Illustration tips I could have done with 3 years ago.

This will be my 3rd year working as an freelance illustrator and I have learnt a few things to say the least. There have been lots of tears, freak-outs and late nights galore but I think at this moment in time I feel like I might just be getting the hang of this. I’m still a newbie but here are the tips I would have told baby Eleanor graduating from uni.

Do:

Call yourself an illustrator

Projecting confidence in your work goes so far. If you don’t have faith in your work, process and portfolio neither will the person hiring you. Lacking in confidence? Fake it, nobody will ever know. This book really helped me gain confidence and look at things differently.

Work on personal projects

Something I have been doing more and more. Settling a speculative project means making more of the work you enjoy, improving your process and more often than not, will lead to more commissioned work.

Make things clear

Have a contract, clarify anything you are unsure of and ask for help if you need it. The AOI are amazing for helping with jargon filled contracts and even have their own contract you can fill in.

Be Patient

If you are working hard and getting your work out into the world the right opportunities will come. During a quiet Autumn period last year I decided to create my Swan Maiden series, this was a period which was worrying at the time, however creating that work did directly lead to large commissioned projects 3 or 4 months later which balanced everything out in the long run.

Be easy on yourself

3 years ago I was balancing 2 jobs, one in LUSH and another in a retirement home. I was always tired, living at home and found it difficult to find time to sit down at my desk. Realising you need time to rest and recharge is important and I’m still learning this now. Sometimes you can get more done in one really focused afternoon than if you sat at your desk all day night. If you need a rest, take it!

Dont:

Work for free or ‘exposure’

This is especially temping early on, and I admit I did work on some unpaid projects for free straight after graduating. However, none of these unpaid projects have lead to paid work and looking back it would have been so much more beneficial to spend time adding personal projects to my portfolio. Being an illustrator is like any other profession, you are doing a job and should be paid for your time.

Take on every job that comes by

It can be really tempting to say yes to everything, however follow your gut and remember some work just won’t help you progress or push your work in the right direction. Create the work you want to make more of.

Rush

It’s easy to compare yourself to other illustrators or creatives and feel you aren’t where you want to be in terms of your career. It’s not a race, and the first years of freelancing will be difficult, take your time and enjoy the process.

Be scared to try new things

Quite a recent one for me. Last year I took up pottery and took on my first illustrated window commission. Both of the things were entirely new to me and at the time were terrifying, now they are a part of my practice. New things are scary but you never know, they could lead into something really exciting.

And there you have it, all things I wish I knew 3 years ago (and some thing I still need to be reminded of)!