Thoughts on Illustration

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In this episode I share my recent thoughts on what it means to "Re-wild" my illustration process. Inevitably, this means my continued quest to bring more analogue elements back into my process, with the ultimate aim of increasing my joy in the creative process and in the work itself.IN THIS EPISODEHow style fatigue sparked a shift in my creative practiceReconnecting with analogue rootsRe-wilding as a way of bringing more joy to the creative processFinding analogue techniques that mimic digital tools (rather than the other way around)What does re-wilding mean for a commercial practice?SHOW LINKShttps://mrtomfroese.substack.com/p/re-wilding-my-digital-art-processHOW TO SUPPORTShare this episode with your friends!Like/Subscribe/Follow/Comment/ReviewBecome a $3 Supporter or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. VIsit http://patreon.com/tomfroese to learn more.BECOME A DRAWING BUDDY- Live, monthly Draw With Me meetups- All past DWMs available as replays- Exclusive access to the DWM Discord Serverhttp://patreon.com/tomfroeseFIND ME ELSEWHEREWork and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.comInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

Eliminate time-wasting decisions by discovering your style! Learn more in The Style Class on Skillshare. https://skl.sh/4cFnIej — Use my link to get 30 days of free Skillshare membership.Decision Paralysis — or as some call it, Analysis Paralysis — is the experience of getting stuck on some kind of decision. It could be a big decision, or something very minor, but even the tiniest option can get us spinning our tires for hours or even days! If you struggle to make any kind of decisions, even sometimes, this episode is for you. I'll open up by sharing some of my own experiences with indecision, and then I'll share a few different illustration-specific situations where most of us might get stuck the most. I'll share ways that I navigate these and keep moving, and of course, offer some ways you can use these in your own life.IN THIS EPISODEWhat is decision paralysis, and how can it get us stuck?Why having keeping options to a minimum is necessary for the decision-impairedHow to give yourself “outside” feedbackWhat to do when you can't stop making new iterations of an illustrationWhy finding your reason for doing anything is the key to doing it at alland more!SHOW LINKSIllustration Coaching - http://tomfroese.com/coachingAll My Classes - http://tomfroese.com/teachingHOW TO SUPPORTShare this episode with your friends on Social Media!   Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe!   Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.FIND ME ELSEWHEREWork and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.comInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

With apologies! Stay tuned for Episode 51 — coming no later than April 8, 2025.

Working with Editorial Art Directors with Mike SchnaidtLearn how to make Clever Conceptual Illustrations in my new Skillshare class, Drawing Ideas — https://skl.sh/40dk9rKMike Schnaidt is the Creative Director at Fast Company, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Visual Arts (SVA), and author of Creative Endurance: 56 Rules for Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Your Goals.I picked Mike's brain about all things Editorial Illustration, and invited him to share some deep insights on how to stave off burnout and keep going as a creative from his book, Creative Endurance.IN THIS EPISODEWhat is the difference between an art director and a creative director?What is the best way to reach out to an editorial client?Is Email or a Mailer the better way to get noticed?How do art directors discover new illustrators?What is the ONE THING you need to SHINE with your editorial clients?What is the state of illustration today?Is pursuing a career as an editorial illustrator a bad move in 2025?Mike's last-minute choice to interview a total stranger he met in a coffee shop for his book — and how that changed the whole book for him.SHOW LINKSCreative Endurance (the book) — https://www.mikeschnaidt.com/creativeenduranceHelp Mike shape his next book — https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLScdjF1Kx4GDwqEdONKEvu349PCvxJUgydRLUMIdXxVLvVgWUg/viewform?usp=send_formMike's Website: https://www.mikeschnaidt.comFollow Mike on Instagram: http://instagram.com/schnaidtHOW TO SUPPORT​Share this episode with your friends on Social Media!   ​Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe!   ​Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.FIND ME ELSEWHERE​Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com​Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese​Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

Take Composition for Illustrators on Skillshare. Learn how composition works on last year's 2nd most-watched class! Use my link to get 30 days of free Skillshare membership. — https://skl.sh/3vtU3EpIn this episode, I share 5 tips to help you maximize your earnings and your joy in turbulent times as an illustrator.IN THIS EPISODEWhat it means to diversify your definition of illustrationA guaranteed way to stand out to art directorsTips for maximizing the impact of your portfolioOvercoming creative lonelinessWhy a personal daily drawing practice is key to your professional survival A listener shares her thoughts on the podcastSHOW LINKSIllustration Coaching - http://tomfroese.com/coachingAll My Classes - http://tomfroese.com/teachingThe Studio (Creative Boom) - https://community.creativeboom.comHOW TO SUPPORTShare this episode with your friends on Social Media!   Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe!   Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.FIND ME ELSEWHEREWork and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.comInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠

Take "Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond " on Skillshare! -  https://skl.sh/40dk9rK (Use my link to get 30 days free).Today I answer the question, “How did you approach getting representation and landing your first editorial clients?” Thanks to @sipcozyart on Threads for the question! IN THIS EPISODE How do you know when you're ready to reach out to a rep? What do you say to an agent when you're reaching out? What is an illustration rep/agent, and what do they do? How I found my rep, what I sent, and why I think it worked How I found my first editorial projects/clients And more!SHOW LINKSIllustration Coaching - http://tomfroese.com/coachingMy Classes - http://tomfroese.com/teachingSecret Random Episode (on Patreon) - https://www.patreon.com/posts/secret-random-48-122527763HOW TO SUPPORT Share this episode with your friends on Social Media! Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe! Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more.CREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠FIND ME ELSEWHEREWork and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.comInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

Take "Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond " on Skillshare! - ⁠https://skl.sh/40dk9rK⁠ (Use my link to get 30 days free). Jess Miller is a designer, illustrator and educator based in LA. She joins me to share her story of losing everything in the Eton fire and how her community, near and far, are rallying to support her as she starts her life all over again. IN THIS EPISODE Using social media as a life-line "Dead inside" — Why going back to work is so hard Why GoFundMe is necessary after disaster strikes Having to choose what to keep when you leave all else behind Why GoFundMe is necessary after disaster strikes The kindness of strangers SHOW LINKS LA Fires Funds + Resource Log (shared by Agent Pekka) — https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XoTlgtYuPQ1tD1FSJnJzzWa7XSi3YO9orlY9cIWX3uQ/edit?gid=910889114#gid=910889114 Jess Miller's GoFundMe — https://gofund.me/1508aee5 Venmo: @jessmillerdraws PayPal: jess@jessmillerdraws.com My 2024 Annual Review on Substack — https://open.substack.com/pub/mrtomfroese/p/2024-the-year-in-review SUPPORT THE PODCAST Share this episode with your friends on Social Media! Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe! Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more. CREDITS Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠ FIND ME ELSEWHERE Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

Take "Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond " on Skillshare! - https://skl.sh/40dk9rK (Use my link to get 30 days free). In this episode I share my income sources in 2024, and how much of my overall earnings I took in for each one. I look into whether I'm the only illustrator who earns most of their living from outside of illustration. I'll share some helpful tips for anyone hoping to find new income sources in 2025. IN THIS EPISODE Is it possible to make a living just from illustration in 2025? How much of other illustrators' income sources comes from outside illustration? My other passive income sources, such as Teaching, Patreon, and more. Tips for choosing and building new income streams as a creative professional SHOW LINKS LA Fires — Are you an illustrator affected by the LA Fires? Tell us your story. More info at http://tomfroese.com/firestories Anoosha Sayed: Breakdown of an Illustrator's Salary Jill Labieniec: Income Sources in 2024 - Ohn Mar Win: How I Made Money in the Last Year (2022) HOW TO SUPPORT Share this episode with your friends on Social Media! Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe! Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠⁠ to learn more. CREDITS Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠⁠ FIND ME ELSEWHERE Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

Take "Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond " on Skillshare! - https://skl.sh/40dk9rK (Use my link to get 30 days free). In this episode I reflect on the last trip around the sun and make some bold predictions for 2025. Be warned, I went commando in this episode — no script, no idea of how the show would go — but I think I pulled off a meaningful, if not personable, episode. (I'm speaking figuratively — I was wearing underpants, and pants, the whole time). Enjoy! IN THIS EPISODE Was 2024 better than my worst year ever (2023)? Why I'm feeling optimistic about 2025 Thoughts on aging, time acceleration, and how I perceive "the present moment". Highlights and Struggles of the year Predictions for the state of illustration by year-end SHOW LINKS Take my new class! Drawing Ideas: Create Conceptual Illustrations for Editorial and Beyond - https://skl.sh/40dk9rK Substack (where I will publish my written annual review) - http://mrtomfroese.substack.com HOW TO SUPPORT Share this episode with your friends on Social Media! Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe! Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠⁠ to learn more. CREDITS Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - ⁠http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠ FIND ME ELSEWHERE Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

