Advice from an Illustrator (or Things I Wish I Knew Before Freelancing Full-Time)

Sometimes I receive emails asking for advice on how to do what I do: Draw pictures for money. Recently a new-to-the-game illustrator named Patrick reached out to me. I asked him if I could post my (adapted) response here because I think it can help other aspiring illustrators too. Here it goes.

I love what I do.

But it’s tough.

(We all knew that was coming.)

I assume the advice you’re seeking is how to make money (find clients and know what to charge)…? Those were my questions when I first started.

First of all, it’s okay to not know what you’re doing. When you’re new, you should be especially fearless about asking questions. I say this because when I was new, I felt paralyzed (in terms of asking for help) because I thought that working for myself meant I was supposed to be an expert. How silly! I could have had a much easier time if I was comfortable asking lots of questions (including asking for work and asking people how much they charge). Speaking of questions, make sure your questions are specific.

Email & Reaching Out

Next time you email someone seeking advice, ask that person what you really want to know. You don’t really want advice, you want answers. Is it how to make money? How they found their clients? How they built up their internet presence? What are three things they wish they knew/did before they started working for themselves? Did they have a breakthrough moment or has it been slow and steady? I remember so desperately wanting someone to tell me the magic formula. But there isn’t one. It comes with a lot of work and curiosity. In those brain picking emails, just ask a couple of easy-to-answer questions, and I’m certain you’ll get more replies than asking for general advice. We’re all busy. If I’m in over my head for work, a well-intentioned advice-seeking email from someone I don’t know can easily get pushed back because it takes me a minute to think, “Hmmm… how do I summarize all of my experiences and lessons learned into a concise email?” vs. “What are three things I wish I did differently — that’s easy!” Specific questions are less daunting. Unfortunately, I have emails from four months ago that have still gone unanswered because they came at a time when I was slammed and every passing day pushes them further back in the inbox. I feel awful about this. On that note, it’s nice to check in if you haven’t heard back from someone a week later. They probably want to respond, but they’re busy. If you pop in quick, it will probably be a nice reminder. At least that’s how I feel when people check in.

Stay Curious

Absorb, absorb, absorb. Read all the books, articles, TED talks, etc. that you can. Invest in meeting people in the field and becoming friends with them. Start with one conference a year. Go into it with the expectation that you want to walk away with friends in the industry. If you can’t go to a conference, go to a Dribbble meetup, AIGA event, Under the Radar (if you’re in Austin), conferences, lectures, etc. There are tons of places where artists/designers/makers gather. I promise this gets easier in time. Take it one day (or event at a time). If there are zero get-to-know-your-local-illustrator happenings in your area, what’s stopping you from starting up a monthly Happy Hour? (It’s called Drink and Draw.)

A big turning point for me was when I made the kind of close friends where I could just text things like, “Hey, do you think charging X-amount is good for this project?” or, “How do you handle it when a client wants a project really fast? Do you do a rush fee? If so, how much?”

Finding Clients

Now let’s talk about the long game.

It takes time. Share your work and share it often. Don’t be afraid to ask for help every step of the way. Email your friends and family and tell them that you’re doing this big thing (pursuing illustration as a career) and you’d like them to keep you in mind for work.

Encourage them to help you spread the word. Make sure to give them specific examples of what you can do since most people don’t really know what illustration actually entails (other than children’s books).

You can also email other illustrators you know and tell them you’re looking for X-type of work and keep you in mind in case their plates get full and they need extra help. That email alone could move you to the top of someone’s list (they may have a lot of illustration friends but we’re all busy. It’s easier to refer a client to the first person that comes to mind that feels like the right fit).

I’m also a big fan of projects like the 100 Day Project. It helps establish your credibility (lots of output in a short amount of time) and gives you a great backlog of work.

Pricing

There’s a lot I could say here (perhaps another post another day!), but I’ll keep this one brief.

One way to learn what to charge: If you feel completely incapable of knowing what to charge or how to price your work, reach out to someone who’s doing what you want to be doing and ask them what their rate is for a one hour Skype consultation. Paying them for an hour of their time ensures that neither of you means funny business. That is your time for real talk and real answers. Walk through your projects and tell them what you charged and see what they think. Did you charge too little? Should you have done fewer revisions before kicking in the hourly rate? How would they have quoted the project? Hopefully, this person will either give you the peace of mind knowing that you’re on the right track or they’ll help you understand what you’re worth (and what the market actually pays). Best case scenario: You learn a lot and now you’re friends with someone you admire.

