Design Forums - Graphic Design & Web Design Forums

Im in the process of trying to secure more freelance illustration work and wondered if anyone knew of any good websites I should join to showcase my illustrations? I get regular freelance work off 1 client due to me emailing a whole bunch of publishers a few years back. Im planning on doing the same thing again with my most recent work but its all a bit hit and miss, if anyone knows of any directories or sites I should try and list myself on Id really appreciate it!

What kind of work illustration are you targeting?

I too am chasing more graft.
I looking at cartoony/book/childrens/seasonal/factual/character.

I on the books with a couple of agencies but am on the look out for more.

Any ideas about drumming up more work? It seem quite quiet at the mo.

I think it's a seasonal slump.
My clients are still getting up to speed after the holidays.
It's a good time to get promoting and reminding clients that we're still alive and haven't frozen our fingers off

Hi Scotty, I specialise in childrens illustration, cartoony in style. In the past I have done character design, book illustrations and general stuff for childrens publications.

Typo - Which agencies are you on the books of? Do you find they help you find work? How much do you pay (if you dont mind me asking) to be on the books of these agencies? And also, have you ever considered getting an agent?

If you're talking about illustration agents, they take around 30% commission on the work they get for you.
Some ask for the same of work that you get in for yourself but these should be avoided.

There is plenty of discussion on this subject over on the AOI site forum, pro's and con's.
You should never pay an agent to be represented by them but some do ask this to put you on their site but again these are best avoided.

The only payment you should make to them is a contribution towards promotion costs and it works on a percentage, say 30% of the costs. Same as thay take in commission.

thanks for the info scotty, how do you go about finding work yourself?

by the way, i just checked out your site scotty and im absolutely blown away, your work is in a different league. its awesome. ive bookmarked your blog straight away!

Thanks Dave, that's very kind of you

I'll print that out to convince myself I'm not the lazy arsed sod I really am

I initially got my first freelance illustration jobs when I made some desktop wallpapers with my web site address on and uploaded them to a site called pixelgirlpresents.com. Those clients have stayed with me thankfully. They're mostly in California.

Others I get are through self promotion and getting my work out there on the web..

One thing I did that led to quite a bit of new work was to write a tutorial for VectorTuts+ about character design HERE that went down pretty well.

To be perfectly honest I just wing it and hope for the best.

just wing it and hope for the best...that my friend will be written on my gravestone.

Daves right scotty you have some great work there. Love it.

Respect to yer fella. I'm liking your work as well Dave. Great.

mutual love all round, when i see other peoples work like you guys i feel both bummed and excited at the same time. bummed that im not that good yet, but excited that maybe one day i could be!

"mutual love all round"

Here, here

Mucho respect to both of you