Source: Career Prospects in Virginia

• What do they do? Create pictures & designs used in books, magazines, wrapping paper, cards, & other places
• Specializations include: Fashion, cartoons, greeting cards, children's books, or magazine illustration
• Preferred education: Art school training to bachelor’s degree
• Certification & licensing: None
• Getting ahead: Get ahead by gaining greater professional recognition, expanding their client list, & commanding higher fees
• Skills: Artistic ability, networking, withstanding rejection, working with clients, competitiveness
• Where they work: Usually as freelancers or for publishing companies or paper products manufacturers
• Job outlook: Competitive
• Earnings: Moderate to moderately high

What do they do?

The funny designs that we see on postcards, the beautiful illustrations we see on book jacket covers, the whimsical cartoons and drawings we see on greeting cards, or the patterns and prints we see on wrapping paper, attract our attention and add a bit of beauty and humor to everyday life.

Illustrators are the people who create these drawings and designs. Their work may help tell the story in a children's book, elucidate the main idea of a magazine article, help convey information in a textbook, or simply add a decorative touch that makes a product more attractive to consumers.

They may sketch or paint by hand using charcoal, colored pencils, oils, or water colors but today, many illustrators are more likely to use computers which can mimic the effects of these other media but in a timely, easily replicable manner.

Some illustrators also create storyboards for movies, TV programs, and commercials. Storyboards consist of a series of drawings that depict the action of a movie or commercial. This allows clients to visualize an ad before it is filmed and helps film directors and cinematographers plan how to shoot each scene in a film.

No matter what kind of project an illustrator is working on, long hours are usually required to brainstorm and meet with clients to discuss ideas. The job is a highly visible one, since success and failure is there on display, for everyone to see. On the up side, a successful illustrator can choose among clients and earn good money.

On the down side, an illustrator must be able to accept rejection from clients as well as the idea that styles change, along with the popularity of a particular illustrator’s style. Specific tasks include:

• Consulting with others working on the project
• Creating and submitting proposal sketches
• Illustrating using various media
• Checking proofs from the printer or publisher

Some Areas of Specialization

Many illustrators specialize in one or two types of illustration, like fashion illustration, cartoons, greeting cards, children's books, or magazine illustration. Another area of specialization is medical illustration. Medical illustrators are artists who create visual renderings of the body's systems and parts. This work can be highly technical and often demands exacting precision, which means that medical illustrators must not only be able to draw, but they must possess extensive medical and biological knowledge as well. Many medical illustrators learn their art by completing a master's degree in one of five accredited medical illustration programs across the country. Their illustrations can be found in medical textbooks, magazines, journals, advertisements, and other sources.

Education, Certification & Licensing

There are no absolute educational requirements for illustrators, and talented, determined illustrators can enter the field without any formal training. However, formal training can be very helpful for honing your skills, building a portfolio, and making contacts in the business, and some employers do require a bachelor's degree.

Illustrators seeking employment or freelance work must demonstrate artistic ability, usually through developing a portfolio of their work. The portfolio is more important than any other qualification, and no amount of education will make up for the lack of an impressive portfolio, but a brilliant portfolio will compensate for a less than stellar performance in school. Internships are extremely useful in helping artists develop skills and enhance their portfolios. Since almost all illustrators now work with computers, computer skills and knowledge of graphics software are usually prerequisites for employment.

Getting Ahead

Advancement for illustrators typically means gaining greater professional recognition, expanding their client list, and commanding higher salaries. As their reputation grows, they receive more offers for work and are able to charge higher fees. Some examples of the work of top illustrators can be found in magazines like The New Yorker, Harper's, and Rolling Stone and in Caldecott Medal-winning children's books.

Skills, Abilities & Personal Characteristics

• Creativity and artistic ability
• Drawing & sketching by hand
• Using computer graphics applications
• Meeting deadlines
• Persuading others
• Networking and finding work
• Withstanding frequent rejection
• Working independently without direct supervision or instruction
• Working in a highly competitive field

Where They Work

Most illustrators work as freelancers, but some are employed as staff illustrators at magazines, paper product manufacturers, film studios, and other companies.

Outlook

Expansion in the publishing and entertainment industry is expected to spur job growth in this field through 2010. However, competition for both staff and freelance positions will be keen despite the projected growth. This field attracts many talented people, and the number of illustrators seeking work should continue to outstrip the number of available jobs. Illustrators with formal training, an impressive portfolio, and strong networking skills will have the best prospects.

Earnings

Incomes vary considerably. Many freelance illustrators don't earn much from their craft and combine part-time work in this field with another job that puts bread on the table. A few make full time careers illustrating children's books, book covers, comics or fashion. The best known can make a very successful living this way, but most incomes are low.

For More Information

The National Association of Schools of Art and Design 11250 Roger Bacon Dr, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190, nasad.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp

Society of Illustrators 128 E 63rd St New York, NY 10021, www.societyillustrators.org

The Association of Illustrators 81 Leonard St, London EC2A 4QS, www.theaoi.com

Comic Culture www.comiculture.com, An artist's guide to breaking into comics, www.comiculture.com/features/tips100102/

Greeting Card Association 1030 15th St NW, Suite 870 Washington, DC 20005, www.greetingcard.org

Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators 8271 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90048, www.scbwi.org

UniSA, an Internet resource for visual communication www.library.unisa.edu.au/resources/subject/viscomm.asp

The Drawing Board, Internet links to illustration resources members.aol.com/thedrawing/links.htm

Association of Medical Illustrators http://medical-illustrators.org

Creative freelancers www.freelancers.com