The Good Ship Illustration: An Interview with Lisa Congdon – Consistency and Finding Your Creative Voice

Episode Date: December 5, 2025

Overview

In this inspiring episode, the Good Ship Illustration team—Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, and Tania Willis—welcome acclaimed illustrator, author, and creative mentor Lisa Congdon. The conversation centers on Lisa’s remarkable consistency, how she found her creative voice, the realities of building a career in illustration, and navigating the ever-evolving demands of social media. Lisa offers candid reflections, actionable advice, and genuine insight into the ups and downs of her journey, making this a must-listen for emerging and established illustrators alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature of Consistency in Lisa's Work

[00:33–03:13]

• Lisa describes herself as someone who goes "all in" on things she loves, ranging from her art to collecting objects and athletic pursuits.
• Her first self-produced calendar in 2016 was a turning point. Despite early nerves about sales, it became a yearly signature item due to its popularity and her commitment.
• Lisa credits her ability to hyper-focus and sustain interest as a core personality trait aiding her career:

  "If you were to come into my house, I would take you downstairs and you would see the collection of ceramic mushrooms and the collection of tigers from all over the world. ... When I'm really interested in something, I hyper focus on it and do it a lot." (Lisa Congdon, 00:56)

2. Navigating the Difficult Early Years

[03:13–08:39]

• Lisa started her illustration career in her late 30s, bringing valuable organizational skills from her nonprofit background.
• She emphasizes the challenge of the "scrappy place"—figuring out your voice, supporting yourself financially, and getting noticed.
• Willingness to share "imperfect" work and diversify income streams (Etsy, commissions, pet portraits, etc.) helped her survive and thrive.
• Notable quote:

  "I'm not a perfectionist and I was really willing to make mediocre work. ... The imperfection in my work is what makes it special. And I think that's true for other people too." (Lisa Congdon, 05:14)

3. Power of Creativity & Multiple Income Streams

[08:39–09:00]

• Lisa and the hosts agree that a creative mindset is a superpower, enabling illustrators to innovate income sources, especially during challenging times.

4. The Role of Side Projects in Career Growth

[09:00–10:09]

• Lisa’s personal projects, like "A Collection a Day" and "365 Days of Hand Lettering," put her on the creative map. She shares how these projects went viral and cemented her position in the industry.
• Memorable anecdote:

  "I remember telling my now wife that I was going to do this project every day ... and she was like, 'You're nuts, what's wrong with you?' And I was like, 'Trust me, this is going to lead to something.' And sure enough, it did." (Lisa Congdon, 09:30)

5. Working With (and Without) an Agent

[10:09–13:43]

• Lisa reflects on having agents at different stages, starting with Lilla Rogers, venturing solo, and returning to agency representation when brand collaborations grew complex.
• She explains the value of an agent for negotiating, pricing, and difficult client situations:

  "My agent really helped me to navigate that. She helped me process how I was feeling. She showed up to conversations and got to be the bad cop so that I didn't have to do that." (Lisa Congdon, 13:31)

• Advice for freelance illustrators: when unsure about pricing, always ask clients for their budget.

6. The Instagram Era—Building and Maintaining an Audience

[13:43–18:00]

• Lisa chronicles growing her audience during Instagram’s golden era, where her bright, message-forward art was a perfect fit.
• Shift to video-focused algorithms left her feeling out of place. She acknowledges her resistance to becoming a "content creator":

  "Deeply do not identify as a content creator. I deeply identify as an artist and an illustrator. ... I have a lot of gratitude that I was able to grow my following during a time when Instagram favored the stuff that I liked to make and post. ... But it's changed so much and it's not a place that I feel as much at home anymore." (Lisa Congdon, 16:53–17:58)

7. Social Media Fatigue, Comparison, and Self-Doubt

[18:00–19:50]

• Lisa opens up about burnout, comparison, and the pressures of constant posting, despite her success.
• Tools for overcoming comparison: focusing on her own sense of purpose, following her gut, and doing what brings her joy.
• Notable quote:

