Shows
The Illustration Department PodcastRobert HuntGiuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator, and distinguished educator, Robert Hunt, about why illustrators should embrace “woodshedding”; how he created the DreamWorks logo; what the great Kazuhiko Sano meant to him, and to the illustration world at large; and more.To learn more about Robert, visit roberthuntstudio.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: John Singer Sargent, London Ladd, Bruce Wolfe, David Grove, Andrew Loomis, George Bridgman, Robert Henri, Brian Stauffer, Marc Burckhardt, Bernie Fuchs, Bob Peak, Mark English, Thomas Blackshear
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2025-11-1151 min
The Illustration Department PodcastTerry BrownGiuseppe Castellano talks to Terry Brown, former director of The Society of Illustrators, about his time at the Society; what’s behind the Society’s disparity between men and women award-winners; how life is made up of many different but connected chapters; and more.Learn more about The Society of Illustrators by visiting societyillustrators.org.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Bob Peak, Norman Rockwell, Charles Dana Gibson, Steve Brodner, Anita Kunz, Yuko Shimizu, Bernie Fuchs, Al Hirschfeld, Robert Weaver, Murray Tinkelman, Joe Ciardiello, Mark English, Roger Kastel, Diane Dillon, Violet Oakley, Jessie Willcox Smith, Eliz...
2025-06-1751 min
The Illustration Department PodcastMichael MaslinGiuseppe Castellano talks to author and long-time New Yorker cartoonist, Michael Maslin, about the reasons why Michael chronicles the history of cartooning; what differentiates a cartoonist and an illustrator; what “being there” means for cartoonists… and illustrators; and more.To learn more about Michael and Inkspill, visit michaelmaslin.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Liza Donnelly, Roz Chast, Roxie Munroe, Jack Ziegler, Laurent de Brunhoff, Peter Arno, Helen Hokinson, Charles Addams, James Thurber, Barbara Shermund, Robert Crumb, Sam Gross, David Sipress, Whitney Darrow Jr., John Cuneo, Syd Hoff, Ludwig Bemelmans, William Steig, James Stevenson, Edward...
2025-05-271h 12
The Illustration Department PodcastBrian SelznickGiuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator and author, Brian Selznick, about Brian’s approach to illustration; what’s wrong about the “tap into your inner child” advice for writers; why you should only compare yourself to yourself; and more.To learn more about Brian, visit brianselznick.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Chris Van Allsburg, David Macaulay, Fred Marcelino, Robert Innocenti, Nancy Burkhert, Maurice Sendack, Eric Beddows, Gustave Dore, Remy Charlip, and Edward Gorey
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2025-05-1358 min
The Illustration Department PodcastAntonia Weaver AtkinsGiuseppe 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.Learn more about Robert Weaver at library.wustl.edu.
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2024-07-3038 min
The Illustration Department PodcastChris Van DusenGiuseppe 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.To learn more about Chris, visit chrisvandusen.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Dahlov Ipcar, Robert McCloskey, Sam Gross, Lane Smith, Eyvind Earle, Mary Blair, Syd Mead, Esther Friend, Lowell Hess, Margaret Bloy Graham, Marc Simont, P.D. Eastman, Chuck Jones, and Maurice No...
2024-06-2544 min
The Illustration Department PodcastPhilip PalmerGiuseppe 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 legacy, but many; and more.To learn more about The Morgan and its exhibitions, visit themorgan.org.
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2024-04-0231 min
The Illustration Department PodcastLeo LionniGiuseppe 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 creatives today can learn from Lionni’s work and life; and more.To learn more about Leo Lionni, visit leolionni.com.To learn more about Between Worlds: The Art and Design of Leo Lionni visit nrm.org.Artists mentioned in t...
2023-11-2137 min
The Illustration Department PodcastBrad HollandGiuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning, Hall of Fame illustrator, Brad Holland about the early days of Brad’s fifty-plus-year career; how he found bits and pieces of himself, artistically speaking; how he helped bring about the modern-day approach to editorial illustration; why his days as a supervisor at Hallmark taught him that “everything turns into a bunny sooner or later”; and more.To learn more about Brad and his work, visit bradholland.net and drawger.com/holland.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Paul Bacon, Leonard Baskin, Barry Moser, David Godine, Jack Davis, Andrew Wyeth, Milton...
