How to Become an Illustrator (Without a Degree)

Are you looking for ways to break into the world of illustration? Whether you’re a beginner, a student, or someone hoping to transition from a different career into the creative industry, this guide will give you essential tips on how to become an illustrator and start building a career in illustration.

As an illustration agent, I help illustrators grow their careers, particularly by focusing on the business side of the industry. While developing your creative skills is important, understanding how to build an illustration portfolio, find clients, and manage your business is crucial for turning your passion into a sustainable career. If you’re hoping to learn how to become a freelance illustrator or wondering how to get started in illustration, you’ve come to the right place.

Illustration, like many creative fields, can be incredibly rewarding but also challenging. Most illustrators work as freelancers, which brings both freedom and uncertainty. Freelancing often means dealing with ups and downs — busy periods followed by quieter times. This requires mental toughness and resilience.

Throughout this post, I’ll provide additional resources and tips on how to start a career in illustration. You’ll find links to help you dive deeper into key areas, such as building a portfolio or learning how to market your work. And if you have any questions or feel like I’ve missed something important, feel free to reach out!

If you’re looking for a comprehensive career guide for new illustrators, I wrote one!

What is Illustration?

Before diving into how to get into illustration, it’s important to define what illustration is. While you could easily find a dictionary definition, I like to describe it as an image with a purpose beyond simply looking nice.

Art, in many cases, is created to be appreciated for its own sake. While it often tells a story or conveys meaning, the primary goal is the artwork itself. Illustration, on the other hand, serves a specific function—it has a job to do.

Illustrators typically work with commercial clients such as magazines, publishers, advertising agencies, and more. Here’s a video where I go into more detail about the types of work illustrators do. Of course, illustrators also sell prints or create artwork just for their own sake, but in this post, we’ll focus on the commercial side of illustration.

Commercial clients often have problems that need solving, and illustration can be the best way to address those needs. Whether it’s explaining a complex concept, telling a story, or selling a product, illustration plays a key role in communication. Here are a few examples of how illustration is used:

• Explaining complex ideas: Imagine a science magazine article about a difficult concept like dark matter or quantum physics. A photograph wouldn’t capture these abstract ideas, but a skilled illustrator can create an image that helps the reader understand the subject.
• Telling a story: A simple example is children’s books. The text may describe a character’s adventures, like Winnie the Pooh getting into mischief. The accompanying illustration brings the scene to life and helps readers visualise the characters and setting.
• Selling products: Illustration is widely used in advertising, from book covers to product packaging in a supermarket, or even designs on clothing and branding for companies. These illustrations help to convey a message or attract attention to a product.
• Documenting the natural world: Before cameras existed, illustrations were essential for documenting plants, animals, and maps. Even today, illustration is used in fields like scientific research and cartography for visualizing things that can’t easily be photographed.

While these are just a few examples, the common thread is that illustrations always serve a purpose. They are designed to communicate something specific.

So, next time you sit down to draw, try approaching it with that mindset. Think about the purpose of the image, who the client is, and what they want the illustration to communicate. By understanding the role that illustration plays, you’ll be one step closer to creating purposeful, impactful work.

What Do Illustrators Do?

Some illustrators have formal education in art or illustration from universities, while others are entirely self-taught. Both paths are valid. A good illustration course at a university can teach you a lot, but you can also learn a lot by yourself from books and YouTube or Skillshare for a fraction of the cost, but that only works if you can motivate yourself to learn.

You do not have to have a degree or a formal qualification to be a freelance illustrator.

What matters most is the quality of your work. A formal education may help you develop your skills, but it’s not a guarantee. With enough practice and determination, self-taught artists have just as much potential to succeed as anyone else.

As a very simple explanation, an illustrator will take some time to learn their art skills, whether it’s drawing, painting, digital art, 3D art or whatever else you can think of, and along the way, they’ll learn software that goes along with that. Some digital illustrators are using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, or they might use Clip Studio or Procreate. I don’t know much about 3D software, but there are a ton of different options and combinations to learn there.

Everyone does it slightly differently, and that’s perfectly fine. As long as you can deliver what the client needs, you can make the work however you like. For traditional artists, being able to scan or photograph your work at a high quality is important, and you may also need to know how to make minor edits to digital files, like removing smudges or enhancing colours.

The first step in an illustrator’s journey is to master the technical and creative skills required for their craft. There are countless free tutorials and online classes that can help with this, so if you’re motivated, you can make significant progress without formal training.

Once you have a good grasp of the technical side, the next step is to develop your own unique style—an essential part of standing out as an illustrator.

