I am interested in taking an online illustration course. Is there one you’d recommend?

Loved hearing your story❤️. I'm a self learned artist from the kitchen table school of art. I cleaned for 19 years until I could quit and work part-time. Things have slowed....so I'm working to make all my art fresh and sparkly new. You inspire me to keep going...even at age 70.

I found some same things in you. I graduated from an art school but being a part-time housekeeper while trying to keep up with creating art. My target this year is to find an illustration job full-time. I hope it will come true. Thanks for sharing your art career pathway.

loved the voice you did for the man, spot on how he sounded hahahaha

Loved this video, thank you!!

Love you. Great job. 😊

This is so inspiring & so brilliant to watch you. Thank you! 💜

I love the video, the edition, you are so nice......thank you for the positive video : )

Keep up with the good work! You have such a sweet and friendly demeanor, I felt like I was listening to a friend! I went to art school years ago and getting back to the creative field after putting it on hold for almost 10 yr. Thanks for this video!

Loved listening to you ❤

You're soooooo lovely =) Thank you for your words

Love the ''Ted Talk' 🤣 Also love how humble and down to earth you are, feel very relatable, which is also inspiring and encouraging. Thank you ❣

I haven't really called myself an illustrator but now I will

Hi Katie! Great video, it’s always really helpful to hear about how others cracked their way into illustration. I’m a journalist doing an MA in illustration at Falmouth - I’m hoping to be able to do both when I’m finished! Would love the links to the communities you mentioned in the video, and the Good Ship Illustration stuff 😊 x

I loooove your energy :) I just moved country and Ive been too scared to do the jump, I both photograph and draw, I got a fine art degree in photography from ICP in NYC. I do have a supportive husband right now as Im on a visa were Im not fully allowed to work, but I have been using my time building up my painting portfolio, fixing my website and trying to get a structure up so hopefully when Im allowed legally, I can take the jump into part/hopefully fulltime creative 🙃

Awesome video. some great advice in here. I am an illustrator (not a plumber) trying to break into the industry.

First, you are so relatable and I love your message. Second, this is really cute! I hope you keep making more videos. I was recommended your video just by UKposts and I am glad I clicked on it.

You have such a nice personality:)

You're a jolly person, fun to watch. Thanks for sharing your journey! I'm at the same place as well, except for the part-time job..

Hi Katie! It was lovely to watch, It’s so interesting to hear other illustrators talk about their career path. I graduated from an illustration degree this year (graduation was delayed for a year) and have been working as freelance illustrator for three years.

The video is sooo cute. ❤️ And she's really helpful... 😁

Thanks so much. Great to hear about your career path in more detail. I can’t wait for Art Club to start again (whoop whoop!). I’m starting out in my Illustration career, it’s very scary and I was definitely dubious and felt a bit fake telling people “I’m an illustrator” when I haven’t had a commission yet, so great to know it’s perfectly ok! I love it all and so excited to be learning more from great people like yourself and The Good Ship Illustration. 😊🙏😍

you're so refreshing, such a nice content! Thank you!!!

Hey Katie! I'm new to your but supper lovely to see you here! I a part- and do on the side. I have done this for a long time(like 6years) combining studies/ doing personal projects This is my 2month as illustrator- children's book illustrator. :)) Looking more of your videos!

Lovely video Katie, thanks for sharing your story!

Thank you for your sweet video 🌻

New friend here congratulations sweet friend

Yes! I'm so glad I've found you. I'm starting out to become an illustrator. Hoping to go to university in September next year, while I build up my portfolio. Just have to get through the block of being a perfectionist! Thank you for making this channel. ❤

Where am I in my illustration journey? I got an agent in 2020 yayyy!! She is wonderful and sends out my portfolio and an art blast every couple of months to publishers… I am watching videos and searching to see what else I can do to learn more, improve, promote myself and get some work. Thank you for your video and sharing your experience xx

You are so niceeeee, and the way you debunked that man's comments about being a plumber/illustrator was so on point haha

Hellooo thanks for watching. Where abouts are you in your creative career wiggly path/journey?

This was such a helpful and motivating video! I have been working as an maker/illustrator through the pandemic but now need to get a part time job to keep things running. It feels a bit like going backwards, but you have made it feel completely the opposite. I’m also excited to dive into all the Good Ship treasures you mentioned😍

Such a helpful video Katie, really sums up being an illustrator! 😄 I have just finished uni this year and I am currently building up a portfolio to hopefully get some work/commissions. Looking forward to hearing more about the business course you are planning! 😊

Hey KAtie, so lovely watching you, you are a great story teller! Thank you for sharing, Im going to investigate all the links and, as a special request, Id love to know more of the live illustration performance and your experience, Im very keen on getting myself into that!

Hi Katie, thanks for these super helpful tips. I am currently at home with my little boy, supply teaching a few days a week and trying to get started in illustration so that i can stop teaching. Hearing your tips is so encouraging. Thanks so much!

Omg you’re so cute :,) thanks for the great video!

Thank you i like your voice

This is sooooo helpful, thank you for the video! I have been wanting to become an illustrator but the lack of self-confidence was keeping me from taking the chance.

Katie! I found you through Twitter. I love your work! Subscribed!!!

