillustrators.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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Heather Campbell Coyle Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Chief Curator and Curator of American Art at the Delaware Art Museum, Heather Campbell Coyle, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about examining and preserving the lives and work of illustrators; how the struggles of past illustrators continue to echo throughout time; what happens when the general public is asked to curate a museum; and much more.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: John Sloan, William Glackens, Howard Pyle, Frank Schoonover, Raphaelle Peale, Frederic Edwin Church, Edward Mitchell Bannister, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and Pearl Mann

To learn more about the Delaware Art Museum, visit delart.org.

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Amanda Burdan Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

Curator of the Brandywine River Museum of Art, Amanda Burdan, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the Brandywine’s history, mission, and collection; how her team finds and curates art; how the Brandywine literally creates space for women in illustration; what it’s like living in “Wyeth Country”; and much more.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Newell Convers Wyeth, Andrew and Jamie Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Maxfield Parrish, Jessie Willcox Smith, Charles Dana Gibson, Rockwell Kent, Horace Pippin, William Trost Richards, John Neagle, Grandma Moses, Violet Oakley, Anna Whelan Betts, Ethel Franklin Betts, Ellen B.T. Pyle, Olive Rush, Blanche Grant, Alice Barber Stephens, Katharine Pyle, Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rackham, Ralston Crawford, Frank Schoonover, and Thomas Hart Benton.

To learn more about the Brandywine Museum, visit brandywine.org/museum.

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Rebecca Green Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

Illustrator/author, and native “Michigander”, Rebecca Green, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about her first steps as an illustrator; why you sometimes have to unlearn what you learned in art school; what she thinks about when she thinks about color; and how illustrators can navigate blocks and burnouts and breakdowns by following their own “creative compass”.

To learn more about Rebecca and her work, and to read her helpful blog posts, visit myblankpaper.com.

We discuss Rebecca’s debut picture book, How to Make Friends with a Ghost. You can learn more about it, and purchase it by visiting Rebecca’s “Books” page.

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Cory Godbey Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

Illustrator, Cory Godbey, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how he balances illustration and parenthood; how personal projects—from sketchbook collections to a tribute website for Where the Wild Things Are—led Cory to landing prestigious client work (including The Dark Crystal for the Hensons); what it’s like to be bitten by the “Comparison Bug”—and how to be cured from it; and much more.

To learn more about Cory, visit corygodbey.com.

They discussed Cory’s tribute website to Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. It’s called “Terrible Yellow Eyes”. You can still visit it here.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Kazu Kibuisihi, Brian Froud, Arthur Rackham, and Edmund Dulac.

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Joe Ciardiello Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

Illustrator and portraitist extraordinaire, Joe Ciardiello, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about his first steps as an illustrator—with the help of Murray Tinkelman; who Jim Spanfeller was, and what he taught Joe about drawing; what Joe thinks about when he thinks about drawing; how he manages the ebb and flow career of an illustrator; how procrastination affects Joe; and much more.

To learn more about Joe, visit joeciardiello.com.

Illustrators mentioned in this episode include: Murray Tinkelman, Bob Peak, Bernie Fuchs, Mort Drucker, Maurice Sendak, Lorraine Fox, Alan Cober, Chris Spollen, and Richard Egielski.

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R.O. Blechman Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

Illustrator, graphic novelist, and filmmaker, R.O. Blechman, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about why he became an artist despite not loving to draw, and having no interest in art; how he went from having a “rigid” style with “no quality whatsoever” to one of the most recognizable styles in all of illustration; what happened when Maurice Sendak asked Blechman for advice; what would be his best piece of advice for today’s illustrators; and much more.

To learn more about Blechman, visit roblechman.com.

Illustrators mentioned in this episode include: Maxa Nordau, Ben Shahn, James McMullen, Charles Demuth, Maurice Sendak, and Al Hirschfeld

Blechman’s 1967 Alka-seltzer ad was discussed in this episode. You can watch it here.

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Anita Kunz Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

Illustrator and Artist, Anita Kunz, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how art saved her life; how she achieved an illustrious career in spite of “hundreds” of rejections; why she calls illustrating her first New Yorker cover—called “Mohawk Manhattan”—“one of my worst experiences”; why there continues to be great power in art; what advice Anita has for today’s illustrators; and more.

To learn more about Anita, visit anitakunz.com.

Anita’s “10 Tips for Creative Success”, by Marie DeFreitas, was mentioned in this episode, You can read them in full here: hercampus.com

Illustrators mentioned in this episode include: Robert Kunz (Anita’s uncle), Sue Coe, Ralph Steadman, Russell Mills, and Milton Glaser.

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Deborah Feingold Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

Deborah Feingold talks to Giuseppe Castellano about her 40-year career as a photographer; what it was like taking photographs of major figures in music, politics, and popular culture—from Chet Baker to Madonna to President Obama; how she feels about the age of built-in cameras in smart phones; and why she likes to photograph illustrators.

To learn more about Deborah, visit deborahfeingold.com.

Musicians, politicians, and illustrators mentioned in this episode include: Scott Lee, David Byrne, Annie Lennox, James Brown, Mitch McConnell, Ed Sorel, Seymour Chwast, Barry Blitt, and Joe Ciardiello

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Jeremy Wortsman Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

Founder & Managing Director of The Jacky Winter Group, Jeremy Wortsman, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how he founded an illustration agency in 2007 out of his back bedroom; what he looks for when looking through a thousand portfolios a week; what illustrators can do to make sure that an art director’s “dart” lands on them; how illustration can help us find the good in troubled times; and more.

And… he answers the question: Who exactly is Jacky Winter?

To learn more about Jeremy and The Jacky Winter Group, visit jackywinter.com.

Jeremy mentioned a podcast that he hosts. You can listen to it here.

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