The Good Ship Illustration

Planning a visit to Bologna Children's Book Fair this year? You're in luck. Our Helen has made you this INCREDIBLE PDF document to accompany this podcast audio guide to the fair.What else is inside the downloadable guide?A Good Ship Illustration lanyard to print outif you'd like to fly your Good Ship Illustration flag and help fellow Good Ship pals spot you while you're wandering around the fair!Details on when and where we're holding our first ever Good Ship Illustration meet upThe must-haves you don't want to forget in your Bologna bag (blister plasters, anyone?)If you're going to the fair, we'd LOVE to see you there. Keep an eye out for us!Grab your free guide and lanyard here and read about the meet up dates etc.https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/bologna✨✨✨✨✨Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

Pssst, if you like this, you'll LOVE our course The Picture Book Course. Climb aboard now while you still can - the doors are closing in a few hours. BE QUICK! https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PBIn this episode we answer a zillion of your brilliant picture book questions. Here's a summary of the key takeaways:Finding stories to illustratePublishers, and how they pair up writers and illustratorsTips for working with authors How picture book publishers work in generalSome live event illustration tips from KatieTIP: When pitching ideas to publishers, don't submit a fully illustrated book. Instead, submit a couple of double-page spreads, and some character development sketches.ANOTHER TIP: When you're just starting out in your illustration career, you can get your work under publishers' noses by creating a digital portfolio and using social media (eg Instagram). Make the most of hashtags and connect with fellow illustrators and publishers in the industry. You never know who's watching!Read all about the Picture Book Course here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PB Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

In this episode of the picture book mini series, we're answering some of your MOST JUICY questions all about: Self-publishing - is it a scam?The correct dimensions for your picture bookInvoicing and contracts in the picture book industry.It's all the nitty gritty stuff. We love it!Doors are closing really soon. If you'd like to join The Picture Book Course, now's your time! Here it is: thegoodshipillustration.com/PB Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

Did you know, the doors to our course The Picture Book Course are now open? Come on in! We'd love to have you sailing with us. Read all about it here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PB What are the big secrets behind successful school visits and events? In this episode, Katie and Tania grill Helen on all the insider bits and VOILA.We talked aboutSetting boundaries when doing school visitsHow to structure your timeThe TOPPEST OF THE TOP TIPS to help children remember your name and connect with you as an author.Being clear about your needs when doing author visits and book festivals.Alternatives to in-person visits.p.s. Tonight over on Instagram we're doing a live Q&A call. This is the best way to get your questions answered on the spot by Helen (Katie will be there too, and Tania is manning the comments/chat box thingie.) See ya there! xCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

In this episide of The Good Ship Illustration, we share juggling skills. Whether you're juggling babies, mental health, or just... life stuff, hopefully some of these can help!EXCITING NEWS: The Picture Book Course is open right now! Click here to read all about it ---> https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PB And you can sign up for the Character Workshop here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/cw See ya there! xCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

In this episode of The Good Ship Illustration podcast, we talk all about making a living as a children's book illustrator. EXCITING NEWS: the doors to The Picture Book Course are open right now!! Go go go: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PB We're running a character workshop on Zoom. You can sign up for it here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/cw (it's free!)ANDOur live Q&A is happening on Instagram at 7pm (UK time) on Wednesday. We're @theGoodShipIllustration on Insta. See you there!Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

The pressure's off; there are no fancy art materials here, and our golden rule is no panicking. Start where you are, use what you have. Be kind to yourself.Today we're wrapping up our 5-part adventure. Thank you SO MUCH for listening along. If you've joined the course, we'll see you in there!! We can't wait to see you discover your creative voice. Also, Art Club is on this Friday if you fancy some stress-free drawing time. It's over on Instagram.----------WELCOME to the final part in our 5-part mini-series, all about finding your creative voice.  This week we're dropping one episode a day, where we tackle that ol' chestnut: how to find your creative voice. We've answered questions and created actionable steps for each episode.Want a fillable workbook? YOU'RE IN LUCK! We've made one for you to download here.https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/workbookp.s. The doors to our 8-week online course Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag are now open. We'd love to have you sailing with us. Read all about it here.Doors close for this live round on the 15th of September 2023 and we are STRICT. Don't miss the boat!Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

How do you get over the fear of starting a new illustration? In this installment of our mini-series we talk all about overcoming procrastination and fear of the blank page. WELCOME to our 5-part mini-series, all about finding your creative voice.  This week we're dropping one episode a day, where we tackle that ol' chestnut: how to find your creative voice. We've answered questions, and created actionable steps for each episode.Want a fillable workbook? YOU'RE IN LUCK! We've made one for you to download here.https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/workbookp.s. The doors to our 8-week online course Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag are now open. We'd love to have you sailing with us. Read all about it here.Doors close for this live round on the 15th of September 2023 and we are STRICT. Don't miss the boat!Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

