To become an illustrator, you first need to know who an illustrator is. An illustrator makes a visual representation of the subject matter to accompany a piece of literature.
Illustrator is an artist who produces two-dimensional images for various businesses and industries, such as fashion illustrators, children’s books, websites, tattoo artists, comic books, technical designs, and advertising.
Currently, ebooks contribute upwards of 17% of a publishing company’s overall revenue.
This suggests a rise in book sales and implies that authors and publishers will require skilled illustrators to bring their stories to life.
Steps To Become an Illustrator
The following article outlines four steps to help you become an illustrator:
1. Get Professional Education
A fine arts degree involves a lot of practical training in painting, computer graphics, and drawing.
Most employers demand a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree.
You can enroll in two-year degree programs that concentrate on particular talents, like those in architecture or engineering, to continue your education.
But suppose you are working and want to make a career shift without going to university.
In that case, you can go for online certificate courses, which take less time and are flexible for your schedule to make a career in the illustration business.
2. Choose Your Niche
While it’s fantastic to be skilled at several things simultaneously, you must choose one illustration form or profession to focus on.
Choosing one area of illustration will help you distinguish out in that sector.
If your former coworkers have any leads in the area in which you specialize, they will also provide you with a recommendation.
Moreover, it would help if you took your time while deciding on a particular industry.
Before determining which one you like most or which ones you naturally excel at, you can take your time and test out many options.
It will also be helpful for potential clients who want to know ahead of time if you would be a perfect artist for their particular illustration assignment if you specifically state in your portfolio that you are skilled in a specific sector.
3. Polish Your Skills
After determining what kind of illustration work you wish to pursue, you can refine your skill set and learn valuable tools.
Start by studying some of the tools and other applications most frequently used in your work.
You can also go for less paid internships in the sector which will help you to hone your skills.
Search online or use the available software to find out more about the specifications.
For instance, some of the most often used tools in the field of graphic design include Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and the program for 3D design.
4. Build Portfolio
When applying for illustration positions and jobs in the art and design industries, an extraordinary portfolio is frequently more significant than a college degree.
For potential clients to view your work, put together a professional portfolio.
To showcase your most outstanding work and abilities, purchase a domain name for a website and build an online portfolio. You can also join leading illustration agencies in NYC as a freelance illustrator.
Your credibility increases, and your best illustrations are showcased on a well-designed portfolio website.
Additionally, you may use social media to share your work, giving you a chance to network and receive constant feedback on your work that will help you to improve.
Conclusion
After you acquire skills, you can try freelance work and sell your art on platforms like Fiverr. Illustrators can build “seller” profiles and present particular goods for a fixed price. You need to know the difference between a graphic designer and an illustrator.
While graphic designers typically collaborate with businesses to create marketing, logos, and sales materials, illustrators are most frequently linked with book projects. While illustrators are charged with bringing stories to life, their work is more tightly related to financial results.
