Want to become an illustrator? 5 things you need to do before even touching a pencil | Episode 61
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
- Discover Your Unique Creative Voice in The Style Class. Use this link and get 30 days free Skillshare membership on me! skl.sh/3mFgU5q
When you first discover illustration, you may not be ready to start learning how to illustrate, much less start trying to understand the business of illustration! Between that spark of initial discovery and starting to learn illustration, there's a gap that gets overlooked by almost all experts. In this video I offer 5 starting points for those who are in this gap, this exciting period after just realizing that illustration exists!
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Where should I start if I want to become an illustrator?
03:43 - Starting Point 1: Find inspiration
06:45 - Starting Point 2: Find your heroes
10:14 - Starting Point 3: Study the market
12:58 - Starting Point 4: Research the techniques
18:00 - Starting Point 5: Keep a Journal
20:50 - What part of the journey are you on?
21:27 - Bonus Tip: Have an open mind and appetite for learning
22:24 - Next Steps
REFERENCES
1. Find Your Artistic Voice, Lisa Congdon (see books list below)
2. Seth Godin - seths.blog/2010/10/heroes-and...
LINKS TO BOOKS AND MAGS MENTIONED
BOOKS
a.co/bk5ptZr
WHAT SKETCHBOOK DO I USE?
Uglybooks - GET 10% OFF your first order with this link
uglybooks.co/discount/DRAWING...
MAGAZINES
Communication Arts Illustration Annual - www.commarts.com/illustration
3x3 Magazine - 3x3mag.com
Find all my Skillshare classes at tomfroese.com/teaching
FIND ME ELSEWHERE
Instagram: mrtomfroese
Twitter: tomfroese
Web: www.tomfroese.com - Навчання та стиль
1) Find inspiration
2) Find your heroes
3) Study the market
4) Research the techniques
5) Keep a journal
If you want inspiration to do something then ffffing leave it
@@preethigovindharajulu2976 what do you mean ?
The best helpful wise advice I’ve ever stumbled across and so clearly clarified
I’m esp feeling encouraged about step one
Such a key point for me and relate to “the gap” you spoke of
It’s what has been tripping me up a lot I think
The missing kick off point on the adventure
It makes sense now that when I begin with a fun approach I’ll switch into a gear that’s comfortable enough to transition into the how who what where why stuff
Cheers
I’ve written it all down 👌
I'm lost, and currently trapped in a career that drains me daily. This gave me some hope that there may be a bright future ahead for me.
Same here! I hope you have found out a way out of this state you were in or that career. I also had a career that drained me and I decided to do a volunteering year to give myself a new start and now at the end of it I feel suoer confused on which path to take - back to a corporate environment or trying to follow my dreams and work some not so complicated jobs to just meet my ends and have more time to learn. I am sure though that things will fall into place somehow :)
This is exactly what I feel, getting closer to finishing my masters degree!
What type of career are you in, and do you have any experience yet as an illustrator?
@@eyonil2604 what field of work do you do?
How has it been?
I wanted to be an illustrator so I've started to draw every day. It works :)
Good to hear! Thank you, Magda.
@@TomFroeseI’ve been drawing since I was 13 years old. I always kept my first drawings in a binder to right now. I came very far in my art. I just let my pencil guide me and I create something. Lately, I’ve been practicing more. I used to discouraged, but then I realize where I came from and I never gave up since I didn’t give it my all because I was worried about you can’t make money if you kept saying I should get a real job and you know I feel like if you practice and you put your mind to anything you can achieve anything you want in this world.I like your video it gives me more encouragement. I didn’t realize I wanted to be an artist until now. People in my life kept telling me to never stop doing it so therefore I won’t.
I think some very useful advice that I found myself using to stay motivated is to start with some small goal everyday, something like finishing your daily routine of drawing an eye or nose (for me at least). Because it’s a simple task you’ll find yourself procrastinating it less than that big project you have in the back of your mind. (Note: I’ve only been working on illustrations for about 3 months)
Absolutely, this is how it's done. Showing up each day with small goals that you can complete, and then over time learning from the results. Thank you, Saige.
I struggle with the confidence and ‘imposter syndrome’. I feel that my skills do not match what my brain wants me to do. I have heard that the hand needs to catch up with the brain, when it comes to drawing/painting/etc skills but it is so hard when I am so hard with critiquing my own work.
Thank you for this video (which I stumbled upon and sooooo happy I did).
same, i keep dropping anything i start and i am so sad. When i look up to anyone for motivation, i question myself why i can't motivate myself instead.
Hey! I struggle with the same thing... so I got a sketchbook just to draw "bad" and fail, that is the purpuse of my sketchbook and it helps, it makes me feel like a kid. I dont avoid doing it because it's not supose to be good. It also makes me try things I wouldn't if I was trying to make it look good. Doing things with your intuition helps with the rest...
