Finding joy in being an illustrator as a side job
⏳ This article can be read in about 7 minutes
If you’re skilled at creating illustrations, you might have considered making extra money as an illustrator on the side. Often, people think of illustrators as freelancers who specialise in drawing, but in reality, many individuals work as part-time illustrators while holding down full-time jobs as office workers.
It can be challenging to rely solely on your income as an illustrator, but by working with other jobs, you can select projects and gradually build your career.
In this article, I’ll explain how to locate work and offer advice on what to keep in mind when working as an illustrator.
How do you work as an illustrator?
Illustrators create illustrations in various media such as web, print, and other forms.
You don’t need any formal qualifications to become an illustrator. As long as you can find a client willing to pay for your work, you can start your own business.
The type of illustrations requested can range from people, objects, buildings, and more. Each illustrator has their own unique style and speciality, so finding work that aligns with your expertise is essential.
There are different ways of working as an illustrator, such as freelancing, working for a company, or doing it as a side job while having a primary occupation. However, the industry is highly competitive, and the workload can fluctuate significantly. Thus, it takes time to sustain a full-time career as an illustrator.
If you’re interested in becoming an illustrator, starting with a side job is recommended. You’ll need to learn the basics and gain the necessary knowledge to start this career.
How to get started?
To work as an illustrator, you must have various tools. Besides the necessary drawing equipment, you should also have materials for self-promotion and sales to ensure a steady flow of orders.
This chapter will introduce you to the tools and services you need to work as an illustrator.
Digital drawing equipment
Illustrators rely heavily on their equipment to create their illustrations. Nowadays, most illustrators work digitally and use devices like pens, tablets and iPads. Adobe products are also essential for processing illustrations.
Programs like Photoshop and Illustrator have become the de facto industry-standard software for many illustrators during production. The cost of purchasing and maintaining this equipment is the illustrator’s responsibility. However, if the illustrator uses it as part of their work, they can record it as an expense, whether it’s their main or side job.
SNS account
As an illustrator, it’s important to remember that sales are just as crucial as creating artwork.
To keep receiving work, your work must be seen by potential clients such as publishers, web production companies, advertising agencies, etc., who may commission illustrations. There are various ways to achieve this, such as applying to competitions and selling directly to clients. Still, the most straightforward way to start is to use social media platforms for sales activities.
Create an account on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or any other relevant platform, post your illustrations regularly, include information in your profile that you’re available for work and provide your contact details.
Once you have posted your work, wait for clients to approach you. If the illustrations you post on social media get a lot of likes or are shared widely, they will be seen by more people, leading to more opportunities for you to get work.
Portfolio
A portfolio is a document used by illustrators to showcase their work. It is a collection of an illustrator’s best and most relevant works, giving clients a clear idea of what they can provide.
Due to the impact a portfolio can have on the success of a job, it is important to carefully select works that have received positive feedback and adapt the content to meet the client’s needs and preferences.
6 ways to get a side job as an illustrator
When working as an illustrator, obtaining orders for illustration production is just as important as creating great illustrations.
Even if an illustrator is highly talented, they won’t receive work requests if clients don’t know about them. To get a steady stream of work as an illustrator, it is necessary to know various sales methods to attract clients.
This chapter will introduce the typical ways illustrators can get work.
- Make a pitch to a company or media
If you’re an illustrator looking to contact companies like publishers, advertising agencies, and web production companies, you can make a direct pitch to them. You can send an email or call and make an appointment with the person in charge of the production-related department.
Then, you can meet with them in person, show them your portfolio, and get them to order your work. This is a great way to gain an industry advantage by finding out what kind of illustrations are in demand and pointing out areas for improvement.
If you can successfully meet the needs of major clients, you may even be able to receive large-scale projects. However, keep in mind that this method has some disadvantages. It can be costly and time-consuming to travel, and you may not always be able to meet with the person in charge in person. They may ask you to send your portfolio via email instead.
- Apply for crowdsourcing projects
Crowdsourcing platforms like Fiverr are constantly looking for illustrators, so one option is to apply to these platforms.
The benefit of using these platforms is that we can connect you with a client seeking an illustrator, so the communication process is fast, and the terms of the project, such as its purpose and compensation, are clear.
However, remember that other illustrators will also be applying for the same project, so you’ll need the skills to compete and obtain the contract. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that crowdsourcing platforms usually charge a usage fee, which may result in lower pay.
- Receive orders through SNS
If you want to work as an illustrator, social media platforms such as Twitter can be a great resource for finding job openings.
However, you need to be cautious as most jobs available on social media are one-time assignments with low compensation, such as creating icons and thumbnail pictures. While it can be a good opportunity for budding illustrators to receive work orders, it may not lead to a substantial career.
That being said, you can still showcase your portfolio and post your illustrations to attract potential clients.
- Submit to free/paid illustration material sites
Stock photo services and image material sites like PIXIA, Illustration AC, and Adobe Stock are currently seeking illustrators. However, it’s important to note that not everyone can register, and you will have to go through a screening process first. Once your work is approved and posted on the site, you can earn revenue based on the number of downloads.
To succeed in the illustration material industry, you need to create illustrations that are easy to use as image materials. Therefore, it’s crucial to remember that different illustration genres require different skills.
- Sell LINE stamps
Selling illustrations as stamps on LINE can earn you money if it becomes popular and receives numerous downloads.
These stamps are used for everyday communication, so the uniqueness of the point of view is more important than the illustration technique. Therefore, it suits you if you have great ideas but lack drawing skills.
However, it’s essential to note that gaining popularity among many LINE stamps is challenging. Without you rank high, earning significant money will be difficult.
- Publish how to draw illustrations through videos
A way to earn money is by teaching others how to draw illustrations. As many aspire to become illustrators, coaching on these techniques is always in demand.
You can share your knowledge of the illustration production process by publishing videos on YouTube or serialising drawing courses.
However, having a high level of illustration production skills to teach others is essential.
Summary
I’ve explained the job content of an illustrator and how to find work as one. Being an illustrator can be an easy side job to start with, especially if you use social media and crowdsourcing to get orders, even if you don’t have much experience.
However, consistently receiving orders for high-priced work can be quite challenging, and to make a living as an illustrator, you need to have high drawing and self-branding skills.
If you’re aiming to become an illustrator, I recommend starting with a side job, building up a track record of your work, and gradually working your way up. You can use this article as a reference to take your first steps as an illustrator.
