Afleveringen
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BE MORE WONKY
In this episode:
Why quick sketches usually have more life in 'em than polished piecesHow perfectionism kills creativityBeware of the pause button (when you're doing graphic recording / live illustration)What to do when you're scared your work isn’t “worth the money”Tips for keeping final artwork fresh and looseHuman vs AI: what if the secret is just… being wonky?Timestamps, if you're into that kind of thing
00:00 – Can sketches be “the” illustration?01:00 – The gap between sketch and final art02:00 – Helen’s owls05:00 – What kills good work06:00 – The hourly rate mindset07:00 – Simple marks 4eva08:00 – Sketchy = human (and that’s a good thing)09:00 – Tips for keeping your work feeling fresh10:00 – Live illustration = brave, imperfect, magic11:00 – Be more human, more wonkyByeeee for now!
x The Good Ship Illustration (Helen, Katie & Tania) 🚢Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Where does she go? What happens in there?
Come and have a wee peek inside Helen’s hermit cave with us.
BUT FIRST - is it true? Do you prefer a podcast when there's a video too? Katie's just been to Australia and chatted to some creatives and they all said that they *ONLY* listen to a podcast if there's a video to go with it.
Whaaat!?
Let us know on Instagram if these rumours are true. You're allowed to slide into our DMs 😆 ❤️ We're @thegoodshipillustration.
Right, podcast stuff.
This episode is all about:
– Shutting the studio door and ignoring WhatsApp
– Recreating rainy caravan holidays to get in the zone
– The magic drawer
– How long it takes to make a picture book (blimmin' ages)
– BoundariesTimestamps, for people who like that sort of thing:
00:00 – Welcome to Helen’s hermit cave
01:00 – Dressing gowns, headphones and comfort telly
02:00 – Childhood holidays
03:00 – How long does it take to make a book?
04:00 – The magic drawer of ideas
05:00 – Making books in your 20s vs. making books now
06:00 – Burnout, insomnia and terrible lighting
07:00 – Early birds vs. night owls
08:00 – Deadlines
09:00 – Salty & Pals picture book sneak peek!
10:00 – Bedtime!Stuff wot we mentioned:
– The Picture Book Course
– Pencil Pals (Our Helen's Substack where there are some lovely sneaky peeks of the Salty Seadog artwork in case you're as excited as we aaaare.)See ya next Friday,
x The Good Ship Illustration (Helen, Katie & Tania)Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Errrr, how do you find illustration work in 2025? Pitching? Instagram? Postcards? SEO?
In this nice an' juicy episode we’re answering the 'Heeelp, how do I find clients as an illustrator?' question.
What worksWhy we don’t “hunt” clients 😅SEO tips to help the right people trip over youHow to be pals with art directorsPitching can feel YUCK (but it doesn't have to)Old-skool stuff that still worksSHOW YOUR WORK, PLEASETimestamps, for people who like that sort of thing:
00:00 – Listener question: “How do I find clients?”
01:00 – Why “hunting” clients feels weird (and what to do instead)
02:30 – Laying out your stall: making your online presence irresistible
04:30 – SEO tips to help clients find you
05:15 – The rise and fall of illustration directories and annuals
06:45 – Do postcards still work? (Short answer: yes!)
08:10 – Instagram, visibility and staying top of mind
10:00 – DMs and the etiquette of messaging clients
12:00 – What not to do when reaching out
13:30 – Building genuine relationships over time
15:00 – Do you need an agent or gallery?
16:00 – How to sell your own work (without a gallery)
17:00 – Strategic competitions and why they matter
18:00 – Cards, shops and flinging mud (yes, really)Links we mentioned:
World Illustration AwardsJo OverendPicture Hooks MentoringGood Ship Illustration CoursesByeeee for now!
x The Good Ship Illustration (Helen, Katie & Tania)
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Hiya. This week’s episode of The Good Ship Illustration podcast is all about artist residencies... illustrators are allowed to go on them too!
Our Tania’s just returned from her first ever residency (in a chateau, of course. Ooh la laaa) and we wanted to hear about the muscly trees, the chickens, and whether she got the entire chateau to herself.