Monika Bauer, it is so true that practice trains your hand to deliver your dream to real life. Having a dream to do something does not make us imposters.
There are hundreds of generous people on YT and elsewhere willingly sharing and guiding us. Those art tutors sometimes share their life stories or struggles. While learning from them, we can practice drawing or a doodle a day etc. Maybe sketch an idea or a grocery list.
One of my real-life teachers taught my summer art class a very special lesson. On day one, we drew from a photo of a face . On the last day our first and last drawing hung around the class. No matter what skills or previous training, all arrived better than day one. Wow!! He taught us the basic skills included practice makes better.
Afterthought: inspiration is the fuel. Maybe motivation is learned. Like a strength we have to build? Inspired to make art. Motivated to practice drawing because that’s how we get better. Motivated to honor our practice time. Motivated to seek answers. Like dancing or helping others or running or singing can heal sadness or celebrate joy. It takes practice. And I have a lot 😂 of practicing to do.
Be kind to yourself. ❤
@@dplj4428 thank you so much. 🥰 I guess it is just a life long learning journey, one that we will never stop doing; never stop learning. Funny thing is I am still in the same place I was a year ago when I wrote the comment, in terms of how I feel with the confidence and 'imposter syndrome' but in another way I feel I am ready to just 'do it' and not care about what others think or say about my art. Maybe I have finally turned that corner!! Maybe all the talking to myself about making 2023 just for me, just for my art and for me to explore, play and develop my skills has finally sunk in. ❤️
0.Consume a lot of different media (books,movies, music, comics,documentaries….)1.Steal and copy others (start with classical masters of art). 2.Tweak it. 3. Tweak it more. 4.discover your own things (learn some theory, color, composition)5.Practice 6. Correct bad habits you developed while practicing 7. practice even more 8.develop a process and practice. 9 . repeat 4 to 8 indefinitely.
Thank so much for this. I am a 32 year-old with ADHD and have always had a little longing in me to create art or illustrate. I've always played with the idea of becoming a children's book illustrator. But I've never known how to really start or how to hone my skills etc and like you said most videos or resources about how to become an illustrator (or anything for that matter) kind of assume you're already a seasoned artist or already have been drawing passionately for a few years. I am not, have not. I do things sporadically. Intensely for short periods of time and then not at all for months or years until I'm suddenly inspired again. I have a bit of talent but the skill part is something I need to work on. Thank you for showing me how to approach illustration without feeling like I'm completely kidding myself. This makes me feel less hopeless and imposter-y and more inspired to dive in and get inspired. Sorry for the long comment lol
Hi Hella, happy to help!.You've got this! Andy J. Pizza has a podcast called The Creative Pep Talk, and he has ADHD too. He often talks about how this affects him but also how it's a creative superpower. You should check him out.
I felt that. I’m undiagnosed but I can really relate to your text. I have always wanted to illustrate in secret... but fear (and now also age) is stopping me. I always do things sporadically and find it really hard to stay motivated a longer time with all my hobbies. Keep on fighting anyway!
This is exactly me. Is this ADHD?? It frustrates me to no end that I start a lot of things but never am able to keep at it. Just those bursts of motivation and then it all fizzles out until it strikes again and the cycle continues.
@@arundhatiswaminathan2925 same here
@@TheLittleMolecule same. 😅
Thank you for starting at the beginning. So few channels get this right.
Thanks, Alex! I'm working on making this channel more helpful to people looking for tips like this.
Do I need to be good at realistic drawing to be an illustrator? Because I've always been drawing some cartonish characters but if you'd ask me to draw a portrait of a person, I couldn't do it.
After a whole life of drawing, including attending art school, the only art jobs I’ve ever gotten paid for have been illustration. I’ve tried to break into the animation market, and have gotten paid for one job in the field, but that was even very much a series of illustrations. It’s time for me to focus on this, as graphic design, computer animation, none of these fields, however attractive, have ever panned out for me. Thank you for sharing. I am at the point where it’s time to start applying for more illustration jobs and focus my artistic career down that avenue. It’s my drawing that really sets me apart and lets me shine, more than my computer skills, advertising cleverness, etc. This whole time I’ve been putting my best skill in the background while chasing this unattainable dream of some job with some company out there. My dream is to freelance, and my best asset is my ability to visually represent through actual illustration.
It's been 5 months
How's it going?
I've had two teachers tell me to focus my efforts there, and I'm also on board. :)
Right now... I'm just being inspired... I just discovered flat vector art and I'm madly in love
Another artist once advised me after looking at my sketchbook. Too much variety! Must settle on one! Years later, your comment reminded me of him. On a personal level, I think experimentation and variety are necessary. But for clients or employers, they want to see portfolios that fit their goal.
True!
Thank you so much for your incredible advice Tom! I currently have 2 weeks left at my retail job. After 6 years of trying different creative paths and working full time in retail I finally feel ready to focus on my creative journey. Love the book recommendations!
Amazing! Thanks Sofia!
