How to Start Your Illustration Career

So You Want to Be an Illustrator? Start Here.

If you’re new to illustration and feeling a bit lost—take a deep breath. You’re in the right place. I remember what it was like at the beginning: so many questions, so few clear answers. How do you get work? What should your portfolio look like? And how do you even start pricing your art?

This guide is everything I wish someone had walked me through when I was starting out. It’s full of real-world advice, organized to help you build a solid foundation, focus your efforts, and begin your career with purpose.

What Does an Illustrator Actually Do?

An illustrator is a commercial artist who creates visuals to support or communicate a message—usually alongside text. You’ll find illustration everywhere: books, packaging, websites, magazines, advertising, editorial features, products, and more.

Unlike fine art, which exists for expression or aesthetic alone, illustration has a job to do. It’s functional. Whether it’s telling a story, explaining a concept, or selling an idea, illustration is about communication.

There are many branches of illustration to explore, including:

• Publishing: Picture books, graphic novels, YA covers, and nonfiction.

• Product Design: Stationery, textiles, puzzles, greeting cards.

• Editorial: Magazines, newspapers, online publications.

• Scientific Illustration: Educational and medical visuals (often requiring a science background).

• Infographics & Communication Design: Visual explainers and diagrams.

• Entertainment: Character design, backgrounds, and concept art for animation and games.

The great thing? You don’t need to lock yourself into one path forever. Many illustrators work across different markets—but starting with a clear focus can make all the difference.

Finding Your Focus

It’s tempting to try and do it all when you're just starting out: “I’ll take on anything—children’s books, editorial, branding, packaging—just give me a project!”

I get it. I did the same thing. But here’s the truth: being too broad can actually hold you back. A scattered portfolio makes it harder for clients to see where you shine—and if they’re unsure what you specialize in, they’re less likely to hire you.

I only started gaining momentum when I committed to a direction—children’s illustration, in my case. My work got clearer, my portfolio got stronger, and clients started to notice.

So ask yourself: what kind of work excites you most? Focus your portfolio on that niche. You can branch out later, but early on, having a clear direction will help you attract the right clients.

Laying the Groundwork

Let’s be real: no amount of strategy will work if your technical skills aren’t ready for the professional world yet. The good news? Skills can be built. No artist starts out perfect.

If you’re not landing work yet—even if you’re doing everything right—it may come down to the portfolio itself. That was the case for me. Once I focused on improving my craft and created new, stronger pieces, things started to shift.

Here’s the foundation to work on first:

1. Master the fundamentals

   • Color & light

   • Perspective

   • Anatomy

   • Composition

   • Form

2. Refine your mediumWhether you use digital tools or traditional materials like gouache, watercolor, or colored pencil—get really good at your chosen medium.

3. Develop your voiceAs your skills grow, your unique style will start to take shape. Use it to create a body of work you’re proud to show off.

Building a Portfolio That Gets You Hired

Your portfolio is your calling card. It’s what clients use to decide if you’re the right fit for their project. That means it needs to be strong, focused, and cohesive.

A few key tips:

• Quality over quantity It’s better to show 8 excellent pieces than 20 mediocre ones. Don’t include everything—just your best work.

• Be intentional Your portfolio should reflect the kind of jobs you want, not just random past projects. If you want to illustrate picture books, include picture-book spreads, not logo designs or comic strips.

• Curate thoughtfullyI used to include everything I could just to fill space. But once I started curating and only included work that was polished and aligned with my goals, I started seeing results.

Landing Your First Gig

Freelance illustration isn’t like applying for a 9-to-5 job. You don’t just wait for opportunities—you create them. That means putting yourself out there, often before you feel ready.

In the early days, I hustled: sending emails, making connections, entering contests, showing up at events. That’s how I got clients.

Eventually, if you stick with it, clients will start coming to you. But in the beginning? You have to go find them.

Common ways illustrators get work:

• Social media (if used strategically)

• Submission portals

• Cold outreach emails

• In-person networking

• Conventions & fairs

• Self-promotional mailers

In this post, we’re going to focus on submissions.

Start With a Client Spreadsheet

Organization is everything. Create a spreadsheet to track your outreach. You can use Excel, Google Sheets, or Notion.

Include columns for:

• Company name

• Contact person (art director, editor, etc.)

• Email address or submission link

• Date contacted

• Follow-up dates

• Notes (response, feedback, job outcome)

I’ve made a free template you can grab if you need help getting started.

Finding the Right Clients

Now it’s time to fill that spreadsheet with potential leads. Think about who needs illustration in your style.

Research companies in:

• Children’s publishing

• Indie magazines

• Greeting card or toy companies

• Boutique brands and local businesses

Don’t just aim for big names—look for smaller companies where your work could shine. Sometimes they’re more open to working with newer artists.

Focus on places where your art would fit in. If your style is soft and whimsical, a bold, edgy fashion mag might not be the best use of your time.

Do Your Research

Here are some simple ways to find submission opportunities:

• Google itSearch things like “children’s book publisher submissions” or “magazine art submission guidelines.”

• Look around IRL See a beautiful illustrated product in a store? Check the company name and look them up online later.

• Study other illustrators Follow artists whose careers you admire and see who they’re working with. This can give you insight into companies that hire artists like you.

• Search their websites Most companies have submission guidelines or contact forms hidden in the footer under "Submissions," "Contact," or "Careers."

Handling Rejection

Let’s be honest: rejection sucks. But it’s a normal part of freelance life, and it doesn’t mean you’re not talented. More often than not, it just means your style wasn’t the right fit for that project at that time.

Don’t disappear after a no. Follow up a few months later with new work. Staying on someone’s radar—without being pushy—is one of the best things you can do.

You're Closer Than You Think

I hope this gives you a solid starting point and some clarity about what it takes to build a career in illustration. Everyone’s path looks a little different—but the common threads are practice, persistence, and being proactive.

You don’t need to have it all figured out today. Just focus on the next right step.

✦ Ready to Build Your Illustration Career? ✦

If you want personalized guidance and a clear roadmap, I offer 1-on-1 consulting sessions where we’ll build a plan tailored to your goals, skill level, and style. Let’s take the guesswork out of it—book a session and start turning your creative dream into reality.