The Good Ship Illustration

<p>We’re here to offer no-nonsense advice for illustrators and image-makers navigating a creative career. <br><br>At The Good Ship Illustration, we are all about finding your creative voice, standing out from the crowd, building career-longevity, and being yourself. <br><br>We're Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell and Tania Willis - 3 full-time bread-winning (mmm, bread) illustrators working in 3 separate niches of the illustration industry. Between us, we've clocked up over 70 years of experience and illustration wisdom, and we're here to share it!<br><br>You’d love your creative work if only you could find more time to do it, make more money, and feel confident with what you make. We believe you DO have what it takes, illustration needn’t be scary, and we’re with you all the way, along with the rest of the crew in our online community.</p>

Ho ho ho 🎄 pressies for illustrators (love from Ron & Betty Frampton x)

What do tiny bowls of crisps, the world’s fanciest pencils, and a mysterious couple called Ron and Betty Frampton have in common? They’re all in this week's Christmassy podcast!Get ready for festive chaos, creative inspiration, and permission to buy yourself something lovely, courtesy of Ron and Betty.Timestamps:00:00 – Who on earth are Ron and Betty Frampton?01:20 – What’s on our Christmas wishlists? Pencils, paint, and tech setups04:30 – Christmas bingo, tiny bowls of crisps, and the unwrit...

12-20
12:52

The Confidence to Fly Your Freak Flag: A guide for illustrators and creatives

Here's your early present from Good Ship. Our previously-just-for-paying-students private VIP podcast episode all about building your creative confidence.We're celebrating that Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag is now open for enrollment all year round! Instant access. You asked, we listened.EVERYONE who joins during December 2024 & January 2025 will get one of our much-coveted Good Ship sticker badges. Mmmmm.We're also opening up a rare chance to win 1:1 mentoring w...

12-13
29:23

What should you tackle first!? Starting out as an illustrator.

When you’re starting your illustration career, there is so much advice out there, so in this episode, we're untangling the nice juicy question of “Where do I even start!?”We share a bit about how we've each learned to hop in and out of our business & creativity cars over the years. Plus, we'll dish out some wisdom nuggets on balancing creative bursts with the less exciting bits of building your freelance illustration career.Come and say hello, we're friendly! Have you got a question you'd...

12-06
19:09

What you workin' on, pal? A Good Ship Illustration chat.

Show NotesWhen we meet up, this is always one of the first things we ask each other. We'd ask you too if you were here! "What are you working on, then?" is the question that made us want to start The Good Ship Illustration all those yeeeeears ago - we realised how mega different our illustration careers are, even though we're all illustrators.Grab a cuppa - in this episode, Tania shares her big goal to create a personal map (including residencies, studios, and maybe a little bit of procr...

11-29
29:34

The burnout life raft (for when you're drowning in to-dos)

Show NotesFeeling frazzled & running on illustration fumes? You're definitely not alone!In this episode, we wade on in to discuss the murky waters of burnout. Don't worry, we've got your life raft right here! We chat about what burnout actually IS, why it seems to be so common amongst illustrators & creatives, and most importantly, what you can do to nip it in the bud, or escape it if you're already knee-deep.So grab a cuppa, put your feet up, and recharge your batteries with us for a...

11-22
28:58

What do illustrators DO all day? Featuring keep-fit cuppas, & coworking 🤓

Are you as nosy as we are? Weyyyy, you're in the right place.In this episode, we talk about our daily routines as illustrators. What do we DO all day?We discuss morning routines, our creative processes (or lack thereof), and the importance of deciding when to eat dinner.When we said we'd love to hear about your day-in-the-life, we mean it! Come over to Instagram and say hello / tag us in your daily routine posts :) We're @thegoodshipillustration on there.Timestamps:00:18 Tell us about your da...

11-15
19:23

Should I have 2 websites?” + how many mailers until you see results?

Firstly, if you like this episode, you’ll LOVE The Business Course! Doors are open for enrollment until the 18th of October 2024. Be quick! You can read all about The Business Course here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/business If you do miss the boat 😩 and the doors have already closed by the time you're listening to this, you can jump into our free ‘Get into Your Business Car' challenge here in the meantime: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/businesscar (Once ...

10-17
21:03

Get your illustration work noticed by people who actually want to buy it.

Firstly, if you like this episode, you’ll LOVE The Business Course! Doors are open for enrollment until the 18th of October 2024. Be quick! You can read all about The Business Course here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/business If you do miss the boat 😩 and the doors have already closed by the time you’re listening to this, you can join the waiting list for a future round. You can get stuck into our free ‘Get into Your Business Car’ challenge here in the meantime: https://...

10-16
23:36

Busy? How to handle multiple illustration projects like a pro.

Firstly, if you like this episode, you’ll LOVE The Business Course! Doors are open for enrollment until the 18th of October 2024. Be quick!You can read all about The Business Course here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/businessIf you do miss the boat 😩 and the doors have already closed by the time you’re listening to this, you can join the waiting list for a future round. You can get stuck into our free ‘Get into Your Business Car’ challenge here in the meantime: https://www.thegoods...