Thanks Tom. I find your video's (here and on Skillshare) really accessible and completely inspiring. Like many others, illustration has always called me. I'm a trained "fine artist" but although I bring loads of skills from my training along on the journey, I have never really gelled with that identity. I came back to researching illustration when the call to write and illustrate my great aunt's post world war 2 story just wouldn't shut up!!! Watching your inky maps video was a complete revelation and it has brought together a gazillion threads that have been jumbled and confused inside my head for nearly 20 years. You WILL be credited when I finally get around to publishing but for now, I'm doing a renewed "search" for my voice and am starting back at the beginning. Thanks Tom. You have a huge fan here and I'd almost go as far as naming you one of my heroes! Cheers ☺️
Hi Samm. I’m so glad my classes and vids have helped you in this way. Thank you for your very generous comments. All the best with your book project and beyond!
Thanks, Tom! This was a great video. I kind of find myself in between that inspiration and lacking skill aspect, but also further along since I've been a designer for several years. I also resonated with that longing you talked about. I struggle with starting this journey, more times than I can count, but I take some encouragement that something inside of me is always calling me to illustration. Thanks for your open and honest approach to helping the illustration community!
Hi Natasha, thanks for watching and letting me know where you are on your journey. Being a designer first gives you a sure advantage as you go into illustration, as you will have experience in creative visual communication. It also poises you to ask more pointed questions! If you have something inside of you pulling you toward education, you can only benefit by pursuing it in the best way you can.
This is SO helpful!! Totally agree so much advice dives in at the stage when you’re already practicing. This is much more helpful to navigate from the very start. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for this. I been wanting to expand my skills and small company and always wanted to be an illustrator but just felt stumped on how to start and where to go. I love your videos!
Thanks!
I'm at the very very beginning. I've toyed with the idea of illustration for about a year now but I'm at the point of really wanting to pursue it. You hit the nail on the head. I feel so overwhelmed with where to start and what questions to even ask. Thank you for sharing these simple steps. I feel a new motivation to learn these things. I think I could actually pursue this.
Wonderful to hear, Steph. Thank you!
sir... you possess such good pronunciation, as do only the very well educated persons... hearing you is a delight for those as me english is still a difficult matter to understan.. the whole video is a jewel. thank you very much!
Many many thanks
Thank you so much for this video!!! I knew I wanted to draw, do some kind of illustration work but this helped me so much to narrow the things I want to be doing !
These are great tips!
Thank you again!!! 🎉🎉
Thank you so much Tom for this amazing video. I'm a complete beginner in illustration (trained as a graphic designer).
I followed about half your class the sweet spots on skillshare until I got stuck but I didn't wanna give up and luckily stumbled upon on this video in my recommendations.
Now I'm feeling like I can get somewhere with these tips. Again thanks a lot.
Hi Pranali, glad you found this video helpful. Yes, Sweet Spots is a tough class! Keep it up! Thank you for your comment!
World class!!! Beautiful... Thank you so much 🙌🙌👏
Ty for this video. I'm from Brazil and I was almost givening up. Your video helped me to continue chasing my dream.
Thank you for letting me know Felipe. So happy to know. Don't give up!
Before watching this video i was so confused and anxious about my desire become illustrator but my mind is clear now. Thanks for make me realize there's a gap between sparks and actually learning it. I haven't fill that gap yet and go straight into learning it while quickly want it to result money, no wonder i feel so overwhelmed because there's just so many things to learn and i feel so lost because i can't make things that worth money yet. I'll be back to total newborn again & practice your tips. Thank you so much!!
Hi Sya, I'm so glad to read your comment. Thank you. All the best in your journey!
As a striving illustrator, this has been great advice for me. Thank you so much!
Hi Rose, thank you so much for letting me know! Always happy to be helpful!
Hi Tom,
Thank you so much for an Amazing video
I've learned the Commercial art 14yrs Ago. But got lost all the skills while working for corporate companies in return of descent earnings. I'm thinking for a while to get back to what I used to love..ART. Watching you talk practical gave me hope and encouragement to get started again.
Wonderful! Thanks for watching and saying so.
Wow, I'm probably a real illustrator outlier. I got started in illustration because an ad agency needed someone with my drawing skills for a special project. I got called back in for their next project, and we were off and running. I didn't plan for this or have a real interest in being an illustrator. But man oh man did it pay well! After a year of freelancing, I quit my full time job, went out on my own, and picked up more clients pretty quickly. I guess there are many ways to developing a career in illustration, but mine was pretty much by accident. I'm an accidental illustrator.
Nice going, Richard! Great story, thank you for sharing. Love the idea of an accidental illustrator!
@@TomFroese Thanks Tom, that one just kinda came to me when I was replying. What's interesting is that it is usually so difficult, I'm guessing, for artists to gain a viable illustration career, that is, to get good clients and enough of those. If anyone else has a similar story, pls chime in. These stories about illustrators get started are really interesting. This is a great channel.
