Creative Playdate Episode 21: Interview with Michael Byers

Episode 21 of Creative Playdate features an interview with Canadian illustrator and super nice guy, Michael Byers. His editorial illustration is whimsical and colorful and always includes a touch of humor - as is Michael, himself. We talk about whether or not we should be properly dressed to take our kids to school and Michael mentions a lot of great writing on creativity that is worth checking out.

Michael recently created all of the illustrations for an incredible activity book for kids called "SUPERPOWERS! A Great Big Collection of Awesome Activities, Quirky Questions, and Wonderful Ways to See Just How Super You Already Are." I only wish my daughter was old enough to read and write, because it seems like a fun thing for kids to do alone or with their parents or friends.

We also talked about daily drawing and drawing from reference in a way that has inspired me to do more daily drawing and drawing from life. It's easy to get stuck on your image reference but it's nice to let your personality show through in the way you draw things straight from your own mind.

Creative Playdate is syndicated at Illustration Age.

The theme music was created by Thomas James and Jason Ritz.

You can follow the show on Twitter and Instagram. And don't forget to subscribe, rate and review the show on iTunes!

Creative Playdate Episode 18: Interview with Melinda Beck

Images © Melinda Beck

I am super happy I had the chance to interview Melinda Beck for the show. She's an incredible illustrator and graphic designer who showcases a wide range of styles. And you can certainly see the graphic design influence in her illustration. We talk about what it's like to be a freelance illustrator while raising two teenage girls and what childhood in New York City is like.

Melinda has some good advice about time management and living simply in order to make time for her kids, her work and herself. Advice we can probably all use. She will be dispensing lots of advice in her workshop at ICON10 so be sure to check and see if there are any spots open.

If you'll be at ICON10 please say hello! I'm thrilled to be going back for the second time and excited to explore Detroit.

Creative Playdate is syndicated at Illustration Age. Theme music was created by Thomas James and James Ritz.

You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram and you can see my illustration on my website.

And don't forget to subscribe!

Creative Playdate Episode 17: Interview with Dan Santat

I am very pleased to have children's book illustrator and author, Dan Santat on the show. We talk about his career and the effect that winning the Caldecott Medal has had on the way he approaches his work and his place in the children's book industry.

Dan has a pretty laid-back attitude about parenting and truly feels there is never a right time to have kids; you just have to do it and work it out as you go along. He's also no stranger to being a workaholic and he talks about how he was forced to relax.

Dan also has a new book out with author Minh Le called Drawn Together. You should definitely check this one out.

Thanks for everyone who listens to the show and who has shared it with a friend. Please rate, review, and subscribe if you haven't yet!

You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

Creative Playdate's theme music was created by Thomas James and Jason Ritz and we are syndicated at IllustrationAge.com.

Creative Playdate Episode 14: Interview with Chris & Jennifer Sickels

The penultimate episode of Creative Playdate is an interview with Chris & Jennifer Sickels! You likely know Chris as Red Nose Studio. I was thrilled when Chris suggested his wife, Jennifer, join in the conversation. It's the first time I've had a partner one who is not also working as a creative. It's important that the people behind the scenes who support these crazy careers we've chosen get all the respect and gratitude that they deserve.

Chris and Jennifer have 4 children between the ages of 3 and 13, so we talked a lot about what it's like to have kids at various stages of development. We also talk about the financial aspects of raising 4 kids primarily on the income of a freelance illustrator and whether or not Chris wishes they could live in New York.

As I mention in the episode, I have made the decision to break the show up into seasons. There will be one more episode this season and I will let you know as season 2 approaches.

What would you like to hear about in season 2?

The show is created and hosted by me, Michelle Kondrich and our theme music was created by Thomas James and Jason Ritz. The show is syndicated at Illustration Age (where you can also find a bi-monthly business column by yours truly).

Thank you for listening and be sure to subscribe on iTunes. And leave a comment and rating!

