Episode Overview

Podcast: The Good Ship Illustration
Episode: Tara Tayyebi Fard on finding her creative voice (and illustration career) after 10 years of being an architect
Date: February 6, 2026
Hosts: The Good Ship Illustration (Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, Tania Willis)
Guest: Tara Tayyebi Fard, illustrator, humorist, architect, and violinist

Theme:
This episode features the journey of Tara Tayyebi Fard, a Persian illustrator who transitioned from a decade-long architecture career to discovering her illustration voice and career. The discussion centers on finding creative identity, community, overcoming societal expectations, and maintaining your unique "freak flag" as an artist. Tara and the hosts dive into creative confidence, the realities of freelance life, navigating commission work, and embracing what makes your art personal and meaningful.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tara’s Journey from Architecture to Illustration

• Tara always loved drawing and kept diaries as a child, but was steered towards architecture due to her aptitude for math and the desire for a "safe" career.

  • “I was also, unfortunately, good at maths. So then people were like, well, you’re good at maths, you don’t have to go through an artistic career, so let’s do something that’s creative but not too creative. And that led me to architecture.” (03:16)

• Losing her architecture job during a crisis gave Tara time to reconsider her path, travel, and reconnect with drawing:

  • “At some point I realized I don’t have a job now, but I’m really struggling and I’m really trying hard to get this job that doesn’t pay well, that I don’t like… What am I really trying so hard to get? If I’m not going to earn, well, at least I would rather have fun.” (06:22)

• Joining the Good Ship Illustration and engaging with its community was a pivotal step in rediscovering her creative self and entering illustration professionally.

  • “I came across your YouTube channel, and that led me to the Good Ship... Only a few days later, you were opening your doors to the picture book course. And I thought, this is amazing. I’m just gonna do it. And then my life basically changed since then.” (03:43)

2. Finding and Embracing a Creative Voice

• Reflecting on childhood interests provided crucial insights.

  • Tara explores what delighted her as a kid—humor, observing people, recording quirks—which now inform her unique approach to illustration and character design.
  • “When you look at my drawings, it’s always happy and funny. And the thing is, I’ve always been really annoyed all the time, all my life. As a kid, I was really annoyed by some things that people did... I wrote about them and I drew them.” (07:33)

• Accepting and showcasing personal quirks—aka “flying your freak flag”—is not only allowed but essential for attracting the right clients and community.

  • “If you make the work that is based on your own freak flag, then you get commissioned to do the same thing. And also you get the client that is the dream client.” (14:35)

• Not everything from childhood will translate directly, but key emotional tones and observations (humor, character, visual boldness) transfer into Tara’s professional work.

3. The Importance of Creative Community

• Tara describes how the Good Ship community fostered connections, both online and in person, turning a solitary pursuit into a social one:

  • “I have more friends than I used to have back in the day when everybody met in person... I still managed to find a good trooper who lives in the same city, and we meet almost every month.” (09:38, 10:15)

• The support and kindness within the illustration community are ongoing sources of motivation and creative reassurance.

  • “It’s just so beautiful how big the community is.” (10:37)
  • “I don’t think I can ever get enough of reminders that I’m not alone. Always need to be reassured.” (10:55)

4. Navigating Creative and Professional Challenges

• Tara and the hosts share struggles with prioritizing personal versus commission work, creative block, and maintaining self-care when deadlines and emotions clash.

  • “If I’m feeling absolutely horrible about things, I cannot draw. But if I’m feeling a little bit sad or a little bit horrible, then I can make something meaningful. It’s difficult.” (13:14)
  • “Being alive is hard enough. Might as well do some fun stuff before you die.” (07:04)

• The “hamster wheel” of freelance illustration—get work, market work, seek more work—can make it hard to step off and reclaim personal creative direction.

• External validation (e.g., job titles, parental approval) is not an indicator of authentic fulfillment.

  • “I don’t think I was successful in architecture, but nobody minded it…because the title architect sounds so good.” (29:12)

5. Attracting the Right Clients by Being Yourself

• By unapologetically creating her kind of work (e.g., playful, characterful depictions—drawing people "fat, with big noses, wrinkles"), Tara attracts dream collaborations.