  "I'm human and I experience all the things. ... The times when I follow my gut and my heart and my sense of purpose ... that's where I thrive." (Lisa Congdon, 19:50)

8. Retrospective: Pivotal Career Moves

[21:11–26:45]

• Lisa credits her year-long daily projects and early product licensing as transformative moments—neither of which were planned as career boosters.
• She underlines the importance of showing up, being consistent, and letting opportunities snowball:

  "That idea of both practicing something, earnestly being consistent, showing up every day, doing the thing whether I wanted to or not ... Over time I did develop a lettering style." (Lisa Congdon, 21:42)

• Sharing stories of early shows and licensing deals (with Chronicle Books), Lisa illustrates how serendipity, coupled with putting work into the world, leads to breakthroughs.
• Encouragement for listeners:

  "I knew that I had to keep trying different things. Showing up, making art and putting it out into the world. Eventually, if there was an audience for my work, that audience would find me and I would find them." (Lisa Congdon, 25:56)

9. Personal Insights and Fun Tangents

[26:45–27:28]

• The hosts and Lisa briefly discuss human design and personality-based decision making, reflecting on Lisa’s manifesting generator traits.

10. Closing Thoughts

[27:33–27:45]

• The hosts gush over Lisa’s insights, calling her a "dream podcast guest."
• Lisa graciously thanks them for having her.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "If you were to come into my house, I would take you downstairs and you would see the collection of ceramic mushrooms and the collection of tigers from all over the world. Not real ones, obviously. ... When I'm really interested in something, I hyper focus on it and do it a lot."
  — Lisa Congdon, [00:56]

• "I'm not a perfectionist and I was really willing to make mediocre work. ... The imperfection in my work is what makes it special."
  — Lisa Congdon, [05:14]

• "I remember telling my now wife that I was going to do this project every day ... and she was like, 'You're nuts, what's wrong with you?' And I was like, 'Trust me, this is going to lead to something.' And sure enough, it did."
  — Lisa Congdon, [09:27]

• "Deeply do not identify as a content creator. I deeply identify as an artist and an illustrator. ... I have a lot of gratitude that I was able to grow my following during a time when Instagram favored the stuff that I liked to make and post. ... But it's changed so much and it's not a place that I feel as much at home anymore."
  — Lisa Congdon, [16:53–17:58]

• "I'm human and I experience all the things. ... The times when I follow my gut and my heart and my sense of purpose ... that's where I thrive."
  — Lisa Congdon, [19:50]

• "I knew that I had to keep trying different things. Showing up, making art and putting it out into the world. Eventually, if there was an audience for my work, that audience would find me and I would find them."
  — Lisa Congdon, [25:56]

Important Segments (Timestamps)

• [00:33–03:13] – Lisa shares her innate drive for consistency and the story behind her popular calendars
• [03:48–08:39] – Discusses the struggles of early career, learning to manage time, and embracing imperfection
• [09:00–10:09] – Viral personal projects and how they shaped her career
• [10:12–13:43] – The value of agents in creative careers and dealing with tricky professional situations
• [13:56–18:00] – Realities of social media then and now; shifting relationship with Instagram
• [18:12–19:50] – Open conversation about social media fatigue, comparison, and protecting creative joy
• [21:27–26:45] – Pivotal career moments: daily projects, early shows, and accidental breakthroughs

Episode Tone & Feel

Conversational, warm, encouraging, and reassuring—Lisa’s candor, humor, and empathy shine through, matched by the hosts’ genuine curiosity and camaraderie.

Takeaways for Illustrators & Creatives

• Consistency develops organically from deep interest; embrace what excites you.
• It’s okay to make and share imperfect work—growth comes from showing up, not from flawless outcomes.
• Diversify your income early; scrappiness and multiple streams are a creative superpower.
• Don’t fear side projects! Sometimes it’s the fun, odd ideas that create visibility and momentum.
• Agents can be powerful allies, especially as your projects grow.
• Social media is valuable, but your joy and mental health come first—do what works for you.

A goldmine of practical wisdom and hard-won encouragement for anyone quietly working away in their sketchbooks. Lisa’s journey reminds us: it’s not just you.