The Good Ship Illustration

Latest Episodes:

Illustration trends vs your creative voice PLUS what materials to use Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

Two more chunky questions for this week's episode:

“How do I choose the right materials and techniques when I love them all?”
“How do I keep up with new tech and trends without hopping on every train and going bananas?”

It's a longer one this week! A podcast title that went in the bin was: Mouldy bingo dabbers: A love story. A moment of silence for that title. It woulda been great, but not very useful or searchable 😆

Alas.

Timestamps

00:00 – “How do I choose the right materials?”
01:00 – You don’t have to pick just one
02:00 – Mixing media
04:15 – Why learning 'the proper way' can sometimes kill your weirdness
06:30 – The gouache phase
07:30 – Storytime: The incredible grasshopper drawings
09:00 – Wrong materials = the right results
10:00 – Drawing with stuff you don’t like
13:15 – Listener question: “How do I keep up with tech & trends without going mad?”
14:00 – Learning Procreate while making a book??
17:00 – Trends are sneaky
19:30 – Don't force yourself into a trend box
22:00 – Are you a fan or trying to be someone else?
24:00 – Going off-grid

Stuff we mention:

Our Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag course
The doors are open! You can join right now.
Want a fun excuse to make stuff without overthinking it?
Try our free Colour Workshop

Got a question for the Good Ship Illustration podcast?
Send it here, go on!
Podcast question form

Right, we’re off to draw with things that smell like school. Mmmm.

Bye!

x Tania, Helen & Katie
The Good Ship Illustration

Come and say hello!
✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com
p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙

Perfectionism, CMYK & a shout out to Barry in the cupboard (lovin' your work, Barry) Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

This week we’re answering TWO of your excellent questions:

“How can I stop overthinking my story and just... FINISH IT???”
“Which is better, RGB or CMYK?”

Here’s what we chat about:

That annoying feeling when you know your story’s missing something but you can’t figure out what
Ask your characters what they eat for breakfast
Magic picture book editors - you don't need to do it all alone!
And... how Helen sent a whole book to print in RGB and no one stopped her (justice for Barry in the cupboard)

This episode is especially for you if you are stuck in perfectionism mode or feel personally attacked by the confusing colour settings in Photoshop/Procreate.

Timestamps:

00:00 - “How can I stop overthinking my story?”

01:15 - When feedback clings to your brain like a wet sock

02:30 - Mild peril

04:15 - Character stuff

06:30 - Asking weird questions = finding the heart of your story

08:00 - Maybe... you’re actually a nonfiction illustrator? Hmm!

09:10 - How to make your agent's life easier AND still move forward

11:00 - QUESTION 2: RGB or CMYK? Which one's better?

11:40 - Sad, sad orange

13:00 - Barry in the cupboard and the mystical RGB loophole

15:10 - Saving your artwork (and your sanity)

Stuff we mention:

Our Picture Book Course is the best place to learn about story arcs, and how to stop overthinking every. single. thing. Join the waiting list here
Our free Colour Workshop will BLOW YER MIND. Download it here

Got a question for us to answer next? Submit it here:
Podcast question form

See ya soon.

x Tania, Helen & Katie
The Good Ship Illustration

How to become a paid illustrator (The step-by-step guide! lol) Mar 28, 2025

Show notes

This is something we hear quite a lot, and it's a BIG broad question: How do you actually become an illustrator who makes money. Dear Good Ship Illustration please break it down for me, step by step.

No pressure (aaagh 😅)

Alas, there is no tidy step-by-step guide… but in this episode we're doin' our very best to give you a solid direction to head in.

Step 1 = loadsa drawing
Finding your creative voice and confidence
Sharing your brownies
How to balance a job while building your illustration career
A big ol' mistake new illustrators tend to make - not you though. You're cleverer than them.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Where to start
01:30 – THE STEP-BY-STEP PLAN (lol, sorry, there is no plan)
03:20 – Share! Or else!!
05:45 – Job juggling
08:15 – Feeling behind?
(Does anyone ever feel ahead though?? No. Nothing to worry about then.)

Taraa for now.

x The Good Ship Illustration

Should you quit Instagram if you're an illustrator? Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

This week, we’re answering a question from listener Eilidh:

"How do you navigate social media? Do you have a strategy or just post willy-nilly?"

Gah. It’s complicated. In this episode of the podcast we chat about:

Do illustrators really need Instagram anymore?
Should you have a strategy, or is it fine to post when you feel like it?
Why social media isn’t our main way of getting work (and what is).
The ONE thing every illustrator should have on their Instagram right now.

Aaand, we discuss why we haven’t abandoned Instagram (even though everyone keeps saying it’s dead), how publishers actually find illustrators, and, y'know, a very important discussion about videos of the King’s Guards horses biting tourists 🐴 chomp.