Handy resources having to do with money/pricing:

And finally…

You can be doing everything right and it still feels like you’re swimming upstream. It takes time. Or you can just be doing everything wrong. That’s possible too.

But that’s why community is so important. When we’re in dialog with other people in our industry, we kind of develop this barometer for what “right” looks like (I know I know, there isn’t one right path blah blah). You’ll make it harder on yourself if you just wing it. Be proactive about this dialog.

It’s okay to be the first (or only) person in your circle who is really honest about stuff like money.

Why not? What do you have to lose? When my friends and I told each other what we make, we suddenly felt more invested in each other. We had a bond and a trust. This doesn’t have to be your approach, but sometimes it just takes one person to ask the honest questions and everyone else follows suit.

And finally-finally…

Don’t be too proud to get a job. There is dignity in all work. I can’t decide if I did the right thing sticking to the freelance life even when I was barely getting by. It’s all fine and dandy now, but I missed out on a lot of life (and money) just because I was too stubborn to get a job. It doesn’t have to be permanent (but it’s okay if it is). You are not a failure if you decide to go back to the office. You are wise and taking care of yourself.

Well, that concludes this installment of, “So You Want to Be an Illustrator?” or whatever I titled it (I can’t remember, and if I scroll up, I will lose my place).

I hope my mistakes and “scenic routes” can give you a shortcut or two on your own journey.

Sally forth!

You have a few of Becky’s freelancing tips. Now learn more about her design skills in our Digital Illustration in Adobe Illustrator online class.

This article was originally published by Becky Simpson on Medium. All illustrations in this post are by Becky Simpson and some can be found in her store, Chipper Things.

In March 2020, we opened up our creative library to the world and over 150,000 of you joined to stay creative during the pandemic.

Well, things have changed for sure, but it's still a bit crazy out there. Many of us are still balancing working from home by night with watching our toddlers by day. Some of us can't work and are catching a serious case of cabin fever this winter... and ALL of us want to stay inspired, creative, and take care of ourselves.

So starting February 1, 2023, we're offering 10 free courses for the next 3 months and you can always access all 120+ online classes for just $10/month or test drive them all with a 30-Day Free Trial after you create a free B+C account. Interested in learning some new recipes or baking techniques? Check out 45+ expert-led classes in our B+C Baking and Cooking Bundle.

You've all shared some beautiful and creative things over the past few years, so we wanted to figure out how to make it easier for all of you to keep learning, making and creating. This is just the first phase of some new things coming to B+C Classes, and we're excited to give members exclusive access to even more great creative stuff in the near future.

Stay creative, friends!

"Everything has changed," according to Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift's 2012 song of the same name, but 13 years later, the most important thing between these two BFF's stays the same. The duo, who have recorded collabs like "End Game" for Taylor Swift's Reputation in 2017 and "The Joker and the Queen" for Ed Sheeran's Equals album in 2021, don't often see each other with their busy schedules, but when they do, they spend a lot of time together, Ed says.

Here's what Ed Sheeran told Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper about his friendship with Taylor Swift.

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift love to catch up for "hours" at a time.

“I see her when I see her,” Ed Sheeran says on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast. “I probably see her, like, four times a year.”

But in true bestie form, when these two do get together, they lock in. I'm talking “proper sit-down, six-hour catch-ups,” according to Ed. “I think that’s, like, a really nice way to do it.”

Extended conversations where you lose track of the world around you are my favorite way to spend time with a friend! As much as I love phone calls and FaceTimes, there's nothing quite like being together with someone in person, and Ed thinks really fondly of being with Taylor Swift on her Red tour in 2013 and 2014, where he opened for the "Fortnight" singer.

“I lived in Nashville, and she lived in Nashville,” he said. “And we used to fly to and from the gigs together. I literally spent almost every single day with her for about six months...I think that period [is my favorite]. Yeah. 2013." Spending every single day with Taylor Swift? Dreamy!