What a residency actually looks likeHow to pick the right oneDrawing for the sake of it. Mmmmm.Going analogue, trying Procreate, and brush chatSubstack nerves, audio letters, and being “consistent” ...aghhhh.Timestamps
0:20 – Why we’re talking residencies this week
1:00 – Tania’s chateau residency
3:30 – Types of residencies & picking the right one
5:45 – Drawing slowly, and for fun for the first time in years
7:00 – Procreate adventures + brushes we love
11:00 – Substack fears and starting without pressure
16:00 – Curating your inbox vs. doom scrolling
19:00 – Patreon vs Substack burnout
23:00 – Substack inspiration & our favourite creators
28:50 – Katie nearly drops her mic (again)Links + Mentions:
https://saintpierredemejans.com/en/ <--- the dreamy place Tania stayed)https://resartis.org/Brushes we love: Vivian Mildenberger, Joel Stewart, Retro Supply CoOur fave Substacks: Tara Ford, Garbage Day, Carson Ellis, Bob Shenanigans, and LIANA FINCK! (That's the one Katie couldn't remember)Tania’s Substack is coming soon… 👀 Maybe. If we bully her enough.Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Today’s a biiiig day... the doors to our Live Illustration Course are closing tonight!
AGH!
In this special live illustration-y episode, we grill Katie with loads of the brilliant live illustration questions you submitted.
Katie also shares some behind-the-scenes stories about v early gigs, navigating some more unusual client requirements (hiya, Apple lawyers!), and why your own values matter just as much as your skills.
Timestamps
00:36 – Is it risky to live illustrate by hand?
03:15 – How to build your live illustration portfolio even before you’ve had a client
05:59 – How Katie got started (and her very first paid-in-sandwiches job)
07:59 – Managing nerves and the fear of making mistakes
10:25 – Is it okay to check references while you’re live illustrating?
12:11 – How much do you need to know beforehand, and what to ask your client
15:24 – Transitioning from "normal" Illustrator to Live Illustrator
17:47 – What happens if you go blank during a live session?
18:51 – How much preparation should you really do before an event?
21:06 – Can you still be a live illustrator if you’re dyslexic?
22:02 – Is live illustration realistic as a side gig?
24:37 – What to ask clients about output expectations
25:41 – Is semi-live illustration allowed?
27:06 – How to set up cameras for live drawing
28:00 – Should you specialise in a niche for live illustration work?
30:04 – What kinds of businesses actually use live illustrators?
32:39 – Final encouragement: fly your freak flag and be yourselfp.s. The doors to the Live Illustration Course close tonight (2nd May)!
If you're thinking about joining, now's the best time!Why though?
This is the lowest price it will ever be - we're doing a special price for this first ever live round of the courseYou get lifetime accessYou can hop back in for future live rounds, get ALL future course updates and take it at your own pace.The price *will* go up next time.
Find out more and sign up here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/lic
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
This week’s podcast question is from Annabelle:
“I’m not sure how to price my work. I think I panic and undercharge because I’m worried they’ll change their mind if it’s too much.”
Ooft.
This is a juicy episode. Money, mindset, value, VAT nightmares, and charging what you’re worth.
Bon apetit from your Good Ship pals.
Tuck in.
Timestamps
00:00 – The question: “How do I stop undercharging?”
01:30 – People can feel when you don’t believe in your prices
03:00 – What affects your value: niche, profile, usage, experience
05:00 – Editorial vs publishing vs live illustration: pricing realities
06:30 – Raising your rates to manage your workload
10:00 – Calculate what you need to earn (and start from there)
12:00 – Most illustrators can’t actually work 8 hours a day
14:00 – Self-worth ≠ pricing strategy
16:30 – Add 20% and see what happens
18:00 – TL;DR: You’re probably undercharging
Stuff we mention:
The AOI’s Pricing CalculatorJessica Hische’s brilliant tool: The Dark Art of PricingOur Business Course for Illustrators gives you the pricing confidence (and strategy) that no one teaches you at art school.
