Do you love to draw and sketch? Do you have a passion for illustration? If so, learning how to become a professional illustrator may be the perfect career path for you! There are many different ways to achieve this goal, but following these simple steps will help you get started on the right foot. Keep reading for more information on how to make your dreams of becoming a professional illustrator a reality!
Make a plan for a smooth transition to freelancing
You could quit your day job and start freelancing right away if you had unlimited personal cash. However, normally this is not the case for most people. So, if you want to maintain paying your rent and feeding your family, you’ll need to carefully plan your move to full-time illustration.
It’s difficult to comprehend the significance of a steady paycheck until it’s abruptly gone. But since this is likely to happen, it’s critical to have some cash on hand to get you through your initial commissions.
Remember that even if you obtain the job, the length of time it takes to get paid might be surprising. You’ll often have to wait months for money after providing your job, and disorganized business bureaucracy might make matters much worse. Having said that, it seems that the safest approach to shifting from a day job to full-time freelance work is… gradually.
The most interesting thing about artists is how they live.
Select the style of illustration
You need to decide whether you want to be an illustrator who does a lot of traditional work or one who does more digital work. You need to understand that there are pros and cons to each style of illustration. The digital illustrator has a much wider range of tools at his or her disposal than the traditional artist. This makes it possible to produce much more complex images. It also means that it is easier to manipulate the image in post-production.
On the other hand, digital artists must learn to use the computer as well as the traditional mediums. They must be able to draw and paint, and they must be able to manipulate their work on the computer. If you are interested in doing more digital work, then you should consider taking a class or two in Adobe Photoshop.
Prepare a financial plan
Planning is about having your finances in order as well as getting a constant flow of jobs. You’re effectively starting a business when you go freelance, so be sure you’ve got your finances under control before you take the plunge.
To begin, open a separate company bank account from your personal bank account. This will make it much easier for you to keep track of your costs and complete your accounts.
Put together an impressive portfolio
One of the most important things that you need to do to become a professional illustrator is to develop a portfolio of your work. You need to make sure that it is clear and easy to see what you can do. It should show that you can draw and paint well, and it should also show that you can create interesting and engaging images.
Your portfolio should also include some examples of the type of work that you are best suited for. If you have a portfolio that looks like it was put together by someone else, you may want to rethink your career path.
Get your name out there
Of course, just putting together a portfolio isn’t enough; you also need to get others to look at it. The key to doing so is using social media to promote oneself.
Working on your internet presence a little each day is a wonderful habit to get into. For the time being, Instagram will be your primary destination, but keep an eye on other social media platforms to see if you can carve yourself a place there as well.
Maintain consistency and only upload illustrations; it’s ideal to keep a separate account for friends and family if you want to post selfies, holiday images, or photos of your supper. However, the work you share on your dedicated illustration account does not have to be complete and polished. Initial drawings and work-in-progress are frequently a wonderful way to involve others in your process online.
Establish contacts in the industry
While having a website and a social media presence is essential these days, they are unlikely to bring you business on their own. You’ll also have to seize the nettle and make direct contact with potential clients. In a nutshell, you must work hard.
So, once you’ve decided on your illustration style and the industries you want to target, start compiling a list of art directors, editors, designers, and anybody else who might be able to bring you new work or at the very least steer you in the right way.
This is very important because it will help you to get your first job. When you first begin working in the industry, you will need to find out where all of the jobs are. You should also make it a point to attend any meetings that you can so that you can network with others in the industry. This will help you to find out about new projects and opportunities.
Maintain a lively environment
The most essential thing is to keep people engaged, regardless of whether these approaches are successful in getting you employment.
So, as often as you can, add fresh artwork to your website and utilize it to entice visitors to return. To keep fans engaged on social media, post on a frequent basis and vary your content as much as possible.
Make phone calls to follow up on mailings and emails. Maintain contact with everyone with whom you’ve exchanged business cards, and continue the discussion. Don’t bother folks, but make it clear that you’re interested.
Stand out from the crowd
Finally, you need to set yourself apart from other artists. In order to do this, you need to have a strong sense of style. You also need to make sure that you can clearly communicate your vision to others. You should make sure that your work is clean and precise. You should also make sure that it is consistent with your goals. You should never settle for work that doesn’t meet these criteria.
