Find out how to earn a living as a Graphic artist/Illustrator

One of the questions that I put on my action plan (which I still haven't done a Blog about >_<) is "Find out how to earn a living as a Graphic artist/Illustrator" and this is what this entry is going to about so lets get started.


Well according to the Directgov national careers service website.........
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/illustrator.aspx


"As an Illustrator you would produce drawings, paintings or diagrams that help make products more attractive or easier to understand. This could include books, book jackets, greetings cards, advertisements, packaging and detailed technical diagrams." 


Im not sure about the Technical diagrams part, or packaging and detailed technical diagrams :/ but I do like the sound of The Book cover parts and Greetings cards I always make cards for my family so I think that part of Illustrating will suit me fine.    

Heres what the work would typically include:

• discussing requirements (the brief) with authors, editors or designers -That would be like Talking to my tutors I guess) 
• negotiating prices and time scales - Im not really good with money Im an artist not a Business man!
• deciding on appropriate styles for the illustrations - so no nob drawings I never draw nob's anyway so you know
• creating illustrations using hand drawing, painting or computer design packages - Im good at Hand drawing alright at Computer design but Painting :/ not so much Im not that great at Painting to be honest.   
• consulting with the client and modifying designs if necessary -Im abit awkward with Humans but I think If I was to do this It may boost my Confidence.
• making sure the work is completed within set budgets and deadlines - This might prove to be abit of a Challenge as meeting deadlines has never been my strong point and so is Budgeting but with the Budgeting I could probably get my dad to help that    

With those bit criticised lets read on to see what else the Directgov has to say about Illustration.   


As you would usually be freelance, you would also need to market your work and complete the administrative tasks associated with running a business.

You may be able to specialise in one type of illustration, such as children’s books or medical illustration.

Creative Choices describes the work of an illustrator, including an archaeological illustrator, a technical illustrator and a children's book illustrator.


The statement mentions that you would usually be freelance which is good and Im going to see Anne Newman of the Futures department next Tuesday about the Freelancing part to get some Ideas some "Tricks and Tips" if you will! And Its so obvious that I will work as a Children's Illustrator I mean could you Imagine me as a Technical Illustrator!? no! well neither can I!


I haven't really found out How much I earn as an Illustrator I think It all comes down to what job your doing I did some Christmas cards for my aunt back in Christmas 2009 and I think I got £15 out of It which is not bad but I Imagine If I was to send the Cards I do (here are some examples) To say Halmarks or

Clifton Cards the Id Imagine Id get alot more than just £15 but then again It all comes down how much effort It put Into my work. I sure hope this has cleared up how I can earn a Living from being a Illustrator now what I need to do Is find some Publishers for my Tom-Man comics.......         

You know what's missing In the world! a Super hero that is also a Whale :D

Alright you weirdo what did you get up to this week

Monday the 26th/03/2012

We had good weather this week and I didn't really get to enjoy It until uh Wednesday I think It was. Any ways today I got started with Scene 6 :D

Tuesday the 27th/03/2012

Carried on with Scene 6 I was a bit confused today because Talib Kadhim founder (I guess) of Back2Front animation was coming in to give a guest lecture. I think later on I wrote up about him aswell (Its part of Course alright!)

Wednesday the 28th/03/2012

Worked abit more on Scene 6 yo :) I also met up with my mentor Elizabeth don't know why that bits relevant but she did give me some stuff to help me with writing up a CV. I later went on to Avenam Park where my Bro "jack"and his Xenophobe friend "Ben" appeared so hung out with them for awhile and then got back to Uni and Got on with some work. I also learnt that a Youtube animator Edd Gould died :( I was a bit sad from finding out about this and It reminded me once again how Precious life Is Its a real Shame as the Eddsworld world cartoon was pretty funny.  

anyways heres a Tribute Video to Edd.

Thursday the 29th/03/2012

Today was relatively short I still carried on with Scene 6 Im on to the Underwater shot so Thats quite fun to do :D 

Friday the 30th/03/2012

I was supposed to email Steve Wilkin today the Head of Illustration at UCLan but his name didn't appear on the Contact list :/ Im starting to doubt that this man exists. Anyway I had a bit of a Cold today so I didn't really feel Like doing work However I did colour in This.

      

Saturday the 31st/03/2012

Uh had boring day today nah not really :D Uh I made some Business cards (look Below)

And as Vibrant and colourful as they are everybody knows that white and Yellow should go together so what I did was I got a Sky blue background and faded out the characters and used a Tahoma text with some white outlines In fact here It Is.

I also bought some second hand tat today aswell because Thats how I roll!

Sunday the 1st/04/2012 (APRIL FOOLS YO)

Im going to be boring today and research in to how much an Illustrator gets Money wise (Ill do a blog update Tomorrow maybe!) and I need to find some Publishers and Email some of my stuff to them :)

Ill leave you know with 2 videos the First being a Robot band that appeared in Americas got talent 2009.

 

 And the Next one is experimental band "The Orb" with Mother Nature which is accompanied by some Visuals of the God awful 90s animated Film "Ferngully the last rainforest" See next week or tomorrow BYE!!!

 

The End of March is almost upon us!

So lets find out what Tom got up to this week! We shall begin on Monday!


Monday the 19th/03/12
Well From what I remember I went into University to work on Scene 5 I also went on search for a Missing Key which my brother sent to wrong department *Facepalm* nice one bro!


Tuesday the 20th/03/12 
Carried on with Scene 5. later that afternoon I met visual effects animator David Buntings who was quite young looking compared to all the other guest animators we've had visit us in University I don't know where Im going with this actually


Wednesday the 21st/03/12
Carried on animating and then I met who did I meet oh yeah animator and Novelist Candy Guard she didn't really talk about her books she doing but she talked more about the animations she did back in the 90s (sigh I miss the 90s)  I should have really asked her about the books she did >:(


Thursday the 22nd/03/12
Thursday rolled Its sorry ass over the Hill and by now Ive had enough of this week but the good news was I got Scene 5 done so now I can work on Scene 6 and if I work on a that this week and get It done next week Ill be past the half way point.


Friday the 23rd/03/12
Met animation Tony Collingwood a Man who worked on childhood cartoons such as Oscars Orchestra, The Denis the Menace cartoon what else did he do Oh yeah Yoko Jakamoko Toto and the Secret show. he Is currently working on a show for Cbeebies called Ruff ruff tweet and Dave which he showed the animation peeps and other students. I liked this if It was on In the morning Id probably watch It I love Dave the Panda aswell still last time I checked Pandas don't eat bananas or do they :/ Oh sh*t I also met up with some friends and we went to the Cinema to see the rather Funny 21 jump street.

Saturday the 24th/03/12
Just worked on some Essays today then I had a quiet night in. I also coloured in a Tom-Man comic 

speaking of which Ive really got to make a start on sending my comics off to publishers but Ive got to watermark them first.


Sunday 25th/03/12
Updated this blog. well Im gonna bang out some Essays and do some scanning. I also need a shower so Ill go do that and now to play us out Its the French Synth band SPACE! with Voices of Jupiter yayy