If sharing jobs makes me a gatekeeper, I’m the world’s worst bouncer 😅
Brb, just harming the illustration industry
If you’re an illustrator and you’re new here, HIYA!
Welcome to my digital living room. Shoes off, please. Yes, you can have a look at my bookshelves.
This post went a bit viral last week, and 2 naughty boys called me a disappointing gatekeeper so I’ve been tempted to say NO BOYS ALLOWED… I know it’s #notallmen.
I suppose you can stay. You seem kind.
But if you do think I’m a gatekeeper, causing harm to the illustration industry by sharing jobs and knowledge, then slide back into your stinkin’ shoes and get out of my living room.
Shoo!
Right, now that the angry people have hopefully left **rolls up sleeves**
let’s get straight into it.
This illustrator jobs board isn’t for every illustrator.
It is not magic.
Boring but true. I’m not into fibbing.
Howeverrr, if you're a live illustrator, graphic recorder, sketchnoter, visual scribe, or someone who can turn words into pictures while they’re happening, this could be your new favourite bit of the internet.
I do agree that it is tough starting out as an illustrator. And while I don’t put everything behind a paywall, I know I could always be doing better.
That’s why from today, I’m giving away 5 free month-passes to the illustrator jobs board each month, worth £15 each.
You can apply here. There’s no need for a mega long application or sob story. Just let me know if it would help, and £15 a month feels financially impossible right now. That’s it.
I really remember what it’s like when you’re starting out. It feels like everyone else knows what they’re doing and you’re flailing around trying a zillion different things and gettin’ nowhere.
It’s shit.
Why I run the jobs board:
I run this illustrator jobs board because there is more work than I can do landing in my inbox. I used to say no to all of these clients, but now I help them find an illustrator, and I help illustrators find work.
I don’t want to run an agency, and I don’t want to work all the time. (Tried that - was rubbish.) I want to have a nice time. I want to walk E home from nursery - she’s 3 - eat macaroni cheese with her, and have a nap.
Could I keep all of the jobs to myself and earn more? Uh, YES.
But I’m not here to chase more, more, more just for the sake of it. I’d much rather spread the extra work around so everyone benefits.
Also, I tried running an illustration agency last year and BLOODY HELL IT WAS AWFUL. It was like having a very stressful office job.
I became a full-time email-answerer.
Looking at my veiny hands on the steering wheel as I drove home one afternoon, I remember thinking, “Well, if I die, at least I wouldn’t have to answer emails anymore! ” That dark (but v fleeting) thought was my wake-up call.
I didn’t plan to set up this jobs board for illustrators, I just started sharing the jobs I couldn’t do.
Here’s what you need to know:
This jobs board is NOT free to run.
It costs me at least £1200 a month in staff costs - my team emails the clients, post the listings, creates the spreadsheets etc.It’s £15/month *for now*. That price will be going up soon. Probably in August. I’ll give you some warning but if you’re already subscribed, that’s good news. Whatever you’re paying now, the price will stay the same for you.
If you can’t afford it, I will always keep creating free content to help illustrators both here and over on The Good Ship Illustration.
I also offer free places for illustrators from underrepresented backgrounds. There are no silly hoops to jump through.
Just fill in this easy form.There’s no guarantee of work, but people who’ve joined the board have said that it’s been really helpful to see budgets, get pricing advice, and they’ve felt motivated to update their portfolio and get illustration work off their own bat (yaaaaas, my favourite thing).
While you’re here…a list of free illustrator resources for you to get your teeth into straight away.
I’M TERRIBLE AT GATEKEEPING:
🚢 The Good Ship Illustration Podcast – Ma pals Helen & Tania and I record a weekly podcast where we answer illustrators’ questions. It’s completely free. There are over 50 episodes. Yes, I am totally biased, but it’s great, and we get lots of nice messages about how helpful it is. So there.
✏️ Live Illustration Masterclass – If you’re seeing the budgets for all these live illustration jobs and thinking ‘bloody ‘ell, how do I learn about how to do live illustration, Katie!?’ then you’re in luck. This 1-hour masterclass is free. £0.00
KatieDraws YouTube – More free advice for illustrators.
• How to become an illustrator full-time
• How to start your illustration career and get clients
• How to get illustration work, find more dream illustration clients & grow your illustration career!
• How I make money as an illustrator (2021 - so it’s ancient, but hopefully still useful)Me, Tania & Helen AKA The Good Ship Illustration Good Ship freebies – we have over a bijillion free workshops, templates and resources.
• Picture Book template
• Find Your Creative Voice workbook
• Genius colour workshop (people raaave about this one)
• Art Club (we host this live on instagram, but replays are also uploaded to YouTube ‘cos we’re nice like that)
• There’s a live Art Club happening this Friday AND next Friday at 7pm UK time on The Good Ship Illustration Instagram!!
PHEW.
Enough gatekeeping for one day.
I’m knackered.
If you’ve found this post helpful, please do restack it or forward it to an illustrator pal.
There’s plenty to go round. And there’s room for everyone.
Byeeee.
x Katie
p.s. If you have any recommendations for brilliant free resources for illustrators, chuck ‘em in the comments 👀
Those stupid boys need a 👋🏾 to the face and a 🦵 to the arse.
Thanks for all that you do to help illustrators Katie. It’s brilliant.
Paid subscription to your jobs board is a bargain. Your curated Live Illustration jobs served up once a week versus trawling vague 'Design and Creative' jobs boards, social media# or industry mags is a major time-saver first off. There are so few specific, quality illustration jobs advertised ( plenty of low-ballers chancing it on X and Linkedin tho).
And then there's money saved on agents %, subs to multiple industry publications, associations etc....
Yup - you're a rubbish gatekeeper
Tania