Question: What does it take to become an illustrator?

[christyc82]

As an Illustration student, my teacher has taught me loads about the field. First and formost, as far as he's concerned, being an Illustrator is harder than being an "artist". Illustrators have to be more creative and figure out clever ways to show the punch of a product, article, whatever, without making people think longer than 2-4 seconds. An artist can paint something and go okay this is blah blah and I just felt like it was a piece I needed to do. While an illustrator is like yeah this is blah blah and it means this. I learned a hard lesson during my last painting of Illustration 2...I painted a portrait of a girl holding her hands to her head showing stress. We had to show an illness somehow, like it would be goign with an article. He loved my work but told me that to be an Illustrator, I had to give it more punch. The girl looked stressed, or upset...or like she had a headache. He said if she had a headache, paint in a hammer hitting her head like pounding, and so on.

Another thing he always makes sure we do is keep up to date with illustrators on the market now. Each has their own style and are marketed with that style. Clients chose an illustrator because of his or her style, not just because that illustrator is the most well known or does the most top of the line work out there. There are tons of illustrators who rip off better know illustrators, but thats life. Generally my teacher can look at any illustration out there, and know who did it because of the style. So work on a style you feel fits you and perfect it. Yes you may change it up some for different works, but generally your style will always show through in all your work.

Deadlines..wanna talk about deadlines? I took Illustration 2 over 3 weeks. Normally its a 14 week class. We had to complete 8 paintings in 2 1/2 weeks really by the time we got introduction stuff out of the way. 8 16x20 paintings in 2 1/2 weeks isnt a lot of time, but it sure makes you learn about deadlines fast! He taught us how to do things the "professional" way. This being for each painting, we had to have 100 general thumbnails, then pick 4 and so 20 variations on each one of those. From that, pick one and do 3 more variations. From that, pick a final thumbnail, blow it up to 1/4th of the size of the finished painting, and totally complete the drawing. Then we had to present the finished drawing and all thumbnails to him before we were able to start the painting. Oh and we had to know what colors went where and the lighting and everything. So pretty much 1500 and some sketches and 8 final drawings and 8 paintings...lets just say me and the other 5 students taking the class had no life at all during those 3 weeks!

Basically just feel confident in your work. Eventually someone will come along and be like woah I want that Illustrator doing my work. Make sure you are on lists, and you have to be somewhat forward. Dont just sit there waiting on an agent to find you work. Send in samples to companies that you know are looking and so on.

[Leslie_Ann]

christyc82, that's some great advice. I've heard the same from my illustration and graphic design teachers. My education focuses on mostly digital rendering and it's been a hard transition from traditional mediums to digital illustration. I worked a job that required for me to do some marketing and sales,before I went back to school, and find the two mesh very well.

[AFM159]

I have to this point resisted posting in this thread, as it merits much thought, and consideration. And all answers depend upon the indivdual circumstances for each person. Some very good advice has already been given. Here is my take on it..........

What does it take to become an illustrator?..............I know this sounds flippant, but, to become an illustrator (or anything) you look in the mirror and say aloud "I are one!" Then you go and get a client, and you can then tell others "I are one!"

The real question as I see it is - "What does it take to become a successfull illustrator?" Then you have to decide what is success to you? Is it having a few clients, steady work, making a living, being known among your peers, being considered one of the top in your field? The paths to success are as varied as the number of people on this site.

To achieve any of these things, you would be wise to seek out those who are already practicing in your chosen field and ask them for some help. Most are really friendly and are more than willing to help others because chances are they were helped along at some point by some one above them. Every industry (book illustration, graphic design, comics, magazine illustration, etc, etc.) has its own standards and most traveled paths, this is the info you are seeking. Ask questions and listen intently to the answers.

[as an aside - if someone won't help or answer questions; move on, find someone else to ask for help. It is generally considered very poor taste to not help someone coming along behind you. But, also, don't you ask for too specific help (in other words, don't ask for free lessons or help on specific projects, some things you have to learn on your own), this too is in poor taste. Let me clarify a little further. You can ask fairly specific questions on a site like this, just don't go to a pro in the real world lookin' for freebies!]

Key words such as DISIPLINE and PERSERVERENCE, are very important, to which I would add FLEXIBILITY and OPENMINDEDNESS. These of course can be applied to any pursuit. The truth is what it takes is the same as what it takes to be successfull in any business.

slightly switching gears here..........

The biggest difference between "fine art" and "illustration"?

Much has been said about one or the other "telling stories" or having "deadlines" or the difference being "intent" or "usage", all of which have some merit. I would argue though that these terms can be applied to either. Although deadlines are more prevalent in illustration.

