Thoughts on Illustration is a bi-weekly podcast about Showing Up and Growing Up as a commercial artist. Join award-winning illustrator and top teacher, Mr. Tom Froese, as he shares valuable tips, insights, and reflections from his own experience as an illustrator. Tom wants to encourage his fellow creatives and help them get further on by sharing in a transparent, accessible way. If you are passionate about unlocking professional and personal creative fulfillment, you are invited to follow along as Tom does the same!
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Take Inky Maps (Procreate Edition): Illustrate an Analog-inspired Map on Your iPad — Use my link to get 30 days free! — https://skl.sh/3Swd9SK
I'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).
Take Lisa's class, Imaginative Map-Making in Procreate on Skillshare — Use this link to get 30 days free! — https://skl.sh/3z8zI9a
Join 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. <<<
HOW TO SUPPORT
Thank you for listening/watching!
01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.
This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.
$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 sessions
03 – Take my Skillshare classes!
Visit to find links to all my classes. Use these links and get 30 days of free membership on Skillshare!
Becoming an Accidental Expert with Kyle T. Webster (Part 1 of 2)
Episode 27
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 • Duration 01:07:48
Take my class COMPOSITION FOR ILLUSTRATORS! Use this link and get 1 month free on Skillshare! — https://skl.sh/3TLdkeh
I'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 yet
Why working in different styles can make good business sense
What Kyle means when he calls himself an Accidental Expert
What Kyle finds most meaningful in his work and career, besides drawing or making brushes
Why making Creativity a way of life is necessary to building up a successful career
And much, much more!
HOW TO SUPPORT
Thank you for listening/watching!
01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.
This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.
$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 sessions
Becoming a Successful Illustrator at 40 with Adam Ming
Episode 26
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 • Duration 01:22:21
Support the Thoughts on Illustration Podcast at http://patreon.com/tomfroese
In 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.
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01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.
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Support the Thoughts on Illustration Podcast at http://patreon.com/tomfroese
Have 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. 😉
Listen all the way to the end, where I share some additional thoughts on the connection between our process and reclaiming our joy amidst our concerns of Artificial Intelligence taking over our jobs.
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Paul 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.
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Take The 6 Stages of Illustration: Leading Clients Through Your Art - Use this link to get 30 days free on Skillshare. https://skl.sh/3LxzI4I
REPLAY: 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 SUPPORT
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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
Why Bother (Sharing When Nobody Seems to Care)?
Episode 22
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 • Duration 17:18
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/3UWWY00
Today'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?
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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.
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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 artwork
Why you may not be pricing your illustrations high enough
What copyright means in NORMAL, EVERYDAY English
Why you should ALWAYS fight for your right to use your work for self promotion
Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE.
HOW TO SUPPORT
Thank you for listening/watching!
01 — Share this episode/podcast with a friend.
This is the single most effective way to help grow this podcast.
$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 sessions
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!
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How lisa made the switch from Photographer to making art on the ipad and teaching that to others
How she manages to juggle a business that includes teaching, running an art community, organizing art retreats, making custom Procreate brush sets, writing books, and so much more — not to mention making time for her 3 kids
We talk about how art has changed for her, from something more about personal expression to being more of a business
