The World of an Illustrator

An A-Z list of different jobs within the Illustration industry

A:
Animator
Architecture
Animal Illustrator
Advertising

B:
Bags

C:
Children's Illustrator
Cartoons (1)
Concept designer

D:
Designer
Decorative illustrator

E:
Educational publications (2)
Editorial work
Etching printer

F:
Fashion designer
Freelance

G:
Graphic designer
Greetings cards (3)

H:
Home ware designer

I:
Illustrator
Interior designer

J:
Jigsaw puzzle designer

K:

L:
Letter press

M:
Magazines
Merchandise designer
Medical journals (4)

N:
Newspapers

O:

P:
Printer
Publisher
Pattern designer

Q:

R:

S:
Stencil printer
Shopping bags
Screen prints
Shop windows/interiors
Storyboard (5)

T:
Technician
Textbooks (6)
Theatre Scenery Designer

U:
Upholstery Designer

V:
Video Games (7)

W:
Writer/Illustrator of books
Wrapping Paper (8)

X:

Y:

Z:

As you can see from the list of jobs above, there are many ways of working as an illustrator. It’s important to have your own blog or website as it “can help get your name out there in the art world.”(9) Having an online domain makes it easy for potential clients to view your work and see the kind of stuff you do. Illustrator Emma Block, shared that “the positive feedback encouraged me, and I continued to produce work and share it online.”(10) A blog or website is easy to update with your most recent work therefore keeping it relevant to the everyday market of illustration.

Although working as a freelance illustrator proves successful to many, it is also useful to “get an agent” (11) as Emma Block explained in her article “the Bright Agency, who have been wonderful and worked hard to keep me in work.” (12) If there is a time when you don’t have much work coming in or work to do, having an agent means that they have the responsibility of finding work for you, instead of you finding it yourself.

It is important to have a number of skills as this means that you are versatile in your way of working and “you will need to be able to adapt your way of thinking and illustrating to fit a client’s brief.”(13) You may one day be presented with a brief that is completely out of your comfort zone but “having great technical skills”…means “you will be much more efficient and responsive when clients have feedback.” (14) Clients aren’t always going to be happy with the work you first present them and they may ask you to make some changes. This is where being competent with skills, especially digital, come in handy as it is a quick and sufficient way of altering a piece of work.

Working as an illustrator “requires self-confidence and self-knowledge.” (15) It is important to know what you are capable of and advertise your own work. You will need to make new contacts frequently to keep your client list extending “get on the phone, blog, email new people, set up new meetings, send stuff in the post” (16) basically just constantly work on getting yourself known.

It is also important to be able to deal with rejection. “Not every job offer will turn into actual work.” (17) The illustration industry is competitive and clients will often decide to go with a different illustrator. However, when this happens it is important to “ask for feedback and act on it” (18). The only way you will be able to better yourself is by working on the areas that are failing you.


References:
(1) Learn.org
(2) Learn.org
(3) Learn.org
(4) Learn.org
(5) Learn.org
(6) Learn.org
(7) Learn.org
(8) Learn.org
(9) Block, Emma (2011)
(10) Block, Emma (2011)
(11) Wray, Anna (2014)
(12) Block, Emma (2011)
(13) Wray, Anna (2014)
(14) Williams, Nate
(15) Wray, Anna (2014)
(16) Wray, Anna (2014)
(17) Block, Emma (2011)
(18) Wray, Anna (2014)


Block, Emma (2011) Becoming a professional illustrator: an insider’s guide. http://www.theguardian.com/careers/working-professional-illustrator-insiders-guide

Learn.Org What Are My Career Options in Illustration? http://learn.org/articles/Illustration_Careers_What_Are_My_Job_Options.html.

Williams, Nate How to start your illustration career. http://www.n8w.com/wp/552

Wray, Anna (2014) 5 things you need to become a successful illustrator http://www.creativebloq.com/illustration/successful-illustrator-41411369  

My Personal Intentions

11th November 2014:

Whilst studying Illustration I would most like to follow the path of Children’s Illustration, this would be for books, posters, cards or to use for teaching purposes. I am interested in this area because I have previously worked with children ranging from the ages of new born to 8 years old. I find it fascinating how children’s minds work and the sort of questions they ask. Therefore I think I would be able to reflect some of these questions that they ask into my work and children would therefore respond well to work that I create.
In my future practice I am extremely interested in Interior Design as I like the idea of making my artistic mark on something larger than just a piece of paper. I am hoping to go on and complete a Post-Graduate Course in this field after Illustration. I see this as an exciting area to go into and more of a realistic approach into the artistic industry for myself.  
For my work experience I would like to find a way of combining the two different areas, either together, separately or in a field similar to either so that I get an idea of those sort of working conditions and pressures. Listed below are different places that I would consider contacting for work experience.

