So You Wanna Be an Illustrator - a Checklist

Illustration is a broad and ever-growing field of creative practice. As new technology emerges, so do new illustration careers. Who would have guessed the WebToon artist would one day be a career for some people? With such a dynamic art form, it can be tricky to know if you want to be an illustrator and if you are ready to be an illustrator. This checklist will help you decide your next steps.

Do You Want to Be an Illustrator?

The good news about a creative practice like illustration is that the dynamic nature of the art form means that even if you study to be an illustrator and decide to pivot, you’ll still have gleaned useful skills. But if you are debating between a formal study of illustration or other art forms, you may need some help clarifying your direction.

• Do you prefer to create work alone or with a team? Illustration can be part of a team product, such as concept art for animation or video games, but it also allows independent work if you prefer it. Other creative practices, like film, for example, almost always require collaboration. Be clear about your working preferences.

• Do you like storytelling? All illustration is narrative. Even commercial illustration tries to tell the story of a product or brand. If you lean toward abstract or deeply conceptual work, you might find another art-making area better suits you. Or you may have to hustle a bit harder to find a niche in illustration.

• Do you like using digital tools? Even if you are not a digital illustrator, you will arguably have to learn how to scan or photograph your work and touch it up digitally for sharing, publication, printing, etc. Artists who primarily work, for example, as gallery artists are less likely to have to do this long-term (as a gallery or hired hand can photograph work once you’ve reached a certain level).

• Are you an entrepreneur? There are very few in-house, full-time careers for illustrators. You need to be able to market yourself to get illustration work. This may include networking, portfolio-building, preparing pitch packages, and considering multiple income streams. If you want a steady, consistent career, you may struggle with the uncertainty of illustration work. But if you’re an entrepreneur, you can thrive as you build your brand.

• Do you consume the media you want to create? It’s very important to understand your industry. Imagine if doctors didn’t bother to study the work, best practices, or research being constantly published in their area of medicine! Yet, sometimes artists think that making art is the only thing an artist needs to do (see the above point for proof that is not the case). Since illustration is generally for a targeted audience, understanding the market is essential. If you want to be a comic artist, you read comics. If you want to be an animator, you devour animated films and TV. Study your craft intellectually as well as technically.

How do you like to create? How can it be shared with clients? Are you ready for that?

Are You Ready to Be an Illustrator?

You can be an illustrator whenever you are ready to claim the title for yourself. As a hobby or casual interest, all it takes to call yourself an illustrator is to call yourself an illustrator. But if you are considering making the switch to a professional illustrator, or even just beginning a development path in that direction, here are some points you may want to consider.

• Have you studied your art fundamentals? Basics like form, value, colour theory, drafting skills, tool use, and working with reference are key to illustration and many other types of art making. You do not need formal study to consider that you’ve studied these fundamentals - you just need to learn and grow in as many areas as you can. If you need somewhere to start, check out my post on the Ten Essential Skills Every Illustrator Should Practice.

• Do you have a clear understanding of what type of work you are looking for? Defining your goals is important for many reasons, not least of which is knowing who to reach out to when you are looking for work. You should also use your goals as a way to clarify your portfolio. If you want to create comics, your portfolio wouldn’t make a lot of sense if it included only linocut prints and clay sculptures. Everything on your portfolio should be something you want to be hired for. If you’re struggling, my post on Ten Steps to Clarifying Your Illustration Portfolio might help.

• Do you know how to find work? Every area of illustration requires a different approach to finding work. For example, if you are interested in working in children’s books, it may require sending your portfolio to publishers or agents, or, if you want to write the books, too, you may need to send a pitch to a publisher or agent. Knowing the ins and outs of your industry is important to clarifying your plan for getting work, and it requires focused research. Joining a professional organization for your type of illustration may help, such as the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

• Are you making your own opportunities? Not having any commissions or publication deals is not an excuse for letting your artistic CV and portfolio stagnate. You should always be looking for opportunities to work in your field. This does not include working for “exposure” for organizations that should and could pay you for the work. If you are going to work for free, at least do it for yourself! You might publish a webcomic, share short animations on social media, table at local artist events, apply for local art shows, or do free work for charitable organizations. Taking classes that can help you learn more specialized skills is also a nice touch to your CV and overall artistic credentials.

Well, what do you think? Are you interested in being an illustrator? Are you ready?