Thoughts on Illustration

Tom Froese
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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!

  1. Taking Big Risks in Your Creativity and Life

    1 DAY AGO

    Taking Big Risks in Your Creativity and Life

    📗 Order Drawing Is Important: tomfroese.com/book
 ✨ Register for the Online Launch/DWM on April 7 at Luma: luma.com/67uhuhmr A recent portfolio critique turned into a deeper conversation about creative risk — and how to know when it's time to stop dreaming and do something about it. I share the personal story behind my own decision to quit my job and go to art school, and the question that helped me know that risk was worth it. Whether you're facing a big shift in your career (or even your life) or deciding whether to publish your portfolio or not, this one's for you. IN THIS EPISODE • Can a Portfolio be Too Niche? How a coaching conversation about purpose, niche, and commercial appeal set the stage for a much bigger question about creative direction. • Can We Sell Ourselves Without Selling Out? Why early-career illustrators with a strong subcultural niche may need to broaden their commercial appeal before they can narrow back in. • Fear of Failure vs. Fear of Regret: Why asking "how would I feel if I never tried?" can be more clarifying than asking "what if I fail?" • The $50,000 Decision: How I left a stable career to pursue illustration, and the moment of clarity that made the risk feel worth taking. • Are You Addicted to Education? How accumulating degrees, certificates, and online courses can become a way of avoiding the real risk — actually doing the thing. • The Bird Who Won't Leave the Nest: Why creative careers require putting yourself out there, and the importance of failure and rejection as teachers. LINKS & RESOURCES Drawing Is Important — Now Available: My book is officially out! Order it wherever books are sold, or start at the link below. • tomfroese.com/book Book Launch Event: April 7 — check the link to register. • luma.com/67uhuhmr • Catch the replay later at tomfroese.com/patreon (membership required). Local Book Launch Events: I'll be hosting events in Chilliwack/Fraser Valley and Vancouver. Follow along to stay in the loop. • Instagram: instagram.com/mrtomfroese • Patreon: patreon.com/tomfroese • Substack: mrtomfroese.substack.com One-on-One Coaching: Want to work through your own portfolio or career decisions with me? • tomfroese.com/coaching Previous Episode — 4 Portfolio Mistakes: I reference the four blind spots of early-career illustrators: purpose, point of view, substance, and craft. • Episode 72: https://www.patreon.com/posts/153866247 Today's Action on Illustration: What do you really want? Sit with that question. Pay attention to the moments — a story, a song, someone's work — that spark something deeper than "I like that." Write them down. Collect them. Those are the clues to the bigger decisions you'll face in your creative life. And if you're sitting on a risk you've been too afraid to take, ask yourself: • In 5/10/50 years, what would you regret more: risking and failing, or never even trying? • If now's not the right time, when will be? Just a word of caution: Please take into account timing! You can say yes to that big risky decision (if you really want it), but you can also say not yet. Sometimes we have to let one chapter end cleanly before moving onto the next one. Other times, we have bigger priorities than our dreams to take care of. Tag me on Instagram @mrtomfroese or email me your reflections at hello@tomfroese.com! TOM'S LINKS • Work: tomfroese.com • Classes: tomfroese.com/teaching • Instagram: instagram.com/mrtomfroese JOIN THE LIVE LAUNCH Drawing is Important Launch Day: April 7, 2026 In case you missed it, I'm hosting a live book launch event on April 7th to celebrate the release of Drawing Is Important! Register at the link below to join us — I'd love to see you there. Register — luma.com/67uhuhmr

    29 min
  2. The 4 Biggest Portfolio Mistakes of Struggling Illustrators | FREE PREVIEW

