Original Illustrators willing to work for FREE!!

For the third year in a row, the Illustrators of AGM want to help out any way they can and are offering to work for FREE. The exclusive offer is available to non-profit organizations and charities that wouldn’t normally have the budget to commission original illustrations from the Montreal-based agency. AGM Founder Anna Goodson said: “We’ve been very fortunate and wanted to give something back to the industry. There are so many organizations out there that don’t have the budgets to spend on original illustrations. That’s why we wanted to help and offer our services for FREE.” Founded in 1996, AGM is a boutique-style International agency that serves the global marketing needs of the visual arts community. Today, AGM’s illustrators work alongside some of the world’s leading advertising agencies, design firms, magazines, publishers and newspapers. Anna continued: “Our exclusive offer is only available to non-profit organizations and charities, until February 29th, 2012. If you’d like to find out more, please send us an email or just give us a call. Anna Goodson Management http://www.agoodson.com info@agoodson.com 1. 514.482-0488

We’ve just launched our First FREE AGM App!

I am really excited about our NEW Anna Goodson Management App that we just launched.

We’ve worked really hard on it for over 6 months now and finally its ready to download for FREE.

Whenever I come up with a new idea for a promo, I always want it to be AMAZING!

I decided this year that instead of printing a promo book like we have done many times in the past, we would venture out into the complete unknown and come with a promo that was fun, interactive and would showcase the Original Illustrators that we represent here at AGM.

I was really hoping to launch the App in the beginning of September 2011 but since this was the first App I’ve ever worked on, there was a lot of learning and lots of trial and error.  It reminded me of working on my first website back in the Spring of 1996.  I didn’t have a clue what a website was and therefore didn’t really know what we could or could not do.

Well it was the same with the App and I am happy to say that I learned a great deal in the process of working on  it.  I was also really lucky and spoiled to work with an amazing design team at Sputnik  of Toronto and can not thank them enough for their insight, vision and creativity of The Anna Goodson Management App.  David and Sarah did a wonderful  job and if you download the app, you will see for yourself how great the creative is.

As with everything we do at AGM your opinion is really important to us, so if you have a minute, please download our NEW FREE Anna Goodson Management APP, play around with it and let me know what you think.

We hope you like it!

Anna

This years 2011 AGM Pumpkin Carving Contest is NOW on!

HALLOWEEN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!

Come join the fun and participate in our AGM Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest.

Be as wild and creative as you’d like!

If you can not get a hold of a pumpkin in your area, feel free to use any vegetable or fruit.

The important thing is that you carve it yourself. Original carved pumpkins only, no generic stencil cut pumpkins allowed!

To submit a pumpkin yourself, please register for this website and submit your pumpkin as a news post. REGISTRATION LINK

Please VOTE AND LEAVE COMMENTS  on the pumpkins below and in the archives!

Please only submit one pumpkin. Once submitted as a news post it will be reviewed and published on the site for voting ASAP.

Have fun and get carving!

Voting ends at 12pm on November 1st, 2011. The top three entries will be posted on AGM’s website the first week of November.

Here is My Top Ten on “How To Become a Productive Working Illustrator in Today’s Industry.”

1. Find yourself a great Rep or Agent to represent you.  There are so many advantages in having someone who is well connected and hard working out there trying to drum up business and take care of promoting and marketing you.  That way you can concentrate on your work.  If you are lucky enough to get a great Rep or Agent with a good reputation, then you wont have to worry about the rest of this list.  If you are going solo or have not had the opportunity to sign on with someone yet, then here are few of my recommendations.  Make sure that when you do contact a rep that you never contact a Rep or Agent by addressing your email, “ Dear Sir/Madame” or “To whom it may concern”. You should take the time to address your email to the person whom you want to represent you. Never send out mass emails and especially never cc several Reps or Agents at a time. Do your homework and research before contacting anyone.  Make sure that you contact the right person for you.

2.Perfect your style. Work on having a distinct style that you have mastered over time.  If you work in several styles, choose one and focus on it.   Your work should be recognizable. Your style should belong to you.  If you can achieve that, then that’s a huge advantage.  Think of the illustrators that you love; you can always recognize their work right away when you see it.  Never try to copy a style that you think is successful, create your own, be original.

3. Think globally and not locally.  This is one of the great advantages of being an illustrator.  You can live anywhere and work with clients everywhere.

4. Create a personal website.  It doesn’t need to be complex or complicated.  Think of it as your online portfolio to showcase your work.  Keep it simple, clean and easy to navigate.

5. Sign on to some of the great websites that promote illustration.http://www.hireanillustrator.com, is a great one to get started. There are several out there and always do your research before signing on.

6. Keep busy working on your style even when you have no commissions in hand.

7. Get out of your studio or workspace to go for walks or a run or to take some fresh air.  It’s important to get away from your work and take some time to “smell the flowers”. You will feel much better and be in a better mood when you get back.

8. Participate in International contests.  This is a great way to get your name known and bring you some recognition if you are selected.  Look for contests that are reputable and not the ones that are just out there to take your money.

9. Always be sure to get everything in writing.  Make sure that you send your clients a written quote before starting a job and make sure they sign it or at least reply to an email that they agree with your conditions.  If everything is in writing , there will be no surprises.

10. Believe in yourself.  Enjoy what you are doing.  Never give up and stay passionate about your work.  Love what you do and success will come.  Nothing is more important than being happy in your career.