Beyond Commissions: How to Build Passive Income as an Illustrator

Are you a freelance illustrator looking to move beyond one-off projects and start building a reliable source of passive income? If so, you've come to the right place! There are many ways to make money as a freelancer, but we’re all limited by the number of hours in the day. To maximize your earning potential without working all your waking hours, it’s beneficial to consider passive income streams. Note that you’ll still need to put in some work upfront, but there’s massive, long-lasting passive earning potential after that.

The Importance of Passive Income for Freelance Illustrators

While one-off projects may provide immediate income, they often require continuous effort and time to secure new clients and projects. Passive income, on the other hand, provides you with the flexibility to work less and earn more, allowing you to have more time for personal projects, travel, and other pursuits that inspire and enhance your art.

By leveraging platforms like print-on-demand services, digital product sales, and licensing your artwork, you can create a steady flow of passive income. Additionally, writing e-books or creating courses can provide an opportunity to share your expertise with other artists while generating revenue. Exploring affiliate partnerships and monetizing your blog or website through advertisements and sponsored content can also contribute to your passive income strategy.

Passive Income Opportunities:

1. Sell Your Art on Print-On-Demand Platforms

If you're a freelance illustrator looking to expand your income streams and generate passive income, selling your art on print-on-demand platforms is a fantastic option. These platforms allow you to upload your artwork and offer it in various formats, such as prints, posters, mugs, phone cases, and more. When a customer purchases a product featuring your art, the platform handles the production, shipping, and customer service, leaving you with the freedom to focus on creating more art.

One of the major advantages of selling on print-on-demand platforms is that they already have a built-in audience of potential buyers. These platforms attract customers who are specifically looking for unique and high-quality artwork. By showcasing your work on these platforms, you can reach a wider audience and gain exposure to potential customers who may not have found you through traditional freelance projects.

Additionally, selling on print-on-demand platforms eliminates the need for you to invest in inventory or worry about managing fulfillment logistics. You can simply upload your artwork, set your desired profit margin, and let the platform take care of the rest. This allows you to earn passive income while minimizing the time and effort required on your part.

To maximize your success on print-on-demand platforms, it's important to focus on creating artwork that resonates with your target audience. Take the time to research current trends and popular themes within the art community. For example, one year llamas might be all the rage, and the next year it’s whales, sloths, or celestial motifs. By creating designs that align with these trends, you'll increase your chances of attracting customers and generating sales.

Remember to promote your artwork and the products featuring your designs through social media, your website, and other marketing channels. This will help drive traffic to your listings on the print-on-demand platforms and increase your chances of making sales.

2. Create and Sell Digital Products

If you're a freelance illustrator looking to diversify your income streams and generate passive income, creating and selling digital products can be a game-changer. Digital products offer a fantastic opportunity to leverage your artistic skills and creativity while reaching a global audience.

So, what exactly are digital products? They can include a wide range of products such as digital illustrations, graphics, clipart, fonts, templates, and more. These products can be downloaded and used by customers for various purposes like designing websites, creating social media graphics, or even their own physical products.

To get started, think about your strengths and the areas where you excel as an illustrator. What type of digital products can you create that would be valuable to your target audience? It could be a collection of hand-drawn illustrations, a set of custom brushes for digital painting, or even a step-by-step tutorial on a specific technique.

Once you've identified your product, take the time to refine and polish it to ensure it meets the highest standards. Pay attention to details like file formats, resolution, and ease of use for the customer.

Next, choose a platform or marketplace to sell your digital products. Popular options include Etsy, Gumroad, and Creative Market. These platforms provide a ready-made audience of potential customers and take care of the technical aspects like hosting and delivery.

Finally, you can promote your digital products through your website, social media channels, and any other creative communities you’re a part of. But if you don’t want the added work of promoting your products, you don’t necessarily need to. Users on platforms like Creative Market will still be able to find your work through search filters. 

