Someone who likes to draw and does not throw it away in the middle of a project even if asked to redo it. A person who can translate an abstract image into a form. A person who is flexible enough to come up with multiple design patterns.

Illustrations" are pictures that are used to convey the contents of newspapers and books in an easy-to-understand manner. Illustrators are in charge of drawing these illustrations. The same job of drawing pictures is done by painters. Painters earn their income by selling the pictures they draw on their favorite themes. Illustrators, on the other hand, earn income by drawing pictures that meet the needs of clients such as publishers and advertising agencies. The reasons for drawing pictures are quite different between painters and illustrators. Nevertheless, there are many artists who make use of their drawing skills to create illustrations as a side job. When asked to create illustrations for books and other publications, they may be given detailed instructions on the size of the illustration, the content of the picture, and even the use of color. On the other hand, they may receive an abstract request verbally, such as, "Make it pleasing to the eye. Whatever the request, the illustrator's job is to create an illustration that meets the client's needs. Even after the illustration is completed, if it does not match the client's image, the illustrator will be asked to redraw it many times, and he or she must comply with the request. The important thing is to follow the client's instructions and requests while showing your own originality and personality. However, in the case of illustrations for illustrated books and encyclopedias, accuracy is sometimes more important than originality. It is the greatest pleasure to see the illustrations you have painstakingly drawn adorn the pages of a magazine.

There are no special qualifications or examinations to become an illustrator. Since it is a job that involves drawing pictures, it is common to go to an art/art college or vocational school to learn the basics of painting. By showing their work to others who also aspire to become illustrators, they may engage in friendly competition and mutually develop their talents. Another key point in this job is how flexible you can be in responding to the client's order. It is also important to broaden one's personal horizons through various experiences during one's school years through fun and hobbies, and to improve one's communication skills by building a wide range of friendships.

The important thing for aspiring illustrators is to sell themselves. This is because you cannot get a job if you do not tell others what kind of pictures you draw. After graduating from a university, junior college, or vocational school, you can work at an advertising agency, design office, or game company to plan and present your work, or you can build a network with publishers and advertising companies through your work to increase the chances of having your work seen. Competitions are also a chance to showcase your work to a large audience. For example, the JIA Illustration Award, sponsored by the Japan Illustrators Association, is an annual illustration contest that invites entries from around the world. Try to enter such competitions frequently. You can also market yourself on the Internet nowadays. If you upload your works to your own website or illustration submission sites and have them seen by many people, they may catch the eye of a publisher or advertising agency and lead to an order for work.

Illustration has many forms of expression, and there are numerous drawing materials used in its production. Colored pencils. Watercolors, crayons, pastels, etc. Illustrations drawn with these materials have a deep flavor. However, most illustration work is now usually submitted as digital data. Analog manuscripts drawn on paper are almost never handed in as is. Analog manuscripts must be scanned and digitized. For this purpose, we should learn computer graphics software. On the other hand, there are also digital techniques that can give the impression of having been drawn in analog form. Learning digital techniques as a new method of painting may expand one's potential as an illustrator. In addition, more and more illustrations will be used in Internet advertisements and homepages in the future. Some sites actually sell illustrations on the Internet or accept orders for illustrations in the form of contests. Let's learn digital technology in order to respond to such situations.

The average annual income is 4.74 million yen. The price of a single illustration varies depending on the book, magazine, or advertising company. For a single book with a small budget, the price may be 1,000 to 2,000 yen per illustration. Many illustrators earn income by drawing a large number of illustrations when they are new and selling them at events. If they get regular work in weekly or monthly magazines, they can earn a steady income. If you become well known as an illustrator, you can expect to earn a good amount of money.

As a freelance illustrator, if you don't have any orders, every day is Sunday. On the other hand, when the deadline is near, there are no weekends and sometimes all-nighters.

Since they do not require manpower or equipment, many work from home. Some illustrators are affiliated with design firms, but such people often work as both graphic designers and illustrators.

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to getting a job as an illustrator!