Kyle Webster is arguably the most influential person in digital illustration brushes, period. He started making Photoshop brushes a long time ago, leading to Adobe's acquisition of his brushes and his talent in 2017. In 2024, Kyle left Adobe and joined Procreate in very close succession. I wanted to catch up with Kyle and let him explain what happened, in his own words. IN THIS EPISODE Why did Kyle leave Adobe? What does Kyle think of Procreate compared to Adobe's Fresco and Photoshop? Making brushes in Procreate vs. Photoshop (Key differences) Kyle may or may not know what's coming with Procreate v6 Happy birthday to Thoughts on Illustration! SHOW LINKS Kyle's Newsletter, The Accidental Expert - https://accidental-expert.com/ Kyle's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kyle.t.webster/?hl=en Max Packs Procreate brushes - https://maxpacks.com/ Jing Sketch Procreate brushes - https://jingsketch.com/ HOW TO SUPPORT Share this episode with your friends on Social Media! Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe! Become a $3 Fan or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit ⁠http://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠ to learn more. CREDITS Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic FIND ME ELSEWHERE Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

"An artwork is never finished, only abandoned." This is apparently a quote from Leonardo Da Vinci. If one of the greatest artists of all time had trouble knowing when his work was finished, then it's no wonder the rest of us do as well. In this episode, I share some ideas on what it means to complete a work, how to know when you should call it done, and if that's not possible, how to responsibly abandon it. At the end I share some important news about the future of the podcast. IN THIS EPISODE A new definition of "perfection" Missing the mark: Is your work "sinful"? How to know when a work is done Overcoming perfectionism in client work and personal projects News about the future of this podcast SHOW LINKS Take Drawing Towards Illustration on Skillshare. Learn how to connect how you draw with how you illustrate. https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/drawing-towards-illustration HOW TO SUPPORT Share this episode with your friends on Social Media! Like, Comment, Follow, Subscribe! Become a Drawing Buddy on Patreon. Visit http://patreon.com/tomfroese to learn more. CREDITS Music and Cues by Mark Allan Falk - http://www.linktr.ee/semiathletic FIND ME ELSEWHERE Work and Classes - http://www.tomfroese.com Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese Daily Drawings - http://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant

In the age of AI, it's time to double down on being a human. That means things like bringing more hand-influenced spontaneity into, and embracing analogue processes in, your art. In this episode I share how I'm doing this in my own practice and how it's bringing me more joy and even creating new opportunities for me. By listening to this episode, you'll learn how  to embrace your own humanity to re-spark your joy and feel more connected in your everyday practice as an illustrator.Ideas in This Episode:Some differences between physical and digital mediaHow to embrace your humanity in the age of AIHow "The Minimum Vision of Success" can invite you into making artThe "Unplugged Album" of IllustrationRaw, Unplugged vs. Layered, ProducedThe importance of drawing regulalryShow LinksPlease use my Affiliate Links to support the podcast!Inky Illustrations: Combining Analogue and Digital Media (Skillshare Class) - https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/inky-illustrationsInky Maps: Illustrate an Analogue Inspired Map on Your iPad (Skillshare Class) - https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/inkymapsforprocreateMy main instagram - http://Instagram.com/mrtomfroeseMy daily drawing IG - http://instagram.com/drawingisimportantHow to Support This PodcastIf you love Thoughts on Illustration, help us to keep going in one of these easy ways:Tell your friends by sharing this episode or a link to the podcast on social mediaLike, Subscribe, and Leave a Comment (YouTube and on the Spotify App)Become an $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon! Visit http://patreon.com/tomfroese to learn more.Join the Conversation: I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Have you ever experienced a style crisis? How did you overcome it? Share your experiences in the comments or reach out to me on Instagram or by email at hello@tomfroese.comDon't Forget: If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave a comment or review! Your support helps others discover the podcast. PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/tomfroeseInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseWork/Classes/Teaching - http://wwwtomfroese.com

Learn how to be more consistent in your client work — Take The Six Stages of Illustration on Skillshare today: https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/the-six-stages-of-illustration (Get 30 days free on Skillshare with my links).Consistency is Key. You've heard this before, but what does it mean? Throughout my career, consistency has been key to my success. This has been true both in my habits and in what my work looks like. Most importantly, it's been important in having any sense of focus at all. But for many of us, there are all kinds of things distracting us, or pulling us in different directions, that make it hard to be consistent. In this episode, I offer you some helpful tips for staying the course, and some pretty motivating reasons for doing so.What You'll Learn:Why Consistency Matters for IllustratorsHow Consistency Works in Every Stage of Our Career:In Learning IllustrationIn Finding Our First ClientsIn Finding Our StyleIn Personal GrowthHow to Be More Consistent with The 4 Steps to ConsistencyWhat to Do When You Struggle to Be Consistent Show LinksPlease use my Affiliate Links to support the podcast!The Six Stages of Illustration on Skillshare (a Consistent Process for Working with Clients) - https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/the-six-stages-of-illustrationMy Daily Drawing Account on Instagram - http://instagram.com/drawingisimportantMy Main Instagram Account - http://instagram.com/mrtomfroeseHow to Support This PodcastIf you love Thoughts on Illustration, help us to keep going in one of these easy ways:Tell your friends by sharing this episode or a link to the podcast on social mediaLike, Subscribe, and Leave a Comment (YouTube and on the Spotify App)Become an $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon! Visit http://patreon.com/tomfroese to learn more.Join the Conversation: I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Have you ever experienced a style crisis? How did you overcome it? Share your experiences in the comments or reach out to me on Instagram or by email at hello@tomfroese.comDon't Forget: If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave a comment or review! Your support helps others discover the podcast. PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/tomfroeseInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseWork/Classes/Teaching - http://wwwtomfroese.com

Today's scheduled epsiode (Episode 41) will be postponed until next week. Stay kind!PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS  Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineer https://linktr.ee/semiathletic All Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk.   FIND ME ELSEWHERE  YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/tomfroese Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese Work/Classes/Teaching - http://wwwtomfroese.com

In this episode I chat with James Hughes about his new book, The Illustrator's Guide, a comprehensive, motivational handbook for artists trying to break into the freelance illustration market. James is an agent at Folio Illustration and Animation Agency, representing some 60 illustrators around the world. Taking advice from James means learning from someone who sits at the front lines of both illustrators and the clients who hire them every day.What You'll Learn:How to Balance Personal Taste with Market-Readiness in your ArtTips for Building Your PortfolioWhat to Work On While You're Waiting for Real Client WorkHow to Submit Work to an AgentWhat Not to Do When Reaching Out to an AgentAnd much more!Show LinksPlease use my Affiliate Links to support the podcast!Buy the Illustrator's Guide in Canada: https://amzn.to/4dV7a1qBuy the Illustrator's Guide in the US: https://amzn.to/4fdl6oqThe Illustrator's Guide Website - http://theillustratorsguide.comThe Illustrator's Guide YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@TheIllustratorsGuideHow to Support This PodcastIf you love Thoughts on Illustration, help us to keep going in one of these easy ways:Tell your friends by sharing this episode or a link to the podcast on social mediaLike, Subscribe, and Leave a Comment (YouTube and on the Spotify App)Become an $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon! Visit http://patreon.com/tomfroese to learn more.Join the Conversation: I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Have you ever experienced a style crisis? How did you overcome it? Share your experiences in the comments or reach out to me on Instagram or by email at hello@tomfroese.comDon't Forget: If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave a comment or review! Your support helps others discover the podcast.These notes are AI-generated. PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/tomfroeseInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroeseWork/Classes/Teaching - http://wwwtomfroese.com

Develop a Drawing Habit in 30 Days. Take my class, Drawing Is Important – https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/drawing-is-important. Use my links to get 30 days free on Skillshare.In this episode of My Thoughts on Illustration, I dive deep into my recent experience with a style crisis and how I turned to a daily drawing challenge to reignite my creativity.What You'll Learn:The signs of a style crisis and how to recognize them in your own work.My personal struggles and the journey of feeling uninspired.How a daily drawing challenge helped me explore new ideas and techniques.Tips for overcoming creative blocks and finding inspiration again.Resources Mentioned:Skillshare Classes (Use my links to get 30 Days Free on Skillshare)Drawing is Important: Develop a Daily Sketchbook Habit in 30 Days - https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/drawing-is-importantThe Style Class: Work Out Your Style in a Daily Project - https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/thestyleclassOther ResourcesSeptember 2024 Draw With Me (Replay) -  https://www.patreon.com/posts/draw-with-me-27-113161033Connect with Me:Instagram:  instagram.com/mrtomfroese.Work/Classes/Podcast: www.tomfroese.comJoin the Conversation: I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Have you ever experienced a style crisis? How did you overcome it? Share your experiences in the comments or reach out to me on Instagram or by email at hello@tomfroese.comDon't Forget: If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave a comment or review! Your support helps others discover the podcast.These notes are AI-generated. PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Learn how to Make Inky Maps (Procreate Edition) on Skillshare — Get 30 Days of Skillshare Free with This Link — https://skl.sh/3Swd9SKIn this episode I talk with lettering artist Martina Flor. Martina started as a designer in Argentina, but she soon discovered the joy of hand lettering. From there she built a successful career as a lettering artist, which has now become a small empire of inspiring work, masterclasses, coaching groups, books, and even a podcast. Of course, she couldn't do all of this on her own. She's built an entire team around her so she can focus more on doing what she loves most, while being able to grow her business well beyond what she could do alone. As she puts it best, ““There's no progress in isolation.”In This EpisodeWhat to include in your portfolio if you don't have real client workBuilding a team in small, low-risk incrementsWhy showing your values and personality up-front makes you more competitiveHow to be more attractive to your clients by being less available to themShould you use an illustration or photographic portrait as your profile picture?And MUCH more!HOW TO SUPPORT01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Please Like and Subscribe! SO EASY!

