Following a Good Idea: Salli Swindell on Illustration, Creative Community, and Finding Joy Beyond Client Work
Release Date: 03/11/2026
Three Good Things: A Practice in Perspective, Hope, and Everyday Joy with Emily Gaines Demsky
Windowsill Chats
Margo sits down with artist, writer, and creator Emily Gaines Demsky for a conversation centered on creativity, perspective, and the quiet power of noticing what’s good. Emily makes vibrant floral paintings (symbols of hope and possibility), and is the founder of Tell Me 3 Good Things, a Substack community practice centered on noticing, naming, and sharing simple moments of goodness each day. Through her work, she invites others to shift their perspective in meaningful, life-giving ways. Emily’s approach blends art, writing, and daily ritual into a powerful reminder: even in difficult...
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What’s the Best That Could Happen? Madison Phipps on Building an Art Business in the Margins
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by artist and illustrator Madison Phipps, the creative force behind Madison Phipps Studio. Known for her feminine, timeless botanical artwork rooted in nostalgia and storytelling, Madison shares how she’s built a growing art business while balancing motherhood and a full-time job. From painting in the quiet margins of her day to landing dream collaborations and launching collections, this conversation is a refreshing and honest look at what it really takes to pursue creativity in the “messy middle.” Margo and Madison explore the mindset shifts, practical strategies, and...
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Creative Current Events: The Future of Licensing & the Reinvention of Retail
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined once again by Abby Campbell for a Creative Current Events catch-up episode, and this one is packed. After a short hiatus, the two dive right back into the ever-evolving world of art, design, and creative business—starting with Margo’s firsthand experience exhibiting at the Birmingham Spring Fair’s new Licensing Lab. She shares what stood out, from booth design trends to the shifting landscape of licensing and wholesale in a post-SurTex world, offering a behind-the-scenes look at where the industry is heading. From there, Margo and Abby broaden the conversation into a...
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Draw Your World: Samantha Dion Baker on Sketchbook Diaries, Everyday Inspiration, and Letting Go of Perfection
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by artist, author, and teacher Sam Dion Baker for a conversation about creativity, sketchbook practice, and finding meaning in the everyday. Originally from Philadelphia and now based in Brooklyn, Sam spent over two decades as a graphic designer before returning to drawing in her forties—ultimately building a deeply personal and widely loved sketchbook diary practice. Through her books, teaching, and artwork, Sam encourages others to slow down, observe their lives, and express themselves in their own unique way. Margo and Sam discuss: How a lifelong exposure to art shaped...
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Following a Good Idea: Salli Swindell on Illustration, Creative Community, and Finding Joy Beyond Client Work
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by illustrator, creative community builder, and industry champion Salli Swindell, who has spent nearly five decades in the illustration world. Salli began her career at American Greetings before co-founding several beloved platforms with her brother Nate Padavick—including They Draw, The Illustrator’s Circle, and Illustrators For Hire—all dedicated to celebrating and promoting illustrators around the globe. Margo and Salli explore Salli’s creative evolution, from decades of client-driven illustration work to embracing a more personal, self-directed creative practice....
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Get Paid to Draw: Mike Lowery on Building a Portfolio That Gets You Hired
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined once again by celebrated illustrator, author, and educator Mike Lowery for a lively conversation about the realities of building a creative career. Mike is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of more than 80 books for children and he’s spent decades navigating the ups and downs of freelance illustration and publishing. In this episode, Margo and Mike pick up where their first conversation left off—diving into the lessons Mike has learned over twenty years as a working illustrator, what it actually takes to build a portfolio that attracts clients, and why being...
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Creativity’s Edge: Skill Over Talent & the Case for Creating Before You Consume with Susan Riley
Windowsill Chats
Margo Tantau is joined by educator, researcher, and national leader in creativity, arts integration, and STEAM education, Susan Riley. As the founder of the Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM and author of Creativity’s Edge, Susan brings a refreshing, deeply human perspective on creativity — not as an artistic gift or innovation buzzword, but as a decision-making skill essential for navigating uncertainty, complexity, and an increasingly AI-influenced world. Susan shares her journey from growing up as a self-described “farm girl” in Pennsylvania to becoming a pioneer in arts...
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Credibility, Point of View & Relevance: Gloria Chou’s No-Gatekeeper PR Approach
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by award-winning PR strategist, community builder, and host of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria Chou. Known for disrupting traditional PR by helping creatives, founders, and small business owners land top-tier media using AI tools instead of big budgets or insider connections. In this episode, Gloria joins Margo to unpack how PR now fuels AI search visibility, why press and podcasts act as modern trust signals, and how artists, makers, and small brands can use accessible tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity to pitch with clarity, credibility, and relevance. Margo and Gloria...
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Creative Paths Without a Blueprint: Building Art Programs, Practices, and Possibility with Ashley Lohr
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Ashley Lohr, an artist, educator, and community builder based in Petersburg, Alaska—a small fishing island town where she has taught art for nearly two decades. Working across painting and enamel jewelry, Ashley has built a creative life rooted in place, curiosity, and long-term commitment. From sustaining robust school art programs to teaching workshops far beyond the classroom, her path is a testament to what can unfold when artists design lives that support both their work and their values. Ashley shares how moving to Alaska at 23 shaped her identity as both a teacher...
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Creating a Career Without Labels: How Jill Labieniec Cultivates Creative Satisfaction in Multiple Mediums
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Jill Labieniec, an illustrator, designer, and endlessly curious maker living on Vashon Island in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Working primarily with watercolor, Jill’s whimsical illustrations and patterns have found homes on everything from fabrics and home goods to books, stationery, and editorial projects. Alongside her illustration practice, she has a deep love for working with her hands—sewing dresses, making shoes, and shaping clay—guided by a belief that art should help people create spaces where they can rest, daydream, and grow. In this episode Jill...
info_outlineMargo is joined by illustrator, creative community builder, and industry champion Salli Swindell, who has spent nearly five decades in the illustration world. Salli began her career at American Greetings before co-founding several beloved platforms with her brother Nate Padavick—including They Draw, The Illustrator’s Circle, and Illustrators For Hire—all dedicated to celebrating and promoting illustrators around the globe. Margo and Salli explore Salli’s creative evolution, from decades of client-driven illustration work to embracing a more personal, self-directed creative practice.
Margo and Salli discuss:
- The power of starting small and following curiosity instead of waiting for a master plan
- How Salli and her brother Nate built global platforms from the ground up
- Why partnerships with people who have different strengths can open unexpected doors
- Salli’s shift from decades of client-driven illustration work to developing a personal creative practice
- The origin story of Snack + Sketch, a gathering that blends creativity, food, and meaningful connection
- Why community, creativity, and shared meals can be powerful pillars of wellness
- How simple gatherings around your kitchen table can spark inspiration and lasting creative friendships
Connect with Salli:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallistyle/
Website: https://freshfoodillustration.cargo.site
Illustrators For Hire: https://illustratorsforhire.com
The Illustrator’s Circle: https://www.illustratorscircle.com
They Draw: https://www.they-draw.com
Connect with Margo: