illustrator

illustrator By: Jesus Elias Annual Salary $41,000.00 Monthly Salary $3,416.67 Savings House Car Miscellaneos Retirment Total 10% 30% 15% 40% 5% 100% $341.67 $1,025.00 $512.50 $1,366.67 $170.83 $3,416.67 Job Description But illustrators do more than just entertain readers with their art. Were it not for illustrators, our reading materials would be much less interesting. They also use their skills to help clarify explanations in manuals and books of various kinds. Imagine what your textbooks would be like if they had no diagrams or illustrations. Getting through high school would be a lot more difficult. Job Description There are several kinds of illustrators and they work in many different fields. Most of them have the option of using almost unlimited materials to produce their pictures, from pencil to pastel to paint to collage. Job Description Editorial illustrators paint or draw pictures that illustrate the central point of the text, whether it is a non-fiction article or a story. For example, an editorial illustrator working on an article about Alzheimer’s disease might create a watercolor painting of an old woman alone in a room to symbolize her isolation. Editorial illustrators usually work freelance for newspapers and magazines. Many work in children’s literature, illustrating picture books. Job Description Technical illustrators are hired to produce detailed drawings that show the various parts of machines and equipment. For example, a technical illustrator might draw a crosssection of a car’s engine for a mechanics textbook. These illustrators study blueprints and engineers’ drawings, and sometimes use computer-aided design (CAD) software programs. Special additional training is required for technical illustrators. Job Description Product illustrators generally work with advertising agencies. They create realistic, appealing drawings of all kinds of products. A product illustrator working on an advertisement for a car company might do a realistic acrylic painting of a sports car, making it look fast, sporty, and glamorous. Product illustrators are often freelancers. Job Description Fashion illustrators draw models wearing the latest fashions. Their illustrations are used in magazines, newspapers, catalogs, and commercials. These illustrators are hired by clothing manufacturers, department stores, or fashion designers. Some sell their services to these types of companies on a freelance basis. Job Description Storyboard illustrators create a series of finished drawings depicting the progression of events in a commercial or short film. This allows the director and others to understand what the final product will look like before filming begins. Each drawing might show things like camera angles and lighting, and dialogue is usually written in captions at the bottom. Some storyboard illustrators are hired by large advertising agencies. Others work on a freelance basis. Job Descrition Medical and scientific illustrators create precise and accurate depictions of surgical procedures, plants, animals, and the human anatomy. A medical illustrator might use pencil crayon to draw the heart, showing the muscle activity and blood flow pattern that occurs when the heart pumps. A scientific illustrator, on the other hand, might create a pencil drawing of a newly found fish species. For this type of work, special additional training in science is required. Their work appears in places such as medical textbooks and scientific journals. Working Conditions Illustrators generally work in well-lit, clean studio spaces. Some work out of home offices as freelancers. Others work in the offices of the art departments of large companies, such as advertising agencies and retail or wholesale companies. Working Conditions Freelance illustrators usually work for many different clients, and often develop a specialty. For example, they may focus on cartoon drawings for children’s books or drawings of buildings for architectural companies. Freelancers are responsible for getting the job, buying supplies, hiring models (if necessary), and delivering the final project. Some illustrators hire agents to find them contracts. Working Conditions Most illustrators work 8 to 11 hours a day, 40 to 60 hours a week. Overtime and weekend work can be fairly regular as deadlines approach, although this largely depends on how many clients they have. Earnings The income earned by illustrators varies widely. Factors affecting earnings include whether the illustrator works full or parttime, the employer, and the type of work. Earnings Part-time illustrators can earn between earn between $15 and $50 an hour. Hourly wages for illustrators working in fashion and advertising tend to be at the lower end of the scale. Medical and technical illustrators earn the highest hourly wages. Illustrators who work freelance may charge a set fee for each piece ranging from $100 to $8,000 per illustration. Earnings The median annual earnings for painters, sculptors, and illustrators in the US are about $41,000. Most earn between $20,000 and $60,000 a year. However, those who develop good professional reputations can make $80,000 a year. Earnings Those who specialize in technical or medical illustration tend to earn more than other illustrators. According to the Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI), the median annual income for people in that field is about $59,000 a year. Earnings Some illustrators supplement their income by teaching classes at community colleges. Education High school students interested in a career in illustration should take as many visual art courses as possible. You should also spend a lot of your free time sketching and creating illustrations. The work you create for class and on your own can be used to start developing a portfolio. Education A portfolio is a collection of samples of your best work that employers and postsecondary education programs use to assess your skill level when you apply. A good portfolio is the key to getting into the post-secondary program of your choice and finding work as an illustrator. Education Though there are no mandatory educational requirements for becoming an illustrator, it is difficult to get a job without formal training in illustration, fine arts, graphic design, or commercial art. These programs are available at art and technical institutes, and 2 year and 4 year colleges across the country. They usually last 1 to 4 years and result in a certificate or a degree. Try to choose a program that allows you to hone your skills in illustration. Education Medical illustrators require training in two disciplines: visual art and biological science. Most employers look for candidates who have a master’s degree in medical illustration. Certification by the Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) may be necessary. See the medical illustrator career profile for more information. Education Technical illustrators require additional training in scientific or technical areas such as engineering or computer science. Mini Cooper • 2007 • $18,050 • 26 MPG - 32 MPG City • 35 MPG - 40 MPG Highway • 6-speed manual Mazda Mazda-7 • • • • • 2007 $13,895 26-28 MPG City 33-40 MPG Highway 5-speed manual 2006 Ford Mustang • $17,500 • 28,000 Miles • Provided by Car.com 2008 K 1200 S • BMW • $14,020 • 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds