How do you develop and maintain a strong professional network and reputation as an illustrator?

Find something that you love to create and have significant knowledge in it will initially aide you. Focus on one area or theme. Then you need to produce the art at the highest level. Showcase only your best artwork. Have a simple story that accompanies the image. Even the selection of media will help. Talk about why you chose the images, the point of view and a discussion how it could used about in commercial applications. Build the enthusiasm for your artwork that you have. Excite the consumer to contact you for hiring you

Discover your passion and explore various styles and techniques to find your unique voice. Identify your target audience and tailor your portfolio to appeal to them.

Ser sincero con un mismo en cuanto al estilo, la temática y el modo de trabajo. ?Qué es lo que mejor me representa? ?En qué me destaco? ?Qué tipo de desarrollo disfruto más? Ser auténtico es lo que nos destaca. En palabras de Dr. Seuss (escritor e ilustrador infantil): "Para qué encajar si naciste para destacar".

As an illustrator, I build a strong network and reputation by connecting with other artists, clients, and industry peers through social media, events, and online groups. I share my work, collaborate, and seek feedback to improve. By delivering quality work on time and communicating well with clients, I earn trust and recommendations, boosting my reputation in the field.

I believe a portfolio needs to be quite focused on the choice of imagery. The theme, the media, the complexity or simplicity needs to be clear. The number of pieces should no more than 10-12 images. If appropriate, include a short biography and talk about why you select what themes you have produced. Online visibility on websites, Instagram, Behance and other sites are places where the biographies should be shown. Have a quality photograph taken of you to insert into the article. If you are portrait artist and can draw/paint yourself accurately then include that image. Keep all of your images large enough to be appreciated yet small enough to not be reproduced. iPhones and cellphones can be used but iPads or computers are better.

Showcasing a variety of your best work in an online portfolio is a great way to represent your abilities and back up your experience and skill understanding.

I think you should also use social media for sharing your works. This is your glitzy after-party. Show off your mad skills on platforms like Instagram or Twitter. Be consistent – no one likes a one-hit wonder. Imagine if Picasso only painted one weird cube thing and then disappeared. You gotta keep those masterpieces coming!

Crear un portfolio es un trabajo constante que comienza con los primeros trabajos que realizamos como estudiantes, aquellos que arrancamos por el sólo placer de hacerlos y los encargos profesionales que vamos teniendo. Personalmente, selecciono que muestro y que decido no mostrar. Algunos trabajos han sido satisfactorios en varios sentidos pero no me representan como profesional y entonces decido no exhibirlos en mis redes. Me interesa que lo que muestro me represente y si bien para mi siempre el trabajo es trabajo y hay que valorarlo como tal, algunos no están destinados a ser parte del portfolio que decido mostrar. Es un trabajo de auto curadoría constante. Uno de los trabajos más difíciles de nuestra carrera profesional.

Show the type of work you want to do. Make sure your portfolio demonstrates that you are the right fit for your ideal client, project or sector.

As an illustrator is very important after the execution of a job commissioned (for film, advertising, packaging, illustration) - to remember always to request a recommendation/review from the client you worked for to be visible on your LinkedIn profile.

Do all the marketing you can and are willing to do. Use all the avenues you can. So use all the social media available to you. Traditional materials are valuable too, so making cards, business cards and printed items will add to your publicity. Websites are a must. Show only your best work. Add new pieces and remove older ones. In your region, join clubs, go to conferences, local events and professional organizations. By joining or at least attending these meetings will help you gain confidence in you as an artist and a public speaker. Practice your conversations prior to the meetings. Be short in talking, listen carefully to people’s comments and have shorts answers to the questions.

For networking I actually use both the traditional IRL way and the digital social media way as mention above. Back in the days when I was in the beginning of the build up I used to have business cards in my pocket but nowadays I find it easier to just show people my portfolio in the mobile phone when the right moment arises. Remember that anyone, anywhere can be a potential client or collaborator. It can be at events within the "creative" industry but it can also be at a private party. I think being curious and showing interest in other people in general will also make them interested in you. Try different social media platsforms to grow your reputation, FB, IG, Youtube and so on.