3. Write and Sell E-Books or Courses

Are you a freelance illustrator with a wealth of knowledge and expertise that you're eager to share with others? If so, consider writing and selling e-books or courses as a way to generate passive income. By packaging your skills and insights into a digital product, you can reach a global audience and establish yourself as a respected authority in your field.

Writing an e-book allows you to delve deeper into specific topics, providing valuable information and guidance to aspiring illustrators or art enthusiasts. You can cover a range of subjects, from mastering different artistic techniques to building a successful freelance business. With the increasing popularity of e-readers and digital downloads, selling e-books has never been easier or more accessible.

Alternatively, creating online courses gives you the opportunity to deliver your knowledge in a structured and interactive format. By offering video lessons, worksheets, and assignments, you can guide students through the learning process and help them develop their artistic skills. Online platforms like Domestika, Udemy, and Skillshare make it simple to host and sell your courses, reaching a wide audience of eager learners.

When creating e-books or courses, make sure to showcase your unique perspective and approach to the topic. Emphasize the value and benefits that your product offers, and consider including testimonials or case studies from satisfied customers to build credibility.

To promote your e-books or courses, utilize your website, social media channels, and relevant online communities. Offer special discounts or bonuses to encourage sales and create a sense of urgency. Additionally, consider collaborating with influencers or industry experts who can help spread the word about your digital products.

4. Licensing Your Artwork for Royalties

If you're a freelance illustrator looking for a long-term and passive source of income, licensing your artwork for royalties is a great option to explore. By licensing your art, you grant permission to companies or individuals to use your illustrations for a specific purpose, such as in advertising campaigns, in publishing, on merchandise, or in digital products. 

Instead of just selling a one-time print or digital product, you can receive royalties whenever your artwork is used. This means that you continue to earn money even after the initial sale, making it an ideal way to generate passive income.

To get started, you can reach out to companies or individuals who may be interested in licensing your artwork. Consider targeting industries or niches that align with your style and subject matter. For example, if you specialize in cute and whimsical illustrations, you may want to approach children's book publishers or companies that produce greeting cards.

Alternatively, you can also explore licensing marketplaces or agencies that connect artists with potential licensing opportunities. These platforms often have a network of clients looking for unique and high-quality artwork to license.

Before entering into any licensing agreement, make sure to carefully review the terms and conditions. Consider factors such as the duration of the license, the payment structure, and any restrictions on how your artwork can be used.

5. Win Wholesale Accounts

If you're a freelance illustrator looking to expand your passive income opportunities, winning wholesale accounts can be a game-changer. Wholesale accounts allow you to sell your artwork in bulk to retailers or other businesses, providing a much more efficient income stream than selling/packaging/shipping single orders. 

To win wholesale accounts, start by identifying potential retailers that align with your style and target audience. Research stores, boutiques, or online platforms that already carry artwork or products similar to yours. Reach out to them and introduce yourself, showcasing your portfolio and explaining the benefits of carrying your artwork in their store. If you already sell in other stores, you can mention those accounts as well to prove your credibility and previous success. 

Offering competitive pricing and terms can help incentivize retailers to work with you. Offer wholesale pricing that allows retailers to purchase your artwork at a discounted rate, ensuring that they can make a profit when reselling your products. You can also provide attractive packaging or marketing materials to help retailers effectively showcase your artwork. 

When negotiating with potential wholesale accounts, be flexible and open to compromise. Remember, the goal is to build long-term relationships that benefit both parties. Consider offering exclusivity to certain retailers or providing limited edition or custom artwork specifically for their store. 

6. Monetize Your Website with (relevant, non-obnoxious) Advertisements or Sponsored Content

If you're a freelance illustrator with a blog or website, you have a valuable asset that can be monetized to generate passive income. By incorporating advertisements or sponsored content, you can turn your platform into a lucrative source of revenue. Just be sure not to overdo it; we’ve all gone to a website that bombarded us with annoying ads, and that’s more likely to lose followers than earn revenue.

There are several advertising networks, such as Google AdSense or Mediavine, that allow you to display targeted ads to your audience. These ads generate income whenever a visitor clicks on them or views them.

