The Illustrator's Guide

@UC4Idk6FHc8tUwT89WouBiRg - 18.1K subscribers

I’m James, I help illustrators build their careers. I make videos to help new and aspiring illustrators find their feet in the industry. I share tips on finding clients, improving your portfolio and managing your freelance business. I want to help you make money from your art.

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Why Good Illustrators Don’t Get Clients (And How to Fix It)

Why Good Illustrators Don’t Get Clients (And How to Fix It) The Illustrator's Guide

1.2K views - 1 day ago

What to Write on Your Illustration Portfolio to Get Your First Client

What to Write on Your Illustration Portfolio to Get Your First Client The Illustrator's Guide

957 views - 5 days ago

If Your Illustration Career Feels Behind, Watch This

If Your Illustration Career Feels Behind, Watch This The Illustrator's Guide

1.6K views - 1 week ago

Why Most Illustrators Niche Down Too Early (And Lose Clients)

Why Most Illustrators Niche Down Too Early (And Lose Clients) The Illustrator's Guide

1.9K views - 1 week ago

Most Illustrators Quit Here, But You Don't Have To

Most Illustrators Quit Here, But You Don't Have To The Illustrator's Guide

2.5K views - 2 weeks ago

Stop Organising Your Illustration Portfolio Like This

Stop Organising Your Illustration Portfolio Like This The Illustrator's Guide

1.3K views - 2 weeks ago

The Portfolio Shift That Helps Illustrators Get Hired

The Portfolio Shift That Helps Illustrators Get Hired The Illustrator's Guide

1.6K views - 3 weeks ago

Why Illustration is Undervalued (And How to Change It)

Why Illustration is Undervalued (And How to Change It) The Illustrator's Guide

1.4K views - 3 weeks ago

9 Books That Will Change How You Think About Life & Work

9 Books That Will Change How You Think About Life & Work The Illustrator's Guide

1.2K views - 4 weeks ago

The Simple Way to Learn Creative Skills in 28 Days

The Simple Way to Learn Creative Skills in 28 Days The Illustrator's Guide

1.6K views - 1 month ago

The Most Dangerous AI Mistake Illustrators Are Making

The Most Dangerous AI Mistake Illustrators Are Making The Illustrator's Guide

3.3K views - 1 month ago

7 Illustration Rules That Separate Amateurs From Professionals

7 Illustration Rules That Separate Amateurs From Professionals The Illustrator's Guide

1.4K views - 1 month ago

The Easy Way to Grow Your Art Instagram in 2026

The Easy Way to Grow Your Art Instagram in 2026 The Illustrator's Guide

14.6K views - 1 month ago

Illustration Lessons That Still Matter in 2026

Illustration Lessons That Still Matter in 2026 The Illustrator's Guide

2.4K views - 1 month ago

Freelance Creative in 2026? - Focus on These 5 Things

Freelance Creative in 2026? - Focus on These 5 Things The Illustrator's Guide

3.9K views - 2 months ago

If I Started an Art YouTube Channel in 2026, I’d Do This

If I Started an Art YouTube Channel in 2026, I’d Do This The Illustrator's Guide

9K views - 2 months ago

Thinking About an Art Challenge in 2026? Watch This First

Thinking About an Art Challenge in 2026? Watch This First The Illustrator's Guide

1.3K views - 2 months ago

The Truth About Illustration Agencies (From an Ex-Agent)

The Truth About Illustration Agencies (From an Ex-Agent) The Illustrator's Guide

4.9K views - 2 months ago

Illustration Changed in 2025 — Here’s What You Need to Do in 2026

Illustration Changed in 2025 — Here’s What You Need to Do in 2026 The Illustrator's Guide

6.1K views - 3 months ago

He Started His Freelance Career in a Warzone

He Started His Freelance Career in a Warzone The Illustrator's Guide

2.1K views - 3 months ago

How to Start an Illustration Career in 2026 (The Smart Way)

How to Start an Illustration Career in 2026 (The Smart Way) The Illustrator's Guide

38.9K views - 3 months ago

Is Illustration Dead? The Harsh Truth About What’s Coming in 2026

Is Illustration Dead? The Harsh Truth About What’s Coming in 2026 The Illustrator's Guide

50.9K views - 3 months ago

How to Deal With Creative Uncertainty

How to Deal With Creative Uncertainty The Illustrator's Guide

2.8K views - 3 months ago

How to Start an Illustration Career Without Social Media

How to Start an Illustration Career Without Social Media The Illustrator's Guide

8.3K views - 4 months ago

5 Fears Holding You Back as an Illustrator

5 Fears Holding You Back as an Illustrator The Illustrator's Guide

3.1K views - 4 months ago

Unlimited Illustration Ideas!

