How to Become a Children’s Illustrator?

When you think about your childhood stories, one of the things that might come to your mind must be the unforgettable illustrations that make you feel nostalgic. Illustrations are actually more than decorative pieces in a book. Instead, they tell the story in a visual format, especially for children who can’t read yet.

Do you also wish to pursue a career that involves creativity and allows you to develop advanced artistic skills? If yes, then becoming a children’s book illustrator might be a good option for you. But the question is, how can you become one?

In this blog, we will share a step-by-step guide to help you kickstart your career as a children’s illustrator. Let’s begin.

Steps to Becoming a Children’s Book Illustrator

Before beginning our discussion, you need to remember that just having artistic skills is not enough to become a children’s book illustrator.

Indeed, artistic talent is highly crucial for becoming a children’s book illustrator, but you must also possess exceptional narrative skills through visual storytelling. Specifically for children’s books, you are required to make illustrations that help them understand the story, even if they can’t read yet.

Besides that, you must also have a strong understanding of the publishing industry. There are many independent children’s book publishers in UK who actively collaborate with illustrators. The following are the steps you can follow to become a children’s book illustrator:

●    Understand the Role of Illustrator:

You cannot start your career as an illustrator without understanding its role. To work in the children’s book industry, you must understand that parents look for books that not only help their child enhance their reading skills but also develop their emotional understanding.

The reading part is handled by the author. But the illustrator must handle the emotional development part.

However, you must ensure that your illustrations align with the storyline of the book. Make the story engaging and interesting to grab the reader’s attention with your distinctive art.

●    Develop Your Art Style:

Besides that, before stepping into the industry, you need to develop your art style. But what does this even mean? The following are the key aspects of developing an art style:

1. Consistency and Repetition:

To develop your signature style, you must repeatedly make art. Identify patterns and remain consistent.

2. Personal Voice:

Also, you don’t have to take inspiration from other artists. You can have your own unique perspective and interests. This will be your personal voice.

3. Study Other Artists:

If you are new to the art industry, then you can consider studying other artists. Choose 1-2 favourite artists, understand their techniques, and try to apply them in your own illustrations.

●    Create a Portfolio:

Now comes one of the most crucial tasks, which is creating a portfolio. But why is building a portfolio crucial? It allows you to showcase your exceptional work to get your clients.

However, many illustrators often think that they have to first get a client to make a portfolio. Obviously, this is not true.

You can create illustrations that are in high demand and gather your best work. These are the things that you should include in your portfolio:

• Expressive characters
• Art that tells the sequence of events
• Different poses and angles
• Multiple formats
• Consistent style

●    Build a Network:

Another key step is to build a network. After you have created your portfolio, you can now start connecting with other illustrators. This will help you make contact within the children’s book publishing industry. Additionally, you can also connect with other professionals in the industry, such as writers and publishers.

Freelancing vs. Employment: Which is Better?

We hope that now you have a proper understanding of how you can become a children’s book illustrator. Now, you might be wondering whether to start your career as a freelancer or as a full-time employee. Let’s see which one is better for you.

Freelancing:

Pros:

• Freelancing allows you to have full control over your artistic style.
• Moreover, you can set your own rates and work with authors and publishers worldwide.
• You can directly communicate with the authors, which allows you to understand the story in a better way and make your illustrations align with their story.

Cons:

• However, you must remember that your income is unstable as a freelancer. Some days you might have a bulk of projects, and some days you won’t have even a single one.
• In addition to this, you are also responsible for marketing and managing administrative tasks.

Employment:

Pros:

• As an employee, your income is steady and established. Also, you can have reliable paychecks.
• Besides that, with your company connections, you might be able to work with a top book illustration company in the UK. This can boost your confidence and develop your artistic skills.
• Along with this, you can get expert recommendations from your seniors. This will help you enhance the quality of your work.

Cons: 

• However, you won’t have any creative freedom when working as a full-time employee.
• Also, securing a job as a children’s book illustrator is a bit difficult due to intense competition and fewer opportunities.
• Apart from that, many companies often make their employees work in the same style. Working on repetitive styles can drain you out and make you lose interest.

Choosing the best among them is solely based on your personal preferences. However, you can also try working as a freelancer, even as a full-time employee. This will allow you to have a highly stable income and work on different styles.

FAQs

1. What requirements do I have to meet in order to illustrate books for children?

To illustrate books for children, you don’t necessarily require formal requirements, although it would be beneficial if you possess artistic talent, storytelling skills, and a portfolio. Freelance illustrators often acquire such skills through practical work, training, and freelancing.

2. Where do illustrators of children’s books get their work from?

Illustrators of children’s books may find work in various ways, including creating portfolios, meeting with authors and publishers, and finding jobs on freelance websites or publishing agencies.

3. Is freelancing suitable for illustrators of children’s books?

Freelancing is quite a viable option for illustrators of children’s books since it allows for flexibility and creativity. On the other hand, it may take time and effort to promote yourself and manage your clients.

Final Thoughts

Building a career as a children’s book illustrator requires creativity, consistency, and a strong portfolio, but with the right strategy, it can become a rewarding and fulfilling profession.

If you are someone who wants to have full creative freedom and work according to your own timeframe, then choosing freelancing might be the best choice for you. However, if you want a work-life balance, along with a steady income, then you must go with full-time employment.