Meeting your destination: Illustration

By
Mako Abokar

Index:
-Exploring different illustration fields
-Traditional art tools
-Traditonal artists points and advices
-Digital art tools
-Digital artists points and advices
-Re-thinking if this is what youre actually looking for?
-Crafting and Preparing your own suitable online portfolio
-Working on your own style
-Inspiration and influential ideas
-Pin pointing where you would possibly stand within the field

What is Illustration
Illustration is used in a wide variety of areas, such as:
An Illustration is a drawing which communicates information or an idea.
They can be drawn by hand, printed or painted or designed on a computer.
Architecture: illustrators draw pictures of buildings based on architects plans.
Art: illustrators might draw pictures for childrens books and magazines or design
exhibition posters.
Commercial: illustrators design logos and images for brands and advertising campaigns.
Engineering: illustrators might draw diagrams for civil engineering projects or car
engines for instruction manuals
Medical: illustrators draw detailed pictures of the human body to help doctors with
education and research
Product design: illustrators draw prototypes of new products and inventions
Science: illustrators might draw images and diagrams of anything from microscopic
atoms to enormous planets

Skills:
In order to embark on a career as an illustrator you need:
the ability to market your skills;
professionalism;
imagination;
knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) techniques and printing processes, including computer graphics;
research skills.

Qualifications
Although this area of work is open to all graduates and
Diplomats, the following subjects may increase your chances:
Some people are naturally talented. But most arent. To learn the finer techniques of your
chosen style, find an art school that caters to your needs. This is especially important for digital illustrators who want to use specific programs to manipulate their artwork. While you can
certainly make do with a high school diploma, advanced degrees give you advanced skills,
especially in this hands-on field where technique is everything. Getting practical training in
your medium is necessary for more technical areas like graphic design or medical illustration.

GCSE
Apprenticeships
BTEC
A-level
HND
Foundation degree
Bachelors degree
Most of these courses will focus on art and commercial graphic design, although you can also study
specific courses in product design. If you study Illustration at degree level, there might be optional
modules in areas like architecture or science illustration as part of your course. People who want to
become medical illustrators will normally need a postgraduate qualification in medical illustration.
Another way into illustration if youre interested in a more technical area like engineering or architecture is to study a course in that subject and then specialise in illustration later.
But whichever area you go into and however you get there, all illustrators will need great creative and
communication skills, and should be up-to-date with the latest design software.
Youll also need to do some work experience as well as studying, so start building up a portfolio of
work or a blog you can show to employers and people who could give you an internship. Illustration
is a very competitive industry to get into, and although there are some in-house jobs with advertising
agencies, hospitals and publishing houses, many illustrators are freelance and might have to supplement their income with other work.
Marion Deuchars Try to follow what you think is cool, not what other people tell you is cool. Youll
only come back to [what you love] eventually. Youll do all the things that are wrong, then eventually come back to what you should be doing. Youll find its where youll be at your best strength. Its
where youll have the most chance of success. mariondeuchars.com

Traditional
Every artist has started with a paper and pencil, and as an artist that progresses in their skills
they either become a traditional, digital or both.
There are a variety of traditional tools that you can use; its best for each individual artist to try
out as many tools as they can.
Ive been working with; Colour pencils, Watercolour pencils, Markers, Acrylic paint, Soft pastels
and Oil pastels.
The most known tools are:

Acrylic colours

Oil colours

Watercolours/ Aquarell

Pencil/ Coal

Markers (Alcohol based), like Copics or Prisma colours

Colour pencils, like Polychromos (Oil based)

Airbrush
As a traditional artist they also have their advantages and disadvantages because colouring with
real materials it requires different perspective and knowledge on using the tools and sometimes
can be hard as you cant erase or change things that easily.

My Favourite Tools
My take on using the tools, I am much experienced in watercolour pencils as they give me layers
to work on top once it was dried up, I havent used the set of colours that come in pallets but only
in pencil form.
I dont use it the way most artist use it which is draw on the paper and afterwards trace over it
with a wet brush, Ive seen this technique used by a past classmate where she has used the wet
brush and ran over the tip of the pencil and absorbed the colour afterwards using it like a paint
brush.
This has been my style ever since, it seemed weird at first since my knowledge wasnt so vast, but
its a part of me now that I practice every time when Im creating an art piece.