This is a great place to start - I feel so inspired and committed to exploring illustration.
Awesome! Thanks for watching, Molly. Enjoy the journey!
The irony is that i joined n art school finished my studies as an art student and only now after actually learning skills, i am finding the spark, i regret not feeling this spark at the beginning but it's okay to better late than never, thank you it was a very helpful video
Thanks Shwetha. Better late than never, right!?
I'm almost 33 and yesterday I discovered that what I am and I need to do is illustration and I need to direct my path as a random whatever designer to an illustrator. I'm looking to learn everything and anything about it and I got my sketchbooks at the ready, as well as I need to get myself focus to be good at it. I will definitely take your classes on skill share.
Thanks, Ilse!
Super-helpful - thank you! I've been taking lots of graphic design courses and figured out that illustration will be my niche. "Analog illustration" is a term that I've been searching for; "nondigital" wasn't descriptive enough because at some point the work becomes digitized. Thank you also for that!
Glad it was helpful!
thanks Tom, this vid hit the nail on the head for me. I had been researching graphic design and after watching hours of vids I thought: I just wanna know about illustration. :-)
This was a really calming and well informed video, I'm so glad i discovered this channel, very inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you, Sketch Wizard! :) Welcome here!
After almost completing a diploma in GD and Web stuff, I'm wishing I took this advice earlier. These are not careers that are handed to you and it's incredibly important to create work that is right for the market and aactually somewhat commercial, otherwise stick to it as a hobby. I found Tom to be honest and forthcoming about things we should all be thinking about, for me, I'm coming back to the beginning to find that spark and ignite that fire. To be an illustrator, a creative or work in tech you need sacrifice a piece of you and you need to be willing to give it your all and even then, sometimes it just doesn't work out. Sometimes Dreams are just that, dreams and you need to determine whether sinking your free time into something that isn't working is going to pay off or if you need to take a step back and spend that time and energy elsewhere. This industry is full of clients who want work for free and if you're just starting out, that's an expectation.
Tom, Thank you for all you give to this community.
Thank you so much, Joshua!
This was amazing, thanks.
I am in the middle of getting inspiration and finding my way as an illustrator. My way started with the 100 day drawing challenge. Now i started selling postcards with my drawings, but i really want to continue. But i am struggeling with finding a direction where i want to go and how i fit in the industry. On the side i am still an interior designer and i still work in the architecture world. But since i started to sketch everything has changed.At first i was affraid to even venture into the illustration world, because i thought my work wasn't good enough. I was affraid (still am) of becoming an artist/ being myself. Now i have this creative power and i don't know where to go with it. I am still in the middle of self discovery and i thing becming an illustrator/ artist is a big part of this process. This video was really helpfull and i really appreciate your videos/ skillshare classes. In these Covid times i am really struggeling to find my way through all this, because everyone keeps telling me to look for a "normal and save " job. But i really enjoy this discovery journey.
Thank you, Bia! Hope your journey is still going well!
Love this! Really sound advice, especially love the point about researching tools & techniques.
There are free software trials for the adobe products, but what is more, I hear there are free tools out there as alternatives for at least the raster / vector products.
For very very early beginners, who want to dip their toes into illustrator or photoshop without having access to a friend’s computer etc, I recommend to go into a software trial by already having a game plan (some tutorials from UA-cam or skillshare) lined before beginning the trial.
Great tip! There is also Photopea, which is a totally free browser-based Photoshop clone. I've even shown one of my clients how to use it so they can edit a file I gave them.
Thank you very much for your helpful tips! You've made many points clearer in my head, helping me identify the kind of love or like I'm looking for and inspiring me to begin my journey. I truly appreciate your effort in creating the video.
Wonderful!
good video! thanks for these tips. i've been doing some things mentioned already but this helps clarify what im doing and why. it's been a messy journey... i did illustration and storyboard courses online as i'm trying to figure out what i want to do. lately i felt the need to collect inspiration and look at what ive enjoyed in the past, so knowing to look at the bio/techniques/influences and what niche theyre in brings more intention to that practice. i get caught up trying to fit myself into a niche before ive even sorted out what i like to draw 😅
Thanks for the nice tips vdo tom. Urs is my first vdo to start my journey for illustration. I got idea and hope too as a fresher for this kind of stuffs. 😀 Thanks again
The information was very informative. I was enlightened and inspired and I will hang on to this video to refer back to for education and inspiration.
Thank you, Maria.
Thanks for this general overview Tom.
Sure thing!
Thanks so much! This was very helpful for me. I've always loved art and been inspired by illustration and fine art. I'm older and have gone back to school for illustration. I've learned a lot of technique. The one thing I haven't really studied is markets. I'm leaning toward book illustration and possibly editorial illustration. Thanks so much! I also tried computer programming, thinking art wouldn't pay the bills. I loved the logic puzzles, but hated coding. ; )
Totally with you, Lucy! Love problem solving, but I think I make a better illustrator than computer programmer. Hopefully the markets discussion helps you a lot!
