Giuseppe Castellano talks to Tracy Shaw, Art Director for Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, about how the world of picture books is more than lollipops and rainbows; what her art department’s policy is on Generative AI; she answers questions from podcast patrons about emails, styles, palettes; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Jess Lomax, co-founder and director of Inkling Illustration Agency, about what special ingredient was needed to form her agency; how there’s nothing magical about generative AI; what she looks for in illustration portfolios—beyond variety and consistency; and more.Oleh Founder and Director of Inkling Illustration Agency

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Newbery Honor-winning illustrator and author, Victoria Jamieson, about why quite a few publishing professionals know what a “doodly doo” is; what a graphic novel can be, and how it really is a lot of work; what perfection has to do with art; and more.Oleh Newbery Honor-winning Illustrator and Author

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator, Noa Denmon, about how an artist’s traditional or digital tools don’t make the artist; what it’s like to get “the Caldecott call”; why it’s important for creatives to spend time not creating; and more.Oleh Caldecott Honor-winning Illustrator

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and author, Katie Kordesh, about what creatives still need to do after “getting” a literary agent (and signing book deals); how social media can be an effective promotional tool; why achieving a work/life balance may not be all it’s cracked up to be; and more.…

Sponsored by Agency Access. Giuseppe Castellano talks to New York Times bestselling illustrator, Robin Preiss Glasser, about how she worked with Jane O’Connor on Fancy Nancy (and how close Nancy came to a horrible death); what “the buzz” is, and why artists should not listen to it; what art can do and be in times of hardship and pain; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to author, illustrator, designer, and educator, Brian Biggs, about how reinvention can play a part in one’s creative life; what it means to be a victim of your own success; whether or not creative types need to be inspired (if inspiration even exists); and more.Oleh Author, Illustrator, Designer, and Educator

Giuseppe Castellano talks to maker of books & illustrated goods, Sarah Walsh, about what separates expectation from visualization; why running your own shop as a creative is a good idea, despite its ups and downs; why artists should get out of their own head when they’re making art; and more.Oleh Maker of Books & Illustrated Goods

Giuseppe Castellano talks to concept artist, designer, and filmmaker, Drew Leung, about what storytelling has to do with concept art; what the key difference is between GenAI and actual concept artists; why it’s important for any artist to remember why they wanted to be an artist to begin with; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Tim Jacobus, the original illustrator for Goosebumps, about why no one working on Goosebumps thought it would last past the first few books; how the making of the Goosebumps covers is an art director’s nightmare; what it means for illustrators, and writers, to finish what they start; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to artist, illustrator, and art director, Katty Huertas, about what she looks for in illustrators (hint: it’s not “being the best”); what simple portfolio advice illustrators should follow; why any creative might want to look into being a “polyteche”; and more.Oleh Artist, Illustrator, and Art Director

This episode is sponsored by Agency Access. Giuseppe Castellano talks to multi-award-winning artist, Orlando Arocena (also known as Mexifunk) about how illustrators can avoid betraying their own creative vision; whether or not “fulfillment” is something artwork should provide its artist; how illustrators can find clients; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator and author, Joe Cepeda, about how Joe took the scenic route to starting his illustration career; what clogs and filters get in the way of one’s creativity; why he’s not that into looking at other illustrators for inspiration; and more.Oleh Award-winning Illustrator and Author

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Antonia Weaver Atkins, educator and daughter of the great Robert Weaver, about what it was like growing up with her outside-of-the-box father; what “The Weave” didn’t like about being a commercial artist; what advice she thinks her father would share for illustrators today; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Kate Kunac-Tabinor, Creative Director at Oxford University Press, about what part illustrators play in OUP’s diverse body of work; why creatives should avoid working in isolation; what simple career advice illustrators should follow; and more.Oleh Creative Director at Oxford University Press

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Kathryn Humphries, Art Director at Harper’s Magazine, about how she finds, keeps track of, and works with illustrators; why AI images are not gracing the pages of Harper’s; what it means to use “unexpected” color palettes; and more.Oleh Art Director at Harper’s Magazine