FINDING THE RIGHT

TOOLS FOR YOU
PAPERS
Most papers can be used for sketching but if you were to use watercolours such as myself youll
need a thicker paper which has a visible texture that structures the paper from tearing or ripping. Another example is papers that are used for markers, they are thin and alcohol based that
are also non-bleeding.
WATERCOLOURS/AQUARELL
One of my most favourite tool, I havent got the chance yet to use the professional watercolours
but even with other watercolours you can still create the similar texture and the soft look and the
gradient that is only possible with watercolours.
Having the chance to explore many different brands you will find the one that suits your taste,
my favourite watercolour pencils are by WHSmith, they have varieties of colours in the 36
pieces it is a good quality brand also it is affordable for those who wish to try out watercolour
pencils.
COPIC MARKERS
Copics comes in a wide range of colours and they have different types of styles; Copic, Copic
Ciao (which Ive used), Copic Sketch and Copic Wide. These are the most known and greatly
criticized markers as they can blend very well and used by professionals. But this isnt the only
brand that sells markers, there is Prisma, ShinHan, Shartpak and many more.
Since I havent used markers that much only in colouring in section without blending I cant
highly recommend any other markers except Copic Ciao.
COLOUR PENCILS
Colour pencils to me are a must need necessity because you can create further details with a
sharpen colour pencil, I also mix it with watercolour after creating a base and layering it with
colour pencils. I highly suggest that you use Faber-Castell as they have an oil-based texture that
smoothest out the marks that pencils normal create.
ACRYLIC PAINT/COLOURS
I have won a set of 48 Acrylic paint for my Cubism competition and as I am hesitant with using
paint, I have developed my skills with paint working with the paints I have won and become font
of the texture from the paint. Normally artist would start off with Dark colours and add layers
of brighter colours but for me I would do the opposite, also with backgrounds it will be helpful
to colour in the background and afterwards you go in to the foreground. If youre afraid you will
mess up you can buy a product called masking fluid, it will protect the your foreground from
your media.
PENCIL
My personal preference is mechanical pencils as they would usually have a 5.0 lead that is a bit
thinner then a HB pencil, also mechanical pencils usually doesnt go blunt unlike a normal pencil. Most mechanical pencils will have a similar feel let it be a cheap one it will most likely have a
similar texture or feel as a higher brand.
Try out different thickness and thinness of pencils before going on to mechanical pencils as it
helps you see how nice its to have varieties of pencils in hand.

tYPES OF uNIVERSITIES
Course structure & entry requirements

The structure of your course will depend on the type of art degree you are studying. For example, history of art degrees are likely to be much more essay-based than fine arts degrees, which
are likely to be of a practical nature and perhaps taught in studios or workshops.
Fine arts degrees are also more likely to finish with assessment though a project or portfolio of
work, which may be exhibited to the public, although some courses have the traditional essays
or supervised research project, which is more commonly faced on history of art degrees.
The length of your art degree will also vary depending on the country you choose to study in.
For example, most undergraduate courses in the UK last three years, while in the US four years
is the norm.
This is a BA Illustration at
Camberwell College of Arts
takes an innovative, experimental and critical approach to the broad practice
of illustration screenshot
from their website.

Entry REQUIREMENTS
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The requirements for admission to an art course will again vary between countries
and institutions. Some art schools prefer applicants to demonstrate evidence of having
studied art at an earlier stage of education, and some fine arts degrees will ask to see a
portfolio of work.
In all cases, youll need to be able to demonstrate a keen interest and passion for the subject, as well as explaining why youve chosen the specific course in question.
We select students based on the
quality of their applications, looking primarily at their portfolio of
work and personal statements.
Applicants will have, or are expected to achieve, either:
A Foundation Diploma in Art and
Design
1 GCE A Level
3 GCSEs grade C or above
or
BTEC Extended Diploma or NVQ
Level 3
3 GCSEs grade C or above
or
University of the Arts London
level 3 Pre-University Diploma
and Extended Diploma in Art and
Design
4 GCSEs grade C or above

ART SPECIALISATIONS
Art degrees can largely be divided into two categories, history of art and fine art, with many further specializations available in each field. Some universities (particularly those which are dedicated to arts and humanities courses) also offer programs combining history of art and fine arts, which may suit you if you have an
equal interest in both approaches to the subject.
A vast arrangement of highly specialized arts courses, such as contemporary jewelry design or printmaking,
can be found at specialist arts colleges.

History of art degrees

Among the more traditional and academically established arts courses offered by universities, history of art
degrees explore artworks from a range of different cultures and historical periods, training students to analyze art facts in terms of their relationship to artistic movements, social context and historic importance.
This could mean artworks in the most traditional sense paintings on display in a gallery but also a much
broader approach to what constitutes art, from architecture to cartoons.
History of art students may choose to specialize in a particular region and/or historical period, or may pursue
an interest in a particular aspect of arts relationship to society perhaps looking at the relationship between
art and philosophy, or art and politics, for example.
Fine arts degrees
If history of art degrees are about analyzing artworks, then fine arts degrees are about creating them. Fine art
programs typically combine a mixture of theoretical and practical course elements to nurture students in developing their own artistic work. Usually fine art students specialize in one or several media, such as painting,
sculpture, photography, film, animation, illustration, printmaking or ceramics.
In addition, its possible to find entire degree courses specializing in each of the media mentioned above
and many more besides. For instance, you could take a degree specializing in comic art, or in community arts
practice. Its also possible to choose an art degree which focuses on artistic heritage and styles in a particular
region or culture such as Asian art or European art.
Design degrees
Closely related to fine art, design degrees encompass subjects such as fashion, textile design, graphic design,
interior design, advertising design, product design and architecture. You may choose to study an entire degree course specializing in one area of design, such as a BA in Graphic Design, or you may enroll in a more
general design course and gradually define your specializations. In either case, you should gain a strong set of
technical knowledge and practical skills, building up your understanding of how best to apply design principles to different types of brief.
Digital arts degrees
In addition to the more traditional pathways, a range of much younger art courses have sprung up in recent
years, in response to the transforming impact of new technologies on all areas of society, and high demand
for new types of artistic creativity are high in demand. There are now degrees dedicated to the digital arts in
areas such as photography, illustration, animation and computer arts. If you would like to pursue a career in
one of these areas, for example in designing websites or animating computer games, then a digital arts degree
could be for you.