Unlimited Illustration Ideas! The Illustrator's Guide

1.4K views - 4 months ago

Why You’re Not Getting Illustration Work (And How to Fix It)

Why You’re Not Getting Illustration Work (And How to Fix It) The Illustrator's Guide

1.6K views - 4 months ago

How Pro Illustrators Handle Bad Clients

How Pro Illustrators Handle Bad Clients The Illustrator's Guide

541 views - 4 months ago

Success in Illustration Isn’t What You Think

Success in Illustration Isn’t What You Think The Illustrator's Guide

1.5K views - 5 months ago

Present Your Illustration Portfolio to Clients (The Right Way)

Present Your Illustration Portfolio to Clients (The Right Way) The Illustrator's Guide

1.5K views - 5 months ago

I Reviewed 300 Illustration Portfolios – Here's What I Learned

I Reviewed 300 Illustration Portfolios – Here's What I Learned The Illustrator's Guide

3.9K views - 5 months ago

How To Self-Publish A Useful Non-Fiction Book

How To Self-Publish A Useful Non-Fiction Book The Illustrator's Guide

952 views - 5 months ago

Should You Quit Freelance Illustration? (What to Do First)

Should You Quit Freelance Illustration? (What to Do First) The Illustrator's Guide

2.1K views - 5 months ago

Inktober 2025 Brainstorm (For Illustrators)

Inktober 2025 Brainstorm (For Illustrators) The Illustrator's Guide

8.4K views - 5 months ago

Create Your Illustration Portfolio In 30 Minutes (Tutorial)

Create Your Illustration Portfolio In 30 Minutes (Tutorial) The Illustrator's Guide

2.6K views - 5 months ago

Why Your Illustration Career Isn’t Taking Off

Why Your Illustration Career Isn’t Taking Off The Illustrator's Guide

1.3K views - 5 months ago

How to Make Money as an Illustrator (13 Proven Ideas)

How to Make Money as an Illustrator (13 Proven Ideas) The Illustrator's Guide

8.3K views - 5 months ago

Illustration Is On Hard Mode – Here's How To Play

Illustration Is On Hard Mode – Here's How To Play The Illustrator's Guide

5.8K views - 6 months ago

Freelance Illustration Explained (Step by Step)

Freelance Illustration Explained (Step by Step) The Illustrator's Guide

4K views - 6 months ago

How To Give Great Feedback To An Illustrator

How To Give Great Feedback To An Illustrator The Illustrator's Guide

467 views - 6 months ago

How to Turn Your Illustration Hobby Into a Business

How to Turn Your Illustration Hobby Into a Business The Illustrator's Guide

2.1K views - 6 months ago

Sharing What You Know Will Change Everything

Sharing What You Know Will Change Everything The Illustrator's Guide

2K views - 7 months ago

Why Clients Hire Other Illustrators (and Not You)

Why Clients Hire Other Illustrators (and Not You) The Illustrator's Guide

3.1K views - 7 months ago

How To Grow On Social Media As An Artist in 2026

How To Grow On Social Media As An Artist in 2026 The Illustrator's Guide

18.7K views - 7 months ago

No Clients? No Motivation? Try This 30 Day Plan

No Clients? No Motivation? Try This 30 Day Plan The Illustrator's Guide

5.5K views - 7 months ago

10 Illustration Portfolio Tips (For Any Level)

10 Illustration Portfolio Tips (For Any Level) The Illustrator's Guide

8.5K views - 8 months ago

How to Find Illustration Clients Online (5 Ways That Work)

How to Find Illustration Clients Online (5 Ways That Work) The Illustrator's Guide

3.2K views - 8 months ago

Illustrators Are Giving Up - Here's The Truth

Illustrators Are Giving Up - Here's The Truth The Illustrator's Guide

4.8K views - 8 months ago

If I Started Illustration From Scratch, I'd Do These Things

If I Started Illustration From Scratch, I'd Do These Things The Illustrator's Guide

4.4K views - 8 months ago

The Fastest Way to Get Illustration Clients - 2 Essential Steps

The Fastest Way to Get Illustration Clients - 2 Essential Steps The Illustrator's Guide

2.8K views - 9 months ago

Get Feedback On Your Illustrations (Free Book Chapter)

Get Feedback On Your Illustrations (Free Book Chapter) The Illustrator's Guide

1.2K views - 9 months ago

Illustrators Share Why Studio Life Beats Working Alone

Illustrators Share Why Studio Life Beats Working Alone The Illustrator's Guide

1.5K views - 10 months ago

Wow Clients With Personal Illustration Projects

Wow Clients With Personal Illustration Projects The Illustrator's Guide

1.5K views - 10 months ago

If Illustration Clients Are Ignoring You, Try This!

If Illustration Clients Are Ignoring You, Try This! The Illustrator's Guide

1.2K views - 10 months ago

The #1 Reason Most Artists Quit (Don’t Let This Be You)

The #1 Reason Most Artists Quit (Don’t Let This Be You) The Illustrator's Guide

3.2K views - 10 months ago

Illustration Agent Answers Your Burning Questions: 10K Q&A

Illustration Agent Answers Your Burning Questions: 10K Q&A The Illustrator's Guide

3.8K views - 11 months ago

The Smartest Way For Illustrators To Get Noticed

The Smartest Way For Illustrators To Get Noticed The Illustrator's Guide

2.8K views - 11 months ago

Practice This, And Become a Better Illustrator

Practice This, And Become a Better Illustrator The Illustrator's Guide

1.8K views - 11 months ago

What Top Illustrators Do Differently

What Top Illustrators Do Differently The Illustrator's Guide

1.7K views - 11 months ago

Your Social Media Strategy Isn't Working: Here's Why

Your Social Media Strategy Isn't Working: Here's Why The Illustrator's Guide

3.9K views - 1 year ago