Sketchbooks, Storytelling & The Business of Illustration with Mike Lowery
Release Date: 03/12/2025
Getting Out of the Screen and Into Your Life: A Heartfelt Conversation With Sarah Walsh on Dream Projects, Self-Sabotage, and Creative Ruts Part 2 (Replay)
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Sarah Walsh for part two of their heartfelt conversation where they discuss finding inspiration, committing time and energy to yourself, slowing down, and Sarah’s Domestika class amongst more. Sarah is an illustrator, painter and designer with home goods, children's books, socially conscious based projects, nature and loves tapping into mystical subject matter as the mainstays of her work. She is also the co-proprietor of the illustrative product based brand Tigersheep Friends. She collects books, new and old, plants, adores folk art and also loves cooking, thrifting,...
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Getting Out of the Screen and Into Your Life: A Heartfelt Conversation With Sarah Walsh on Dream Projects, Self-Sabotage, and Creative Ruts (Replay)
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Sarah Walsh in this two part conversation where they go in-depth on finding motivation, leaning into intuition, how you can work on your true dream project today, by taking ahold of your time, and your yeses. Sarah is an illustrator, painter and designer with home goods, children's books, socially conscious based projects, nature and loves tapping in to mystical subject matter as the mainstays of her work. She is also the co-proprietor of the illustrative product based brand Tigersheep Friends. She collects books, new and old, plants, adores folk art and also loves cooking,...
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Taxes for Humans: Hannah Cole on Self-Employment, Creativity, and Money Without Shame
Windowsill Chats
Margo Tantau is joined by artist, tax expert, and founder of Sunlight Tax, Hannah Cole, for a refreshingly human conversation about money, creativity, and her new book, Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed. Hannah brings compassion, clarity, and humor to a topic many creatives carry shame, fear, or confusion around—and reframes taxes as something that can actually support creative, mission-driven work rather than stifle it. Margo and Hannah discuss: Why creative work is economically vital and plays a real role in shaping culture How the tax...
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The Pull to Paint: How Juliene Sinclair Built Confidence, Color Skills, and Creative Joy as a Watercolor Artist & Muralist
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by watercolor landscape artist and muralist Juliene Sinclair, a creative whose passion for color runs as deep as the mountains she paints in. Juliene is dedicated to helping painters finally understand color—why it behaves the way it does, how to mix it with intention, and how mastering it can completely transform artistic confidence. She believes that once you grasp how color truly works, your entire creative world opens up. Juliene lives in the mountains with her husband, son, and two cats, and when she’s not painting, she’s likely geeking out about color theory or...
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Creating Joy on Purpose: Kate Smith on Reinvention, Creative Courage & Making People Smile
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by artist and joy-maker Kate Smith, the creative force behind Kate Smith Co.™, a brand dedicated to finding “the happy that’s already here” in everyday moments. Kate has built a thriving career in greeting cards and art licensing, working with beloved partners in the U.S. and U.K. to create products that make people smile. From early success with her first brand, From Frank, to a full reimagining of her creative path, Kate’s journey is filled with bold decisions, reinvention, and a commitment to following what feels joyful. She also spent seven years living and...
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The Art of Exchange: Risk, Rebellion & Connection with Edgeworth Johnstone
Windowsill Chats
Margo sits down with Edgeworth Johnstone — a musician, painter, printmaker, and the unconventional creative force behind The Camden Market Free Art Man. With deep roots in the raw and gritty culture of Camden, Edgeworth has built a life around instinct-driven art, spirited collaboration, and connection through creativity. He shares how a childhood love of music evolved into multiple bands, how discovering painting later unlocked a new artistic identity, and why giving away his work in exchange for stories has become one of his most meaningful projects yet. From working with the Black Ivory...
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The Power of Creative Expression & Living Life in Full Color: Amy Lohr on Creative Healing and Finding Your Voice
Windowsill Chats
Margo sits down with artist, writer, and creative director Amy Lohr to talk about the nonlinear, magical, and sometimes messy journey of reclaiming your creative voice. Amy shares how a personal “creative awakening” helped her move through body dysmorphia and social anxiety, and how painting, writing, and photography became tools for healing and deeper self-understanding. They explore the spiritual and practical sides of creativity—from living off-grid in Hawaii, to writing her book Like the Sun at Midday, to embracing curiosity in all its unexpected forms (yes, including papier-mâché...
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Out of the Ashes: Poetry, Resilience & Reclaiming Your Voice with Courtney Peppernell
Windowsill Chats
Margo sits down with internationally bestselling poet and storyteller Courtney Peppernell. Known for her Pillow Thoughts series and many other beloved poetry collections, Courtney has spent nearly a decade writing about love, healing, and the resilience that carries us through life’s hardest moments. Her words have reached millions across the globe, offering comfort and connection through the power of honest storytelling. In this conversation, Courtney shares how her creative journey has evolved—from “accidental poet” to global literary voice—and how her newest book, Out of the...
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It Starts With You: Claiming Your Creative Identity, Building Confidence & Community with Martina Flor
Windowsill Chats
Margo welcomes internationally acclaimed lettering artist, illustrator, author, and creative mentor Martina Flor to the show. Originally trained as a graphic designer in Argentina, Martina took a leap of faith that led her to Berlin — and eventually to building one of the most recognized lettering studios in the world. Through bold choices, ongoing experimentation, and a belief in the power of claiming your identity, she has carved out a career filled with artistry, entrepreneurship, and community. Martina opens up about what it really looks like to follow your passion before the world has...
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For the Love of Renovating: How the Brownstone Boys Built a Brand Rooted in Authenticity and a Creative Life from the Ground Up
Windowsill Chats
Margo sits down with Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum—better known as The Brownstone Boys—a Brooklyn-based couple, award-winning interior designers, and renovation experts known for their ability to breathe new life into historic homes while keeping design fresh, livable, and true to their roots. What began as a shared passion project to restore their first brownstone quickly became a creative business built on authenticity, approachability, and an unshakable belief in learning by doing. Without formal design training, Barry and Jordan leaned on curiosity, community, and sheer persistence...
info_outlineMargo is joined by illustrator, author, and sketchbook enthusiast Mike Lowery, a New York Times Best-Selling Illustrator whose work spans over 80 books, greeting cards, magazines, and even food trucks. Known for his playful, humor-infused drawings, Mike shares his creative journey and insights into the business of illustration. In addition to making books, Mike is an avid sketchbook-keeper and has taught classes worldwide, including more than 30,000 students in-person and online, and encourages others to join him in starting a daily drawing habit and in the business of illustration.
Margo and Mike discuss:
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How Mike’s childhood passion for drawing superheroes in a Filipino grocery store led to a career in illustration
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The moment he received his first check for his art (and why he still keeps it)
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His love for humor in art and how it shaped his path in children's book illustration
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The importance of maintaining a consistent sketchbook practice for creativity and career growth
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How to build a portfolio that speaks directly to potential clients by focusing on project-based ideas
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The evolving role of social media for artists and how he approaches it today
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Finding inspiration through travel, daily life, and keeping curiosity alive
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Teaching and encouraging others to start a daily drawing habit
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The intersection of art and business—how to navigate the industry and create a sustainable career
Connect with Mike:
www.instagram.com/mikelowerystudio
Connect with Margo:
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill
https://www.yourtantaustudio.com/thefoundry