close your eyes. try to remember to immerse yourself in the art of his favorite children’s book: the one he would read dozens of times a week. Did she dazzle you with stories of knights, dragons and stolen treasures? maybe she taught you that even a mouse and a lion can become best friends. maybe she took you on a deep sea dive to the bottom of the ocean.
In an ever-changing publishing industry, children’s book illustrations are timeless. Regardless of time or place, these illustrations provide a means for authors and publishers to capture the imagination of readers too young to read for themselves.
You are reading: How to become an illustrator for books
If you have a strong creative spirit and love letting your creativity (and your pen) flow among the little ones, you might also want to learn how to become a children’s book illustrator.
Of course, illustrating children’s books requires a lot of work, patience, and dedication, just like any other aspect of publishing. but the good news is that it is not impossible. Read on to find out how to become a children’s book illustrator in five easy steps.
Let’s start with a simple question first.
what does a children’s book illustrator do?
Children’s book illustrators design images and artwork that not only add a visual accompaniment to a story, but also help children better understand what they are reading. Illustrators generally work as freelancers, although some will sign contracts with publishers or develop relationships with specific authors. Regardless of how they are employed, a children’s book illustrator’s job is to create meaningful images that bring a children’s book to life.
However, no matter what style you use, every illustrator must have a strong sense of creativity and a vivid imagination. children’s book illustrators, in particular, are licensed to let their minds run free.
Just think of Felicia Bond, the illustrator for the famous If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and other books in the series! Working with very few lines of text, Felicia crafted creative and expressive images like the one above that brought the stories to life and helped make the book (and series) a contemporary classic.
💰 How much do children’s book illustrators earn?
In May 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that fine artists, such as illustrators, earned an average annual salary of nearly $60,000 per year. obviously, this number changes based on the illustrator’s experience, skill, and portfolio.
It’s also important to note that most children’s book illustrators are self-employed, which can cause the salary range to vary even more. but that means the highly skilled and most successful illustrators can get paid even higher for their services!
but remember: it takes time and dedication to succeed in the world of illustration.
The industry has become increasingly competitive in recent years, due to the boom in children’s book publishing. And while it may seem easy to spend every day drawing and coloring, children’s book illustration also involves close reading, frequent revision, and a lot of trial and error. It requires constant effort and a true dedication to your craft and daily improvement. It’s certainly rewarding if you love illustrating, but don’t expect it to be easy.
If you put your mind to it, you can become an illustrator and share the magic of storytelling with the next generation of young readers, while getting paid for it. Now let’s talk about how to become a children’s book illustrator and set yourself up for success in illustration.
how to become a children’s book illustrator in 5 steps
Discovering your first steps can be overwhelming, no matter what industry you’re trying to get into. therefore, we have compiled five simple steps on how to become a children’s book illustrator. If you think illustration is your career path, then these steps will help set you up for success!
1. understand your market
In order to become a successful children’s book illustrator, it’s good practice to understand why successful illustrators are as successful as they are, as well as what the public is looking for in the marketplace. The best way to learn about your future niche? research.
Spend some time looking at popular children’s books like My Footprints illustrated by Basia Tran, or any children’s book that captures your attention. What about these books grabs your eye, whether it’s the cover design or the style? What did the illustrator do that was so effective?
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You can also contact local libraries and elementary schools for inspiration. what are the local children reading? what books are flying off the shelves? read as much as you can – it will help you understand your market audience as well as the elements of successful illustration in children’s books. the more you know about the audience you’re trying to reach, the better.
As a starter kit, you should know that children’s fiction tends to fall into five main categories:
Depending on the style of art you prefer to create, the stories you like to read, and the time you have, you could be illustrating for completely different audiences! That’s why it’s essential to know your niche before entering the market.
On top of that, take some time to familiarize yourself with the various types of children’s book illustration styles out there. Different artists will invariably work with different tools, ranging from watercolor painting to Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. Furthermore, each artist will often have her own unique and personal style to set herself apart from her peers, which brings us to the second step…
2. master your personal style
Your personal style is what will set you apart from other illustrators on the market. this is where your imagination comes into the picture (no pun intended).
In your quest to become a master children’s book illustrator, you should already be spending as much time as you can developing your style and perfecting your aesthetic. What do you like to draw? And what are you interested in designing?
More than that, you should know what illustration styles are trending in the children’s book market. These are some examples of outstanding children’s book illustrators.
This image is a great example of linework. Quentin Blake, who illustrated many books for Roald Dahl, often used linework to create quirky (and very recognizable) cartoons. You can check out more of his work here.
Many children’s book illustrators will use this tried-and-true style of cute, emotive characters and intimate environments. This image by Renata Liwska is simple but humorous, endearing, and soft! You can check out more of her work here.
