How Do I Start Learning Illustrator?

Even when I was in college, I tried to take the time to create personal pieces and promote them effectively in the world. But, it wasn’t until I took a forced break from college once and finally left again that I started looking and discovering more about the business side of illustration. As you may or may not know, in mid-2011, I ended up having to drop out of school due to the financial pressure it was putting on me. But, as I still had the drive to create art and make the world see my work, I started looking for what other illustrators’ experiences were like. Did I look for answers to these questions: How to promote your art/illustrations? How to bring your art to the galleries? How do you get your illustrations in magazines? What are some of the steps to becoming an illustrator, and many more?

I learned a lot, and I keep learning. Most likely, it is an incomplete list. But, it is a list of some sites that can reveal to you more about the background of an illustration business, such as sending promotional cards, creating a blog, social media, style. It is not just for the freelance illustrator, but also for the artist who is working to bring the art to the public and get to know them inside and outside of his business marketing. I’m still in the same boat that you are in when it comes to effectively creating a market for my work and building relationships with my art partners. But, with the guides I found, I am now a different person, and I know more than I did a year ago. You will too.

Escape From Illustration Island

Yes, Escape from Illustration Island has served me quite well. Podcasts in particular. I used to listen to these podcasts while creating pieces. I say used to because I have listened to every one of them and am waiting for an update. (ETA: The podcast has come to an end, but you can still listen to the myriad of podcasts on the site) Thomas James interviews many different people in the field, from art consultants, art directors, illustrators, art representatives! And more! He is incredibly insightful and attractive. 

When you listen to a podcast, it flows quite well, although sometimes Thomas James pauses and he doesn’t seem to know what to say. I love asking myself if he has pre-planned questions, but sometimes he ends up asking questions that are unexpected and based solely on what the interviewee said. Aside from podcasts, he has a wealth of resources that include contributions from other illustrators. Resources such as showing examples of a contract when working with a client, sites to sell your work, tutorials in different media, and various external blogs and sites to satisfy your wishes as an artist. If you have a skill, article or piece that you want to share, even you are invited to do so. (Guest contribution is one way to increase the visibility of your work.)

Illustration Mundo

I can’t remember how I found out about this site. It was probably the last year of high school. I think it was at a time when I discovered illustration for the first time. It has many illustrators, and when you click on a particular thumbnail that you like, you are sent to the artist’s website to see more of his portfolio. Apart from the featured illustrators on the main page, you can search for many illustrators by medium or style. 

You’ll see how someone uses the same materials that you use in their own way, find out more about a style you’re trying to perfect, or just see new styles in general. Illustration Mundo familiarizes you with the artists working in your field. In the blogging section, a big plus is sometimes that Nate Williams (the illustrator who runs the site) will interview some of the featured illustrators. Not only will you discover their work, but you will also discover why they became illustrators, what is a day in the life of a said illustrator, what media they use and why, clients they have had, etc. It’s a great way to not only understand more about an illustrator, but you can also take a look at their work ethic, possibly how they landed a client, and if your work relates in any way to the illustrator or a client’s vision. If so, then it is an opportunity for you to share your work or strengthen your work if the type of clients they have had are the ones you are looking for.

Zero2illo

Zero2illo was created by illustrator Jonathan Woodward during his initial stages as an illustrator. You are there with him as he shares his own experience.

That’s what I like the most about this site. Even now, as his career thrives, he advises on different sources of income, interviews other artists, details business practices that begin with your own confidence as an illustrator, and provides a list of business and design tools that you will need as your own boss.

Lines and colors

Lines and colors that I definitely came across in high school and had been keeping up with it ever since. Charley Parker (founder of this site) reviews any art from the past or present. We are talking about art from the 16th century, possibly more. In each article, he focuses solely on the artist or the art form. This site is similar to Illustration Mundo in that it introduces your colleagues in the art field, but differs in that I don’t recall you interviewing anyone. In my opinion, what makes Lines and Colors a viable resource is that you are shown a wide variety of creatives who have worked before you or who work alongside you today. 

There are still more specific helpful tips that I want to share that I have read and found. But they are from illustrators, designers, in their own voice and not as a collective site, so that will be for another post. For now, that concludes this list.