Hi Katie. I'm away camping with my family and meant to be having a week off from everything Flower Guard Books (my teeny tiny children's author/illustrator/publishing imprint thingy), but everyone else in the tent wanted an early night and I'm still wide awake feeding my 8 month old back to sleep so I thought I'd check your UKposts out. The video's great and hearing that having an agent isn't strictly necessary was what I needed to hear right now. I've been busting my gut trying to get an agent, with no joy, and was beginning to lose hope. Your smiley, happy, informative video reminded me that I can do this and so I'll keep on keeping on! ☺️

Love your person, thanks for the honesty and generosity- and yay you’re on UKposts! I’ve a question: at what point in your career did you start your own portfolio website? Ps: looking forward to the picture book course soon! Xx

Ahh Katie this was wonderful to watch and hear more about your story! I can't wait til Art Club comes back on the Good Ship Illustration as I really wanna join in! I've been a graphic designer for a long time and illustrating on the side, but this year I took the leap to be a freelance designer and now I'm transitioning it so hopefully it will mostly be illustration rather than design! Looking forward to seeing your future videos 😊

I think your UKposts is going to blow up

Thank you ❤ especially the bit about gatekeepers… don’t listen to the naysayers

Hello, a very nice video, I hope to see more of them soon. 2 years ago, I'm started my "baby steps" in France as an illustrator. I quit everything to get time to draw. I tryed a lot of kind of different jobs arround my drawing (still trying though). And I think, I found my path somewhere. Anyway, I really apreciate your advices, the way you think/work and I always enjoy receiving news from you by newsletter podcasts, posts etc. Thank you

Thank you for your honesty. I work in a preschool and really enjoy it. I think even if I someday become successful at illustrating I will always keep a part time or substituting job in a preschool. This gives me the freedom to create my own illustrations and not feel tied down by clients. I don’t think there is anything wrong with artists keeping at least a part time job on the side. :)

So glad you are doing more youtoobs! Really great video 💕 I’m at a frustrating point in my illustration “career”. I had a couple very small commissions last year and have submitted my work to loads and loads of art directors, tried to sell cards and print in demand but have heard nada. I’m getting close to that 100 nos I think! I wonder if my work just isn’t very commercial? Or like the job I want doesn’t exist? People don’t seem to want cute stuff with faces on them 🙃

HI Katie, thanks for the video! I'm right at the start of the illustration journey, I've mostly just worked out that this is what I'd like to do and that science illustration is even a thing. I'm a scientist and I want to move into visual translation of science using images, mostly cartoons. I am having difficulty getting my head around the concept that someone would pay money for something I enjoy doing so much! 😂

I’m an illustrator!!!! 🎉🎉

it's my third time trying to get an agent. Maybe 3rd time's a charm? It's been exhausting honestly, it's harder when there isn't any side job... but I finally feel like my work is good, I have fun with it and it's cohesive. It happened once I relaxed with the expectations for my art...maybe I should do that in regards with finding a nice agent, too...Thank you for the lovely video! I've been following you around the socials! Cheers!

Loving these videos Katie. I'm a freelance copywriter and love drawing. I would love to illustrate and one day write a children's book but I just don't know if I could be good enough to call myself an illustrator! Would you advise doing a short course to begin with? Or just keep drawing?!

I've been really struggling with trying to get myself out there. I get so much anxiety about posting on social media - how on earth do I get around that? Hmmm.. Anyway, so glad to have found you Katie. You seem so sunny and sweet! :) ✨🌿

I don't want to seem discouraging, just want to share a bit of my life XP and get people thinking. On #2 i actually can agree and disagree... Id say you can't make a logo and say you're a graphic designer, there's a lot of things you need to know artistically but you also need to know how to be a business adviser and you realize that when you sit down and understand what a graphic designer is. I used to be a graphic designer, when i got out of college i went straight to freelance work, i believed i was a designer but i wasn't. I was just a newb that knew how to use design programs lol. As i learned the art of design i found pros that showed great respect and attention to the business aspect of design and it taught me that as a designer i don't only make a logo for said company, i'm working with the client to produce a brand identity and make sure the clients understand what they're about and to make doubly sure my clients, clients understand what the company is, by logo, web design and you name it. if i didn't study my clients, clients and just guessed what be cool i could of hurt the business and make them lose a lot of money and if in some cases i could of gotten in a lot of trouble. i think the same can be said as an illustrator. its less risky since youre not touching the core items of a company thankfully lol. But you still need to sit down and know what youre doing and what the job entails, risk difficulties, have an economic plan, as you very wisely stated "Keep ya job" thats a great move to get a taste of the job. maybe do some safe investments and make a money market account or something for the future (or even an IRA for retirement). Trust me, the more you know of your role the better you'll know the business and how to prepare and with that knowledge you gain a confidence that allows you to enjoy it. Or like me, realize its not what you like and move on. With that said i hope whoever reads this has a productive and insightful future with whatever they do. i really hope people make informed decisions because it sucks to throw money on equipment and then realize you got in to something similar but not exactly what you wanted and now have gear youll never use lol

I would love to hear if you have graphic design tips!

❤️

I would say: you become a PROFFESSIONAL illustrator in a momemt somebody is willing to pay you for your skills. In a moment you monetize your art, it becomes a proffesion. The "experienced" ot "highly-skilled" would be another thing.

Hi. I am an freelance illustrator. I am trying to get going. Learning all the time. It feels lonely.

I am a part time illustrator, and I am hoping to go full time this year 😅

Read an article you wrote where you used the word "mansplaining" in the middle, you look exactly how I imagined you'd look

Hi Katie! Thank you for sharing your journey :D I'm starting out as an illustrator in Germany, too! But I have a lot of visa anxiety since I need to make enough money to live + have German clients to get a freelancer visa 🥲 May I ask about your visa experience here?

Your story is very humbling and i love your perspective in your journey. Thank you so much for sharing. 🥹 i know you and your pals already built a community but i am kinda hoping you could share esp. in the beginning where you hang around and met "your people"?

Hi Katie! Great video, it’s always really helpful to hear about how others cracked their way into illustration. I’m a journalist doing an MA in illustration at Falmouth - I’m hoping to be able to do both when I’m finished! Would love the links to the communities you mentioned in the video, and the Good Ship Illustration stuff 😊 x