For myself, the key difference is, "client input" - as an illustrator the client comes to you with a specific need and you are to adapt your style to fit the project or client. The client has his own set of values and circumstances that dictate his view of the project, this is who you have to satisfy while maintaining your integrity. He may want, or need, to view the concept/product in a specific way that is counter intuitive to your view. How you handle that can be the difference in success or failure of that illustration and more importantly that relationship with the client. You will have client input on nearly ALL your work as an illustrator. As a "fine artist" this input is largely non-existent or greatly reduced.

Another way to look at it is, the "fine artist" creates what is known as spec. (speculative) work. This is work done on the front side in the hopes or belief it will sell or can be sold. The professional illustrator doesn't do spec. work. His work is sold (or contracted) on the front end and then produced to the client's satisfaction.

There are exceptions of course; the "fine artist" can take commissions where there is often client input. And, many illustrators, see much benefit in doing stock illustration, and you may have to do some spec. work in the begining to flesh out your portfolio. These are generally called self-promotion pieces, and should be geared toward your chosen industry.

My background? I am a Professional Architectural Illustrator. I have been in business, on my own, freelancing, practicing, whatever you want to call it, since 1999 and for most of the year have more work than I can keep up with. Before that I worked several years for a larger illustration firm and before that I graduated from college with a four year degree. Its anybody's guess what that means!

So, there it is. My take on it. Take what you want and get on with it!

Be cool.

[imager777]

I personally just keep working on my artistic skills, and putting my work in front of people. Every so often, a client bites.

[Dallen]

Life Drawing, Life Drawing, Life Drawing and more Life Drawing!
There are many things required to be a good illustrator, but it is most imoportant to life draw (even if you are illustrating batteries or toasters).

Remeber that an Illustrator is primarily an Archetypist, not just a painter. The job of an Illustrator is communoication, not just representation. Doing this well requires both artistic and analytical skills. And a good Agent is a;lso essential to getting the kind of work that moves you forward in your field.

Illustration goes in and out of fashion, currently it is on the way in, and demand should be growing and holding strong for at least 5 years, but be aware that when the tide turns again, you won't be able to give illustrations away, the clients will all be interviewing photographers for their Ad work.

Dallen

[Quotetheraven]

Hello,
I realize that it's been a few years since anyone has posted on this particular subject but I would really love some input from experienced artists and illustrators.

I am a college student who is a wife and mother and at the moment very confused as to what I want to do when I leave school. I enjoy drawing, it has always been a hobby of mine, but it hadn't crossed my mind to try to make a living with it.

I have illustrated a few books but they were for my own art or for a friend. When I find myself drawing, it's mostly anime. Mainly because Its a comfort zone for me.

How do you know if you have what it takes to continue?
I know that this probably isn't enough information for you to make this kind of decision but do you think I have what it takes to continue?

[Nate]

• Practice relentlessly - you'll never be "good enough"
• Have infinite patience (required when dealing with bonehead art directors)
• Undying persistence (storming the citadel with bullets whizzing past your ears)
• Unyielding faith in yourself, there are always those who are better - even for the "best"

[kunalkalra2001]

hey no one is posted about concept art and all... may be this thread has been started few years back and on that time concept art might not be in trend... i want to be a concept artist... and now i got admission in a illustration course. I wanna ask here is concept art and preproduction is also a part of illustration??

[lstr8r]

Concept art/illustration is an emerging niche that is just beginning to make it's way into art schools as a curriculum item. At the school where I teach, Concept Art is being developed as a minor to compliment several different majors: Illustration, Sequential Art, Animation, and Interactive Design and Game Development. There are only a few places in the US that support a large concept art market; New York and California being the biggies, of course. The West Coast has the largest contingent of artists who do concept work, and the art schools out there have offered some form of Concept Art and Character Design for a while now. It is just beginning to spread across to other parts of the country. I don't know about the availability of concept art courses in other countries.

Concept artists can work from anywhere to create their art, but it's better to live in the areas that are creating the movies and games; since the movie industry and game design industry are based on large teams of people working on the same project, there are lots of meetings and face-to-face collaborations, so actually living and working close by the production facilities is beneficial. Not so for the typical commercial illustrator, who can get away with working anywhere there's an internet connection.

[sneezingleopard]

It's been said a bunch of times already, but this truely is agreat thread. I've only posted on this forum a couple of times but I just have to for this.

