This book offers practical help and guidance to aspiring illustrators. All areas of the job are covered – creating a portfolio; approaching potential clients; preparing for meetings and negotiating contracts; setting up a studio; maintaining a flow of work and managing one’s time and cash. Self-promotion, creating websites, self-publishing and the pros and cons of agents are all explored. International illustrators are interviewed, discussing how they got their break in the industry, their experiences with clients, their methods of promoting work and more. In addition, leading art directors describe their approach to commissioning illustration, how they spot new talent, their thoughts on promotional material and their advice to up-and-coming illustrators. Packed with useful tips gleaned from the author’s own career as an illustrator, and his work as an agent handling some of the best new talent, the book is an essential read for anyone looking to succeed in illustration.

At last! Here is true practical help for budding freelance illustrators. This book helps you avoid the pitfalls that can ruin a career, with advice on crucial first impressions, how to create a portfolio and approach clients, how to negotiate contracts, and how to handle, deliver, and bill the first job. It discusses how to set up a studio, maintain a steady flow of work, and manage time and money. In addition, it provides information on successful self-promotion, self-publishing, and the prosand cons of agents. Packed with useful tips gleaned from the author's own career and his work as an agent handling major artists in the US and UK, the book includes interviews with nine big-name illustrators. The reader benefits from their experience of starting out; what they learned during the metamorphosis from student to professional; what their expectations and experiences have been. In addition, art directors and commissioners describe the ways they like to be approachedand the ways they really dislike.

From the award-winning designer of the iconic Penguin Hardcover Classics comes a beautifully illustrated fable about loss, friendship, and courage The Fox and the Star is the story of a friendship between a lonely Fox and the Star who guides him through the frightfully dark forest. Illuminated by Star’s rays, Fox forages for food, runs with the rabbits, and dances in the rain—until Star suddenly goes out and life changes, leaving Fox huddling for warmth in the unfamiliar dark. To find his missing Star, Fox must embark on a wondrous journey beyond the world he knows—a journey lit by courage, newfound friends, and just maybe, a star-filled new sky. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and the art of William Blake, The Fox and the Star is a heartwarming, hopeful tale which comes alive through Bickford-Smith’s beloved illustrations, guiding readers both young and grown to “look up beyond your ears.”

Get ready to enter the working world of illustration with this freshly updated second edition of Brazell and Davies's Becoming a Successful Illustrator. This edition features even more 'Spotlight on...' sections, with advice from practicing illustrators as well as the people that commission them. You can enjoy added coverage in fields such as moving image, character illustration and social media. There are also new exercises to get you started planning and building your business, and over 200 inspirational examples of artwork, most of which are new to this edition. You can expect practical tips on how to seek work, how to market yourself and how to run your illustration business in an enterprising way, with advice that will prove useful long after your first commission. Building on the resources of the first edition, this continues to be the must-have guide to practicing professionally as an illustrator. Featured illustrators include: Millie Marotta Mark Ulriksen Natsko Seki Ellen Weinstein Stephen Collins ... and many more Featured topics include: Finding clients Agency representation Fields of work Financial and legal requirements Skills in art and design Self-promotion Showing work Managing your business

An artist's unique voice is their calling card. It's what makes each of their works vital and particular. But developing such singular artistry requires effort and persistence. Bestselling author, artist, and illustrator Lisa Congdon brings her expertise to this guide to the process of artistic self-discovery. Featuring advice from Congdon herself and interviews with a roster of established artists, illustrators, and creatives, this one-of-a-kind book will show readers how to identify and nurture their own visual identity, navigate the influence of artists they admire, push through fear and insecurity, and appreciate the value of their personal journey.

Fall in love with art and design! This creative kids book introduces them to the wonderful world of art history and creating art! Discover the artist that lies within through the pages of this children’s craft book. More than that, this book encourages art as a STEM field and teaches kids the history of art, art theory, and introduces them to the most notable artists who have influenced art movements. How to be an Artist includes fascinating details on the art world and gives children the opportunity to learn key artistic skills. The book includes: • Step-by-step projects, information about artistic movements, and profiles on pioneering artists • Four sections: drawing, painting, crafting, nature, and animating • Information on the educational importance of including art in STEM learning • Over 30 art activities From amateur to artist in no time Create your own masterpieces while you learn to paint, draw, and design. How to be an Artist is an exciting introduction to a lifetime of art appreciation. Author Natalie Abadzis includes over 30 activities to encourage and stimulate even the most reluctant young artist. From basics, such as composition and perspective, to the trickier techniques of illusion and paper engineering, to woodwork, photography, and sculpting, this art activity book for kids gets their creative juices flowing. Plus, introductions to artists such as Frida Kahlo, Albrecht Drurer, and Yayoi Kusama will inspire and excite budding artists! Don’t let the fun stop - discover others in the series The How to be a series is aimed at young readers ages 7-9. These books introduce them to STEM fields such as science, maths, and now art. These books are fun and engaging and make these subjects a pleasure to learn. Other books in this series include How to be a Scientist and How to be a Maths Whizz.

Inspiring, practical, and supportive, How to Grow as an Illustrator helps artists find professional and personal support in the struggle to stay creative and make money in their field. Behind-the-scenes interviews with more than sixty of today’s most fascinating illustrators reveal how they have kept growing as artists and as individuals. Topics include defining yourself as an illustrator; the significance of art education; mechanical skills vs. conceptual skills; balancing personal and professional lives; dealing with failure; marketing and promotion; how to embrace change; how to stay motivated; and much more. This motivational guide provides real-world guidance and advice for illustrators at every stage of their careers. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.