2023-09-261h 31
The Illustration Department PodcastMelissa SweetGiuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, author, and Maine Master Naturalist, Melissa Sweet about the “convoluted” beginning of her children’s book career; why it’s a good idea for illustrators to care just a little less about their work; why all you need is a color wheel and a complement when it comes to working with color; and more.To learn more about Melissa and her books, visit melissasweet.net.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Beatrix Potter and Robert Spellman
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2023-04-2547 min
The Illustration Department PodcastJaleen GroveGiuseppe Castellano talks to illustration historian, educator, and visual communicator, Jaleen Grove about the public’s lack of awareness of illustration (and why that matters); what women illustrators were doing at the turn of the 20th century; why the illustration industry has had many “deaths” over the past 150 years; and more.To learn more about Jaleen, visit jaleengrove.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: William Morris, Katheryn Beverley, Elizabeth Ellender, Sidney Sime, Arthr Rackham, and Robert Seymour
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2023-04-111h 12
The Illustration Department PodcastLeonard MarcusGiuseppe Castellano talks to author, critic, and children’s book historian, Leonard S. Marcus about his book, Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children’s Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World; why Puffin’s tampering of Roald Dahl’s text opens the doors for publishers to rewrite—and re-illustrate—anything; why we should look to illustration’s history to understand its future; and more.To learn more about Leonard, visit leonardmarcus.com. To purchase Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children’s Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World, visit abramsbooks.com/pictured-worlds.Artists mentioned in thi...
2023-03-0745 min
The Illustration Department PodcastLoren LongGiuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and author, Loren Long about the early days of his illustration career, and why being a children’s book illustrator was not part of the plan; how he paints with color blindness; why he feels like he’s still trying to figure things out with his art; and more.To learn more about Loren, visit lorenlong.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, Maynard Dixon, N.C. Wyeth, Gary Kelley, Mark English, Brad Holland, Leo and Diane Dillon, Alice and Martin Provensen, David Shannon, C.F. Payn...
2022-09-2757 min
The Illustration Department PodcastKeith Henry BrownGiuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and author, Keith Henry Brown about how music has a played a vital role in both his life and art; what it means to feel entitled to your mistakes—and how that applies to creativity; and why we must embrace our individuality in the age of Comparison Culture.To learn more about Keith visit, keithhbrown.com.Keith mentioned liner note written by Bill Evans about the artistry of Miles Davis. You can read it here.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Joe Ciardiello, Gary Kelley, Loren Long, Floyd Co...
2022-05-2450 min
The Illustration Department PodcastKat IrannejadGiuseppe Castellano talks to Kat Irranejad—Co-Founder and Executive Agent at Snyder—about work ethic and entrepreneurship through the lens of being a First Generation American; how illustrators can use Instagram in a healthy, productive way; why we need to be our first, best advocate; and more.To learn more about Kat and Snyder, visit wearesnyder.com.Kat wrote a blog post about the intersection of Instagram and Commercial Art. Read it here.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Kelli Anderson, Alice Neel, Philip Burke, Victor Juhasz, Robert Grossman, Drew Friedman, Barry Blitt, Libb...
2022-03-151h 38
The Illustration Department PodcastTim MendolaTim Mendola—President of Mendola Artists and Rapp Art—talks to Giuseppe Castellano about Tim’s first experiences as agent; what best business practices all illustrators should embrace; what the “market” is and isn’t; why we may never see a sustainable union for illustrators; and more.To learn more about Tim and his agencies, visit mendolaart.com and rappart.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Murray Tinkelman, Leonard Baskin, Bernie D’Andrea, Lorraine Fox, Ben Shahn, Coby Whitmore, Norman Rockwell, and Robert Heindel
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2021-11-2355 min
The Illustration Department PodcastAriel SchragCartoonist and Writer, Ariel Schrag, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about her first steps—starting in high school—as a comics creator; how the current discourse surrounding what illustrators and writers can and can’t do with their work has its pros and cons; how illustrators and writers can get going on the thing they want to create; and more.To learn more about Ariel, visit arielschrag.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Robert Crumb, Linda Barry, Mimi Pond, and Matt Groening
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2021-06-0843 min
The Illustration Department PodcastD.B. DowdD.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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2021-03-301h 11
The Illustration Department PodcastBarbara NessimBarbara 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, Sey...
