Hi James, I think your advice applies to novices as well as advanced illustrators. At any point, (re)focussing on work and updating your skillset can be valuable. The combination of your personal experiences and the advice you provide are always very insightful. Thank you for sharing and keep it up!
I discovered you some days ago. Why is every video encouraging and discouraging at the same time😅? Although I like the vibe. It’s not that: 5 thing to elevate your art career in fife days!! Thank you for your advice❤
That is such a great observation! I guess it’s because I’ve seen people do so well in illustration and they’re living a wonderful life. I also see a lot of people struggling. sometimes it’s great, and sometimes it’s not
This video came out at the right time thank you! I had a set back due to personal issues and have been losing my spark…But I bought another sketchbook and some pens and have started some new illustrations when I get off work. Trying to budget my time better these days and I think we are getting back on track! 🎉
Thank you for this video and the encouraging words, I’m one of those who dedicated their life to this career, for 10 years (plus 8 of illustration/design schools), only to now have to panic and try to figure out what to do with my life. Just there is something I don’t understand: You say that clients/agencies want to see unique styles, yet…. from years ago when I open illustration agency websites MOST of the “contemporary” illustration all look the same, so many pages of different illustrators with they art samples, most actually seem made by the same person. (And I got rejected by every single one I wrote to, I always thought it was because my style was too unique). But regardless of my own skill, it seems to me that there is/was a mainstream way of doing illustration, and if you are not in it you end up barely hanging on, unless you are good enough to be able to work in video games. So illustration agencies looking for uniqueness… that’s the part I disagree, a lot of stuff looks the same in their pages.
Hey, thanks for the comment. I hear you. Not only is a unique style preferable, but it also needs to have a commercial appeal. So yes, sometimes agencies do have artists who look kind of similar. There are trends in illustration, so it does happen. Also if a style is unique but doesn't have a broad commercial appeal, it's hard to sell. I'm looking at your work now and i see drug references, occult symbolism and scary looking stuff. The market for that kind of work is very small. It's not going to appeal to the regular commercial clients an agency works with: ad agencies, magazines and publishers. Only in rare cases. I can see you've got skills, but they are applied to niche, fringe subjects. It would be hard for an agent to sell your work to most of their clients. So yes, unique isn't enough by itself - it also needs to appeal to clients who can pay. And yes, there is a mainstream and trends in commercial styles.
@@TheIllustratorsGuide Thank you for taking the time to see my work and comment on it, your comments and critic are invaluable!! What can I tell you, I drank the kool-aids of “niche is good” and “follow your heart” and now I’m paying the consequences and regretting life choices, no amount of satisfaction I ever felt with my work is being worth the fear and anxiety, but at the end of the day it is mainly the advent of AI what is destroying it, and I’m salty that so much effort seems to have been in vain. Just to clarify, the “scary stuff” is for my own shop, the things I have in artstation, particularly the coats of arms and patterns, that is what I present to prospective clients and what I was being hired for for the last few years. but I hear you, I will consider separating portfolios and/or removing the *Cannabis leaf and other things (in this time and age, and with alcohol being way more dangerous than weed, it didn’t occur to me that people would relate that to hard drugs and side-eye me! I mean when you said "drugs" I jumped: "what drugs???" It took me a second to connect it with Cannabis, I guess it goes to show how much of an outlier I’ve become, ) Thank you again for replying 🥀
Haha, well there's a lot to like in your work! Complex patterns and mythological features are very popular. Maybe you could try applying them to a more mainstream product like a book cover? It wouldn't require much extra work but it would then appeal to a wider variety of clients. No side-eye intended, but cannabis and psychedelics still aren't mainstream, and typically the clients you'll find in these areas won't pay much.
@@TheIllustratorsGuide Thank you for your words and comments! That is the plan, I want to try to expand my portfolio to demonstrate more of the things I can do, I'm struggling to choose what to focus on, and I also want to dwell on seamless patterns (though book covers is one of the priorities!)
my case is an odd one because whilst I was in University I was getting commissions from some pretty big clients, now not so much but I've cleaned up my style a bit and I'm trying to get hired by an agency
Great advice for new illustrators, James. Continuing to work on improving skills is key. I agree that style is important, but niching down on a subject matter can also be very useful in attracting clients, even in the beginning, don't you think? I will be sharing this video often :D
Yeah, it can, but in tough times i think it's better not to cut any opportunities off. Also better to sample things to make sure you niche down on the right thing! Thanks!
Good question: Other artists, agents, art directors. Anybody who has experience in the industry. But the more feedback you get, the better. One piece of feedback is an opinion, but if you get 6/7 people telling you the same thing, it's a safe bet to prioritise that change. Here's a video about feedback: th-cam.com/video/_DBR7IikTLo/w-d-xo.html
I had to bail out of this video after the first five minutes-the background muzak is a serious distraction . Your voice is superb and really engaging, what you have to say is always on the money-you don't need the background music-at least that's my opinion.
@@TheIllustratorsGuide Sorry-I feel a real heel for pointing that out-but I think your channel is so helpful that anything that detracts from the message needs to be flagged.
I love your clear explanations and honesty -- thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Hi James, I think your advice applies to novices as well as advanced illustrators. At any point, (re)focussing on work and updating your skillset can be valuable. The combination of your personal experiences and the advice you provide are always very insightful. Thank you for sharing and keep it up!
Thank you so much!
This was very informative and inspiring, thank you!