Sponsored content is another avenue to explore. Companies may be interested in partnering with you to promote their products or services on your blog or website. This can involve writing sponsored blog posts, creating sponsored social media content, or featuring sponsored content in your newsletter. By partnering with brands that align with your values and resonate with your audience, you can earn a fee for promoting their offerings.

When incorporating advertisements or sponsored content, it's important to maintain transparency and authenticity. Clearly label any sponsored content as such, and ensure that it aligns with the interests and needs of your audience.

Final Thoughts on Building Passive Income as an Illustrator

By diversifying your income streams and embracing passive income opportunities, you can create a stable and reliable source of income that frees you from the constant need to chase after projects and clients. Plus, it feels like a huge win every time you get a payout — even if it’s small!

Remember, building passive income takes time, effort, and perseverance. It's not an overnight success story, but rather a long-term investment in your career and future. Stay dedicated, stay creative, and stay committed to your craft. And above all, believe in your talent and the value of your artwork!

How To Stay Creative Even When You’re Burned Out

As dreamy as creative careers are, we creative professionals don’t necessarily always feel hyper-motivated to work super hard on our main thing. Energy and inspiration can wax and wane. Sometimes you’re bursting with ideas and passion, and other times you may feel discouraged or burned out.

I recently experienced a severe health episode along with mental and spiritual burnout. While keeping the personal details private, I’ll just say that I lost the joy of “my main thing”. I was stressed all the time, and my confidence and hope were severely dwindled. I felt a weight of negativity and anxiety on my shoulders, in addition to my health issues.

However, the flame still burned within me to be creative. I couldn’t sit down and enjoy “my main thing” to the same extent, but when a friend invited me over to play with clay, I jumped at the opportunity. Working with my hands and making something I’d never made before felt empowering. I felt like a little kid again, exploring and trying new things and feeling a sense of wonder. Nothing else mattered and I got lost in it.

Then, in preparation for a concert, I decided to try out some new fabric paints to make my own shirt. I went to a couple of stores but ultimately used a black fabric paint (with a discount!) from Michaels. Michaels always has great discounts and, being so large, always has some fun new things to try out. Even if you don’t have a concert to go to or a friend with clay, just walking around the store will provide inspiration and motivation to get crafting!

Knocking myself out of my creative lull with other creative activities worked amazingly for me. It certainly wasn’t overnight that I became ready for my “main thing” again, but I know it was a key catalyst in the process of getting back into it. If you typically focus on graphic design and illustration, why not take a sewing class or write a short story? If you’re a calligrapher, maybe heading to a ceramics studio will brighten up your gloom. If you’re a writer, why not head out with a camera and challenge yourself to take 100 photos in one day? When you try a new creative activity, you get to release yourself of judgement and pressure because you know you’re a newbie. Try treating your main thing like that, and releasing feelings of “ugh this should be better!”. Let yourself have fun with your process and not take it too seriously.

If trying a different creative pursuit just for fun isn’t working for you, here are other ideas to get you back into love with your “main thing”:

  • Revisit old sketchbooks, journals, drafts and/or class work. Look how far you’ve come since then! And feel the excitement and passion your younger self had for your craft.

  • Do a quantity (not quality) challenge. Simply make things! If you write songs, write ten songs in ten days. They don’t have to be good. If you’re a fashion designer, make a collection of 20 looks as fast as you can. If you’re an illustrator, come up with five ideas for new illustrations in five minutes. Or sketch the next ten people you see at your local café. I’ve found that drawing anything often gets me inspired to keep going and eventually make something I like.

  • Write out or explain to someone else why you love what you do/why you love that form of art in general. Talk about what it has given to you and when/how you fell in love with it in the first place.

  • Write a letter to your future self who has achieved everything you want to achieve in that art form. Tell them how proud you are of all the steps they had to take to get there, and that you’re so happy they stuck with it and didn’t give up.

  • Travel/do/see something new, or meet some new people. Newness breeds inspiration!

Do you have other ideas for regaining inspiration after a period of burnout? If so let me know!

