how to be an illustrator

For Tom, the guy behind the illustrations on the Great British Bake Off, freelance life was years in the making. After studying illustration at university, Tom worked in a series of full-time, temporary jobs while pursuing illustration on the side.

Tom’s break came when, by chance, he landed a role as an editing assistant on a TV show. Tom was honest about his situation: “I’m not interested in a career in telly, this is just something to pay the rent. I’m going to be an illustrator.” Management paid attention and came back to him later with a proposal.

That TV show was the very first series of The Great British Bake Off and, while maintaining his full-time role as an editing assistant, Tom spent his evenings and weekends illustrating for the show.

Skip ahead to today and Tom’s running his own studio with a team of freelancers and a new intern every year. They’re producing work for the Bake Off franchise and other clients in the food industry, as well as selling prints through an online shop.

Listen to hear how Tom's freelance life has evolved since Bake Off began ten years ago.

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Who the hell is Steve Folland?

You know how everyone bangs on about how powerful video and audio content can be? Yeah, well Steve helps businesses make it and make the most of it. Find out more at www.stevefolland.com
Track him down on Twitter @sfolland or lay a trail of cake and he'll eventually catch you up.

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When Kingsley landed a job as a creative director, he learned the business skills he’d need to make full-time freelancing work the next time around.

After two and a half years, the freelance work he’d continued to do on the side was taking over.

The second time Kingsley freelanced for Nike, a dream client, he realised “I can’t stay in this job any longer. I just want to be home, focusing all my energy on creating the best artwork I can for things like this.”

Kingsley talks about the organic way his business grew through Instagram and word of mouth, the solo exhibition he hosted in 2017 that got him the gig with Nike, and how he landed the BBC as a client.

He chats about enjoying client relationships, working from home, making time for his own work, and shares his personal motto: to give 100% on everything he’s working on and “double the outcome” each time he does something new.

Love learning from other freelancers like this? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, be part of the Being Freelance Community!

You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.com

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Who the hell is Steve Folland?

You know how everyone bangs on about how powerful video and audio content can be? Yeah, well Steve helps businesses make it and make the most of it. Find out more at www.stevefolland.com
Track him down on Twitter @sfolland or lay a trail of cake and he'll eventually catch you up.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

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3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Inktober Promotion: FREE 30 Day Trial of SVSLearn, includes all of our inking courses, along with 80+ other art related courses. Perfect for leveling up and getting ready for Inktober.

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PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Inktober Promotion: FREE 30 Day Trial of SVSLearn, includes all of our inking courses, along with 80+ other art related courses. Perfect for leveling up and getting ready for Inktober.

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Inktober Promotion: FREE 30 Day Trial of SVSLearn, includes all of our inking courses, along with 80+ other art related courses. Perfect for leveling up and getting ready for Inktober.

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click [here](https://www.svslearn.com/3pointperspectiveblog/2019/8/21/transitioning-to-an-art-career to see our awesome show illustration ) to find the links for this episode and to see this episode's illustration.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here to see our awesome show illustration and to find the links for this episode.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.

When a two-year stint in Hong Kong inspired Mel to pursue illustration, she put her fine art degree to good use and began teaching art workshops to top up her income.

Mel soon bought a Mac and taught herself how to use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, setting up a website and building a portfolio over time.

Mel’s earned money in a variety of ways since then, experimenting with workshops, commissions, products, and collabs. “You’ve got to be open to having conversations with people,” Mel says, “Your confidence and ability will grow with every project.”

This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze.
With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax.
To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance

Love learning from other freelancers like this? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, be part of the Being Freelance Community!

You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.com

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Who the hell is Steve Folland?

You know how everyone bangs on about how powerful video and audio content can be?
Yeah, well Steve helps businesses make it and make the most of it. Find out more at www.stevefolland.com
Track him down on Twitter @sfolland or lay a trail of cake and he'll eventually catch you up.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
You're not alone being freelance. 
Come and hang out with your BFFs (Being Freelance Friends).
beingfreelance.com/community
 

NEW TO FREELANCING? THERE'S A COURSE FOR YOU!

The Being Freelance course is made for you!
Take the course and you'll also get 6 months FREE community membership.
 

FREELANCER MERCH
Get Being Freelance merchandise at beingfreelance.com/shop

Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance on:
Instagram - Instagram.com/beingfreelance
YouTube - YouTube.com/SteveFolland

Most creatives feel a pressure to be active on social media and to be building a following around their work. In this episode we talk about how to determine which social media platforms are best for you, how to use hashtags wisely, and how to best leverage the strengths of Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Linkedin, and E-mail.

To see this episode's illustration or to view links mentioned in this episode, click here.

PATREON

Sign up for SVSLearn’s 14 Day Trial:  https://courses.svslearn.com/bundles/subscription

3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!

Click here for this episode’s links and shownotes.