2021-03-0947 min
The Illustration Department PodcastDavid SomanIllustrator, Author, and Educator, David Soman, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about how David got his first picture book job—despite not having a single illustration in his portfolio. They discuss the past and future of the beloved, Ladybug Girl books; the bad art advice coming from publishing professionals; painting with watercolor; teaching at the School of Visual Arts; and much more.To learn more about David, his partner, Jacky Davis, and Ladybug Girl, visit readbrightly.com.Follow David on Instagram at davidsoman.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Gustav Rehberger, Harvey Dinnerstein, Max Gi...
2021-02-021h 01
The Illustration Department PodcastJames McMullanIllustrator, Author, and Illustration Teacher, James McMullan, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about his globe-trotting, but tragic, childhood; what his early days as an illustrator were like; why his philosophy on drawing—and the teaching of drawing—stems from intuition and humanization; why he thinks illustrators should embrace risk; and so much more.To learn more about James, visit jamesmcmullan.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Betsy Lewin, Milton Glaser, Egon Schiele, Ben Shahn, Robert Weaver, Seymour Chwast, Ed Sorel, R.O. Blechman, Maurice Sendak, Charles B. Slackman, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and Mary Suzuki.
2020-10-271h 02
The Illustration Department PodcastAnita KunzIllustrator 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.comIllustrators mentioned...
2020-08-1848 min
The Illustration Department PodcastBetsy BirdBetsy Bird (otherwise known as “Fuse8”), the Collection Development Manager of Evanston Public Library, and former Youth Materials Specialist of the New York Public Library, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about her path to becoming a librarian; the origin of “Fuse8”; a librarian’s responsibility—particularly with “problematic” books; the mischievousness of favorite children’s book creators; the Berenstain’s and Alternate Timelines, the six-foot long mustache she once received from Giuseppe’s team at Penguin, and more.To learn more about Betsy—and her podcast, Fuse8 & n’ Kate—visit betsybirdbooks.com.A few authors and illustrators were mentioned...
2020-03-1747 min
The Illustration Department PodcastStephanie PlunkettStephanie 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...
2020-02-1150 min
The Illustration Department PodcastKelly DelaneyVice 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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2020-01-1439 min
The Illustration Department PodcastJay CooperExecutive 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 Bill...
2019-12-311h 00
The Illustration Department PodcastBarry BlittIllustrator and Cartoonist, Barry Blitt, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about why showing his drawings to Major League baseball players helped start Barry’s career; how he and art editor, Françoise Mouly, of The New Yorker have worked together for decades to create more than 100 covers; and why illustrators can be overly self-critical.Barry mentions a Daily Show segment with Jon Stewart, in which Jon discusses Barry’s “Politics of Fear” cover. You can watch it on Comedy Central’s site.Here are a few of the illustrators they mentioned: Russell Mills, Ian Pollock, Ed Sorel, Alan...
2019-11-1246 min
The Illustration Department PodcastLeila SalesHere are a few of the editors, authors, and illustrators they mention: May Massee (Viking founder), Ludwig Bemelmans, Robert McCloskey, Ellen Tarry and Marie Hall Ets (authors of “My Dog Rinty”), William Steig, Roald Dahl, Mildred D. Taylor (author of “ Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry”), Lane Smith, Simms Taback, and Anna Dewdney.To learn more about Leila and her books, visit leilasales.com.Leila recommends Jon Ronson’s book, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. It is required reading for anyone on social media.
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2019-08-061h 00