Creative Boom

MARCH 24, 2025

Merjin Hos Get a burst of visual inspiration from our selection of top illustration talent drawn from global representation agency Agent Pekka. One of the great things about illustration is that there's always a ton of raw talent coming up, with new and imaginative styles by which to be inspired. Macarena Luzi 4. Jee-ook Choi 5.

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Illustration Illustrator Arts and Crafts Art 420

Creative Boom

NOVEMBER 24, 2024

Katty Maurey, Daphne Schenderling, Abi Bi, Becky Colvin and Helen Brady are rising stars in children's illustration – but cute, happy and fluffy isn't always on the agenda. At the moment, many clients commissioning children's illustration are looking for artists who can bring a little spookiness to their work.

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Illustrator Illustration Animation Artist 461

Creative Boom

DECEMBER 18, 2024

New beginnings can be a fantastic source of ideas and creative energy for an illustrator. Nine years in Melbourne saw him morph into an illustrator, where he truly discovered his creative voice. One of the five illustrations for A Better City. Mark Conlan is an artist whose journey began in Dublin as an animator. In Your Head.

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Illustrator Illustration Travel Artist 419

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

Three years on from our last conversation, Taiwanese illustrator Poan Pan reflects on his evolving creative journey, the power of community, and his ever-expanding artistic practice. Good news I'm still freelancing as an illustrator! He asks, "Can illustration also embrace nuance, ambiguity, and a broader spectrum of emotions?

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Illustrator Illustration Freelance Freelance 363

Creative Boom

MARCH 15, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock It's all very well offering advice in theory, but how do freelancers and studios actually find their dream clients in practice? When you look at your list of clients, we all have a favourite. So many great clients have come to me through weak ties," she says. Or they might be anything in between.

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Client Networking Freelance Freelance 534

Creative Boom

JANUARY 20, 2025

Come with us on a deep dive into the last twenty years of Sam Gilbey's freelance illustration practice. We'll find out what inspired him, how he got through difficult periods, and what advice he'd give to up-and-coming illustrators. And he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

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Fine Art Photoshop Art Client 450

Creative Boom

DECEMBER 17, 2024

Originally from Denmark, Julie Solvstrom has become a leading light in Vancouver's creative community with her beautiful, organic approach to illustration and typography. In a world where synthetic imagery is on the rise, illustrator and typographer Julie Solvstrom has the antidote. Julie's appeal for work on arriving in Vancouver.

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Illustrator Illustration Art Portfolio 261

Creative Boom

JUNE 26, 2023

And right at the start, you may not even have a single client to your name. So how do you land your first client? Illustration and pattern designer Jacqueline Colley went down this route when she first went freelance. "My My first freelance clients were my old full-time employers," she explains.

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Client Freelance Freelance Self-employed 514

Creative Boom

MARCH 20, 2025

From architecture to illustration and everything in between Roco's path to illustration wasn't straight. These skills would later become invaluable when she pivoted to illustration and graphic design. I don't just illustrate I translate ideas into the language I understand best: images." I don't think so.

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Illustrator Illustration Architecture Graphic Design 289

Creative Boom

DECEMBER 2, 2024

For this Brooklyn artist, creating an illustration is about spending time with it, exploring it, and finding that moment when things fall into place. Perhaps it's this connection with what she creates that makes her so popular with clients—in fashion, beauty, and editorial. Editorial illustrations for The New Yorker.

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Illustrator Illustration Client Theme 466

Creative Boom

MARCH 19, 2024

Image licensed via Adobe Stock We celebrate International Client Day by sharing some tried-and-tested tips for growing and nurturing your relationships with clients. Happy International Client Day! International Client Day was started in 2010 by Russian and Lithuanian businesspeople and has since spread around the world.

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Client Freelance Freelance Web Design 474

Creative Boom

OCTOBER 4, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock The worst clients can turn your life into something out of a horror movie. We outline four common types of nightmare clients and explain how to deal with them. We're talking about those clients you simply hate working with. Clients who ended up making your professional life a nightmare.

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Client Freelance Freelance Self-employed 483

Creative Boom

OCTOBER 20, 2024

I've worked with clients who already have an established brand typeface which doesn't have the things it needs," reveals independent typographic designer Sarah Cowan. Download font trials from your favourite foundries and create a visual overview using tools like Figma or Illustrator," he recommends. Explore alternatives if necessary.