Take Drawing is Important on Skillshare — https://skl.sh/3UWWY00 — Use my link to get 30 free days on the platform!Just like saving money in the bank, your drawings can gain interest over time. In this episode I explain how this works, and I share how this principle has yielded both creative and financial rewards in my own life. I open up the episode with some recap from the summer! In the end you'll learn how to set your daily drawing practice up for success with my 5-step plan. Happy to be back for Season 3!How to SupportShare this episode and podcast with a friend! — https://thoughts-on-illustration.simplecast.com/episodes/let-your-ideas-gain-interest-over-timeBecome a Drawing Buddy on Patreon — http://patreon.com/tomfroeseLike and follow/subscribe!Episode LinksInky Maps (Procreate Edition) — Create an Analog-Inspired Map on Your iPad — https://skl.sh/3Swd9SKDrawing is Important — https://skl.sh/3UWWY00In This EpisodeIntroOpening thoughts and summer recapNew ClassThe Friday Five newsletter on SubstackMain ContentBanking your ideas and drawingsWhat do I mean by this?Example: My daily drawing practiceEvolution - we don't just evolve forward, but see how we were evolved in the pastMindset: Not about creating "great" work in the moment, just showing upLater, seeing with fresh eyes, appreciating what we didn't beforeThe PlanPurposeMediaInspiration SourceSustainable ScheduleSharing Strategy2 examples of how it yielded fruitPublished in a bookBecame the basis of a major Skillshare classOutro PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Take Inky Maps (Procreate Edition): Illustrate an Analog-inspired Map on Your iPad —  Use my link to get 30 days free! — https://skl.sh/3Swd9SKI'm just dropping this bonus episode to say hi, I miss you, and I will be back at it in September. There will be some changes around here, and I talk about what those are. Also, please don't miss my new class on Skillshare called INKY MAPS (PROCREATE EDITION).SEND YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACKEmail — hello@tomfroese.com SHOW LINKSTake Inky Maps on Skillshare — https://skl.sh/3Swd9SKListen in on my conversation with Martina Flor (Patrons only) — https://www.patreon.com/posts/exclusive-my-and-109588959 FIND ME ELSEWHEREWebsite — tomfroese.comClasses — tomfroese.com/teachingInstagram — instagram.com/mrtomfroese  PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Take Lisa's class, Imaginative Map-Making in Procreate on Skillshare  — Use this link to get 30 days free! — https://skl.sh/3z8zI9aJoin in on my conversaion with  Lisa Bardot, who teaches people how to make art on their iPad. But that job description is deceivingly simple. She may be best known for her vast catalogue of analogue inspired procreate brushes, aka Bardot Brush. (She's kind of the Kyle T. Webster of procreate brushes). But she also teaches making digital online in places like Skillshare, YouTube and her own membership platform called Art Maker's Club. She also runs in-person art trips — her most recent one being in France. If that weren't enough, she's also the author of a brand new book called Drawing Digital, The Complete Guide for Learning to Draw and Paint on Your iPad, AND she even provides monthly prompt lists for inspiration-seeking artists, which she calls Make Art Every Day. Lisa has created an entire universe of creativity and community around her passion for drawing and illustrating in Procreate. I really think she's a perfect guest for the podcast, as she embodies the whole ethos of this podcast of showing up everyday and growing through it, no matter what (and thriving because of it). >>> Video edition available on YouTube.

Learn how to make better art! Take Composition for Illustrators on Skillshare — Use my link to get 30 days free! — https://skl.sh/3TLdkehToday I chat with my friend Chris Piascik. Chris is an illustrator for clients like Nike, Nickelodeon and Google. He's also a YouTuber and a Top Teacher on Skillshare. We have a free-ranging, loosey goosey conversation about things like: Whether you need to go to art school to become an illustrator; Why Chris and I feel like we don't quite fit into the “traditional illustrator” mould; We discuss whether the ability to draw realistically is necessary for illustrators today; We commiserate about angry dudes leaving nasty comments on our videos and — We start off with an unexpectedly long conversation about vector files (but as far as these kinds of conversations go, I think it was pretty interesting).  HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Subscribe to my Substack NewsletterNever miss an important update. Sign up at https://mrtomfroese.substack.comIN THIS EPISODE (TIME STAMPS)00:00:00-Hook00:00:37-Podcast Intro00:02:12-How to Support00:02:4- Draw With Me on Patreon00:03:01-Announcement - I'm Taking a Break This Summer00:03:33-Introducing Chris Piascik00:04:48-The Conversation Starts Here00:04:52-How's the new Nano Texture iPad Pro?00:07:06-Mean Comments from Angry Dudes00:10:04-Most and Least Popular Videos on our Channels00:17:22-Vector Files00:28:4- Chris's Backstory00:32:04-Getting Illustration by Being a Graphic Designer First00:39:51-Advantages of Not Being Formally Trained as an Illustrator00:42:03-What is the Point of Illustration in the age of AI?00:48:04-The Art Teacher that Saved Chris Piascik's Illustration Career (Shout out to Ms. Oberg)00:50:38-Why Taking a Minor in Art School is a Waste00:52:58-Is Doing a Post-grad just Avoiding the Real World?00:55:51-Imposter Syndrome While in Grad School00:56:40-Is an Art Degree Worth it in 2024?01:11:57-Building Your Art Career with a Daily Projects01:19:51-Is Illustration Dead?01:21:46-Older Illustrators Fearing Technological Progress01:22:19-Why Drawing Realistically Doesn't Matter01:26:08-Chris Piascik's Advice to Beginner Illustrators01:29:04-Check out Chris's YouTube Channel01:31:17-Thank You for Watching SHOW LINKSWatch "The Best Adobe Fresco Class with Kyle T. Webster" on YouTube— https://youtu.be/TWPbigaFsNA?si=qiY2yfVrbKGx9V27Chris's YouTube Channel — http://youtube.com/@chris-piascik Chris's Work — http://chrispiascik.com   PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathletic FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.comAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

