Anthony Conley
Artist / Illustrator / Art Director
Welcome to my About Me page. Here, I talk a bit about my path to becoming an illustrator but also share some tips for illustrators trying to break into the field. Enjoy the read and glad to have you!
The Road To Becoming A Working Illustrator
Being a professional artist was always my goal, so I focused in on this dream by
practicing my craft and drawing all of the time. I enrolled in advanced art classes in high
school, applied for scholarships and received a partial scholarship to art university
where I studied Communication Design & Illustration. I gained a lot of technical and
theoretical knowledge in that period which would become pivotal on my road to
becoming a working illustrator.
After I left university, I began looking for work. Finding an art job straight out of school
was difficult and I needed to make money so I had to find work, even if it wasn’t as an
illustrator. I got a job at an art supply store which was also a custom framing shop so
even though I wasn’t working professionally as an artist yet, I was still in a creative
environment. After several years at this job, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen since
University who had a lead on a start-up web game company that he worked at and they
were looking to hire illustrators. I acted quickly, collected my best work and applied with
my small 8 1/2” X 11” portfolio. I got the job!
My university friend was the source of me finding that first art job. I can’t emphasize
enough how your best connections will come from people you meet at university and in
your professional career.
Once I entered this new work environment as an artist, it was my moment to really
prove myself, and I made my mind up to be the most dedicated worker and the best at
what I did. Now, that’s not to say that I drew better than everyone on the art team, but I
was driven to be the best. While others where ending their work day, I kept drawing,
kept creating, kept sharing my artwork with my supervisors and executives at the
company so they could see my dedication. When there was a new project, unrequested,
I took the initiative to make a few character designs or concepts for it and I shared them
with my director. This act showed initiative and my interest in the new project and
therefore, I became the lead artist on the art team and eventually the studio art director.
You must build yourself up in the eyes of your employers and supervisors as someone
who takes charge and stands out in the crowd. They will see you as the person who
puts in the extra effort. Then one day, after you move on, you can always go back to those
people who you’ve made a favorable impression on for leads or new opportunities. People
will always remember the ones that made their jobs easier and who helped reach a goal.
Build this reputation for yourself in every space you are in and you’ll see that it makes a
huge impact on your career down the road.
Once I became an independent artist, I had so many colleagues and peers that I was
able to reach out to to gain new opportunities. Keep these connections and check in on
occasion. Not just to find work but to genuinely foster the relationship. It’s worth it!
Advice
To anyone that aspires to be a professional artist, you must always practice your craft.
You must draw every single day. Study “the-art-of” books, watch animated movies and
shows, check out your favorite artist’s work online, pay attention to character designs
and the art styles in which they’re drawn. Pay attention to the poses and gestures,
details and expressions of these drawings. These are all important elements in
character design and will influence and strengthen your own style. If character design
isn’t your focus, apply the same thoughts to areas that you are interested in, whether
that’s background art, story boarding, graphic design, etc. Use the resources you have
in order to learn and level up your creative skills.
If you’re not sure what area you’d like to dive into with illustration, try them all until you
find a right fit. Originally, my area of interest was in character design, but I found myself
illustrating backgrounds, environments, props and items for game websites and
children’s books. Learn to be well-versed in a bit of everything.
Your Best Work
Having a professional grade website or portfolio ready to share which showcases your
best work will keep you prepared for that potential client or job that pops up
unexpectedly. If you stay ready you won’t have to get ready! When creating your
portfolio, be sure to edit your work appropriately. You don’t need to showcase every
single thing you’ve drawn since you were a teenager. Add pieces relevant to the area of
work you’re interested in pursuing. Art directors will view your work critically and they
don’t just want to see how well you draw, but also how well you can convey an idea, an
expression, a feeling. Illustration is about telling a story. Add your rough sketches intothe
mix as these drawings show the raw gestures and sometimes evoke more energy
than a painted piece of art that you spent hours to create. Sketches will show an art
director how you think and problem solve.
Visit the websites of professional artists you admire and use their site as inspiration for
how to set up your on-line presence. Companies and clients favor portfolio sites that are
organized, clean and easy to navigate.Reach out to companies via their website or social
platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to ask for opportunities. Some animation studios will
offer summer internship programs which they’ll usually promote on their online spaces.
When you see opportunities, grab them. When you don’t see opportunities, create them by
reaching out. You never know who could be looking for someone like you!
In between jobs, try doing freelance work, commission work or independent projects.
This helps build your communication skills, and also trains you on how to best serve
your clients. Listen for the problem they need to solve and give them your creative
solutions. This is where you build trust and once you have the confidence of your client,
you’re more likely to get the rate you’re requesting or close to it.
On the subject of rates, know your rate scale before that meeting with your client. You
should base your rate on the scope of the work and set your price range. You’ll want to
make the rate you want as your low offer, then add half of that rate and make that your
high end offer. For instance, low rate 5,000 high rate 7,500. Remember, just because
you wouldn’t pay that much is irrelevant. Your client has a different goal and need and is
willing to pay for the success of the project.
Regarding timelines, be honest with your client on the time you’ll need to deliver the
work. Learn to work efficiently within the clients needs, as this is also something your
clients will remember about you and what will bring them back to you for future work.
And finally, it’s important to have your work seen. Having a professional presence on
social platforms where you can build a following for your work is key.
And again, only showcase your best work. This will allow you to be discovered and have your
art shared amongst viewers and professionals looking to hire.
Best of luck!!
Anthony Conley Art 