Timestamps:

00:25 Question: “How do you navigate social media?”
01:00 The old days of Instagram strategies (do they still work?)
02:20 Why everyone is fed up with Instagram… and also fed up with people being fed up with Instagram.
04:10 King’s Guards, AI Jesus & cabin crew chaos.
06:00 Should illustrators jump ship to other platforms like BlueSky, Mastodon, or Threads?
07:45 Does Instagram actually bring in clients?
09:15 What should illustrators post?
10:30 The biggest mistake we keep seeing on illustrators' IG profiles
11:50 What’s more important than social media?
12:40 How publishers find illustrators (and why Instagram still plays a small role).
13:30 A practical idea: Tidying up your Instagram highlights so people can easily find the important stuff
14:20 Final thoughts: Social media is what it is… but please don’t rely on it for all your work!

See you next week! And if you need us, we’ll just be over here watching horse videos 😂

x Byeeee

Your website might be missing this one thing – and nooo, it’s not more portfolio pieces Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

Ahoy! Doors to the Business Course (for illustrators!) are closing TONIGHT! We're going to be having a chat over on Instagram and you're more than welcome to bring your business of illustration questions along. Be lovely to see you there. We're @thegoodshipillustration over on Insta.

p.s. Once the course doors close, they close. We're strict! You've got until 10pm UK time tonight (Friday 14th March 2025)

🚢

This week, we’re talking about one of the best things you can do for your illustration career (but it also just so happens to be something that most illustrators dread and avoid like the plague):

📸 Updating your website bio and getting proper photos!

We cover:
✔️ Why a great photo makes clients trust you
✔️ The biggest mistakes we see illustrators make on their 'About' page
✔️ How to write a bio that actually sounds like you without overthinking it
✔️ And why drawing a wee smiley face instead of uploading a headshot just won’t cut it anymore

If you’ve been putting this off, consider this as your sign to finally get some proper photos and sort yer website oot.

p.s. We’ve got an About Page Bingo guide inside the Illustration Business Course, so if you’re in there, go find it!

Timestamps:

01:00 Why updating your bio & website photos is the best thing you can do
02:15 Katie just had a photoshoot - here’s why it was worth it
03:40 How to find a great branding photographer (and what to ask them)
05:00 Feeling awkward about getting your photo taken? Some tricks to make it easier
06:15 Props, pets & sketchbooks
07:40 The price of a good photographer and why it’s worth the investment
09:10 Writing your bio: The easiest method
10:20 Why your bio should match your audience (formal vs. friendly)
12:00 “Clients don’t actually care about your personal life…” (or do they?)
14:15 How illustrators, live scribers & picture book makers should approach bios differently
16:30 Why illustrators should think like plumbers
17:45 Final push: Just get something on your website today (half arse it now, you can always tweak it later)

Done is better than perfect.

Byeee for now! And merry photoshoot-booking.

If you get some nice new headshots for your about page, do tag us on Instagram so we can admire them. We're nosy!

x Good Ship

Is there enough work for illustrators? The truth about illustration jobs in 2025 - a rising tide floats all boats 🚢🚢🚢 Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Doors to the Business Course (for illustrators!) are open TONIGHT! We're going to be having a chat over on Instagram and you're more than welcome to bring your business of illustration questions along. Be lovely to see you there. We're @thegoodshipillustration over on Insta.

🚢

This week, we’re diving into the live illustration industry. How much work is actually out there, how to get it, and whether it’s the right fit for you.

We grilled our Katie and found asked her...

Is there really loads of work for illustrators, or has it been a slow year?
What’s this new Illustrator Jobs Board all about? (Live illustration gigs, client budgets, and real-life illustration job opportunities.)
What actually happens in a live illustration session?
How much do clients pay for live scribing, and how can you charge more?

If you’ve wondered about going into live illustration - or just want to see what clients are paying - this episode's for you!

p.s. If you’re curious about Katie’s Live Illustration Jobs Board, you can find it over on Substack here.

Timestamps:

00:25 The big debate: good year / bad year
01:50 Why 2024 was overwhelming
03:15 The Jobs Board experiment
04:40 What kinds of jobs are coming in?
06:00 UK vs. international jobs (and why some illustrators have upped their rates after seeing the budgets).
07:15 What actually happens at a live illustration gig? Is it really 8 hours of solid drawing?
08:30 What do clients want from a live illustrator?
09:40 The most requested topics: AI, data, and… scrubbing data with a sponge?
11:00 How much do clients pay for live illustration?
12:15 The tech side: Do you need to be a tech whiz to do this work?
13:30 Live illustration vs. fashion illustration gigs
14:45 The Jobs Board results so far
15:30 Should you try live illustration? The skills overlap with mapping, editorial, and even school visits
16:50 Katie’s Live Illustration Course is coming soon! (If this episode got you excited, stay tuned 🤓).

If you like the sound of the live illustration course, you can register your interest here.

See you next time!

Byeee 🚢💨

Feelin' guilty about not drawing as much lately? [A Good Ship Illustration permission slip] Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

"I'm not drawing as much anymore - Aghhhhh! Is this ok!?"

If you feel like you’re not drawing as much as you “should”, then you’re definitely, absolutely not alone. In this episode, we share our drawing ebbs and flows, why guilt often sneaks in, and how to let yourself off the hook when life gets lifey.