Just starting out and ready to learn, ready for this adventure 🙏🏾😊
You got this!
Thanks for the talk.
Plug: on You Tube, *Pete Beard's "Unsung Heros of Illustration"*
Features talented illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration born between 1860-1920 who may not be remembered nowadays. He also shows stand-alone Illustrators.
Pete's a Machester, English Illustrator who taught Illustration history so definitely worth watching.
And, yes it's free and talks about Paul Rand.
Will have to check it out, Vincent. Thank you!
Thanks for creating this video. It's definitely helped me think through things. Overall, I'm not really sure what I want to do but I know that it falls somewhere between illustrations, graphic design, animation, and motion design. I've seen a lot of that kind of work over the past three years that have made me really want to dedicate the rest of my future (35 years old now) to it.
However, the "10 things all at once" is definitely how I operate, which as shared, makes it so I can only advance so far with all of those things. I know there is a great deal of overlap with the things I listed but if you have any additional insight outside of your video regarding the time to commit to one thing, I'd love to know.
Thanks again for the videos! I do see many more I plan to watch.
Thanks, Nick. For your question about how to commit to one thing, I have two thoughts:
1. At first you really do have to do lots of things. You will feel very pulled in different directions. This is normal and good and important. Use this moment in your life to pay attention to what seems to pull you the strongest.
2. Don't feel like you have to commit to any one thing forever. But try committing to one thing for a time. My best advice/approach to this so far is in The Style Class on Skillshare, where I guide you in how to do this: skl.sh/3mFgU5q
This is a great video! Just what I needed right now
Glad it was helpful!
This really helped me to know what I want to do and put my head in the right direction 💯wanna learn so much more from u
Thank you! So glad I could help.
Very helpful and understanding!
Glad it was helpful!
Great tips here! Thanks Tom!
You bet!
I'm really glad that I found this video. I am the stage where I have just discovered the spark..although I'm studying a completely different field( also computer engineering). Kinda lost and really drawn towards this field at the moment..I guess I'm on 2nd stage finding my heroes..I have already created a finsta account where I only follow certain artist...definitely gonna follow your advice. Thank You so much🌼💛 and also I'm looking forward for your guidance on skillshare once I cover up the gap period and find if I really wanna be an illustrator.
Thanks! Good luck on your journey!
Thank you for this supportive and informative video 🙏
You’re most welcome! Thank you for stopping by to write.
I want to do classical illustration, but now I'm interested in editorial illustration. Specialising in vector. Having a struggle with picking a lane.
Yes, choosing a lane is hard. At first you don’t have to. Try lots of things but weed out the ones that are least promising, pursue the ones that are the most promising.
Great video! Thank you! 😊
Thanks, Neda!
I've been drawing since kindergarten but somewhere along the way my interest in art began to fade. Last year, though, I finished my college life and i was looking for a "Spark" of inspiration for a potential future career. Illustration is somehow new to me and now I'm looking for more information into this area. I began to draw again and subconsciously did 2 of the steps you've mentioned, following my heroes and using Pinterest and Insta for inspiration. I just wanted to say thank you for this video, it was really helpful and i will try my best to follow your advice. I will begin by getting a 2023 journal 😂🙏🏽
Love it? Thanks Samueellz!
Loved this video. Thank you Tom! I always had an attitude for manual and creatives activities. Have a school background in graphic design (never seriously worked in that field, just for friends), but this year I really feel the need of a change in my life and my career. I want a fulfilling life, I want to do what is closer to me and makes my soul resonate.
I choosed illustration without even know it at the time of my graphic design school's journey. In few days I'll finally begin an illustration course because I struggle the most with the foundation (also too much with perfectionism, actually). But I definitely will watch your skillshare classes too, I already have the premium account!
I'm sad I could't find a cheap book about history of illustration. Maybe you can suggest us another one? Would be great!
Thanks so much! I wish I knew a cheaper book about the history of illustration. Of course there is so much info out there for free but you'll have to do more digging. I would start by seeing what Steven Heller has written (beyond A History of Graphic Design). Design and illustration histories are shared, so you may have more luck finding resources about design if you're looking for history books, specifically.
thank you for this helpful video. I'm just at the beginnen, in the inspiration phase. My first goal is to establish a drawing/painting habit of daily drawing. I would like to go into the greeting cards industry.
Thanks, Pauline. Go for it!
Thank you, Tom!
You bet!
I like the 5th idea~
Thank you this video was very inspiring.
Thank you, Diana.
This is really helpful. Thanks .
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! You have helped me a lot with this video.
😊
Hi Tom, thank you very much for this video. I was feeling bit lost and this gave me the confidence I am in the right track even though there's a long way to go😊🙏
Just do what you love each day and you’ll keep getting better. One step at a time!
