1.2: Professionalism
- Page ID
- 354243
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)How to Get Hired More Than Once as an Illustrator
Professionalism:
One of the lessons you will see repeated throughout the lessons in this course is professionalism. There are many facets of this and you should start practicing all of them now. Make them second nature, a habit. We’ll discuss this more with each assignment you find here–but things you should start practicing now:
- Following the client pitch exactly from the start. If you aren’t doing this, you aren’t giving the client what they need and the finished illustration will not suit their needs.
- Follow the requested formatting specifications to the number. This includes dimensions, requested room for bleeds, and file specifications (dpi, color profile, and file types) for the finished work.
- Get in the habit of keeping your work clean. Get all of your sketchy dirty work done on one piece of paper and then transfer lightly to a clean, good-quality piece of paper when you are ready to draw. This will prevent eraser marks, pencil indentations from erasers. You can use a lightboard to help you transfer a drawing if working on paper. If working digitally, start a new layer over your sketch to keep the drawing pristine. Clean up any smudges immediately if using a friable (has a tendency to smear) medium like pencil, charcoal, pastels, or colored pencils. Use a fixative to protect your final drawing if using these friable media (do not use it on ink or watercolors). Imagine turning a dirty work in to a client or editor! I bet you can’t as you would never do that. Start building good habits now.
- Get your work done on time: it’s called a deadline for a reason. Get sketches done in time to get client feedback and do not proceed without client approval. Be prepared to take any last minute changes and apply them for your final work.
- Remember, the client has hired you because they like your style. But also, you must show your own professionalism. If you are difficult to work with, or do not follow the above advice, you may get paid for your very first job, but you won’t be rehired. So be professional, be easy to work with, and check your ego at the door. Focus on the work and making something that shows off your best work while making the client happy.
- **Not working with a client, but an editor or art director? A good editor or art director is there to push you to do your best. They have great insight. Don’t be too proud to know when someone is working to make your work even better. They want you to succeed, too.