Tigers in the jungle do not sit in one spot and wait for their prey to come to them. Out of sheer necessity, they spread out and establish their own special territory—not too wide, not too narrow. Fueled by hunger, the tiger’s very survival depends on a strategic targeting plan designed to hunt specific locations for the most productive return.
The contemporary freelance illustrator, driven by a passion to create art, would be wise to follow the tiger’s business model. Success as an illustrator requires specializing in a variety of specific arenas—not too many, not too few—and focusing on the correct mix of venues suited to the your particular skills and interests. “As our beloved field of endeavor shifts beneath our feet, it’s essential for today’s artists to identify fresh opportunities rather than simply lament a lost era,” advises successful architectural illustrator, Steve Oles.
Luckily, these fresh opportunities are abundant in our current marketplace—one just needs to go hunting for them. A targeted search of the web reveals a surprisingly vast territory of prospective clients for illustrators and brings to light literally dozens of ways for artists to forge a career path. This book catalogs the many popular and well-known avenues in illustration as well as numerous esoteric markets that exist outside of the public eye. While the demand for quality illustration remains high, 21st-century economics has made “specializing” an essential strategy for today’s illustrator.
What follows is a compilation of fifty specialized markets in which illustrators can prosper. Some of the fields listed are not widely known and not overly saturated, thus offering artists better odds at landing commissions. In addition, many of the markets listed may harbor sub-categories of employment not yet evident or discovered. Further research into any of these areas can expose latent markets hidden within the networks of each domain. The intent of this book is to unearth the numerous peripheral marketplaces that dwell outside the obvious spheres of our industry for those who love to draw and for illustrators who aspire to earn their living with their art.
The tactical illustrator will establish a style and technique that can find a home in two or three markets. When artists establish a strong, personal style in one particular specialty, inevitably their work is in demand in multiple, corresponding venues. It is important to keep in mind that the laws of supply and demand are as much at work in the art world as in any other marketplace—a fact that can affect pricing as well as commission prospects positively or negatively. The most important factor in establishing a successful illustration career is to honor that which you love to do, and to not let anyone throw you off course. Artists should not choose a market simply because there might be revenue there, or because peers, teachers, or associates are influencing the decision. Your interests must come from the heart and that love will show through in the final artistic products produced.
So, enjoy this trip through the world of 21st-century illustration and, as these fifty markets of artistic promise are revealed, keep your mind and heart open for those fresh opportunities that personally resonate with you.