How to Become a Professional Illustrator

Discover Catalina Estrada’s tips and advice on becoming an illustrator, and find the inspiration to take the plunge

Catalina Estrada (@catalinaestrada) is an illustrator and print designer. Having grown up surrounded by jungle outside the city of Medellin in Colombia, she draws inspiration from towering trees, incredible plants, and vibrant colors. Her light-filled style infuses viewers with powerfully positive Latin energy.

She has worked for brands including Paul Smith, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Camper, Nike, Levis, Smart (Mercedes Benz), UNICEF, Amnesty International, the City of Barcelona (Spain), the Mayor of London (UK), and the Indian government. Her designs are available as wallpaper, bed linen, bags, suitcases, dresses, parasols, school supplies, etc. They add color to the lives of people all over the world.

Catalina knows it can be hard to take your first steps in professional illustration. So she shares her tips, insights, and lessons to inspire you to become the illustrator you always knew you could be.

Watch the video below and read on for Catalina's advice in her own words!

Building a portfolio: where to start when you haven't started

Nobody becomes an illustrator overnight, and it’s hard to create a portfolio when you haven't had professional experience. This is why I recommend that when you're starting from scratch, you choose two or three techniques you’d like to try in order to start improving those skills.

Experiment, play around, and select your favorite projects to start creating a portfolio.

Remember you don’t have to prove you can create a thousand different styles, simply showcase your favorite work, the things you really connect with.

If I had to choose three things that you should consider before making your portfolio, I would summarize it into the following:

1. The people looking at your portfolio don’t have much time, so try to construct a concise visual and narrative message.

2. Use hashtags, these keywords allow your work to show up in random searches, which gives you visibility.

3. More content doesn’t make you more appealing, be careful to select the work that shows your essence as an illustrator.

I also recommend using social media, especially Instagram. It’s been a great marketing and promotional tool for me. I know it can feel hard, but if you want to make illustration your profession you have to spend the time creating things that help sell your work.

Style: define your style, and don’t let it restrict you

Style shapes your identity as an illustrator, but don’t torture yourself if you’re struggling to find yours: versatility is a professional skill.

I believe there are advantages and disadvantages to having your own style:

- The advantages: defining your style makes it easier for clients to find you. When a lead contacts me, they generally want something in my style. And when they know what they’re looking for, my work usually matches their needs.

- The disadvantages: style can become your creative prison. Clients may not be open to me experimenting with styles or techniques they don’t expect, which can be extremely limiting. I’ve had to find clients who allow me to evolve to avoid drowning in my own style. Remember that being versatile keeps your creativity alive.

It’s really healthy to explore a range of techniques when you’re starting out. Style isn’t something you start with, it’s something you find, that matures, so don’t lose hope if you’re not sure what yours is yet. Follow your intuition and work on things that make you feel comfortable, while also allowing you to evolve and grow.

The value (and price) of your work

I don’t think there’s one formula that works for everyone, so it feels strange to offer advice, but I can talk about my experience. I never believed I’d be able to make a living out of illustration. It was a hobby, something I volunteered to foundations I cared about, because I never thought anyone would pay me for my work, until one day somebody did. And that changed my outlook.

Working for free can be good when you’re starting out because it gives you creative freedom and helps you develop your style and your identity. When I started out, my only responsibility was to do my best and to turn my feelings into graphics. I’m not saying anyone should allow themselves to be exploited, but we all need opportunities to learn.

People often ask me how much to charge. The simplest answer is that you always have to discuss the price with the client. You can always negotiate.

Remember a job should always pay well, or represent a great creative challenge that will bring you personal satisfaction, or both. When you sign up for a project, you always need to weigh up how much you need either of those things. The most important thing is to create, grow, and find your comfort zone, to know how much you need to charge, how much you want to be creative at a particular moment, etc. These are all valid considerations, you just have to be comfortable with what you’re doing and how much you charge.

Perseverance vs patience: a balancing act

There’s a concept I call “active patience”. It involves being patient without losing your motivation, while working on your own projects, inventing potential jobs and publishing your work on social media, finding inspiration in the work of other illustrators, finding people you feel artistically close to and researching who they work with, starting to build a list of contacts, etc.

Social media didn’t exist when I was young, so I used to contact the art directors at a range of publishers and send them the portfolio I’d created on a website. I knew the likely answer was no, but I had to try and it worked for me: somebody published me... and they paid! So I recommend being proactive as a kind of patience, always try to find opportunities to grow, to market yourself, and to learn.

Illustration: 4 things nobody tells you

These are some of the things nobody mentioned when I decided to become a professional illustrator:

1. You can make a living out of illustration: I’m the living proof.

2. You don’t need a Masters in Illustration to become an illustrator: you make your own career. I’m 100% self-taught. There are so many opportunities for self-study and for expanding your creative side out there right now. So you can train yourself and find your own, alternative paths to professional growth.

3. Draft a fair contract that makes it clear that you retain the rights to your illustrations. If a client wants to buy all the rights to your work, they have to pay for them. Do plenty of research into the legal aspects of illustration and draft the best model contract for you personally.

4. Everything is a learning process, including your mistakes. My advice doesn’t really matter, you are going to create your own career. And the only way to become the professional you dream of being is through trial and error.

This article was written by illustrator and print designer Catalina Estrada, who teaches the Domestika courses Illustration for Patterns with Soul and Color Palettes for Vibrant Patterns.

Remember, you can enjoy more special content like this every month with Domestika Plus.

English version by @studiogaunt

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