Tundra
March 5th, 2010, 05:33 AM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v434/Livinginthepast/NiH/get_convo_imagephp2.jpg
Thanks again for asking me to write about a "Day in the Life of an Illustrator" for Notebook in Hand.
To introduce myself, my name is Eliza Wheeler, I'm originally from Northern Wisconsin and currently live in Los Angeles. I got my BFA in graphic design, and in the past 6 months or so have shifted my work to being solely in Illustration (primarily Children's). I also run a little Etsy shop called "Wheeler Studio", where I sell mostly illustrated cards and prints. I should first say that what a day in my life is like now will probably be very different from what I'd say a year from now -- at least I hope so, because a typical day in my life right now is a bit insane! I usually TRY to get up at 9am, but usually end up getting started at 10. I have to force myself not to check my email until I finish eating breakfast, otherwise it will be 2pm and I'll realize I haven't eaten a thing. I'll usually respond to emails that need immediate attention, package up Etsy orders, and walk 2 blocks to the post office to mail them. In the afternoon I try to get going on work, but find I'm on such a night schedule that I'm not really productive until 4pm. I end up working on my current illustration projects until 2am or so, and I often end the day falling asleep to some horrible movie on Netflix "Play Instant". Currently, this is my schedule seven days a week, with a random night out with friends, and also an occasional all-nighter where I work a 16-20 hour day to meet a tight deadline. I haven't had a whole weekend off in about 4 months - but even with all that I LOVE working from home on my own clock, running my own show, and making a living with illustration! If I didn't love it, this certainly wouldn't be worth it.
I am constantly working on developing a more sane routine, trying to include play time and relaxation into my schedule (where most people get home from work and they're done, I have work five feet away guilting me at all times). Yet I can also fly home for Christmas for 2 weeks, and I haven't "used up" any vacation days. I can technically work from whereever I want to, which is a liberating prospect. Being a self-employed artist certainly has its pros and cons, but I know for many people the pros far outweigh the cons. For me, one really important thing is being involved with other artist groups in my area and online. Breaking out of isolation and having support in a community is refreshing and inspiring, and they are a great source of information. It's also a great career move! Everything opened up for me when I joined SCBWI (Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators), and started attending their conferences and workshops. It also helped publishing companies find me. You can be the best artist, yet if you don't put your work out there it doesn't exist to anyone else.
You can find me online at www.elizasportfolio.com (http://www.elizasportfolio.com/), my Etsy shop is www.wheelerstudio.etsy.com (http://www.wheelerstudio.etsy.com/), I'm Wheeler Studio on Twitter, and I have plans to start a blog soon (oh, the neverending list . . . ), which I'll link to from my website.
A handful of my favorite illustrators: Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rackham, E.H. Shepard, Edward Gorey, Dr. Seuss
Some great resources: IllustrationMundo.com, IllustrationFriday.com, Escape from Illustration Island podcast, Big Illustration Party Time podcast
Thanks for your interest, and keep the creative juices flowing!
best wishes,
Eliza Wheeler,
Wheeler Studio
---
Thanks Eliza!
NiHers, you may have noticed that she has joined NiH. Please, ask her any questions about her work or 'day' that you would like, and she's told me that she'll try to answer them!
Thanks again for asking me to write about a "Day in the Life of an Illustrator" for Notebook in Hand.
To introduce myself, my name is Eliza Wheeler, I'm originally from Northern Wisconsin and currently live in Los Angeles. I got my BFA in graphic design, and in the past 6 months or so have shifted my work to being solely in Illustration (primarily Children's). I also run a little Etsy shop called "Wheeler Studio", where I sell mostly illustrated cards and prints. I should first say that what a day in my life is like now will probably be very different from what I'd say a year from now -- at least I hope so, because a typical day in my life right now is a bit insane! I usually TRY to get up at 9am, but usually end up getting started at 10. I have to force myself not to check my email until I finish eating breakfast, otherwise it will be 2pm and I'll realize I haven't eaten a thing. I'll usually respond to emails that need immediate attention, package up Etsy orders, and walk 2 blocks to the post office to mail them. In the afternoon I try to get going on work, but find I'm on such a night schedule that I'm not really productive until 4pm. I end up working on my current illustration projects until 2am or so, and I often end the day falling asleep to some horrible movie on Netflix "Play Instant". Currently, this is my schedule seven days a week, with a random night out with friends, and also an occasional all-nighter where I work a 16-20 hour day to meet a tight deadline. I haven't had a whole weekend off in about 4 months - but even with all that I LOVE working from home on my own clock, running my own show, and making a living with illustration! If I didn't love it, this certainly wouldn't be worth it.
I am constantly working on developing a more sane routine, trying to include play time and relaxation into my schedule (where most people get home from work and they're done, I have work five feet away guilting me at all times). Yet I can also fly home for Christmas for 2 weeks, and I haven't "used up" any vacation days. I can technically work from whereever I want to, which is a liberating prospect. Being a self-employed artist certainly has its pros and cons, but I know for many people the pros far outweigh the cons. For me, one really important thing is being involved with other artist groups in my area and online. Breaking out of isolation and having support in a community is refreshing and inspiring, and they are a great source of information. It's also a great career move! Everything opened up for me when I joined SCBWI (Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators), and started attending their conferences and workshops. It also helped publishing companies find me. You can be the best artist, yet if you don't put your work out there it doesn't exist to anyone else.
You can find me online at www.elizasportfolio.com (http://www.elizasportfolio.com/), my Etsy shop is www.wheelerstudio.etsy.com (http://www.wheelerstudio.etsy.com/), I'm Wheeler Studio on Twitter, and I have plans to start a blog soon (oh, the neverending list . . . ), which I'll link to from my website.
A handful of my favorite illustrators: Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rackham, E.H. Shepard, Edward Gorey, Dr. Seuss
Some great resources: IllustrationMundo.com, IllustrationFriday.com, Escape from Illustration Island podcast, Big Illustration Party Time podcast
Thanks for your interest, and keep the creative juices flowing!
best wishes,
Eliza Wheeler,
Wheeler Studio
---
Thanks Eliza!
NiHers, you may have noticed that she has joined NiH. Please, ask her any questions about her work or 'day' that you would like, and she's told me that she'll try to answer them!