This episode is sponsored by Agency Access. Giuseppe Castellano talks to Katie Kalupson, Associate Art Director at TIME, about how transitioning from designer to art director requires personal growth; how intention separates AI-generated imagery from actual illustration; why the best thing an illustrator can do is to lean into themselves; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Michael Mrak, Creative Director for Scientific American, about how often (and where) he looks for illustrators; why he chooses not to not use AI for SciAm’s illustration needs; why the need for good, smart, human-made illustration isn’t going away anytime soon; and more.Oleh Creative Director for Scientific American

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and author, Chris Van Dusen, about the pros and cons of using gouache—and why spittle is a problem; why calling an illustrator’s work “old-fashioned” is not a productive critique; how children’s book writers can spend their time if they want to rhyme; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Erika Gaffney, Acquisitions Editor in Scholarly Publishing and Founder of Art Herstory, about why everyone should brush up on their art herstory; why the “merit over gender” argument does not apply; why art, or the study of its entire history, doesn’t have to be intimidating; and more.…

This episode is sponsored by Agency Access. Giuseppe Castellano talks to artist and storyteller, Hope Christofferson, about why a lot of what you see on social media is fantasy (and not in a good way); why illustrators should be wary of the siren call of creative influences; why, if you’re going to believe in magic and lore, you should first believ…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Emily Kleinman, Art Director at Mudpuppy, about her role in the creation of Mudpuppy’s toys, puzzles, books, and other products; where she goes first to look for illustrators (listeners of this podcast won’t be surprised by her answer); how art directors are just like us; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Hana Nakamura, Art Director for Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton, about how she finds and keeps track of illustrators; how she art directs a children’s book; why a big key to being an illustrator is… to illustrate; and more.Oleh Art Director for Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W.W. Norton

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Timothy Travaglini, Senior Literary Agent at Transatlantic Agency, about how illustrators and writers aren’t the only ones who experience rejection in publishing; why being open to the editorial process is almost always a good thing; why it’s important to find joy in creating art; and more.…

This episode is sponsored by Agency Access. Giuseppe Castellano talks to Toby Fox, Deputy Art Director at Rolling Stone, about what A.I. imagery really is (it’s not art); how stylistically open the field of editorial illustration is—for the print or digital space; how creative inspiration can come from anywhere; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Semadar Megged, former Art Director at Penguin Random House, about her approach to art direction; what makes good illustrators good; why it’s important to not just look at art, but to be curious about it; and more.Oleh Former Art Director at Penguin Random House

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Jill Pratzon, founder of Pratzon Art Restoration, Illustrator, and Graphic Novelist, about what it takes to restore and conserve the art of Winsor McCay, George Herriman, and other giants of illustration; what she learns about artists’ lives through examining their art; what the key to being an illustrator is, beyond ta…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to author and conceptual illustrator, Daniel Liévano, about the job of an editorial illustrator; how he connects philosophy and illustration; how illustrators are “traitors”; and more.Oleh Author and Conceptual Illustrator

This episode is sponsored by Agency Access. Giuseppe Castellano talks to Naomi Kirsten, Senior Editor at Chronicle Books, about what it means to create children’s books with heart and a “felt sense”; what role “the market” and “trends” play in her acquisition process; why the term “kid-friendly” has no place in kids’ books; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Antonia Markiet, retired Editorial Director for HarperCollins Children’s Books, about her early days as an editor at Harper & Row; what illustrators should do if they want to be great; why Maurice Sendak’s newest book, Ten Little Rabbits, was published more than a decade after his passing; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to the Morgan Library and Museum’s Robert H. Taylor Curator and Department Head for Literary and Historical Manuscripts, Philip Palmer, about the behind-the-scenes decisions that went into curating Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature; what he learned about Potter that he didn’t know before; how Potter doesn’t have just one leg…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Skye Kelly-Barrett, Founder & Agent at Roar, about the psychology of parting ways with an illustrator; what “visual voice” is and isn’t; how illustration (and illustration work) is everywhere; and more.Oleh Founder & Agent at Roar

Giuseppe Castellano talks to multi-disciplinary artist, performer, and renowned children’s book author, Hervé Tullet, about the beginning of his children’s book career; how a children’s book illustrator’s creativity comes from within, and not from a bookstore; why you have to act like an adult, if you want to create books for children; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to the author and illustrator of your favorite children’s books, Bob Shea, about how a logo and Lane Smith helped him launch his children’s book career; what ADHD is and isn’t, especially for creatives (or loved ones); what illustrators should let go to enjoy being an illustrator; and more.…

This episode is sponsored by Agency Access. Giuseppe Castellano talks to cartoonist, author, and presenter, Scott McCloud, about the very real problem of poor visual communication in our society; what comics are and could be; why living in a phenomenal world isn’t as great as it sounds; and more.Oleh Cartoonist, Author, and Presenter

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator, Yas Imamura, about how establishing a stationary shop led her to a children’s book career; why it is a mistake to paint all publishers with the same brush; why it’s a good idea for artists to create in different ways; and more.Oleh Award-winning Illustrator

Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning children’s book creator and co-founder of The Good Ship Illustration, Helen Stephens, about the rules she ignored in the early days of her career; why “have fun” might be the most no-nonsense piece of advice illustrators will ever hear; why an illustrator’s work should not be called “imaginative”; and more…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Nathaniel Mell, Founder and CEO of Felt+Fat, about the founding of his Philadelphia-based ceramic design studio; what “working hard” really means for artists; why demand for hand-made art and craft is as hot as ever; and more.Oleh Founder and CEO of Felt+Fat

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Artist and Caldecott Honor-winner, Mary GrandPré, about why she got into and out of a career in illustration; what she likes most about her art for Harry Potter; why it’s important for artists to keep exploring; and more.Oleh Artist and Caldecott Honor-winner

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Paper Cut and Silhouette Artist and Award-winning Illustrator, Janelle Washington, about the unexpected, multi-award winning beginning of her children’s book career; why she literary bleeds for her art; what she’s learned, through cut paper, about mental health; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Holly Hoover, Art Director at Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, about what she looks for in an illustrator’s portfolio; why an illustrator would decline a publisher’s book offer; how to have a positive art director/illustrator relationship; and more.Oleh Art Director at Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Sara Frazetta, co-founder of Frazetta Girls, and granddaughter of Frank Frazetta, about her relationship with her grandpa; what Frazetta influenced, and who influenced him; what illustrators today can learn from Frazetta; and more.Oleh Co-founder of Frazetta Girls, and granddaughter of Frank Frazetta

Giuseppe Castellano talks to New Yorker Writer, Cartoonist, and Visual Journalist, Liza Donnelly, about her early days as a cartoonist; what James Thurber has meant to her, personally and professionally; how illustration—cartoons or otherwise—is the greatest form of communication; and more.Oleh New Yorker Writer, Cartoonist, and Visual Journalist

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Erica Rand Silverman, Senior Literary Agent at Stimola Literary Studio, about what she expects from a creative for a positive working relationship; and what it means to approach one’s art from a place of play. She also answers questions from podcast patrons about creating a book dummy; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Stephanie Alexander-Jinks, co-owner and agent at The Artworks Illustration Agency, about Stephanie’s transition from illustrator to agent; what stands out to her—positively and negatively—in portfolios; what illustrators can do to increase their chances for success; and more.…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and author, Craig Frazier, about Craig’s newest monograph, Drawn, and what he hopes the book can do for illustrators; how our time is precious—especially with the ones we love; what illustrators can do that AI and its prompters can never do; and more.Oleh Illustrator and Author

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and author, Don Tate, about the reasons Black children’s book illustrators, historically, chose to or had to illustrate representationally; why physical fitness is vital for active creativity; why illustrators don’t have to draw every day; and more.Oleh Illustrator and Author

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Vanessa Dina, Design Director at Chronicle Books, about some of Chronicle’s historical milestones, including how the iconic glasses logo came to be; how she finds and works with illustrators; why emailing art directors is easier than some illustrators think; and more.Oleh Design Director at Chronicle Books

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Stephanie Plunkett, Chief Curator at The Norman Rockwell Museum, Annie Lionni, granddaughter of Leo Lionni, Leonard Marcus, children’s book historian, and Steven Heller, design historian, about how and why they curated Between Worlds: The Art and Design of Leo Lionni; what Lionni was like outside of his work; what creat…

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Janine Le, founder and agent at Janine Le Literary Agency, about how she became a literary agent; how the process of querying agents is far from ideal; what illustrators should do if they’re struggling to find an agent; and more.Oleh Founder and Agent at Janine Le Literary Agency