✏️ Learn How to Make Good Work AND Please Your Clients — Take The Six Stages of Illustration: https://skl.sh/4cCTxEH— Use this link to get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare. Have you ever been asked by a friend or family member to do some work for them? Perhaps to illustrate a "quick" birthday card for someone's boyfriend or "whip up" a little logo for their start-up coffee truck? While it seems like a no-brainer — of course you should share your creative gift — if you've ever actually gotten into it, you may have noticed it's not all fun and games.In this episode, we tackle a question many creatives grapple with: should you work for your friends (and family)? Combining personal and professional relationships can be a double-edged sword, offering both unique advantages and significant challenges. We explore both sides the debate — FOR and AGAINST working for friends — and then, I'll give you 7 tips to help set you up for success (and safety) for those times when you decide to go ahead and do it. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Subscribe to my Substack NewsletterNever miss an important update. Sign up at https://mrtomfroese.substack.com  SKILLSHARE CLASSES MENTIONED Now's a great time to finally check out Skillshare while supporting this podcast in a major way! Get 30 days free membership with these links.The Six Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art — https://skl.sh/3LxzI4I IN THIS EPISODEIntro:  Should You Work for Friends and Family?How to SupportPart 1:  Reasons NOT to Work for Friends and FamilyPart 2: Reasons TO Work for Friends and FamilyPart 3: Seven Safety Tips for Working With Friends PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Learn How to Make Good Work AND Please Your Clients — Take The Six Stages of Illustration: https://skl.sh/4cCTxEH — Use this link to get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare.What makes otherwise good people such bad clients? How do you deal with them — and how can you avoid them in the first place? In this episode, I explain why there almost never truly bad clients. In my 10+ year career, I've had very few bad clients. Most of them were in the beginning, when I didn't have enough experience to spot them before it's too late. By listening to this episode, you'll learn what I wish I knew when I was starting out — and this will help you make sure every client is a good client! That means they'll trust you to do what you do best (the art!) and they'll give you everything you need to do your job. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Subscribe to my Substack NewsletterNever miss an important update. Sign up at https://mrtomfroese.substack.com SKILLSHARE CLASSES MENTIONED Now's a great time to finally check out Skillshare while supporting this podcast in a major way! Get 30 days free membership with these links.The Six Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art — https://skl.sh/3LxzI4I SHOW LINKSThe Copyright Series on this podcastEPISODE 19 — Copyright For Illustrators: Part 1 https://thoughts-on-illustration.simplecast.com/episodes/why-copyright-is-more-important-than-you-think-part-1EPISODE 20 — Copyright For Illustrators: Part 2https://thoughts-on-illustration.simplecast.com/episodes/copyright-licensing-and-self-promotion-part-2 IN THIS EPISODE0:00:00 - Intro and Opener: No Bad Clients, only Bad Behaviours0:05:16 - How to Support0:07:50 - Main Content0:08:25 - Ordering a Coffee at Starbucks for the First Time0:10:20 -  Describing What Haircut You Want to Your Barber 0:15:00 - Problems arise from Misaligned Expectations and Inability to Communicate0:15:30 - The Four Types of Clients to Avoid0:17:00 - 01 The Unprepared Client0:25:36 - 02 The Inexperienced Client0:34:00 - 03 The Uninformed Client0:40:45 - 04 The Over-asking Client0:55:07 - Summary  PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Learn how to illustrate ideas in Sweet Spots: Expressing Big Ideas in Small Illustrations — https://skl.sh/3e8Wl33 — Use my links to get 30 days free on Skillshare.So you know how to illustrate — now, how do you start your career as an illustrator? In this episode, I'll share 10 key strategies that helped kickstart my illustration career. These personal yet practical tips offer valuable insights for aspiring illustrators looking to advance in the industry. Whether you're seeking a reminder of fundamental practices or hoping for fresh perspectives, this episode provides a blend of familiar and surprising advice to motivate and inspire. This episode originally launched in July 2023 as a Patron's Only "Summer Shorts" episode.HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Subscribe to my Substack NewsletterNever miss an important update. Sign up at https://mrtomfroese.substack.com IN THIS EPISODEEpisode introThanks/How to SupportUpdatesSkillshare Referral Drive Update (Thanks for showing up for me!)Response to Episode 30 in Designer Sketches: Learning to Speak Machine with John Maeda10 Things I Did to Get my Illustration Career Off the GroundTip 1 - Start as a designerTip 2 - Make everything about illustrationTip 3 - Make mistakesTip 4 - Start it on the sideTip 5 - Start localTip 6 - Submit work to blogs, collections and awardsTip 7 - Have a daily project that you shareTip 8 - Invest in special self-promotionTip 9 - Get an agent (when you are ready)Tip 10 - Pay attention to what others say about youConclusionPlant seeds now, that's the only way you'll see growth laterDon't listen to the bad stuff people say, embrace only the positiveOutro EPISODE LINKSLearning How to Speak Machine with John Maeda — https://designersketches.substack.com/p/learning-how-to-speak-machine-with  PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Learn how to win more creative battles. Take The Six Stages of Illustration on Skillshare today. Use this link to get 30 days free access to every class on Skillshare — https://skl.sh/4cCTxEH In today's episode, we'll dive into the delicate balance of navigating conflicts and compromises with our illustration clients and art directors. As artists, we often have strong opinions about our work, making compromise a challenging but necessary part of our creative process. Illustration, or commercial art, is unique in that it's not just self-expression; it's about expressing others' ideas through our unique abilities, style and point of view. Somehow, we need to maintain our artistic integrity while meeting the needs of our clients. Finding the right balance tricky. We can't make it all about us, but we also can't just give up our creative authority to appease our clients. By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to find more wins in your work by valuing both your client's needs and your own creative vision. Throughout the episode, I'll share insights from listeners and fellow illustrators, offering diverse, valuable perspectives on navigating creative conflicts in illustration. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Subscribe to my Substack NewsletterNever miss an important update. Sign up at https://mrtomfroese.substack.com EPISODE LINKSThe original Threads Post - https://www.threads.net/@mrtomfroese/post/C5T2uL6PEj2The Six Stages of Illustration (Skillshare Class) - https://skl.sh/4cCTxEH PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Discover Your Illustration Voice in The Style Class -  https://skl.sh/3S6PCF1 — Use this link to get 30 days free on SkillshareIs the AI Illustration Apocalypse Here, and is it going to take all our jobs away? In this episode, I'm going to share my thoughts on how AI is affecting the illustration industry today and how it might affect us in the future. I go a bit dark in this one but stick with me, in end I share 3 reasons I'm holding on to hope as an illustrator. In the very end, I offer one main thing that you can ALWAYS rely on to be your true value, both to yourself and to whoever you work with. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Subscribe to my Substack NewsletterNever miss an important update. Sign up at https://mrtomfroese.substack.com SKILLSHARE CLASSES MENTIONED Now's a great time to finally check out Skillshare while supporting this podcast in a major way!. Get 30 days free membership with these links.Try LUCY LAMBRIEX's class, Peculiar Prompts for All-Round Creatives: Gain Confidence & Find Your Flow - https://skl.sh/4a40tJbTake Tom's class — The Style Class: Work Out Your Illustration Style in a Daily Project -  https://skl.sh/3TLdkeh SHOW LINKSOpen AI Illustration in United Airlines magazine - https://www.threads.net/@taxali/post/C4v6oMMvq5ELuddites on Wikipedia- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LudditeLuddites have been getting a bad rap for 200 years. But, turns out, they were right (article on Quartz) -  https://qz.com/968692/luddites-have-been-getting-a-bad-rap-for-200-years-but-turns-out-they-were-right PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Take Composition for Illustrators on Skillshare — https://skl.sh/3TLdkeh Use this link to get 30 days free membership.Andy J. Pizza is a New York Times best-selling illustrator and author, and host of the Creative Pep Talk podcast. Today he joins me for a deep-dishy dive into all things illustration and creativity, especially where he and I share a lot of common ground. Along the way, we talk about such topics as the myth of the Inspired Artist, his message of adopting a more positive self-psychology, the balance of inspiration and craft in creative work, and even why he thinks full-blown therapy should be a part of art school education. No topping (or topic) is held back — even the mushrooms and pineapples were allowed in this one.  HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact SHOW LINKSAndy's Website — http://www.andyjpizza.comAndy's Substack Newsletter — https://andyjpizza.substack.comSunday With Everything On It (Picture Book) by Andy J. Pizza and Kyle Scheele — https://smarturl.it/SundaewithEverythingOnItInvisible Things by Andy J. Pizza and Sophie Mille —  https://www.etsy.com/listing/1585811511/hardback-book-invisible-things-by-andy-j?click_key=8c0ff10a548dff168209fd1e191703fc834162b4%3A1585811511&click_sum=924e6b0c&ref=shop_home_active_19&sca=1CREATIVE PEP TALK — http://creativepeptalk.com  PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Get Feedback on Your Illustrations in a 1-on-1 Session with Mr. Tom Froese — tomfroese.com/coachingThis is Part 2/2 of my conversation with Kyle T. Webster, which we started in the previous episode (Episode 27). Today we pick up where we left off, with Kyle's advice for those asking if they should have one style or many, how his background in traditional art skills informs his digital brushes, and he even has a word for artists who might be afraid of how AI will affect the value of their work. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching! 01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes!Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEKyle's Advice - Should I have just One Style or Many?When client wants you to work in a different styleThe importance of Predictability and Skill over Style3 Tips about Having a StyleYou can choose how varied your style is according to your temperamentBe predictable and repeatable in any styles you offerBe skilled in whichever styles you offerHow many Brushes has Kyle Made?When People "Misuse" Kyle's BrushesKyle's Understanding of Physical Media in his Digital BrushesWhen people can't get his brushes to work for them?The difference between Artists and "Tinkerers"Advice for illustrators who want to learn FrescoKyle's experience making a Domestika ClassFresco Tutorials for University ClassesYou can get Fresco for free!Kyle's response to my being overwhelmed by all the many options and brushesKyle's feelings about being the Photoshop Brush guyHow the thing we end up being good at differs from what we originally thoughtWhy We Teach (not just for the $)3 Things Kyle's Excited AboutKyle's Thoughts on AI ArtThank Yous and Goodbye SHOW LINKSKyle's Substack and Podcast: The Accidental Expert - http://www.accidental-expert.comDrawing Mindfulness App for iOS : Lines of Zen - https://linesofzen.com/Kyle's online shop (Gumroad) for digital illustration tools - https://kyletwebster.gumroad.com PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Take my class COMPOSITION FOR ILLUSTRATORS! Use this link and get 1 month free on Skillshare! — https://skl.sh/3TLdkehI'm excited to share with you part 1 of a 2-part conversation I had with illustrator and pioneering digital brush-maker, Kyle T. Webster. Kyle is the guy behind the many, many digital illustration brushes (2,400 and counting) that come bundled with Adobe Photoshop and Fresco. In this episode we talk about his beginnings as an aspiring illustrator many years ago, and how he slowly but steadily built up a small empire around his digital brushes — which have no doubt shaped the world of digital illustration as we know it today. We have a wide ranging conversation that touches on things like:Building up an illustration portfolio when you haven't had any clients yetWhy working in different styles can make good business senseWhat Kyle means when he calls himself an Accidental ExpertWhat Kyle finds most meaningful in his work and career, besides drawing or making brushesWhy making Creativity a way of life is necessary to building up a successful careerAnd much, much more!HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese$8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups.Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact N THIS EPISODEIntroQuick Intro/Bio of Adam MingHow to Support the PodcastThe Interview (Part 1)The Renaissance ManWhat does the T in Kyle T Webster stand for?Becoming an Accidental ExpertThe Role of Experimentation and PlayCreating Opportunities and Embracing AccidentsThe Importance of MentorsEmbracing Passion to find OpportunitiesLiving Creatively in Any SituationThe Importance of Design as a Way of LifeFinding Your Guiding StarLeaving a Lasting LegacyThe debate on One Style vs. ManyOutroTo Be Continued …. in Part 2 SHOW LINKSKyle's Substack and Podcast: The Accidental Expert - http://www.accidental-expert.comDrawing Mindfulness App for iOS : Lines of Zen - https://linesofzen.com/Kyle's online shop (Gumroad) for digital illustration tools - https://kyletwebster.gumroad.com PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Support the Thoughts on Illustration Podcast at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseIn this first official interview episode on Thoughts on Illustration, Adam Ming shares his thoughts on becoming a successful kids book illustrator in his late thirties and early 40s. Adam is quickly becoming an accomplished picture book illustrator, and along the way, he's sharing his insights and inspiration on his Substack, apty called The Ten Minute illustrator. He's also a co-founder of ILLOGUILD, a community of picture book illustrators  who meet regularly to share ideas, give and get critical feedback, and help one another find the next big opportunity. At the top I share my own thoughts as I dive into this new role as public conversationalist via this podcast. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroese $8 Drawing Buddies gain exclusive access to my monthly Draw With Me meetups. Join for as low as $3 to get 20% off my 1-on-1 coaching sessions03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEIntroThoughts on Now Having Guests on the PodcastCall to Support the PodcastQuick Intro/Bio of Adam MingThe InterviewOutro SHOW LINKSAdam Ming's website - https://adamming.com/booksThe Ten Minute Artist (Daily Creative Prompts and Creative Inspiration on Substack) - https://www.tenminuteartist.com/p/day-14-intervalsAdam Ming's Picture Books - http://adamming.com/books PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Support the Thoughts on Illustration Podcast at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseHave you hit a dead end with your work? Are you bored of your style? Or maybe, like me, you feel even worse about the art you've been making lately? This past year has brought a few blows to my professional and personal creativity, and at the end of 2023, I was feeling pretty crappy about my own work. I've come to this point many times in my career, and usually I just shrug it off and keep going. But this time was different. In this episode I talk about how I was able to climb out of a hole of artistic despair and rekindle my love affair with my work. By listening to this episode, I hope you will learn how to rediscover the joy in your own practice. If it hasn't happened to you yet — listen to this one and put it in your back pocket.