How Fashion Illustration is Useful to Brands

Fashion illustration is an infinite domain of beauty and innovation. To many of us, it is the most sublime form of art. But can it be lucrative for artists and brands? Why should fashion labels hire fashion illustrators in lieu of using photography? Is it worthwhile even if it isn’t lucrative? Read on for answers to these questions.

The short version of these answers is….

  1. Yes, it can make money for both artists and brands.

  2. Brands should use both photography and illustration; they are not mutually exclusive.

  3. YES, it’s worthwhile regardless of how much money it makes.

Now for the long version of the above answers:

  1. Fashion illustration can be broken down into several sub-segments. There’s technical flats, which are useful in the actual creation of garments; there’s 3D renderings, which are again useful for showing concepts and producing garments; there are quick brainstorm sketches one does just to get an idea down as quickly as possible; there’s illustrations that actually get printed on garments, like a single motif on a t-shirt or a repeat pattern on a textile; there’s live fashion illustration, which is typically quite quick and gestural, often done at live events; editorial/publishing illustration for magazines, blogs and books; and there’s fashion illustration for advertising. Each of these happens in a different context and comes with it a different price tag. The price will also depend on the experience level of the illustrator. Now let’s talk benefits.

    • Live illustration contributes to a luxurious, fun, exclusive, exciting atmosphere at fashion events. Guests are always thrilled to see a fashion illustrator, and typically the demand exceeds the amount of time the illustrator has. Who doesn’t want a free custom illustration of themselves from a professional artists? Prices range, but it’s a small price for a brand to pay in exchange for loyal and happy customers. Live illustrators can charge differently depending on their style, the client’s budget, and experience level. An hourly rate of $80-$350 is customary.

    • Technical flats don’t need to be sold as a benefit; they’re absolutely necessary for creating patterns. There are some freelance gigs, but brands often have an in-house designer creating these.

    • 3D renderings are becoming easier and quicker than ever to create, thanks to tools like the Adobe Creative Suite and Clo3D. 3D renderings are unbeatable for showing how a garment will look and move before it actually gets made. This is hugely beneficial for brands and it’s much more sustainable than creating costly mistakes in the real world.

    • Illustrations for garments are typically done in-house or they’re licensed, whether it’s prints for textiles or single motifs.

    • Quick brainstorm sketches are just that, and don’t require a professional illustrator. However, if a designer has no drawing skills whatsoever and/or wants to communicate a more detailed, clear concept to other people, they may hire a professional illustrator. Rates depend vastly on an illustrator’s portfolio/experience level and could be hourly or project-based.

    • Publishing and editorial fashion illustration are excellent opportunities for brands. At this point in time, most books and magazines are filled with more photos than illustrations. That means illustrations stand out more. They catch viewers in their tracks, communicating a sense of humanity and personality that isn’t always conveyed through a lens. While photography is absolutely effective and should also be used, humans are naturally drawn to things made by hand. Styles and compositions can vary hugely in this category, from simple stylized figures to full-on scenes that took many hours to render. For brands, a published illustration may stop a viewer on the page, and it might be the reason someone buys an item at all. Rates vary depending on the client, the project and the illustrator.

    • Fashion illustration for advertising is where things get really interesting. The exact monetary benefit may be a little hard for brands to measure, but stats like CTAs (click-through-rates), email sign-ups and purchases will tell a brand if its campaign involving illustration is working. Artistic fashion illustrations can be used in social media campaigns, on websites, in email campaigns, and/or used to contribute to the overall in-store or on-runway experience. Innovation and novelty are of the utmost value in the fashion world, so anything a brand can do to raise the bar and show audiences something new—or just plain stunningly beautiful—will win the day. Prices vary greatly depending on the illustrator’s level of notoriety, experience, and the complexity of the project. Rates may be charged by project or hourly.

2. This one doesn’t need too much elaboration. Photography, illustration, and combinations of the two all hold massive potential for imagination and effective communication. There are advantages to photography and advantages to illustration. Photography can capture fashion a lot faster and more accurately than an artistic rendering, but illustrations are great for letting the viewer’s imagination run wild, and conveying a sense of artistry and creativity. All-in-all, there’s no reason why a brand should stick to one or the other exclusively. There are millions of photography styles and millions of illustration styles; certainly enough for every fashion brand out there to find the perfect artists for their needs.

