READINGS AND INSPIRATION
Brain Pickings, blog on diverse topics, brilliantly written by Maria Popova.
Kali Ciesmeir, great illustrator with some great blog postings
Communication Arts One of the premiere illustration and design magazines around
Design Matters Podcast with Debbie Millman, who interviews creators of all types. Required listening: Shantell Martin.
DART Interview series with illustrators sponsored by American Illustration.
Drawn and Drafted All manner of resources illustrators. Bookmark this, now.
Jessica Hische Genius designer/illustrator on Freelancing.
How to Contact Art Directors blog post by illustrator Magoz
Illustration Age Richly abundant articles and resources for illustrators
Morgan & Gaynin Numerous required readings for this class.
Muddy Colors Fantasy art collective. Goldmine of articles and tips.
Print magazine A great graphic arts magazine—that’s ironically no longer in print—but does exist online. Their newsletter is worth subscribing to.
Print & Pattern A blog worth seeing if you’re into pattern and paper goods.
Julia Rothman‘s blog about creative books, well designed and informative.
Sidebar Podcast series with a fantastic lineup of illustrators, comics artists, concept artists, etc.
Neil Swaab SU alum, illustrator, designer, and teacher, he has a wealth of relevant articles. and a thorough Resources page.
Uppercase Magazine Janine Vangool writes, curates, designs and publishes a magazine and books about all different visuals and creativity. They are beautifully done. Sign up for her newsletter. Periodically she’ll do a call for entries and might include your work in her newsletter.
CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (CMSs)
Online applications to build your website using existing templates. For an annual fee, you can further customize your site and domain name.
SquareSpace Many find this CMS easy to use; it’s popular with illustrators.
WordPress I use Wordpress to build my class blogs (including this one) as well as my own site. (Some find it cumbersome to work with). One of WordPress’s free themes that’s perfect for portfolios is Sketch.
PORTFOLIO SITES
Some of these sites charge an annual fee for a portfolio, but some offer a free listing.
Artstation Specializing in concept art, gaming and entertainment.
Behance Sponsored by Adobe
Illoz Invitation only, but you can see some great illustrators here.
TheISpot They will also host a stock image portfolio for an additional fee.
COMPETITIONS
Association of Illustration World Illustration Awards Deadline sometime February 2020
Society of Illustrators Competition: Deadline October 28, 2019
Society of Illustrators LA Deadline October 31
3×3 magazine competition; deadline to come (spring 2020)
American Illustration competition; deadline to come (February 2020). Archive of past winners.
An array of links to international illustration competitions, including World Illustration Awards; deadline to come: (February 2018)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Most illustrators will also have platform(s) in social media to post WIP, sketches, musings and the like. Find what works for you.
Facebook Best for communication and cultivating a professional community.
Instagram Best for #wip and overall artistic self.
LinkedIn Best for looking for staff jobs and getting access to potential freelance clients.
Pinterest Art directors look for illustrators here.
Tumblr Seems old school, out of date, but some still use it.
Twitter Best for links to articles and quick real-time communication.
COPYRIGHT ISSUES
AIGA article on copyright law
ArtsJournal Copyright and Social Media
ArtsJournal Copyright registration
US Copyright website
SUPPLIERS WHO MAKE THINGS
Printers of many things, from postcards to mugs to mobile phone cases
Adoramapix Artbooks and prints
Blurb Books and magazines, both print and ePublications
CatPrint Cards, stickers, booklets, etc.
Café Press T-shirts, mugs, PJs, keychains, all kinds of stuff
Lightwork On SU campus, this is a member organization and student rates. They produce stellar quality prints on any paper stock you like and provide robust technical support. Highly recommend you join to have high quality digital prints for your thesis exhibition.
Lumi Packaging materials.
MagCloud Books
Modern Postcard Well, duh. As well as folding cards, calendars, etc.
Moo High-quality cards, can get heavier weight paper stock and special effects.
Overnight Prints Cards, postcards, booklets, etc.
Paper Mart Packaging materials: boxes, ribbons, tapes, etc.
PressGeek Cards, brochures, pocket folders, etc.
Redbubble IPhone cases, pillows, t-shirts, etc. etc. and manages sales for artists, for a fee.
Sticker App Stickers, including custom diecuts
StickerMule Custom stickers, labels, coasters, etc.
ShrinkyDink-type material to make pins
Society6 IPhone cases, pillows, t-shirts, etc. etc. and manages sales for artists, for a fee.
Spoonflower Patterned fabric, wrapping paper, wallpaper. They also sponsor competitions.
UTC Uniforms Etc. Nearby in Fulton, NY. Go to Decorating Services, scroll down to Product Catalog to see a wealth of items. Your browser has to be Flash-enabled.
Zink Screenprinting Screenprinting and embroidery on clothing. Never worked with them, but they’re local.
SOFTWARE TUTORIALS
lynda.syr.edu Free and fantastic to all SU students. Log on with your SU ID.
ORGANIZATIONS
AIGA American Institute of Graphic Arts: their email newsletter is worth subscribing to.
Graphic Artists Guild Publishers of the Pricing and Ethical Guidelines, a national members organization. The Guild is committed to improving conditions for all graphic artists (including, but not limited to: animators, cartoonists, designers, illustrators, and digital artists).
ICON11 This non-profit presents a national illustration conference every other year, with presenters from all over the world. There are 2 days of Workshops and an Educational Symposium* and 2 days of Main Stage presenters. ICON11 will be in Kansas City, MO Sunday June 28–Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Tickets go on sale fall, 2019. (*Full disclosure: Marty Blake is serving a 2nd term on the Board of Directors of ICON as Education Chair.)
SCWBI Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Society of Illustrators Um, yeah.
SU ILL763 MFA IlloThesis 