The Illustration Department Podcast

Episoade

• 
  From the Archive: Roz Chast 15.09.2026 41min

  Roz talks about the early days of her nearly fifty-year career with The New Yorker; how she works through anxiety and artist’s block; and more.
• 
  Brett Helquist 08.09.2026 1h 8min

  Brett talks about the challenge of making time to make art; how he approaches character design; and more.
• 
  Shawn Harris 01.09.2026 1h 17min

  Shawn talks about what a picture book can be about (hint: literally everything); how illustrators can color correct traditional art; and more.
• 
  Sterling Hundley 25.08.2026 46min

  Sterling talks about why it’s challenging for artists to find a “voice”; why illustrators should embrace the word, “interesting”; and more.
• 
  From the Archive: Michael Dante DiMartino 18.08.2026 58min

  Michael talks about how he weaves emotions like grief and anger into stories for a young audience; how artists can bring balance to their creative lives; and more.
• 
  Catarina Sobral 11.08.2026 45min

  Catarina talks about how she uses color to keep her illustrations in balance; what folks misunderstand about picture books an art form; and more.
• 
  Emiliano Ponzi 04.08.2026 49min

  Emiliano talks about how an artist is like a broken glass of water; how illustrators can follow their own nature; and more.
• 
  Kathleen Merz 28.07.2026 48min

  Kathleen talks about the top five things creators need to know before they submit their children’s book to a publisher; and more.
• 
  From the archive: Yuko Shimizu 21.07.2026 57min

  Yuko talks about how illustrators can manage their fear of failure; what steps illustrators need to take to be successful; and more.
• 
  Jon Klassen 14.07.2026 1h 33min

  Jon talks about how mid-century UPA cartoons led him to a children’s book career; why illustrators can use quieter color palettes (despite being told otherwise); and more.
• 
  Ann Telnaes 07.07.2026 48min

  Ann talks about her 30-year, Pulitzer Prize-winning career as an editorial cartoonist; how illustrators can combat cynicism; and more.
• 
  Cátia Chien 30.06.2026 1h 4min

  Cátia talks about balancing her personal and artistic lives; what boring advice every artist should follow; and more.
• 
  From the Archive: Lane Smith 23.06.2026 1h 13min

  Lane talks 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.
• 
  Micha Archer 16.06.2026 58min

  Micha talks about what illustrators can do when they don’t feel motivated to illustrate; what creative value collage brings to her work; and more.
• 
  Leslie Cober 09.06.2026 55min

  Leslie talks about her father, the great Alan Cober; how illustrators can wear multiple creative hats; and more.
• 
  Julien Chung 02.06.2026 45min

  Julien talks about why his road to getting published started a bit later in life; how Lois Ehlert changed children’s publishing; and more.
• 
  From the Archive: Brian Pinkney 26.05.2026 39min

  Brian talks 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.
• 
  Travis Jonker 19.05.2026 57min

  Travis talks about the surprising common denominator that connects most good picture books; why performing a picture book manuscript can help one write it; and more.
• 
  Sophie Blackall 12.05.2026 1h 8min

  Sophie talks 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; and more.
• 
  Luis Mendo 05.05.2026 1h 14min

  Luis talks about what art directors love hearing from the illustrators they work with; why artists should find sources of joy other than art-making; and more.