#illustration help
true slate
Hi! I saw Nadia's ping and making a thread here. I'm a graphic designer that also does illustration so hopefully I can help. What's up?
half relic
Hi!! Thanks for your time. I just graduated in Graphic Design and I really want to work with illustration. But I'm feeling kind of lost on how to start!
My main problem is that I don't know what I want to do in illustration. In which illustration path should I go.
true slate
Ah okay gotcha! It may be more helpful to think of it like this: Illustrations are usually pieces that enhances something or are part of a bigger thing.
You have graphic design as your background so you could incorporate it into your design work (I like incorporating illustrated elements to my branding projects) or you can try to pursue illustration on its own (I'm currently also working on a children's book and I've loved it so far and would love to do it again).
Either way, it'll be good for you to start thinking sort of broadly about what do you generally want even if you don't know the specific deliverables you'd want to work on yet. What industries do you want to work in? What subjects do you like drawing the most? Are there any dream projects that you have in mind? What would you want your work featured on?
When you start figuring out that, maybe, a big part of illustration that you like doing is concept art, or environments, or more abstract spot illustrations, etc... you can start piecing together where you see these things the most or where it may be helpful to have your work.
I'm not entirely sure where exactly to point you yet because it really is just up to you and what you want to do and there's a good bit of options to look through. Does this seem like a decent start for you to start thinking about?
half relic
Yes it does! Thank you. I already do a little of commission/ freelance work (on twitter) but I find difficult to start really working in something bigger.
I'm really struggling to make a good portfolio because I really don't know exactly what projects I want to do and how to just make money being a illustrator.
I really love doing commissions and doing characters, mainly focused on fantasy. I like branding too but I really love illustrating.
I thought that maybe finding a mentor would help me focus a little more but I'm not having a lot of luck looking for a illustration mentor.
true slate
Gotcha, are you thinking that you want to go into industry with a full time job or are you thinking of sticking to freelance/commission and content creation?
half relic
I really don't know. I would like a full time job just because it seems more stable, but I don't have a preference.
true slate
Yeah that totally makes sense, just wanted to make sure 
when it comes to freelancing I'm a bit more helpful with that. When it comes to illustration more in the entertainment industry (character art, environment, concept, etc) and outside of design I'm afraid I'm not as helpful. If you want, we can set up a call to chat more about the design and freelance side if you want to hear about that 🙂
half relic
Yes! It'd be great!
true slate
Cool! Let me send you a friend request and we can DM about a time that works 😄
half relic
ok!