I don’t have my mind set on to a certain career path, so I
thought it wise to conduct some research into the possible options I have open
to me after I graduate with a BA in Illustration.
I am interested in becoming a freelance illustrator, whether
that is part or full time, with an agent or not, I don’t know. One of the
largest areas in the industry is Editorial illustration, I I thought I would
start there.
What is editorial illustration?
Editorial illustration is a core part of the visual
language, appearing in newspapers, magazine and posters etc. Although a small,
but significant role, this kind of illustration helps to delivers conceptual
and analytical news articles.
Why does editorial illustration
appeal to me?
From the little information I have found I think that becoming
an editorial illustrator may suit my style and what kind of illustration I want
to create. I like the idea of sourcing your own work, taking charge of your
career, and to an extent choosing what clients you work for. However, that said
it seems rather difficult to start up in this sector, you independently have to
search for contacts, unless you are represented by an agent, which I assume can
be a little unstable at first, and a second job may be needed to support
yourself. That said I like the independency that this career offers, and as an
illustrator who struggles to produce personal work, and designing my own brief,
I think my best work if from when I interpret set briefs, so this kind of work
could be possible.
What skills will I
need?
- · Good communication skills
- · Flexibility- practical illustration skills, and willing to change
- · Organisation
- · Strong ability to interpret briefs
- · Negotiation skills
- · Good customer skills
- · Patience
How to get involved
in editorial illustration?
Two paths towards a career in editorial illustration, some
have jobs with publishers, others work as freelances.
Self- employed illustrators must develop and maintain a
strong reputation and secure a steady work flow. While you start building
contact, it may be a good idea to main a steady join whilst developing a client
base. This will take the pressure of financially, and panicking to develop a
stead client base in a short amount of time- but will take patience and
marketing ability to get your business built.
In order to start working with a publishing company- printing
newspaper and magazines, it is advised to make a list of such companies in your
area of interest or location. Once this is established you can contact these organizations
directly and express your interest in obtaining employment, or internship.
It is important to keep tract of people you have spoken it,
and keep sending updates of your work.
Academicinvest.com. (2017). How to Become an Editorial
Illustrator | Academic Invest. [online] Available at: http://www.academicinvest.com/arts-careers/graphic-design-careers/how-to-become-an-editorial-illustrator
[Accessed 11 May 2017 12:09].
Tips from editorial
illustrators?
I found this article very useful, editorial illustrator
gives a few tips on how to go about starting your career in this field.
Staff, C. (2017). 5 steps to becoming an editorial
illustrator. [online] Creative Bloq. Available at:
http://www.creativebloq.com/career/become-editorial-illustrator-121310155
[Accessed 11 May 2017 12:10].
Author of the article Anna Wray an illustrator/author
1. Focus on your portfolio
It important to tailor your portfolio to the area you are
most wanting to work in, needing at least 10 good editorial pieces in your portfolio.
It is a good idea to have some work in your portfolio that you have had
published, as it’s a good idea to look in newspaper and magazines for interesting
stories to illustrate. The article also advising that it is a good Idea to
complete a few illustrations for start-up magazine for free in the beginning to
build up your portfolio, meaning you are more likely to get work if you have
already had work published.
2. Make a list of potential clients
It’s good idea to research possible future clients within editorial
illustration. The article recommends you to look at the AOI (Association of
Illustrators) sell 'The Editorial Directory' in their online shop which is a
great resource of companies that commission editorial illustrators. Also
research what kind of work these clients commission and decide whether your
work fits in with it.
3. Send something in
the post and try to meet your possible clients face to face
Rather than just sending email to clients, it is much more
effective and rewarding to send them something in the post which they can keep.
This way they have something physical to keep, meaning they are less likely to
forget you, keep you on their data base, and might have a perfect commission
for you.
4. Be flexible
The article reminds illustrators to be be flexible and client
friendly as possible. Clients will want to see roughs first so that they can
ask you to make changes, and have some creative input into the final
illustration. Take criticism it is a normal part of the process, being
defensive can risk in obtaining a bad reputation for being difficulty to work
with.
