I spend as much time writing stories as I do illustrating graphic novels, which means I think a lot about the craft of writing. No matter what type of media you work in, whether comics, animation, film, or novels, storytelling is central to your creation. So, what do you need to tell a successful story?

Yesterday on the blog, I posted ten tips for getting started in illustration. Step three included learning drawing basics, including working with basic shapes. But what does that mean? This fundamental skill is really integral to illustration, so we are going to break it down in today’s post.

Starting your journey as an illustrator might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Whether you’re a complete beginner or just looking to dive deeper, there are simple steps you can follow to kickstart your illustration adventure. Let’s break it down into easy, actionable tips.

I recently played (and Platinumed) Dragon Age: the Veilguard. And while at first I could not stop comparing to Baldur’s Gate 3, to DA’s detriment, it fast won me over. Now, it’s fair to say I’m obsessed. And the number one thing that made me love this game? The character design.

Style is perhaps one of the most important and most elusive aspects of an artist’s portfolio. Illustrators find clients based on a match between customer and artist, galleries choose artists to represent based on what fits their energy, and fans find us all on social media based on something catching their eye in the endless feed of internet content. But how do you define and refine your style as an artist?

Many beginners feel nervous when starting figure drawing. The fear of making mistakes can stop people from picking up a pencil. But the truth is that mistakes are part of learning, and they help you improve. Building confidence in figure drawing means changing how you think about mistakes and practicing in ways that support growth.

When it comes to learning figure drawing, artists often wonder whether they should draw from live models or photographs. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding how each impacts your artistic growth can help you decide how to use them effectively.

Adobe Photoshop used to hold the top spot for digital illustration software. Other options were available, but often were a matter of budget because no other software came close to the capabilities of PS. But then Procreate changed the game in 2011 and digital illustration has never been the same.

Sometimes, as an artist, you have a lot of ideas swirling around in your head, but it can feel overwhelming to organize them. That’s where mind mapping comes in. A mind map is a simple tool that helps you visually organize your thoughts. It can turn abstract ideas into clear, workable concepts.

Have you ever looked at something ordinary and suddenly noticed how beautiful or interesting it is? That’s the power of observation. For artists, developing this skill can be a game-changer. The world is full of inspiration, but it’s easy to miss when rushing through life or distracted by screens. By practicing mindfulness and sharpening your observational skills, you can find endless ideas for your art in everyday life. Let’s explore how to do this.

Fear of failure is something almost every artist struggles with at some point. You might worry that your work isn’t good enough, that others will judge it, or that you’ll never meet your expectations. This fear can stop you from creating altogether.

When people think about creativity, they often imagine total freedom—no rules, no boundaries, just endless possibilities. But sometimes, too much freedom can feel overwhelming. You might stare at a blank page or canvas and not know where to start. That’s where constraints come in.

Illustration degrees are becoming more popular at universities and colleges, which is a cool development for those of us in the field who love to see illustration get a fair representation in the visual arts canon! If you’re interested in pursuing an illustration degree, there are many career paths you can choose from, some of which you might not expect.

I’ve written before about how I worked in the print finishing industry after I graduated from art school. It was an eye-opening experience that I still lean on when working on my creative projects (or helping other artists with theirs!) Sometimes, printing feels intimidating. We have the art and the ideas, but we don’t know how to execute it! Well, I’ve got you covered with some advice in this list of five things you probably didn’t know about the printing industry.

It's the season of New Year Resolutions, but if there’s one thing we’ve heard again and again, it’s that New Year Resolutions don’t work. However, I think they can work as long as we are clever in setting and meeting our goals! If you are interested in starting the year with some art resolutions, here are five ways you can gamify your art goals for a greater chance of success.

Whether or not you believe in the power of New Year’s Resolutions, I think it’s a great time to reflect on your art practice and prepare for the year ahead. If you want to try setting a few art-related resolutions, the key is to be clever about them so they actually get done. Here is how you can set art resolutions for your New Year.

How do you self-start a project that will appeal to clients, show off your best work, and highlight your strengths and interests? That’s what we’re talking about today on the blog. This is my process for coming up with a self-started illustration portfolio piece.

I’m working on clarifying my illustration portfolio so I can get the kind of work I REALLY want! And as I do that, I’m learning a lot about portfolios that I’m going to share with you here on the blog. Here are ten tips for clarifying your illustration portfolio to get the work you want.

Today on the blog we are continuing the theme from yesterday - designing character concepts for your story project. Now, I mostly focus on comics and graphic novels but I daresay the same tools and techniques can apply to things like animation and video games, too! Give this exercise a try.

The concept art stage of any long-form story project (animation, graphic novel, Webtoon, etc) is especially important. This is the planning stage where you decide on the visual look of your work, the physical appearance of your vehicle through the story and the world they live in. Here are three examples of great character concept art from the pros and what you can learn from them.