For Beginning Freelance Illustrators Who Want to Make a Soulful Living
Is This You?
You want to be a freelance illustrator. Perhaps you have gone to school for it or you are an artist who always wanted to try it. Either way, you are feeling a little daunted about how to go about it.
Many people who are on this path have a lot of great questions such as:
What kind of illustrator am I?
How do I get clients?
How do I price my work?
Furthermore, you may have some bigger questions and fears such as:
Can I actually make a living as an artist?
How can I make a living as an artist and not end up hating what I now love?
Maybe you have watched countless YouTube videos and devoured the content of successful illustrators on social media, but are still feeling unprepared.
Maybe you have read books and even taken classes to understand strategies and processes, but still feel a bit scared.
That is so understandable. It doesn’t mean you aren’t capable or talented enough or brave enough. It just means that you need a person who can help you through your unique challenges and help you find your unique path.
You need someone to walk beside you on our journey and provide guidance. Someone who has been there. You also need to create within a community of those who, as Brene Brown says, “are in the arena.” They are out there going for their dreams, taking risks, learning from failures, and making it happen!
Being a freelance illustrator can be a joyful and financially sustainable path when you combine your unique talents and vision with practical skills and support!
My Hope For Your Illustration Career Mentorship:
You create your unique vision, gain basic business skills, learn how to stay true to your own process, and get the support you need to get momentum in your Freelance Illustration career! You gain greater confidence as you create a path for thriving financially and soulfully as you live your dream. The world needs its artists!!!
“I really enjoyed every meeting with Karen. It was a pleasure to uncover and grow my artistic expression and learn business skills under the mentorship of Studio Light Illustration. I was shown tangible ways to achieve that. I really loved some of the activities that helped me to fine-tune my art process and allowed me to use my creativity to get more insight as to what approach to an art business is best for me. She shared helpful tools to overcome blocks and insecurities about my own ability. Now, I am inspired and motivated about building up my art establishment. If you are an artist with a vision, a voice that you want to share with the world, Studio Light Illustration Apprenticeship is the place to access your creative magic. Thank You Karen!” - E. Muhammad, Former Mentee
How Does It Work?
The Illustration Career Mentorship is a 6-month program. You meet with Creative Coach Karen twice a month for 45 minutes via Zoom for a total of 12 sessions.
A curriculum that will help you to start your freelance business guides the Apprenticeship sessions.
In-between sessions, you will make commitments based on the topic to further help you to launch your freelance business.
You also have ongoing support from Creative Coach Karen between sessions. Furthermore, there is an online toolkit filled with tools and exercises you can use at anytime!
Here is a list of the topics covered in the curriculum:
Creating Your Vision
Conscious Business Model + Goals
Organization for Planning and Productivity
Discipline + Play Structures
Messaging Language + Platforms
Pricing Structure
Co-Creative Process + Your Creative Process
Marketing Basics + Plan
Relationship Building for Networking + Collaboration
Support and Accountability
Who Thrives In This Program?
Those who are ready to take information and put it into practice.
Those who are ready to make commitments and follow through.
Those who are open to looking at how they block their own success and do the inner work necessary to transform those blocks into stepping stones.
Those who know that running your own business is a never-ending process of professional AND personal development.
Those who don’t give up easily and have a true calling in their heart to live an artist life.
Those who know the value that artists play in our world and are not willing to believe messages to the contrary.
How Much Does It Cost?
Self-Paying Beginning Illustrators/Students:
Your investment is $180 per month or a one-time upfront fee of $970 (10% savings). This is a reduced cost for those who are paying for the program themselves and are not yet making a substantial income.
Supported Beginning Illustrators/Students:
Your investment is $300 per month or a one-time upfront fee of $1620 (10% savings). This is the cost for those who have caregivers who are able to pay for the program for them.
**Note: When there is a large enough group, there is an option to participate in one group coaching session a month as a part of the program. It is a great way to expand your circle of support! If this is an option, I will discuss the details with you at the time of your application.
A Note for Struggling Artists:
Here is a page with possible ways to find funding if you need it.
I know it isn’t easy to afford the support you crave. I know. I have been there.
Here is the thing: If I didn’t charge, what would I be saying to artists?! That you shouldn’t charge? Oh no. You should. We are valuable as artists. We have SO much to offer. I refuse to be a struggling artist and so should you. We need to thrive together.
I also know that when I pay for something I show up. I stretch the experience. I take full advantage of everything offered. And I get soooo much more back!
So, if this is something you want - if you are ready to stretch, show up fully, take full advantage of all that is offered, and create a thriving creative business, but don’t know how to pay for it, it is time to use one of your best qualities: your creativity!
And if you need help brainstorming ideas, I’m here for it. Shoot me an email! Be brave, ask for you, invest in you, live your dreams, get paid for it. I can tell you it is worth it. (And don’t forget to check out these funding opportunities.)
Who Is Creative Coach Karen?
Hello! I am Karen and I have been where you are. Not only have I found my way to financial success and soulful satisfaction with my illustration work (with the help of many), but I have also helped a number of others to do the same through this Illustration Apprenticeship!
I have illustrated over 30 books and counting, but I also have an extensive background in arts education and I am a certified Life Coach and Executive Function Coach with a history of coaching people in both transformational and practical ways. My passion is for coaching creatives who want to live the life of an artist in a soulful and sustainable way. Here is more about me.