Two ways to land your first paying client
“Are you in contact with people who hire illustrators?”
When I was stuck trying to get illustration work, Owen Davey, a seasoned pro asked me a game-changing question: “Are you in contact with a lot of people who hire illustrators?”
I felt silly when I realized I wasn’t.
There are 2 Methods for getting work.
Way 1: The Spray and Pray Method
Post your work. Use hashtags. Hope someone notices. Wait for opportunities to find you.
Way 2: The Direct Connection Method
Put yourself in contact with people who actually hire artists.
Here’s what I believe you need for starters:
1. Portfolio: 10 pieces you’re genuinely proud of
2. Platform: 50+ posts showing your work and process
3. People: Follow and engage with those who hire artists in your niche
Yes, you have to do the portfolio work upfront. Sorry.
Reality check: Even when I got my first contract, getting paid took forever. The book was delayed over a year. How I survived? I never stopped promoting myself and got a part time job to cover expenses.This is a long game.
But it’s not luck, if you follow some steps and get good feedback loops success is inevitable.
Tomorrow: 3 pillars of a sustainable creative income
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