The Good Ship Illustration

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 ByeeeeCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.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 ShipCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.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.comp.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.comp.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.comp.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.comp.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 MentionedWe made you some workshops and resources to help you navigate a creative career: The Good Ship FreebiesCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.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?"TopicsMegan’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 mentionedOur 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.comp.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 MentionedFind 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 NewsOur 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/freakflag Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.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.comp.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