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Fonts Graphic Design Graphic Client 469

Creative Boom

OCTOBER 27, 2024

Others, meanwhile, would love to shout about what they've created, but their clients frustratingly forbid it. Their bold and fearless approach has earned them collaborations with clients across a variety of industries, from tech to hospitality. Wise by Ragged Edge Omlet by Ragged Edge Omlet by Ragged Edge Papier by Ragged Edge 4.

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Arts and Crafts Client Branding Brand 545

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 7, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Putting together samples of your work for art directors, editors, and others might sound straightforward, but many illustrators find it anything but. We share some tips from the Creative Boom community on presenting your illustrations in the best possible light. Quality over quantity."

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Portfolio Illustrator Illustration Arts and Crafts 543

Creative Boom

JANUARY 31, 2024

Auckland-based illustrator Joseph Carrington creates instantly recognisable work thanks to his sleek, deceptively simple style. Having originally trained as a graphic designer, Joseph Carrington pivoted to illustration seven years ago. Lately, I'm most proud of jobs where I've had the opportunity to animate my illustrations."

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Illustrator Illustration Client Freelance 523

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

Bertrand Aznar, represented by Illustration Division Whether you need representation or are looking to hire an artist or illustrator, these are the best places to head to in New York City. This is where illustration agents come into play. But how on Earth do you find a market for your work? David Doran, represented by B&A 2.

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Artist Illustration Illustrator Arts and Crafts 505

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

XG by Alxndra Cook We talk to Yvette Earl, Tatyana Alanis, Kyle Platts, Alxndra Cook, and Ryan Gillett – five talented illustrators who draw people convincingly and in unique styles that engage the viewer. As many an artist will tell you, illustrating people is one of the hardest skills to learn.

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Illustrator Illustration Client Photoshop 464

Creative Boom

MAY 26, 2024

We canvassed the views of illustrators, who shared their biggest challenges and explained what they're doing to meet them. Working as an illustrator is a fun way to earn a living, but it's not without its challenges, not least the need to constantly adapt to new challenges and shifting paradigms. Sebastian Abboud tells a similar story.

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Illustrator Illustration Freelance Freelance 493

Creative Boom

MARCH 18, 2025

Topics covered include everything from creating memorable logos and developing brand voice to implementing effective social media strategies and attracting your ideal clients. What makes this podcast particularly valuable is Tom's willingness to share his own experiences as an award-winning illustrator and educator.

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Inspiration Arts and Crafts Illustrator Illustration 326

Creative Boom

JULY 23, 2024

With a background in editorial design, Andy Goodman decided to become an illustrator, developing an impactful, graphical style that's sublime and simple and a portfolio full of clever visual wordplay. Clients such as LeadDev have recognised how effective Andy's work can be when used in sequence for continuity in their material.

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Illustrator Illustration Vectors Client 469

Creative Boom

JULY 16, 2024

Energetic shades of pink, green and blue are blended and carved into forms that begin rooted in daily life but quickly lead to strange realms of dreamlike surrealism as envisaged by the talented young illustrator Wenjing Yang. It's the colour that hits you first when Wenjing Yang 's portfolio is laid out before you.

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Illustrator Illustration Client Visual Art 487

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

From doodling characters to illustrating for global brands, Alyah Holmes shares her colourful journey in the world of illustration. Illustration may be an increasingly competitive field, but Alyah Holmes has succeeded in standing out. You know, one person sharing your work can lead to your next big client."

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Illustrator Illustration Banners Client 469

Creative Boom

AUGUST 15, 2024

From contemplative cats to wide-eyed bat skeletons and even Santa on an exercise bike, Ilya Kazakov's cartoony characters are helping the artist build his own community of fans and clients around the world. It's true that the 'cute' style is popular right now, and it helps me find clients who resonate with my approach.

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Illustrator Illustration Client Animation 487

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock With so much talent out there, how do you get noticed as a freelance illustrator? Illustration is a great way to make a living that can be both creatively fulfilling and well compensated. But first, you need to attract freelance clients. We explore six of the best tried-and-tested strategies.

