Live Illustration (Course Closes Tonight!) No-fluff Q&A
Today’s a biiiig day... the doors to our Live Illustration Course are closing tonight! AGH! In this special live illustration-y episode, we grill Katie with loads of the brilliant live illustration questions you submitted. Katie also shares some behind-the-scenes stories about v early gigs, navigating some more unusual client requirements (hiya, Apple lawyers!), and why your own values matter just as much as your skills.Timestamps00:36 – Is it risky to live illustrate by hand? 03:15 – How to build your live illustration portfolio even before you’ve had a client05:59 – How Katie got started (and her very first paid-in-sandwiches job)07:59 – Managing nerves and the fear of making mistakes10:25 – Is it okay to check references while you’re live illustrating?12:11 – How much do you need to know beforehand, and what to ask your client15:24 – Transitioning from "normal" Illustrator to Live Illustrator17:47 – What happens if you go blank during a live session?18:51 – How much preparation should you really do before an event?21:06 – Can you still be a live illustrator if you’re dyslexic?22:02 – Is live illustration realistic as a side gig?24:37 – What to ask clients about output expectations 25:41 – Is semi-live illustration allowed?27:06 – How to set up cameras for live drawing28:00 – Should you specialise in a niche for live illustration work?30:04 – What kinds of businesses actually use live illustrators?32:39 – Final encouragement: fly your freak flag and be yourselfp.s. The doors to the Live Illustration Course close tonight (2nd May)! If you're thinking about joining, now's the best time! Why though?This is the lowest price it will ever be - we're doing a special price for this first ever live round of the courseYou get lifetime accessYou can hop back in for future live rounds, get ALL future course updates and take it at your own pace. The price *will* go up next time. Find out more and sign up here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/lic Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙
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34:01
“I’m not sure how to price my illustration work. I think I panic and undercharge because I’m worried they’ll change their mind if it’s too much.”
This week’s podcast question is from Annabelle:“I’m not sure how to price my work. I think I panic and undercharge because I’m worried they’ll change their mind if it’s too much.”Ooft. This is a juicy episode. Money, mindset, value, VAT nightmares, and charging what you’re worth. Bon apetit from your Good Ship pals. Tuck in.Timestamps00:00 – The question: “How do I stop undercharging?”01:30 – People can feel when you don’t believe in your prices03:00 – What affects your value: niche, profile, usage, experience05:00 – Editorial vs publishing vs live illustration: pricing realities06:30 – Raising your rates to manage your workload10:00 – Calculate what you need to earn (and start from there)12:00 – Most illustrators can’t actually work 8 hours a day14:00 – Self-worth ≠ pricing strategy16:30 – Add 20% and see what happens18:00 – TL;DR: You’re probably underchargingStuff we mention:The AOI’s Pricing CalculatorJessica Hische’s brilliant tool: The Dark Art of PricingOur Business Course for Illustrators gives you the pricing confidence (and strategy) that no one teaches you at art school. → Join the waiting listFreelancer’s Bible by Alison Grade – super helpful if you like numbers and practical stepsHave a lovely week. And up yer rates.x Helen, Katie & Tania The Good Ship IllustrationCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙
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19:33
Illustrator vs artist: what’s the difference? + Creating your portfolio 🥳
Thanks for sending in yer juicy questions. Here are the ones we tackle in this week's podcast episode:“How do I build an illustration portfolio if I only have fine art work?”“What’s the difference between an illustrator and an artist?”Ahh yes that ol' chestnut. How to pivot from fine art to illustration without losing your mind. We dig into the figuring out what kind of work suits your actual personality. No more trying on other people's uncomfy too-small style jumpers. The illustrator vs artist line is a bit blurry - we get into why that’s actually a good thing. Promise.Honourable mentions:Fenugreek soupDream clients and imaginary briefsKatie’s two-week job limit"Just make the kind of work you want to get hired for” Timestamps00:25 – Q1: How to turn a fine art practice into an illustration portfolio01:00 – Making the kind of work you want to be hired for02:00 – Picking your corner of illustration industry03:30 – Fine art vs illustration: different goals, same skills05:00 – Picture book makers: an exception06:30 – Your personality probs already picked your niche08:20 – Know what suits your work style (and what definitely doesn’t)10:00 – Unexpected places you might find your dream illustration job11:30 – Be a detective: trace the work you love back to the source12:00 – Q2: What’s the difference between an artist and an illustrator?13:30 – Do labels even matter anymore? 14:30 – “Artist” vs “Illustrator” – what clients think they’re hiring15:30 – Choose the title that helps the right people find youStuff we mention:Our Business Course for Illustrators walks you through exactly how to figure out where you fit and how to build a portfolio that attracts the right clients. → Read aaaall aboot it hereWant to uncover your weirdness and figure out your unique style?→ Fly your freak flag with usGot a question for the podcast? Pop it in the question jar here: Podcast question formThank you!x Helen, Katie & TaniaThe Good Ship IllustrationCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙
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16:45
Illustration trends vs your creative voice PLUS what materials to use
Two more chunky questions for this week's episode:“How do I choose the right materials and techniques when I love them all?”“How do I keep up with new tech and trends without hopping on every train and going bananas?”It's a longer one this week! A podcast title that went in the bin was: Mouldy bingo dabbers: A love story. A moment of silence for that title. It woulda been great, but not very useful or searchable 😆Alas.Timestamps00:00 – “How do I choose the right materials?”01:00 – You don’t have to pick just one02:00 – Mixing media04:15 – Why learning 'the proper way' can sometimes kill your weirdness06:30 – The gouache phase 07:30 – Storytime: The incredible grasshopper drawings09:00 – Wrong materials = the right results10:00 – Drawing with stuff you don’t like13:15 – Listener question: “How do I keep up with tech & trends without going mad?”14:00 – Learning Procreate while making a book??17:00 – Trends are sneaky19:30 – Don't force yourself into a trend box22:00 – Are you a fan or trying to be someone else?24:00 – Going off-gridStuff we mention:Our Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag courseThe doors are open! You can join right now.Want a fun excuse to make stuff without overthinking it?Try our free Colour WorkshopGot a question for the Good Ship Illustration podcast? Send it here, go on! Podcast question formRight, we’re off to draw with things that smell like school. Mmmm. Bye!x Tania, Helen & KatieThe Good Ship IllustrationCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙
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24:59
Perfectionism, CMYK & a shout out to Barry in the cupboard (lovin' your work, Barry)
This week we’re answering TWO of your excellent questions:“How can I stop overthinking my story and just... FINISH IT???”“Which is better, RGB or CMYK?”Here’s what we chat about:That annoying feeling when you know your story’s missing something but you can’t figure out whatAsk your characters what they eat for breakfastMagic picture book editors - you don't need to do it all alone!And... how Helen sent a whole book to print in RGB and no one stopped her (justice for Barry in the cupboard)This episode is especially for you if you are stuck in perfectionism mode or feel personally attacked by the confusing colour settings in Photoshop/Procreate.Timestamps:00:00 - “How can I stop overthinking my story?” 01:15 - When feedback clings to your brain like a wet sock 02:30 - Mild peril 04:15 - Character stuff06:30 - Asking weird questions = finding the heart of your story 08:00 - Maybe... you’re actually a nonfiction illustrator? Hmm! 09:10 - How to make your agent's life easier AND still move forward11:00 - QUESTION 2: RGB or CMYK? Which one's better?11:40 - Sad, sad orange 13:00 - Barry in the cupboard and the mystical RGB loophole 15:10 - Saving your artwork (and your sanity) Stuff we mention:Our Picture Book Course is the best place to learn about story arcs, and how to stop overthinking every. single. thing. Join the waiting list hereOur free Colour Workshop will BLOW YER MIND. Download it hereGot a question for us to answer next? Submit it here:Podcast question formSee ya soon.x Tania, Helen & Katie The Good Ship IllustrationCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙
We’re here to offer no-nonsense advice for illustrators and image-makers navigating a creative career. At The Good Ship Illustration, we are all about finding your creative voice, standing out from the crowd, building career-longevity, and being yourself. We're Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell and Tania Willis - 3 full-time bread-winning (mmm, bread) illustrators working in 3 separate niches of the illustration industry. Between us, we've clocked up over 70 years of experience and illustration wisdom, and we're here to share it!You’d love your creative work if only you could find more time to do it, make more money, and feel confident with what you make. We believe you DO have what it takes, illustration needn’t be scary, and we’re with you all the way, along with the rest of the crew in our online community.
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