@@TomFroese Thank you Tom😊
thank you
I’m starting out for the third time. Setting up my artist space finally, mentally and in one of my rooms, and taking an online class. UA-cam mentors are good souls. I willingly pay the small subscription for UA-cam Premium to banish ads.
I never gave up. I won’t give up art whether I it stays personal or I make money. It was always personal. As for commercial art, I love calligraphy, graphic novels, and media of all sorts photography, analog and digital painting. Mixed media palette.
Thanks for the comment! I admire your tenacity!
Thanks for this video! :) my situation is that I've been drawing as an hobby since I can remember but I always have had to suppress my identity as an artist because "it's not a serious career path" and so I went to university. Now that I'm unemployed and struggling to find work I decided to try and sell my art online... I'm just starting out and I've got a long way to go. I'm trying to get over the feeling of "it's too late for me" and "I'm not good enough" etc.
Thanks Sofia. Don’t let those doubts stop you from trying. Focus on learning and enjoying the adventure of growing.
Thank you for this great video. I’m at the stage where I have an idea in mind but I’m limited in the tools that can get me to create it.
Hoping you can find some breakthroughs for your ideas, Fatima!
"Sometimes I dip in to remember the good ole days of despairing about my future."
As an avid journal-keeper, despairer, and dreamer, I look forward to doing this soon! 🤣🤣
😅
I’m at that spark of inspiration where I’m curious to start out, planning to buy digital tools and start practicing and posting on social media, and planning if it’s a realisitic goal with videos like these. been thinking about future careers a lot. I’ve always been creative and drawing, but never committeed to trying it more dedicated or professional.
Thanks Sarah! It's so exciting to get into illustration for the first time. Enjoy the learning process!
Do I need to be good at realistic drawing to be an illustrator? Because I've always been drawing some cartonish characters but if you'd ask me to draw a portrait of a person, I couldn't do it.
@@mkm1015 Thank you for your question! Please watch this video (ua-cam.com/video/z39O2xVCoz8/v-deo.html) … I touch on this very point about being a good drawer. Enjoy!
Yeees keeping a journal is magic!
Thanks, Katie!
Wow some very helpful advice. A well presented video.
Thanks, Daniel!
I never clicked so fast Subscribe & like button before. Thanks so much for making this video! My best wishes for you!
This is one of my favourite comments ever! Thank you Melanie! Welcome to the channel - I look forward to bringing you more content this year!
I'm at the point where I got myself into a depression, I was working as a graphic designer and I was not feeling it, so I quitted to become an illustrator but I couldn't find clients and did not know how to do the work and now I'm working at a call center. I see the work that I did, I watch instagram or behance for inspiration but there's no spark in me, its like I lost my soul as an artist.
Sorry to hear this, Fernando. It's not going to be easy for most of us. There are no guarantees things will work out exactly as we plan. I made another video that might speak to what you are talking about: ua-cam.com/video/inEUlfFryoA/v-deo.html
I hope you are able to find your spark again. Perhaps try to make your passion for art separate from your goals of doing it as a job - this might be the only way to resuscitate and preserve it. Thank you for watching.
@@TomFroese Thank you for your time to answer Tom, you are truly a great person and artist! Yeah nothing is easy and for some introverts like me it's even difficult to show my work out there and look for job opportunities. But that seems like an excuse too, I will begin to explore again and try to be inspired by the visual arts that ot take some therapy as well.
Beginner!! I do have some knowledge for Illustrator. Tips, buy courses for illustrator or procrate, so your imagination will be unstoppable
Thanks for the tips!
Im sorry, I can't stop cracking up at 6:21... I kept imagining my husband walking in and being like "what.are.you.watching.now.."
😂 I know such a weird thing to walk in on!
Thanks for this bro
Of course, Alien Jay!
Good video, very informative. More power and keep it up
Thank you!
Very useful video,god bless you dude
Thank you!
Hi this is really helpful, I have just started university and in halfway through my foundation year and I'm am loving it, what I find a bit difficult is how to design a portfolio in regards to getting a job in book publishing ( at the moment) at the moment i am analog but i have already noticed that digital is what everyone seems to advertise for. Any tips would be great.
Hi Emily, thanks for your comment. If you're just in school still, I would say give yourself some time! Typically a portfolio isn't built in a matter of weeks or even a year. Focus on learning, creating and experimenting. One of the most important things you can do at this point in your development, which will have a huge payoff down the road, is to have a practice of making something every day and sharing something online. It could be as simple as writing a blog, or drawing for 10 minutes each day. The portfolio and jobs will come but probably take longer than you want, but that's just how it is. Your love for making art, patience and perseverance will carry you through.
Thanks Tom for sharing these tips, I particularly loved the idea of keeping a journal!!
It’s so important. Thanks for watching!
"stalk them" message well received *wink wink* lmao, all jokes aside. I can't wait to start my journey!