We chat about:

The natural phases of a creative career (and why it’s A-OK not to be drawing all the time).
Why forcing yourself to draw can backfire.
How other creative stuff like sewing or gardening can feed your illustration work.
Finding the balance between illustration, work, and real life.
How to quiet the mean voice in your head.

See you in there!

What size should your picture book be? (And other silly mistakes to avoid.) Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

🚢 The Picture Book Course closes TONIGHT!

In this episode, we’re tackling three of the biggest picture book questions we hear all the time:

1. What size should my picture book be?
2. Do I need kids to write picture books?
3. How do I get my book in front of a publisher? (So that they actually SEE it.)

If you’ve been agonising over book dimensions, stressing about margins, or wondering whether your book must be a certain size before a publisher will even look at it, this episode's for you!

Plus, we grill our Helen all about how publishers actually work, find out why your picture book does not need to be fully finished before you pitch it, and learn a sneaky way to speed up your storytelling skills (hint: it involves buying lots of books. Oh no, what a shame. Heh.)

p.s. The Picture Book Course closes TONIGHT! If you're listening on Friday 21st Feb 2025, this is your last chance to hop jump and skip aboard before the doors close.

The world has a your-picture-book-shaped hole in it.

Let's fix that.

It's time!

Click here to read all about the Picture Book Course.

Timestamps:

00:25 Question: “What size should my picture book be?”
01:10 The real answer
02:50 What actually matters more than page size?
04:00 Bookshop logistics: Why your book needs to fit on a shelf.
06:15 Do publishers ever tell you the exact dimensions?
07:05 The BIG mistake
09:10 Why publishers love flexible illustrators.
10:30 The magic of working with an art director
12:05 The storytelling trick we might steal from Sydney Smith (Sydney Smith if you're reading this, it's a joke. 👀)
14:00 Should you apply to publishers, or just self-publish?
15:45 How to find the perfect publisher for your book.
17:10 Second question: “Can you write picture books if you don’t have kids?”
18:00 The surprising list of famous picture book authors who never had children.
19:30 The secret to writing picture books with emotion (even if you’re not around kids every day).
21:00 School visits, nannying, and other sneaky ways to absorb children’s interests.
22:00 Final call! The Picture Book Course closes TONIGHT at midnight! 🚀

Join us over on Instagram (@thegoodshipillustration) for Art Club Live TONIGHT at 7pm UK time!

Be lovely to see you there.

The secret to *actually finishing* your picture book ❤️ Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

First things first, we've got to let you know that the doors to the Picture Book Course are FINALLY OPEN AGAIN today!

We'll officially fling 'em open tonight at Art Club (7 pm UK time over on Instagram. Our IG username is @thegoodshipillustration.) See you there! 🚢

Right, back to the podcast show notes.

In this episode, we’re answering a brilliant question from Lou, who asks:

"I've got a picture book for adults. Is that a terrible idea?"

The short answer = not necessarily, but it could be a tricky sell to publishers.

The longer answer = this podcast episode! We discuss bookshop logistics, sneaky ways to get an illustrated book into adult sections, and why tweaking your idea just a little bit might make it way easier to get published.

Plus, we talk about what to do when your mind is pinballing between story ideas, and how to anchor your book in a way that makes finishing it muuuuuch more likely.

p.s. The Picture Book Course is OPEN! If you're listening before 21st Feb 2025, the doors are still wide open. Scramble aboard before they close for another year!

Timestamps:

00:25 Question: “Can a picture book for adults work, or should I pivot to kids?”
01:10 The practical problem: Where would it actually go in a bookshop?
02:50 Illustrated fiction for adults: Rare, but not impossible!
04:00 Gift books, philosophy books, and sneaky ways to get into the right section.
06:15 The Charlie Mackesy effect (a rare publishing phenomenon).
07:05 Should you self-publish? A way to test the waters.
08:40 Question 2: “How do I stop my story ideas from fizzling out?”
09:10 The pinball problem: Too many ideas, not enough finished books.
10:00 How we created Salty (and why anchoring your characters makes writing a lot easier).
11:30 A game-changing tip: Make a “character questionnaire” to build stronger stories.
13:45 Reminder: The Picture Book Course is open for one week only!

We’ll be back next Friday with more questions and one last reminder before the course doors close.

Join us over on Instagram (@thegoodshipillustration) for Art Club Live on Friday 14th Feb & Friday 21st Feb at 7pm UK time! See you there!

Saying no as an illustrator: dropping projects can boost your career. Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Juggling too many plates, saying yes to everything, and wondering if it’s time to let something go... It's not a fun place to be. (And all three of us have been there, got the frazzled t-shirt).
In this episode, we share the projects, jobs, and ideas we’ve binned along the way to make room for the shiny new stuff.

We chat about:

Why it’s okay to drop what isn’t working (even when you love parts of it).
Illustrator school visits, online shops, and in-person events.
The power of saying no. NOOOO!
How dropping things helps you focus on what you’re brilliant at.

Links Mentioned

We made you some workshops and resources to help you navigate a creative career: The Good Ship Freebies

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Good Ship Illustration

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected