Morning all! Are you a new or aspiring designer/illustrator? Do you need some advice or do you have a question to ask of a cranky old git with 25 years in the industry? Ask away – I'll try to answer as many as I can today in this thread.

#GraphicDesign #illustration

Got asked about finding illustration clients. Here's some advice:

1. Follow artists that do what you want to do and engage with them (actually conversing, not just liking/retweeting).

2. Offer to do some commissions for folks on Twitter (again, fan art is great for this).

3. Build a portfolio of good work in a set style. Create a list of clients you'd like to work with, do your research to see who you need to speak to (socials are great for this) and cold approach them.

4. Prepare for rejection. It can be daunting – prepare for some not to reply and for 90% of replies to be 'thanks but no thanks', but keep persevering and you'll get work.

5. Specialise – we can't all be great at everything. So clients want to see examples of what THEY do, and you're more likely to create good work if it's something you love. So, for instance, I only do cars/motorsport/scifi/comic stuff.

6. If a client's requirements are not in your style, recommend another artist. This also builds good relations with other artists, who will then recommend you for work that isn't in there style.

7. Practice, practice, practice. Doesn't have to be hours a day, but try to draw every day – even if it's just 20-30 minutes. Build that muscle memory. Experiment to lock down techniques/style. Keep learning.

8. Lack of motivation: rest assured this is a common issue. You're not alone. I have days when I simply get nothing done through lack of motivation.

Key is not to let it get you down. Pick yourself up and start again tomorrow.

9. Knowing when to finish an illustration is a tough one – I get detail obsessed myself. But remember that folks will likely love what you do and you'll likely never be 100% happy. So don't strive for perfection.

10. Sometimes it's the accidents and mistakes that can lead to some really cool stuff. I rarely offer originals for sale for two reasons: I like to keep them and it means I can scan my inks and colour them digitally – so if I make a mistake in the inks I can fix it easily.

11. If I get bogged down in an idea or struggle to move it on, I go and do something else. Give your brain time to rest. I always have something physical I can do that's not art/design related. Your creative side benefits from a workout but needs rest time too or you'll burn out.

12. Folk underestimate how much of a role chance plays. Speak to most "big" artists and they'll tell you that they got a lucky break at some point. But you get that by putting yourself out there, practicing your art and seeking opportunities. Eventually something will land.

13. I get asked a lot about materials. Best paper / pens, digital or traditional etc. Here's the secret: it matters not a jot. You could use a 45p Bic on copier paper as long as it achieves what you / the client wants. Use what works for you / your style, not what's fashionable.

14. Should you be using reference? Well, yeah. Obviously. Anyone that says using reference is cheating is daft. You need reference to create accurate lighting / textures / compositions. If it was good enough for DaVinci, Van Gogh and Rembrandt, it's good enough for you.

15. Get outside the art / illustration bubble. Don't fall into the trap of only using other artists for inspiration. Travel, photograph wildlife, read books, watch films, play games – do stuff that's not art. This feeds and boosts your creativity. Without it you'll stagnate.

16. Get organised. Get an accountant if you can. File things properly. Keep an organised reference file. Have a specified time slot each week (at least half a day) for admin / paperwork etc. Don't let anything else interfere with it.

17. Say no. I cannot emphasize enough that you MUST learn to say no. If you're too busy, say no. If you don't like the work or find it ethically dubious, say no. Taking on something you can't manage or that you hate will damage your mental health and you'll produce bad work.

18. No one cares about your meticulously crafted website. Seriously, cients don't care. They just want to see your work. So use Behance / SquareSpace / whatever is quick and easy to create a simple, clean portfolio site. Seriously, just get your work, don't agonise over it.

19. Be nice to work with. You may be the most amazing artist the world has ever seen, but if you're an ass-hat, no one will want to work with you. Be nice, be humble, be easy to work with and help people where you can. That doesn't mean being a pushover, just be a decent person.

20. Lift others as you climb. Promote other people's work. We all work in different styles, there's enough work for everyone and relationships are key in this industry. So don't be afriad to promote other artists' work.