Cynthia Kingsley-Smith
Illustration



→  Portfolio
→  Creative CV
→  Free-to-use Textures
→  About // Contact

Getting Started as an Illustrator - Reflective Practice

This week: 
I reviewed the “how to start as an illustrator” as well as the “How To Get Into Handmade Illustration” guide from the Association of Illustrators (as I thought this was the option that best fit my own preferred method of working). I found reading these articles immensely reassuring in regards to use of multi-media and how it can be used as a viable workflow in a contemporary illustration practice. 



The guide confirmed a rise of interest in multi-media artwork after the advent of AI - attributing this to an increased appreciation for brands and people who care about their work and recognise the importance of attention to detail. This is something that I explore extensively in my themeatic essay and hearing accounts from working commerical illustrators confirming this is greatly reassuring. 

Advise for managing client expectations around how making edits late on in the commission process is considerably harder for handmade illustrations, and reasonably budgeting in costs of physical materials in the comission cost was very useful - I’ve always spent a large majority of time around the “start” of a development process to ensure that my concept is strong and aligns with the vision of the brief - and I’m very glad to hear that this is common amongst artists who work with physical media. 

Overall, I found the insights from direct from active professional illustrators to be the most helpful part of this research. Especially the following quote from Laura K Sayers

“I often say this to clients - there needs to be a good reason to make things this way but if
they’re willing to celebrate and enjoy this interesting medium then it’s a good match and
one that can bring a sense of intrigue to an image.”

I think this would be a really healthy and effective way to shift my own thinking about my illustrations. I think that currently I’m considering how I can force a brief to suit my preferred way of working, rather than entering the development process by thinking about how my way of working can elevate the inherent themes and ideas that are explored in the brief. I already think that working with print and texture is already inherently effective at delivering important or sensitive messages as a combination of printmaking naturally revolving around strong use of shape language and formal elements combined with how texture invites the viewer to engage with an artwork on a deeper level creates artwork that is easy to understand and emotionally engaging - I think this aligns well with my chosen theme and will look at how print and multi-media can elevate protest art and concepts around social change. 

Supplimentary Reading: 
https://theaoi.com/news/how-to-start-as-an-illustrator




Site Under Construction!