How to Become an Illustrator

Maybe you used to love making art, but haven’t created in years. Or maybe you’ve never really made anything since art class in elementary school, but you’re always obsessing over artists on Instagram. No matter where you’re at in your creative journey, I get what you’re going through. I know it can sometimes feel impossible to make the jump from liking art to actually making art. It can feel even more impossible if you eventually want to make a living from your art, or become one of the greats. From experience, all I can tell you is that it’s about starting small with baby steps.

Until five years ago, I wasn’t making any art. I loved art classes growing up, and I made a lot of art in high school. I even took a few art classes in college, but ended up getting my degree in communications - thinking it was a more practical choice. From the time I graduated college to the time I started creating again, six years had passed. Once I got back into making art five years ago, the habit actually stuck and I haven’t stopped creating since.

The steps I’ve outlined below are the steps I took to get back into art and make it a habit. Now, I actually make money from my art, something I never dreamed possible. It’s shocking to see how far I’ve come in five years, mainly as my confidence level goes. I can whip up a decent painting of just about anything in under an hour. I know I still have a lot to learn, but this gives me hope for how much I’ll be able to accomplish in my lifetime.

I try not to focus on all the time wasted when I wasn’t making art, and I urge you to do the same. It’s about starting where you’re at right now, and getting better every day. It’s trusting that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be in your creative journey.

“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”

― Bill Gates

Step 1: Change your Mindset

Your past relationship with art doesn’t matter anymore. You’re an artist the second you decide you’re an artist. And you can decide that today. You don’t need an M.D. to make art. Some of the best artists never went to art school. Heck, I never went to art school! Decide today that you’re an artist, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. No one will judge you for sharing your art and putting yourself out there. I’ve been amazed at how supportive the art community is. We all want to the same things, and we all lift each other up. You and your art will be welcomed with open arms!

Step 2: Immerse Yourself in the World of Illustration

You don’t have to make anything yet, just think of yourself as an illustration researcher. Look up artists on Pinterest, and make note of who your favorites are. I have a board of my favorite illustrations here. You can also watch Youtube videos on illustration, and listen to podcasts. Pay attention to how artists dress, and start dressing like an artist. Start participating in artist communities online. Do this for as long as you need before moving on to Step 3. If you immerse yourself in the art world, you will eventually feel a strong pull to starting making things!

Step 3: Practice Drawing

I truly believe that everything starts with drawing. It can be easy to skip this step, but it’s so important. All illustrators need to master drawing before they move on to another medium. I wrote an entire blog post about this here. At this point, you don’t need a special sketchbook. Just draw pencil on computer paper. If the idea of sitting down to draw feels overwhelming, try drawing while you’re watching TV. If you don’t know what to draw, look up inspiring images on Pinterest. Become a master sketcher, and practice as often as you can. You know you’re ready to move onto another medium when I could ask you to draw anything, and you feel fairly comfortable. Depending on how often you draw, this could take weeks or even months.

*Pro tip: Don’t focus on shading or perspective. Focus on mastering forms and proportions in these 5 categories: People, Animals, Plants, Buildings, and Objects.

Step 4: Choose your Tools

Now that you’ve mastered drawing, it’s time to choose a medium. Maybe you love drawing, and want to stick with graphite pencil. That is totally fine! This step is for everyone else. You know who your favorite artists are from Step 2. Do they paint or draw? What are their favorite papers? Sometimes it can be difficult to find this information, so see if they have a blog or FAQ section on their website. You can subscribe to my newsletter to get a free list of the supplies I use.

Once you’ve decided on the supplies you’d like to try, order online or visit an art store. I don’t recommend buying the beginner packs of pre-selected colors. You will end up with a lot of colors you don’t need. Try to find out what colors the artists you like are using.

Make sure you include a sketchbook that works with your medium(s) on your list of purchases. This is a great way to practice your medium without feeling like you need to share your art with the world.

Step 5: Build a Habit

I actually think the hardest part of creating is deciding what to illustrate. Nothing is more intimidating than a blank sheet of paper. I have a blog post on how to find things to paint that you can reference for help with this. I highly recommend doing a 30 day illustration series with your new medium to get started. Pick a specific subject matter like flowers, maps, kitchen objects - whatever inspires you! It can be as broad or specific as you’d like. Then paint one illustration in that category per day for 30 days. You’ll be amazed at how much better you get in the 30 days, and I guarantee you won’t run out of things to paint.

It’s important you find some time in your week to make art. It’s not about the quality of art you make, but how much art you make. You must make a lot of art to get better. And trust me, the more you make, the easier and more enjoyable it gets. If you can set aside 20 minutes per day, similar to how you’d make time for a workout, you’ll be surprised at how quickly your skills evolve. I know we are all busy, and life can get crazy, but creativity is a form of self-care. Once you start to view it that way, it will be easier to make time. Creativity can fight depression, clear your head, and sharpen your mind.

Part of building a habit is also setting aside space in your home to work. Try to set up a desk somewhere that is only for making art. Every time you pass the desk, you will be reminded to start creating.

For more help, my favorite book on building habits is Atomic Habits by James Clear.

Step 6: Refine your Style

I wrote an entire Ebook on how to cultivate a unique illustration style, so I'll keep this short. Creativity is like a running faucet. You must constantly be putting inspiration in, in order to get great art out. It’s about keeping the techniques that are working, and not being afraid to let go of what’s not. In order to make better art, you must always be learning, and growing. I have a shorter blog post on this here as well.

Step 7: Set Goals

Now that you’ve made illustrating a habit, you need to think about where you want to take your art. Maybe for you, this is simply a hobby. Or maybe you dream of having your illustrations of the cover of The New Yorker, or in Anthropologie stores. Maybe you want to have a successful print shop. Or maybe you have an income goal in mind. Whatever it is, write out your dreams one by one. No dream is too crazy, or too outrageous! No one needs to see your dream list.

The way to make these dreams happen is just to keep getting better at your art, and chipping away at your dreams. Every big dream is comprised of hundreds of little actions you need to take to make it happen. If you take little steps every day, anything is possible!

Step 8: Take Care of Yourself

This goes hand-in-hand with Step 7. Balance is an integral part of long-term success. For every time you hustle, you must also rest. You need to work hard, but not so hard that you burn out or stop enjoying the work. I have a blog post on happiness habits for creatives that outlines my secrets to maintaining balance. Illustration can be taxing on the body - being hunched over your desk and using the same muscles every day, so it’s important you take care of yourself so you can do what you love for years to come.

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Those are all my steps to becoming an illustrator. I hope this was helpful and encouraging! By reading this post, you’ve at least completed Steps 1 and 2, so great work! Again, if you want a free list of the supplies I use, you can subscribe to my newsletter. Here are some other blog posts I’ve written that you may find helpful:

To Draw or to Paint? That is the question.

Take your Art to the Next Level with Zero Effort

A Beginner’s Guide to Gouache

Paint Palette Basics for Gouache

Embracing Imperfect Illustrations