Careers In art
As with most arts and humanities subjects, careers in art are wide and varied. Not all graduates of arts degrees go on to roles that are obviously related to what theyve studied, instead entering one of the many
graduate jobs that are open to students from multiple academic backgrounds. The skills youve acquired from
your degree should be useful in many industries, such as media, marketing, public relations and even accounting.
However, if you would like a career that is highly relevant to your degree or perhaps relates to a specialization
(for example, if you studied photography, its highly likely you want to be a photographer!), then it is often essential or highly beneficial to compile a portfolio of work to show prospective employers in your chosen field,
including some of your own original ideas as well as coursework. The theoretical side of your degree should
allow you to put this work into context, explaining your influences, the thought behind your choice of themes
and why you used certain materials and techniques.
Here are some examples of careers in art:
Fine artist
Although this is a highly competitive field, there is no reason why you cannot pursue a career as a professional artist if you have talent and dedication. You will also need plenty of self-belief, stamina and the ability
to promote yourself. Relevant work experience in the creative sector, such as working as a studio assistant,
would be useful, and you should be resourceful in finding new and interesting places to showcase and sell
your work to get yourself known. Some fine artists also decide to continue developing their work alongside
work in a relevant full- or part-time job, such as that of an art teacher/tutor.
Heritage manager
This career might particularly suit you if you have studied art history and gained an appreciation for heritage
sites, as heritage managers conserve, manage, and develop access to sites such as historic buildings, landscapes, museums and ancient monuments. You would need to use your critical thinking and problem-solving
skills to balance the conservation of the structure and character of a building with the need to generate an
income. Relevant paid or unpaid work experience is likely to be essential for entry into this role, so you may
wish to increase your chances by working during the breaks of your art degree course.

Teacher/university lecturer
If you wish to use your passion for art to motivate and inspire young people and encourage the development of budding talents, a career as an art teacher could be highly rewarding. In most countries, you will
need a teaching qualification to teach at primary/secondary level, and a postgraduate degree to teach at
university level. You should also have lots of confidence and excellent communication and presentation
skills, in order to effectively teach and inspire your students. You may also choose to offer private art tuition to individuals or small groups, or specialize in an area such as art therapy.
Arts administrator
Careers in arts administration typically focus on planning and organizing arts activities and ensuring they
are successful. If youre passionate about the arts and enjoy managing and organizing, this career could be
for you, enabling you to gain new perspectives on art and its various community and social roles. You will
need strong administration and computer skills for this role.
Animator
An animator produces multiple images called frames, which when sequenced together create an illusion
of movement known as animation. Animators work in various roles, including helping to create the visual
effects for movies. This is another competitive area and in this case, your portfolio would be in the form of
a short yet effective showreel a DVD or online portfolio video. To enhance your employability, a postgraduate specialization in animation would be beneficial, but this is not usually essential. To become an
animator you need to have both strong creative talents and technical skills, with a good eye for detail.
Check TOPUNIVERSITIES for more information:
http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/what-can-you-do-art-degree

ucas application

Employers
Most illustrators work as self-employed freelance artists,
although trend forecasting (fashion) and computer games
companies do provide a limited number of opportunities for
full-time employment.
llustrators need to market their work to potential employers. The market base will depend
on the type of work an illustrator does, and illustrators may be employed in a number of
different areas. Freelancers increasingly use agents to generate and market their work.
Advertising agencies and design consultancies can provide very lucrative work. In the past,
it was common for them to only commission well-established illustrators, but there is now
an increasing trend towards finding fresh, new ideas amongst new graduates.
Corporate communications remains a viable market for illustration, although it is a competitive area and there is a slight trend (reflecting the current economic environment)
towards firms using in-house design solutions to keep costs low, rather than turning to
freelancers.
Another significant market is the childrens book industry, which can be especially lucrative
and satisfying for those with a talent for writing as well as illustrating. For exclusive interviews with industry professionals worldwide anyone interested in this area of work should
check childrensillustrators.com.

Markets
film posters;
billboards;
greetings cards;
packaging;
fine art posters;
animated commercials, animated television shows and short films;
government information services (including health and education).
Look for jobs at:
a-n: The Artists Information Company
Artshole
Creative Opportunities
Creativepool
Creative Review
D&AD
Mad
Writers and Artists Yearbook
Local and national press.
Specialist recruitment agencies are good sources of illustrator jobs and include:
Careers in Design
Profiles Creative