3. Sometimes things don’t make money in the short term, but they contribute to a brand’s reputation (trust) and therefore factor into revenue generation in the long run. However, there are also a lot of endeavors that don’t make money which we all still deem worthwhile. Many (if not most!) art museums, theaters, dance companies, libraries, and other cultural institutions aren’t actually generating enough income to survive. They keep going thanks to generous donors and foundations that keep them afloat. If you’re passionate about the arts, consider the possibility that it’s okay to make art for art’s sake and that not everything in life needs to be about making more money. Humans have a need to create. Fashion illustration is a tremendous avenue for self-expression and communication, and there’s nothing more valuable than that.

How to Set SMART Goals as an Artist

Setting SMART goals seems easy when it comes to quantifiable things like a PR in running or saving a certain amount of money. When it comes to the more “abstract” world of artistic pursuits, setting goals can feel more daunting. You might think “I want to get better at drawing”. Or, “I want to become a better digital illustrator”. Those are beautiful intentions, but how do you sit down and make that happen?

Even though I’m a professional illustrator and designer, I still keep a beginner’s mind and strive to always be learning and improving. It’s well-documented that increasing your overall output will lead to increased quality , so my first suggestion is setting a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based) goal centered around increasing your output/quantity. But you also don’t want to practice badly (that is, you don’t want to learn how to draw incorrect proportions then lock that in by drawing 100 incorrect figures!) so I use the phrases “portfolio-worthy” and “that I’m happy with” to indicate that the quantity should correspond with quality as well. I also use those phrases because maybe you aren’t going for anatomically accurate proportions, and only you will know when a drawing has met your personal aesthetic preferences.

Below are some examples that you can customize to fit your areas of interest. For all goals, you would add a date of completion – e.g. “I will draw 60 portraits of women in their 60’s by 60 days from now. At least three will be portfolio-worthy.”

For improving drawing:

  • Draw 30 noses I’m happy with, 30 ears I’m happy with, and 30 hands I’m happy with

  • Draw 100 fashion illustrations in 100 days

  • Draw 60 portraits in ten days

  • Create a collection of ten cohesive pieces I consider portfolio-worthy

  • Draw ten buildings I want to see in-person

  • Watch (and follow along with) 20 hours of drawing tutorials

  • Draw my roommate/spouse/parent one time everyday for a week/two weeks/a month

  • Draw a person at every age from age 0-100

  • Draw ten different animals from life

  • Draw all the houseplants I have in my home

  • Draw a quick self portrait every time I get ready for work in the morning

For improving painting:

  • Paint 10 paintings in one day

  • Paint for 2 hours everyday

  • Use all the brushes I own in one painting

  • Create 3 paintings using only one brush

  • Create ten paintings using only one hue

  • Paint a series of 30 watercolor paintings, trying a different watercolor technique in each piece

  • Use acrylic paints on ten different surfaces

  • Use watercolor paints on ten different surfaces

  • Create a series of 10 mixed media pieces

  • Watch 10 hours of painting tutorials and follow along

  • Paint my breakfast every morning before work

  • Paint for 30 minutes each evening before bed

For improving ideating/creativity:

  • Come up with 100 new words I’ve never seen or heard before

  • Put together a stack of scrap paper with 50 adjectives in one pile and 50 nouns in another pile – draw one from each pile and there’s an idea!

  • Play with scale. Drawing a human figure and an animal? Try making one of them drastically bigger or smaller than the other.

  • Try representing an abstract idea using only physical things. (e.g. the concept of “hope” as a little leaf poking through the cracks in the cement.)

  • Use a composition from a historical work of art, but completely change the figures and setting.

  • Write without stopping for 30 minutes (even if I run out of ideas, just keep writing my thoughts).

  • Create a bullet list and don’t stop until I’ve come up with 100 solutions to my prompt

What Makes a Dream Client?

The best illustration and design clients are those who…

  • value the work and are excited about the final product they’re getting.

  • value the artist as an expert in their field.

  • pay fairly and do not negotiate on price (you wouldn’t negotiate with a lawyer or your accountant on their rate, so do not attempt to barter with an artist or designer). It is common knowledge among artists and designers that clients who try to lower your pricing at the beginning tend to be the most difficult and unpleasant clients the whole way through.

  • stick to the timeline.

  • are honest yet kind.

What To Expect When You Commission An Illustration

Many of my illustration and graphic designs commissions over the years have come from clients who are working with an illustrator or designer for the first time. Understandably, this comes with questions about what the process entails. In order to help more people learn what to expect, I’ve created this step-by-step guide. Each project can of course be customized or may look a little different, but in general here’s what you can expect as a custom illustration or graphic design client:

  • First: we’ll discuss your project and confirm the timeline, budget, and deliverables. Once we establish we’ll be a good fit, I send over an invoice for a 50% deposit.

  • After I receive the 50% deposit, we discuss the project in more detail (by email, phone, video chat, whatever you prefer). This is the best time to talk through any ideas you have about the details or mood of the final piece. If you have any specific requests (i.e. a certain color scheme or technique, having the figures be wearing a particular garment, etc.), this is very helpful for me to know before I begin sketching. I also work with clients who don't know what they want visually and that's completely fine too.

  • Along with the above, the client may provide me with any relevant materials such as reference images. Sending visual references helps me understand your vision and ensure we're on the same page. For certain projects — like custom portraits — this is crucial, whereas for other projects it’s optional.

  • Once we have discussed the details and have ensured we're on the same page, I move into the sketch stage. I will deliver 6 black and white sketches for you to review. This stage typically takes about 3-4 days.

  • From there, you choose your favorite and suggest any revisions. If you don't feel like any of them are quite what you're looking for, simply let me know what's not working and I will give you another 1-2 sketches.

  • After I send over a second round of sketches (either completely new or revised from the first group), I offer one more round of revisions. 

  • At this point you approve the final line drawing and I move on to what is called "color comps". Basically this means I will send simplified illustrations with two color options for you. These are not final illustrations, but will give you an idea what the final will look like. You can send over two rounds of revisions here if you'd like. This stage typically takes about 2-3 days.

  • Once you approve a colorway, I complete the final illustration! Depending on the level of detail in the approved sketch, this typically takes about 4-6 days.

  • I will send over a jpeg of the final image for you and your team to review. There shouldn't be any surprises at this stage, since you will have approved the final line drawing and the color scheme. However, I allow for one more round of small revisions at this stage (like adding more stars in the sky or making the cheeks slightly less pink).

  • Once the final is completely approved, I deliver all file types to you. This includes high resolution files for print and digital uses. It also includes an easy-to-share, lower-resolution image. If you want specific file sizes/types, I'm happy to send those to you as well.

  • Once the final deliverables have been "handed off", the client pays the remaining 50% balance within 30 days of that date.

I hope this article has helped you understand the custom illustration and design process. Feel free to get in touch if you have any remaining questions!

Defining Illustration: What is Illustration vs. Drawing vs. Painting vs. Fine Art?

When I was applying to grad school, I didn’t know if I should be a painting major or an illustration major. Once there, I would have many conversations (outside of school) in which I was asked what illustration was and/or what I intended to do with that degree. Whether you’re a potential art school student, someone who doesn’t care about art but has accidentally stumbled onto this page, or somewhere in between, I hope this post will be of help to you!

There are several ways to define illustration. The simplest is basically a picture that represents or clarifies something; for example, an illustration of a boat could be a photo, a drawing, a painting, etc. in a book, a magazine, a pamphlet, on canvas, what have you. By this definition, anything that visually represents something else is an illustration.

