STEP BY STEP - My process of working on custom illustrations ✍️

Hi Everyone! 

I hope you're having a good Saturday 😊 Today I have a special "step by step" for you.

In addition to running Patreon and creating courses or content for social media, I also work on commissioned illustrations. Because many of you plan to work on their own commissions I thought it might be an interesting topic for a post. O maybe you already work on them but would like to know my way? In this post I'll introduce you to my creative process. I hope it will be useful (if not now then maybe in the future).

The first commissions were exciting for me but also quite stressful because I didn't know what I could do and how long it would take. Since my style is quite realistic, I have to use references, which are obviously protected by the copyright laws. I didn't want to copy them anyway but very often customers have quite specific requirements for illustrations. For example, "a young mother, tired and with messy hair, but smiling and hugging a sleeping newborn."

How to create such realistic illustrations without copying the photos?

Here are some steps I always go through in such a process.

1. Detailed brief from the client

From the very beginning, I ask as many questions as possible, especially if I never worked with this client before. If it is a continuation of cooperation, I usually know what style suits them, how flexible I can be or if I should literally reproduce their vision.

If you don't know what to ask, here's a sample list:

• Where will the illustration be placed?

Drawing an illustration for a tiny lipstick package will look completely different than drawing a picture for a shoe box. Ask for dimensions and format. Will the illustration be horizontal or vertical? Or maybe it should be placed around the box and create an interesting picture on each of the walls? If the customer does not have the exact dimensions yet, it's okay, but the format (vertical, horizontal) is very important. If you start drawing something vertically and the client changes his mind and you have to change the frame, you will probably start over and charge for it additionally.

• What the illustration supposed to represent?

Ask for the most accurate description possible. Sometimes the client will say that he doesn't know and he's relying on you, but often later when you start proposing the first sketches they say,  that's not what they meant. So if there is no exact vision, ask what they definitely don't want :) You can also suggest your ideas. If the client says only "I want two dancing dogs in the snow", you can suggest "I see it like this: two border collies, one smaller and brown, the other quite shaggy, visible from the side, wearing hats and scarves, around them, you can see the lights of a charming mountain village".

It may also happen that the client will not give you exact guidelines for illustrations, but will ask for a proposal to illustrate the book, i.e. to illustrate its content. Then also include time to read it and plan with the client whether the illustrations will be literal or metaphorical and determine what you care about.

Communication at the initial stage is essential.

• What style does the client wish to get?

I always ask not only for a verbal description, but also for specific examples. The "watercolor style" for one person will be traditional and quite abstract paint stains, and for another it will be a pastel photorealism. Ask for examples to be sure what the client means. They can also choose from your work if they have seen your portfolio or you can prepare some inspirations for them to choose.

• What's the deadline?

Always ask for the final date. I usually don't accept orders for "now" or "next week" unless the order is extremely attractive. To get the job done right and not to neglect other jobs, I line up clients, usually a month in advance. At the same time, it teaches the people giving you tasks that you take your job seriously and they can't let you know about something important at the last minute.

• How will the product be distributed?

If it is a single order from a private person, the price will be lower, but if you have been contacted by a large publisher who intends to print and share your work on books throughout Europe, then you should give a higher price or add a separate amount for the license to publish the work. If the price of the illustration is, for example, $800, then such a license for a year may amount to, for example, an additional $600. Thanks to this, if the company continues to use your project after a year, you will receive another payment.

• Does the client want to buy the copyrights?

Selling copyright has its pros (lower taxes or higher price) and cons (you lose rights to your own work). Here you have to make your own decision. I usually allow purchase of rights if the project is not personal, unique and closely related to my artistic style. If a given drawing is just a simple product, the vision of which was mainly related to the client's idea and I do not intend to identify with it, then I sell the copyrights. If an illustration contains my heart and soul, there is no question of giving up the rights to it.