Support the Thoughts on Illustration Podcast at http://patreon.com/tomfroesePaul Rand is one of my biggest influences and a huge inspiration for this podcast. In this Special Anniversary Episode, I'm going to share with you a little bit about the pioneering American graphic designer, ad man and (in my opinion) illustrator. By listening to this episode you will learn about a legendary figure in graphic design and illustration history. You will also learn valuable insights from Paul about working as a professional creative. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEChapter 1: Who is Paul Rand?Chapter 2: 6 Things I Learned from Paul Rand PAUL RAND BOOKS CITED OR MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEPaul Rand: A Designer's ArtThoughts on DesignDesign, Chaos and FormPaul Rand (Monograph by Steven Heller) SHOW LINKSSee Rand's NO WAY OUT movie posterSteven Heller on Graphic Designer Paul Rand (Biblio File podcast episode)Steve Jobs interview (on Paul Rand)PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE www.tomfroese.com

Take The 6 Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art - Use this link to get 30 days free on Skillshare. https://skl.sh/3LxzI4IREPLAY: As I struggle to get my next class published before the end of the year, this episode (originally published as Episode 14) is particularly relevant. Whether you're listening for the first time or you're hearing it again, I truly believe it's worth hearing this message.Do you ever feel like everything takes YOU longer than everyone else? In this episode,  talk about what it's been like for me as a slow worker. What kinds of things have slowed me down, and how have I been able to thrive as a successful illustrator in spite of them. So if you're a slowpoke trying to figure out why it just takes so long to get things done, this one is for you.I'm going talk about why I think there are two kinds of slow — good slow and bad slow — and why we should embrace the former and try to change the latter. And of course, I'll give you some ways to do both. How can you embrace the things about your work that you maybe wish would go faster, and how you can change some of the things that truly get in your creative way.By the end of this episode, I hope that you'll feel permitted to give yourself the time you need to do your best work — and to defend that time when it comes under question by yourself — or by others. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEHook - Teachers in art school making us feel like we have to work fast or die in the design industryChapter 1: Slow is Faster Than StuckGood slow vs. Bad slowGood - Slow for the right reasonsJust necessary part of the processBad - Slow for the wrong reasonsSomething negative getting in my wayWhy this episode: to help you overcome anxiety and frustration we feel when we feel like things take longer than they shouldStory: Rebranding a company without any experienceChapter 2: Slow for the Right ReasonsSome things just take timeExamples: Baking cookies, making wine, waiting for paint to dryFor me: My processReasons for SlowConceptual reasonsTechnical reasonsMaybe we're just not good at it (not a bad thing)Short deadlines: NOT inevitablePick Two: Good/Fast/Cheap — sounds good in theory, but is Good ever an option?Takeaways:Some things just take timeBuild these into your processThere is always a struggle to get to the eureka momentWe learn how to avoid things that slow us down the mostShort deadlines are a CHOICE!Chapter 3: Slow for the Wrong reasonsThings that take our time but don't need toAKA PitfallsExamplesTrying to go directly over a mountain, rather than around itBaking without a recipeReasonsTrying to take shortcuts that end up taking longerNot following a step by step processAvoiding outside feedbackAnalysis paralysisSolutionsEmbrace the long way. Building a solid foundation takes more time up front but saves time down the road.Develop a process through practice over time, and then stick to it.Swallow your pride, be brave, share your mid-process work even though you don't want to!Start with very simple tasks you know you can do. Then do the next right thing, and the next. One thing at a time.Episode Summary LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEThe Six Stages of Illustration (Skillshare class) - https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/the-six-stages-of-illustrationSlow is Faster Than Stuck (My original article on Medium) - https://medium.com/creators-hub/slow-is-faster-than-stuck-e879958364b9 PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS THANK YOU TO MY TEAM!Julia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.comMark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

Start a daily drawing habit in 30 days — Take Drawing Is Important on Skillshare today - Use this link to get 30 days free on Skillshare: https://skl.sh/3UWWY00Today's episode is for anyone who feels discouraged by their lack of progress or engagement on social media. As creative people sharing what we love to the world, we hope so much that others love it as much as we do. But what if they don't? When we don't have the sense that others appreciate it, why even bother? HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact PODCAST CREDITSAll music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. http://linktr.ee/semiathletic FIND ME ELSEWHEREhttp://www.tomfroese.com

Take The 6 Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art - Use this link to get 30 days free on Skillshare.Where do ideas come from? How do illustrators, artists and designers get their best ideas? Is it in a stroke of inspiration like a bolt of lightning? Do they mediate for as long as it takes until the perfect idea to appear in their heads? In this episode, we explore how ideas find their into our heads and onto the page and beyond. In Chapter 1 we look into what it means to "get" an idea. Then in Chapter 2, I share my 6 stage process for how to come up with ideas whether or not lighting strikes. I close with some challenging homework that might just help you break through to find your next great idea. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODE0:00:00 - Intro0:02:29 - How to Support0:03:35 - Update on Anniversary Episode plans0:07:17 - Chapter 1: What is an Idea?0:09:58 - 2 Ways Creatives Get Their Ideas0:16:25 - Knowing HOW to get ideas means knowing WHAT YOU DO0:23:27 - What goes into an illustration/creative idea?0:28:17 - Examples of ideas0:29:45 - Examples of non-ideas0:32:49 - Ad: Introducing 1 on 1 coaching!0:34:07 - Chapter 2: 6 Steps for Coming Up with Ideas0:37:45 - Stage 1: Define the problem0:39:45 - Stage 2: Understand the subject0:44:35 - Stage 3: Formulate a perspective0:49:08 - Stage 4: Come up with rough ideas0:57:49 - Stage 5: Refine your best ideas1:01:31 - Stage 6: Finalize your idea (final illustration)1:05:19 - Conclusion: Shift from "coming up with ideas" to Solving Problems1:07:56 - Advice for beginners to break through in your ideas1:09:01 - Outro LINKS FROM THIS EPISODENiemann, Christoph. "Christoph Niemann Tells the Brutal Truth About the Creative Process." Wired.com. December 2016. https://www.wired.com/2016/12/sunday-sketching-christoph-niemann-tells-brutal-truth-creative-process.The Style Class: Work Out Your Illustration Style in a Daily Project  (Skillshare Class)The Six Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Creative Process  (Skillshare Class) PODCAST CREDITSAll music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk.  FIND ME ELSEWHEREtomfroese.comlinktr.ee/mrtomfroese

Take The 6 Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art - Use this link to get 30 days free on Skillshare.In this episode we continue our deep dive into the world of Copyright for Illustrators! In this series, we talk about what copyright is, how it relates to licensing and pricing our work, and ultimately, the right to use our work for self-promotion. I also share the results of that project I mentioned in the last episode: did it get selected or not? Will you ever get to see this work, that I'm so proud of? This is Part 2 of 2. Be sure to start with Episode 19 if you haven't already!By listening to this episode, you'll learn:What your rights are where it comes to owning and controlling your artworkWhy you may not be pricing your illustrations high enoughWhat copyright means in NORMAL, EVERYDAY EnglishWhy you should ALWAYS fight for your right to use your work for self promotionDisclaimer: THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEIn Parts 1, 2 and 3, we covered How Copyright Works, How it Relates to Pricing, and then started our Breakdown or Copyright and Licensing. We continue our discussion in Episode 20, picking up on the subject of Buyout Licenses.Part 3 — Continued LicensingBuyoutCopyright TransferRoyaltiesWork for Hire ContractsPart 4 — Copyright and Self-PromotionConclusionsCopyright is a ToolYou Get To Share Your WorkUpdate: Did I Get Chosen for That Big National Project?I share the results of the project I mention in my opening story from Episode 19.Will you ever get to see my work?LINKS Types of Illustration Licensing (The Informed Illustrator) — https://www.theinformedillustrator.com/2015/03/types-of-illustration-licensing.htmlAbout Copyright (AOI) - https://theaoi.com/resources/copyright/what-is-copyright/Graphic Artists' Guild Handbook - https://amzn.to/495qkk0 — Use this affiliate link to support the podcastGuide to Copyright and Licensing (Folio Illustration and Animation Agency) - https://folioart.co.uk/guide-to-copyright-and-licensing/ PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS All Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

