Hit the books What do artists need to know to enter the world of book illustration? Dom Carter talks to professionals to find out

Eli Minaya advises learning the division of style between genres: “A style that may work in sci-fi/fantasy may not work for literary fiction, even if there’s a bit of magic in the story.”

“Going to illustration events, book launches, and even illustration fairs are all amazing places to make new contacts,” says Chris Chatterton.

The art found in illustrated novels and picture books is often inspiration for budding artists, so it’s no surprise that many consider turning their hand to book illustration at some point in their career. But just like other popular mediums, it can be difficult to know how to approach book illustration. Add publishers, designers and authors into the mix, and the industry can seem daunting, if not impenetrable.

Luckily for aspiring illustrators, this multidisciplinary nature means that there’s lots of ways for them to get into it. A strong portfolio is the foundation of any artistic career, and it’s no different for book illustrators. Make sure it includes up-to-date work that relates to the work you want to do in the future. Beyond that though, there doesn’t appear to be a specific route to follow.

“If you’re making personal art and you’re making that art with stories and books in mind, work will find you”

ROADS TO SUCCESS

“The best advice I can give is to make a lot of personal art, so that art directors can see many examples of how you fit into the process of selling a book,” says Tor Books illustrator Eli Minaya. “I don’t believe it’s about qualifications, necessarily. I think if you’re making personal art and you’re making that art with stories and books in mind (and you’re nice to the people you connect with), work will find you.”