The Illustration Department

Episode 363 of the #IDPodcast is now available! From the archive: New York Times best-selling and Caldecott Honor award-winning illustrator, Brian Pinkney talks about his father, Jerry Pinkney; why illustrators can work in more than one way; and more. ⚡️illustrationdept.com/idpodcast

Boris Artzybasheff, the “Master of the Machine Age,” was born on this day, May 25, in 1899. During the Russian Revolution, the Communists sentenced him to death by firing squad. He escaped, and went on to win a Newbery Medal and a Caldecott Honor.

Frederick “Fritz” Siebel served in the armies of two countries; he may have created the original design for Mr. Clean; and he was the first to illustrate Amelia Bedelia. Here’s more on the great Siebel: open.substack.com/pub/illustrati…

Margaret Mee was born on this day, May 22, in 1909. When she was asked if it ever occurred to her that exploring the Amazon was “unusual” for “a delicately built lady,” she said: “I’m not really so delicate as I look. I have a great deal of resistance.”

Lorraine Fox was born on this day, May 22, in 1922. On struggle and creativity, she said, “The struggle is what keeps you alive. The attempt is what it’s all about. The hope that maybe it can become better.”⁣⁣

Henry Vandyke Carter was born on this day, May 22, in 1831. Around⁣⁣ 1850, a 20-year-old Carter was asked by one of his professors from St. George’s School of Medicine to illustrate a book. The professor’s name was Henry Gray.⁣⁣ The book was “Gray’s Anatomy”.

Arnold Stark Lobel was born on this day, May 22, in 1933. In 1970, his first of four “Frog and Toad” books was published. His daughter, Adrianne, would later say that Frog and Toad were “the beginning of him coming out” as gay.

Working on a thing for The Illustration Department Podcast… It’ll debut next week. 👀

Hi illustrators, Every other Thursday at 9:00 PM EDT/EST, I host an online Critique Group. You don’t need to submit an illustration to participate. See you later today? illustrationdept.com/critique

Frances Eckart was born on this day, May 21, in 1922. During World War II, the North Dakota native served for the United States Army at its Military Intelligence Training Center. She went on to become a prolific children’s book illustrator during the 1950s and 60s.

If you listen to The Illustration Department Podcast, consider supporting it as a patron. For $1, $4, or $6 monthly (less, yearly), you access bonus podcast episodes, and receive invitations to our “Art Director After Hours” series. I hope to see you: patreon.com/illustrationde…

Alfred Warner Hair was born on this day, May 20, in 1941. As a teenager, he led a movement in which Black artists painted Floridian landscapes and sold them out of the trunks of their cars. They were known as “The Highwaymen”.

Illustrators who complete a mentorship with us are invited to display one of their assignments in our Illustrator Showcase. This piece is from Paohan Chen. See more of Paohan’s work at paohan.com. Check out the showcase at illustrationdept.com/showcase.

Testimonial: “I have done both the 3-month and 6-month Mentorship with Giuseppe. I have taken other classes and portfolio reviews, and this has by far been the most valuable.” —Dana K. illustrationdept.com/classes

More good news from @IllusDept alums! This is one of the best parts of my job.

Episode 362 of the #IDPodcast—with school librarian, blogger, podcaster, author, and illustrator, Travis Jonker—is now available! Travis talks about the trait good picture books share; why writers should perform their picture book manuscript; and more. ⚡️illustrationdept.substack.com

Episode 362 of the #IDPodcast—with school librarian, blogger, podcaster, author, and illustrator, Travis Jonker—will be available on May 19! Travis discusses the surprising trait good picture books share; why performing a manuscript can improve it; and more. Here’s a preview…

Joe Krush was born on this day, May 18, in 1918. Many illustrators have visualized Mary Norton’s “The Borrowers” since its original publication in 1952. Few have done so more memorably than the husband and wife team of Joe and Beth Krush.

❝When asked what I do for a living, I say I am a drawer. What do I draw? Pictures! What kind of pictures? Anything interesting or challenging or not so interesting and a few that are boring.❞ —Alan Edwin Cober, born on this day, May 18, in 1935

Why is it assumed that an illustrator must leave their creative comfort zone in order to be successful? What if their comfort zone IS good enough? Here’s more on why “get out of your comfort zone” isn’t always the best advice for illustrators: open.substack.com/pub/illustrati…