Becoming an Illustrator

How does it happen?

Each month members of the IlloGuild answer a question together and the November theme is: How did you become an illustrator?

Technically speaking, I am not an illustrator yet, but I can certainly share the steps I have taken so far so put me on the right path and perhaps I can call myself a ‘fledgling’ illustrator - one who has not yet flown the nest..my feathers are still growing in! My story is for the slow but steady hustlers, who have 20 minutes on a train journey, 10 minutes while the bath water runs or 5 stolen minutes in the loo to progress their dreams.

3 decades getting there

Looking at the decades, Age 10-20, encouraged by my Grandmother who is now 98, I made a lot of art, alongside my studies. Watercolour and pencil (Lala bought me all the best brands and I still have them now); acrylics and glass paints. It was all for fun and I could spend hours lost in my GCSE work but I was determined to support myself financially from a tender age and a creative career didn’t really occur to me. 20-30 was very sensible: getting my degree, saving up to join the property ladder and scratching my creative itch with evening courses. Curtain making, oil painting, stone carving - anything using my hands.

 

30-40 I traveled the world, met my husband and made a home. I also had laser surgery in both eyes and couldn’t focus on a paintbrush but oh the sights I saw. Australia, Africa, Canada, America, Asia and always taking photos and absorbing the sensory information. Luckily by my 40’s I once again became short sighted - thank goodness! It coincided with a slower pace of life and a realisation that the career I had created would not suit the 2 small people in my life and that plan B could be activated. 

It started with a colouring in poster 

It was always going to be a very slow and methodical route. Starting with 5 minutes of colouring. Progressing to 20 minutes of linocutting. Taking my first full day away from my neurodiverse darlings to attend a creative retreat of workshops. Swiftly followed by gelli printing, screen printing, machine embroidery and paper cutting. I bought a laptop and took an evening course at Central St Martins.

This triggered my muscle memory of colour palettes and I found myself deep in the Pinterest world, soaking up gorgeous imagery and realising that a whole digital revolution had occurred since my days of Corel Draw at an Engineering Consultancy. And here on this platform was where I discovered Make It In Design. 

My first sale

It was Christmas 2018 (I think?) and I made a pattern in Microsoft Word from a cropped photo of one of my linocut squares to make a repeating pattern. After loading it on Redbubble, a print-on-demand website, I sold 8 cushions for a grand profit of £12. Then a friend asked for 2 large lampshades made from my hand printed fabric and we agreed to exchange them for a nearly new kids bike! So began a love affair. I could list all the courses, podcasts and books I have consumed - there have been so many! I am a collector of words and knowledge - it inspires my soul to seek out beauty. But the crux of my learning is this: Make it in Design, Skillshare, Make Art That Sells; Domestika - in that order. I also regularly listen to WindowSill Chats with Margo Tantau and AndyJPizza’s Creative Peptalk. 

Getting serious

During 2022 I committed to My Year of Art School with Mats and created more work than I can shake a stick at. Along the way I commissioned a website and bought my domain name - Tabbykat Studio. Scouring the garage, I found the pencils from my Grandmother. They are now worth up to £2000 on ebay! I sharpened them immediately and knew they would get used down to the stub. 

Despite being frustrated at myself (constantly), I have moved my art forward in increments; dabbled in every medium my heart desires; involved myself in IG challenges and Twitter celebrations and kept a constant practice, despite returning to work full time. Yes - it is a non creative role, whilst I pay the bills. But here is the fact - I can no longer go 24 hours without creative intervention. Each week my portfolio is expanding, morphing, condensing, maturing. 

What success looks like to me

My personal goal when I commenced this adventure at c~40 was to spend 10 years exploring and navigating my way to a new career path, whilst raising my boys in the most present and available way possible. They are my true North and I will take 20,10,5 minutes where I can until they need me less.

 

50 still seems like a great age to give up The City. So far I have tackled Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Gouache, Mixed Media and a whole variety of professional briefs from different markets. There is a designated space at the end of the garden where I can close the shed door, make a mess, leave things untidy, and incubate ideas. My taste levels and skills are starting to merge and I am asking myself, who are my heroes and what work would I love to be known for?

I might not be an illustrator yet, but things are definitely on track. 

For more inspiration follow Iloguild - a collective of kids book illustrators from around the world. This is where we share our treasure and help you grow.