Who does not love children’s book illustrations? These well-crafted sketches not only uplift the visual appeal of a children’s book but also help kids build understanding, fluency, and vocabulary.
The beauty and importance of children’s book illustrations motivate many people to consider a career in this field. However, getting a start is not as easy as you may think.
Here are some important tips to help you through.
- Start Practicing Early
Excelling at any skill takes practice, and illustrating is no different. The more you practice, the easier it can become for you to create eye-catching and unforgettable children’s book illustrations. If you are starting, the first few attempts may not be that great. However, you should not forget about the power of consistency at any step of the way.
Artists who dedicate time to excel in their skills and remain consistent do not take long to learn how to put illustrations together. Once you have learned the basics, it does not take long for you to improve your skills one bit at a time.
If you are feeling uninspired, visit a nearby library or bookstore to explore popular children’s books. Seeing the role illustrations play in ensuring the success of a book can help you become inspired and break free of your creative block.
- Choose the Right Platforms
One of the most important decisions that holds the potential to make or break your career as an illustrator is the platform you choose. Every illustrator wants to secure the best-paying clients and work on projects that will get global attention. It is only possible when you choose the right platforms.
Whether you are looking for onsite work or remote book illustration jobs, you must know where to search in order to secure the best opportunities. There are plenty of opportunities out there once you know where to look.
You can start by reaching out to different magazines, publishers, and studios that commission work similar to yours. While hearing back from these sources may take some time, it all seems worth it when you finally find the exact match for your needs.
- Seek Feedback
If you are starting your journey as a children’s book illustrator, you may be thinking that it is too early to seek feedback. However, the earlier you seek feedback, the better it is for your professional success as a children’s book illustrator.
You do not always have to seek feedback from experts such as professional illustrators or critics. To begin with, you can ask your friends and family members for their opinion. In addition, you can also post your artwork on your social media handles to see what others think.
While you may not get creative criticism from your family members or social media followers, one thing you can be sure about is what people like and dislike. This information is good enough to nudge you in the right direction.
- Develop Your Style
Impressing children with your artwork is not easy. You cannot use bright colors and glitter alone and think your job is done. As an illustrator trying to make an impact and stand out, you must develop your own unique style and stick to it.
If you spend some time reviewing the works of your favorite illustrators, one thing you will notice is their dedication to consistency. This quality remains unhindered in the works of the greatest children’s book illustrators from the past and present as well.
Following the same lead, you must focus on finding your own style. Once you succeed in this endeavor, you can keep practicing this style to excel in it. Consistency in practice will make you a master of your own illustration style.
- Pick a Color Pallet
The next important step is to pick a color pallet for your work. It is also one of the most crucial decisions you must make at the beginning of your illustrating career. While a slight change in colors may not sound like a really big deal, you may be undermining the intelligence of your audience.
Inconsistency in color and style can make your work look unprofessional and cheap. Instead of risking your reputation at the start of your journey, it is always a good idea to pay attention to your style and color pallet right from the beginning.
The best idea is to decide on a color pallet for your book before you start illustrating. Any time you feel lost, you can head back to your color pallet and come back inspired. You can always give things a twist with complementary colors.
- Create Rough Sketches
Just like authors create an outline before starting to write their manuscript, you also have to follow the same approach. It is always a good idea to create a rough sketch before you begin filling your work with colors for enhancement.
Working on your illustrations step by step makes it so much easier for you to cater to any mistakes. If something goes wrong, you can start again and keep on refining your work till you are satisfied with it. It may seem time-consuming, but you will be able to save a lot of time when you try this approach.
- Delay Quitting Your Job
One of the biggest mistakes aspiring illustrators often make is quitting their day jobs in order to pursue their passion for illustration. While it may sound like a brilliant idea for someone who wants to improve their illustration skills, you must give it a lot of thought.
Starting a successful career in illustration can take a lot of time. Do not think that a lack of skill is the only reason for it. In fact, many talented illustrators spend years before getting the well-deserved recognition for their talents.
Remember that making a living out of any profession can take some time. People who rush into quitting their jobs often have regrets, as things can become very challenging without a consistent income. Hence, it is always recommended that you think about such a big decision before taking action.
