Description:

Join hosts Renee Garcia and Damion Rowe as they sit down with Ashwin Chacko, art director turned children’s book illustrator and founder of Bad Book Press publishing house. From commercial illustration to launching Northern Ireland’s first dedicated children’s picture book publisher, Ashwin reveals how faith, purpose, and strategic patience built his creative empire.

What starts as a discussion about finding your creative purpose quickly evolves into a masterclass on art direction, publishing, and building sustainable creative businesses. Ashwin opens up about his 10-year journey from graphic designer to full-time illustrator, sharing how the 2020 lockdown forced him to discover his “why” and pivot toward children’s book illustration. Renee explores the business side of creative freelancing, while Damion discovers the complexities of print production and screen printing techniques.

Creative Business & Career Topics:

* How to transition from art director to freelance illustrator (10:57)

* The 10-year creative evolution cycle across multiple disciplines (1:00:01)

* Building your illustration style around personal purpose (20:55)

* Starting a children’s book publishing house from scratch (48:30)

* Why scope of work documents prevent client disasters (38:34)

* Art direction secrets: managing teams and creative vision (31:02)

Children’s Book & Publishing Insights:

* Writing picture books: 500-word limits and brutal editing (50:51)

* Character development vs. story-first approaches (52:17)

* Self-publishing strategies that attract traditional publishers (13:40)

* Screen printing vs. DTG for book merchandise (25:57)

Art Direction & Client Management:

* Why clients always choose the “safe” option (34:43)

* Managing photographer and illustrator teams (32:06)

* The art of giving creative freedom within constraints (33:29)

* Communication strategies that prevent scope creep (38:57)

Going Behind the Curtain: This episode reveals the spiritual and strategic foundations behind successful creative careers. We witness Ashwin’s faith-driven approach to art, his honest advice about separating self-worth from creative output, and his ambitious vision for Bad Book Press. The conversation covers everything from screen printing techniques and DTG quality differences to the psychological aspects of creative growth, plus practical business advice for anyone building a creative career.

Whether you’re an illustrator considering children’s books, someone transitioning from corporate creative roles, or any creative professional seeking purpose-driven business strategies, this episode provides both spiritual guidance and practical frameworks for building sustainable creative careers.

Connect with Ashwin:

* Website: https://whackochacko.com

* YouTube: http://youtube.com/c/ashwinchacko

* Social: @whackochacko (Instagram, X)

* LinkedIn: Ashwin Chacko

Perfect for: Art directors, children’s book illustrators, creative entrepreneurs, freelancers building client businesses, anyone interested in publishing, and creatives seeking purpose-driven career strategies.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit droweaudio.substack.com