Do you know how to become an illustrator without a degree? If you are reading this, the answer is probably no. Lucky for you, this article has all the answers you seek. Get to the end, and you will be ready to take the illustration bull by its horns, regardless of your academic papers.
In today’s increasingly visual market, illustration has become a hot job. The demand for quality illustrations is skyrocketing, and technological advancements are making design work easier and more enjoyable. Furthermore, the illustration world is beaming with designers that have struck gold and are inspiring even more creators to exploit their talent.
If you have the skills to create captivating graphics, now is the time to take the bold first step towards becoming a professional illustrator. Unlike many careers, where academic qualifications do most of the talking, you do not need to get a degree or even attend school to become an illustrator. More often than not, illustrators are judged by the quality of their work.
So, do not let the lack of papers hold you back. Read on to find out how you can become an illustrator without a degree.
What does an illustrator do?
An illustrator is an artist that creates two-dimensional graphical designs. He or she can be a hobbyist illustrating for fun or a professional illustrator designing for clients like fashion companies, magazines, advertising agencies, websites, and book publishers.
As an illustrator, you can use various techniques to create the effects you want, depending on your specialty. If you excel in sketching clothing, you can use the richness of color to bring out the pop in fashion pieces. Similarly, if illustrating earth formations is your strength, playing with light and shadows can help you create intriguing geological designs.
The difference between a graphic designer and an illustrator
Graphic designers and illustrators have one broad thing in common: they do design work. However, while the former can work on a wide range of design elements and structures to provide visual output, illustrators typically narrow down to drawing and conceptualization. They specialize in creating simple designs with minimal elements to convey one straight message.
Say you go to graphic design school today. You will learn broad design subjects like product design, web design, and publications. On the other hand, if you were an illustration student, you would mostly concentrate on art history, drawing, and painting. You would not need the advanced, multifaceted knowledge of a graphic designer.
How can you become an illustrator without a degree?
Reasonably, most professionals agree that design school is a prerequisite to a successful graphic design career. However, because Illustration is a lot more specialized and technical, you can perfect your craft entirely on your own.
Below are eight tips that can guide you towards becoming an illustrator without a degree;
1. Start Drawing
Professional designers know all too well that illustrating is not the same as drawing. An illustration is specifically made to elaborate a particular message or clarify a piece of text. In most cases, it is built around a concept or idea. A drawing, however, can easily stand on its own. It can be appealing without necessarily communicating a message.
That said, drawing is the foundation of illustrating. Before committing to pursue illustration, you must start drawing. You can think of a drawing as an illustration whose message has not been clearly defined. Drawing allows you to practice your craft without worrying about what you are communicating to your audience.
If you are starting your illustration journey, set aside as much time as you can to draw and experiment. You can also begin attending art workshops and lectures to hone your skills and meet other upcoming illustrators. By drawing, you can get familiar with illustrating, discover your style, and practice executing ideas.
2. Get a Computer
In the old days, designers did not have computers. Illustrators used pencils, paint, brushes, and paper. The finished design was then sent to a lithographer, who processed it for reproduction in newspapers, magazines, and books.
Things are very different today. Lithographers are not as common as they once were, and professional designers are expected to understand the art of making their work ready for print. As a result, computers have become invaluable tools for work.
A computer offers several significant benefits to an illustrator. With a computer, you can make use of vector-based and raster-based digital illustration services to create intricate work with little time. You can also process and print your designs quickly and with precision.
Moreover, popular software solutions like Adobe Illustrator offer numerous different kinds of brushes and functions that you can use to make your work unique and fun. A computer enables you to create things that a traditional artist would never be able to do.
Of course, clients that accept original drawings and digitize them themselves exist. You can also find a print shop to scan your hand illustrations for you and reproduce them for print. Nevertheless, it pays a great deal to get familiar with the digital aspects of illustration.
3. Find Your Illustration Style
Once you get the hang of sketching and digitizing your illustrations, the next step is figuring out your style. Most illustrators start by sketching ideas on paper before zeroing in on the concept they want. So, if you are finding your style, you can begin by laying out all your mini-sketches and illustrations.
If your style is still unclear, the six steps below can help you define it better.
i. Pin-point a topic or theme
Put your illustrations aside and think about the one theme that excites you the most. Is it fashion? Motor vehicles? Abstract art? If you have too many, try to narrow down to your five favorite themes. Write down these themes in numerical order and choose the topic that is number one on the list.
ii. Create a Reference Library
One of the most effective ways of finding your illustration style is combining elements from the work of other artists. If you have illustrators you admire, you can create a reference board from their illustrations, copy ideas from them, and make a few changes. Websites like Pinterest, Behance, and Instagram, are great places to find inspiring artists.
