Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer

by Michael Fleishman

“A great deal of information obtained only by the live and learn method is packed into the book’s chapters.” —The Artist’s Magazine

Technology has sent shockwaves of change through the world of commercial art. Digital illustration and design, online portfolio sites, and the proliferation of stock art have radically changed the way that illustrators and graphic designers work. What has not changed, however, is the wealth of illustrators and graphic designers hoping to turn their talent into freelance success.

Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer shows readers how to find jobs and analyze what markets are right for them. Entire chapters are devoted to explaining the nuances of selling one's work to magazines, newspapers, ad agencies, book publishers, greeting card companies, small businesses, Web sites, and more. Freelance illustrators and graphic designers will find the author's Ten Commandments of Freelancing as well professional viewpoints from dozens of industry veterans.

This book's comprehensive coverage is complemented by art samples, charts, and business forms makes it the most useful tool on the market for honing the business skills of freelance illustrators and graphic designers.

For those embarking on freelance careers in illustration or graphic design, the answers have arrived. A twenty-five year veteran in the field, Michael Fleishman, has detailed every business aspect of commercial art in Starting Your Career as a Freelance Illustrator or Graphic Designer .

Genres: Art, Business, Design, Nonfiction, Reference

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Cara]

Amazingly discouraging book! This guy is convincing me I can't do it, and I'm already doing it pretty successfully! Glad I didn't read this when I was getting started or I probably never would have tried. Yes, running your own business is hard, but it's also awesome.

I'm sure the author thinks he's doing people a service by saving them from foolishly trying before they're ready and falling on their faces. I'm not so sure I agree.

…

F it. After half a year on my "currently-reading" shelf, it's clear I'm not going to finish this. I don't really need any more discouragement anyway.

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately dated material for anyone getting started now. But the basic principles of marketing, budgets and protecting yourself nd your work legally stand the test of time and were worth taking a look at

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very informative, especially as a supplement to the GAG Handbook. It explains a lot about the business portion of making artwork for a living, something that is lacking in most art schools' curricula, and it does so in a way that is easy to understand for people new to the subject. It's given me better insight and a little more confidence about what I need to be doing.

[Meridth Gimbel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely resourceful book for any illustrator/designer who wants a little clarity about how to do this whole business thing. Strongly recommended. (Christy... pass that along to Daniel if you would :)

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far this book is proving to be very worth-while. Recommended for anyone in the freelance world, not just designers/illustrators.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're into this sort of thing.