Take The 6 Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art - Use this link to get 30 days free on Skillshare.In this episode we dive into the exciting world of Copyright for Illustrators!  I will explain why it's way more important for independent illustrators and artists than you might imagine. We'll talk about how understanding copyright can help you make a lot more money from your art, the difference between Copyright and Moral Rights, and we'll even talk about how Licensing works! By listening to this episode, you'll learn:What your rights are where it comes to owning and controlling your artworkWhy you may not be pricing your illustrations high enoughWhat copyright means in NORMAL, EVERYDAY EnglishWhy you should ALWAYS fight for your right to use your work for self promotionThis is Part 1 of 2. We'll pick up with the rest in Episode 20. Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODE00:01:16 - Opener00:04:08 - Honest Recording Notes00:05:24 - Story00:13:04 - Part 1 — How Copyright WorksWhat is Copyright?History of CopyrightHow does Copyright Protect the Artist?What's the difference between Copyright and Moral Rights00:17:26 - Part 2 — How Copyright Relates to PricingCopyright gives us a more objective way to price our work besides Time00:25:07 - Part 3 — Breakdown of Copyright and LicensingCopyrightMoral RightsLicensingLimitedUnlimitedUnlimited RestrictedUnlimited UnrestrictedIN EPISODE 20We'll continue our discussion in Episode 20, picking up on the subject of Buyout Licenses. Part 3 — Continued LicensingBuyoutCopyright TransferRoyaltiesWork for Hire ContractsPart 4 — Copyright and Self-PromotionConclusionsCopyright is a ToolYou Get To Share Your Work LINKS Types of Illustration Licensing (The Informed Illustrator) — https://www.theinformedillustrator.com/2015/03/types-of-illustration-licensing.htmlAbout Copyright (AOI) - https://theaoi.com/resources/copyright/what-is-copyright/Graphic Artists' Guild Handbook - https://amzn.to/495qkk0 — Use this affiliate link to support the podcastGuide to Copyright and Licensing (Folio Illustration and Animation Agency) - https://folioart.co.uk/guide-to-copyright-and-licensing/ PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS All Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

Take The 6 Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art - Use this link to get 30 days free on Skillshare.In this episode, we'll go through 8 ways to alleviate stress as a working illustrator. Making art for a living, often under tight deadlines and high expectations, can be very stressful. But if we're stressed out all the time, we'll end up burning out. So how do we avoid stress in our work, even as we perform on a deadline? How can we manage multiple projects and give each one of them our best? And how can we do all this without burning out? Join me as I share the surprisingly simple ways that I've been able to take the edge off stress in my own work. Along the way, I hope to encourage you to keep going and not to let the little (and sometimes big) setbacks hold you back.IN THIS EPISODE0:00 - Intro0:00:39 - OpenerCreative work can be stressfulTrying to come up with creative ideas on a deadlineThings don't always line up as we expect, even with experienceHow to keep going, manage stress and not burn out?0:02:53 - How to SupportThank you for your support!Join me on Patreon - patreon.com/tomfroeseShare this Podcast/Episode with friends / followersFollow/Subscribe/Rate/ReviewTake my classes - use these links to get 30 days free on Skillshare0:03:51 - Story: Bad PhotographyMy first ever paid creative gigEvent photographer at boss's family eventHad no idea what I was doingPicture were pretty badStressed out about it for a long timeNow I know I was being too hard on myselfFirst time is always a learning processFailure/bad work is inevitableThings turned out fine anyway0:11:25 - Tip 1 Accept Stress as a GivenStress is inevitableExpecting it takes the edge off a bitWe can also plan for it0:12:55 - Tip 2Give Yourself Permission to FailFailing is inevitableSometimes our fault, sometimes notHotel Hell example - Gordon Ramsey making me feel convictedImportant thing is to turn things around as soon as you noticeAccept that failure will happenGive permission to fail and be bad sometimesJust keep getting up and getting better0:20:23 - Tip 3Set Realistic Timelines with Enough Time to Get LostKnow what it takes to get your job doneSometimes we need a period of getting lost/experimentationBuild time into your schedule for that0:24:41 - Tip 4Don't Try to Read the Client's MindStart all projects off with a briefClients won't always know what info you need to do your jobSometimes you have to ask themAsk up front in the briefOr ask later in process when you realize itYour job is to turn their idea or message into an illustrationYour job is NOT to come up with their reason/purpose/messageIf you try to just guess what they want, you might end up wasting a lot of timeDon't be afraid to push for missing information0:31:21 - Tip 5Lay the Groundwork EarlyThe creative process is a sequence of steps that start simple and get progressively more involvedSkipping steps or leaving early steps to the last minute will put strain on the creative partStart early with the simple, non-creative stuffGive yourself time to sink into a job0:35:05 - Tip 6Ask for More Time When You Need itThere's almost always more time in a scheduleYou just have to ask for itIf you sense you need more time, ask before it's too lateBe honest, explain that you've been working hard but need just a little more timeThe client is on your side, they will support you if they canUse this option sparingly, but know it's thereBetter to ask for more time than to show up on the deadline with work you don't stand behind.0:38:51 - Tip 7Say No to Projects When You Don't Have the TimeSEE EPISODE 14: GOOD NEWS FOR SLOW WORKERSReject jobs that don't give you time to do your best workThis means knowing how long you need (err on the safe side)Avoid stacking up too many jobs, if adding more compromises the ones you already haveDon't fear missing out: saying no does not mean missing out on future opportunitiesMyth of the "once in a lifetime" opportunityGetting opportunities means you will get moreBe ethical, don't abandon your current clientsIf a big opportunity comes your way but you don't have time to do it:Plan A: Ask for a timeline extension  from new clientPlan B: Ask current clients if they can move deadlines around to help you accommodate new oneSaying no is a vote of confidence in yourselfDon't over-stretch yourself: Your work will be better and you will do better in the long run0:45:39 - Tip 8Just Get the Work Done!Channel that anxious energy into getting it doneIf you are paralyzed by stress, take a breakAsk for more timeOur job is to get the job done by whatever means possibleSometimes that means pushing it out under pressureSometimes that means asking for some graceWe put more expectation on ourselves than our clients doDon't try to make "good" workMake work that you know works, based on the goals of the brief0:55:42 - ConclusionDon't be so hard on yourselfThe stress we're feeling will feel like a bigger deal than it actually isYes, art work is hard workWith a change in mindset and taking these pre-emptive steps, you can alleviate stressIt DOES get better with experienceEither way, you'll be okay!LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEWriting Briefs See Video 6 (Stage 1: Onboarding) in my class, The Six Stages of Illustration on SkillshareHow to write an illustration brief that saves time and gets great results (by Sam Osborne)How to Brief an Illustrator (from a client's perspective) (Handsome Frank)How to write a creative brief in 4 easy steps (99 Designs)PODCAST CREDITSAll music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHEREtomfroese.comlinktr.ee/mrtomfroese

In this episode, I'm going to give you 10 tips for being more productive as an illustrator. These are tips that I personally use and NEED to stay on top of my game. Find out why my advice is quite contrary to what all the Productivity Gurus are saying. Along the way, I'll share my own challenges in being productive, which will help you understand why I've chosen these particular tips for you. In the intro, I share some updates from my family situation.HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEIntro and personal thoughts(0:00:00) Intro(0:01:27) Thank you / How to Support(0:02:38) Some personal updatesThe Main Content(0:11:01) Opening story: Monsieur Malbec's New Tractor Hobby(0:16:43) What is productivity and why is it important to you?(0:17:44) The Cult of Productivity(0:19:42) Five productivity challenges(0:19:50) False Productivity(0:21:18) Decision Paralysis(0:22:08) Disorganization(0:23:17) Distractedness(0:24:33) InertiaThe Productivity Tips(0:25:46) Tip 1: Do Morning Pages(0:28:33) Tip 2: Keep a to-do list(0:31:10) Tip 3: Prioritize paid work(0:32:56) Tip 4: Don't try to do it all(0:34:45) Tip 5: Disable notifications(0:36:52) Tip 6: Keep regular work hours(0:39:24) Tip 7: Have a dedicated work zone(0:42:18) Tip 8: Track your time(0:46:56) Tip 9: Use a calendar app(0:49:39) Tip 10: Have a consistent creative practiceLink: The Six Stages of Illustration (Skillshare class) https://skl.sh/3LxzI4IFinal Thoughts(0:54:08) Contextualizing these tips(0:56:10) Staying productive is hard(0:56:50) The Lie of Productivity(0:57:49) Focus = Sacrifice = Doing Less(1:00:12) Homework question: What is your job identity? Use the answer to help you better understand what you need to be prioritizing each day and ultimately why you need to stay productive.(1:02:28) OutroPODCAST TEAM/CREDITS All Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