I discovered you some days ago. Why is every video encouraging and discouraging at the same time😅? Although I like the vibe. It’s not that: 5 thing to elevate your art career in fife days!! Thank you for your advice❤
That is such a great observation! I guess it’s because I’ve seen people do so well in illustration and they’re living a wonderful life. I also see a lot of people struggling. sometimes it’s great, and sometimes it’s not
This video came out at the right time thank you! I had a set back due to personal issues and have been losing my spark…But I bought another sketchbook and some pens and have started some new illustrations when I get off work. Trying to budget my time better these days and I think we are getting back on track! 🎉
Nice! Glad to read that
these are all such good reminders. Feeling motivated again, thankyou!
Glad to read it!
Thank you for this video and the encouraging words, I’m one of those who dedicated their life to this career, for 10 years (plus 8 of illustration/design schools), only to now have to panic and try to figure out what to do with my life.
Just there is something I don’t understand:
You say that clients/agencies want to see unique styles, yet…. from years ago when I open illustration agency websites MOST of the “contemporary” illustration all look the same, so many pages of different illustrators with they art samples, most actually seem made by the same person. (And I got rejected by every single one I wrote to, I always thought it was because my style was too unique).
But regardless of my own skill, it seems to me that there is/was a mainstream way of doing illustration, and if you are not in it you end up barely hanging on, unless you are good enough to be able to work in video games.
So illustration agencies looking for uniqueness… that’s the part I disagree, a lot of stuff looks the same in their pages.
Hey, thanks for the comment. I hear you. Not only is a unique style preferable, but it also needs to have a commercial appeal. So yes, sometimes agencies do have artists who look kind of similar. There are trends in illustration, so it does happen. Also if a style is unique but doesn't have a broad commercial appeal, it's hard to sell. I'm looking at your work now and i see drug references, occult symbolism and scary looking stuff. The market for that kind of work is very small. It's not going to appeal to the regular commercial clients an agency works with: ad agencies, magazines and publishers. Only in rare cases. I can see you've got skills, but they are applied to niche, fringe subjects. It would be hard for an agent to sell your work to most of their clients. So yes, unique isn't enough by itself - it also needs to appeal to clients who can pay. And yes, there is a mainstream and trends in commercial styles.
@@TheIllustratorsGuide Thank you for taking the time to see my work and comment on it, your comments and critic are invaluable!!
What can I tell you, I drank the kool-aids of “niche is good” and “follow your heart” and now I’m paying the consequences and regretting life choices, no amount of satisfaction I ever felt with my work is being worth the fear and anxiety, but at the end of the day it is mainly the advent of AI what is destroying it, and I’m salty that so much effort seems to have been in vain.
Just to clarify, the “scary stuff” is for my own shop, the things I have in artstation, particularly the coats of arms and patterns, that is what I present to prospective clients and what I was being hired for for the last few years. but I hear you, I will consider separating portfolios and/or removing the *Cannabis leaf and other things (in this time and age, and with alcohol being way more dangerous than weed, it didn’t occur to me that people would relate that to hard drugs and side-eye me! I mean when you said "drugs" I jumped: "what drugs???" It took me a second to connect it with Cannabis, I guess it goes to show how much of an outlier I’ve become, )
Thank you again for replying 🥀
Haha, well there's a lot to like in your work! Complex patterns and mythological features are very popular. Maybe you could try applying them to a more mainstream product like a book cover? It wouldn't require much extra work but it would then appeal to a wider variety of clients. No side-eye intended, but cannabis and psychedelics still aren't mainstream, and typically the clients you'll find in these areas won't pay much.
@@TheIllustratorsGuide Thank you for your words and comments! That is the plan, I want to try to expand my portfolio to demonstrate more of the things I can do, I'm struggling to choose what to focus on, and I also want to dwell on seamless patterns (though book covers is one of the priorities!)
my case is an odd one because whilst I was in University I was getting commissions from some pretty big clients, now not so much but I've cleaned up my style a bit and I'm trying to get hired by an agency
Thank you! It was already what i was thinking and my plan. Turns out it was good xD
Best in the game at guiding new illustrators, I love your channel mate!
Very useful video James!! thanks and keep up the good advice!
Very good advice, thank you for the video. Btw I'm really curious about your personal illustration work, is it somewhere on your channel?
No, it's hidden away in a secret folder. I'm not mentally prepared to share it yet ;-)
Thank you for creating this video and structuring such nice advice!
Very useful video! Thank you very much!!
Great advice for new illustrators, James. Continuing to work on improving skills is key. I agree that style is important, but niching down on a subject matter can also be very useful in attracting clients, even in the beginning, don't you think? I will be sharing this video often :D
Yeah, it can, but in tough times i think it's better not to cut any opportunities off. Also better to sample things to make sure you niche down on the right thing! Thanks!
Great advice, once again!!!!! Thank you!
I like this one. Almost a rap :)
Thanks as I uploaded your book onto my Kindle🎉❤❤❤ Thanks for your YT Channel❤❤❤❤ Keep making videos…^___
Nice! Hope you like it
I have some questions:
Any advice for finding the right feedback, that can make you grow faster?
Good question: Other artists, agents, art directors. Anybody who has experience in the industry. But the more feedback you get, the better. One piece of feedback is an opinion, but if you get 6/7 people telling you the same thing, it's a safe bet to prioritise that change. Here's a video about feedback: th-cam.com/video/_DBR7IikTLo/w-d-xo.html
@@TheIllustratorsGuide Thank you very much! 🙂❤
I had to bail out of this video after the first five minutes-the background muzak is a serious distraction . Your voice is superb and really engaging, what you have to say is always on the money-you don't need the background music-at least that's my opinion.
Ah, that sucks. Tried out a new editor for this video. Not my usual vibe…
@@TheIllustratorsGuide Sorry-I feel a real heel for pointing that out-but I think your channel is so helpful that anything that detracts from the message needs to be flagged.
It’s cool, I appreciate the feedback
I like the music, actually :)
Don't...don't....don't AI took over. 😮💔