The Business of Illustration

Rating:
Summary: I Highly recommend it!
Review: 99.5% of illustrators are now self employed. At one time there were full-time employed illustrators on staff in most advertising agencies, but now that has drastically changed, and an illustrator has to learn how to start his/her own business just like any other entrepreneur. This book is great in giving you realistic advice and guidelines. I strongly disagree with the person that wrote that an illustrator needs a rep for their business. Your statement was correct, you are not an illustrator. I am a career advisor that also helps students with placement at an art college. (As well as being in the art field as a graphic designer and illustrator for 20 years.) The business of illustration is supply and demand. You must promote and market yourself, just like any other business. You also have to be good, fast and learn how to develop good communication skills. Yes, an artist can learn those skills if they choose to. Art as a profession demands the same respect as any other field. It is not a hobby when you are making a living at it. A rep is always an option, but never a must. My advice to any student who wishes to pursue illustration as a career is, you have to be serious, dedicated and willing to put your heart and soul into it. The art field as a profession is probably one of the most demanding fields. It is extremely deadline oriented and does not have 9-5 hours. As a self-employed business, you will have peaks, sometimes working 7 days a week, 12 plus hours a day. You have to learn how to deal with different personalities, understanding you may not have ownership of your work. Not every artist is cut out or willing to make the sacrifices necessary to make art their career. It is very rewarding though, if you don't let your ego get in your way.

Rating:
Summary: Essential book for starting your illustration career.
Review: I hate to disagree with the other reviewer but, frankly, he doesn't know what he's talking about. Mr. Heller has written a wonderful book explaining the ins and outs of the illustration industry and it's crucial that ALL illustrators read it. The illustration industry is going through a terrible time at the moment with large corporations preying on the lonely illustrator, so it doesn't surprise me that the businessman below feels that illustrators shouldn't know their business!! Illustration IS a business, not a hobby and should be treated as such. Business and art can co-exist and illustrators can be some of the most creative business people I know.

Mr. Heller is a well respected Art Director/Author and you would do well to head his advice.

Rating:
Summary: "Entrepreneurial Artist" sounds nice but...
Review: I'm not an illustrator but a small business owner who is thinking about recruiting an illustrator. Having read "The Business of Illustration," I wish to make my own *subjective* suggestions regarding this otherwise very good title.

If an illustrator, especially an inexperienced one wants to be a business then I would fear for him/her. Think about me trying to sketch a figure and that's the same for an illustrator who thinks s/he becomes a business once a corporation is established. Actually it is worse because I will immediately notice how my sketching is awful and drop the issue yet in a business failure comes in all forms and the reasons for failure is sometimes so difficult to analyze given the human ego.

In my view, Illustrators should find honest reps or businesspeople to work with and avoid becoming entrepreneurs until they accumulate good business experience through detailed observation.

There are nice courses (i.e. New School in Manhattan) geared towards people with no business background. Yet, even after taking such courses an illustrator should not jump into corporate world and continue his/her observations for another couple of years.

Artists, almost by definition, do not like business. Even the authors themselves celebrate the opportunity not to wear "three piece-suits." I would hardly imagine what I see as a 'business' and what an artist sees as a 'business' is similar to each other. For those ones who have established a dislike towards this profession that you even do not know yet wish to succeed in, I have one simple question.

How will you succeed in business if you don't LOVE IT ?

Arkin Kora