Illustrators research and create drawings and pictures to visually portray their own or other people's ideas. They work in many different fields, illustrating medical textbooks, storybooks, commercial packaging, annual reports, cartoons, advertisements or posters.

Duties

In general, illustrators

• consult with clients, editors, writers and/or art directors to establish the nature and content of desired illustrations,
• prepare preliminary drawings or sketches for approval,
• estimate time lines and the cost of materials, and
• prepare finished artwork using the required medium (e.g. computer graphics, pen and ink, acrylic, pastel, pencil, airbrush).

Many illustrators specialize in a particular style of drawing or field of illustration. However, with increasing competition in this field, many find that they must be able to work in a range of styles and mediums.

Advertising illustrators work on storyboards for commercials and create illustrations for print advertisements, labels and packaging.

Book illustrators create illustrations that convey the spirit of a story and expand on it.

Editorial illustrators create images that support and help communicate the main ideas of articles in newspapers and magazines.

Illustrators employed by television studios create

• storyboards and on-air graphics,
• promotional materials, often for locally produced programs, and
• courtroom sketches for news broadcasts.

Fashion illustrators sketch models in different poses to emphasize clothing and accessories. They must be familiar with the latest trends in hair, makeup and clothing, and usually work closely with fashion designers or art directors.

Technical illustrators are employed in a broad range of industrial specialties. For example, they may

• draw enlarged views of machinery parts for operating manuals,
• create wildlife illustrations, or
• draw commercial and residential buildings from structural information provided by blueprints.

Technical illustrators spend a lot of time researching the products or subjects they draw. They often work closely with engineers or scientists.

Medical illustrators produce realistic and schematic drawings for medical textbooks, research centers, lectures and other medical purposes. Their illustrations show what a camera cannot (e.g. a cross-section of an organ). Sometimes, medical illustrators are required to create three-dimensional models of their work.

• the ability to pay attention to fine details,
• good organizational and research skills,
• the ability to work rapidly to meet deadlines,
• flexibility in working with others' ideas,
• a self-motivated and independent work style, and
• marketing skills.

Successful illustrators enjoy synthesizing information, finding innovative ways to present ideas, taking a methodical approach to tasks requiring precision (e.g. preparing specifications, estimating costs), and consulting with people.

Education Requirements

Illustrators need to be comfortable working with a variety of visual mediums (e.g. computer graphics, acrylic, watercolor, pen, pencil, guache, inks and pastels) and be knowledgeable about the printing process. The ability to work in more than one medium widens the market for an illustrator's work.

Most illustrators have post-secondary training in fine arts or graphic design.

Medical illustrators usually have biomedical training in addition to formal art training.

Technical illustrators often require specialized backgrounds in biology, engineering, architecture or other scientific areas in addition to art training.

To research which US schools have graduate programs in the arts go to:
http://www.petersons.com/gradchannel/code/search.asp

• magazines and newspapers,
• book publishing houses,
• film studios,
• advertising agencies,
• graphic design studios,
• provincial government departments in graphic design services, or
• printing houses.

Most book and magazine publishing houses are located in Eastern Canada and the United States. However, the introduction of electronic communication devices (e.g. fax machines) has made it possible for illustrators to work for companies located many miles away.

Medical illustrators are hired by hospitals, universities, medical schools and pharmaceutical companies. These jobs are highly specialized and there are very few in Alberta.

Opportunities for fashion illustrators, as with other illustrators, are found mostly in large centers in eastern Canada and the United States. They are employed by

• department and chain stores,
• textile companies,
• pattern houses,
• garment manufactures,
• fashion designers,
• advertising agencies, and
• newspapers and magazines.

Freelance illustrators negotiate contracts for each illustration or series of illustrations they do. They negotiate fees as well as copyright for their work. To obtain freelance contracts, illustrators must build a portfolio of original samples of their work which display their versatility with regard to subject matter and medium.

Advancement opportunities are limited. A few illustrators may become Art Directors in government departments or design studios.

Illustrators are part of the larger "Graphic Designers and Illustrating Artists" occupational group.

Employment prospects in this occupational group will be influenced by a wide variety of factors, including

• the number of people in the occupation,
• the occupational growth rate, and
• trends and events in related industry sectors (see above).