Thoughts on Illustration

• Being a Cartoonist for the New Yorker | Interview with Tom Toro

  How does one become a professional cartoonist? In this episode, I talk with New Yorker cartoonist Tom Toro, whose sharp wit clever drawings have kept readers laughing (and thinking) for more than fifteen years.Toro’s debut book, And to Think We Started as a Book Club (out now from Simon & Schuster), gathers the best of his cartoons from over a decade and a half at The New Yorker. In our conversation, we dig into the realities of professional cartooning — from the weekly grind of submissions and rejection, to the balance between writing and drawing, and the creative fire that keeps artists like Tom doing it anyway.🙏 Thank you to all paid supporters on Patreon — without your support, this would be an expensive hobby. Thank you!🟢 Listen on Spotify | 🟣 Listen on Apple Podcasts | 🔴 Listen/Watch on YouTubeCover of And to Think We Started as a Book Club …IN THIS EPISODEWhat it’s really like to be a New Yorker cartoonist — and why rejection is part of the jobHow the relationship between writing and drawing defines the cartoon formThe secret to making a success New Yorker-worthy cartoonWhy embracing imperfection keeps art aliveHow Tom feels about his body of work from the past 15 yearsSHOW LINKSTom Toro’s Website — https://www.tomtoro.comTom Toro on Instagram — www.instagram.com/tbtoro📕 And to Think We Started as a Book Club (Simon & Schuster, Oct 7 2025) — https://publishing.andrewsmcmeel.com/book/and-to-think-we-started-as-a-book-club/SLO-FI Illustrations (my new Skillshare class) — GET 30 DAYS FREE WHEN USING THIS LINK — https://skl.sh/4nbo3KT📗 Drawing is Important — https://geni.us/DrawingisImportantTHANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!You can show your appreciation for the Thoughts on Illustration podcast by:Sharing with your friends on social mediaLiking / Following / SubscribingLeaving a review on Apple PodcastsBecoming a paid supporter on Patreon — 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://linktr.ee/semiathleticThanks for reading Thoughts on Illustration with Mr. Tom Froese! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

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• The Illustrator’s (Smarter) Starter Pack | FREE PREVIEW

  Looking to Get Into Illustration? Here’s How to Begin.NEW—I am now offering free previews of Monologue episodes. This will help you decide if subscribing on Patreon / Spotify is right for you. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an Illustrator’s Starter Pack that could get you up and running as an illustrator ASAP? The reality is that any attempts to find a fast track into illustration could actually slow you down. In this episode, I share my SMART System: five paradigms (Styles, Markets, Applications, Reasons, Techniques) that help you get specific about what you want to make and where it belongs. Instead of hunting for the perfect gear or foolproof course list, SMART gives you a clear way to map your starting point.If you’ve been overwhelmed by tools, apps, or conflicting advice—and you just want a concrete way to begin—this episode is for you.IN THIS EPISODEWhy gear and classes alone won’t make you an illustratorThe SMART System overviewStyles vs. Techniques: how they relate and why they’re not the same thingMarkets vs. Applications: who buys the work vs. where the work livesReasons (purpose): the “why” that sharpens every briefThe closest thing to a starter pack? — (iPad + Apple Pencil + Procreate)How to use SMART to choose your next practice project and reduce decision paralysisTwo starter-pack parables: first-aid kits and flimsy badminton setsAs always (from now on), a reflection prompt to help you turn my thoughts into your actions!SHOW LINKSMalika Favre (style reference) — malikafavre.comHervé Tullet (style reference) — herve-tullet.comJohn Roman, 45 Markets of Illustration (markets overview)What is Risograph Printing? (technique primer) — risottostudio.comProcreate (iPad app) — procreate.artMy New Skillshare Class — SLO-FI IllustrationsHOW TO LISTEN/READIf you’d like to hear the full version of monologue episodes like this one:Join on Patreon for as low as $3/monthBecome a paid subscriber on Spotif ($2.99/month)This is also available as a story on Medium for paid members on that platform.FIND ME ELSEWHEREWork and Classes — tomfroese.comInstagram — instagram.com/mrtomfroeseDaily Drawings — instagram.com/drawingisimportantCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk — Semiathletic on Linktree

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• Season 4 Preview: Big Changes are Coming!

  Welcome to a special preview episode of Thoughts on Illustration. At the end of last season, I wasn’t sure if this podcast would continue — but here I am. After a summer of reflection (and a little camping, surfing, and book work), I’m ready to share how Season 4 will look different.This season I’m making changes to keep the podcast sustainable for me and more valuable for you. Season 4 officially begins on September 9 with the first monologue episode.IN THIS PREVIEWUpdates from my summer: working on my book Drawing is Important (out early 2026), teaching, and new class prepWhy I nearly quit the podcast — and what convinced me to keep goingThe 3 key shifts for Season 4New Patreon perks: quarterly Q&A sessions, monthly Draw With Me, and access to every episodeSUPPORT THIS PODCASTJoin on Patreon — To hear all episodes — monologues and interviews — join me on Patreon starting at $3/month. Drawing Buddies at $8/month also get access to monthly Draw With Me sessions and replays.patreon.com/tomfroeseFollow on Substack — Free listeners will still get access to all interview episodes on your podcast app or via Substack at mrtomfroese.substack.com.GET IN TOUCHEmail - [email protected] - tomfroese.com

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• Is This Still Working? A Look Back at Season 3

  In this episode, I reflect on the journey of the podcast so far and the evolution of my illustration process. From overcoming burnout in the early seasons to finding a sustainable rhythm in Season 3, I discuss how the podcast has mirrored my own creative growth. Alongside this, I get real about the challenges of balancing podcasting with the rest of my life and career, the emotional toll of self-doubt, and the joy of connecting with listeners. Plus, I dive into the challenges of building a community around the podcast and the ups and downs of monetization. I open up with a story about the little man who tried to tear me down on Threads. If you’ve ever felt like giving up on something you love or questioned whether your efforts are worth it, this episode is for you.IN THIS EPISODEReflections on three seasons of podcasting and illustrationThe challenges of balancing podcasting with other creative projectsHow self-doubt and external criticism can shake your confidenceFinding joy and fulfillment in podcasting, despite the obstaclesThe question of whether podcasting is still worth the effort—how to know when to keep goingThe evolving mindset behind my illustration process and the shift from burnout to rewildingPLUS – Why I decided to stop doing custom episode art and the joy of simplifying the process.SHOW LINKSDrawing Ideas (Skillshare Class) — Tom Froese Drawing IdeasCreative Boom: Top Podcasts for Creatives 2025 — Creative Boom ListHOW TO SUPPORTShare with your friends on social media!Like, Sub, Follow, Comment, ReviewSupport on Patreon - patreon.com/tomfroeseBECOME A DRAWING BUDDYLive, monthly Draw With Me meetupsAll past DWMs available as replaysExclusive access to the DWM Discord ServerFIND ME ELSEWHEREWork and Classes | Instagram | Daily DrawingsCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk – semiathletic on Linktree

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• What I Got Wrong About Going Analog

  In this episode, I share my thoughts on the evolving meaning of “rewilding” my illustration process. Originally, rewilding meant bringing analog elements back into my work—inking on paper, scanning textures, doing things the “hard” way. But lately, I’ve been asking myself: is it really about going analog? Or is it about something deeper? In this episode, I unpack how rewilding is less about tools and more about mindset. I look at how digital tools can either suffocate or support our creativity, depending on how we use them. And I share how I’m finding spontaneity, joy, and pride in my work—even when it’s 100% digital.If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your creative process, or worried about how AI and digital tools are affecting your style, this episode is for you.I also share some reflections on the Amish, digital minimalism, and why your mechanical pencil will never ask you to rate it on the App Store.IN THIS EPISODEWhy rewilding might be a mindset, not a mediumHow digital tools can both hinder and help creative joyWhat I’ve rediscovered about spontaneity, surprise, and storytelling in illustrationWhy pride in your process matters—and how to get it backHow AI is forcing illustrators to reevaluate their processThe three key questions I now ask to evaluate any creative toolPLUS – Why my Apple Pencil will never beat a Mason jar full of ink water.SHOW LINKSDrawing Ideas (Skillshare Class) — https://www.tomfroese.com/teaching/drawingideasPost by @brettpstenson — https://www.instagram.com/p/DKiYMKHSapr/?img_index=1See How Book Artwork Was Done In The Old Days Before Computers — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5YoyBvX1f8Graphic Design Tools Before Photoshop — https://youtu.be/O-XrRQf7BPM?si=GqEeaFOWfW3A87LlMy early style (Tom Froese Postcard example) — https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5aa6d6c0a9e028fce5f7f4b2/1523840966237-XPQXSOX8HCUS9WI1SEDW/Tom+Froese+Stationery-3.jpgMy style a few years ago (totally digital) — https://www.tomfroese.com/work/canadianidentityMy more recent style (more rewilded, in spite of being all digital) — https://www.instagram.com/p/DJr4MSTyTTv/ (image for my upcoming book, Drawing is Important).HOW TO SUPPORTShare this episode with your friends!Like / Subscribe / Follow / Comment / Review on Apple PodcastsBecome a $3 Supporter or $8 Drawing Buddy on Patreon – patreon.com/tomfroeseBECOME A DRAWING BUDDYLive, monthly Draw With Me meetupsAll past DWMs available as replaysExclusive access to the DWM Discord ServerJoin hereFIND ME ELSEWHEREWork and ClassesInstagramDaily DrawingsCREDITSMusic and Cues by Mark Allan Falk – semiathletic on Linktree

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