→ Join the waiting listFreelancer’s Bible by Alison Grade – super helpful if you like numbers and practical stepsHave a lovely week. And up yer rates.
x Helen, Katie & Tania
The Good Ship IllustrationCome and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Thanks for sending in yer juicy questions. Here are the ones we tackle in this week's podcast episode:
“How do I build an illustration portfolio if I only have fine art work?”“What’s the difference between an illustrator and an artist?”Ahh yes that ol' chestnut. How to pivot from fine art to illustration without losing your mind. We dig into the figuring out what kind of work suits your actual personality. No more trying on other people's uncomfy too-small style jumpers. The illustrator vs artist line is a bit blurry - we get into why that’s actually a good thing. Promise.
Honourable mentions:
Fenugreek soupDream clients and imaginary briefsKatie’s two-week job limit"Just make the kind of work you want to get hired for”Timestamps
00:25 – Q1: How to turn a fine art practice into an illustration portfolio01:00 – Making the kind of work you want to be hired for02:00 – Picking your corner of illustration industry03:30 – Fine art vs illustration: different goals, same skills05:00 – Picture book makers: an exception06:30 – Your personality probs already picked your niche08:20 – Know what suits your work style (and what definitely doesn’t)10:00 – Unexpected places you might find your dream illustration job11:30 – Be a detective: trace the work you love back to the source12:00 – Q2: What’s the difference between an artist and an illustrator?13:30 – Do labels even matter anymore? 14:30 – “Artist” vs “Illustrator” – what clients think they’re hiring15:30 – Choose the title that helps the right people find youStuff we mention:
Our Business Course for Illustrators walks you through exactly how to figure out where you fit and how to build a portfolio that attracts the right clients.
→ Read aaaall aboot it hereWant to uncover your weirdness and figure out your unique style?
→ Fly your freak flag with usGot a question for the podcast?
Pop it in the question jar here:
Podcast question formThank you!
x Helen, Katie & Tania
The Good Ship IllustrationCome and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Two more chunky questions for this week's episode:
“How do I choose the right materials and techniques when I love them all?”“How do I keep up with new tech and trends without hopping on every train and going bananas?”It's a longer one this week! A podcast title that went in the bin was: Mouldy bingo dabbers: A love story. A moment of silence for that title. It woulda been great, but not very useful or searchable 😆
Alas.
Timestamps
00:00 – “How do I choose the right materials?”01:00 – You don’t have to pick just one02:00 – Mixing media04:15 – Why learning 'the proper way' can sometimes kill your weirdness06:30 – The gouache phase 07:30 – Storytime: The incredible grasshopper drawings09:00 – Wrong materials = the right results10:00 – Drawing with stuff you don’t like13:15 – Listener question: “How do I keep up with tech & trends without going mad?”14:00 – Learning Procreate while making a book??17:00 – Trends are sneaky19:30 – Don't force yourself into a trend box22:00 – Are you a fan or trying to be someone else?24:00 – Going off-gridStuff we mention:
Our Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag course
The doors are open! You can join right now.Want a fun excuse to make stuff without overthinking it?
Try our free Colour WorkshopGot a question for the Good Ship Illustration podcast?
Send it here, go on!
Podcast question formRight, we’re off to draw with things that smell like school. Mmmm.
Bye!
x Tania, Helen & Katie
The Good Ship IllustrationCome and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
This week we’re answering TWO of your excellent questions:
“How can I stop overthinking my story and just... FINISH IT???”“Which is better, RGB or CMYK?”Here’s what we chat about:
That annoying feeling when you know your story’s missing something but you can’t figure out whatAsk your characters what they eat for breakfastMagic picture book editors - you don't need to do it all alone!And... how Helen sent a whole book to print in RGB and no one stopped her (justice for Barry in the cupboard)This episode is especially for you if you are stuck in perfectionism mode or feel personally attacked by the confusing colour settings in Photoshop/Procreate.
Timestamps:
00:00 - “How can I stop overthinking my story?”
