Becoming a Successful Illustrator

Chapter 1: Illustration and the world of work
What is illustration?
Where do illustrators work?
Evaluating your strengths and weaknesses

Chapter 2: Working for clients
Who are my potential clients?
Understanding the professional world of illustration
Finding potential clients
Looking beyond the obvious

Chapter 3: The art of self-promotion
Getting yourself known
What kind of promotion do I need?
Creating an online presence
Competitions, exhibitions and trade fairs
Gaining experience

Chapter 4: Getting your work seen
How will I get my work seen?
Getting a professional portfolio together
What do agents do?

Chapter 5: Securing work
How will I be commissioned?
What do I need to ask when I get my first brief?
How will I get the brief?
How will I quote and negotiate fees and prices?
What do I need to understand about copyright and illustrators' ethics?

Chapter 6: Finance and legalities
What do I need to know about finance?
What do I need to know about managing my finances?

Derek Brazell has been immersed in the illustration world for many years and closely supports illustrators in all areas of their careers through his Project Manager role at the Association of Illustrators. As a freelance illustrator, Jo Davies has worked for major clients across the world. Jo's career as writer and illustrator has long been combined with work in education at all levels and she currently holds the position of Associate Professor in Illustration at Plymouth University, UK.

a great class reference for students entering their junior and senior years Alaiyo Bradshaw, Parsons The New School for Design, USA ...highly useful and relevant to both national and international audiences. Chris Draper, Cambridge School of Art, UK Congratulations on such an interesting and useful book; I wish I had this when I started out as an illustrator! Stuart Kolakovic, professional illustrator Becoming A Successful Illustrator by Jo Davies and Derek Brazell, is the essential just published guide for new illustrators and graduates, covering areas to work in; the professional world of the illustrator; self promotion; getting your work seen; finance and running a business and practical activities. Dexigner 20130708 Each chapter is interspersed with quotes from practising illustrators and features case studies and interviews with a diverse range of commissioners and artists. These really bring the book to life... Becoming a Successful Illustrator is a worthy read for any artist in the business. It's a great tool for the crop of new graduates about to embark on their careers. -- Laura Callaghan Oh Comely Magazine 20130712 If you're just graduating from an illustration degree and wondering how to start your career proper, this could be the book for you... Refreshingly, the book doesn't just cover illustration work for clients, but also how to sell your work yourself on homewares, fashion items such as T-shirts and the like - rather than licensed to another brand (though this is covered as well). This reflects how many commercial illustrators work currently, and it's something older books will have ignored. -- Neil Bennett Digital Arts 20130702 Becoming a Successful Illustrator...is a well designed, clearly laid out book on what it takes to become a working illustrator... Rich visuals cover almost every page in this informative book, giving the reader a slice of the work produced by great contributors. -- Anne-Marie Perks Words & Pictures 20130912