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When it comes to competitions, internships, speculative work or working in return for ‘exposure’ there is debate on wether illustrators should or should not do so. The general consensus seems to be that if you aren’t getting paid for your work then you shouldn’t do it, which I agree with.
Working For Free or ‘Exposure’/ Spec Work
It is so wrong that in the creative industry our work is seen as a ‘hobby’, something we are doing just for fun, when in fact it is the way we want to make money. Why should work be expected to be given up for free or ‘exposure’. Hearing that illustrator Holly Exley was asked to work for free by a well known brand because they couldn’t afford for artwork on that project really surprised me. They probably would just keep asking other illustrators until someone said yes, which is why I think it is so important to say no, and for all creatives to do so as well. To give up not just your work but also time for free is wrong. The only time I think you should is for family or if it is for charity/raising funds and it is something manageable to do nothing too big.
Competitions
With competitions I think they can be a good thing for illustrators to enter, but it depends on a few things. I don’t think you should enter if the prize is not worth the time. Why spend days on a full coloured illustrated scene for say £50? Especially if the organiser profits off your entrant after the competition, they are getting the money for your work. I also think that having to pay to enter is dodgy in the sense that you are giving up say £5 - 50 with no guarantee you will win, with the organiser profiting straight away. That money could go towards something way more useful, for me it is like working a day at work with then that money I made, more than likely going to waste if I entered. What competitions do I think are worth entering then? Ones that are free, that you have work already done from personal work that fits the theme so you aren’t giving up much time to enter. Picturehooks did a competition this summer that I believe to be a good example. There was 4 prizes of £1000 with your illustration for the competition possibly being exhibited, free entry, yet they also shared the work of runner ups on Instagram. I see it as fair because it was a single illustration with an already set theme, and a reasonable prize for your efforts, you didn’t lose any money or a lot of time if you entered.
Internships
I tried to find some internship advice but I feel for illustrators it isn’t available, or just isn’t something really done in the industry, maybe for more graphic design based jobs. I think again that they are worth doing if you are getting paid or chance for a job there. It is difficult to know if it will really benefit you if it isn’t paid, if you can afford do so then weigh up wether it is worth your time.
It wasn’t so long ago when I found out about agencies for illustrators and never really knew it was a thing. So it something that I have started to look into and see what they are about.
AgenciesDo I need to be with an agency?
No doubt there are illustrators who can have a career without any sort of agency, but I see having an agency as someone dealing with the aspects of emailing clients, contracts, etc, as a benefit as it frees up time to be able to get on with the creative work. I think being in an agency allows for more opportunities with clients, than if you were on your own. I remember being able to meet Claire Melinsky and she said it was through the agency that she was with that got her the job to illustrate the Harry Potter books about 10 years ago, as well as food packaging. With agencies you have to email and submit portfolios to try to join them, as well if they already have someone with a similar ‘style’ or approach to illustration they would be less likely to take you on. But there has been some illustrators found by agencies who end up joining, though it isn’t common. The Artworks Illustration Agency did a call out for graduates in 2020 to join them through the Startworks mentoring scheme, which a few illustrators I had been following ended up getting chosen for it, so that is something to consider if the agency does it again or if any other agencies do anything similar. I think I am considering trying to join an agency, but at this stage I need loads more work and understanding of what it will entail before doing so.
Today for university we were given a talk by former student Ed Merlin Murray. He went over how he has used Instagram as a way of getting clients to work with and finding other creatives as well. I found it interesting to hear how even though he has a large following he preferred it when he had a smaller following of say 1 - 10k, as he could engage more with them, while now he can’t engage with everyone. What I took away from it was that it really isn’t about numbers but the engagement/ what work you put into it, so being consistent as well. Instagram or any format of a place were you show your work digitally is crucial/essential in the present. It is the easiest way to get seen by clients, by you engaging with them or them finding you. Social media is a format that can be more up to date than your website, as it is a space you can post daily.
Best Practice as a Creative and as a Consumer
Presentation
Engagement
Use Instagram as a space to enjoy, low engagement doesn’t mean your work isn’t good or you are unworthy. It isn’t a measure of quality as you as an illustrator, you should just have fun with it!
Social media is a big part of how society functions these days. If you do not have it you are out of the loop and if you do have it, you can end up being stolen of time. For me social media is something that started to be a thing when I started secondary school and to be honest I never really got into it. I got Facebook but did not really like the idea of posting about my life on it. Being someone who is very introverted, social media had no appeal to me. Then I decided to try Instagram about 5 years ago and really enjoyed the creative community aspect within it, so I slowly came round to using social media, as a way of creativity rather than being personal. I have tried using tumblr but it is something that has kind of died off as a platform, and at one point I did try to blog, but nothing gained traction. Looking back I think I just could not grasp the platforms I was using and I found it hard to be consistent (something I still struggle with).
In the present I only use Instagram as a platform to post my work, and my (at the moment WIP) website. LinkedIn is something I am considering trying, but not sure where else, Pinterest is mostly for research really. I feel like with my Instagram I only have followers that I know in person or online, or that are inactive. I think it because I find it hard to be consistent with posting and having confidence in the work that I create. I want my feed to be cohesive and not all over the place. I try not to think about the numbers on it too much, I have been using it as a creative space for 2-3 years, and have a gradually growing small following. Also I need to be more aware of how I am spending time on it, I go on it just about everyday but do not engage enough. It has been a positive place for me though, nothing negative, I have found opportunities and other creatives through it so I am grateful for that.