Creative Playdate Episode 13: Interview with Santiago Uceda

The last episode of Creative Playdate for the year is a wonderful interview with illustrator, motion graphics artist, and designer Santiago Uceda. His work has so much character. He talks about how is illustration used to be very dark but that his family has helped to inject more hope into the work. You can read a great interview with Santiago and his partner, Jen Bell, in Family Circle about their blended family and lives.

Santiago is a Peruvian immigrant and he was very open about his experiences and feelings about the current political climate around immigration. If you want to know more about Santiago and his work, you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

As I mention at the beginning of the show, in addition to Creative Playdate being syndicated on Illustration Age, I am now going to be writing a bi-monthly column on the site. My first installment, "How I Built an Illustration Career Without Going to Art School" is up now and I should have a new one out next week.

Thank you to Thomas James and Jason Ritz for our theme music and thanks to all of you who have been listening and supporting the show!

You can find out more about myself and my work at www.michellekondrich.com and please be sure to subscribe to the show on iTunes!

I will be back with new episodes in January, so please enjoy the holiday season, stay safe, and Happy New Year!

Creative Playdate Episode 12: Interview with Jannie Ho

Episode 12 features an interview with children's illustrator Jannie Ho. Her work is everywhere - books, educational magazines, toys, games, stickers, even dinnerware! She is the mother of a six year old daughter and her debut author/illustrator picture book, Bear and Chicken, is out now!

Jannie's illustration is perfect for the children's market and it was great to hear how her work and her new book developed. She loves Richard Scarry books from her childhood and you can really see the influence, which I love. 

She also is a big proponent of day care for those of us with young children who do not have the luxury of family nearby. It can be an expensive necessity when working from home.

You can follow Jannie on Twitter and Instagram @chickengirldesign.

The show is syndicated on Illustration Age - with it's own dedicated page now - and our theme music was created by Thomas James and Jason Ritz.

If you want to know more about my illustration or about the show, visit my website or follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

Listen and subscribe to the show on iTunes!

Creative Playdate Episode 11: Interview with Andi Butler - Part 1 and 2

Interview with Andi Butler Part 1

Interview with Andi Butler Part 2

This week I've got a special, two-part episode with illustrator and surface pattern designer Andi Butler. We had a lengthy conversation about both her experience in the surface pattern design industry as well as her experience raising two boys, one of whom is autistic. I've split the conversation into two parts - the first part covers more of her work life and the second goes into parenting much more.

Andi is incredibly knowledgeable about both of these worlds and she is also very happy to talk about them and to answer questions about them. She's been at it for decades, so enjoy the wealth of information and insight!

You can follow Andi on Twitter and Instagram @andibutler and she also has a Facebook Page.

Thank to you everyone who has been listening to the show and welcome to all my new listeners! Feel free to get in touch any time!

Our wonderful syndicate is Illustration Age and our theme music was created by Thomas James and Jason Ritz.

Please be sure to rate and review on iTunes if you like what you hear.

Creative Playdate Episode 9: Interview with Jacqui Oakley and Jamie Lawson

For the first time EVER, I've got a couple on the show! Jacqui Oakley and Jamie Lawson are both freelance creatives (she's an illustrator, he's an illustrator and designer) with an energetic three-year-old. We talk about their childcare situation and dividing up time with their son when deadlines don't always coincide with day care.

© Jacqui Oakley

It was good fun to chat with them. They are beginning to collaborate on fine art/gallery work and it makes me wish my husband and I could collaborate in that way. It sounds like a great way to get back to the early parts of a relationship, before kids. And Jacqui weighs in on her experience taking a break from work after giving birth.

You can follow Jacqui on Twitter and Instagram @jacquioakley and you can follow Jamie on Twitter @poly_studio and Instagram @jamielawson. Oh, and Jacqui has some great videos of her speaking at Weapons of Mass Creation and Creative Mornings.

And if you're enjoying the show, please take a moment to rate and review on iTunes. It helps spread the word!

Creative Playdate Episode 6: Interview with Kyle T. Webster

@ Kyle T. Webster

Today I am pleased to bring you Episode 6 of Creative Playdate with the incredible Kyle T. Webster!

As I mention in the episode, you should really go to his site and watch his "Meet Kyle" video. He's come up with a great way to show his personality and interests to the world.

