On the 11th March 2021 our university held a talk with the comic book artists ​Duncan Fegredo and Sean Phillips.

I wasn’t sure what to get out of this talk but it was definitely interesting and I have learnt stuff from it. Comics have been something that I have never read but I think there are aspects of them that I can relate to. The general idea of compositions and storytelling within them are what I am inspired by from them, as well as the more illustrative comics that using interesting textures/ colours. My only interest with the superhero side of comics is probably watching the Batman animated series as a kid. I feel that comics have developed into the video game world where you can actually play out the action elements, like I remember playing the Halo, Fable, Elder Scrolls and Timesplitters franchises and you sort of take on the role of the characters by taking them through the story.

On the 4th of March 2021 our university held a talk with illustrator Lucy Hadley and graphic designer Vince Waldon, both graduates from the university.

I have been following Lucy’s work for a while now and it was nice to hear her perspective on the illustration industry and journey into printing a book. I was also aware of Vince’s studio through Instagram and the points he made about not undervaluing yourself in abilities or pricing is something I think is really important. I definitely feel the area I struggle with most is confidence, like if I need to ‘act’ like I am then I will do so, but it is difficult to constantly believe that I could fulfil a career of being an illustrator and that my work is even good enough to sell/ be commissioned for. So it is something I am trying to get better with and not worry about.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On Tuesday 27th October, Rachel Hill from the AOI (Association of Illustrators) gave a business Masterclass aimed at informing illustrators of how to making a living out of creating illustrations. It was very helpful and insightful, with a lot of the information either new to me or I had a vague idea about. I will go over my notes here to give me a place I can come to in the future when needed!