01:15 - When feedback clings to your brain like a wet sock
02:30 - Mild peril
04:15 - Character stuff
06:30 - Asking weird questions = finding the heart of your story
08:00 - Maybe... you’re actually a nonfiction illustrator? Hmm!
09:10 - How to make your agent's life easier AND still move forward
11:00 - QUESTION 2: RGB or CMYK? Which one's better?
11:40 - Sad, sad orange
13:00 - Barry in the cupboard and the mystical RGB loophole
15:10 - Saving your artwork (and your sanity)
Stuff we mention:
Our Picture Book Course is the best place to learn about story arcs, and how to stop overthinking every. single. thing. Join the waiting list hereOur free Colour Workshop will BLOW YER MIND. Download it hereGot a question for us to answer next? Submit it here:
Podcast question formSee ya soon.
x Tania, Helen & Katie
The Good Ship IllustrationCome and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
This is something we hear quite a lot, and it's a BIG broad question: How do you actually become an illustrator who makes money. Dear Good Ship Illustration please break it down for me, step by step.
No pressure (aaagh 😅)
Alas, there is no tidy step-by-step guide… but in this episode we're doin' our very best to give you a solid direction to head in.
Step 1 = loadsa drawingFinding your creative voice and confidenceSharing your browniesHow to balance a job while building your illustration careerA big ol' mistake new illustrators tend to make - not you though. You're cleverer than them.Timestamps:
00:00 – Where to start
01:30 – THE STEP-BY-STEP PLAN (lol, sorry, there is no plan)
03:20 – Share! Or else!!
05:45 – Job juggling
08:15 – Feeling behind?
(Does anyone ever feel ahead though?? No. Nothing to worry about then.)Taraa for now.
x The Good Ship Illustration
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
This week, we’re answering a question from listener Eilidh:
"How do you navigate social media? Do you have a strategy or just post willy-nilly?"
Gah. It’s complicated. In this episode of the podcast we chat about:
Do illustrators really need Instagram anymore? Should you have a strategy, or is it fine to post when you feel like it?Why social media isn’t our main way of getting work (and what is).The ONE thing every illustrator should have on their Instagram right now.Aaand, we discuss why we haven’t abandoned Instagram (even though everyone keeps saying it’s dead), how publishers actually find illustrators, and, y'know, a very important discussion about videos of the King’s Guards horses biting tourists 🐴 chomp.
Timestamps:
00:25 Question: “How do you navigate social media?”
01:00 The old days of Instagram strategies (do they still work?)
02:20 Why everyone is fed up with Instagram… and also fed up with people being fed up with Instagram.
04:10 King’s Guards, AI Jesus & cabin crew chaos.
06:00 Should illustrators jump ship to other platforms like BlueSky, Mastodon, or Threads?
07:45 Does Instagram actually bring in clients?
09:15 What should illustrators post?
10:30 The biggest mistake we keep seeing on illustrators' IG profiles
11:50 What’s more important than social media?
12:40 How publishers find illustrators (and why Instagram still plays a small role).
13:30 A practical idea: Tidying up your Instagram highlights so people can easily find the important stuff
14:20 Final thoughts: Social media is what it is… but please don’t rely on it for all your work!See you next week! And if you need us, we’ll just be over here watching horse videos 😂
x Byeeee
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Ahoy! Doors to the Business Course (for illustrators!) are closing TONIGHT! We're going to be having a chat over on Instagram and you're more than welcome to bring your business of illustration questions along. Be lovely to see you there. We're @thegoodshipillustration over on Insta.
p.s. Once the course doors close, they close. We're strict! You've got until 10pm UK time tonight (Friday 14th March 2025)
🚢
This week, we’re talking about one of the best things you can do for your illustration career (but it also just so happens to be something that most illustrators dread and avoid like the plague):
📸 Updating your website bio and getting proper photos!
We cover:
✔️ Why a great photo makes clients trust you
✔️ The biggest mistakes we see illustrators make on their 'About' page
✔️ How to write a bio that actually sounds like you without overthinking it
✔️ And why drawing a wee smiley face instead of uploading a headshot just won’t cut it anymoreIf you’ve been putting this off, consider this as your sign to finally get some proper photos and sort yer website oot.
p.s. We’ve got an About Page Bingo guide inside the Illustration Business Course, so if you’re in there, go find it!
