Thoughts on Illustration

Latest Episodes:

Season 4 Preview: Big Changes are Coming! Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to a special preview episode of Thoughts on Illustration. At the end of last season, I wasn’t sure if this podcast would continue — but here I am. After a summer of reflection (and a little camping, surfing, and book work), I’m ready to share how Season 4 will look different.

This season I’m making changes to keep the podcast sustainable for me and more valuable for you. Season 4 officially begins on September 9 with the first monologue episode.

IN THIS PREVIEW

Updates from my summer: working on my book Drawing is Important (out early 2026), teaching, and new class prep
Why I nearly quit the podcast — and what convinced me to keep going
The 3 key shifts for Season 4
New Patreon perks: quarterly Q&A sessions, monthly Draw With Me, and access to every episode

SUPPORT THIS PODCAST

Join on Patreon — To hear all episodes — monologues and interviews — join me on Patreon starting at $3/month. Drawing Buddies at $8/month also get access to monthly Draw With Me sessions and replays.
patreon.com/tomfroese

Follow on Substack — Free listeners will still get access to all interview episodes on your podcast app or via Substack at mrtomfroese.substack.com.

GET IN TOUCH

Email - hello@tomfroese.com

Website - tomfroese.com

Is This Still Working? A Look Back at Season 3 Jun 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I reflect on the journey of the podcast so far and the evolution of my illustration process. From overcoming burnout in the early seasons to finding a sustainable rhythm in Season 3, I discuss how the podcast has mirrored my own creative growth. Alongside this, I get real about the challenges of balancing podcasting with the rest of my life and career, the emotional toll of self-doubt, and the joy of connecting with listeners. Plus, I dive into the challenges of building a community around the podcast and the ups and downs of monetization. I open up with a story about the little man who tried to tear me down on Threads.

If you’ve ever felt like giving up on something you love or questioned whether your efforts are worth it, this episode is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE

Reflections on three seasons of podcasting and illustration
The challenges of balancing podcasting with other creative projects
How self-doubt and external criticism can shake your confidence
Finding joy and fulfillment in podcasting, despite the obstacles
The question of whether podcasting is still worth the effort—how to know when to keep going
The evolving mindset behind my illustration process and the shift from burnout to rewilding

PLUS – Why I decided to stop doing custom episode art and the joy of simplifying the process.

SHOW LINKS

Drawing Ideas (Skillshare Class) — Tom Froese Drawing Ideas
Creative Boom: Top Podcasts for Creatives 2025 — Creative Boom List

HOW TO SUPPORT

Share with your friends on social media!
Like, Sub, Follow, Comment, Review
Support on Patreon - patreon.com/tomfroese

BECOME A DRAWING BUDDY

Live, monthly Draw With Me meetups
All past DWMs available as replays
Exclusive access to the DWM Discord Server

FIND ME ELSEWHERE
Work and Classes | Instagram | Daily Drawings

CREDITS
Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk – semiathletic on Linktree

What I Got Wrong About Going Analog Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the evolving meaning of “rewilding” my illustration process. Originally, rewilding meant bringing analog elements back into my work—inking on paper, scanning textures, doing things the “hard” way. But lately, I’ve been asking myself: is it really about going analog? Or is it about something deeper? In this episode, I unpack how rewilding is less about tools and more about mindset. I look at how digital tools can either suffocate or support our creativity, depending on how we use them. And I share how I’m finding spontaneity, joy, and pride in my work—even when it’s 100% digital.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your creative process, or worried about how AI and digital tools are affecting your style, this episode is for you.

I also share some reflections on the Amish, digital minimalism, and why your mechanical pencil will never ask you to rate it on the App Store.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why rewilding might be a mindset, not a medium
How digital tools can both hinder and help creative joy
What I’ve rediscovered about spontaneity, surprise, and storytelling in illustration
Why pride in your process matters—and how to get it back
How AI is forcing illustrators to reevaluate their process
The three key questions I now ask to evaluate any creative tool

PLUS – Why my Apple Pencil will never beat a Mason jar full of ink water.

SHOW LINKS

Drawing Ideas (Skillshare Class) — https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/drawingideas
Post by @brettpstenson — https://www.instagram.com/p/DKiYMKHSapr/?img_index=1
See How Book Artwork Was Done In The Old Days Before Computers — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5YoyBvX1f8
Graphic Design Tools Before Photoshop — https://youtu.be/O-XrRQf7BPM?si=GqEeaFOWfW3A87Ll
My early style (Tom Froese Postcard example) — https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa6d6c0a9e028fce5f7f4b2/1523840966237-XPQXSOX8HCUS9WI1SEDW/Tom+Froese+Stationery-3.jpg
My style a few years ago (totally digital) — https://www.tomfroese.com/work/canadianidentity
My more recent style (more rewilded, in spite of being all digital) — https://www.instagram.com/p/DJr4MSTyTTv/ (image for my upcoming book, Drawing is Important).

HOW TO SUPPORT

Share this episode with your friends!
Like / Subscribe / Follow / Comment / Review on Apple Podcasts
Become a $3 Supporter or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon – patreon.com/tomfroese

BECOME A DRAWING BUDDY

Live, monthly Draw With Me meetups
All past DWMs available as replays
Exclusive access to the DWM Discord Server
Join here

FIND ME ELSEWHERE

CREDITS

Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk – semiathletic on Linktree

6 Challenges of Rewilding My Illustration Process (And What I'm Doing About Them) May 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I share my thoughts on the difficult but exciting journey of rewilding my illustration process—bringing back more analog, handmade elements into the way I work. While the dream of working more physically is alive and well, the reality is a lot more complicated. In this monologue episode, I unpack six core problems I’ve identified as I try to rewild in real life, and I talk through some solutions, mindset shifts, and small actions I’m taking to move forward.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between your current style and the one you wish you had, or if you're navigating your own transition as a creative, this episode might hit home.

