Blog

Who says there’s no glamour in illustration? Guess who painted the adorable Beatrix Potter watercolours in the animated blockbuster of the moment, Peter Rabbit? IA alumnus Bettina Guthridge, that’s who.

Redbubble, Zazzle, Society6 – there are myriad print-on-demand websites out there, all with their own quirks. Plenty of IA members opt for Melbourne-based Redbubble, so we’ve asked a few old hands for their top tips.

​Hands up who’s knackered? Even great years can be exhausting by December. So how about making your first act of self-care for silly season 2017 a theatrical pat on the back for everything you’ve achieved over the last 365 days – large and infinitesimally small? Closely followed by some gloriously guilt-free downtime to rest, reward yourself, and reflect on the positives of the year that’s drawing to a close?

"There’s no other art form that encompasses such a wide range. What an illustrator might be asked to do in the space of a month would be the equivalent of a musician composing an ad jingle, pop song and documentary soundtrack all at once – doesn’t happen in any other field." On graphic narratives, retro aesthetics and longevity – Meet IA's Alex Mankiewicz

Sheryl Cole is an Illustrator, Artist, Designer and Art director, whose heart has always been inspired and captivated by the beauty of nature. When Sheryl is not out curiously exploring the outdoors, she's inside recreating that experience within her illustrations and commercial design projects.

Children’s book illustrator Nicky Johnston knows only too well how tough and competitive her industry is. And not just for emerging artists trying to establish a foothold. Even established illustrators have a tough time adapting to a publishing and marketing landscape that’s constantly changing. So when she was approached to create an illustrative visual identity for the first KidLitVic conference held in May 2016, Nicky jumped at the chance.

We all struggle to get out of our studios sometimes. Work calls. Bills don’t pay themselves. Devoting days to exhibitions, seminars, workshops and even, heaven forbid, holidays can be hard to justify when deadlines loom. But without regular doses of inspiration we’re a fair chance of creative stagnation or burnout. For the thrill- and tax deduction- seekers amongst us here’s our top 10 list of conferences worth planning your next year around.

"Love your work! It’s my belief that if you love your work, you’ll love your life. Art, not only is my profession, it flows through my veins." An interview with IA's Ron Monnier.

"I love it when you get the story from the publisher or agent. Those first images you see in your mind are very exciting and sparks fly around and you can't stop thinking about the author's words and how to best honour them with your illustrations. That lasts until the day you hand them in."

"As it is so easy to photograph and the cost of commissioning photographs has dropped, illustrators have had to respond through creativity. I am excited by the opportunity to illustrate scenes that can’t be photographed, meet a conceptual demand and are quirky."