How did I become an illustrator?

IlloGuild Question #5

Each month members of the IlloGuild are answering a question together, and this month it is: Why are you an illustrator and how did you become one?

Many of you are also artists, so feel free to share your story in the comments, or respond directly to this email. I really enjoy hearing people’s stories, especially since so much of this community is online. We don’t always get a chance to learn about everyone’s journey, so this is a great opportunity to share a bit about yours!

I wrote a long response as I reflected on this question, so feel free to listen to all 6 minutes while you organize your art space or start on some sketches or something else.

---

Writing this newsletter like a diary entry as I reflected on memories and connected dots to where I am today. I learned that looking back makes the present seem more clear and obvious. I’ve been a teacher for about a decade now, so I kept wondering, “Can I really start all this art stuff now?” But looking back… it’s always been there! It was just a matter of time until I took the plunge. Art has always been in my life, but only recently have I viewed it as a career. So let’s trace back some of the key events that got me to this point…

First let’s rewind way back to about 23 years ago…

I was probably about 8 years old when my sisters and I went to our first week of Art Camp, aka the absolute best week of the entire summer. Mrs. R taught us everything: color theory, how to paint with various mediums and on different canvases, and how drawing what you see. She taught me to render shadows by mixing the complementary color instead of using black. I learned how to properly store art supplies, how to use painter’s tape, and so much more. My sisters and I went to art camp for probably 5 or 6 summers, and that laid the foundation for the work I do today.

16 years ago: my first paid illustration project

When I was in 7th grade, a family friend asked if I would draw some art for a pediatrician’s office to make it more friendly for the young patients. I was pumped to have a paid illustration gig, and it would be 10 years until I got another one! I never really thought about making money from art even though I was always drawing. The margins of my class notes were always filled with doodles, probably an early indicator of my current illustration style. I bet many of you did that, too.

12 years ago: college and art history

I started my freshman year of college by declaring a Studio Art minor, but after just one semester of studio classes, I learned that I couldn’t spend 90% of my time in the studio and keep up with other classes. I switched to an Art History major doubled with Elementary Education. If I didn’t have time to create all the art, I would at least memorize facts and get to look at beautiful pictures! Even though I didn’t plan to do anything with the art degree after graduating, I was so proud to have it. It felt like “me” and fit right into everything I loved.

Plus, when I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, I had the best excuse to take all the cool art classes and go on all the field trips. While there, I met a lot of friends who were studying illustration, and I remember being amazed that you could major in illustration. Their work was so beautiful.

7 years ago: my second paid illustration project

The 2015 winter in Boston was brutal. We had countless blizzards and the snow on the sidewalks was taller than me. Staying inside was a good excuse to break out the art supplies. I painted when school was cancelled for snow days. That winter I was training for the Boston Marathon as a charity runner and needed to fundraise. I decided use sharpie and colored pencils to draw cartoons of runners crossing the finish line in return for a donation. I dug through old files on my computer to find some of them for you.

2 years ago: covid/lockdown allowed a consistent art practice

Like some of you, I decided to fill the covid-lockdown with art making. I bought watercolor supplies and enrolled in some online classes. I got really interested in urban sketching, and that’s what got me into a consistent art practice. It felt so rejuvenating to be painting. In summer 2020 I had the chance to work with Rocky Ruggiero for an online art history camp about Italy. I had studied there, so I had the most fun planning all of the art-making activities and diving into Renaissance art, using both my art and education background. I felt so fulfilled by all the art in my life that I started to wonder what it would be like to be an illustrator or work in the art world at some capacity… So I started to actively plan small steps towards becoming an illustrator.

1.5 years ago: let’s get serious about this art stuff

I was spending every weeknight and most of the weekend doing art, so I invested in some courses to help me get serious about growing this “art side hustle.” The first one I took was Illustrating Children’s Books, and I never looked back. Creating characters, poses, and expressions was so joyful, and kids books are so closely aligned to my work as an elementary reading teacher. It just made so much sense to pursue the children’s book market. After that course, I met a group of fellow illustrators, (we now call ourselves the IlloGuild), and we have continued to meet biweekly but can’t stop chatting on the Discord between meetings, ha! The drive, genuine care, and inspiration in that group is amazing. Those illustrators are the secret ingredient behind my “how and why of becoming an illustrator.”

The present…

Since that 1.5 year mark, I have worked hard to complete art courses, send off completed commissions, work with businesses, and launch an online shop with cards, stickers, and prints. I have met so many inspiring artists along the way who have given me advice and believed in me. I have also been so overwhelmed by all the support of family and friends in my life.

After all that reflection, I would say that I have always been on the path to becoming an illustrator, and I am so grateful to confidently claim that title now. “How” I got here boils down to this:

• Art has always brought me joy, so I kept returning to it.

• My community has encouraged me to put in consistent practice.

• I believed taking one small step a day would lead to growth, and it has.

Those 3 points sum up the question, “Why are you an illustrator and how did you become one?” Do our stories share anything? What’s unique to why you’re an illustrator? I always love hearing from you, so comment below if you’d like to share :)

Next week I will write more about community and the importance of it, but this post is already getting quite long…

See you next week, and as always, thanks for reading!

Katie