Expert: Patti - 8/5/2008

Question
Hi.  I think I may be interested in a career in illustration.  I have a bachelors degree in Fine Arts.  I majored in painting and drawing.  I graduated in 2001 and since then, I have been struggling to find a career that makes use of my talents.  I would like to find stable income but as an artist, I'm not sure that exists unless you are savvy with computers, which I am not and that market is so oversaturated!  Not sure about illustration but when I think about what I would really like to do, I just want to draw/paint.  I don't know all the ins and outs of being a book illustrator but I am definitely interested in researching the possibilities.  I just don't know where to start or what my first step should be.  I hope you can point me in the right direction.  I'm also interested to know how stable of a career it can be (income) and what a day on the job is like.  I am desperate to get some sort of career off the ground!!!!!  Please help!

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

I understand your desire to find a career in art where you'll be able to use your talents, but illustration is an alarming competitive field. Whatever you're job you have, hold onto it! I don't know of any full time illustration jobs, and it can take many years to build up a freelance client base that keeps you employed even close to "full time'.

Your first step in finding illustration work or any kind, would be to make a tear sheet or promotional postcard featuring samples of your work. Postcards are probably the easiest to do because there are many places online that you can upload your art to, and you can get several hundred for fairly cheap. This is the kind postcard sample I'm talking about:

http://www.imagemedia.com/
http://www.overnightprints.com/

Since it's children's books that you want to do, scour the Internet for book publishers which you'll be sending your promotional postcards to. I'll give you a big hint: well known publishers in big cities rarely use new illustrators that have little experience. Your best best is to contact small independent and regional publishers, and also children's magazines. Each publisher usually has their contact info at their web site. If they don't post it, email the publisher and tell them that you're an children's illustrator and would like to send them samples, and to please get back to you with their contact info.

When you have your list of potential publishers and magazine art directors/art editors and their addresses (and your promotional material) you can start sending these target places samples. Never send anybody original artwork. Try to do a mailing a month, to as many places as possible. If you cast a wide net, you have a better chance of catching something!

While a career in art is defiantly fulfilling, it is darn hard to make a career at it. It has it ups and downs as far as how busy you are, sometimes it's like "when it rains, it pours", other times it's a drought. It is an extremely unstable field, especially when you're just starting out. If you aren't a "self-starter", this isn't the career for you.

I don't think the web based/ computer design field is any more saturated than other careers in the arts. It really helps to have as many skills as possible, and these days that means computers. Having the ability to diversify, and apply your talents to more than one area is mighty smart business.

As far as what a day in the life of an illustrator is like, it's great! There isn't anything I'd rather do. In-between assignments I work at self promotion.

Feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Patti