Timestamps:
01:00 Why updating your bio & website photos is the best thing you can do
02:15 Katie just had a photoshoot - here’s why it was worth it
03:40 How to find a great branding photographer (and what to ask them)
05:00 Feeling awkward about getting your photo taken? Some tricks to make it easier
06:15 Props, pets & sketchbooks
07:40 The price of a good photographer and why it’s worth the investment
09:10 Writing your bio: The easiest method
10:20 Why your bio should match your audience (formal vs. friendly)
12:00 “Clients don’t actually care about your personal life…” (or do they?)
14:15 How illustrators, live scribers & picture book makers should approach bios differently
16:30 Why illustrators should think like plumbers
17:45 Final push: Just get something on your website today (half arse it now, you can always tweak it later)Done is better than perfect.
Byeee for now! And merry photoshoot-booking.
If you get some nice new headshots for your about page, do tag us on Instagram so we can admire them. We're nosy!
x Good Ship
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Doors to the Business Course (for illustrators!) are open TONIGHT! We're going to be having a chat over on Instagram and you're more than welcome to bring your business of illustration questions along. Be lovely to see you there. We're @thegoodshipillustration over on Insta.
🚢
This week, we’re diving into the live illustration industry. How much work is actually out there, how to get it, and whether it’s the right fit for you.
We grilled our Katie and found asked her...
Is there really loads of work for illustrators, or has it been a slow year?What’s this new Illustrator Jobs Board all about? (Live illustration gigs, client budgets, and real-life illustration job opportunities.)What actually happens in a live illustration session?How much do clients pay for live scribing, and how can you charge more?If you’ve wondered about going into live illustration - or just want to see what clients are paying - this episode's for you!
p.s. If you’re curious about Katie’s Live Illustration Jobs Board, you can find it over on Substack here.
Timestamps:
00:25 The big debate: good year / bad year
01:50 Why 2024 was overwhelming
03:15 The Jobs Board experiment
04:40 What kinds of jobs are coming in?
06:00 UK vs. international jobs (and why some illustrators have upped their rates after seeing the budgets).
07:15 What actually happens at a live illustration gig? Is it really 8 hours of solid drawing?
08:30 What do clients want from a live illustrator?
09:40 The most requested topics: AI, data, and… scrubbing data with a sponge?
11:00 How much do clients pay for live illustration?
12:15 The tech side: Do you need to be a tech whiz to do this work?
13:30 Live illustration vs. fashion illustration gigs
14:45 The Jobs Board results so far
15:30 Should you try live illustration? The skills overlap with mapping, editorial, and even school visits
16:50 Katie’s Live Illustration Course is coming soon! (If this episode got you excited, stay tuned 🤓).If you like the sound of the live illustration course, you can register your interest here.
See you next time!
Byeee 🚢💨
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
"I'm not drawing as much anymore - Aghhhhh! Is this ok!?"
If you feel like you’re not drawing as much as you “should”, then you’re definitely, absolutely not alone. In this episode, we share our drawing ebbs and flows, why guilt often sneaks in, and how to let yourself off the hook when life gets lifey.
We chat about:
The natural phases of a creative career (and why it’s A-OK not to be drawing all the time).Why forcing yourself to draw can backfire.How other creative stuff like sewing or gardening can feed your illustration work.Finding the balance between illustration, work, and real life.How to quiet the mean voice in your head.See you in there!
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
🚢 The Picture Book Course closes TONIGHT!
In this episode, we’re tackling three of the biggest picture book questions we hear all the time:
1. What size should my picture book be?
2. Do I need kids to write picture books?
3. How do I get my book in front of a publisher? (So that they actually SEE it.)If you’ve been agonising over book dimensions, stressing about margins, or wondering whether your book must be a certain size before a publisher will even look at it, this episode's for you!