En nuestra profesión de ilustradores cada red puede ser aprovechada para mostrar tanto nuestro portfolio como nuestros procesos, capacitaciones y proyectos. La presencia online es nuestra carta de presentación al mundo. Todos somos googleados, es una realidad. Pero el networking presencial es irremplazable. Desde 2022 integro activamente la comunidad de emprendedoras Ladies Brunch y ha sido mi cable a tierra desde entonces. Recomiendo sobre todo a los profesionales de nuestro rubro a hacer contactos presenciales. Nuestro día a día es bastante solitario y nos perdemos oportunidades únicas de capacitación y crecimiento si nos encerramos.

As scary as it may sound, but taking the initiative and putting yourself out there, will always lead to new prospects of connections as well as potential clients. The first time is always hard, and honestly sometimes embarrassing, but each time it gets easier and gratifying when you know that you gained confidence since you are talking about a domain that you love and are passionate about.

I think AI has radically altered this job market. Overnight. There are zero protections for your art, as Copyright doesn’t appear to apply to your images scooped up from online platforms to ‘feed’ the algorithms. Currently, the choice career-wise seem to be to join the AI world in ‘creating’ images. Become an expert in some aspect of this as the new version of Artist, or, as the great artist/journalist Molly Crabapple has observed, become a Fine Artist, because that has always been a luxury product and isn’t impacted the same way by AI as Illustration is.

Definitely be involved in the industry by joining groups, going to conferences and being prepared to talk about your art and you. Having marketing materials and social media sites ready for viewing allows you to showcase your artwork globally. Treat everyone you meet with dignity and professionalism. You have no idea who they are connected to thus assume everyone may lead you to potential clients.

Being involved in the industry and keeping up with its updates on a skillset level, will reflect greatly on your positioning in the industry. It is now important more than ever to be open to learning new skills as well as new softwares.

Embrace opportunities for teamwork. Collaborate with other illustrators, writers, and designers to expand your skillset and network. Maintain clear and professional communication. Respond promptly to inquiries, set expectations, and deliver work on time and to the highest standards.

Remember that you are doing this for someone else who is paying you and not for yourself. If they want to change something that you disagree with, you can suggest or explain, but if they still want it, you do what they want as best you can. You have to take your ego out of it.

It is very important learning how to accept your peers opinions and filter what is meaningful to your project. It is good to be somehow defensive, protecting your creativity and the concepts behind your creation, but very often in some complex creative illustrations, less creative views will help you having a more user friendly perspective :)

Peers' opinions matter, seeking constructive criticism and being open to hear other points of views about your own work can go a long way! Of course filter out the comments that does not contribute to growth.

Ahem. Excuse moi—does anyone else see the glaring inherent hypocrisy of an AI ‘author’ coaching us to be authentic? Touché.

Relatability, honesty, and authenticity will always stand the test of time, do not underestimate the power of storytelling when it's coming from a genuine place.

Having a lasting good impression by being professional as possible is a good way to get re-ordering clients. In the world of freelancing, this is key to getting consistent income.

Establish a consistent workflow. Dedicate time to creating new artwork, updating your portfolio, and engaging with your audience. Stay true to your artistic voice. Let your passion and personality shine through in your work, fostering trust and connection with clients and followers.

Build strong relationships. Nurture connections with clients, colleagues, and mentors through genuine interest and consistent communication. Give back to the community. Share your knowledge, offer mentorship, and support fellow artists to cultivate a thriving and collaborative network. Stay positive and persistent. Celebrate successes, learn from setbacks, and maintain a resilient spirit as you navigate the ever-evolving creative landscape.

I think the best thing you can do is learn to write strong proposals and then adhere to them. Define your client's problem. Outline your solution and the steps you will take to complete it. Show the value of your contribution before you take on the work. Come through on the proposal promise and find easy value adds as you work. This will make your clients trust every proposed solution and keep them coming back.

In my experience, I found that it was immensely useful to reach out to clients you have previously worked with, where you are able to propose your services again after a certain level of technical and professional growth, showing initiative through bringing new ideas to the table that they might need/require. Additionally, cold outreach can go a LONG way in growing and maintaining your professional presence in the digital space and your reputation as an illustrator.

A big chunk of being in the field is the knowledge of client negotiations, strong communications skills, and facilitation. You could be extremely talented in your craft but it doesn't mean that you shouldn't learn how to pitch yourself and your work for clients, online and offline. Invest a couple of hours throughout your week to learn about self branding and communication skills.