Should I Become a Professional Illustrator or Artist?
Professional illustrators are fine artists who produce pictures found in books and publications. With the advancement in technology, illustrators can use computer software programs to create images through techniques like drawing and stenciling.
An illustrator is considered a special type of fine artist. Fine artists are employed by businesses or work for themselves. Artists that are self-employed create their own schedules, but weekend and evening hours are common. Freelance artists need to promote and advertise their business, and there could be time lapses between clients. Thus, they have less job security than artists hired by a company. Talent, experience and illustration skills are preferred over education. However, enrolling in a formal training program helps individuals improve their artistic abilities and provides them with portfolio samples.
Career Requirements
| Degree Level | High school diploma or equivalent; undergraduate or graduate degrees common |
| Degree Field | Fine arts, illustration, multimedia, or another related arts program |
| Experience | 2-5 years |
| Key Skills | Creative and artistic ability; manual dexterity; interpersonal skills; proficiency in illustration software programs like Adobe Illustrator and InDesign |
| Median Salary (2018) | $49,380 (for all fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators) |
Sources: iSeek.org, Monster.com Job postings (August 2012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Steps to Become a Professional Illustrator or Artist
Let's go over the steps you need to take to become a professional illustrator or artist.
Step 1: Learn to Draw or Create Images
Before considering formal training or even thinking about a career as a professional illustrator or artist, artists must learn how to draw. Artists and illustrators often develop a personal style. Whether it is through a sketchbook or computer illustration program, learning how to draw and create images will be an essential part of becoming an artist.
Success Tip
Assemble a portfolio. Some formal training programs require applicants to submit a portfolio for admission consideration. Artwork done at school or home can be used to represent an artist's best work and talent.
Step 2: Consider Formal Training Program
Fine artists, including illustrators, generally pursue formal training programs to improve artistic skills and career prospects. Undergraduate and graduate programs, like a Bachelor of Fine Arts or Master or Fine Arts, are available to teach students about drawing, the history of art and 3D illustration. Students take elective courses to learn how to draw human figures, create children's illustrations, develop book illustrations and use computer art programs. The work completed in these courses is ideal for inclusion in an artist's portfolio.
Success Tip
Consider medical illustration training. Studying medical illustration at the graduate level can help increase job opportunities, according to the BLS. Medical illustration master's degree programs teach illustrators how to develop detailed images of various living organisms and medical procedures.
Step 3: Look for Employment Opportunities
Career opportunities are available in a variety of industries, and illustrators can find employment creating drawings for greeting companies, publishers and engineering companies. Recent graduates can search for employment through job postings and submit their portfolios for review. Illustrators may also need to continue drawing to keep their skills up-to-date while they look for a job.
Success Tip
Consider self-employment. To be successful as a self-employed illustrator, it's a good idea to specialize in a field like cartoons or children's books. A freelancer has to constantly search for new projects, but once the artist establishes a reputation it's easier to keep regular clients and attract new ones.
To become a professional illustrator, you'll need to develop your artistic skills and consider formal training.