How do you stop the niggly voice 'my work isn't good enough' from interfering with your creative confidence?WELCOME to our 5-part mini-series, all about finding your creative voice.  This week we're dropping one episode a day, where we tackle that ol' chestnut: how to find your creative voice. We've answered questions and created actionable steps for each episode.Want a fillable workbook? YOU'RE IN LUCK! We've made one for you to download here.https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/workbookp.s. The doors to our 8-week online course Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag are now open. We'd love to have you sailing with us. Read all about it here.Doors close for this live round on the 15th of September 2023 and we are STRICT. Don't miss the boat!Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

Draw draw draw, then draw some more. PLUS we answer the brilliant question: "...my schedule is not allowing me the time I would like. Can I really find my style if my time is limited?WELCOME to part 2 of our 5-part mini-series, all about finding your creative voice.  This week we're dropping one episode a day, where we tackle that ol' chestnut: how to find your creative voice. We've answered questions and created actionable steps for each episode.✨ Want a fillable workbook? YOU'RE IN LUCK! We've made one for you to download here.✨ https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/workbookp.s. The doors to our 8-week online course Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag are now open. We'd love to have you sailing with us. Read all about it here.Doors close for this live round on the 15th of September 2023 and we are STRICT. Don't miss the boat!Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

Bask in your weirdness. What to do if the voice that's emerging isn't the one you like?WELCOME to our 5-part mini-series, all about finding your creative voice.  This week we're dropping one episode a day, where we tackle that ol' chestnut: how to find your creative voice. We've answered questions, and created actionable steps for each episode.Want a fillable workbook? YOU'RE IN LUCK! We've made one for you to download here.https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/workbook p.s. The doors to our 8-week online course Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag are now open. We'd love to have you sailing with us. Read all about it here.Doors close for this live round on the 15th of September 2023 and we are STRICT. Don't miss the boat!Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration

We're here to offer no-nonsense advice for illustrators and image-makers navigating a creative careerHere are 3 things you need to know:At The Good Ship, our big mission is to help illustrators and image-makers navigate a creative career.There are 3 of us - Tania, Helen and Katie - and we are the Goldilocks (3 bears!) of illustration, covering 3 areas and eras of the industry.We believe your creative work should feel good, make you money, and leave you feeling confident to fly your freak flag!---------------------In this episode we talk about:Katie somehow stumbling her way from local beer sketching jobs to Google HQHow Helen (almost) became the face of sausagesTania's magical jobs in Hong Kong (feat. Bryan Ferry)

We're here to offer no-nonsense advice for illustrators and image-makers navigating a creative careerHere are 3 things you need to know:At The Good Ship, our big mission is to help illustrators and image-makers navigate a creative career.There are 3 of us - Tania, Helen and Katie - and we are the Goldilocks (3 bears!) of illustration, covering 3 areas and eras of the industry.We believe your creative work should feel good, make you money, and leave you feeling confident to fly your freak flag!--------------------In this episode we let Helen get REALLY excited about Substack. She shares all of her top tips to get you excited to start writing, sharing and hitting publish tooo.We're on Substack! Come and say helloHelen's Substack, Pencil PalsKatie's Substack, Katiedraws (and writes)(Tania doesn't have one yet, but don't worry... we'll keep peer-pressuring her until she starts one too.)

We're here to offer no-nonsense advice for illustrators and image-makers navigating a creative careerHere are 3 things you need to know:At The Good Ship, our big mission is to help illustrators and image-makers navigate a creative career.There are 3 of us - Tania, Helen and Katie - and we are the Goldilocks (3 bears!) of illustration, covering 3 areas and eras of the industry.We believe your creative work should feel good, make you money, and leave you feeling confident to fly your freak flag!In this episode, we talk about:The (un)importance of qualifications in artThe importance of having a masters Stamps of approvalChoosing yourselfGatekeepersBe a punkDid you like this? You might love Art Club too! Come on over to Instagram and be our internet pal. We host pop-up art clubs every now and again and our entire back catalog is on there too.We're @thegoodshipillustrationhttps://www.instagram.com/thegoodshipillustration/

We're here to offer no-nonsense advice for illustrators and image-makers navigating a creative careerHere are 3 things you need to know:At The Good Ship, our big mission is to help illustrators and image-makers navigate a creative career.There are 3 of us - Tania, Helen and Katie - and we are the Goldilocks (3 bears!) of illustration, covering 3 areas and eras of the industry.We believe your creative work should feel good, make you money, and leave you feeling confident to fly your freak flag!Stuff we talk about in this episode:Style is like the zodiacHow to find out who you areFinding your uniquenessHiding away from social media.Creating a stronger identity and finding your creative voice.p.s. if you like this episode, you might love our course "Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag".You can read all about it here.

