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A day in the life of an Illustrator

by The Association of Illustrators

To celebrate National Illustration Day our friends at the AOI have asked seven illustrators why illustration matters to them and how they’ll be spending the day. Find out more below and read the full article here: A Day in the life of an Illustrator.

A photograph of a young woman sat at a desk drawing on a piece of paper. The desk is covered in prints of colourful illustrations.

Why is illustration important to you and how does it impact the work you make?

James Colmer: I love art with a purpose, whether it’s telling a story for a client or enhancing a community space. I enjoy the challenge of working to a brief and crafting a unique experience for the end user.

Carl Wilson: Illustration allows small projections of my childhood, interests and imagination to engage with different audiences and communities worldwide. I enjoy creating pieces with characters whilst often experimenting between mediums such as risograph, 3D CGI and most recently vinyl toys so ultimately, I feel that illustration always allows me growth as a creative.

Sakina Saïdi: I love creating illustrations that explore a variety of topics, from well-being and social justice to migration and community. Each project, whether it’s my greeting cards, prints, or client briefs, allows me to connect with different audiences and share unique perspectives. This diversity in my work keeps my passion alive and inspires me to delve deeper into meaningful narratives that resonate with people’s experiences.

A photograph of a balloon and a stuffed toy in the form of a black and white furry animal character. The balloon and toy are displayed on a table next to some printed illustrated materials featuring the same characters and the words "Adventure Land".
A postage stamp featuring a watercolour illustration of three puffins against a blue sky

What does a typical (or not so typical) day in the life of an illustrator looks like for you?

Vanessa Branchi: As I work from home, I try to keep my day pretty balanced and to follow, as much as possible, a daily structure. I’m way more productive in the morning, so that’s when I focus on brainstorming and working on briefs and sketches. In the afternoon I focus, instead, on the more “technical” aspects of creating my illustrations, like vectorising sketches or working on colour palettes. Throughout the day it’s super important for me to get out of the house, enjoy some fresh air and a nice coffee to unwind a bit. That’s what usually helps me in case of a creative block or, if I’m really stuck on a particular concept, a shower weirdly always does the trick!

A digital illustration of a chair and a desk in front of an open window. Some paperwork on the desk is turning into steps and a path leading out of the open window. A person is walking away down the path into a green landscape with hills in the distance.

Julia Midgley: It varies depending on whether I’m out on location for a reportage project, developing sketches produced when working offsite, or catching up on paperwork of the tedious kind. Occasionally clients come to the studio to discuss projects or look at works in progress, or I go to the client. Alongside my reportage practice, I am a printmaker. Workshops and talks are a part of life in conjunction with exhibitions and visiting lectures to art school students. Other things that take up time are probably the same as any working person: household demands, tennis, weekly Pilates sessions and daily dog walking.

An illustration of a person lying on an operating table surrounded by doctors in scrubs.

What would be your ideal way to celebrate National Illustration Day?

Eri Griffin: I’d love to stroll around town and discover more illustrations out on the streets. Illustrations aren’t just in books, social media, or packaging - you can find them all around you! From a gargoyle on someone’s roof to graffiti and hand-drawn shop signs, there are so many creative forms of illustration / sculpture in everyday places.

An animation showing 4 separate images: The label design for a bottle of whisky featuring an illustration of a warrior, an illustration of a red sports car, an illustration of a trumpet player, a photograph of person holding a piece of paper with an ink illustration on it

Charlotte Ager: Talking about illustration! Sharing illustrations we love and explaining why. It’s a good chance to honour previous illustrators too – honour the enduring history of the practice which has seeped into our everyday in so many ways. And of course - drawing! Without purpose, but just to draw and be present. Maybe drawing with people.

An animation showing 4 separate illustrations: many people at the beach, a child in bed with a cold and holding a tissue over their nose, two women sat at a table having a piece of cake, and a person walking down a pavement, in the background there are houses and buildings and a giant blue horse is standing above them all.

Go to A Day in the life of an Illustrator – The AOI to read the full interviews and see the illustrations that Carl, Charlotte, Eri, James, Julia, Sakina and Vanessa chose to celebrate National Illustration Day.

You can also find more information about becoming a member of the AOI here.

Two illustrations side by side: the first shows a young person cutting vegetables in a kitchen. The second shows a family with two adults and two children eating icecream cones.