Art by Jake Parker
What does it mean to be a successful artist? What should I work on next? Listen in as Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry examine these questions, plus making time for play and much more!
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SHOW LINKS
Craig Mullins
Will Terry Youtube
Eric Dowdle
Matthew Inman
Scott Adams
Brandon Jeffords interview
Loish
Ross Draws
Jed Henry
Tanner Garlick
Travis Hanson
Gango Editions
Will Strong
SVSLearn Foundations Curriculum
KEY TAKEAWAY
There are many ways to be a successful artist, but it starts by defining what success means to you. If you find joy in solving visual problems for others, full-time illustrating could be a great fit; if you need the freedom to create just for you, don’t force yourself to make it a career. Maybe your sweet spot is somewhere in between. What’s important is that you find the path that allows you to make the work you want to make while living a life that suits your temperament.
QUESTIONS
Mimi asks, “My background is in animation, but I want to illustrate children’s books. How do I transfer my style from one field to the other?”
Animation and book illustration are two different worlds, and transferring your style is tricky. Gatekeepers are hesitant to accept an animation style for children’s books, but you may find success in graphic novels. If you don’t want to alter your style, self-publishing could be an excellent path for you. Check out Will Terry’s Youtube channel to learn what self-publishing entails.
Jeremy asks, “What is the difference between artists and artist entrepreneurs?”
The main difference? An artist creates for pleasure; an entrepreneur or illustrator creates to solve problems. While artists can create whatever they want, whenever they want, entrepreneurs work to meet the needs (and deadlines) of their clients and personal projects. Additionally, entrepreneurs manage (or outsource) responsibilities like shipping, printing, and email. If you want to be a career illustrator, be ready to handle the business side of things as well as the art side!
Eric asks, “Is selling prints at conventions a viable way to supplement your income and increase your fanbase? Can you recommend any printers, or do you prefer to have your work professionally printed?”
Conventions target specific fanbases, so if you create awesome fan art, you can do quite well. Keep in mind that conventions are big, expensive undertakings, so it’s recommended that you start at local events first to test what sells.
In the beginning, a print service can be a good way to make quality prints (Gango Editions is a professional print service we’ve used). When you begin selling large quantities, you can consider investing in an expensive printer.
Charlotte asks, “How do I know what skill to learn next on my illustration journey?”
The general answer is to work through the fundamentals. We’ve made this easy: the curriculum on SVSLearn maps out all the basic skills you’ll need in order. Even if you don’t take our classes, you can check out the topics we cover and see which subjects you know and which you’ve yet to learn.
You can self-audit your work by comparing it to your favorite 5-20 illustrators. What are they doing that you aren’t? Which of their techniques could you implement? Practice those things until your art begins to look at home with theirs.
Amid all your studies, make time to make fun things. All work and no play makes sad, frustrated artists, and art was meant to be fun!
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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