Why Do I Need an Illustration Style?

In the creative industries, standing out is essential if you want to get noticed and win projects. Your illustration style plays a big role in that. If your work looks like that of 100 other artists, you’ll be competing with all of them for the same opportunities. However, if your style is unique and eye-catching, you’ll have a much better chance of attracting clients who are specifically looking for what you offer.

It’s important to recognise that you can’t please everyone with your style. Trying to appeal to every type of client will often result in work that looks generic and fails to make an impact. Instead, focus on developing a style that’s true to you, one that helps your work stand out from the crowd.

While I can’t guide you on how to find your own style (because I never found mine), there are many resources available to help. For example, you might consider taking a course like the one offered by Andy J Pizza on Skillshare

Learning the technical skills required to be an illustrator and then developing a distinctive style is a long process. Your style will evolve over the course of your entire career. It’s helpful to think about this journey in terms of years rather than months. While an illustration degree may take about four years to complete, a self-taught illustrator could progress faster if they are highly motivated, though it’s still not going to be an overnight process.

Once you’ve begun developing your style, the next step is to create and curate a portfolio that showcases your work.

What is an Illustration Portfolio?

Today, an illustrator’s portfolio is typically presented as a website. While portfolios used to be physical collections of work that artists would bring to client meetings, printed portfolios are much less common now. You no longer need a physical portfolio to showcase your work.

The basic requirements for an online portfolio are simple:

1. A curated selection of your best illustrations, potentially accompanied by short descriptions explaining the context of each piece or the client it was created for.
2. An “About” page where you introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of your work and experience.
3. A clear way for potential clients to contact you—email is essential, and including a phone number can also be helpful.

These are the essentials: you’re showcasing your work, giving people insight into what you do, and providing an easy way for clients to reach out to you.

Many artists use website builders like Squarespace or Wix to create their portfolios. However, if you’re looking for a free option, platforms like Behance are a great place to start.

It’s important to note that your portfolio is not a storage space for every piece of work you’ve ever created. Your portfolio should be a thoughtfully curated selection of your best and most relevant pieces.

If you’re aiming for a career in magazine illustration, your portfolio should include work suited to that field. If you want to work on children’s books, then your portfolio should reflect that. However, for new illustrators who are still developing their style, it’s a good idea to showcase a range of subjects and styles. Limiting yourself to one type of work too early might exclude other potential clients.

Experiment with different types of projects to see what you enjoy most and where your strengths lie. You may eventually choose to specialise, but there’s no rush. Some illustrators never specialise, and instead, enjoy a varied career that spans many different types of projects.

Your portfolio will continue to evolve over time. As you create new work, you’ll add fresh pieces and remove older ones, refining it with each iteration. The goal is to constantly improve the quality and relevance of your portfolio.

Once you have version 1 of your portfolio online, you’re ready to start working with clients.

How to Get Clients to Find Your Illustration Portfolio

Simply having your portfolio online doesn’t mean clients will find it. I learned this the hard way many years ago when I put my own portfolio online and then waited, expecting clients to discover me. But, of course, they didn’t—because why would they? The same goes for social media. The chances of the right client stumbling upon your portfolio at just the right time are very slim.

This is where learning additional skills like self-promotion, research, marketing, and networking becomes essential.

Now that your portfolio is online, the next step is to let the right people know about it. Let’s use magazines as an example: you probably already know a few that use illustrations, but there are hundreds more you may not have heard of. Start by doing a good old Google search for magazines in different categories, and make a list of the ones that use illustration.

Here’s a quick tip: if you search for a magazine’s name on Google Images, along with the word “illustration,” you can quickly find out if they use illustrations in their publications. If you see illustrated content in the results, it’s likely that they hire illustrators. If not, they may not work with freelance illustrators, so you can skip them.

Once you’ve identified potential clients, the next step is to find the right person to contact—usually, the art director. Art directors are often the ones responsible for commissioning illustrators and photographers. While editors handle the written content and graphic designers handle the layout, art directors are typically in charge of sourcing visuals.

This process isn’t limited to magazines—it applies to many different types of organizations that use illustration in their work.

Once you’ve identified the right person, try to find their contact information, typically an email address. Some can be harder to find than others, but it’s worth the effort. Once you have it, reach out with a professional and concise introduction, showcasing your portfolio and explaining how your work could meet their needs.

How to Introduce Yourself to a Client

I’ve covered this topic in more detail in a video on how to introduce yourself to a client, so I’ll keep it brief here.

