Art by Analise Black
Join Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry for their first-ever live Q&A! From agent relationships to sketches to passive income, the guys answer your illustration questions on the spot!
ASK A QUESTION
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SHOW LINKS
Children’s Book Pro
Kyle Webster episode
Proko’s Draftsmen podcast
KEY TAKEAWAYS
If you have an agent and a solid portfolio and you’re not getting work, have a frank conversation with your agent. Discuss their current efforts on your behalf and create a plan together to get your work in front of the right people.
All income requires effort up front, but if you put in the work today, you can reap passive income for years down the road.
When writing a children’s book, you should know more than just the plot. Discover what makes your story interesting and different from every other kids’ book out there.
QUESTIONS
“Is it a red flag when an agent asks you to contribute to the costs of attending conferences?”
Agents will ask for certain advertising fees or website fees, but much more than that is a red flag! They have expenses, but that’s why they take a cut from your earnings, so proceed with caution before paying for anything unusual.
“How finished does my work need to be for sketch deadlines and revised sketch deadlines?”
You’re looking for the Goldilocks zone between too tight and too loose. Art directors are used to seeing sketches and can interpret images that aren’t perfectly clean, but thumbnail-level looseness doesn’t provide enough information. Go to minute 28:20 on the video of this episode to see examples from the guys!
“What are good sources of passive income for artists?”
Great question! Prints or print-on-demand products are great places to start. Kickstarter is a lot of work upfront, but once you’ve got a project off the ground, it could make money for years to come. Licensing is an option, but unless you land a deal with a big name, it can be difficult to get any significant return.
Remember that everything takes work in the beginning, but if you choose the right project, your work will continue to pay off long after it’s finished.
“Any advice on breaking down the overwhelming process of picture book development?”
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Make sure you know exactly what your story is about and what makes it interesting. Write your manuscript and ensure it’s solid before you start drawing. When it’s time to pick up the pencil, stay as loose as possible for as long as possible; this frees you up to experiment without getting too attached to any one idea.
Our course, Children’s Book Pro, is perfect if you’re looking for a guide to each phase of book illustration. The next session starts in February 2023, so get your name on the waiting list!
Mag asks, “I have an agent and I’ve been sending out my portfolio for over a year, but haven’t gotten any jobs. What should I do to get work?
Your work is so good, and you should be able to get work. Have a conversation with your agent about why you’re not getting work, and what he or she is doing to help you find it. Do you need to send more postcards? To whom? Develop a marketing campaign with your agent, targeting the people you want to work with. If your agent isn’t up to that, it’s time to look for a new one.
LINKS
Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com. Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44
Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt
Lee White: leewhiteillustration.com. Instagram: @leewhiteillo
Daniel Tu: danieltu.co.
Lily Camille Howell: lilycamille.com
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If you want to be a part of the discussion and have your voice heard, join us at forum.svslearn.com.