Thanks Crow! :)
3:38 Actual start of the video
Thanks! What about what comes before it? Nonsense?
@@TomFroese yes, I almost clicked off the video until I saw this comments time stamp and now I watched the entire video
@@TomFroese I found the beginning to be helpful :)
Hello Tom! Thank you very much for these tips. I work in a call center and right now I am in the stage of the "spark" part of the journey. I am learning to draw, I am doing a course in Domestika, and a friend gave me a drawing course from Udemy. I am looking at what is being offered here in Dom. Rep. Basically the options are Publicity with a mayor in Illustration, or Design or Creativity and Management. So, I am educating myself first, because although I love drawing and I get so exhited when I see other people's draws and designs, I do not know how to draw. I hope I am taking the right steps.
You are taking the right steps … one foot in front of the other is all you can do.
@@TomFroese Thank you man!
Thanks, Tom! It's very encouraging (and I got here from your spot illustration class, which I like pretty much). Answering your last question: during last months I have been discovering graphic design (publishing, logo making, web design etc.) and illustration as a part of it. Of course, it's quite overwhelming, but I started from making a plan of what a graphic designer might need to know, e.g. looking at a standard college curriculum (basic drawing included). However, I feel like I am more drawn into illustration, because it's so fun, I like the touch of it, I can spend hours sketching, and I always enjoyed going to stationery shops when I was a child, so at the end I spend more time doing it. What would be your advice? I realize that building several houses at a time is not the best strategy, but should I abandon learning e.g., publishing, poster and logo making, web design etc. and focus on illustration instead? The thing is that working with smaller clients (which I may face at the very beginning) may involve different types of tasks (e.g., brochures, posters, postcards), so I was thinking of knowing how to do several things. Sorry for such a big comment, just trying to reach out to the heroes!
Hi Peter, thanks for watching my videos! If you are at the beginning and just discovering design and illustration, you can't limit yourself. There should be a period where you get good at as many things as possible, and then as you find what you love most, you then start focusing on that more and more. Focus should be broad at first and narrow with experience. This mirrors the typical career path of a designer or other kind of professional, where you start general, and are required to wear many hats, and then, over time, your role and skills become more specific. So by no means limit yourself yet. LEARN EVERYTHING YOU WANT AND CAN. :)
thanks Tom! I love the video and your great responses to these comments. I am a 34 year old parent of 2 and looking to make a drastic career change, to something more fulfilling/meaningful to me. Looking back drawing and being creative has allways been natural to me. People tell me its good, some reason I got away from it. I also have allways had a love for computers and games. I am really struggling to figure out what direction to focus on because I feel I am at a time in life where I don't have the luxury of floundering around trying to figure out what is best for me, I want to find that thing and focus. I have been considering web development/design graphic design, animation, illustration. I like problem solving and I love working with my hands. I get really stuck thinking I need to focus on one thing, I get discouraged because I like many different things. I worry that maybe I should focus on the illustration type things because it is more natural to me, the worry is maybe I am going after what seems to me to be more "in demand"( ie. web dev) vs something closer to my natural talents for drawing( illustrator seems more risky to me?)So many options out there now and everyone telling you it can be yours! Thanks for your videos Tom
Nice presentation ,I really enjoyed it and am ready to be a commercial illustrator...
Thanks Silence Lawrence. Enjoy the journey.
Sometimes I feel like i bounce from style to style and that brings me down for some reason. However my advice for all of you who feel the way I do, is to look deeper at your art. Once I do that I can see where my "signature" is : lines, textures, subject. Let yourself to be able to experiment.
Well said!
I want to make my dreams of making comics and cartoons come true and this spark came from my love of Garfield I want to be like Jim Davis producing little funny comics and maybe some day a cartoon 😅
Just keep making your comics, share regularly, and don't give up.
At first glance, I was thinking u r PewDiePie 😂😅
Thanks Tom for sharing this! I need this and suddenly pop out in my timeline 😍
Ha, me and Pewds!
Tku for this video. I had several take aways. Not a beginner in drawing, but a beginner with illustration. My mentor for the past is B.P.
Pinterest is so overwhelming as well as Instagram. I need a more simplistic approach. Like just drawing. So hard to get the image I see onto paper. Brain n hand work. .
Glad it was helpful! If social media is overwhelming as inspiration, try a real life library or book store. Personally I like going to thrift shops and just looking for treasures in old record album artwork and books. It’s easier to not get overwhelming because you get what you get and that’s it!
Also you might be interested in my updated version of this in episode 2 of my podcast “thoughts on illustration”, also available here on YT
Hi Tom! I am into the “tools part” should I buy procreate to start or go into a course on how to use the tools. I m afraid that when I use technology my illustration will lose its spark! I am afraid to use the tools and not understanding it! I hope you can help! Thank you
Thanks Mariana. I think it's worth giving digital tools a shot, particularly Procreate if you have an iPad and Apple Pencil. During the learning curve you will definitely struggle too ind that spark you mentioned. But on the other side is mastery of the tools and the ability to capture your vision well!