When reaching out to an art director or potential client, your goal is to send a friendly yet professional introduction. There’s no need to be overly formal, but you should keep it clear and to the point, respecting their limited time.

Your email should be concise and include:

• Who you are: Briefly introduce yourself.
• Where you’re located: Let them know where you’re based.
• What you do: Share your area of expertise (e.g., editorial illustration, children’s books, etc.).
• What you want: Politely express your interest in working with them.

Most importantly, attach a couple of images of your best work, specifically pieces that are relevant to the client’s industry or projects. The visuals are what will catch their attention, not a long block of text, so make sure your images are front and centre. And, of course, always include a link to your portfolio for them to explore further.

If you don’t receive a reply, follow up with a brief email a week or so later. There are many reasons they might not have responded initially—they could have been busy, on vacation, or simply missed your message. A follow-up shows persistence without being pushy, and it’s a good practice to get into.

It’s possible they may not think your style fits their current projects, and that’s completely fine! You may never know the reason if they don't respond, but that shouldn’t discourage you. Try again in a few months with new and improved work.

Most art directors would love to reply and offer support, but they receive a lot of emails like yours, and it’s impossible for them to respond to everyone while still managing their workload. This is where mental toughness and resilience come into play. You might send out 10 emails and not hear back from any of them, but that’s part of the process. The key is not to get discouraged. Keep trying, keep improving, and with time, the odds will shift in your favour.

Landing your first client may take weeks or even months, but if you’re consistently researching new clients and sending emails regularly (for example, emailing 10 clients a week), you’re doing the right thing. The goal isn’t necessarily to get a reply right away—it’s to put yourself out there and introduce your work. You can absolutely do that!

In the meantime, focus on creating new work, improving your skills, and continuing to reach out to potential clients. Persistence is key, and eventually, you’ll land your first commission.

What to Expect From Your First Illustration Commission

If you’re curious about what happens when you land your first commission, I have a full video on what to expect from your first illustration commission. Here’s a brief overview of the process.

When a client is interested in working with you, they’ll typically reach out and provide you with a brief. This brief serves as the set of instructions for the project, and it usually includes the following:

• A description of what they need illustrated: This will give you a clear understanding of the subject matter and the message they want to convey.
• The size or format: Clients will often specify the dimensions or format they need for the final illustration.
• A moodboard or references: Sometimes, they’ll send a moodboard or examples of work they like, to give you a sense of the style or tone they’re aiming for.
• The schedule: The brief will outline key deadlines, such as when they want to see a sketch, a colour version, and the final illustration. There are typically about three or four key stages, but this can vary depending on the project.

Some clients will include a budget in the brief, while others may ask you to provide a quote. If you’re unsure how to price your illustration work, don’t hesitate to ask the client if they have a budget in mind—most will be happy to share their expectations.

Pricing is a big topic, and while I won’t go into detail here, I have several videos on YouTube about pricing, and a step-by-step course on pricing your illustrations on Skillshare that can help you navigate this part of the process. I also have a pricing calculator for illustrators

What is an Illustration Agent

An illustration agent’s main role is to find work for illustrators, but their job goes beyond just that. Professional illustrators work with agents to help manage various aspects of their business. Typically, an agent will assist with tasks like:

• Handling contracts
• Invoicing clients
• Chasing late payments
• Scheduling and planning projects

Agents take care of much of the non-creative work, allowing illustrators to focus on what they do best.

One of the major benefits of working with an agent is the opportunity to have your work introduced to a much broader network of clients. Established agencies have large client bases, giving your work exposure that might be difficult to achieve on your own. In addition to client outreach, agents often act as mentors, helping illustrators develop their portfolios and grow their careers.

Generally, you need to be at a certain professional level to work with an illustration agency. They’re not typically geared towards beginners. Agencies usually look for artists who have already proven themselves professionally and are ready to take their careers to the next level.

If you want to apply to an illustration agency, check out my other post: How to Submit Your Work to an Illustration Agency.

Final Thoughts

That’s the basic process of getting your foot in the door of the illustration industry. In some ways, it’s straightforward—there aren’t many steps—but it’s certainly not easy, nor is it quick.

Once you land your first project, the process continues: finding new clients, introducing yourself, and steadily building your network. Over time, as you develop a portfolio of client work and earn a reputation for delivering great results on time, clients will start to find you.

However, the need to prospect for new clients never truly stops. Even when you’re busy with projects, it’s important to set aside time to look for your next opportunity. Consistency in both your craft and your business outreach is key to long-term success as an illustrator.