Tuire Siiriainen’s style is similarly simple, but it packs a lot of punch with its simplicity. The illustrations are intentionally patterned after children’s drawings and are very accessible for young readers. You can check out an example of her portfolio here on Reedsy.
Do you want to create your own profile on reedsy? check if you meet our professional criteria with this questionnaire:
again, research is key. Embrace the artists who inspired you and study how they use color, shape, and composition. How do they effectively convey their message or story? what do you like or dislike about his style?
Ultimately, it’s important that you find a style that you enjoy and feel comfortable working with. the process will require some trial and error, and a lot of practice. Try out different illustration platforms and see which tool feels best in your hand. there are tons of styles and aesthetics, including:
- brush painting
- watercolor
- pen and ink
- digital media
- acrylic
- etc.
Draw things you’ve seen before and things you’ve only seen in your dreams. It takes some work to create, but it will be worth it when you can present your own unique style of art.
3. let them see your work of art
If you want to get noticed for your children’s book illustrations, you need to set up your own portfolio. This cross-section of your work will be crucial in landing jobs. you’ll often be the first thing in the hands of publishers or authors looking to hire you, so give it your best shot.
To create a portfolio, you need to set up a website or blog where you can showcase your best professional work as well as your unique aesthetic. There are many ways to do it. We recommend looking at the following website builders to find the platform you like best:
- squarespace is a popular choice for beginning illustrators due to its excellent templates, usability, and support.
- wix is accessible and easy to use.
- webflow allows you to create an immersive website without coding.
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Alternatively, you can always seek website design services from professional web designers. These professionals can create you a unique website directly from scratch that you can then pick up and maintain as your career grows. If you’re looking for a professional website, reedsy even offers a marketplace of some of the best web designers you can find!
Once you’ve sat down and determined how you’re going to create your portfolio, be sure to include art that best represents your tastes, skills, and experience. In three words, you need to build your brand. Check out Amy Rosenthal, Duck Illustrator! Rabbit!, and her amazing portfolio on the site.
In illustration, where a lot of work is freelance and set up on a case-by-case basis, it’s essential that you have a portfolio that models the work you’ve done and can do. Your portfolio is basically a resume and interview rolled into one. The better your portfolio, the higher a chance you have at convincing publishers or authors that you’re the one for the job!
Once you’ve set up your portfolio, continue building your presence. Set up an Instagram, for example, and start posting snippets of your art, short sketches, or anything you feel comfortable sharing with your audience. Your goal is to get your artwork in front of as many eyes as possible, and you can only achieve this by being proactive in your career. Once you build a following and start engaging with more and more users through your art, it will also show clients that there is a proven market for your work.
4. build your network
Speaking of being proactive, it’s never too early to start building your network of publishing connections. you never know when an acquaintance might link you to their next big project or gig! here are some places to start.
check out children’s literature & illustrator market book
This book is the definitive guide to the world of publishing, whether you’re a writer or an illustrator. is updated every year with up-to-date information that will give you a head start in the world of illustration. which includes awesome resources like publisher listings, contests, agent contact info, and even trade items for freelance homework.
If you’re new to the business, this book will get you on the right track and also serve as a fantastic resource for your career job search.
join the children’s book writers and illustrators society
scbwi is another great source of information and resources for aspiring children’s book illustrators. the society schedules frequent professional development programs for its members. At these events, you can meet and consult with award-winning authors and publishing professionals, attend workshops, and even get inquiries about your art.
On top of that, the scbwi also hosts an online illustrator gallery where you can feature your portfolio online (a great way to get seen by publishers and potential authors!).
sign up for a talent marketplace
One of the most important things to know is where to find children’s book illustrator jobs. Talent platforms like Reedsy, which focuses specifically on publishing, are great places to showcase your skills to a community of authors and gain the experience you need to build your portfolio. reedsy, in particular, puts you in front of hundreds of thousands of aspiring authors, many of whom will seek you out for their illustration needs.
5. keep building your portfolio
As your career progresses and you take on your first, second, or fifth project, it can be easy to become complacent and adapt to your projects. but make sure you don’t forget your wallet! keep adding it, keep developing it and keep it updated at all times. Your portfolio is your cover for the entire publishing industry. you want to be your best at all times, because you may never know when the next big concert is just around the corner.
Illustrating children’s books may seem simple at first glance, but it will take work, dedication, and a lot of practice to be successful. but if you really want to work as an illustrator, and put in the daily hours and trial and error, you can make a name for yourself in the industry. And finally, you’ll be able to find freelance illustration work from talented authors around the world who can’t wait for you to help them with their publishing journey.
Above all, children’s book illustration is unique because it is independent of education. so as long as you are creative and can tell an amazing story through art, it doesn’t matter where you got your degree or learned your skills.
And if you keep going, you’ll be sharing your imagination with thousands of kids around the world before you know it.