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Creative Boom

JUNE 13, 2022

Going it alone as an illustrator is full of challenges, from creative to administrative. We asked ten successful freelance illustrators to share the benefit of their experience to date, and they all shared valuable tips and insights. That's how I got my first client as a character designer.". Try out different styles.

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Freelance Freelance Illustrator Illustration 521

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

With a background as a tattoo artist, Tom Strom is an emerging American illustrator whose images will draw you in and perhaps give you a little scare. Because as sweet and benign as his creatures seem, there's a dark side to most things Virginia illustrator Tom Strom conjures up. This suits some of his clients down to the ground.

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Illustrator Illustration Textures Theme 493

Creative Boom

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Eastbourne-based illustrator Beth Tibbles specialises in creating colourful illustrations brimming with joy and humour. We caught up with her to learn more about her journey so far, how she looped back into illustration, and what it's like to go freelance. She's since gone on to work with clients such as BBC Teach and Channel 5.

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Illustration Illustrator Freelance Freelance 529

Creative Boom

MARCH 14, 2024

Stoke-on-Trent-based illustrator and animator Qianhui Yu is on a mission to highlight social problems and tell stories from new perspectives. She's doing this by creating imaginative illustrations imbued with a healthy dose of feminism. Outside of her animation work, Qianhui is also making waves as an illustrator.

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Illustrator Illustration Inspiration Animation 505

Creative Boom

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Studio Morfar and illustrator Doug John Miller worked together to create a fun but functional identity for the new home services app. While the majority of the studio's projects are B2B, the team always likes to shake things up by working with consumer-facing clients. "In

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Illustrator Illustration Vectors Textures 261

Creative Boom

AUGUST 18, 2024

Award-winning UK illustrator Elly Walton's quirky style brings whimsy and depth to her editorial, advertising, and design work. In the world of illustration, Elly Walton stands out as a virtuoso of playful storytelling. Her love for illustration was further nurtured by children's books, which offered layers of visual storytelling.

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Illustration Illustrator Art Arts and Crafts 469

Creative Boom

JANUARY 23, 2024

That's exactly what illustrator, designer and creative consultant Molly Maine did in 2016, and since then, she's been enjoying the joy of travel while bringing her creative ambitions to life. And on top of that, her ambitions of becoming an illustrator were still niggling away in her mind. Her solution? Quit and travel the world.

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Travel Illustrator Illustration Client 488

Creative Boom

JUNE 22, 2023

Multi-disciplined creative and globetrotter Maria Navarro Sanchez combines illustration and design to create stunning and empowering artwork. Based in the German city of Karlsruhe, illustrator and designer Maria Navarro Sanchez's career has been meandering. It has given me a more comprehensive and practical view of illustration.

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Illustration Illustrator Freelance Freelance 501

Creative Boom

OCTOBER 15, 2023

The popular Swedish illustrator reveals how success carries its own burdens and the need to balance personal and commercial work to protect your mental health. With a BA in graphic design from Central Saint Martins, Alva is currently represented by Jelly and is challenging norms and helping shape the future of illustration.

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Illustrator Illustration Graphic Client 511

Creative Boom

OCTOBER 11, 2023

Art director, designer and illustrator Teddy Kang has had an eventful couple of years. Since the pandemic, he's moved from Toronto back to China, working in new creative fields and rediscovering his routes as an illustrator. We met him to hear how his work and life have evolved. We're big fans of Teddy Kang here at Creative Boom.

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Fashion Illustrator Illustration Client 488

Creative Boom

MARCH 12, 2024

© Dong Qiu The Chinese artist's distinctive style blends Asian tradition with modern sensibilities, attracting global clients and resonating with audiences worldwide. The moment you clasp eyes on freelance illustrator Dong Qiu 's work, you feel yourself being pulled in multiple directions.

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Illustrator Illustration Client Fine Art 460

Creative Boom

JULY 10, 2024

Sometimes, a busy illustrator just needs a break – time to focus on personal projects and, perhaps, to make a difference in the world by creating art for people to enjoy without a brief or a price tag. His portfolio includes book and editorial illustrations as well as product campaigns.

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Illustrator Illustration Art Artist 489