Comments on: How to become a successful Illustrator

By: Chlo

Chlo — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:28:43 +0000

Yes you have a very good point. I think i will become a very successful illustrator. I’ve wanted to be an illustrator since i was like four so i know i have the talent, i am confident on my style of drawings and i’m sure i can make it. I am definitley going to take your advice but i’m going to start my career in a few years time though because i’m only 13 and yes i know what i’m doing but people probably won’t take me seriously. Thanks anyway.

By: Lorelai Roark

Lorelai Roark — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:22:37 +0000

I believe this is a great post, though there are a few things I’d like to inject in regards to some of the advice and/or comments.

In today’s market you can impress one agent but not the other. Your work can be fresh, exhilarating & astounding to one agent while being “mediocre” to the next. After all, isn’t that what art is? Creations left to interpretation? Opinions are a dime a dozen & while keeping a busy appearance up on the web is extremely important, I don’t believe “impressing” anyone should be. The simple fact of the matter is that you’re never going to impress everyone & besides, who wants that? As artists we should only want the truly genuine link to someone who views our work as “talent”. To say someone is “talented” nowadays is meaningless & the point is moot. Talent has & always will be in the eye of the beholder when it comes to art, illustration or any other type of creative industry. Looking for “talent” is not a well-versed or rounded approach when viewing art.

What one agent views as “talent” another might view as “mediocre”. Agent Z wants to represent you & your “talents” now after all these years but all those others before him/her….agents A-Y didn’t want you because they believed you had no talent.

In the creative industry from which we operate today, the best advice is to follow your heart. Sounds corny & is not a business-like agenda but it will never fail to feed the hunger you have inside you. Do what you love & the money (agents) will follow. It’s as simple & as complicated as that.

By: Anna Goodson

Anna Goodson — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:10:23 +0000

Thanks

By: Fiona Richards

Fiona Richards — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:02:42 +0000

Great post – totally agree with you about source books!

By: Kath Walker

Kath Walker — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:49:57 +0000

Anna

Thanks for the very positive article and sharing your wisdom!

Regards
Kath (UK Illustrator)
http://www.kathwalker-illustration.co.uk/

By: crystal driedger

crystal driedger — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:05:55 +0000

Excellent feedback and article. You’ve given me a fresh perspective on my own work and some hot fire under me to get my “portfolio/style” rework going! Thank you.
I would say also that no matter how much talent you have you need to love the industry in order to stick with it. I’ve seen too many excellent students of mine give up before they gave themselves a chance because they couldn’t take the early years when they had no ground under their feet… I say it’s not over until you’re six feet under!

By: Anna Goodson

Anna Goodson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:32:57 +0000

Hi Brian,
That’s an excellent point and one that I overlooked. Perseverance is definitely and important factor in being successful.
Thanks for the comments.
Regards,
A

By: Brian Raszka

Brian Raszka — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:20:34 +0000

Excellent info. Anna!
I would also add that perseverance is crucial. I agree that one has to be self-critical in determining if one has talent enough to be a professional illustrator but on the other hand you have to take any criticism with a grain of salt. As with anything in life-you can only try. The market will determine if you are to be a success.
Money in the bank helps. There can be quite a lot of time between projects. Having a part-time job also helps when you are starting out.
Finding the right type of promotion can be difficult. I did the sourcebook route for a few years and it did little for me. Postcards worked well for years. Now on-line is where it’s at. It’s inexpensive compared to the sourcebooks and postcards but it very crowded. Now more than ever you need to stand out. Stand out with your style, professionalism and customer service.
Happy Anniversary AGM!

By: Anna Goodson

Anna Goodson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:28:15 +0000

Hi Amanda,
yes that is exactly right. a small brochure or depliant. something that can showcase more than one image.
at AGM we produce some more elaborate printed promos but for an individual illustrator that’s not necessary.
cheers,
anna

By: Amanda Crawford

Amanda Crawford — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:19:52 +0000

One more ‘merci’for a great article from an ‘emerging’illustrator! One further question, though, concerning your preference for printed promos- what exactly do you mean by this? Something that is like a brochure or depliant, with several images and written info, or simply another form of one printed image that is NOT a postcard? I apologize if the answer to this is obvious to everyone else (remember I am ‘emerging’!) Thanks again!
-Amanda