Instagram Illustrators
A lot of the illustrators I follow have a good level of engagement and posting that keeps them alive on Instagram. Some post regularly others not as often, but what I see in their feeds is a sense of coherent work that immediately gives a sense of style and professionalism. They keep the content varied as well, so some images show work in progress, sketchbook pages or fully finished artworks. Sometimes they might get involved with certain events like drawtober, draw this in your style or folktale week to name a few, which gives a chance for other creatives to find each other. They have contact information in their bios and links to their other platforms, like YouTube. Even though you can research and look at other social media creatives, the only thing that you can do is keep posting and engaging to be part of a creative community!
Advise on Social Media
I see freelance as exactly what I want from a career in illustration. To be in charge of when I work, being able to work from home, having freedom to an extent, definitely seems like the dream. Having parents that are self-employed has led me to understand that it isn’t all perfect and you really do have to be self driven to get the work done, sometimes you have to work every single day just to get money in, even if you can’t be bothered or are ill. You have organise your money, or get an accountant (at a cost!) to do part or all of it. You are your own boss basically, and to be able to plan my life without being told by someone else what time I have to work or when I can have holidays without little or no choice, is honestly what appeals to me as a freelancer. Obviously being self-employed as an illustrator means a regular income is not guaranteed, unless you are getting enough work to make a living, so there are many who have another job on the side to have a steady amount of money coming in.
YouTube Freelancing Advice
Freelance Illustrator Blogs
Money Advice and Patreon
Frannerd has a bunch of videos where they talk about pricing and how to make money as an illustrator. Also quite a few creatives are using Patreon as an income source, by offering content to people for a set amount of money each month, though it usually benefits those with a larger following, as more people will likely pay for extra content.
Examples of Patreon Illustrators
Website presentation is very important and vital to gaining work as an illustrator. Your website should be a representation of your work, in a way that is professional and engaging. I have learnt a lot in a year from trying out different layouts on my own website, yet I know I still have more to do! For me I feel like I struggle with just putting work on it because I don’t think it is good enough or the perfectionist side of myself keeps thinking I am not ready just yet for this level of professionalism. But I also know that if I never put anything up no one will ever see my work, so I just have to do it!
Website Inspiration
I feel like these websites all give off a sense of professionalism and personality which make them work well, as they use simple layouts, few pages and they all have their artwork mostly in one place for the viewer to see.
Website To Do List
On the 21st of October Oliver Jeffers gave a talk for Adobe’s annual Creativity Conference, with advice he would give to himself as a graduate. This year the conference was free so it was a great opportunity to watch the video Jeffers made and I found it to be insightful and motivating! Point 1 - T.C.O.BTaking Care Of Business. Invoices, taxes, contracts, etc. All the non glamorous stuff just as important as the artwork itself. Point 2 - Never work for free!!Exposure? No thanks, not worth your time. Point 3 - Act the partAct like the artist you want to be, just be your own voice. Not about lying, being honest and proud of what you do, not worrying about what anyone else thinks or is doing. Point 4 - Everyone is full of Shit!No one really knows what they are talking about. Point 5 - Are you good enough to make it?Reality is you might not get exactly what you want. Or do you even want it enough? Do you have the stamina, energy, grit, determination to push on and get to where you want to be? Point 6 - Get ready to hear no, a lot.Rejection will be inevitable. It is how you move on from it or find a new way that matters. Be the river not the rock. Point 7 - Use a bigger brushEmbrace the ‘mistakes’. If you keep smoothing away at something it removes the charm, it no longer has anything interesting to it. In a sense just sketch but better. Point 8 - Find your peopleWether it be family, friends, a community, peers get feedback. Conversation opens up what if’s. Be curious, ask for advice, it can really help and open up new thoughts. Point 9 - Authenticity is an assetWhy are you making art? Is it for validation, is it what you are good at? Look at other creatives motivation, not their actions. Why are they doing it? Just be yourself. Point 10 - Listen to your styleBe your own style. It will only go out of fashion if you follow trends. It makes you unique. Draw a straight line. All those bumps, imperfections in that line, make them louder because that is your style. Point 11 - Be inspired (not too much)Anything could be an inspiration. Be constantly open or looking for it. Though don’t plagiarise work, not good! Point 12 - Show up and workTalent is not enough, it only goes so far. You have to do something to get something back. Even if it is one sketch, it is one sketch more than yesterday. Point 13 - Recognise bad daysIf everything seems or is going wrong, cut off early, have a break, it won’t improve without a clear mind. Also if it is a good day recognise that and carry on. Point 14 - Remember life isn’t fairWe can all complain especially if something hasn’t gone the way you hoped. Maybe you have envy of something, so make an enemy of that envy, you don’t need it. Be grateful, it is a luxury to create art and have a comfortable life. Point 15 - We don’t have much timeBest advice for artists block? Move on to another project, or just draw for fun. Remember you are going to die! No one else is going to do the work for you, only you can.
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