Five Questions for a Freelance Illustrator

1. Do you only go for jobs that you think will fit your style of working, or do you try anything that comes up, to expand your portfolio and develop new skills?

2. Do you think it is important to get an agent?

3. What advice would you give someone currently at university but hoping to pursue a job in illustration when they leave?

4. Where do you find you get more work as an illustrator? E.g Magazines etc

5. As a freelance illustrator, do you find it easy to get work or do you have another job as a steady source of income?

Research on Illustrator 1

Claire Latchem

Claire is a 23 year old illustrator/character designer, who goes by the name Superfex. Influences include character design, animation, model making, vector and tattoo design.

Tries her luck at anything remotely creative in the hope to broaden her capabilities as an artist.

Claire doesn't have an agent, she is a freelance designer because even though she would like to peruse a full time job in illustration, she likes to have a steady income which is why she has another job working for a graphics company in Bournemouth, UK called Tasty Marketing.

http://www.superfex.co.uk/

Email: hello@superfex.co.uk

http://www.tastymarketing.co.uk/

Agencies

www.illustratorsagents.co.uk

http://www.illustrationweb.com/

http://www.beehiveillustration.com/

http://www.thebrightagency.com

http://www.pureillustration.co.uk/

Disciplines and Places Where You May See Illustration

• Scientific (medical)
• Children's books
• Film/Animation
• Concept Artist
• Editorial
• Graphic novels/Comics
• Manga
• Digital
• Tattoo Design
• Fashion and retail
• Product Design
• Interior Design
• Fine art
• Toy Design
• Storyboard
• Games design
• Teaching
• Gift card design
• Advertising
• Packaging
• Architecture
• Music
• Character design
• Portrait
• Street art/Graffiti
• Make up
• Textile
• Book covers
• Web Icons
• Spot illustration
• Historial
• Album covers
• Logo
• Diagrammatic
• Stickers
• Badges
• Laptop covers
• Phone covers
• Accessories E.g Bags
• Clothing designs
• Shop windows
• Kitchen utensils
• Transport (on the side of buses, planes, cars etc)
• Mugs
• Galleries
• Walls/buildings
• Card shops
• Posters
• Food wrappers
• Film covers
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Book covers
• Signs
• Beauty products
• Television (adverts)
• Billboards
• Banners
• Internet
• Postcards/business cards

Commission

Tattoo Design for Scott

I got this commission because Wayne passed my name on after completing his design. I found this one to take longer than Wayne's. All Scott asked for was a cross to go around the text he already had "Tattylash". The problem wasn't fitting the cross around the text but the actual design for the cross, as he didn't have the slightest clue of what kind of cross he wanted. To begin with, I designed 16 different types of crosses. (Example photo below)

I did this so he could choose the ones he liked and then I'd have an idea to work with. Not long after sending him these designs, I came up with what became the final design. The tattoo is in memory of someone who has passed away and so I thought adding wings to the cross would give it more of a elegant, yet peaceful feel to it. Scott really liked the draft of this design, so I got to work on producing a good quality image. The image below took me approximately 14 hours to complete, I only used black pen and pencil for this design as he didn't want any colour added to it.

The image below is of the tattoo actually being done, unfortunately this image is of it only half completed, I have seen the final product and personally I think it looks amazing. The main thing is that Scott is happy with it.

On completing his cross design, Scott asked me for another design, which I am still yet to do.

"How about designing my sleeve, I want a polynesian design like the rock (the wrestler) aka Dwayne Johnson"

Commission

Tattoo Design for Wayne

Notes on Jack Teagle

• Went to Exeter college of art
• Using digital and paints for the majority of his work.
• Self produced.
• Loves to draw sci-fi styles of work
• Influenced by old vintage colours - things that dont really work E.g Old batman, how bold it is/colourful (tries to bring this into his work)
• Collects toys and corny things
• Influenced by base man, gavy pankler, ryan heshkah
• Didnt know what he wanted to do straight away, he thought illustration was better than graphics though and thats why he chose to do illustration instead
• Alot of stencil work/graffiti
• He grew a lot in his 2nd year and started realising what direction he wanted to go in.
• Loved old rock posters
• Produced some shoe designs in his 2nd year.
• Used a lot of silk screening in his work
• Knew people wouldnt just come and get you, you have to put yourself out there to get noticed.
• Made a lot of sketchbooks throughout the years, containing mostly negative space and life drawing.
• Robert kroom
• Developed his drawing in his own time
• Works with editorials, books and is self published. (tried a lot of different things but tried to stay away from computers)
• Always liked to do rough drawings of things, also he did lots of little drawings rather than loads of big drawings that never got finished
• He liked experimenting with toys, making moulds from them, recasting them and editing old toys to create new ones.
• he always tried building up narratives in his work (read a lot of comics)
• Tried to bring fantasy and real life into his work
• Loved to use lino cuttings and letterpresses
• He would always try and get intouch with other artists and students to see what they are doing and to try and get word out about his work.
• Started using gouache more throughout the years.
• started making band covers and short fictions (short stories)
• Liked looking at fashion blogger comics
• Constantly pushed himself into things he hadnt done before.
• Started making stuff people would want/be interested in rather than what he really enjoyed because he wasnt getting noticed enough, but kept his own style.
• Got noticed by a market research magazine
• Started using photoshop after this for layering as digital work was quicker and he could complete things in a third of the time, but he always tried to make them look authentic
• The guardian - comic festival - every year (glad to be developing work)
• No brow magazine - formed a relationship with them and now gets featured more
• Spera
• Anorak magazine (back cover for magazine)
• Always goes through big design blogs
• Tallship (gig promoter)
• Always send people links, websites and blogs, nothing with too much work in because they dont like looking at anything that will take up too much of their time.