What's it take to become an illustrator? I can't even begin to share as much insight on this question as others already have, so I won't try. I went to four years of art college and worked my butt off. Now that I'm out I wish I could go back for another four years to learn the business side of illustration, the digital programs, and the marketing side. There is so much to learn and we have to do it while continuing to dothe work to get paid. It's not easy but it is enjoyable when we get to work on good projects that we love.
-MAtthew

[GiGi28]

Question to whoever: As many of you have confessed, you are artists but not illustrators. I am in that category and would LOVE to branch over to Children's Books which I know is not easy. I do think that I have a style that stands on it's own although I have A LOT of tweaking to do. My question: a lot of my medium is pen/ink, watercolor,colored pencil etc. I am not familiar with Photoshop and really enjoy using other materials anyway. I am on the computer for enough stuff during the day to make it my art medium too. Am I totally out of my league to believe that I don't need to learn Photoshop? Can I still be successful or is it a must? Thanks

[AmyLC]

Well, I'm not an illustrator - I'm just a wannabe. So my opinion is just that.

I personally don't think photoshop is a "must" if you are really good at your craft. There certainly is a portion of the market that is using digital art - and there are probably some publishers/art directors who are looking more for digital art than traditional art. But I think if you are GOOD at something and can keep your work fresh and different using traditional media than you should be fine.

I know a little bit about photo shop. Not enough to create a piece in it. But I think it's very handy for manipulating reference photos and composing drawings. It's nice to be able to flip, rotate, stretch, re-size, and combine different elements quickly. Then I can print that and draw from it. Another use for photoshop (or similar software) would be to reproduce your work - for a portfolio for example, or to send a digital image for review, or to build a website. You can't send your originals across the country to be looked at! But to do THOSE kinds of things, you don't need a really in-depth ability to use photoshop, just the basics.

I'd check out the children's section of a bookstore and see what is being printed these days. I think there is a nice selection of both digital and traditional images out there, in a multitude of styles. Honestly, I think the books that are most prominently displayed at the store are often the beautifully created traditional media books.

[CoolArtiste]

I'm making a living selling thousands of t-shirts with my own designs on them. I guess that means I'm a professional illustrator now. I'm self employed so I don't have to deal with any bosses or clients at all. That's the way I like it. Everything is under my own control, including the marketing (selling). I hate working for other people. I decide what I want to draw based on what I like and what I think would sell well. When I was taking art classes, I thought I might like to illustrate a children's book, but I don't think I'll be doing that now. It would be a huge project that could easily fail. The first Harry Potter book was rejected by every publisher except one. So I don't even think the publishers can recognize a good book. And I don't like my fate being in the hands of other people. With t-shirts, there's very little risk. The designs are quick to make. If one sells poorly, it's no big deal. I used adobe illustrator to make the designs. I'm very good at vector drawing now. If I did make an illustrated book, I would make it for myself, probably not just for children, and I would do it to please myself rather than depend on it for making a living. To be successful in the t-shirt business you need to learn about marketing, internet marketing, making web sites, how the t-shirt business works, and what people want to wear on their t-shirts. And you have to work hard every day and be dedicated. Some people also print their own shirts, but I don't. That would be way too much hassle and is unnecessary. I'd rather let other people do the printing so I can do more designing. I do what I do best and let other people do what they do best.

[Nate]

Originally Posted by GiGi28

Question to whoever: ....I am not familiar with Photoshop and really enjoy using other materials anyway. I am on the computer for enough stuff during the day to make it my art medium too. Am I totally out of my league to believe that I don't need to learn Photoshop? Can I still be successful or is it a must? Thanks

There are many first-rate illustrators who do not work digitally.

I could only answer in my own instance, having done illustration professionally since 1964 (some before that). In the mid/early '90s computers started creeping into the industry and I felt it beneficial to jump on board.
Haven't regretted the move at all, and for the past decade I've done all of it, even the drawing part primarily on computer with Wacom tablets and Photoshop and Corel Painter. I don't miss the hassle of airbrushes, paint etc. a bit, and I find the results are the same or superior to the conventional media.

All the publishing/printing is through digital channels. If you send them a conventional painting they have to scan it and "digitize" it for the process.

The ability to make changes required by art directors and those I want to make as well as to adapt my illustrations to the different media I am being published in/on (cards, shirts, publications, ads, posters, brochures and for the internet) the time involved and the cost in doing it with conventional media is extensive.

Do you have to do digital art to be successful - no.
Will going digital make life easier as a pro - absolutely.

My two cents worth + 44 years in the biz = my opinion

This is a detail from an illustration - all digital...

[GiGi28]

Thank you so much for answering my question! I really appreciate the advice and it of course makes sense. I know I have a lot to learn and accomplish.... and good advice goes a long way!

Thanks again