This is an awesome video!!
Thanks, Jesse!
@@TomFroese :)
Love the video! Not a gross metaphor btw haha, totally natural for babies to eat. I appreciate this video a lot!
Thanks!
Thank you for the video. It is exactly what I have been looking for and wondering about. However, I cannot get the following questions off my mind "Am I not too old?" "It hasn't been my dream ever" "Why the passion about illustration arrived just now?" Does it mean it is just a whim?" What is your opinion /would you recommend? Thanks
Thanks, Miska! Your age vs. your ability to shift careers is really your call, but I've heard of people even in their 40s and 50s making huge career shifts that work out really well. Case in point: Debbie Millman, and also Lisa Congdon.
Obviously, if you are just discovering illustration for the first time, give yourself some time to just learn and discover before making any huge life changes!
All the best on your journey!
My grandson is only 6. He says he wants to be an author and illustrator. I didn't even know what an illustrator was til I was much older, lol. What can I do to help him begin on that path? He's very creative and loves to tell stories. The illustrator part is where he needs the most help, at this point.
Thanks Holly! I’d say he’s got a long time to figure things out. He doesn’t need to worry about any of these things until maybe high school age, as they are more career oriented.
I’m literally just a mediocre artist trying to find something I can do with my art that’s not pointless and others can possibly enjoy. I’ve never thought of illustrations because for some reason I’ll draw something that looks cool (illustrations wise) but I can’t redraw it again. 🤦🏼♀️
Repeatability in our work is a learned skill. My skillshare class, The Style Class might help you. Http://Tomfroese.com/teaching
Thank you so much for starting at the very beginning. So perceptive of you! I find myself with experience within art. I studied graphic design when I was much younger. So I (at that time) learned Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. I have since taken a break from that world. I instead studied to become a master in animal science. Which I completed... During studying I doodled some, couldn’t quite stop myself. I now find myself wondering why in the world I stopped for. Why Did I give up😕 Anyway, I am at that place where I’m trying to wake my slumbering illustrator-personality. But it seems like it’s hard at sleep😴 How would you suggest me going forward in my Pursuit of illustrating?
Hi Veronica, thanks for your comment. You can draw and doodle any time, regardless of which field you've chosen to enter into. Maybe there's a way of incorporating illustration and animal science. You might find Danielle Dufault's channel inspiring in this regard: ua-cam.com/channels/wg6_F2hDHYrqbNSGjmar4w.html
Regarding starting illustration, I hope you won't be disappointed, but this very video (What to know before you get into illustration) is my answer!
@@TomFroese Hi and thank you for your answer. Your videos have really helped me. I think I’m becoming that person again. That artist that I once was, at least in my mind. Now it’s just my forgotten knowledge about all the programmes and techniques that need to wake up more😅 Thank you again for the answer🙏🏼
❤️
I'm an art teacher and want to pursue my dream of becoming and illustration. I've been learning about digital art and am falling in love with this way of drawing. Im planning on getting an ipad and learning about procreate. This was helpful. I have a character I've designed but fear putting it out online because of theft. Do you have to post your art to get recognized? Do you need to have a website?
Hi Victoria, thank you for your comment. Congrats on entering into the illustration journey!
"Do you have to post your art to get recognized? Do you need to have a website?"
Yes. You need to promote your work in order to be seen, and today that means an online portfolio or a well curated IG account at the very least.
Of course, don't share before you're ready. If you're still developing your ideas, it's okay to guard them and keep them safe. But once you have something to share, I wouldn't worry about theft. If that was a huge concern, nobody would share anything. A lot of people watermark their images or include their signature somewhere integral to the image - there's always that option. Good luck!
@@TomFroese thank you for your time. Sincerely
I'm creating art everyday and teaching art to kids, but I'm confused about how to make a living just based off of my art alone. Perhaps finding a art studio or focusing on NFTs. IDK. I think I need to write about it more like you.
Hi Jesse, thanks for your comments. Writing is always a good start when you feel like you need to work out what you want. Making a living off of art is a very long game for most of us. First thing is knowing what you want and then doing what you can to inch in that direction.
@@TomFroese Thank you for your time and energy Tom. I'll try not to let it be wasted.
Hi! Could you give a link or list the history book you were discussing? thank you!
Sure thing!
History of Illustration - amzn.to/40ahLjo
Meggs History of Graphic Design - amzn.to/40ahLjo
@@TomFroese thank you! 😊
Trying to find your heros of illustration and dont know where to find "older" ones as well as contemporary ? look up the channel Unsung heros of illustration!
The Channel makes videos that talk about 4-5 illustrators a video while showing their work, its incredible if you want to find great artists which you wont find as easily on pinterest etc.
Great suggestion, Lara. Thank you! I will have to check it out.