  • “This client that I’m working with is…so supportive…they didn’t want anything traditional. They really allowed me to be myself, and that’s why they hired me.” (15:02)
  • “I’m allowed to draw them fat. It’s amazing.” (16:08)

• Letting your “freak flag fly” becomes a filter; only those who resonate with your unique style will approach you, leading to more fulfilling projects.

6. Structure, Planning & Creative Routine

• Tara is an avid planner, balancing detailed daily, weekly, and monthly logs:

  • “I am a planner. I have a daily planner. Then I have a weekly planner, then I have a monthly planner…then what I do is I put, like, am PM self-portrait and notes.” (19:49, 20:14)
  • Her method is to set broad menus of tasks rather than strict hourly schedules, allowing for flexibility and mental health.

• Consistency in creative practice—like posting a weekly Substack for over a year—helped Tara grow skills, connect with others, and refine her voice:

  • “Making a Substack post that had some sort of a story…was a lot of work, but then helped me kind of also understand what I like.” (08:57)

7. Inspiration, Jealousy, and Self-Discovery

• Jealousy or envy is reframed as a flashing signpost to your own desires:

  • “Jealousy or envy is just a big flashing neon sign. What is it about this that you want to do?” (24:03)

• Absorbing inspiration from other artists, books, and even everyday life—including fashion, humor, and physical quirks—feeds Tara’s evolving creative self.

8. Permission to Explore and Evolve

• The hosts and Tara reinforce the value of play, open-ended exploration, and resisting early fixation on commercial viability:

  • “There’s also a lot to be said for when you’re in that space of finding your creative voice, not even thinking about money and clients.” (18:12)
  • “Traditional art school…you do your foundation year…there’s no mention of business or money or…commercialism…it’s just pure: What do you enjoy?” (18:48)

• The unpredictable nature of freelance success is part of what makes illustration exciting and always worth trying.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On redefining success:
  “If you’re not good at it and if you’re not aware of what you’re doing or if you’re not unique enough, I think you can be unsuccessful at anything. I don’t think I was successful in architecture…somehow it didn’t matter because the title architect sounds so good.” – Tara (29:12)

• On being yourself and finding your audience:
  “If you make the work that is based on your own freak flag, then you get commissioned to do the same thing. And also you get the client that is the dream client.” – Tara (14:35)

• On creative jealousy:
  “Jealousy or envy is just a big flashing neon sign. What is it about this that you want to do?” – B (24:03)

• On community and not being alone:
  “I don’t think I can ever get enough of reminders that I’m not alone. Always need to be reassured.” – Tara (10:55)

• On enjoying the creative path:
  “Being alive is hard enough. Might as well do some fun stuff before you die or whatever happens next.” – B (07:04)

• On living for yourself:
  “You only have to be responsible to two people. One is your 8-year-old self and one your 80-year-old self.” – Tara (26:29)

• On routine and flexibility:
  “If I write down what I have to do at a certain hour, I will just not do it. So I make some sort of a menu to choose from…If I do three of those things, or even two if they’re big ones, I should be happy with my day.” – Tara (20:39)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• Tara’s Background and Shift from Architecture (03:00 – 06:22)
• The Power of Childhood Interests and Humour in Tara’s Work (07:33 – 08:57)
• Building Community as an Illustrator (09:38 – 10:55)
• Creative Block and Emotional Navigation (13:14 – 14:35)
• Dream Clients and Flying Your Freak Flag (14:35 – 16:08)
• Creative Planning and Routine (19:49 – 21:29)
• On Jealousy as Creative Inspiration (24:03 – 25:40)
• Advice on Living Authentically (26:29 – 29:19)
• Redefining Career Success (29:12 – 29:47)

Tone & Style

The tone is open, warm, humorous, and reassuring, reflecting the hosts’ “agony aunt” vibe. Tara is candid and witty, offering an honest look at her challenges and joys. The conversation is full of mutual encouragement and practical wisdom, ideal for anyone navigating a creative career transition or simply seeking company on their artistic journey.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a heartfelt exploration of what it means to find, trust, and showcase your authentic creative voice—especially when it means stepping away from the “safe” path. Tara’s story, balancing candid self-reflection with practical tips and genuine humor, will resonate deeply with anyone who’s ever wondered if it’s possible—or permissible—to make a living from the things that light them up. The core message: be yourself, build your community, and don’t be afraid to fly your freak flag.