Ed Sheeran isn't the only one of Taylor Swift's friends who's talked about her recently. Taylor showed up to Emma Stone's Poor Things premiere in 2023, and Emma was in the audience at the Eras Tour!

“I’ve known her since we were 17 and 18, so she hooked me up, which was very nice ’cause I know those tickets are impossible to get,” Emma toldVanity Fair at a Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic polo match. “She’s a wonderful friend. She blows my mind."

Check out A Ranking Of Taylor Swift's Most Powerful Friendship Moments for more!

We recently partnered with Bounty to support emerging artists and designers in a national design competition. The ask? Design a graphic for a new Brit + Co and Bounty paper towel collection themed A Clean Fresh Start, which launches this month. In this creator spotlight series, we are featuring the winners of that competition to learn more about their inspirations, their design process, and their winning Bounty design. Read on to meet…

Jill Reynolds | Jill OREY Design | @jilloreydesign | Saint Paul, Minnesota

What are your design inspirations? Getting away from my computer. I find inspiration in the outdoors, nature, organic shapes, and patterns, from something as simple as a unique leaf shape to cracks in the pavement. I love looking at textiles old and new and being inspired by vintage motifs. Travel is always an amazing way to see something fresh and feel inspired. My favorite trip has been to Japan – the juxtaposition of old and new is like nowhere else I’ve experienced.

Tell us your design process? I like to play and experiment a lot. I don’t have a hard structure to my work and instead I prefer to let ideas flow and come about with experimentation. I love to use different objects to paint with and create imperfect textures and marks that I’ll piece together. I work with traditional mediums as well as Adobe programs and Procreate. Color is really important to me and I love an unexpected combination.

How did you get into illustration? My career goal when I was 10 was to travel the world to find inspiration for the books I would write and illustrate so from a young age, I knew instinctively that I wanted to create. I’ve always followed what I’m good at and what I enjoy and that has created a career path that has eventually brought me to becoming a full time surface pattern designer. I still strive to illustrate my own series of children’s picture books.

What are three IG accounts you love?

Fantastic Fungi They forage all these amazing mushrooms and discuss the texture and color and other magical properties. With some ASMR thrown in, it’s addictive!

Lucy Tiffany She paints from her imagination on large-scale using beautiful color palettes and bold strokes. I like designers who take risks, create from the heart, and aren’t following trends.

Domino Magazine There are lots of amazing interior accounts out there and Domino has been one of my favorites for aspirational and real-life living spaces.

How do you know when a piece of art, like your winning Bounty Paper Towel design below, is “finished”? I just know. I can’t really put my finger on it but there’s a certain level of balance and being slightly ‘off’ that I find satisfies me.

What will it be like for you to see your design on a Bounty paper towel at your local store? To see my designs in my local store will be such a thrill! I imagine it’s like when a musician hears their music on the radio. A lot of work and moving parts goes into the final product and it’s starts with an idea and some imagination. It’s a huge reward as a creative to see my thoughts become a real tangible product that people can use. I always hope my work at the least spreads some joy and I think we have done that with these new prints!

Be sure to look out for Jill’s winning design wherever Bounty Paper Towels are sold!

Our hot take for 2025 is the best TV shows are book adaptations. We understand there's a call for original work, but we appreciate when directors and executive producers are able to visually depict authors' written work. This could look like Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington reciting moving monologues that makes it hard to find the "villain" in a series, or it can involve a sexy man who literally exists in a fantasy.

Want to know which shows we're hinting at?

Keep scrolling to see the best TV show adaptations we think got it right!

1. The Handmaid's Tale

Disney/Steve Wilkie

The Handmaid's Tale has taken our emotions on the scariest ride for five seasons because it showed the mass hysteria and cruelty that resulted in the creation of the totalitarian government of Gilead. Hoping to account for the low birth rates and keep things like STDs at bay, a new social standing is created and places fertile women in the hands of powerful leaders to help repopulate the world.

Treated like slaves, these women aren't allowed to do anything that doesn't align with Gilead's strict policies which places them in a helpless state. However, one Handmaid named June Osborne/Offred (Elizabeth Moss) decides to form a plan that'll help them break free and seek revenge if necessary.

