My top 3 recommendations for new illustrators
A book, some classes, and a community of artists
When I was starting out in illustration, I really had no idea what I was doing. I was excited to draw pictures and experiment with style. That was about it!
I didn’t know much about the technical stuff like… How should I price my art? How do I make a website? What is this paint called “gouache” that I keep seeing artists use? How do I submit my work? Who can I even submit to? And so many more questions…
I had been teaching in an elementary school for nearly a decade, so I had no idea about any of this technical stuff about an art career. I joined an illustration class back in 2021, and I’ve learned so much since then.
These are the top 3 resources that I would have wanted to know about when I was starting:
1) The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook
This book is an absolute must for any artist selling their own work. This book has helped me to appropriately price projects ranging from children’s book illustration to brand packaging for an apothecary business. It gives so much information about industry standards, language, and expectations across various markets. There are also contracts that you can use as a starting point for projects from surface pattern licenses to agency agreements to publications. Not only did this book help me learn about pricing, but it has helped educate me on various markets and how they work. As someone who did not attend art school or have any background in business, this book was a game changer for me.
2) Domestika classes or membership
Domestika has tons of affordable courses, so you can learn so many skills without breaking the bank. I did the annual membership for one year and got to explore tons of the included courses and learn valuable information that has helped my creative career. I’ve also bought individual courses on topics that were interesting to me. For example, I was struggling with dynamic lighting, so I took a course specifically about that and learned so much. Some of the Domestika courses have been pivotal in my development as an artist. I took a pattern design course by Tatia Aburre, and now I am actively licensing my designs. The return on these courses cannot be beat.
3) Advice for Artists Facebook Page
I actually just discovered this page somewhat recently. There are quite a few facebook groups out there for artist support, but this one is the most genuine and helpful that I have found. You can ask questions and fellow artists are really kind and helpful with their responses. As someone who was new to doing illustration, it would have been helpful to be able to search back through posts on various topics. It’s a treasure trove of artists helping artists.
Some other resources/classes/things that taught me a lot:
Instagram challenges
Some of my favorite artwork has come from instagram challenges, and they’re free! I particularly love Folktale Week in October and Happy Pets Week in January. I also really enjoy the TheyDraw accounts.
A library card and my own home library
I get tons of books from the library, but if I really connect with the storytelling or the artwork in any of them, I treat myself to buying some books for my home library. It creates an inspiring space to work in. Also, as a former teacher, I’m like that I get to continue building a library.
Setting goals
It’s so easy to get swept up by new creative ideas. I’ve learned that it’s really important to keep my own goals top of mind. Getting a planner and breaking large tasks into smaller steps has been a game changer for me. Slow and steady progress truly adds up over time.
Make Art That Sells - My Year of Art School
This one is a big investment, but if you have time to dedicate to these courses, I highly recommend the full year of courses. Many other online classes have a simlar price tag, but they’re only 1-2 months long whereas this one is a full year. I think it’s one of the best deals that spans a wide range of categories from children’s book illustration to home decor to toy design and more. These courses really helped me to build my portfolio and explore a variety of markets.
Those are my top 3 recs plus some bonus ideas. I’m curious to hear from artists who are new and also artists who have been doing this for some time — what are some resources/recommendations that you would suggest? I’m sure there are tons of amazing resources out there, and I’d love to learn about them!
Be sure to check out the
page next week to see what everyone else in the guild is recommending. Also catch our next live on July 15. You can sign up here and check your local time. I hope to see you there!This post is part of the monthly illoguild question. This month we focused on recommendations and inspiration.
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Mark your calendars for July 15 - 4 PM EDT / 9 PM GMT / 4AM MYT / 6 AM AEST. We’ll be talking about what inspires us and some things we love, such as our favorite books, classes we enjoyed, and illustrators/authors we admire. We can’t wait to see you there!
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Excellent recommendations.
You can’t beat Doméstika / Skillshare, as a fellow Art Teacher / Illustrator those courses have helped in providing new skills which in turn led to a few commissions and recommendations for potential Clint’s / work.