Hi everyone!
This month the
is sharing our favorite resources. First I’ll link some posts from fellow illoguilders, and then I’ll share a few quotes that have helped me along the way.Here are some excellent Kit Lit Guides:
has written the ultimate post about kid lit resources! Some highlights are the portfolio reviews with Mallory Grigg and courses with Make Art That Sells and Domestika. has written about her experience publishing two books recently. She shares practical information about her journey that is so useful to anyone looking to get published! wrote an illustrator’s guide about courses and choices that got him to where he is today. It’s a treasure trove of information to grow your art career!Some quotes that have stuck with me:
These guides already cover so much of what I have done, so rather than repeat the gold from Jen, Carla, and Adam, I’d like to share some words that have stuck with me along the way. I hope they lift you up or push you forward when you need it.
“Just start. Do one small step a day”
When I first launched my art instagram, a friend who started her own business reached out to congratulate me on taking the first step. Then she said to keep doing one thing a day. I took it to heart. One day I drew an illustration. Another day I bought a domain. A different day I researched where to print cards. The next day I bought some classes. And so on… After time, it all added up to looking like I’m an actual artist who is illustrating books and writing newsletters (to share all of this with you!)
So, just start, and keep going. Those small steps can take you far.
“Your art has value.”
When I was starting out, a friend and artist, El Weir, acted as mentor and graciously share about her experiences as an artist. When I told her I was going to do an entire map commission for less than $100, she stopped me immediately and told me about her journey with pricing. She’s the first one who told me that my art has value and that it’s ok to charge for it.
So remember that your art is yours. You created it. No one else has exactly what you offer. Put it out in the world! And when someone wants to buy it or commission you, remember your value and charge it. You have earned it.
“People buy your joy.”
The famous tagline of Lilla Rogers! Sometimes we get wrapped up in what we “should” be creating rather than what we want to create, so this is a good reminder to stay true to your own self and what makes you shine.
“Artists that rise to the top in this field continue to work despite unanswered queries. Keep going. Keep submitting. Keep creating.”
You’ve seen this before if you’ve submitted your portfolio to Tugeau Agency. This is on their submission page and I really appreciate that they are open about the difficulty of breaking in, but encourage artists to keep going. Consistent creation and sharing of art will result in growth. So remember these words when you’re feeling like no one is getting back to you. It’s normal, and if we expect it, then it’s all just part of the process. Keep creating in the meantime!
“Are you capable?”
This quote is by Neil Gaiman, and I discovered it when Adam Ming shared it in a post. He wrote, “Ask yourself this about tasks you’re thinking of blowing off, maybe you don’t feel like doing something on your to-do list. Ask, is it physically possible for you to do it, if it is… do it. Self-talk is everything.”
The newsletter is a year old, but that one piece of advice has stuck with me. Sometimes a project feels too hard or boring or it’s just not turning out how I envisioned it. But I ask myself if I’m capable, and that’s enough to push me forward.
In a way, these quotes sum up my philosophy of being an illustrator:
I am capable of creating art that is unique and valuable. Consistently creating and sharing this art fosters growth and will bring me closer to reaching my goals.
Combine that with a critique group who I value so incredibly much, and that’s my recipe for success!
I hope you gain some fuel for your artistic journey either through the shared posts from Jen, Carla, and Adam or from the quotes. Take and leave what you’d like. Each of us has a unique journey, and it’s a pleasure to be here with you along the way.
The comments are open if you’d like to share any quotes or resources that have helped or inspire you. Sharing and community is a huge part of being an artist, so I truly value hearing from you!
This post is part of the monthly illoguild question. This month we answered: What do you want to share with your community? What are you grateful for? Be sure to check out the illoguild page to read everyone’s responses!
📚 This monthly illoguild newsletter is free. If you’d like to learn more about the Library of Toolkits, click here, or become a paid subscriber to support my work:
See you next week for a newsletter about kids books!
Katie
Thanks for the shout out. Your newsletters are always filled with so much insight and encouraging. Thanks for sharing this valuable info. X
Thank you for all these resources! These are wonderful and I love all the quotes you shared! Real inspiration to take to heart :)