    24 MAR

    The 4 Biggest Portfolio Mistakes of Struggling Illustrators | FREE PREVIEW

    📗 Pre-order Drawing Is Important: tomfroese.com/book⁠ Are you on the cusp of a breakthrough but feeling stuck in creating a stand-out portfolio? In this episode, I break down four mistakes I see struggling artists make when sharing their body of work. This is not about quick “hacks” but a deep dive into the four pillars of illustration excellence: purpose, point of view, substance, and craft. Whether you’re struggling to make work that looks professional, or trying let your humanity shine through, these four focus areas are the tools that will make the biggest difference in your career. IN THIS EPISODE Low Purpose vs. Clear Function: Why every project you share on your homepage needs to signal its functional role at a single glance.The "Operating System" of Style: How to treat your personal values as the underlying system that informs every project, no matter what the subject.Building Substance without Complexity: Why you should push to make some of your illustrations more complex, but also why even the simplest of illustrations can show a depth of character.Achieving Media Transcendence: The secret to professional craft where the viewer sees the image before they see the "Procreate brushes" or the software used to make it.Physical Media Paradigms: Why choosing a physical constraint—like letterpress or collage—is the best way to limit the overwhelming options of digital tools. EPISODE LINKS Portfolio References: Check out the work of Klas Fahlen and Olympia Zagnoli to see mastery of craft and media paradigms in action. ⁠https://www.klasfahlen.se/⁠⁠https://www.olimpiazagnoli.com⁠Pre-order Bonuses: Pre-order Drawing Is Important to help boost the Amazon rankings and secure a commemorative poster (first 50) or a signed bookplate (first 500). ⁠https://www.tomfroese.com/book⁠One-on-One Coaching: If you want to pick my brain on these four pillars, book a session. ⁠https://www.tomfroese.com/coaching⁠The Illustration Department: Mentioning Giuseppe Castellano’s insights on being headed in the right direction. ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-illustration-department-podcast/id1467711251?i=1000755695311⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-illustration-department-podcast/id1467711251?i=1000754396715⁠Today's Action Exercise: The Operating System Paradox Ready to test your point of view? (Become a paid listener on Spotify or Patreon to access today’s “Action on Illustration” prompt). Tag me on Instagram @mrtomfroese or email me your results! TOM'S LINKS Work: ⁠⁠tomfroese.com⁠⁠Classes: ⁠⁠tomfroese.com/teaching⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠⁠

    13 min
  3. Just Add Line with Brandon Campbell

    10 MAR

    Just Add Line with Brandon Campbell

    📗 Pre-order Drawing Is Important: tomfroese.com/book Brandon Campbell (known online as @brandcamp) is a professional illustrator and former designer for Comedy Central and CNN. Brandon joins me to talk about his transition from digital motion graphics back to traditional media, his family legacy in the arts, and his unique "reverse colouring book" concept in his new book, Just Add Line. In this Episode The Thrill of the Hunt: We start off discussing our love of thrifting and what we consider the "holy grails" of vintage finds.A Family Tradition: What it was like growing up with an illustrator dad who drew for Time magazine and Star Wars.Reversing the Creative Process: The ideas behind Brandon’s new book, Just Add Line, which flips the traditional coloring book on its head.The Impact of AI: Brandon’s candid non-sugar-coated take on how AI and the current economy are shifting the landscape for professional illustrators.Mindset Hacks for Better Work: How to trick your brain into having more fun by treating client assignments like personal projects. Links and Resources Brandon Campbell’s Website: https://www.brandoncampbell.tv/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandcamp/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brandcamp Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/brandcamp Work Mentioned Just Add Line (Rizzoli) - https://www.brandoncampbell.tv/Birds Eat and Eat and Eat by Ed EmberleyEvelyn Ness (Illustrator) B. Dylan Hollis (Illustrations by Brandon) - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/742467/baking-across-america-by-b-dylan-hollis/9780744097603 Help Shape my Future Signature Course! My big goal this year is to create my first self-hosted course for illustrators. But I can't do it without your help! Please take my 5-minute survey at the following link. As a thank-you, you'll get 20% off the full price of the course when it launches. Signature Course Survey — ⁠Google Form Link⁠ ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHIixGnxIA9gLl4WLXtxb4JsTfj5FjU6l1T9Sm0Cv2DjnDWQ/viewform?usp=header⁠ Tom’s Links Work: ⁠tomfroese.com⁠Classes: ⁠tomfroese.com/teaching⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠

    1hr 27min
  4. Why Making Your Work Look Easy is So Hard | FREE PREVIEW

    2 MAR

    Why Making Your Work Look Easy is So Hard | FREE PREVIEW

    Pre-order Drawing is Important — http://tomfroese.com/book In this episode, I take on the "myth of artistic looseness." We often envy the "spontaneous" energy of artists like Quentin Blake, but the truth is that looking effortless requires a tone of effort. I dive into why your final illustrations feel "stiff" compared to your sketches and how to bridge that gap through what I call supervised spontaneity and confidence from competence.  IN THIS EPISODE • Three observations about artistic looseness • How to build "chaos" into a repeatable process.  • The Take-Two-ness of Glenn Gould: Why the best work happens in the studio, not live.  • Why even pros like Sir Quentin Blake struggle with achieving looseness. • The Exercise: A three-stage drawing challenge to help you unlock creative freedom in your drawings. EPISODE LINKS • Quentin Blake shares about his artistic neurosis in "How I draw" — https://quentinblake.com/about-drawing/how-i-draw • Glenn Gould Poster (Tom Froese, for Polaris Prize) — https://www.tomfroese.com/work/polaris-music-prize-glenn-gould • Glenn Gould's "Take-Two-Ness" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BachTheGoldberg_Variations_(Glenn_Gould_album) HOW TO SUPPORT You can support Thoughts on Illustration by: • Sharing this episode with a friend • Leaving a comment • Leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts • Following the show / subscribing to this channel • Becoming a paid supporter here or on Patreon — ⁠https://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠ FIND ME ELSEWHERE • Website — https://www.tomfroese.com • Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese • Daily Drawings — https://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant CREDITS Music and cues by Mark Allan Falk — https://linktr.ee/semiathletic DRAWING IS IMPORTANT — NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER My new book, Drawing Is Important, is your guide to making drawing a meaningful daily habit. Through stories, insights, and exercises, it helps you draw more often—with less pressure and more joy. Available 7 April 2026 — Pre-order now! The first 500 orders get a free hand-signed book plate! Look for "get pre-order prizes" after clicking the link. Pre-order Drawing is Important — http://tomfroese.com/book

    15 min
  5. Getting Paid to Draw with Mike Lowery

    10 FEB

    Getting Paid to Draw with Mike Lowery

    Pre-order Drawing is Important: ⁠⁠https://geni.us/DrawingisImportant⁠ Mike Lowery is an internationally recognized picture book illustrator and author, as well as fellow teacher and daily drawer. Mike joins me to talk about the business of illustration, finding his style, the impact of AI on the illustration industry, keeping a sketchbook habit, and using social media for illustrators. In this Episode The business of illustration: The difference between making art for its own sake and making art that actually does something.Finding Mike’s style: How an art director’s preference for Mike’s sketches over his “final art” style redefined his whole approach.AI and the industry: Mike’s hesitantly-offered but well-considered assessment on AI’s impact on illustration today.Daily Drawing Practice: Mike’s advice for keeping a sketchbook, whether on the daily or on the road. This conversation covers some of the big shifts of 2025-2026 in the illustration industry, but also goes into super-practical, hands-on tips that will make a difference in your illustration practice today. Links and Resources Mike Lowry’s Website: https://www.mikelowery.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelowrystudio Free E-book: Instagram for Illustrators (Scroll all the way down) — https://www.mikelowery.com/classes Work Mentioned: Random Illustrated Facts- https://www.mikelowery.com/random-illustrated-factsNo Sam series - https://www.mikelowery.com/portfolio/nosam Help Shape my Future Signature Course! My big goal this year is to create my first self-hosted course for illustrators. But I can't do it without your help! Please take my 5-minute survey at the following link. As a thank-you, you'll get 20% off the full price of the course when it launches. Signature Course Survey — ⁠Google Form Link⁠ ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHIixGnxIA9gLl4WLXtxb4JsTfj5FjU6l1T9Sm0Cv2DjnDWQ/viewform?usp=header⁠ Tom’s Links Work: ⁠tomfroese.com⁠ Classes: ⁠tomfroese.com/teaching⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠

    1hr 7min
  6. Are Your Side Projects Sabotaging Your Goals?

    30 JAN

    Are Your Side Projects Sabotaging Your Goals?