10-15
17:14

Pricing your illustration work 💸 & how to handle ghost-clients that disappear 👻 Bit of a scary episode. Sorry about that.

Welcome aboard the Good Ship Illustration podcast! In this spooky, scary episode, we tackle one of the trickiest areas for illustrators: pricing and negotiations. (Aaaagh!)Firstly, if you like this episode, you’ll LOVE The Business Course! Doors are open for enrollment until the 18th of October 2024. Be quick!You can read all about The Business Course here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/businessIf you do miss the boat 😩 and the doors have already closed by the time you’re listening ...

10-14
20:14

Figuring out your illustration style - how long does it take?

If you’d like to boost your illustration work and dig in to finding your creative voice, you’re in luck!Doors are NOW OPEN for our course, Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag. Just so you know, this the last time to join at the current price. We’d love to have you sailing with us!You can learn more here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/freakflag Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.comp.s. Click here to submit your question ...

04-25
12:51

Feeling stuck? Creative block be GONE!

This episode is chock full of our very toppest of tips for overcoming creative block. Buckle in 🙂If you’d like to boost your illustration work and dig in to finding your creative voice, you’re in luck!Doors are NOW OPEN for our course, Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag. Just so you know, this the last time to join at the current price. We’d love to have you sailing with us!You can learn more here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/freakflag Come and say hello! ✏️ ...

04-24
10:31

Want to get your illustrations published? Here are Good Ship’s top tips

This episode is JUICY. Here’s a checklist of action items if you want to put it on your studio wall and get some more eyeballs on your work.Reach out to publishers directly by sending samples and requesting meetings to show your folio and get feedbackSend out batches of samples at a timeFollow up with publishers by sending new samples every 3 monthsResearch publisher websites and publications like The Writer and Artist Yearbook to find calls for submissions that match workAsk other illustrato...

04-23
11:06

How to describe your illustration style

In this episode we dig into some juicy questions about describing your own work (aaaargh!) marketing, authenticity, and using your past to find your creative voice.Doors are NOW OPEN for our course, Find Your Creative Voice: Fly Your Freak Flag. Just so you know, this the last time to join at the current price. We’d love to have you sailing with us!You can learn more here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/freakflag Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegood...

04-22
18:41

Surviving Bologna Children's Book Fair with The Good Ship Illustration

Planning a visit to Bologna Children's Book Fair this year? You're in luck. Our Helen has made you this INCREDIBLE PDF document to accompany this podcast audio guide to the fair.What else is inside the downloadable guide?A Good Ship Illustration lanyard to print outif you'd like to fly your Good Ship Illustration flag and help fellow Good Ship pals spot you while you're wandering around the fair!Details on when and where we're holding our first ever Good Ship Illustration meet upThe must-have...

03-29
31:27

Picture book Q&A QUICK FIRE 🔥 | Picture book mini series episode #5

Pssst, if you like this, you'll LOVE our course The Picture Book Course. Climb aboard now while you still can - the doors are closing in a few hours. BE QUICK! https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PBIn this episode we answer a zillion of your brilliant picture book questions. Here's a summary of the key takeaways:Finding stories to illustratePublishers, and how they pair up writers and illustratorsTips for working with authors How picture book publishers work in generalSome live event...

11-17
25:50

Self publishing...is it a scam!? + what dimensions should I make my picture book? | Picture Book mini series episode #4

In this episode of the picture book mini series, we're answering some of your MOST JUICY questions all about: Self-publishing - is it a scam?The correct dimensions for your picture bookInvoicing and contracts in the picture book industry.It's all the nitty gritty stuff. We love it!Doors are closing really soon. If you'd like to join The Picture Book Course, now's your time! Here it is: thegoodshipillustration.com/PB Come and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoodsh...

11-16
21:14

How to run AMAZIN' school visits with your picture book | | Picture Book mini series episode #3

Did you know, the doors to our course The Picture Book Course are now open? Come on in! We'd love to have you sailing with us. Read all about it here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PB What are the big secrets behind successful school visits and events? In this episode, Katie and Tania grill Helen on all the insider bits and VOILA.We talked aboutSetting boundaries when doing school visitsHow to structure your timeThe TOPPEST OF THE TOP TIPS to help children remember your name an...

11-15
23:22

Juggling *life* while also creating picture books | Picture Book mini series episode #2

In this episide of The Good Ship Illustration, we share juggling skills. Whether you're juggling babies, mental health, or just... life stuff, hopefully some of these can help!EXCITING NEWS: The Picture Book Course is open right now! Click here to read all about it ---> https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PB And you can sign up for the Character Workshop here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/cw See ya there! xCome and say hello! ✏️ @thegoodshipillustration🌏 www.thegoo...

11-14
20:38

Can you make a living as a picture book illustrator? | Picture Book mini series episode #1

In this episode of The Good Ship Illustration podcast, we talk all about making a living as a children's book illustrator. EXCITING NEWS: the doors to The Picture Book Course are open right now!! Go go go: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/PB We're running a character workshop on Zoom. You can sign up for it here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/cw (it's free!)ANDOur live Q&A is happening on Instagram at 7pm (UK time) on Wednesday. We're @theGoodShipIllustration on...

11-13
15:50

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