But in the art and design worlds, illustration is often juxtaposed with Fine Art because it’s the category of artwork that is commission-driven, rather than self generated. Medium-wise, there isn’t necessarily a defining difference. An “illustration” (that is, artwork that has been requested by a specific client) can be a giant oil painting, a photo of a paper cutting, a digital 3D model, a physical sculpture, a pencil sketch, a screen print, a digital “painting”, or anything else, so long as it meets the client’s needs. An illustration doesn’t necessarily require a deep explanation — “this piece was for a Coca-Cola ad” would suffice, whereas Fine Artists should be prepared to elucidate their work through an Artist’s Statement.

This differentiation goes one step further as well, where even self-generated work can be categorized as “illustration” depending on its visual connections to various artistic movements. For example, graphic novel and comic book style artwork are generally called illustration rather than Fine Art, even if they aren’t for a client. And there are several artists who blur the line between “Fine Art” and “illustration”, so the distinction is somewhat unnecessary. (Takashi Murakami and James Jean come immediately to mind, but think Alphonse Mucha and Henri Toulouse-Lautrec if you like ‘em historic.)

In the end I chose the illustration major because I’ve always preferred having an outside prompt for my projects, I knew I wanted to focus on making money through my work, and it seemed like I could use whatever medium I wanted. I’m thrilled with my choice, but it’s worth noting that painting majors can also do client work, just like illustrators can always do gallery and/or personal work.

Focusing on just the illustration world, here are some examples of potential freelance gigs, clients, and full-time jobs one might have in the field:

Freelance gigs and clients:

-Package designs (L’occitane en Provence, Estée Lauder, Celestial Seasonings)

-Advertisements (Oreos, Nike, Volkswagon)

-Album covers and band merch (any band)

-Stationery designs (Minted, Zazzle or your own shop)

-Book covers (Penguin Random House, Chronicle Books, HarperCollins)

-Political cartoons (New York Times)

-Portraits for a magazine (Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, National Geographic)

-Vector illustrations for a tech company (Apple, Google, Airbnb)

-Event poster design (ballet, opera, music festivals like Bonaroo, charity events)

-Wedding/event invitation illustration and design (private clients)

Full time jobs:

-Concept artist at Warner Brothers

-Storyboard artist at Disney

-Textile designer at Anthropologie (URBN)

-Greeting card designer at Hallmark

-Senior artist/illustrator at Pusheen corp.

-Scientific illustrator at Salk Institute for Biological Studies

-Fashion Designer at Ralph Lauren

-Illustration Professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design

I hope this helps clarify some of your questions, and feel free to drop a comment if you have any more!

Trip Recap: Singapore

Hello everyone! As you may know, travel is my other biggest obsession after art, so I’m beginning a new series here on the blog about the vast topic. Many months ago I posted an infographic with a little checklist for international flights, so don’t forget to check that one out before taking your next big flight! ☺️

So this week’s topic is SINGAPORE! I just had the privilege of spending a day there (I know, a day isn’t enough time but I’m still so happy to have done it!!) and I’d love to share the details of what we did. So first things first — I was traveling with my partner, his brother, and his brother’s partner, and we stopped there as a layover on our way from Los Angeles to Perth, Western Australia. We landed at around eight in the morning and our next flight didn’t leave until around 6:30 that night, so we set out to make the most of it. Luckily our bags were checked all the way through to Perth, so we just had to worry about carryons. Singapore Changi Airport has baggage storage in every terminal, so you can leave heavy carryons (or checked bags) wherever your next flight will depart. Although leaving our tablets and laptops made me a little nervous, it was worth it to explore the city light as a bird!

Once we had only the essentials with us, we hopped on the train from the airport to Bugis. We had barely crossed the street and were already in a market full of clothing vendors and food stalls. We ate local fare for about $2 USD each, and it was easily one of my favorite meals of the past year. My dish had thin glass noodles, delicious boiled and seasoned potatoes, amazingly flavorful tofu, and cabbage. I accidentally ordered two plates of it due to the Mandarin-English language barrier, so I did my best to eat both. 😋

From there we walked around the area, enjoying reading our Chinese Zodiac predictions and smelling the flowers near the many temples. Since our time was limited, we caught a taxi (very easy to do) and zoomed over to Marina Bay Sands, where I had promised a rooftop view and drinks to my travel companions. The view DID NOT disappoint! Yes you have to pay, but that’s the case with all viewing towers I’ve encountered.

