The Illustration Department Podcast

Giuseppe Castellano

Giuseppe Castellano talks to folks in illustration, graphic design, publishing, animation, and other creative fields about the ups and downs of their careers.

  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    Matt Curtius

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to Matt Curtius, illustrator at Gina and Matt, and educator at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, about how he and his wife, Gina Triplett, make art together; what it means to work within creative boundaries; what the benefit is of an active practice of making; and more.

    To learn more about Matt, visit ginaandmatt.studio.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Gina Triplett, Martha Rich, Chris Buzelli, Olaf Hajek, Whitney Sherman, David Plunkert, Joyce Hesselberth, Leo and Diane Dillon, Melinda Beck, Jessica Hische, Penelope Dullaghan, John Martz, Scott Bakal, Richard Amsel, Helen Borten, Aliki Brandenberg, Brian Pinkney, Jerry Pinkney

    6 January 2026, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    Elena Giovinazzo

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to literary agent and founder of Heirloom Literary and Media, Elena Giovinazzo, about publishing’s waiting game; why it’s normal for us to feel “self-I don’t know”; how illustrators can avoid getting buried in the querying trenches; and more.

    To learn more about Elena and Heirloom, visit heirloomliterary.com.

    Photograph © Joanna Maguire

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    30 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    Bob Eckstein

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to New York Times best-selling author, cartoonist, and educator, Bob Eckstein, about why we shouldn’t be “open” to AI; how an artist can know when their work of art is done; why Bob wants illustrators to worry less; and more.

    To learn more about Bob, visit bobeckstein.com.

    Find Bob on Substack.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Maira Kalman, Steve Brodner, Sam Gross, James Thurber, Charles Saxton, Bob Weber, George Booth, Bill Mauldin

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    23 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Steve Brodner

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, caricaturist, journalist, author, educator, lecturer, and political commentator, Steve Brodner, about the alchemy of illustration; what he looks for in a portrait; who illustrators should really listen to; and more.

    To learn more about Steve, visit stevebrodner.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Peter Kuper, Andrea Arroyo, Brad Holland, Greg Manchess, Yuko Shimizu, Anita Kunz, Herb Block, Al Hirschfeld, Jean-Jacques Sempé, Garry Trudeau, Milton Caniff, Jackson Pollock, Thomas Hart Benton, Camille Pissarro, Paul Cézanne, Guy Billout, James McMullan, Ed Sorel, Gérard DuBois, Victor Juhasz, Joe Ciardiello, Alison Bechdel, Marjane Satrapi, Keith Knight, Mort Drucker, Jack Davis, Richard Williams, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Thomas Nast

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    16 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 53 minutes 49 seconds
    Mariam Quraishi

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to Mariam Quraishi, Senior Designer at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, about how she works with illustrators. She also answers questions from listeners about the efficacy of postcards, querying agents, and more.

    To learn more about Mariam, visit mariamquraishi.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Matthew Forsythe, Kelly Murphy

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    9 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 40 minutes 29 seconds
    Maira Kalman

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to award-winning illustrator, artist, designer, and writer, Maira Kalman, about navigating life’s inconsistencies; how we can stay centered and grounded creatively; what the most important thing is about being an illustrator; and more.

    To learn more about Maira, visit mairakalman.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Beatrix Potter, Remy Charlip, Maurice Sendak, Edward Gorey

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    2 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 43 minutes 31 seconds
    Axel Scheffler

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to renowned children’s book illustrator, Axel Scheffler, about the deep, dark mistake he made with The Gruffalo; what he thinks about his “imperfect” art style; why he prefers to be called a family book creator; and more.

    To learn more about Axel, visit axelscheffler.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Posy Simmonds, Jean-Jacques Sempé, Tomi Ungerer, Judith Kerr, Lisa Brown, William Steig, Wolf Erlbruch, Maurice Sendak, Edward Gorey, N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Janet Ahlberg, Alice and Martin Provensen, and Leo and Diane Dillon

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    25 November 2025, 5:00 am
  • 34 minutes 22 seconds
    Michael Deas

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator and fine artist, Michael Deas, about his early years as an illustrator; how he created “The Torch Lady” for Columbia Pictures; why he doesn’t look back on his long career; and more.

    To learn more about Michael, visit michaeldeas.com.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Ted Lewin, Betsy Lewin, Herbert Tauss

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    18 November 2025, 5:00 am
  • 51 minutes 19 seconds
    Robert Hunt

    Giuseppe 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

     

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    11 November 2025, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    Nishant Jain

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to writer and (sneaky) artist, Nishant Jain, about why it’s okay for artists to say, “I am a creative”; how we can break free of social media prison; why one’s creative practice is like an infinite game; and more.

    To learn more about Nishant, visit sneakyartist.com.

    Books mentioned in this episode include: The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction and On Photography

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    4 November 2025, 5:00 am
  • 38 minutes 16 seconds
    N.C. Wyeth

    Giuseppe Castellano talks to Amanda Burdan, Senior Curator at The Brandywine Museum of Art, about N.C. Wyeth’s early life; what led to the restoration and permanent exhibition of Wyeth’s The Apotheosis of the Family; what today’s illustrators can do for tomorrow’s curators; and more.

    To learn more about the Brandywine, visit brandywine.org. For tours and the mural experience, visit brandywine.org/mural.

    Artists mentioned in this episode include: Howard Pyle, Jamie Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyendecker, Stanley Arthurs, Harvey Dunn, Clifford Ashley, Violet Oakley, Thomas Hart Benton, George Bellows, Marsden Hartley

    Photograph credit: N.C. Wyeth in Chadds Ford studio with central panel of Apotheosis mural, undated. Photograph by Earl C. Roper, Philadelphia, PA. E. Coe Kerr Collection, Walter & Leonore Annenberg Research Center, Brandywine Museum of Art. Gift of Betsy Wyeth, 2004.

     

    If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 October 2025, 4:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App