Wahooo, another picture book podcast! The Picture Book CourseIf you're listening to this and you're interested in making picture books, you've listened at a brilliant time...The Picture Book Course doors are now open!!  CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!It's an eight week course and the cover creating your own picture book. Making your best picture book work ever.We'd love to have you on board :) Read all about the course here.

We had a brilliant chat with Good Ship pal, Emma Carlisle on aaall of the things:The importance of bad drawingsTackling social media as an illustratorStudying an MA in illustrationFinding out what you're interested inPICTURE BOOKS! Mental health and creativityDrawing from life and filling sketchbooksGetting discovered...aaand lots more Meet Emma and learn more about her work here https://www.emmacarlisle.com/p.s.DOORS ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW to our big juicy Picture Book Course! If you are ready to get your picture book made and out into the world, now's your time! But be quick - doors close on Friday 7th October 2022.Read all about it and join here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PBWe'd love to have you sailing with us!x Helen Stephens, Tania Willis & Katie Chappell

In this quick fire interview-style episode we answer the questions:What was your most horrific client experience?What's your favourite subject to draw?Favourite snack + subject combo...Most unusual client request?Life drawing: the good, the bad and the ugly.Have you ever gone against some advice and it worked out well?What outfit makes you feel most illustrator-y?PLUSTania talks about pitching work to clientsmap work and living in Hong KongKatie talks aboutIntrovert working / knowing yourself and designing a career you loveThe joys of SEO (search engine optimisation)Helen talks aboutWhether there's room for you in the picture book worldHow to draw out and about #walktosee without being interrupted by well-meaning people

In this episode we answer all of your portfolio questions:Do I need one!?What to put in your illustration portfolio.How to reach out to potential illustration clients.Should I follow the current illustration trends in my portfolio?

In this episode we answer the questions:How do I get started as an illustrator (even if you're not a young thing fresh outta art school.)How to get your first big break as an illustrator.Do I need an illustration agent to be successful?

In this episode we answer the questions:How do I know if I'm an illustrator or not?How to navigate "The Gap" (see quote below!)How to keep the magic and energy in your finished workThe Gap “Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it's just not that good. It's trying to be good, it has potential, but it's not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn't have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I've ever met. It's gonna take awhile. It's normal to take awhile. You've just gotta fight your way through.”― Ira Glass

In this episode we answer the questions:Analogue vs digital drawing - how to deal with feeling torn between the twoHow to store your artwork (ahhh that old chestnut)Do I HAVE to work digitally to be a picture book illustrator nowadays?

In this episode we answer the questions:How do I set goals as an illustrator?Am I allowed to illustrate existing book covers?What makes a "good" illustration?Contracts!? The business side of illustration and design.

Avoiding the comparison trapIn this episode we answer the questions:Is there room for me in the illustration industry?How can I find time to create my work!?

In this episode, we talk about imposter syndrome, authenticity, getting excited about your own work, and how to be consistent.Bonus: how to eat an elephant

Our top tips for choosing the best drawing materials.(Don’t let materials trip you up - they're a distraction)Start where you are, use what you have.Fancy materials can freeze you up / feel like too much pressureYour choice of drawing materials can help you blast through a pesky creative block. Rough and ready! Cheap! Easy to grab!The free audio drawing guide we mention, ‘The Sketchbooker’s Friend’ is here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/sketchbookers-friend

This is the first episode of our podcast!Helen Stephens, Tania Willis, and Katie Chappell are the crew at The Good Ship illustration, and this episode is all about getting to know us.Learn more about The Good Ship Illustration and how we each found our creative voices.Grab a cuppa, listen while you draw, and let us know what you think. (Instagram is our favourite place to hang out. We're @thegoodshipillustration) p.s. Our course Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag is now open for enrollment!Show Notes:Finding your creative voice, standing out from the crowd, building career-longevity, and being yourself.1. Helen's storyTaking a year out from picture book illustration to get back to her own creative voice.2. Tania's storyFrom fine art to illustration via Hong Kong. 80s corporate imagery, MA at the Royal College. The value of being in a creative community.3. Katie's storyWhy getting fired from being an in-house graphic designer/illustrator was the best thing ever.Read more about us all here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/About-the-good-ship-illustration Learn More About the FIND YOUR CREATIVE VOICE: FLY YOUR FREAK FLAG course.https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/freakflag(Doors close again on the 7th of August, 10pm UK time)