How to Get Started in Illustration: Ten Steps for Beginners

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.

1. Understand What Illustration Is

Illustration is about creating art that tells a story or communicates an idea. It can take many forms, like children’s book illustrations, comic art, digital designs, or even editorial pieces in magazines. Knowing what kind of illustration excites you will help you focus your efforts.

2. Gather Basic Supplies

You don’t need fancy tools to begin. If you prefer traditional art, start with:

Pencils
Erasers
Sketchbooks
Something for colour: Coloured pencils, markers and watercolour paints are great beginner options

If digital art interests you, consider a drawing tablet and software like Procreate, Photoshop, or Clip Studio. Many beginners find Procreate user-friendly and perfect for starting out, but you can find my comparison of Photoshop and Procreate here for more detailed analysis.

3. Learn the Basics of Drawing

Before jumping into complex illustrations, practice the basics. Here are some fundamentals to work on:

Lines and Shapes: Practice drawing straight lines, circles, and squares. These are the building blocks of art.
Perspective: Learn how to create depth in your drawings by understanding perspective. My post on tools for drawing in perspective without a rule is a great place to start.
Light and Shadows: Practice shading to make your art look three-dimensional. Working with reference, from photos or life, can help a lot for this!

4. Study and Copy to Learn

Find art you love and study it. This may sound controversial, but hear me out: try copying other artists' work. This is JUST for practice—don’t sell or share the work online, and never claim it as your own. This helps you understand techniques and styles. My Intro Illustration students ranked this activity as the most surprising exercise I asked them to try (in a good way) and one they would try again. You can learn a lot from other artists by studying their style in this intense manner.

(PS. Don’t trace - then you aren’t really studying)

5. Take Online Tutorials and Classes

The internet is full of amazing resources! Platforms like YouTube, Skillshare, and Udemy offer step-by-step tutorials for beginners. And, of course, my blog is full of references for all levels of illustrators. Beginners may want to start with these posts:

6. Practice Every Day

Consistency is key. Even 15-30 minutes of daily drawing can improve your skills. Keep a sketchbook to draw anything that catches your eye—objects, people, or even random doodles. Try to find a balance between drawing from life and drawing from your imagination. I draw every single day and I shared some tips that work for me in this blog post.

*I’m not shy about sharing my own improvement - this represents the first time I drew this character, over 10 years ago, compared to how I drew him recently*

7. Get Inspired by Others

Follow illustrators on social media platforms like Blue Sky, Pinterest, or Behance. Seeing their work can inspire you and give you ideas for your own art. Visit art galleries, especially if they have a show that includes illustrators. Buy or borrow art books, particularly “Art of” collections for animation and video games as these include lots of illustration.

8. Share Your Work

Don’t be afraid to share your art online or with friends. Posting your progress can motivate you to keep going and connect you with other beginner artists. And, if you need support with one-on-one feedback, I do offer art coaching!

9. Experiment and Have Fun

Art is all about experimenting. Try different mediums, colours, and techniques. Don’t worry about making perfect art— just enjoy the process. Keep at least one of your sketchbooks as your “crappy” sketchbook, and promise yourself no one ever needs to see what’s inside it except you. It will free you up to take bigger risks and work off failures, instead of trying to hide or avoid them.

10. Don’t Give Up

Learning illustration takes time, but don’t let mistakes or frustrations stop you. Every artist starts as a beginner, and with practice, you’ll see improvement.

By following these steps, you’ll build a solid foundation for your illustration journey. So grab your tools and start creating today—your artistic adventure is waiting!

I often teach workshops - online and in-person - and you can see what's coming up here!