In the sea of illustrators, you need to have a distinct recognisable style so that clients remember you clearly when they think of who’s work is right for a particular job. But what if you just can’t narrow down a style? Don’t be afraid to have a couple of different guises! It’s important to keep […]
Internships, internships, internships. They are the best way to learn a lot in a short amount of time. Although your investment is big (low or no salary and no time for a job that does pay), doing an internship is an invaluable working experience and a boost to your professional career, regardless if you’re aspiring […]
As a graduate enter as many competitions and exhibitions as you can. Get your work seen! Caroline Rose Dunning 2014 Illustrator and Printmaker Studied: Graphic Communication BA at Bath Spa Since graduating Caroline has worked with a variety of clients from publishing and press. She has exhibited in several galleries across the UK and […]
KEEP PLAYING! When drawing becomes your ‘proper job’ it’s easy to forget to make work just for fun. New ideas can grow from experimenting, I find nothing is ever wasted. Polly Dunbar 2014 Illustrator and Printmaker Studied: Illustration BA at Brighton University Polly Dunbar studied Illustration at Brighton University, since graduating she has written and […]
Albert Einstein once said “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new”. It’s from our mistakes that we find new ways of approaching problems, the real talent is recognising we are making mistakes and learning from them. I’ve always been the type of person who is constantly questioning, experimenting and tweaking […]
See opportunities to be creative and do something good. Josie Swan 2013 Illustrator Josie Jo and Co-Founder The Enquiry Desk Studied: BA Illustration and Animation at Kingston University Throughout November Josie is taking part in Movember to raise money for Men’s health issues including Testicular Cancer and Prostate Cancer. She will be wearing, drawing and […]
Fake it ’til you make it, is the best advice I’ve heard for aspiring illustrators. Act like a pro by keeping regular hours and filling your portfolio with as many subjects as possible. Draw everything! Also, learn from other illustrators by looking at their portfolios, look at how they solve problems and how they present […]
Be confident (not to be confused with arrogant or egotistical). If you truly believe in your ideas and yourself, your clients and others will too. Lewie Evans, 2013 Designer & Founder — Lewie Evans Design Studio Studied: BA Hons Graphic Design at The Surrey Institute of Art & Design, Epsom Since graduating from The Surrey […]
Find your uniqueness by making work about the things that genuinely interest you, however off the wall they might seem. Andy Warhol had a tin of Campbells soup for lunch each day, years before he screenprinted them. Find your own Campbells soup equivalent, and allow yourself to get obsessed. Push that thing further than anyone […]
Have BIG plans and HUGE goals but don’t try to reach them all in one step. Ambition is a must but if you try to achieve everything all at once then you’ll completely freak out and end up overwhelmed. Try to write achievable to do lists and you’ll get things done, make progress and feel […]
1. Be young at heart, see the world through the eyes of a child, and look at things as if for the first time. You’ll be amazed how wonderful everything is. 2. Be friendly, charming and memorable 3. Always hand work in on time! Nila Aye, 2013 Illustrator Studied: Graphic design and Illustration BA Central […]
Honour your mistakes: learn from them instead of destroying the evidence. If you don’t have anything to compare your growth to, you’ll never know how far you’ve come. There’s no use in being selfish or cruel – the world is small and this industry is even smaller. Be sincere, care deeply and don’t work in […]
Get into a good working routine and try to stick to it as far as possible, even when you don’t have any jobs on. By producing work when you’re not having to adhere to deadlines, briefs and clients’ wishes, you give yourself and your work space to develop and grow. David Biskup, 2013 Illustrator Studied: […]
Incorporate what you are passionate about into your work. It’s always good to approach potential clients if you like what they are doing with their business – chances are they will like what you do too. Always experiment with your medium to keep things fresh and original (don’t get stuck in a rut with what […]
Don’t be intimidated, focus on your work and what you want to do with it. Be yourself in your art, it won’t work any other way! Sarah Ray Illustrator & Printmaker Studied: BA Illustration, Cambridge School of Art Sarah Ray is originally from the depths of Herefordshire, where growing up, she and her sisters would […]
I would rather make bad work and learn from it than make safe work over and over again because it was successful in the past. To me, experimentation and mistakes are an important part of the creative process. Anthony Peters Illustrator, Graphic Designer & Print Maker Anthony Peters is a maker of things, occasionally pretty […]
KEEP GOING. If you believe you can do it, you eventually will. Persistence is a key part of being an illustrator. Scott Garrett Illustrator and Potter Studied: Illustration BA at Kingston University Scott has worked non-stop as a freelance illustrator since he graduated 19 years ago, working with a wide variety of clients over this […]
You’re probably doing this anyway, but it really is important to find the time to do your own work. Without deadlines, art direction, context or purpose. Turn off your email. Work with your hands. Experiment with processes. Don’t worry what anybody else thinks about it. It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to tweet about it. […]
Never keep glue in your handbag. Jane Ormes, 2013 Printmaker and Designer Studied: Surface Pattern Design at De Montfort University Jane has spent the last 26 years as a freelance designer. Her clients include Ikea, Marks and Spencer and ArtPress. She re-discovered screenprinting 7 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. She has exhibited in many galleries […]
Work will be rejected; it happens, it hurts. If it didn’t, you’re in the wrong profession. Sean Garrehy Art Director Little, Brown Book Group Sean studied Graphic Design in Southampton and worked for various agencies before falling in to cover design. He is the Art Director at Little, Brown Book Group where he’s worked for […]
If you are wondering how to do something, get on and do it and then wonder how you did it. I remembered being told this while I was at infants school. Soon after that I remember sliding down the steep playground on a patch of ice and banging my head on the flint wall at […]
Make sure you leave the house/studio during the day. Take yourself off to a cafe or a park. Go for a ramble in the woods. There is nothing worse than having a full day working and finding the front door still locked in the evening! Tom Frost 2012 Illustrator Tom Frost studied illustration at […]
Fight for your copyright! There are no real unions for creatives so if you’re not happy with a contract, contest it. These things are often negotiable. Sam Chivers Artist & Illustrator since 1998 Studied: BA Illustration at Portsmouth University Sam Chivers is a UK based Illustrator and print maker. Working with both digital and handmade […]
Keep looking. Keep listening. Keep asking. Keep learning. Keep evolving. Keep responding. Keep growing. Keep enjoying. Sara Morrissey 2012 Designer at Unlimited and owner of Unlimited Editions Sara is pictured in front of work by Imeus from his solo exhibition ‘Head to Toe’ at Unlimited Editions Studied BA Hons Illustration at Central St Martins, MA […]