Find illustration work | How to get started as a freelance artist

Thank you for stopping by, illustrators! 😊 What is a illustration gig you've had in the past (commission, contract, etc!), and what is a gig you would love to get in the future? Comment below and let me know!

im literally learning to draw, should i be here?

Thank you for the tips! But how do i go about finding an agent?

is it too late for me to have career in art?im currently 38y.o but i dnt have the portfolio but i can draw.i watch this video because its kinda soul searching for me and kinda desparate.i hope someone can boost me up.tnx

What do you think about being on upwork, artstation, deviantart,etc? Do you recommend these routes? Thanks!

this was super insightful :)

Thank you so much for this video!
I'm still in college but I want to start my career as an ilustrador before I gratuated. I already write and ilustrated by myself a children's book to a competition (in a week the finalists will be announced so I'm pretty nervous haha). So I'm planning to use it to build my portafolio. But I don't know if I should do more illustrations to showcase more variety, especially because my book is the only experience I have. What do you recommend?

just a few commissions for friends and friends of friends..never drafted contracts...

I am making medical illustrations for my professors books ... I am also a physical therapist.. but due to respect I can't argue about the payment 😅 so I am being paid randomly .. I just want clients out of my known circle

I haven't ever had any clients, i know I am a professional person but I have no proof of that for potential clients. How do I still get a job and get someone to "trust" me?

I love your videos and the topics you pick❤

i really love your points! thank you for being so thorough and genuinely providing good advice to people!

how much do I get money on average if I have illustration agency on child book part? it is hard to find contents about agency income on each a part. I hope everything goes well

1/3 would be more like 33.3333%.
But I guess you rounded down so whatever.

Thank you for all this advice! I have been struggling to find work as an illustrator. Mostly because my marketing skills of horrendous but my work is excellent. I will definitely apply what you said and subscribe to this channel! Cheers

I need some help to confirm this:

I'm not a professional nor freelance artist, but a college student who does digital art and post on instagram. Few days ago I received an invitation to do a business with an intermediary who "collects commissions from clients and give them to artists to draw", "mostly charge them no less than $3500". And claimed that after the work done I get 3000 and the intermediary gets 500.

Is there really a case like this? Or is it just a scam? If I accept this business, will it be reasonable for me to make a contract or ask them to pay a deposit?

Honestly, it's really eye-opening, when you start self-employment. I assumed it would be as easy as saying "commissions open" or send out one or two emails.

These are some really good tips. I'm not sure how the "newsletter" one works, though. Also, I always have a habit of personalising my emails too much. 50 cold emails in one sitting is an incredibly quick rate.

Thank you for the suggestion of sending out a regular newsletter by email...now that I'm retiring from a non-creative university civil service post, I am resuming the illo workforce after many years not doing so. I am looking at mailchimp and considering a trial/free membership and then switching over to paid as revenues increase. Do you have a preferred method for delivery of your newsletter? (In answer to your question, I had a long track record of securing contracts from clients and most often these were the result of direct contact (mail, in-person, or online market venue).

Hey. I just resigned from my job to start illustrating. Really your video is helpful.

Advises given here and in similar videos are useless! Used just to gain popularity- but does it help? No! Follow the advises precisely, continually and in 2 years you still won’t get a job however professional artist you are.

If there is predefined submission process on a website and it only says to send portfolio....should i only send portfolio or should i tag it along with cover letter???

I just saw the controversial AI children's book in twitter, do you think AI will get rid of Illustration jobs?

what can i do if i live in a third world country ?

I am an artist struggling with getting work and earning. Thankfully I got hired by a publishing company as a fewwlancer for children's book illustrations. Although my income isn't consistent so I was hoping I can find other means to earn money without sacrificing my other job. If anyone has a suggestion, I appreciate it :)

but where can i find these Agents?

I appreciate you so much for making this video! I'm already on the path for the "client prospecting" thing, but I have been through a lot of mental breakdowns and It helps me put my head back on the place! :)

Once with a production company to create an animated video

What was the name of the agency you use again?

Okay I love this video but I have a question, what can I do, I do both illustrations and graphic design, I started out as a graphic designer so sometimes I get graphic design gigs but mostly illustration, sometimes it’s hard for me on my Instagram so I just left all of my illustrations on my Instagram and post some graphic design once in a while but on my behance, they’re in sections, do you think it’s a good idea or I should just stick with illustrations?

Looking for ways to be a freelance artist soon. This video will help thanks!!

If you don't mind me asking you can you please make a video on how to make a portfolio as an illustration Artist.

thank u for this video, Ness. I really need to hear what u said at the beginning :D . And also thank u for the tips, i'll try them all.

Sometimes the drawings that took me 30 minutes impress people more than the ones that I spent 5 to 20 hours on.

I'm English bad, can someone break this down into simple steps?

I actually don't do illustration. I make graphic art designs for people and have been taking commissions here and there. My main source of income actually comes from the clients I get who commission me for custom fursuits. I really love drawing tho too and want to make money doing that as well as fursuits.

Is it possible for me(from Ukraine) to work with publishers abroad?Is it common for publishers to give advantage to those who live in their area?

Great thanks for sharing! I had a freelance illustration gig media cover project recently and this is the type of short term projects or other regular projects in editorial or media I would be generally interested in.

Hi! How and where can we find agents?

Nice cat

How can I find an agent?

Thank you 🙏

I honestly dont know how it works... So i draw in a digital art app and then send it to them when its done, in a certain file like png file? I'm afraid of appearing clueless.

thanks so much for this! will definitely watch your other vids about freelancing 😊

I'm a fashion illustrator from india my work is so detailed but i don't know where to start 😭 please help me

Hi! Can you please make a video of how to create cold emails to send out to companies? (◍•ᴗ•◍)

500$ makes a living here xD

Hi. How did you do find agents? Thanks.

Thanks for your kind information 💛