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 […]
Always put your contact details in the front of your sketchbook. They are very easy to lose if you are engrossed at a gallery or museum and nice people do tend to try to return them! Rosie Brooks, 2014 Cartoonist & Illustrator I started off by reading Music in Durham, then went on to complete […]
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 […]
Just passing on the words of Charles Mingus, because there are non better! “Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity” Sarah Arnett, 2013 Designer & Illustrator Studied: Woven textiles University of Brighton Sarah is a designer and illustrator. Graduating from the University of Brighton, Sarah originally trained in […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Don’t try to create a ‘style’. Practice, experiment and be honest with the work you create. Joanne Young, 2013 Artist & Illustrator Studied BA (Hons) Illustration at the Norwich University of the Arts and recently completed an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art Specialising in editorial and narrative illustration, my […]
Work hard, follow your heart and passions, never miss a deadline and be ready to make the most of the luck when it comes your way! The Dark Inker, 2013 Artist & Illustrator Did one year foundation course at Chelsea school of art, then dropped out to become a sheet metal worker, before following my heart […]
If you work as much as you can and try different types of projects you’ll soon see what you’re good at and where it can take you. And don’t look at other people’s work too much! Karolin Schnoor, 2013 Illustrator Karolin Schnoor graduated from the Illustration course at the London College of Communications five years […]
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 […]
Ideas are the hard bit, the fun is in the making. The two cannot exist without each other. Paul Blow, 2013 Illustrator Studied: Communication Media BA (Hons) at Maidstone College of Art and Narrative Illustration MA at Brighton University. Paul Blow is a Dorset-based illustrator who, over the past fifteen years, has worked on numerous […]
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 […]
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. […]
Always better to over work it, do too many pieces, show up too early, rip your paper because you drew too many lines, then to do anything halfway. Josh Cochran, 2013 Illustrator Studied: Art Center College of Design, Pasadena California Josh Cochran grew up in Taiwan and the United States. He has worked for many […]
Just do it, choose something that seems interesting and fun and get on it… Once you get that down then follow up with: If there were no rules or compromises what is the very best possible thing I can make / do? (then go back to step one, etc…) Leif Low-beer Parsons, 2013 Artist and […]
A piece of advice that I wish someone had told me when I started? I guess it would have to be to not think too much about your work – just get on and do it! Even now I waste way too much time thinking – I could be so much more productive! Anthony Atkinson, […]