Kyle is an award-winning illustrator, author and illustrator of the children's book Please Say Please!, and creator of an impressive line of Photoshop brushes that mimic hundreds of traditional materials, and then some.

Kyle often uses his Photoshop brush business to raise money for important causes, so be on the lookout for those in the future. He usually announces them on Twitter and I will do my best to signal boost those fundraisers.

In the episode, Kyle and I talk about his work and his experience as a parent of two children. His wife is the primary caregiver to their children which allows him to keep very regular work hours. We talk about how he is able to stick to that schedule without being tempted to work tight deadlines during times when he should be with his family.

Kyle and his wife have also made the decision to keep photos of their children off of social media. We discuss that decision as well as their approach to screen time with their kids.

You can find Kyle's work at www.kyletwebster.com and you can follow him on Twitter @kyleTwebster and Instagram @kyle.t.webster.

The show is created and produced by me, with theme music from Thomas James and Jason Ritz. You can find out more about myself and my illustration at www.michellekondrich.com and you can follow me on Twitter @MissIllustrator and Instagram @mkondrich.

Thank you for listening and please take a second to rate and review on Apple podcasts so that more people can find the show. And, of course, share it with a friend or colleague who could use the support of other parents like us!

Creative Playdate Episode 5: Interview with Maria Fabrizio

Maria Fabrizio

What better timing for an episode to feature the creator of Wordless News than now? Chaos is everywhere and illustrator Maria Fabrizio tackles as much of it as she can by creating illustrations without captions or descriptions in response to items she finds in the news. In Episode 5 we talk about that process and how it has changed now that she is a mother. She is also a natural early-riser so we talk about the adjustments she has made to her work schedule to accommodate the new early-riser in the house.

© Maria Fabrizio

Maria is also the author of Cultivating Creativity: Daily Rituals for Visual Inspiration. She is a great example of someone who uses process and routine to keep her work fresh and exciting.

Listen to hear her speak about her experiences with the unexpected nature of pregnancy and giving birth and what she recommends for those that might be considering having children while pursuing illustration. You can find her work at www.mariafabrizio.com and www.wordlessnews.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @StudioRia.

Thanks for listening and please share with someone who might enjoy it. I love hearing feedback, so don't be shy.

Creative Playdate Episode 4: Interview with Renee Kurilla

Today's episode of Creative Playdate is an interview with children's book and graphic novel illustrator Renee Kurilla. She has illustrated a new children's book, The Pickwicks' Picnic by Carol Brendler, that will be released on September 5th of this year. Renee's daughter is still under a year old so we chat about the initial transition to parenthood and how to find ways to keep sketching. She's also got me drooling over the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro.

You can find Renee's work at www.reneekurilla.com and she shares lots of sketches and snippets on Twitter and Instagram.

Thank you to everyone who has been listening and sharing the show and thank you to Thomas James and Jason Ritz, who composed the theme music. And, of course, you can listen to the show here, on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Google Play Music.

Get in touch with me if you have any comments or questions about the show! You can find my illustration at www.michellekondrich.com and you can follow me on Twitter @MissIllustrator and Instagram @mkondrich.

Introducing Creative Playdate

I have been hinting at this for a while now, but I am happy to announce a release date for my new podcast: Creative Playdate.

On July 17th, Creative Playdate will be released into the wild and I hope you all will listen and share. The show focuses on what it's like to be a parent while also pursuing a creative career and all the unique challenges that come along with it. I have a great batch of interviews lined up and will be releasing two episodes on launch day (sorry, you'll have to wait to find out who the guests are!). 

When the idea first came up I received a lot of support from friends and peers and it began to feel like my duty to pursue this. Since then, people have continued to be supportive and others have agreed to be guests on a podcast that didn't technically exist yet. 

My aim is to release new episodes every two weeks. And if there are any specific topics you'd like me to cover or people you think I should interview, I'd love to hear it all. And, of course, please share it with anyone you think might be interested.

Thank you in advance for listening!

Me and my lovely daughter in 2015.