Plus, we grill our Helen all about how publishers actually work, find out why your picture book does not need to be fully finished before you pitch it, and learn a sneaky way to speed up your storytelling skills (hint: it involves buying lots of books. Oh no, what a shame. Heh.)
p.s. The Picture Book Course closes TONIGHT! If you're listening on Friday 21st Feb 2025, this is your last chance to hop jump and skip aboard before the doors close.
The world has a your-picture-book-shaped hole in it.
Let's fix that.
It's time!
Click here to read all about the Picture Book Course.
Timestamps:
00:25 Question: “What size should my picture book be?”
01:10 The real answer
02:50 What actually matters more than page size?
04:00 Bookshop logistics: Why your book needs to fit on a shelf.
06:15 Do publishers ever tell you the exact dimensions?
07:05 The BIG mistake
09:10 Why publishers love flexible illustrators.
10:30 The magic of working with an art director
12:05 The storytelling trick we might steal from Sydney Smith (Sydney Smith if you're reading this, it's a joke. 👀)
14:00 Should you apply to publishers, or just self-publish?
15:45 How to find the perfect publisher for your book.
17:10 Second question: “Can you write picture books if you don’t have kids?”
18:00 The surprising list of famous picture book authors who never had children.
19:30 The secret to writing picture books with emotion (even if you’re not around kids every day).
21:00 School visits, nannying, and other sneaky ways to absorb children’s interests.
22:00 Final call! The Picture Book Course closes TONIGHT at midnight! 🚀Join us over on Instagram (@thegoodshipillustration) for Art Club Live TONIGHT at 7pm UK time!
Be lovely to see you there.
x
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
First things first, we've got to let you know that the doors to the Picture Book Course are FINALLY OPEN AGAIN today!
We'll officially fling 'em open tonight at Art Club (7 pm UK time over on Instagram. Our IG username is @thegoodshipillustration.) See you there! 🚢
Right, back to the podcast show notes.
In this episode, we’re answering a brilliant question from Lou, who asks:
"I've got a picture book for adults. Is that a terrible idea?"
The short answer = not necessarily, but it could be a tricky sell to publishers.
The longer answer = this podcast episode! We discuss bookshop logistics, sneaky ways to get an illustrated book into adult sections, and why tweaking your idea just a little bit might make it way easier to get published.
Plus, we talk about what to do when your mind is pinballing between story ideas, and how to anchor your book in a way that makes finishing it muuuuuch more likely.
p.s. The Picture Book Course is OPEN! If you're listening before 21st Feb 2025, the doors are still wide open. Scramble aboard before they close for another year!
Timestamps:
00:25 Question: “Can a picture book for adults work, or should I pivot to kids?”
01:10 The practical problem: Where would it actually go in a bookshop?
02:50 Illustrated fiction for adults: Rare, but not impossible!
04:00 Gift books, philosophy books, and sneaky ways to get into the right section.
06:15 The Charlie Mackesy effect (a rare publishing phenomenon).
07:05 Should you self-publish? A way to test the waters.
08:40 Question 2: “How do I stop my story ideas from fizzling out?”
09:10 The pinball problem: Too many ideas, not enough finished books.
10:00 How we created Salty (and why anchoring your characters makes writing a lot easier).
11:30 A game-changing tip: Make a “character questionnaire” to build stronger stories.
13:45 Reminder: The Picture Book Course is open for one week only!We’ll be back next Friday with more questions and one last reminder before the course doors close.
Join us over on Instagram (@thegoodshipillustration) for Art Club Live on Friday 14th Feb & Friday 21st Feb at 7pm UK time! See you there!
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Juggling too many plates, saying yes to everything, and wondering if it’s time to let something go... It's not a fun place to be. (And all three of us have been there, got the frazzled t-shirt).
In this episode, we share the projects, jobs, and ideas we’ve binned along the way to make room for the shiny new stuff.We chat about:
Why it’s okay to drop what isn’t working (even when you love parts of it).Illustrator school visits, online shops, and in-person events.The power of saying no. NOOOO!How dropping things helps you focus on what you’re brilliant at.Links Mentioned
We made you some workshops and resources to help you navigate a creative career: The Good Ship FreebiesCome and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Nahhh. It's not really. That was a naughty title.