I also share some personal updates, what’s coming up with my classes and book, and an embarrassing story from my recent trip to Paris that involves vintage books, broken French, and a stranger’s purse.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why rewilding your process is easier said than done
Six problems I’ve identified on my rewilding journey
How I’m coaching myself through a style evolution
Why confidence in your style is often external
PLUS – Embarrassing Story of the Episode: A Canadian in Paris

SHOW LINKS

Drawing is Important (Skillshare Class) – https://skl.sh/3TuA0NS
The Style Class on Skillshare – https://skl.sh/4cFnIej
Drawing Is Important (Sketchbook IG) – http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant
My Website – http://www.tomfroese.com

HOW TO SUPPORT

Share this episode with your friends!
Like / Subscribe / Follow / Comment / Review
Become a $3 Supporter or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon – http://patreon.com/tomfroese

BECOME A DRAWING BUDDY

Live, monthly Draw With Me meetups
All past DWMs available as replays
Exclusive access to the DWM Discord Server
http://patreon.com/tomfroese

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

A 100% Analogue Illustration Process with Roberts Rurans May 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I share my conversation with Roberts Rurans, a Latvia-based illustrator who creates all his work using traditional materials — literally painting his images with acrylics. When Roberts talks about his brushes, he means the actual ones lying on his table, not virtual tools in a menu! His process is physical, full of quirks, accidents, and unexpected moments — and yet, his work feels fresh and totally at home in today’s digital illustration landscape.

Roberts has worked with clients like Hermès, Nike, Apple, and Coca-Cola, but his artistic integrity shines through no matter the project. In our conversation, we talk about evolving your style, the tension between old and new work, the difference between art and design, and what it’s really like to work 100% analog in a mostly digital world.

Toward the end, Roberts answers questions submitted by my Patreon supporters — including whether he secretly uses any digital tools (you’ll have to listen to find out). I wrap things up with some community notes and another “Embarrassing Story of the Episode,” featuring me, a trail run, some hikers caught unawares, and a well-placed band-aid.

IN THIS EPISODE

How Roberts Rurans keeps his fully analog style feeling fresh
Thoughts on evolving your style without disowning the past
The line between art and design in illustration
Analog tools vs. digital tools — which gives you the edge?
PLUS - Embarrassing Moment of the Episode: Shirtless in the Forest

SHOW LINKS

Roberts Rurans on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/robertsrurans
Roberts’s website – https://www.robertsrurans.com

HOW TO SUPPORT

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

BECOME A DRAWING BUDDY

Live, monthly Draw With Me meetups
All past DWMs available as replays
Exclusive access to the DWM Discord Server
http://patreon.com/tomfroese

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

How to Make Your Digital Art Look More Natural Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode I talk about why it’s so hard to make digital art look more natural. For many of us, we work digitally out of convenience but really want our work to have a more analogue appearance — as though it were made using physical media. I explain why this is harder than you might think, citing 3 key factors I’ve encountered in my own experience. Then, I offer 5 more practical ways you can overcome these challenges and make your work look more natural. Stick around to the end where I try a new segment called “The Embarrassing Story of the Episode”!

NOTE: I accidentally published this episode a day early and now I can't take it back. Enjoy the head start!

IN THIS EPISODE

3 reasons why it’s hard to make digital art look analogue
The most common mistake of new digital artists
5 ways to avoid an overly digital look
PLUS - Embarrassing Moment of the Episode: Lady Jacket

SHOW LINKS

Jonathan Woodward’s (@jonathan_woodward_studio) collages - https://www.instagram.com/p/DIuHhUkKcPL/?img_index=3
I said I’d share a specific issue from Roman Muradov’s DADA ISSUES Substack, but I couldn’t find it. Either way, go subscribe to it anyway. It is truly one of the best newsletters out there for illustrators. https://dadaissues.substack.com/

HOW TO SUPPORT

Share this episode with your friends!
Like/Subscribe/Follow/Comment/Review
Become a $3 Supporter or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. VIsit http://patreon.com/tomfroese to learn more.

BECOME A DRAWING BUDDY

Live, monthly Draw With Me meetups
All past DWMs available as replays
- Exclusive access to the DWM Discord Server
http://patreon.com/tomfroese

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

Re-wilding Your Digital Illustration Process Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode I share my recent thoughts on what it means to "Re-wild" my illustration process. Inevitably, this means my continued quest to bring more analogue elements back into my process, with the ultimate aim of increasing my joy in the creative process and in the work itself.

IN THIS EPISODE

How style fatigue sparked a shift in my creative practice
Reconnecting with analogue roots
Re-wilding as a way of bringing more joy to the creative process
Finding analogue techniques that mimic digital tools (rather than the other way around)
What does re-wilding mean for a commercial practice?

SHOW LINKS

https://mrtomfroese.substack.com/p/re-wilding-my-digital-art-process

HOW TO SUPPORT

Share this episode with your friends!
Like/Subscribe/Follow/Comment/Review
Become a $3 Supporter or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. VIsit http://patreon.com/tomfroese to learn more.

BECOME A DRAWING BUDDY

- Live, monthly Draw With Me meetups

- All past DWMs available as replays

- Exclusive access to the DWM Discord Server

http://patreon.com/tomfroese

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

Overcoming Decision Paralysis in your Life and Work Apr 06, 2025

Show notes

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

Episode 51 Coming Soon Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

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

Working with Editorial Art Directors with Mike Schnaidt Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

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

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