Watch the sixth season on Hulu while you wait for its sequel The Testaments to premiere!

Read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

2. 13 Reasons Why

David Moir/Netflix

Trigger warning:This TV series mentions suicide.

13 Reasons Why is a drama show that sheds light on one student's decision to kill herself. According to Hannah Baker's (Katherine Langford) recorded messages, several people played a role in her final decision to end her life. Beginning with Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette), the tapes outline how characters affected her and it eventually results in Katherine's parents suing the school district. By the end of the series, no one's the same.

Watch all 4 seasons on Netflix and read Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

3. The Witcher

Susan Allnutt/Netflix

The Witcher converges the timelines of Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill), Princess Cirilla of Cintra (Freya Allen), and sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra) as they deal with the different moments that impact them. However, their stories eventually connect because Geralt conjured Cirilla's presence in his life via magic and swears to protect her once they meet.

If you love watching fantasy shows, you'll love watching The Witcher!

Watch all 3 seasons on Netflix and read The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski.

4. Little Fires Everywhere

Erin Simkin/Hulu

Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington's performances in Little Fires Everywhere had us locked in to this drama series every Wednesday during the pandemic in 2020. It was unlike anything we'd seen, but we were even more excited to learn the show was based on author Celeste Ng's book. Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon) and Mia Warren (Kerry Washington) begin an uneasy friendship that quickly turns volatile when an adopted child's mother seeks to reclaim the child she once couldn't care for.

It sheds a light on classism, stereotypes, and motherhood in a way that changes the main characters by the end of the heartbreaking series.

Watch it on Hulu and read Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

5. The Summer I Turned Pretty

Erika Doss/Prime

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a coming-of-age TV series that explores Isabel "Belly" Conklin's (Lola Tung) experience with being noticed by her crush Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and his brother Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). Though they aren't strangers, the boys have never noticed her until one particular summer finds them looking at her differently.

Although Isabel revels in their attention, she learns how to listen to her heart in this moving show.

Watch both seasons on Amazon Prime and read The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.

6. The Queen's Gambit

Ken Woroner/Netflix

The Queen's Gambit tells the powerful, yet tragic story of skilled chess player Elizabeth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) and her struggle to conceal her bad habits. Orphaned at a young age, she develops a dependence on the medication given to her and other orphans to help keep them as tame as possible. Though the medication works and Beth is eventually adopted, she can't seem to stay away from harmful substances.

Despite it all, Beth finds a way to continue excelling at chess and even enters the world's largest tournament to prove her skills are far superior than others.

Watch it on Netflix and read The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis.

7. Bridgerton

Liam Daniel/Netflix

We melt every time we talk about Bridgerton, but can you blame us? Adapted from Julia Quinn's popular series, we're introduced to a society that prides itself on finding the Diamond of the season. However, a closer look reveals how much the TV series and novels follow the darling Bridgerton family.

From finding love in unlikely places to secret identities being revealed, it's one series we'll always want to watch.

Watch all 3 season on Netflix and read Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.

8. Normal People

Enda Bowe

The TV series Normal People stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne Sheridan and Paul Mescal as Connell Waldron, the two main characters of Sally Rooney's bestselling novel of the same name. Over a period of time, viewers watch as the two students grapple with their social standing at school, private lives, and feelings for each other. It's about as messy as you think it can be, especially knowing Marianne is considered an "outcast" while Connell seems to excel socially at school.

Watch it on Hulu and read Normal People by Sally Rooney.

9. Watchmen

Mark Hill/HBO

Watchmen is a superhero TV series based on a book that explores themes of politics and supernatural elements. Instead of being hailed as trustworthy, those with the power and means to fight crime were banished because of their unorthodox methods.

However, it's clear that sinister forces want to continue to incite fear in citizens via racism and faux threats which leads to Angela Abar (Regina King) being pulled into a plot that tests her as a masked police office who's on the hunt for Doctor Manhattan (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). What she doesn't anticipate is how close he is to her.

Watch it on HBO Max and read Watchmen by Alan Moore.

