James Hughes is an illustration rep, the author of the book, The Illustrator’s Guide: How to create an exceptional freelance illustration career. He is also the host of The Illustrator’s Guide Youtube channel, and the founder of illustrators.com, a curated platform connecting brands, agencies, and publishers with experienced illustrors.

In this episode, Nathan and James discuss his journey to becoming a rep, the various challenges facing illustrators today, and various strategies for mitigating those difficulties.

Learn more about James and his work:
Instagram: instagram.com/theillustratorsguide
The Book: theillustratorsguide.com/book
Website: illustrators.com

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

Nicholas Wilson is a painter, sculptor, and wood engraver based in Green Valley, Arizona.
 
In this episode, Nathan and Nick discuss his experience as a fine artist and the joys and challenges of wood engraving.
 
Learn more about Nick and his work:
Online Store: etsy.com/shop/WilsonWoodengravings
Website: nicholaswilsonstudio.com/

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process


Theme music by Jordan Egstad

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

In this episode, Nathan sits down with illustrators, Clinton Campbell and Brad Hodgkiss, who, along with Miné Day, are the founding partners of Studio MUTI—an illustration studio based in Cape Town, South Africa. Listen in for the backstory on Studio MUTI and the multidisciplinary philosophy that guides the incredible work that they do. 


Learn more about studio MUTI:
studiomuti.co.za/
instagram.com/studiomuti

x.com/studioMUTI
dribbble.com/studioMUTI

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad 

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

In this episode, Nathan sits down with illustrators, Brad Woodard (Brave The Woods) and Dustin Lee (Retro Supply) to discuss their respective paths to illustration, the struggles of starting and maintaining a businesses, and the ways in which their friendship has shaped their work over the years.
 
Brad and Dustin are also hosts of The Creative Slash podcast, a podcast providing an inside look at what really drives some the world’s greatest graphic designers, illustrators, and artists.


Learn more about Brad and Dustin’s work:
Brad Woodard: 
bravethewoods.com
instagram.com/brave_the_woods 
Dustin Lee:
retrosupply.co
The Creative Slash Podcast:
youtube.com/@CreativeSlashPodcast 

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad 

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

In this episode Nathan reads and comments on an article recently published to Creative Boom: Illustrated thinking: Why brands are turning back to drawing.

The full article can be found here: https://www.creativeboom.com/insight/illustrated-thinking-why-brands-are-turning-back-to-drawing/

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad 

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

Ken Jacobsen is a illustrator based in Tempe, Arizona, specializing in woodcut and line engraving techniques.
 
In this episode, Nathan and Ken discuss how he got into illustration, a bit of art history, and his experience in navigating the hype cycles of new technologies over the course of his 40 year career.

Learn more about Ken Jacobsen and his work:
Dribbble: dribbble.com/kenjacobsen
Website: penart.com/

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

Jordan is an award-winning South African creative director and artist with a focus on thoughtful, story-driven identity design and experimental custom lettering and typography.
 
In this episode, Nathan and Jordan’s discuss his journey from hand lettering and branding to his recent focus on wood carving. They reflect on the impact of social media, the value of working offline, and the tension between creative authenticity and online trends. The episode concludes with a thoughtful exchange on the importance of process over product and the need for both individual and collective responsibility in the face of rapid technological change.
 
Learn more about Jordan Metcalf and his work:
Instagram: instagram.com/jordan_metcalf
Website: jordan-metcalf.com


Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process
 
Theme music by Jordan Egstad

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

Brayden Heath is a commercial photographer based out of Denver, Colorado.
 
In this episode, Nathan and Brayden Heath discuss his path to being a freelance photographer, the AI question, and the value of struggle in cultivating gratitude and contributing meaning to our lives and work.
 
Learn more about Brayden Heath and his work:
instagram.com/braydenheath/
braydenheath.com/
 
Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:01:24) Abraham's Background
(00:09:05) The Evolution of Hand Lettering
(00:17:31) The Value of Mentorship and Community
(00:32:07) The Impact of Technology on Art and Design
(00:45:16) Building Trust & Finding Like-minded Clients
(00:55:26) Digital Mediation of Relationships
(01:08:31) Conclusion

Abraham is a lettering artist and multidisciplinary designer based in New York City.
 
In this episode, Nathan and Abraham discuss his background in design, the importance of finding mentors and like minded clients, and the need to meaningfully connect our work to those around us.