Whether you have a short layover or a full vacation in Singapore, I would recommend going out of your way for this experience. For one, you get an incredible 360° view of the sprawling city with its incredibly unique architecture and the limitless sea. And for the accommodation geeks out there like me, you get to check out the world famous Marina Bay Sands hotel, which is one of the largest hotels in the world AND boasts the highest swimming pool in the world. After that, we strolled over to Gardens By the Bay. This was ridiculously cool and I would also highly recommend to anyone. You can stroll and enjoy a lot of it for free, or you can pay to visit the Supertree Grove Skyway and the two domes: the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome. We elected to pay and see the two domes, and it was so worth it! The Cloud Forest has one of the world’s tallest indoor waterfalls — it was the tallest when we visited, but I believe the Singapore airport is taking that title in the near future — and is an overall epic indoor botanical garden experience. The Flower Dome, too, was amazing and well worth the price.

Overall we had a fantastic and very special layover in Singapore; we got to visit two must-see areas, enjoy amazing food and drinks, take in the views, and still make it back to the airport without rushing. We had all watched Crazy Rich Asians on the flight over together, which made seeing the landmarks in person extra exciting. If you have any tips for things to do on the next trip to Singapore, I’d love to hear them! ☺️

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How To Prepare For An International Flight

I recently took a super brief trip to France to present a paper at a conference, and I made the ultimate rookie mistake - I forgot my passport! It inspired me to create this infographic as a little reminder of how to prepare before embarking on an international trip. 

Even for those of us who travel often, there is SO much to remember when packing and we're often preoccupied with other things before heading out. I hope this infographic can help you get ready for your next trip and avoid leaving anything important behind! <3 

How To Prepare For An International Flight_Elle Powell Art

Aquatique

Below is a collection of works I showed at a two artist show at Bitfactory Gallery in Denver, CO back in March. Thank you to all who came! Here's an article published from 303 Magazine about the show.

Prints are now available for sale in my Etsy Shop! 

 

 

How Illustration Can Make a Difference For Small Businesses and Nonprofits

As I wrapped up a couple commissions last week for the American Transplant Foundation, I got to thinking how else I could help other small businesses and nonprofits with my illustration work. There really are endless possibilities for how art can make a positive impact, whether it's as a gift, for marketing, or as an educational tool. Here's my list of how illustration can help your small business or nonprofit organization:

  1. Gift original, custom artwork to top financial donors, investors, business partners, longtime clients, or for employee appreciation.

  2. Commission custom invitations for your special events

  3. Use on your annual report. Spice up your statistics with gorgeous and unique imagery!

  4. For social media. Hand-made illustrations can make your posts pop on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

  5. For you newsletter. Why not add some personality to your email campaigns?

  6. For your holiday card. Your constituents will love receiving a hand-made, illustrated card or postcard. It's so much more personal and genuine than just a card with your logo!

  7. For office supplies. Hiring a designer can do wonders for your business's notepads, pens, mugs, etc. Why have boring office supplies/company swag when you can have lovely items instead?

  8. Commission artwork as a silent auction item, giveaway/raffle prize, or as a perk for sponsoring an event. (The American Transplant Foundation did this super effectively with a signed painting of The Fray at their 2016 Transplant Hero Awards gala!)

  9. Use art in your next pitch or presentation to communicate your points.

  10. Do a community art piece, either sponsored by your business or to further the message and mission of your nonprofit. It's great to engage the world around you, and art is a FANTASTIC way to do it!

  11. Involve more illustration on your website. Many organizations’ websites have important — but somewhat dry or complicated — content. Illustrations can elucidate complicated topics or just make a page more interesting and appealing.

I hope this leaves you feeling excited to incorporate more art into your small business or nonprofit. Please feel free to email me with any questions, or leave your ideas in the comments below!