Getting Paid to Draw with Mike Lowery

Pre-order Drawing is Important: ⁠⁠https://geni.us/DrawingisImportant⁠

Mike Lowery is an internationally recognized picture book illustrator and author, as well as fellow teacher and daily drawer. Mike joins me to talk about the business of illustration, finding his style, the impact of AI on the illustration industry, keeping a sketchbook habit, and using social media for illustrators.

In this Episode

• The business of illustration: The difference between making art for its own sake and making art that actually does something.
• Finding Mike’s style: How an art director’s preference for Mike’s sketches over his “final art” style redefined his whole approach.
• AI and the industry: Mike’s hesitantly-offered but well-considered assessment on AI’s impact on illustration today.
• Daily Drawing Practice: Mike’s advice for keeping a sketchbook, whether on the daily or on the road.

This conversation covers some of the big shifts of 2025-2026 in the illustration industry, but also goes into super-practical, hands-on tips that will make a difference in your illustration practice today.

Links and Resources

• Mike Lowry’s Website: https://www.mikelowery.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikelowrystudio 
• Free E-book: Instagram for Illustrators (Scroll all the way down) — https://www.mikelowery.com/classes 
• Work Mentioned: 
• Random Illustrated Facts- https://www.mikelowery.com/random-illustrated-facts
• No Sam series - https://www.mikelowery.com/portfolio/nosam

Help Shape my Future Signature Course!

My big goal this year is to create my first self-hosted course for illustrators. But I can't do it without your help! Please take my 5-minute survey at the following link. As a thank-you, you'll get 20% off the full price of the course when it launches.

• Signature Course Survey — ⁠Google Form Link⁠ ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHIixGnxIA9gLl4WLXtxb4JsTfj5FjU6l1T9Sm0Cv2DjnDWQ/viewform?usp=header⁠

Tom’s Links

Work: ⁠tomfroese.com⁠

Classes: ⁠tomfroese.com/teaching⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/mrtomfroese⁠