Collecting references and inspiration from the artists you admire can trigger your creative juices and help you find your style.
iii. Assess your preferences
It might be hard to pick a style, but the good news is that we all have our preferences built within us. The only thing you need to do is develop them into a style.
Think about the colors you love the most. If they are not apparent to you, look around your home or in your closet. Choose the five most dominant colors you see.
Do you prefer organic or geometric shapes? Do you like clean or textured illustrations? Again, check your clothes and the decor you have on your walls to see the shapes that attract you the most.
Illustrating is all about combining colors and shapes. If you can identify your favorite of these elements, your journey towards finding your style will be much easier.
iv. Sketch your illustrations
Now that you have found a theme, assessed your preferences, and created a reference library, it is time to do some focused illustration.
Making an illustration is hardly ever a start-to-finish process. Even the best illustrators make multiple sketches before they finalize the illustration. So, if you have an idea, attempt to develop six to ten rough sketches and doodles. You will see improvements with each subsequent sketch.
v. Set a realistic deadline
Once you have a solid final sketch, set a realistic time target to finish your illustration. Otherwise, you will find it just as challenging to get started. Regardless of its complexity, an illustration should not take you more than a week to complete.
If you have a full-time job or a family, having a realistic deadline will help you juggle these commitments with your illustration projects effectively.
vi. Review
Finishing your first focused illustration can give you a good indication of whether your chosen style is really for you. Evaluate your design and share it with your friends. The reception and feedback it gets can help you determine how the market will receive what you can do to make your work more appealing.
4. Search for Online Tutorials
Just because you do not need to go to design school to become an illustrator does not mean you will not benefit from a few lessons. You can find helpful tutorials online, covering everything from the basics to the more advanced levels.
The beauty of learning online is that tutorials do not beat around the bush. They show you just what you want to know. Go on YouTube and search for illustration tutorials. You will find videos from incredibly talented illustrators, who are generous enough to share their knowledge and skills with the world for free. Subscribe to the channels that match your interests so that you never miss any new tutorials.
5. Read Art Books
Regardless of your location in the world, you will always find inspiring art books nearby. Some books act like tutorials on becoming a good illustrator, while others aim to inspire by telling great art legends.
Reading art books is a great way to gain a unique perspective in illustration. The best designers seek knowledge and inspiration from different sources, both online and offline. Make it a habit to unwind with an art book now and then, and you will be surprised just how far it takes you. If you can access e-books on the internet, buy as many as you can read and practice what they teach. Perfection will come to you in no time.
6. Create a Portfolio
Your illustration career cannot begin without a portfolio. Before clients hire you for a job, they need to see what you can do and whether your style fits their brand.
A portfolio can be a professional website from a website provider like Squarespace or Cargo, or a casual space like Instagram, Pinterest, or Flickr. To make it useful, only upload your most appealing and successful illustrations. It also helps to have content that seems focused on a particular style or theme, rather than flooding your portfolio with many confusing designs.
It is not uncommon to hear “Fake it ‘til you make it” even in the design world. However, that approach can only get you so far. At the end of the day, if your work does not match the quality you show in your portfolio, no client will hire you a second time.
7. Get Your First Job
With a captivating portfolio, you can now start applying for jobs and attending interviews. Most illustration companies will not care whether you have a degree as long as you can meet their expectations. Usually, a hired illustrator is attached to a more experienced employee to teach them about the art. For technical careers like illustration, on the job training is among the best ways to learn.
If you would rather be a freelancer, you can sell your portfolio online through social media or a freelancing website. With the right approach, freelance illustrating can be significantly more lucrative than employment.
8. Practice, Practice, Practice
As the old saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” The more you design, the better you will get. Perfection comes with time, and if you practice every day, you will surely achieve it.
If you happen to meet anyone of the most successful illustrators of our time, they will tell you that practice is their main secret. Follow suit, and you will reap the benefits down the road.
Seize your dream!
Many professional illustrators have a degree in one art-related subject or the other. As you have learned, however, you can still become a successful illustrator without a degree. In the world of design, the quality of your work matters a lot more than the academic qualifications you have on paper. All you need to do is work on your skill, create a portfolio, and use creative ways to get your work noticed.
Take the tips above to heart, and you will realize your dream in no time!
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