In this blog I will tell you more about how I became a fashion illustrator. I've you've missed the first part, you can read it here.
So after 1 year I'd decided to really go for it and to try to become a successful fashion illustrator. But I also liked the security of a full-time job and I decided to keep my day-time job for the time being and illustrate on the side.
In the fall of 2015 I did my first live illustration event. I made live drawings for two days at the NSMBL festival organized by Anna Nooshin in Amsterdam. I liked it a lot but it was also very overwhelming. I think I drew about 50 people on those days and it was a good way to get get a better idea of how live illustration works and how to manage it.
The rest of the year I did some smaller commissions, drew some bloggers to gain more exposure on social media and made lots of fashion illustrations for the Jazz collection of Modeca Bridal.
In the spring of 2016 I tried selling some prints of artwork at a local market. I really liked the creative atmosphere at the arts and crafts market but it wasn't very profitable financially. Since I wanted to turn my illustration skills into a career, I also had to look at the business aspect of it. Still it was a good experience. I became where I am now by trying out a lot of different things and if something does not work out the way you hoped it would, that's ok.
Then the live illustration thing really started to get rolling. I was commissioned to do some live illustrations for a few local high-end fashion stores in the south of the Netherlands and by Ted Baker to draw live artwork on tote bags in the Bijenkorf store in The Hague.
In 2017, my first publication was a fact: The Dutch Cosmo Girl published a full page about my work!
In the years 2017 and 2018, a lot happened and my income from doing illustration work grew as well... Until then I wasn't sure what to charge for illustration work and I discovered I was probably not charging enough. I became a member of the Association of Illustrators since they have a very good pricing schedule which helps you to determine the right price for your artwork.
So I started charging more and also started doing more commissions for bigger brands. I will tell you all about it in my next blog!
If you have any specific questions about my life as a fashion illustrator, just leave a comment or drop me a DM on Instagram.
Love,
Anna