Anyway, we got this brilliant and juicy question in our students-only Facebook group for the Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag Course.
🎺 31ST JANUARY = YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET SOME GOOD SHIP ILLUSTRATION SNAIL-MAIL STICKERS WHEN YOU JOIN!
Don't say we didn't warn you! Sign up here.
Megan said: "I just opened up the Microsoft Surface Pro I bought for digital drawing, and I’m freaking out a little. Not just about the expense, but a sense of cheating or something. Will this kill the joy of drawing on paper? Does anyone combine analogue and digital drawing worlds?"Topics
Megan’s question: Is digital drawing cheating?Analogue vs digital: can you mix them?Why digital tools are lifesavers for fixes, tweaks, and deadlines.Handmade isn’t about the tool, it’s about you!The danger of too much choice.Top tips for keeping your digital work cohesive.Happy accidents.Will drawing digitally kill your love of drawing on paper?Other Stuff we mentioned
Our Tania’s Genius Colour Workshop: Join in hereBrush sets for Procreate by Vivian Mildenberger: voila (we're not an affiliate, we just love 'em.)Find Your Creative Voice - course doors are open, in case you fancy workin' on flapping your freak flag a bit more in 2025.) Click here to see what all the freak flag fuss is all about.Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
Chelsea asked us: "Would love some advice goal-wise for those of us still holding part-time jobs and two small kids under five, trying to transition to an illustration career. Is it even possible? I'm feeling impatient and a bit trapped."
We chat about:
Why “slow and steady” beats high-pressure goals.Low-pressure ways to carve out creative time (even with little ones around).How parenting can inspire your creative work.The importance of being kind to yourself and how to keep drawing.Why editorial illustration might not be the best fit right now.
Links Mentioned
Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag Course doors are open!Check out Polly Dunbar’s lovely illustrations: Polly Dunbar on InstagramFreebies for illustrators on our website: The Good Ship Illustration Freebiesp.s. Good Ship Illustration News
Our course, Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag doors are now open and if you clamber aboard before the end of January we'll send you some exciting snail mail (a brand new Good Ship sticker pack!!) 💛
Read all about it here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/freakflagCome and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 -
At The Good Ship Illustration, we love keeping it simple. You don’t need the fanciest gear or the latest tech to be an illustrator. Our Helen’s 25-year-old scanner has survived being dropped multiple times and it’s still goin' strong.
This week on the podcast, we’re sharing the tech setups we actually use to get our illustration work done.
Katie tells us about her iPad obsession, the magic of cloud storage, and why a second screen is a game-changer when she remembers to switch it on.Helen sings the praises of her indestructible Epson scanner, her return to good old-fashioned paper workflows, and where she stashes all that paper.Tania shares her decades of Photoshop muscle memory, her love-hate relationship with Wacom, and her dream tech collaboration.Dear Apple, if you’re listening, please call us about the maxi pad™ (an extra-giant iPad for picture book illustrators) 😅
Listen to the episode for:
CMYK vs. RGB in Procreate, and whether publishers have a preference.
Our ongoing battle with storing work.
Why we’re convinced illustrators need a bigger iPad (yep, it's the maxi pad again).
Timestamps:00:20 🎉 Find Your Creative Voice is open all year!
03:10 Katie’s tech setup: giant iPads, Procreate hacks, and Dropbox magic.
06:30 Helen’s trusty scanner and her glorious return to traditional workflows.
09:45 Tania’s Photoshop loyalty, Wacom woes, and dream tech.
13:00 CMYK vs. RGB in Procreate—how does it really work for publishers?
16:30 Why illustrators need an oversized iPad.
19:30 Our tips for archiving your creative work.x Your Good Ship pals 🚢✨
Pssst… Exciting news! 🎉
Our course Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag is now open for enrollment all year round! Join anytime and get instant access.
🌟 December & January Bonus: Everyone who hops aboard gets a shiny Good Ship sticker badge. Plus, three lucky new members will win 1:1 mentoring with the captains.Climb aboard HERE.
Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙 - Laat meer zien
