The Illustration Department Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Pamela Zagarenski Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

Two-time Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator, Pamela Zagarenski, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about why personal hardship—which led to professional abandonment—almost torpedoed her career; how she picked up the pieces; how her company’s name, Sacred Bee, came from a near-death experience; and what Goethe teaches us about achieving our creative goals.

To learn more about Pamela, visit sacredbee.com.

Be sure to check out her newest book, The Fabled Life of Aesop, by Ian Lender, where you buy or borrow books.

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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Gabriel Alborozo Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

Illustrator and Cartoonist, Gabriel Alborozo, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about the anxiety-inducing choice to be a children’s book author and illustrator; why he sometimes sees the agent-illustrator relationship as “owner-pet”, how he handled rejections from agents for being “just a cartoonist”; what your big social media following says about you and your art (hint: not much); and how Gabriel dreamt of being a matte painter after watching Star Wars in 1977—and why it never happened.

To learn more about Gabriel, visit alborozo.co.uk.

Here are a few of the illustrators we mention: E.H. Shepard, Quentin Blake, Edward Ardizzone, Ronald Searle, Jean-Jacques Sempé, Gerald Scarfe, André François, Ralph Steadman, Harrison Ellenshaw, Frank Ordaz, Christoper Evans, and Ralph McQuarrie

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Charles Santoso Feb 25, 2020

Show notes

Charles Santoso talks about why he chooses to work in multiple styles; how he lives with imposter syndrome; and what three words uttered ten years ago by concept artist, Ian McCaig, still give Charles goosebumps.

To learn more about Charles, visit charlessantoso.com.

Here are a few of the illustrators we mentio: Charles Santore, Paul Topolos, Ian McCaig, Eric Carle, Milton Glaser, and Leo and Diane Dillon

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Seymour Chwast Feb 18, 2020

Show notes

Recorded from his apartment, Seymour Chwast talks to Giuseppe Castellano about forming Push Pin Studios with Ed Sorel, and Milton Glaser; hanging out with Ezra Jack Keats; and what his thoughts are on Comic Sans.

To learn more about Seymour Chwast, visit pushpininc.com.

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Stephanie Plunkett Feb 11, 2020

Show notes

Stephanie Haboush Plunkett, the Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how she came to work at the museum; what lessons we can learn from Rockwell’s life and work, and why she and the museum are trying to change how the public views and appreciates the yet-to-be-fully-appreciated field of illustration.

The episode begins with a segment of “Moonlight Serenade” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. The track was a recording from their live show at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York, on May 17, 1939. That same year, Rockwell and his family moved from New Rochelle, New York, to Arlington, Vermont. The album from which the track was pulled is called, Glenn Miller: A Legendary Performer. You should listen to the entire album. Find it where ever you find music.

As we learn from Stephanie in this episode, Rockwell’s paintings were restored/preserved at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center. You can visit their website, and learn about their educational offerings here.

A few artists and illustrators were mentioned in this conversation, including: Thomas Fogarty, George Bridgeman, Clyde Forsythe, Marshall Arisman, Robert Weaver, Seymour Chwast, Mead Schaeffer, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, James McMillan, Frances Jetter, and Yuyi Morales

To learn more about the Norman Rockwell Museum, visit nrm.org.

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Betsy Peterschmidt Feb 04, 2020

Show notes

Betsy talks about what it was like working with Giuseppe Castellano at Penguin Young Readers Group; how they both live with depression; how she finds illustrators to hire; and what Clifford the Big Red Dog creator, Norman Bridwell, teaches us about rejection, imposter syndrome, and perseverance.

To learn more about Betsy, visit betsyillustration.carbonmade.com.

Betsy’s always looking for artists. Email her!

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Alexis Orgera and Chad Reynolds of Penny Candy Books Jan 28, 2020

Show notes

Co-owners and publishers of Penny Candy Books, Alexis Orgera and Chad Reynolds, talk to Giuseppe Castellano about how they started a publishing company; what 5 steps are needed to publish a book; why they accept unsolicited manuscripts; and why diversity is integral to their mission.

Lastly, they discuss if Penny Candy Books—with employees living in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey—is the future of children’s book publishing.

Chad brought up the book, Publishing for Profit: Successful Bottom-line Management for Book Publishers. You can purchase a copy from Chicago Review Press, here.

To learn more about Penny Candy Books, visit pennycandybooks.com.

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Kelly Delaney Jan 14, 2020

Show notes

Vice President of Learning Experience Design at McGraw-Hill Education, Kelly Delaney, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about her role within an educational publisher; why she doesn’t love the word, “textbook”; and why McGraw-Hill—who published Paul Galdone, Robert Barry, and a teenage Maurice Sendak—isn’t part of “The Big 6”… yet.

Here are a few of the writers and illustrators they mentioned: Eve Titus, Paul Galdone, Crockett Johnson, Robert Barry, and a teenage Maurice Sendak.

To learn more about McGraw-Hill Education, visit mheducation.com.

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Zina Saunders Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

Illustrator, Zina Saunders, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about growing up with her father—the legendary pulp artist, Norman Saunders; how she overcame “screwing off” with alcohol and drugs to start an illustration career; what you can and can’t expect from art directors; and so much more.

To learn more about Zina, visit zinasaunders.com.

To learn more about Norman Saunders, visit normansaunders.com.

Zina referenced an online gallery of women illustrators co-launched by Nancy Stahl. It appears to no longer exist on Drawger, but here is a link to Nancy’s response to the Society of Illustrators’ lack of representation in 2008.

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Jay Cooper Dec 31, 2019

Show notes

Executive Creative Director at Serino Coyne, Jay Cooper, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about his path to becoming an “Ad Man”; what it’s like to be in the room where Jay and his team created visual ad campaigns for Frozen, Hamilton, and Boys in the Band; how he manages to double as a prolific author and illustrator; and all that jazz.

Here are some of the artists mentioned in this conversation: Drew Hodges, Chip Kidd, Olly Moss, Robert Tracthenberg, David Edward Byrd, Peter de Sève, Arthur Rackham, and Lisbeth Zwerger.

Jay mentions a poem by Billy Collins, I Go Back to the House for a Book. You can read it here.

To learn more about Jay and his books, visit jaycooperbooks.com.

To learn more about Serino Coyne, visit serinocoyne.com.

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