5. Looking back and Make Your Mark - the bootcamp

Raising my illustration game

Hi, I’m Libby. I’m trying to find my feet in the world of illustration. I’ve done a load of research and I’m sharing it here, along with my progress on how my illustration journey is going. I’m so glad you could join me on this bumpy ride!

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Hi there!

For the first time since starting this blog, I’m not currently looking after a cat.

Cat-sitting is on hold for 4 days as we await our next booking.

So today I’m enjoying cat-free time and working from a very quiet British Library in London King’s Cross.

I also managed to attend the Royal Academy Summer exhibition this week and my inspiration cup was filled to the brim!

The Summer exhibition

The recap

It’s been 5 months since I started illustrating (blog number 5) and the last month feels like the biggest step so far.

I feel like I’ve said that before but it’s true again.

Looking back at the last 5 months…

• Month 1. I started drawing daily, joining sketch groups, illustration talks, online life drawing classes and sketching (mostly cats) at every opportunity.

• Month 2. I joined the course ‘Getting Paid to Draw’ which introduced me to the illustration industry. I got to know the different sectors and how to begin building a portfolio. I worked on my first illustration briefs and started thinking about what I’d like to work on.

• Month 3. I started setting myself illustration briefs to explore what I like illustrating, to set in place a working routine and to establish accountability for building my portfolio.

• Month 4. I continued my briefs and spent time researching, attending workshops and making illustrations. I threw together my first portfolio on Behance and was accepted onto the Inky Goodness ‘Make Your Mark Bootcamp’, a program for professional and aspiring illustrators to help them succeed in the industry. This came with membership to the Inky Goodness Collective.

• Month 5. I’ve been finding my flow and enjoying Make Your Mark. I’ve been working on one live brief, with the opportunity to be published on the cover of Ferment, a craft beer magazine and one non-live brief, set and reviewed by the Art Director of the Guardian magazine.

It’s been an amazing 5 months and I’ve tried to stay as free-flowing as possible. I’ve wanted to experiment without the pressure of finding my style or niche. I feel like every month has raised the bar and my newest course has taken things to another level.

My London map icons in colour

Making Your Mark

When I saw Inky Goodness and Make Your Mark Bootcamp (MYM) advertised, I was wary.

I had begun to realise there are a TONNE of courses in illustration and the illustration industry.

It feels like a lot of illustrators are diversifying their income by creating courses and workshops which is great, but I need to be careful and determine which are worth the investment for me right now.

It felt like MYM was similar in some ways to Getting Paid to Draw and I’d already started setting myself illustration briefs, so why did I need ANOTHER course?

What sold it for me was the idea of interactive buddy groups and that the program was in-depth over 6 months. That’s a lot of content.

I also liked that it was UK-based with UK-based illustrators and Art Directors as planned guests. What I’d had so far had mostly been from the US and I thought it’d be good to see any contrast.

Price-wise it’s 6 months and £600 which includes 12 months membership to ‘The collective’ which is £130 on its own.

So £100/month for the main course.

I was about 3 weeks in when I realised this course and community is very unique.

Seen as an individual

What makes it unique for me is what feels like ‘being seen.’

What I mean by this is being involved. Being asked to speak on my progress during sessions, having my ideas critiqued and encouraged in workshops and being part of a weekly buddy group of fellow illustrators who support and care about your journey.

And I think this difference is what I need to come into my own.

It’s like the difference between attending a lecture and a workshop.

Feeling part of it.

There was an element of this in the Getting Paid to Draw community space but on Make Your Mark, it’s during all the live sessions.

This is down to the attention to detail of Lisa Hassell the course facilitator. You can tell she knows each of the illustrators’ work.

Also, when you are completely new and treated the same as other participants who have been illustrating for years, you start to feel like you can achieve the same goals.

Throw in talks and illustration briefs set by some of the best publications and agencies in the industry, off-shoot challenges and working groups, run by some of the collective participants, it’s an amazing deal.

It does need time commitment but that suits my current situation.

I’ve already said numerous times ‘I’m just so glad I joined’

A sneak peek at one of my editorial brief submissions

Raising my game

For me, the boot camp has helped me focus on 2 things: Process and Priorities.

Process: How I create an illustration. Seeing other people’s illustration processes has helped me refine my own.

This means using mood boards more consistently, developing sketches to a solid level and building confidence in my ideas.

Moodboard for my V&A poster project

Priorities: There are a lot of resources and sessions to keep up with. I have been able to set boundaries and choose my daily activities, prioritising things that; bring me joy, maintain balance, and contribute towards my goals.

Other Achievements

• I hosted my first ever Digital Drawing Co-working with

  Jenni - Tiny Leaf Press
  this month and it felt really successful. It was fun to share digital drawing tips with each other. I’m looking forward to planning another session!

• I continued my own briefs: finishing my map and progressing with my exhibition poster. Here are some of the icons that may make it onto the final design.

V&A Design 1900s - now objects

• I had the loose goal of setting up my own personal portfolio site by July. I managed that too. I think I’d usually have wasted time planning this but instead, I set it up in under 2 hours, making it as simple as possible.

This month’s resources and what I’ve learned

Keeping the balance

Some things I’ve used to stay sane this month

• 40Hz binaural beats (Spotify playlist)

• Healthy Minds app (free)

• Journalling

• Staying hydrated

• Time in nature

• Dance. My favourite track to dance like a nutter this month has been this.

Workshops & Tutorials I’ve taken

• As part of Make Your Mark Bootcamp:

  • Brief set by Ferment magazine Art Director

  • Working session on the above brief with illustrator Luke McConkey

  • Brief set by G2, Guardian magazine Art Director

  • Working session on the above brief with illustrator Luke McConkey

Events I’ve attended

• As part of Inky Goodness Collective/MYM:

  • Commercial Markets: Editorial Illustration

  • Commercial Markets: Publishing

  • Commercial Markets: Children’s book publishing & picturebooks

  • Crafting the Life You Want with Aardman Animation Director & Designer Gavin Strange

    This was SO inspirational! So creative and championing finding your own weird.

  • Industry Talk: Bright Agency, how to get into publishing

  • Industry Talk: Flying Eye Books + Owen Davey, children’s book publishing

• The London Illustrators Fair

• The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

• Illustrators in Motion: AOI with Sophie Winder

• Yoillo illustrators picnic in Regents Park - where I met some MYM participants IRL!

Clubs I’ve been joining

• Draw Brighton - online Life Drawing

What I’ve learned this month

• How to plan and execute a solid illustration process

• I can confidently produce work to show to Art Directors - eeeek!

• Loads more about the industry from all the Inky Goodness talks. They’ve been so inspiring!

What I’m excited about for the next month

• With 2 course briefs on the go, I’ve decided to pause The New Illustrator briefs for August. I’ll finish my poster and focus on building the New Illustrator Illustration Directory.

• Getting feedback from Ferment and the Guardian on my editorial illustrations

• Continuing to build my portfolio

What a month!

Has what you’ve read here sparked anything within you? Let me know.

This blog is for my accountability (and sieve brain) so I can look back and forward but I’d love to hear if you’ve found any of my ramblings helpful.

As always, thank you for reading!

Libby