I would also like to hear about what it is like working as a freelance illustrator as I believe that that is how most artists/illustrators make a living nowadays and I would like to find out how many ‘contacts’ a typical illustrator would have, and how beneficial these are to their work. I would also like to find out if most illustrators only work to a brief set to them by other parties ie. Companies, commissions etc. or whether they mostly create their own work and then sell it on. I would find these points beneficial as they would give me more of an idea of how it is to work in the real world. I would find these out by contacting and interviewing a number of established illustrators.

Places I could contact for work experience:
1. Schools
2. Therapy classes for children/people with disabilities
3. After school clubs
4. Youth clubs
5. Nurseries

Businesses to contact:
1. Beehive Illustration - http://www.beehiveillustration.co.uk/
2. Children’s Illustrators - http://www.childrensillustrators.com/
3. Illustration - http://www.illustrationweb.com/styles/children

I’m not overly sure who or what sort of work places to contact for Interior Design work experience just yet.

Possible artists and Illustrators who I could contact for interviews are:
1. Sarah Leigh Wills – ‘The Happy Designer’ - http://www.happydesigner.co.uk/
2. Jane Swift - http://www.janeswift.co.uk/default.html
3. Adam Clay - http://www.adamclay.info/
4. Ian Ward - http://www.ianrward.co.uk/
5. Rob Anderson - http://www.robtheillustrator.co.uk/

19th April 2015:
Looking back at when I first wrote my intentions as an illustrator, I have found that I focussed my work experience more on Freelance work than for Children or Interior Design. I have learnt a lot from working in a Freelance manner as I have worked to deadlines, to a brief and created work that has been both successful and unsuccessful. It was useful emailing other illustrators and finding out how they work as this also gives me an insight into the illustration world.

After all the research and work I have done in this module and the influence of the other modules I have studied this year, I am interested in working on my own Children's books in the future. In my Children's Illustration Module I felt that I had a true focus and determination to make it the best piece of work I could and I also really enjoyed creating it despite the extremely hard work and hours that went into it. I feel that writing and illustrating my own books as a Freelance Illustrator is a useful way to work in this industry. I can also take on other authors books to illustrate to extend my creative skills and ideas.

Promotional Materials

This is a great promotional item. It is a pocket mirror which makes it a useful piece of promotional material for the person who has received it. It is a handy item to have and with the label on the packaging matching the item that is inside (this is used on all of the items as you can see in the first image) you will always relate the item to 'CHARLOTTE PAYNE ILLUSTRATION'.
This item is very professionally made, the printing is very sharp in colour and pattern and the packaging is simple yet does its intended job well.

A good promotional item is one that you can engage with and one that has a use. Something that someone isn't going to want to throw away. This coaster puzzle is exactly that. It requires you to use your hands and once it has been put together 'Ruth Musson Illustration' is always going to remind the customer of that illustrator. With it also being a coaster it has an extra use, it's not just a puzzle that will be sitting around. This item is great for in an office, if someone has five minutes with nothing to do, they can do a puzzle. I think the printing could have been more bold and it could stand out more, as it isn't very clear with the puzzle design but I think it's a great idea.

 

A shopping bag is a very useful promotional material. Not only does it have a use, but it has a lovely illustration on the front and if a customer uses the bag when out and about other people will see the illustration and will think of looking into 'Bys Vynitha Illustration'. The quality of the print is great, the colours used stand out but they aren't over powering.

 

 

 

Business cards are always good for promoting yourself. A small piece of card that can fit in a purse or wallet and has all your details on it, although you cant see the details in this image.
I think it's a great idea to have different illustrations on business cards, it shows a range of art work and taste, and if someone picks up more than one business card without realising, you're in with more of a chance of them contacting you. The print quality is great and the images stand out well on the white background.

 

 



Hand made jewellery is always something that people are more inclined to keep. If someone is wearing the jewellery they will more than likely be asked where they got the jewellery from, resulting in your name and work being spread by word. The packaging stands out and makes the item the main focus but with the name of the artist still very visible.

 

 

There are many creative ways to make promotional material. I would be inclined to attach a business card with every type of promotional item, as your details will always go with your illustrations. It's clear that items that have a use are the best as they will not be discarded straight away. Items that will be seen by many people are also good as this will more than likely get you more customers.