10. Daisy Jones & The Six

Lacey Terrell/Prime Video

Daisy Jones & The Sixmay have had one season, but we're still singing its sweet tune. It followed the beginnings, sweet highs, and unfortunate lows of a fictional rock band that knew how to move a crowd. Fronted by singers Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) and Billy Dunne (Sam Caflin), the group had a successful run that was sometimes complicated by personal problems, drugs, and romantic encounters.

If you haven't seen it yet, what are you waiting for?

Watch it on Amazon Prime and read Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Follow us on Facebook for more binge-worthy TV & movie news!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Starbucks fans that have stayed loyal to the chain through thick and thin are no strangers to the heartbreak of saying ‘goodbye’ to certain beloved drinks, food items, and flavors. Over the years, Starbucks has discontinued several syrups, leaving fans yearning for their return (we miss raspberry so badly). In this post, we’re taking a look down nostalgia lane and revisiting some of the most popular Starbucks syrups that were sadly taken off menus!

Scroll on for 9 discontinued Starbucks syrups we miss terribly.

Starbucks

1. Almond Syrup

Starbucks’ almond syrup was subtly nutty all while adding sweetness to fan-fave drinks like lattes and hot chocolates! Despite its loyal following, Starbucks discontinued it around 2008, likely due to low demand and a general restructuring of their menu. Many fans still miss it for its unique taste and versatility, though the chain still offers plenty of nutty flavors like hazelnut and pistachio (though the latter is seasonal).

Reddit

2. Raspberry Syrup

Gone, but not forgotten! Starbucks’ raspberry syrup was always so tasty in an iced white mocha or in their lemonade bevs. It offered a bright, fruity flavor with a nice sweet-tart balance. Plus, it added a fun color to any sip! Sadly, Starbucks began phasing it out around 2023, likely due to waning popularity and a shift toward more natural fruit inclusions.

Starbucks

3. Butterscotch Syrup

The butterscotch syrup debuted in 2016 with Starbucks’ very own Smoked Butterscotch Latte, bringing all the nostalgic, candy-like flavor notes with it. The syrup itself was fairly rich, buttery, and caramel-y. Mmm. Though it was beloved at the time, this flavor was only around seasonally and eventually discontinued, probably due to lacking demand.

Starbucks

4. Juniper Syrup

Widely known as one of Starbucks’ more-experimental flavors, the juniper syrup launched around the winter holidays in the famed Juniper Latte that carried botanical notes of pine, citrus, and sage. This now-discontinued flavor turned out to be notoriously divisive among Starbucks fans, though the small niche that really adored it still beg for the flavor to come back to menus!

Starbucks

5. Pineapple Ginger Syrup

This summery flavor was introduced to the Starbucks menu back in the spring of 2020 for a few limited-time drinks. With the sweetness of pineapple but the subtle spice of ginger, it was a pretty bold syrup choice at the time. It came and went from menus super quick, though Starbucks still offers plenty of fruity options like strawberry, blackberry, and cherry.

@StarbucksNews

6. Sangria Syrup

Sangria syrup was first used in Starbucks' iced teas to mimic the fruity, wine-inspired flavors of a traditional sangria… all without the alcohol. Sneaky! It tasted slightly of apple, berry, and citrus, making them taste like a true mocktail! It likely didn’t stay on menus long because it was a limited-time offering and didn’t gain enough traction to return.

Reddit

7. Valencia Orange Syrup

Starbucks’ Valencia orange syrup was another of the fruity variety. It was widely used in iced drinks like Refreshers, though some baristas really enjoyed it in mochas for a unique orange mocha vibe! It was super summery, though it ended up being phased off menus as Starbucks tested new flavors like dragonfruit, pineapple, and passionfruit.

Reddit

8. Mango Syrup

This one’s a total throwback! Starbucks’ long-gone mango syrup was super tropical and, of course, fruity. It paired especially well with the chain’s green teas and lemonades, though they ended up trading the more-artificial, syrupy mango flavor for a natural juice blend over the years.

Starbucks

9. Marshmallow Syrup

Made popular with the S’mores Frappuccino that hit menus in 2015 (and made a reprise in 2019), Starbucks’ marshmallow syrup was truly one of a kind. Creamy and sweet, it had a nostalgic quality that not many other Starbucks syrups did. Unfortunately, Starbucks cut it from the menu since the S’mores Frappuccino was only around for a single summer.

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