• Cátia Chien
    Jun 30 2026

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator, Cátia Chien about balancing her personal and artistic lives; how the nervous system and the creative process are intertwined; what basic, boring advice every artist should follow; and more.

    To learn more about Cátia, visit catiachien.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Leo Espinosa, Luis Mendo, Yuko Shimizu, Brecht Evens, Rudy Gutierrez, Javaka Steptoe, Betsy Lewin

    If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

    If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • From the Archive: Lane Smith
    Jun 23 2026

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator and author, Lane Smith about how he went from illustrating an album cover for Oingo Boingo, to publishing his first picture book; what he doesn’t like about the term “kid-friendly” when describing kids’ books; why he works in multiple styles and media; and more.

    To learn more about Lane, visit lanesmithbooks.com.

    Lane and Giuseppe spoke at length about Grandpa Green—which earned Lane a Caldecott Honor in 2012. You can buy it here.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Stan Lee, Georganne Deen, Matt Mahurin, Greg Spalenka, Peggy Rathmann, James Marshall, Ludwig Bemelmans, Edward Gorey, Józef Wilkoń, Tomi Ungerer, Maurice Sendak, Alice and Martin Provensen, Ralph Steadman, William Joyce, Chuck Jones, Henrik Drescher, Étienne Delessert, Rita Marshall, Jon Klassen, Keith Haring, Charles Schulz, William Steig, Grandma Moses, Leo Lionni

    If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

    If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Micha Archer
    Jun 16 2026

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator and author, Micha Archer about what illustrators can do when they don’t feel motivated to illustrate; what creative value collage brings to her work; what it takes for illustrators to get good; and more.

    To learn more about Micha, visit michaarcher.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Ezra Jack Keats, Sandra Boynton, Anna Dewdney, Marc Simont

    If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

    If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

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    59 mins
  • Leslie Cober
    Jun 9 2026

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, educator, and President of the Society of Illustrators, Leslie Cober about who the great Alan Cober was as an illustrator and a father; how she’s come to wear all of her creative hats; what advice her dad would share with illustrators today; and more.

    To learn more about Leslie, visit lesliecober.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Sophie Blackall, Mark English, Bernie Fuchs, Robert Heindel, Fred Otnes, Bob Peak, Norman Rockwell, Robert Weaver, Sarah Getz, The Balbusso Twins, Alice Neel, C.F. Payne

    If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

    If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

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    55 mins
  • Julien Chung
    Jun 2 2026

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to New York Times best-selling illustrator, Julien Chung about his road to getting published, and why it started a bit later in life; how Lois Ehlert’s “wild style” chicka chicka changed children’s publishing; what an illustrator can do to add their voice to the publishing discussion; and more.

    To learn more about Julien, visit julienchung.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Sydney Smith, Miroslav Šašek, Lois Ehlert

    Photograph by Bernard Fougères.

    If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

    If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

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    46 mins
  • From the Archive: Brian Pinkney
    May 26 2026

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to New York Times best-selling and two-time Caldecott Honor award-winning illustrator, Brian Pinkney about what it was like growing up—and creating art—with his father, Jerry Pinkney; why illustrators don’t have to be just one thing, or make pictures in just one way; and more.

    To learn more about Brian, visit instagram.com/brianpinkneyart.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Jerry Pinkney, Alan Cober, Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire, George and Doris Hauman, Margret and H.A. Rey, Alice and Martin Provensen, Joe and Beth Krush, Leo and Diane Dillon, James Ransome, Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

    If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

    If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

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    39 mins
  • Travis Jonker
    May 19 2026

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to school librarian, blogger, podcaster, author, and illustrator, Travis Jonker about the “shameless” origins of 100 Scope Notes—Travis’s popular children’s literature blog; what surprising common denominator connects most good picture books; why performing a picture book manuscript can help one write it; and more.

    To learn more about Travis, visit travisjonker.substack.com.

    Blogs and, podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:

    • The Yarn
    • A Fuse8 Production
    • Giuseppe’s chat with Matthew Cordell
    • Giuseppe’s popular Substack post, The Thoughtful Illustrator

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Phil Stead, Lee White, Matthew Cordell, Brian Floca, Aaron Becker, Molly Idle, David Wiesner, Catia Chien, Angie Kang

    If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

    If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

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    57 mins
  • Sophie Blackall
    May 12 2026

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to two-time Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator and author, Sophie Blackall about what a “sludgy” color palette is, and why it’s okay to use one; what value art-making has during life’s most difficult moments; why all book-makers should take book-making seriously; and more.

    To learn more about Sophie and her books, visit sophieblackall.com. To learn more about Milkwood, visit milkwoodfarm.org.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Selina Alko, Rafael López, Barbara Cooney, Virginia Lee Burton, Rebecca Green, Beatrice Alemagna, Sergio Ruzzier, Laura Carlin, Brian Floca, Dasha Tolstikova, Rowboat Watkins, Doug Salati, John Bemelmans Marciano, Beatrix Potter, Shaun Tan, Carson Ellis, Myo Yim, Victoria Semykina, Raquel Catalina, Jenny Meilihove, Kitty Crowther, Catia Chien, Isabelle Arsenault, Cece Bell, Maira Kalman, May Gibbs, Howard Pyle, Maurice Sendak, LeUyen Pham

    If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

    If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.

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    1 hr and 9 mins