500 words "Why I want to be an illustrator"

Ever since I was little I loved to draw. When I was about 5-6 years old I won my first art competition, then over the following years I got awards for how creative I was. At my first school I won an award for the best artist as well as at the end of middle school. I never really realised how good I was at art I just enjoyed producing drawings that I never really thought about it. During middle school I really enjoyed drawing and creating my own fantasies through drawings, I would sit and draw things like dragons and other mystical creatures which led me off into my own world.

Because I kept getting recognised for my work and I enjoyed it so much I thought that art was my best choice of subject to pursue. I took art & design for G.C.S.E and had fun learning new techniques and about artists I'd never heard of before. Over the years we visited galleries and studios of artists which made me realise that it was exactly what I wanted to do. I started to doubt myself when I got into sixth form, art &design started to become more demanding and more stressful and i started really doubting it was what I actually wanted to do and there was always that one person that was better than you which made you want to give up, but i carried on and tried my hardest to complete the course. After this I wasn't 100% sure it was what I wanted to do anymore but couldn't think of anything else I was good at, at the time. So i decided to pursue it further and go and do a foundation degree that would help me look at a wider range of areas for art & design and it would help me decide if it was what I really wanted to do. I didn't want to go to university with this doubt in my mind.

Over the last couple of years my skills have developed greatly and I have learnt things I'd never tried before such as print making and photoshop. I have loved learning these new skills and if it hadn't of been for last year I wouldn't be doing a BA level illustration course and I still wouldn't know what I wanted to aim towards. At the beginning of last year I thought I originally wanted to look more into doing Graphics based work. But my course last year helped me to figure out what I was best at and what I enjoyed doing the most. Besides a few aspects everything lead me towards illustration, ever since then I have loved drawing even more and I can't wait to see where it takes me in the future. I have started to love art again and I'm happy I made the decision to come to Plymouth College of Art to pursue art in illustration. I know that I can do this course and I can do it well, I just need to push myself and I will get there.

WB1 Personal and Profession Development Plan

Health and Safety Quiz

5 years time...

I'm not completely sure where I want to be in five years time currently. I have got a few things in mind but nothing that I could say would be my definite answer...

CV Aspects

Name

Contact - telephone and address

Profile 3-4 lines

Employment (in order)

-Skills base (list of skills)

-Functional (bullet point - about 8)

-Chronological

Education/Qualifications(start with the latest)

References

Published history

Exhibitions(you were in)

Personal statement

Art version:

Name

Profile

Qualifications

Published pieces

Art exhibitions

Art experiences (skills)

Workshops

Illustration Job Opportunaties

AOI- www.theaoi.com

The association of illustrators is one of the best places too look for jobs as its just focused toward illustrators and provides competitions and job opportunities.

www.prospects.ac.uk

Illustration job description

An illustrator uses creativity and the technical skills of painting and drawing to communicate ideas, sensations, facts, feelings and emotions. Illustrators work to commercial briefs to inform, persuade or entertain a client's intended audience, adjusting the mood and style of images accordingly.

Work is predominantly freelance. Possible markets include:

• editorial (magazines, newspapers and comics);
• books;
• advertising (posters, story boards, press);
• fashion (forecasting);
• merchandising (greetings cards, calendars, t-shirts, ceramics, etc.);
• corporate work (brochures, catalogues);
• multimedia (video games, websites, animation).

Specialisms include scientific, technical and medical illustration. In these fields, illustrators create illustrations for text and reference books that may show new products, processes or techniques.