5. Keeping in touch
The article address how challenging it can be as an
editorial illustrator to keep in contact with clients so they don’t forget
about you. Creating a monthly newsletter of you recent work, sent by email is a
good way to do this- make it short with lots of visuals- if you haven’t had
many or any commission that month, make up your own brief.
What is a typical day like for editorial illustrators?
Using YouTube I conducted some research by watching videos
relating to editorial illustration and in particular how to find clients.
Notes from the videos
I watched
“How Do I Get Clients? Books for Illustrators? Illustration
Q & A !”- Holly Exley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrEbtz7UgaU
 |
| Screen Shot- YouTube. (2017). How Do I Get Clients? Books for Illustrators? Illustration Q & A !. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrEbtz7UgaU [Accessed 11 May 2017]. |
- · Took a few year 2-3 years
- · In spare time worked on portfolio and limited what she wanted to do- specialised
- · Blogging great way to promote work- google search-
- · Didn’t contact many- sent a few postcards- not very effective for your, just improved portfolio
- · Blogger and Behance
- · Cannot just rely on clients- work can go out of fashion
- · Online printers- awesome merchandise- postcard, stickers notebooks
o
Do your own research, local
areas- Bristol lots of printers- asked questions and paper stoke
- · Do you ever get lonely- do you keep a schedule?
- · Very quiet- limited interaction- must like your own company
- · Don’t have a schedule- appeal to freelance
- · Has an ‘etsy’ shop
- · How many projects at one time?
o
3 different things- editorial 3
small and one large illustration
o
bakery- 7 food illustration
o
board game- 50 illustrations
- · couple of larger jobs and small ones to fill in any gaps in time while communicating with clients- using all the available time
- · recommend books on the business-
o ''Becoming A Successful Illustrator' – Joe Davis
o 'How To Be An Illustrator' Darrel
Reeves
‘Just A Normal Day in the Life of an Illustrator’- Holly Exley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1XFK2p1hqc
 |
| Screen Shot YouTube. (2017). Just A Normal Day in the Life of an Illustrator. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1XFK2p1hqc [Accessed 11 May 2017]. |
- · the illustrators guide to law and business- legal side
- · editorial- first area of work
- · seeing lots of magazine and what was being commissioned- how could I fit into it- e.g. food illustration lots of digital work, find a gap in the market for food illustration
- · need to be very knowledgeable- keep up with the trends- find a slot you can slip into
- · supply a contract if needed, but usually clients have their own paperwork- terms of the commission, timeline and fee, legal terms – rights of illustrator and clients – AOI- acceptance of commission form- then can be editable
- · making time for personal projects is difficult- ‘etsy’ shop – don’t just stick to commercial work
 |
| Screen Shot YouTube. (2017). Just A Normal Day in the Life of an Illustrator. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1XFK2p1hqc [Accessed 11 May 2017]. |
I found that my following a full time working illustrator
throughout their day was a very revealing and resourceful piece of interest. I think
that my visually seeing what illustrators get up to day to day, is more
informative and honest than just reading about it. The illustrator I research
Holly Exley has a few videos revealing her very honest feelings about being an
illustrator, how it can be only, not always getting work, and being stressed.
This is a great insight into what it is really like to be an illustrator.
However, I didn’t really find any videos which about
illustrators who just do editorial work, it seems that illustrators seem to
pick up a variety of jobs that don’t always fit into the same category. I suppose
this keeps the work interesting, creatively it may be more challenging and opens
doors to other illustration.
Action plan/things I need
to improve on or experience?
There are numerous things that I will need to do and
consider I think after further research that editorial illustration is something
I want to pursue
- · Freelance or publishing house
- · Start connecting making a contacts/address book
- · Network more- use social media to my advantage
- · Look at magazine and newspaper learn and keep up to date with the latest tends and fashions
- · Find a market for my illustration, work out what I like to illustrate and where I can apply this and who would I market
- · Submit illustrations to small newspapers and magazine publishers- build up my CV- having work published.
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