If you have artistic talent and find joy in sketching, drawing, and technology, you could start a career as a freelance illustrator. Proficiency in creative skills is an essential requirement for embarking on a freelance illustrator journey.
In this article, you will learn about the top websites where you can find illustration freelance work.
1. Working Not Working
If you are a creative professional seeking work from the most innovative brands and agencies, Working Not Working (WNW) is the right place. WNW is a global community of creative illustrators across every industry, title, role, and level.
Working Not Working helps individuals create multifaceted profiles in searchable and filterable interfaces. Building a profile with them will take 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the illustrator's skills, experience, and portfolio.
Clients prefer Working Not Working because of its simple dashboard design. They can immediately see the illustrator's work on the homepage—another reason why companies like WNW is that they have a strict selection process. Illustrators wishing to add a profile on their website undergo a vetting process or get invited.
You can sign up here to create your profile and choose a subscription plan.
2. Fiverr
Small businesses often source their talents at Fiverr because it is one of the most affordable freelance marketplaces. Like Working Not Working, Fiverr allows creative professionals to create profiles so clients can find them. Users can filter illustrators based on their skills, experience level, and technique or medium the illustrator uses.
Additionally, there are filters for budget, service modes, and delivery time, allowing individuals or companies to find an illustrator for a particular project.
3. Dribbble
Dribble creates opportunities for freelance designers by matching them with the right clients. The agency offers training materials to their talents, ensuring that the illustrators that clients hire are committed to learning new skills.
To open a Dribbble account, head to our Sign Up page. While creating your account, you'll select your Dribbble username, add an avatar, and start populating your profile to make it unique to you!
4. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd is a crowdsourcing platform where clients host contests for their projects and select the best illustration from several options. Their services include logos, graphics, flyers, t-shirts, and web design.
5. Design Contest
Here's another fantastic choice for finding contest-based freelance illustration jobs. The website has 200,000 pre-qualified designers waiting to be hired by an individual or company through design contests.
The process is straightforward. The process is straightforward: clients create a brief outlining their needs, review illustrators' concepts, offer feedback, and ultimately select their desired illustration.
Design Contest boasts an impressive average rating of 4.5 stars on Trustpilot from 82 reviews.
6. Minty
Minty provides a platform for allowing talented illustration freelancers to meet clients. Join Minty and be one of the best illustrators in the market. If you're a professional illustrator, Minty is the perfect place to find freelance illustration work. The website offers a straightforward means to manage new work from clients, organize your portfolio, and track licenses.
Here is a tip to promote your Minty profile:
- Make sure you can accept new work directly from Instagram with just one click.
- To convert new clients immediately in the Instagram app, place your Minty address in profile bio.
- Tag @tasteminty account so their curators can reshare and tag your work and profile. '
7. Etsy
Etsy is a popular place to find handcrafted items. However, Etsy also has many profiles with freelance artists doing custom illustrations.
Since this eCommerce site is quite different from other freelance platforms, clients may need to do some research. For example, typing "custom illustration" in the search bar will lead them to the profiles page. From there, clients will talk to each seller to ask for custom illustrations.
While illustrations are more customized gifts for friends and family, they also have illustrators willing to do other types of drawings.
8. Hire an Illustrator (HireIllo)
As its name implies, Hire an Illustrator is an excellent platform for finding and hiring illustrators. The homepage features sections highlighting new artists, featured portfolios, and illustration news.
Clients can explore artists based on location, newest members, random selection, or agencies. On the portfolio page, illustrators showcase their best work through profile pictures, providing a quick glimpse of their style. Once the user clicks on a profile picture to access the illustrator's portfolio, a brief "about me" section, and the option to connect for easier collaboration.
9. Twine
Twine is a platform where freelancers get consistently paid work across 150 different areas of expertise, including graphic design, web development, music, marketing, animation, video, and illustration.
Finding a job on Twine is easy due to the following features:
- Portfolio and Resume. Your Twine portfolio helps you sell yourself. So, make sure to list down your skills, experience, academic background, as well as client testimonials.
- Instant Application. You can apply to jobs instantly using your Twine portfolio. You can apply for jobs immediately, saving you several hours every week.
- Secure Payments. Illustrators can quickly receive payment via Payoneer, PayPal, wire transfer, and other methods.
10. Behance
Behance differs from other freelance platforms on this list as it operates more like a social network for illustrators. Nevertheless, it is an excellent resource for finding the perfect illustrator for your project.
At Behance, illustrators can showcase their custom illustration portfolios for public viewing. Additionally, Behance offers a job list feature, enabling clients to post illustration jobs and receive pitches from interested illustrators.
How to qualify for illustration freelance work
Whether working full-time or freelancing, illustrators carry various responsibilities. Freelance illustrators engage in diverse projects, including children's books, editorial illustrations, and graphic novels. Specifically, freelancers are responsible for:
- Identifying the appropriate illustration tools and platforms for client assignments.
- Comprehending and executing tasks in alignment with client requirements.
- Timely and budget-conscious completion of illustration projects.
- Seeking clarification through questions when duties are unclear.
- Collaborating with potential clients, art directors, graphic designers, and advertising agencies.
