Useful books for illustrators on the freelance business

Here's a list of books about the freelance illustration business that I think are useful and why!

Breaking into Freelance Illustration - Holly DeWolf

Highly recommended for any starter out there. It has lots of tips and ideas and gives you insight on how to start as a freelance illustrator.

Buy from: Amazon.com - Amazon.co.uk



Illustrating Childrens Books - Martin Salisbury

This is a good guide if you want to start out as a, or know more about being an childrens book illustrator. It's also heavily image-based, so easy to read I would say!

Buy from: Amazon.com - Amazon.co.uk



15 steps to Freelance Illustration - Thomas James (From EFII)

A clear description of everything essential that you will need to do to start out as a freelance illustrator. It will make you think about your approach.

Available via 15stepsbook.com.



9 Steps to Being Your Most Powerful Creative Self - Alex Mathers (Red Lemon Club)

This is a more contemplative but really hands-on book that let's you think about how to be the best creative person you can be. It'll give you motivation and insight, and who knows you'll make a fresh start!

Available via Red Lemon Club


Steal like an artist - Austin Kleon

This is a cool, easy-to-read and fun book that will enlighten you with tips and show you a different approach to being creative. It was also a New York Times Bestseller!

Buy from: Amazon.com - Amazon.co.uk



Graphic Artist's Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines

A book with mainly one purpose: to advice you about 'standard' prices and guidelines that are used in the industry. If you have no clue about this, this could be a useful book.

Buy from: Amazon.com - Amazon.co.uk



Children's Writers and Illustrator's Market

A resourceful book full of information about publishers, what they publish and how to contact them. Essential if you start out in the children's books business. And it has a new edition every year!

Buy from: Amazon.com - Amazon.co.uk


Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market

This is the artist's and graphic designer's version of the previous book. It's full of information about your future clients and how to reach them!

Buy from: Amazon.com - Amazon.co.uk




Which books did you read and thought were useful? Any recommendations?

Self-promotion advice by Phyliss Pollema- Cahill

Want to know more about self promotion? Read this article by Phyliss Pollema-Cahill:
http://www.phylliscahill.com/articles/selfpromo.html

Top 7 mistakes made by aspiring illustrators

Top Seven Mistakes Made by Aspiring Illustrators 
by illustrator Kristina Gehrmann - www.mondhase.de  (KristinaGehrmann on DeviantArt).
This is from her dA journal here: http://kristinagehrmann.deviantart.com/journal/Top-Seven-Mistakes-Made-by-Aspiring-Illustrators-337714270

10 tips if you go to a con with a booth

I just read this and it is incredible advice, I can only imagine how much fun it would be to go and promote yourself there (maaaaybe one day in the future I'm going to try it myself, who knows!)

Kiri Østergaard Leonard wrote this blog post: 10 THINGS I LEARNED AT NEW YORK COMIC CON

Do it Yourself

This is some advice that you didn't see coming but is probably the most realistic thing I ever read.
And very motivational:

http://www.tenpacesanddraw.com/2012/09/22/unsolicited-advice-do-it-your-fucking-self/

It's written by Adam J Kurtz and blogged on Ten Paces And Draw, a  collaborative project bringing together a community of illustrators and designers and a great website to follow too.

Breaking Into Freelance Illustration - Holly DeWolf

This is one of those books that I already have read multiple times because it's very well written, easy to read and it comes in very handy. For any kind of illustrator or illustration student I would recommend to buy this book and read it. As it already says in the book, Holly DeWolf shares anything about the illustration business you didn't learn in art school or even online, it's a really good guide!

If you are planning on buying this, please use one of these link. I'll earn a little bit from it from the associate program: You can buy this book on: Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

Computer Arts Blog

Computer Arts is a well known magazine for illustrators and designers who use the computer to create things. They also have a great blog with all kinds of news and useful articles.
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/blog