John Cuneo

Award-winning cartoonist, John Cuneo, talks to Giuseppe Castellano about John’s career before and after his “artistic crisis”. They discuss how insecurity and anxiety drive wedges between an artist and their work; why John “goes there” with his “NSFW” illustrations; what role depression plays in John’s, and Giuseppe’s, lives; and much more.

Before you listen to this episode, you should know:
Sex, trauma, and self-harm are discussed.

To learn more about John, visit johncuneo.com.

Artists mentioned in this episode include: Steve Brodner, Thomas Nast, David Levine, Joe Ciardiello, James McMullan, Ed Sorel, Roz Chast, Steve Guarnaccia, and Egon Schiele

While speaking about depression, John cited this line from poet, Rainer Maria Rilke: “If my devils are to leave me, I am afraid my angels will take flight as well.”

He also quotes, Irvin D. Yalom, in saying that, “Sooner or later [you] have to relinquish the goal of having a better past.”

If you find value in this podcast, consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack, or a supporter on Patreon. On either platform, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”—among other perks and benefits. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

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If you find value in this podcast, consider supporting it via Substack or Patreon. / This podcast is produced by IllustrationDept.com—a global leader in online education for illustrators. / The music for this podcast was created by Oatmello.

If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, you can email Giuseppe.