Well, here we are. Here I am, at any rate.
This blog is brand new, just as I am brand new to the field of illustration, more or less. I've been working as an artist for many years now, but I've never actively pursued illustration as a true full-time career, which is my current goal.
I've got a link there to the right which will take you right to my website. There you'll find out a little more about me. You'll also find some recent examples of my artwork. Please do visit, and feel free to come back here and tell me what you think.
My primary goal wih this blog is to keep an open diary account of my experiences just starting out in the industry. Once I've gotten some more illustration experience under my belt (fingers crossed), that goal may shift somewhat. I also hope to make some good contacts through this blog, whether those contacts be other illustrators, writers, publishers, or just fans of illustration. I hope to post updates at least once a week, so check back often.
Here is a little groundwork for what's to come:
I am thirty-one years old. I work full-time at a customer service job. Please note that it is a job, not a career. I went to University to study the visual arts and graduated (from the University of Victoria's Visual Arts Dept.) with Honours and Distinction back in 2000. In the seven years since I have yet to really put my degree to its best possible use. I hope to change that now. I'm working to change that now, also. I've set myself a deadline: January 1st, 2008. If I am not out of my current (less-than-completely-satisfying) job by then and working full-time as an artist, then I will have missed my target date. I mention that date here in the hopes it will add a bit of dramatic tension to this blog.
I set myself this target date near the end of last year, and I realise that I may not be realistically giving myself enough time to succeed. However, I think the pressure will help me out a lot, light a fire under my rear end. Sorry about the corny language, but I am trying to keep this G-rated.
Since the beginning of the year I have pulled together my website, put together an initial mail-out package, sent a few of those out, and even attended my first book-related event, "The Pacific Festival of the Book".
I feel like that's a pretty good start, plus I've got this blog up and running, but I know I've got a lot of work ahead of me between now and the end of the year.
I picked up a copy of "Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market" (2007 edition). It has been my main resource thus far. It was reading one of the articles in that book which prompted me to start this blog. I have bought issues in previous years, as well, when I was still working up to starting my entry into the industry. It is a truly amazing book. If anyone out there has found my blog and not yet found that book, I urge you to check it out. It's the sort of thing I'd like to keep to myself, in a way, as a
sort of advantage, but that's not really in the spirit of blogging now, is it? The few (seven so far, I think) mail-outs I've done so far have all been to book publishers listed in that book. I have yet to get any responses or work as a result of having used the book, but I have faith.
It's only been a week or so since I mailed those sample packages out anyways. I probably won't hear back for two or three months at least. I have another dozen or so packages to mail out this weekend. So far I'm targeting Canadian publishers. There are dozens of American and International publishers I'd love to work for, too, but I had to start somewhere, and my homeland seemed like a good place to do it. I am particularly interested in Orca Books, a publisher based in Victoria, BC, my home town. It has a great catalogue from what I've seen. Also, I've met the artistic director (Maggie deVries) once (although it was a while back, and she may not remember), and she seemed very nice, easy to get along with. Again, I mention this for dramatic tension more than anything.
That's it for now...
I'd appreciate any feedback pn this blog any time. I'd also appreciate any helpful hints or advice regarding breaking into the business. I'm interested in just about any work related to illustration, but especially children's book illustration. No job is too big or small. I'd also appreciate any help I can get where exposure is concerned. If anyone knows of any webrings, talent pools, or organizations I can get involved with that are likely to help get my artwork
out there, please do let me know.
Thanks for reading!
-Jacob