2. Quotation

I hate doing quotations. It's a terribly complicated topic, and I feel like I usually underestimate myself. That is why, before I worked out prices that satisfy me, I did market research on the Internet each time. 

When pricing your work, you can value it for the number of hours spent, or for the final piece. It depends on you. I prefer to work on a price per final work but I limit the number of changes the client can ask for. Remember to include also material consumption, possible shipping and tax issues in your country. 

When I took on my first commission, my rate was quite low because although I felt artistically capable to do it, I didn't know the process and knew that I could make mistakes or work longer than I planned.

Over time, I increased the rates. Mainly because when the price is too low, I have no motivation to complete the job, and when I don't have the motivation and joy of creating, it is unlikely to be well made. Remember to value your work, so that you feel joy of working on the piece, and not frustration from being a slave to a given task. Check information from professionals on the Internet and do not be afraid to quote high rates if someone reaches out to you as a valued artist. It is always better to say more and mention that you are open to negotiation, than to say too little and cry while drawing. 

Don't be like her:

3. Research

When everything is settled (I accept the order, the client accepts the price and we sign up the contract), I start doing research. 

The last illustration I worked on was a drawing for a book for specialists, depicting a doctor in a white coat, with a stethoscope around her neck discussing a questionnaire with a young woman. I know what a stethoscope looks like, but this book will be read by doctors who see stethoscopes every day. If I make a mistake in its construction, the illustration will look at least unprofessional or even funny. I would not like my illustration to become a meme on some medical forum. That is why research is such an important step even if the style of illustration is not very realistic - to not become a meme.

4. Thumbnails

At this stage, I sketch very simple layouts of what comes to my mind when I think about a given topic. Knowing what the format will be, I can plan what space my drawing will take and what composition will be appropriate. These are just ridiculous doodles:

I thought it would be worth portraying the two figures from the front to show their faces and emotions. Thanks to this, it will be known what they are talking about even without comic bubbles. I chose this arrangement:

5. Searching for reference photos

The next step is closely related to research but is more specific. Knowing how I want to arrange the characters, I look for specific images. Usually it's impossible to find exactly the same layout, but that's okay, because I can combine them while drawing or beforehand, in the form of a collage.

I look for photos mainly on royalty free pictures sites, i.e. Unsplash and Pexels. I do not want to use photos of photographers without their permission, even if the pictures wouldn't be recognized. 

These are the photos I have picked:

6. Taking your own photos

Usually, I can't find everything I need, so I also take my own photos - mainly silhouettes, a specific arrangement, or hands.

(Sometimes I can't find anything).

In the case of this illustration, I couldn't find almost anything suitable so we lay down with my sister and we posed for the photo :) Of course I've changed faces and many other details.

7. Quick, compositional sketch

When I prepare all the references, I make a quick sketch with a compositional layout to present it to the client. It's not good looking picture, it's just supposed to show what the drawing will look like without working hard on it. If the client is new and I don't know their imagination skills, I work a bit harder :)

8. Customers approval

With the next stage of work, I always wait for the client's comments. Always. At this stage, it may turn out that the client wants to start all over again (of course it costs money) or wants to make a small change, e.g. the hairstyle of one of the characters. Sometimes a change can affect the composition, so if I have such concerns, I make sure with the client that they definitely want it.

9. Palette and distribution of colors

This step is optional because not everyone wants a color illustration. If this is the case - I ask the client about the colors they like and create simple mock-ups on the accepted sketch. If the color distribution is accepted, I move on to the final illustration.

10. Final illustration

Once everything is confirmed, I start working on the final illustration. The previous steps and customer acceptance may look like a lot of work, but in fact they save time and confusion. I also recommend including in the initial contract that the client can only change his mind twice at no extra cost, and that these changes must not require you to start over. This way, you will prevent a situation where the client accepts something in a hurry without really thinking about their decision.

That’s all! I hope that these information will give you some insight into the work on custom illustrations. If you have additional questions or doubts, feel free to share them under this post 💌 

Hugs,

Gaby