    Get your FREE Illustration Training Plan Worksheet (PDF) — https://www.tomfroese.com/freetrainingplan "It’s a marathon, not a sprint"—but what does that actually mean for your creative career? In this episode, Tom looks back at his biggest insights from 2025 and explains why trying to "do it all" is the fastest way to stall your progress. Using his experience as an ultramarathoner, Tom shares how to apply a training framework to your illustration practice to ensure you're building "functional strength" rather than just busy work. The Danger of Dabbling: Why multiple professional roles create competing interests. Training Blocks: How standard timelines help you build progressive fitness in your art. Functional Strength: Identifying which habits support your main goal and which ones undermine it. The Power of One: Why 2026 is the year of doing one thing exceptionally well. [Download] FREE Illustration Training Plan Worksheet [Read] 2025: The Year in Review (Substack) [Listen] The One Big Shift for Social Media in 2026 I’m building a new signature course for illustrators and I need your input. Take this 5-minute survey to help me build it, and get 20% off at launch!👉 Take the Survey Here

    45 min
  7. Standing Out and Surviving as an Illustrator Today with Tom Froese | Guest Episode

    13 JAN

    Standing Out and Surviving as an Illustrator Today with Tom Froese | Guest Episode

    Pre-order Drawing is Important: https://geni.us/DrawingisImportant What does it actually take to build a sustainable life in illustration—without burning out or chasing every new platform? In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation where I was the guest on Design Icons, produced by Noun Project. Nick Power’s questions gave me a chance to step back and reflect on my career honestly—what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what I’m still figuring out. We talk about: Lessons learned from a decade+ as an illustratorCreative plateaus and my worst year for client workWhy style is about reliability, not aestheticsHow constraints shape better workVisibility, sustainability, and what actually moves the needle This one covers all the classic interview questions, but it gave me a chance to reflect on the basics in a real, honest way. → Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/tomfroese→ Explore Noun Project: thenounproject.com

    56 min
  8. The One Big Shift I'm Making with Social Media in 2026 | FREE PREVIEW

    30/12/2025

    The One Big Shift I'm Making with Social Media in 2026 | FREE PREVIEW

    Become a paid supporter on Patreon— ⁠https://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠ What if social media isn’t actually social anymore—and what if that changes how creatives should use it? In this monologue episode, I reflect on a growing realization I’ve been wrestling with for years: social media has quietly shifted from a space for sharing and connection into something much closer to corporate media. And many independent creatives have been doing a lot of unpaid work for big tech without fully realizing it. I talk candidly about my own experience building audiences on Instagram, YouTube, and this podcast—and why the familiar promise of “just keep sharing and it will pay off” no longer feels like a fair trade. I unpack the gambling-like dynamics of algorithms, attention, and hope, and explain the one big mindset shift I’m making as I head into 2026. This episode isn’t about quitting social media. It’s about rethinking our relationship to it, getting clearer about what we’re actually selling, and using these platforms more intentionally—as business tools, not creative homes. 🙏 A huge thank-you to all paid supporters on Patreon and on Spotify. Your support makes these thoughtful, independent episodes possible. IN THIS EPISODE Why social media now functions more like corporate media than a social spaceHow algorithms turned “sharing” into a gambleWhy the old promise of free publicity no longer works for most creativesMy own experience building large followings—and what I’ve actually gotten backThe shift from thinking like a content creator to thinking like a business ownerWhy “look what I made” isn’t enough anymoreHow clarifying your product and your customer changes everythingWhat this mindset shift means for creatives heading into 2026 LINKS 🎨 Inky.af — My class on creating expressive, inky illustrations using analogue techniques in Affinity (now free forever) ⁠http://tomfroese.com/teaching/inkyaf⁠ 📗 Drawing Is Important — Book preorder available now ⁠http://geni.us/DrawingisImportant⁠ HOW TO SUPPORT You can support Thoughts on Illustration by: Sharing this episode with a friendLeaving a commentLeaving a rating or review on Apple PodcastsFollowing the show / subscribing to this channelBecoming a paid supporter here or on Patreon — ⁠https://patreon.com/tomfroese⁠FIND ME ELSEWHERE Website — ⁠https://www.tomfroese.com⁠Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠Daily Drawings — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/drawingisimportant⁠CREDITS Music and cues by Mark Allan Falk: https://linktr.ee/semiathletic⁠

    11 min
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About

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!

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Froese
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Tom Froese
  • Show Website
    Thoughts on Illustration

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