10 Tips for Launching Your Illustration Career

Learn how to illustrate ideas in Sweet Spots: Expressing Big Ideas in Small Illustrations - skl.sh/3e8Wl33 - Use my links to get 30 days free on Skillshare.
So you know how to illustrate - now, how do you start your career as an illustrator? In this episode, I'll share 10 key strategies that helped kickstart my illustration career. These personal yet practical tips offer valuable insights for aspiring illustrators looking to advance in the industry. Whether you're seeking a reminder of fundamental practices or hoping for fresh perspectives, this episode provides a blend of familiar and surprising advice to motivate and inspire. This episode originally launched in July 2023 as a Patron's Only "Summer Shorts" episode.
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IN THIS EPISODE
• Episode intro
• Thanks/How to Support
• Updates
1. Skillshare Referral Drive Update (Thanks for showing up for me!)
2. Response to Episode 30 in Designer Sketches: Learning to Speak Machine with John Maeda
• 10 Things I Did to Get my Illustration Career Off the Ground
• Tip 1 - Start as a designer
• Tip 2 - Make everything about illustration
• Tip 3 - Make mistakes
• Tip 4 - Start it on the side
• Tip 5 - Start local
• Tip 6 - Submit work to blogs, collections and awards
• Tip 7 - Have a daily project that you share
• Tip 8 - Invest in special self-promotion
• Tip 9 - Get an agent (when you are ready)
• Tip 10 - Pay attention to what others say about you
• Conclusion
• Plant seeds now, that's the only way you'll see growth later
• Don't listen to the bad stuff people say, embrace only the positive
• Outro
EPISODE LINKS
Learning How to Speak Machine with John Maeda - designersketches.substack.com...
PODCAST TEAM/CREDITS
Mark Allan Falk, Audio/Video Engineer
linktr.ee/semiathletic
All Music, including Theme Song and Cues by Mark Allan Falk (linktr.ee/semiathletic) .
FIND ME ELSEWHERE
www.tomfroese.com (thoughts-on-illustration.simp...)

[@tibokca]

Thank you for your insight and wisdom! You made the tips very approachable. It made me realize I have already accomplished a couple of them, which is encouraging and makes me want to keep going. I just need to show up every day and keep working and soon enough I will have my portfolio ready to send out. Also, a reminder that I should find the courage to reach out to people more often for feedback or opportunities.

[@TomFroese]

Thank you for the note! Sometimes tips like these, when you already know about them, are good reminders that are already doing the right things.

[@StudioKopii]

Just found out you are also from Vancouver! This gives me so much encouragement to start❤ Been bingewatching all your content, so thank you so so much! I'm taking notes📝

[@TomFroese]

Thank you so much, hello from here!

[@MelanieManning-cl4gs]

An very informative inside. Thank you

[@TomFroese]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Mag_1418]

The postcard idea sounds good, I'm gonna try that for myself. Maybe send a postcard with a couple stickers attached, that would be cool. I'm no longer at a point where I need to launch my career, I've been freelancing for 6 years now, but haven't been getting many projects as of late. So I thought maybe it's time to do things a bit differently. Thanks for the ideas.

[@TomFroese]

Thanks, I’m in the same boat. Not a beginner but definitely could use a power up after a recent decline in new business. So it’s time to do a postcard or mailer again! Stickers are a great idea.