With Social Media, we simply can't do it all. There are too many platforms and too many different content types, and if we tried to consistently do all of them, or even a handful of them, we'd have no time to do our actual job!But the fear of missed opportunities (by not participating on all the popular apps) is real! So how do we balance the need to share on social media (yes, we do need to use it!) with staying productive and even staying sane?Please join me as I explore the topic of Social Media. THIS IS A RE-RUN EPISODE FROM MY PATRONS ONLY SUMMER SHORTS SERIES———In This EpisodeWhat the heck am I doing on Social Media? Taking stock of all the apps I share onMy experience: Social media is like a gambling addictionHow social media can get out of control and steal all your timeIt's not you that's crazy — it's social media! We're all expected to make all this very time-intensive content for free, at the expense of getting to do our actual work.Myth: content creation = the most important work we doPositives of Social Media: Gives us a platform for sharing and building an audience around the work we're excited about.SM is the tool, not us — we shouldn't be working for SM, it needs to work for us.Why we NEED to use SMHow to know what to focus on: What are the 1 or 2 platforms that do the following:1) Makes us more productive/creative2) Somehow helps generate income or new businessLet all the others go. Abandon them, or just relegate them to lower, more supporting roles for your main SM platforms.Backwards relationship: Making content to share, vs. Sharing what we make.Focus = Sacrifice. By letting go of some SM apps, you WILL miss out on some opportunities.Choosing apps that help you share what you want to share best.Depth and Focus are more important than trying to "do it all".How does your social media use (as a content creator) help or hinder your creative work?Conclusion: Asking what value our content provides for others?———What Social Media Works Best For You?Please share your thoughts! What apps work best for the kind of content you want to share? What do you think about making content to share vs. sharing work you made for some other reason? How has sharing on SM helped or hindered your productivity or creativity?Please let me know — I love hearing your thoughts as you listen along.HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact All Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

In this episode:The Short StoryEpisode 16 will drop on September 12, 2023.The Longer StoryI explain where I want to take the podcast and why, based on how my time pulling back over the summer has been going.Thank You!Thank you too my Patrons for your support!Thank you to all my listeners — I'm here for you!Learn More / SupportPlease your friends about this podcast!Please follow/subscribe wherever you listen!Support the Podcast on Patreon — http://patreon.com/tomfroeseFind my work and classes — http://tomfroese.com 

Welcome to Summer Shorts Season! In case you missed my announcement in the last episode, I'll be taking a break from the longer episodes until September. You can hear all about it in Episode 15! The long story short: these episodes will be 10 minutes (give or take) and more casual.This is a free preview to all listeners, and then for the remainder of the summer, I'll be sharing these exclusively with my supporters on Patreon. If you'd like to be in on the summer fun, you're more than welcome to join at patreon.com/tomfroese. If you're already a part of my Patreon, thank you for your support! If you decide to join me, thank you so much! Otherwise, I'll see you in September! HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODESo today I want to talk about the question, How Do You Know When to Go Full Time as an Illustrator?I. IntroductionIllustration is not a guaranteed careerUntil we have a steady flow of client work we need to support ourselves another wayAspiring illustrators' dream of making art their full-time jobNot ideal to do it on the side (for most of us)“When are we ready to make the jump?”II. Determining the right time to go full-time freelanceFOR THOSE WITH ESTABLISHED CAREERSAnalogy of a car race to illustrate the decision-making processJumping from a moving car to another moving car (established career to illustration career)Jumping from a moving car to a stationary car (current situation to illustration career without having things going on the side first)FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT ESTABLISHED CAREERSNeed to support yourself another way  while you build up your careerStart out with an open mind about what the path to full time illustration looks likeYou end up looking like the first situation, on one moving car and needing to jump to another moving carIII. Being open-minded and patient in pursuing a full-time illustration careerStarting with an open mind about the path to full-time illustrationWhat does it mean to have Experience?How can you transform every experience into something related to illustration or whatever your dream is?Emphasizing the gradual process of becoming a successful illustratorSetting realistic expectations and avoiding instant success mindsetImportance of learning, growing, and seeking experience consistentlyIV. ConclusionHolding the dream of illustrating full-time while staying positivePersistence and dedication in sticking with the process to achieve long-term successDon't confuse Complacency with Patience / Vice-versa —Be patient as you realistically work to feed yourself and build up your art career on the sideAlways be checking in on yourself — are you staying out of fear or necessity? PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

IS IT TIME TO LEAN IN OR LET GO? When is it time to double down and commit to that thing you said you'd do, and when might it be time to call it quits? As illustrators and creative people, we may have all kinds of things we think we should be doing, whether to build up our careers or grow in our skills, or using our art for some kind of good. If you're at the very beginning of your career, or barely even getting started at this point, you may well be wondering, how long is this thing going to take before I start getting noticed? How do I know if all this work I'm pouring into this thing is going to pay off? For a lot of us, I know we're also trying to get noticed on social media. We wonder how much effort should we be putting into building our presence online and, more to my point, if we're not seeing the returns we hoped for, when might it be time to quit altogether?In this episode, I'm going to share with you some times when I've had to wrestle with this question — should I commit or should I quit. In fact, I'm going through this question right now in a very real way, and to be honest, I don't quite know how it's going to turn out in the long run.  There are some times when you need to let go and try something else. But what I can tell you is that there are definitely times I wanted to give up but kept on going, and I am VERY glad I stuck with it. So in this episode, I want to give you some ways to consider both sides of the question. How can we be more clear about whether we should quit or commit, and how am I using this very same process to think through my current dilemma? All I ask is that you stick around, you know, maybe COMMIT to listening to this episode the whole way through — I know that if you're facing this question in your life, you'll get something out of it. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEOpener: Should You Quit or Commit?Advertisement: Take the Style Class and discover Your Own Unique Way of Illustrating!Find The Style Class Here: https://skl.sh/3S6PCF1 — Use this link to get 30 days free on SkillsharePart 1: The purpose of today's topicTo work out this question in my own current big goal/projectI am committed but it's costing me a lot — of time and financesEverything takes longer than I hopedGood reasons to quit but also good reasons to stay committedWhat if I'm just being negative about things? What if I'm on the verge of a big breakthrough?Is it possible to be overcommitted to a goal?Part 2: What can I teach from this situation?How to navigate this dilemma, should I quit or should I commit?I want to validate this experience – why this is hard for all of usDeciding which is better: letting go to make room for something else, or staying committed to give things a chance to pay off?Analogy: relationships — have you ever stayed in a relationship you weren't happy with for too long?Owning your feelings and desires no matter the cost to you or othersThe tendency to attach what we do to who we are as humans - identity vs. activityHave your goals changed? Do you even still want to do this anymore?Chill out! Don't get so intense about things working out exactly as you plannedParadox: When you're willing to let go of a good thing you're more likely to get itYou've got to be in it to win itPart 3: Questions we can ask ourselvesPurpose: Why am I doing this?What do I want?Method: Is this the only way to achieve my bigger goal? What else could I be doing?Value:What is this costing?Is the cost worth it? Why?What are you getting out of this?ConclusionThe things we do don't define usThe most important thing: Ultimately what gives you joy? What helps us love others and ourselves?Plot twist: Leaning in and Letting Go are not the only two optionsAnother option: Loosening upHow I'm loosening up with my big goal LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEAndy J. Pizza / The Creative Pep Talk Podcast - https://www.creativepeptalk.com/Marc Maron / WTF Podcast - https://www.wtfpod.com/podcast PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS THANK YOU TO MY TEAM!Julia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.comMark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

Do you ever feel like everything takes YOU longer than everyone else? In this episode,  talk about what it's been like for me as a slow worker. What kinds of things have slowed me down, and how have I been able to thrive as a successful illustrator in spite of them. So if you're a slowpoke trying to figure out why it just takes so long to get things done, this one is for you.I'm going talk about why I think there are two kinds of slow — good slow and bad slow — and why we should embrace the former and try to change the latter. And of course, I'll give you some ways to do both. How can you embrace the things about your work that you maybe wish would go faster, and how you can change some of the things that truly get in your creative way.By the end of this episode, I hope that you'll feel permitted to give yourself the time you need to do your best work — and to defend that time when it comes under question by yourself — or by others. HOW TO SUPPORTThank you for listening/watching!01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend. This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.02 — Support me on Patreon at http://patreon.com/tomfroeseThis helps me cover some of the costs of running the show.03 – Take my Skillshare classes! Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!04 – Join my mailing listNever miss an important update. Sign up at http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEHook - Teachers in art school making us feel like we have to work fast or die in the design industryChapter 1: Slow is Faster Than StuckGood slow vs. Bad slowGood - Slow for the right reasonsJust necessary part of the processBad - Slow for the wrong reasonsSomething negative getting in my wayWhy this episode: to help you overcome anxiety and frustration we feel when we feel like things take longer than they shouldStory: Rebranding a company without any experienceChapter 2: Slow for the Right ReasonsSome things just take timeExamples: Baking cookies, making wine, waiting for paint to dryFor me: My processReasons for SlowConceptual reasonsTechnical reasonsMaybe we're just not good at it (not a bad thing)Short deadlines: NOT inevitablePick Two: Good/Fast/Cheap — sounds good in theory, but is Good ever an option?Takeaways:Some things just take timeBuild these into your processThere is always a struggle to get to the eureka momentWe learn how to avoid things that slow us down the mostShort deadlines are a CHOICE!Chapter 3: Slow for the Wrong reasonsThings that take our time but don't need toAKA PitfallsExamplesTrying to go directly over a mountain, rather than around itBaking without a recipeReasonsTrying to take shortcuts that end up taking longerNot following a step by step processAvoiding outside feedbackAnalysis paralysisSolutionsEmbrace the long way. Building a solid foundation takes more time up front but saves time down the road.Develop a process through practice over time, and then stick to it.Swallow your pride, be brave, share your mid-process work even though you don't want to!Start with very simple tasks you know you can do. Then do the next right thing, and the next. One thing at a time.Episode Summary LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEThe Six Stages of Illustration (Skillshare class) - https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/the-six-stages-of-illustrationSlow is Faster Than Stuck (My original article on Medium) - https://medium.com/creators-hub/slow-is-faster-than-stuck-e879958364b9 PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS THANK YOU TO MY TEAM!Julia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.comMark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