Learn more about Abraham Lule and his work:
Instagram.com/abrahamlule/
workbylule.com/


Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com 
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad 

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:00:57) Gaspar's Background
(00:06:42) Gaspar's beginning in freelance illustration
(00:31:56) Creative Process & Client Work
(00:34:02) Traditional vs. Digital Illustration
(00:51:32) AI and Technology in Illustration
(01:07:48) Marketing, Outreach, and Building a Career
(01:28:16) Conclusion

 Gaspar Costa, is a Portugal based illustrator working in traditional line engraving techniques and hand lettering.
 
In this episode, Nathan and Gaspar Costa discuss Gaspar’s beginnings in illustration, the ways in which he has adapted his process over time and, the importance of maintaining personal connections in our digital age.

Free Vectorizor Mentioned in the podcast: DragPotrace 
Graphic interface, by Akira Sato. Vectorizor engine by Peter Selinger, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Dalhousie University.


Learn more about Gaspar Costa and his work:
nstagram.com/thegasparcosta/
x.com/GasparArte
tiktok.com/@thegasparcosta
thegasparcosta.com/


Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Theme music by Jordan Egstad

In this episode, Katherine shares her essay, Tolkien, Technology, and Totalizing Forces: The unsettling resemblance between the One Ring and Artificial Intelligence

Read Katherine's essay on Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-168343007

We want to hear from you! If this essay resonated with you or if you have objections, please write to us at podcast@yondrstudio.com

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
Podcast page: yondrstudio.com/podcast
Online store: store.yondrstudio.com
Instagram: instagram.com/nathanyoder/
Info on working with Yondr Studio: yondrstudio.com/process

Joe Swec is an artist, hand letterer, and muralist based in Austin, Texas.

In this episode, Nathan and Joe discuss how he stumbled into hand lettering after leaving a career in engineering, the ethic behind his work, and the merits of spontinaity.

Learn more about Joe Swec and his work:
instagram.com/jswec
https://jswec.myshopify.com/

Learn more about Yondr Studio:
yondrstudio.com/podcast
instagram.com/nathanyoder/

Michael Halbert is an illustrator with 40years experience in scratchboard illustration.

In this episode, Nathan and Michael discuss Michael's background, their shared experiences in working with scratchboard, and what the transition from traditional to digital illustration can teach illustrators confronting generative AI today.

Learn more about Michael Halber and his work:
instagram.com/michaelhalbert
inkart.com

Learn more about Nathan Yoder Yondr Studio:
yondrstudio.com/podcast
instagram.com/nathanyoder/

Peter Leadberg is a graphic designer and sign painter based in Tokyo.

In this episode, Nathan and Peter discuss Peter's background, the merits of physical media, and what the historic clash between sign painting and vinyl signage can teach illustrators and designers confronting generative AI today.

Learn more about Peter Leadberg and his work:
instagram.com/letter_boy
letter-boy.com

Learn more about Nathan Yoder Yondr Studio:
yondrstudio.com/podcast
instagram.com/nathanyoder/

Joshua Ariza is a graphic designer, illustrator, and founder of Chomp, a clothing brand based in Costa Mesa, California. In this episode, Nathan and Joshua discuss Joshua's background, the development of Chomp, and the importance of advocating for your work. 

Learn more about Joshua and his work:
JoshuaAriza.com
Chompbrand.com
instagram.com/joshua_ariza
x.com/joshua_ariza

yondrstudio.com/podcast
instagram.com/nathanyoder/

Jordan Egstad is a graphic designer, web developer, and creative director at Design Business Company. In this episode, Nathan and Jordan discuss his background and the ways in which he has been leveraging AI tools and thinking through their impact on the communication arts. 

Learn more about Jordan and his work:
egstad.com (personal site)
dbco.online (studio site)
instagram.com/jordanegstad
x.com/jordanegstad

yondrstudio.com/podcast
instagram.com/nathanyoder/

David Grimes is the man behind Masgrimes, a calligraphy studio in Portland, Oregon, offering fine writing, calligraphy, and traditional engrossing services. In this episode, Nathan and David discuss David's background, the impact of new technologies on calligraphy over time, and takeaways from that which we can apply to our current age of AI.

Learn more about David Grimes at masgrimes.com

yondrstudio.com/podcast
store.yondrstudio.com
instagram.com/nathanyoder/

In this episode, Nathan and Katherine Yoder introduce themselves and share an overview of their views on AI and its implications for illustration, graphic design, and art in general.

yondrstudio.com/podcast
store.yondrstudio.com
instagram.com/nathanyoder/

Music by Jordan Egstad.