Find Your First Illustration Client… Today!

22 pages $14.95

My Review:

If you’ve hung around this site long enough, you already know that Char Reed is the real deal.  She’s not only an amazing artist but she’s also a good friend who has been a supporter of Skinny Artist almost since its beginning.

So when she told me that she was publishing her new book, I immediately volunteered to read it and write up a review on the site if I honestly thought it was something our readers could benefit from. Not to ruin the surprise here, but obviously I thought that it was a great book, otherwise this page wouldn’t exist. But don’t just take my word for it, keep reading and find out what this book is all about.

Before we get started, let me say right off the bat that one of the things that I really appreciated about this book is that it’s not filled with a bunch of fluff or useless crap you don’t need.  Even though Char is an excellent writer, she’s still a full-time working illustrator first, so she keeps things short and sweet.  She’s not getting paid by the word so she just gives you what you need to know to get started and then moves on.

So what are you going to get out of this book?

Although this book is obviously targeted towards becoming a professional money-making illustrator, keep in mind that there are a lot of tips and advice here that would apply to any type of freelance creative professional, whether you’re a visual artist, photographer, or even a writer.

Here are just a few of the topics that she covers in this book:

Getting your online portfolio together. . .

• Why your URL is far more important than those snazzy business cards you’ve been carrying around.
• When it comes to assembling your portfolio, why less is definitely more.
• Why using that pretty online Flash gallery could be holding you back (and pissing people off!)

Software, Apps, and Online Resources for the working artist. . .

Char admits that she’s a bit of a software junkie and chances are she’s tried most of the programs and online resources that are out there for artists and illustrators.  In this section, she shares with us the exact tools and resources that she uses on a daily basis.  These not only include the software to create your illustrations, but also programs and apps that will help you to manage your time and keep up with social media accounts like Twitter without having to spend your entire day there.

Some of the programs she recommends are free and some aren’t, but either way, if you go with any of her recommendations you’ll know that you will be getting something that’s been thoroughly tested and really works.

Finding your first illustration clients . . .

Everybody knows that the word-of-mouth referral business from satisfied clients is the easiest and best way to get more business, but what if you don’t have those referrals beating down you door just yet?

In this section she covers:

• How to find real paying clients through Google, Craig’s List, and other online art forums
• Figuring out exactly who your ideal client would be
• How to check out your potential clients online to see if you really want to work for them
• A clever way to check out the competition by doing this one specific online search (hint: it’s NOT on Google)

How to build your networking contacts without feeling like a complete idiot.

• Why conventions are one of the fastest and easiest ways to build your professional network
• Tips on what exactly to bring and what you should leave at home
• How to start looking for clients in your own backyard — Simple local marketing strategies that work

Applying to get the job. . .

This seems to be the part that most art marketing e-books leave out.  They always seem to tell you what you should be doing, but for whatever reason, they never seem to actually tell you how to do it.  To me, this is one of the most valuable parts of the book.  Char tells you exactly what she says and does step-by-step.  She even provides several scripts and templates that you can actually use when you contact a potential client.

In this section she covers:

• What the best way is to contact a company and apply for a job
• What you should say (and leave out) when first contacting a potential client
• Understanding the importance of timing, and how to make sure your message gets there when your client is ready to read it.
• Going beyond e-mails and what exactly you need to say in order to get that art director on the phone.
• How to effectively keep records of your submissions and inquiries (Char even includes a sample spreadsheet you can use)

The best of the rest. . .

• Dealing with disappointment — Let’s face it, it’s going to happen
• More methods to “get seen” as an artist illustrator both online and off
• How you can begin to sell your work directly to your customers
• What NOT to do as a freelance artist illustrator
• Why doing “spec work” may keep you busy but won’t necessarily make you any money

Final thoughts:

Like anything else, this book isn’t for everyone.  If you’ve been in the art business for awhile and are already making a decent living at it, you probably don’t need this book, although the tips on organizing and recordkeeping alone might make it worthwhile. However, if you are a visual artist or illustrator who is just starting out, I think this book would be an incredibly valuable resource by giving you the kind of information that usually takes years of trial and error to figure out.  For the sheer amount of useful tips, tools, and insider information Char shares with us in this slim little book, it’s well worth the ridiculously low price  ($14.95) she is asking for it.  Highly Recommended!

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Check it out here!

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Skinny Disclaimer: Skinny Artist has always been about building our little online artist community and everything we do here has been about what’s in the best interest of that community.  As I said before, Char is a personal friend, but I never would have agreed to write this review if I didn’t honestly think this book was worth your time and money. So if you decide to purchase this book by clicking any of the affiliate links on this page, you’ll not only be supporting a great artist, but you’ll also be supporting our little community by putting a couple dollars back into the Skinny coffers to keep this site going, which is just more good karma for you!