In this SPECIAL episode, I share an interview that Andres Palacios (BFA Illustration student at SCAD) did with me for a class project. I really enjoyed talking to him, and I think you'll enjoy our conversation. We'll be back next week with Episode 14!Thanks to Andres Palacios for letting me share this interview! Check out his work at https://www.andrespalacios.meHOW TO SUPPORTShare this episode/podcast with your friends! YOUR referrals are the NUMBER ONE WAY to grow this podcast.Support what we're doing by joining me on Patreon at http://Patreon.com/tomfroeseLearn illustration in one of my Skillshare classes. Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!Join my mailing list: http://tomfroese.com/contactIN THIS EPISODEIntro StuffINTERVIEWHow would you describe your style conceptually and visually?Do you still use your Inky Illustration style/technique?Do you find a connection between running and illustration?Did you ever struggle to illustrate the human figure in a more stylized (less realistic) way?How do you juggle all the things you do, between podcast, illustrating, family, etc.?What are 3 characteristics that differentiate a good artist from a great one?What has been your favourite project and why?Andres presents me with drawing of me!  — "I kept picturing you with a bucket of KFC"SUMMARYPODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Julia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.comMark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk.FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

In this episode we're going to talk about why your creativity NEEDS constraints! Even though they seem like setbacks, if we can embrace them, they can actually push us forward in our work. In Chapter 1, I'll tell you the story of how a concert went totally wrong — and how that resulted one of the best-selling Jazz albums of all time. In Chapter 2, I'll give you the 4 types of constraints you'll encounter in your illustration work, and how to use each one to push you forward in your own creativity!HOW TO SUPPORTSupport what we're doing by joining me on Patreon at http://Patreon.com/tomfroeseLearn illustration in one of my Skillshare classes. Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!Join my mailing list: http://tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEChapter 1: The Köln ConcertHow everything went wrong for jazz pianist Keith JarretHow Jarret made the most of his setbackConclusion: creativity doesn't happen in the absence of constraints; it happens when we rise to themChapter 2: The Four Kinds of ConstraintsIntro: Constraints help us focus our creativity in a powerful wayWe need to seek constraints on purpose to help us get started01 External Constraints - Those that come built into the project02 Internal Constraints - Those that come built into us03 Constraints that WE CHOOSE - Style, Tools and Techniques04 Constraints that CHOOSE US - AKA SetbacksSummary - The real creativity is not in the constraint, but in how WE rise to them. LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEKoln Concert - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Köln_ConcertA Jazz Night to Remember (Wall Street Journal) - https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122367103134923957‘The Köln Concert': How Keith Jarrett Defied The Odds To Record His Masterpiece (udiscovermusic.com) https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/koln-concert-keith-jarrett/Strategies for Making Work You're Actually Good At (My talk at Design Thinkers Vancouver) - https://youtu.be/Aa3BZd2JyhcWhen a Client Gives Me Their Sketches - The 6 Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art (Skillshare class) - https://skl.sh/3LxzI4IChoosing Your Style Constraints - The Style Class: Work Out Your Illustration Style in a Daily Project - https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/thestyleclassPODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Julia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.comMark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

What's your point? Sometimes it's not so easy to say. We ramble. We doodle. We struggle to know exactly what we want to say and do in our art. But once we find it, everything seems to come together smoothly. So how do we find our point? In this episode, I talk about how the power of focus helps us get there, and how we find this focus in the first place. Join my Mailing List at https://www.tomfroese.com/contactThis is a continuation of my exploration of Composition, which we started in Episode 11. While I promised a more straightforward set of ”breakthrough” composition tips, as I wrote this episode, I really got stuck in the weeds. What I ended up realizing is that composition is easier to show, visually, than to talk about. So I will have to save much of what I have to say here in my future Skillshare class on the topic.HOW TO SUPPORTMy team and I work hard to produce each episode for this podcast. You can support what we're doing by joining me on Patreon at http://Patreon.com/tomfroeseYou can also support me by taking my Skillshare classes. Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!Join my Mailing List to receive updates on the podcast, my classes and other important updates on my work. Visit https://www.tomfroese.com/contact IN THIS EPISODEOpener: What's Your Point?Main contentThe Power of FocusHaving anINTENTION is the keyThe Most Important Principle of Composition: UnityWhat it means to have more Unity in our artListener MailQuestion from SAA on YouTube: “How do you choose just one style when you work in many?”PODCAST TEAM/CREDITSJulia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.comMark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHEREhttp://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

In this episode I explore the questions many of us have as illustrators, where it comes to composition: how do I know what to include in the art, and how do I know where to put it? In Chapter 1 we look into what composition might be, and then in Chapter 2, I offer 5 steps you can take to make more confident decisions in your compositions. HOW TO SUPPORTMy team and I work hard to produce each episode for this podcast. You can support what we're doing by joining me on Patreon at http://Patreon.com/tomfroese. You can also support me by taking my Skillshare classes. Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare! IN THIS EPISODEOpenerChapter 1: Composition is EverythingChapter 2: Five Steps to Better CompositionsState your INTENTIONDeclare your CONTEXTDevelop a CONCEPTDecide on your CONTENTWork out your COMPOSITION (based on all of the above)Closing LINKS TO STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEPete Ryan - http://instagram.com/petexryan/Noma Bar - https://www.instagram.com/noma_bar/If you want to know more about anything I mentioned anything in this episode, please let me know! OTHER STUFFI first heard the The Beverly Hale quote about composition from the Draftsman podcast episode on Composition PODCAST TEAM/CREDITSJulia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.com Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHEREhttp://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

In this episode, I share the experience of showing up at the blank page and coming up with an idea. While this episode is much shorter than usual, it's packed with insights about how I face creative block head on, and how I find my way through it to find the right idea on the other side!SKILLSHARE LIVE | VIRTUAL TRAVEL SKETCHING WITH PAINT PENSBuy your ticket - Eventbrite LinkPromo code for Thoughts on Illustration Listeners: SKLive2023TFHOW TO SUPPORTMy team and I work hard to produce each episode for this podcast. You can support what we're doing by joining me on Patreon at http://Patreon.com/tomfroeseYou can also support me by taking my Skillshare classes. Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare! IN THIS EPISODEOpenerCelebrating the first 10 episodes!Main contentSitting down to write but my mind is racingHow to focus and find my idea?How facing the doubts and negative feelings head on is how I find my ideasWhy it's important to ask, "Who cares?"Resolution: Finding my idea PODCAST TEAM/CREDITSJulia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.comMark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHEREhttp://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese

Today we're going to talk about how to loosen up in our art. I know a lot of us struggle to have a sense of freshness and energy in our work, especially as we develop a piece from looser sketch to the more finished piece. What often happens is that a sketch starts off feeling loose and promises something better than what we end up with. It's very common to find that we like our sketches more than the final illustration. Why is that? And how, if at all, can we achieve the same loose feeling of our sketches in our final art?In this episode, I'm going to share my own story of how I wrestled with this question — of having a more spontaneous feeling to my work versus something more planned out — and why, over time, for ME my work has seemed to head more in the scripted, planned out direction — and why I'm okay with that. At the same time, I still try to build in as much looseness as I can, and at the end of the episode I'll share some tips on how to do that. HOW TO SUPPORTMy team and I work hard to produce each episode for this podcast. You can support what we're doing by joining me on Patreon at http://Patreon.com/tomfroeseYou can also support me by taking my Skillshare classes. Visit http://tomfroese.com/teaching to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare! IN THIS EPISODEChapter 1: To be (Scripted) or Not to be (Scripted)?Comparing being scripted in this podcast to planning out my illustrationsComparing my earlier more improvised illustration style to my more planned out style todayWhy I made this shift to more "scripted", in both illustration and podcastingIs there a trick to looking or feeling spontaneous and loose in your work? If so, what is it?Chapter 2: How to Loosen Up in Your ArtWhat does it meant to be loose?How can you loosen up?Looking unscripted doesn't mean literally having no planResisting the temptation to close every shape5 tips for loosening up in your work LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEMy first professional illustration job - Tidings Magazine (link to Issuu — https://issuu.com/ukings/docs/tidings2008summer) PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS Julia Herrick, Script Editorhttps://julesherrick.comMark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineerhttps://linktr.ee/semiathleticAll Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk. FIND ME ELSEWHERE http://linktr.ee/mrtomfroese