5 tips to get started in digital illustration
Considering a career in digital illustration? You should check out these 5 tips from experts in the field to get you started…
01 Do it for free
Nick Kaloterakis, Kollected: “Volunteering in a studio or acquiring some work experience while studying will expose you to people in the industry and shed some light on the reality of working in 3D.
“Beginning your career in a studio lets you experience so many facets of the industry and develop the skills you may need in the future.”
02 Price yourself correctly
Freelancers should consider joining the Association of Illustrators (in the UK) or the Graphic Artists Guild (in the USA).
Adam Benton, Kromekat Digital Media Design: “You’ll get accurate market rates for similar commissions. Don’t be tempted to take less for a commission just to get published. It’ll cost you in the long run.”
03 Get to know your potential employer
Keith Jeffery, Taylor James: “If you’re interested in joining a studio, look at their work and style, and then customise your reel and CV to show off your best and most relevant work.
“If you don’t have examples that are suited to the area the studio works in, it’s difficult to see how you’ll fit. And be honest about the skills you do have and those you want to improve.”
04 Learn the basics
More than any other 3D field, digital illustration requires strong traditional skills.
Chris Morris, CGI director at Giannini Creative Imaging: “Whenever I hire a new intern, I always ask to see their non-computer artwork. I want to see who they are as a creative person first.
“Learn the new technology but don’t tie yourself to it. Software and hardware will change, but a strong base of artistic skills will last a lifetime.”
05 Get ahead with advertising
Given that advertising is a key market for digital illustration, it’s surprising how many artists forget that they need to promote themselves properly. Good networking and use of the web are key.
Andrew Kerr, Dotnamestudios: “Sign up with all the ifreelance-type sites and start posting your work. Try to think where you’d look if you needed an artist, and then promote yourself accordingly.”
06 Invest in hardware
The size and relative complexity of digital illustrations can make them surprisingly processor intensive, so don’t be tempted to skimp on kit.
Adam Benton: “Get the most powerful hardware you can afford. When you do finally upgrade, keep the old machine as a render node or a fallback machine. And don’t forget about additional hard disks for regular backups!”
These expert tips first appeared as a longer article on digital illustration in 3D World issue 140. Click the link to find where you can buy the mag to learn more about the world of digital illustration, and how to get started.
Click the thumbnail to find out more and to buy issue 140 of 3D World magazine
Posted on Friday, April 8th, 2011 at 4:02 pm under Analysis, Features. You can subscribe to comments. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.
Tags: digital artists, digital illustration, getting started, tips