Typical work activities

Work activities typically involve:

• liaising with clients, editors and authors in order to understand and interpret their business needs;
• building an understanding of what styles are appropriate;
• negotiating pricing and deadlines;
• analysing a brief's specification and the text to be illustrated as well as researching sources;
• thinking creatively and using imagination to produce new ideas;
• creating images and designs by using the traditional hand skills of drawing and painting, alongside other techniques, to meet design briefs;
• using computer-aided design (CAD) packages to scan images and change size, colours and other elements;
• providing roughs for approval;
• redefining a brief through further consultation with the client to include new ideas or text as appropriate;
• running the business, when working freelance;
• speculatively approaching potential commissioners to seek new sources of work;
• working to a brief within a set timescale, often to tight deadlines;
• creating original pieces for self-promotion;
• researching appropriate galleries to find suitable venues to exhibit work.

If I was to pick one of these I think I would like to look at doing books or editorial based illustration. The only problem with doing books is you don't always get a lot of money unless the book sells well. Also it isn't always easy to get into this unless you have connections within the publishing industry. Editorial based work would be a better option if you wanted more money and more opportunities for work. Because editorial work is a wider range of things than books there is more option and more work out there to be done. Plus if you do a good job on a magazine for example that magazine may use you again and it is a good way to get your work out there and seen by others.

Fine artist:Job description and activities

On this page…

1. Job description
2. Typical work activities

Job description

Fine artists create original pieces of art work, through a variety of mediums. Often specialising in a particular type of art which can be categorised in the following ways:

• two-dimensional work (drawing, painting, collage);
• three-dimensional work (sculpture, installation);
• four-dimensional work (moving images, performance).

As well as specialising in a type of art, many artists also specialise in a subject and may concentrate on areas such as landscapes, portraits or abstract.

Fine artists can be commissioned to produce a piece of work or they can create pieces from their own imagination for sale at a later date.

Typical work activities

A typical day will involve research, making art work, planning and creativity.

Tasks typically involve:

• generating ideas, idea development, sketching, making models;
• creating or developing a piece of work in response to a brief or commission;
• meeting deadlines;
• working in a studio or off-site and adhering to health and safety procedures;
• sourcing materials and developing relationships with suppliers;
• researching, visiting locations, interviewing people, using libraries and the internet;
• administration, correspondence, creating publicity;
• project planning, creating and managing a budget, financial planning, calculating expenditure;
• managing tax and self-employment issues;
• organisation and administration tasks associated with running a studio;
• writing project proposals for galleries, competitions or artist residencies;
• writing funding applications (public and private);
• applying for residencies and competitions;
• liaising with contacts, gallery owners, curators and other artists;
• curating individual and group shows;
• negotiating a sale or commission;
• self-promotion, networking, attending private views and other events;
• writing press releases;
• maintaining a portfolio which will typically include a website;
• evaluating a project and feeding back to the main funder or sponsor

Photographer:Job description and activities

On this page…

1. Job description
2. Typical work activities

Job description

Photographers create permanent visual images for an exceptionally wide range of creative, technical and documentary purposes. A professional photographer usually works to a brief set by the client or employer. Examples of image content include wedding, family and baby photographs, fashion, food, architecture, corporate photography, war zones and landscapes.

Most professional photographers specialise in one area, such as fine art, fashion, advertising, editorial or social photography. Around half of all professional photographers are self-employed. The remainder work for a wide range of employers, including creative businesses, publishers and photographic agencies, or in the education or public sector.

Typical work activities

Work activities vary according to specialisation. However, common activities for most photographers include:

• working with clients to discuss the images they require and how they want to use them;
• seeking out appropriate photographic subjects and opportunities;
• carrying out research and preparation for a shoot;
• working in different locations, and in different circumstances, to get the right image;
• using an extensive range of technical equipment, including cameras, lenses, lighting and specialist software;
• communicating with photographic subjects, putting them at ease, encouraging them and directing them;
• arranging still life objects, products, scenes, props and backgrounds;
• liaising with other professionals, including graphic designers, writers, gallery managers, picture researchers, commissioning editors and art directors;
• managing the processing and use of images, discussing technical problems, checking for quality and dealing with clients' concerns;
• preparing proofs for approval;
• compiling finished products for sale, including albums and framed prints, for example;
• understanding traditional film and digital photography and keeping up to date with industry trends, developments and new techniques;
• developing expertise with software to digitally enhance images by, for example, changing emphasis, cropping pictures, correcting minor faults, or moving objects around;
• managing the business aspects of the work, including administration, scheduling work, invoicing and basic accounting;
• developing a good portfolio, building a network of contacts, and achieving a reputation for quality and reliability, in order to secure future assignments;
• self-marketing by, for example, producing business cards, postcards and promotional materials, and creating and maintaining a website.