Ahoy! 🚢

In this episode, we’re answering a brilliant question from listener Cat, who wrote: “Help! I’m shy. Do I really have to go to book fairs to start my illustration career?”

The short answer = nope.

The longer answer = this 15-minute podcast episode. Grab a cuppa and we'll see you in there!

p.s. Freak Flag course doors are now open! If you join before the end of January 2025 we'll send you a Good Ship sticker badge in the post an' everything. Come on in and find your creative voice :)

Timestamps:
00:25 🎉 Listener question: “Do I have to go to book fairs to succeed as an illustrator?”
01:15 Why being shy isn’t a disadvantage in the illustration world.
02:10 Starting from home: Your portfolio, website, and Instagram.
03:42 Why book fairs aren’t essential for finding work (and what they’re really like).
05:18 Building your portfolio: Focus on six pieces you’re proud of.
06:30 Social media tips for introverts: Finding the platform that feels good for you.
08:15 Dealing with negative comments.
09:43 Why “marketing” is just sharing what you’re already excited about.
12:05 Building confidence.
13:16 Freak Flag is open! Join us for stickers, mentoring, and creative breakthroughs.

Come and say hello!

✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com

p.s. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙

Is it time to set goals, or are you feeling more “no plans, just let me lie down” this year?

We chat about:

• Why some years are for sprinting, and others are for walking.
• The power of visual goal-setting.
• How to make goals human-sized, doable, and fun, without freaking yourself out.

Here's a Good Ship permission slip to do your 2025 goal-setting in a way that works for your brain/energy-levels/life.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Happy New Year! Goal-setting: exciting, overwhelming, or somewhere in between?
01:00 – Join our Planning Party on 16th January (details inside!)
02:30 – Sprinting vs walking: knowing when to slow down and when to push forward
03:45 – Loose goals, intentions, and the value of taking things slowly
04:50 – Why “no plans” can still count as a brilliant plan
07:00 – Visual goal-setting: drawing the year ahead and keeping it in sight
08:15 – Human-sized goals: how to make planning feel manageable and fun
10:00 – Intentions beyond work: making space for life, joy, and connection
16:00 – Ideas for tackling the overwhelm of “too many things to draw”

Links Mentioned:

• You're invited to our Planning Party on 16th January!
  Sign up for our emails here to get your invite: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/

Come and say hello!

✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com

p.s. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙

As 2024 winds down, we’ve been hearing all sorts of things - budget cuts, AI fears, and whispers of a downturn. There’s no denying it’s been a tricky year for many illustrators. But is it all doom and gloom? Not necessarily!

Timestamps for you to skip around:
00:20 Special news - The doors are open for Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag!
01:15 What we’ve been hearing from illustrators about the industry.
03:00 Why illustrators are feeling the pinch of budget cuts.
06:30 The world is craving handmade, delightfully wonky work.
09:45 What’s going on with picture books, then?
13:30 Fly your freak flag - this is your moment to shine.
16:00 Licensing, animation, and new media - growing areas to keep an eye on.
18:15 Inclusivity in illustration and what agents are looking for in 2025.
19:50 Why you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket.

🎉 Exciting Announcement

The doors to our Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag course are open!

✨ Enrol whenever you like - no more waiting for us to open the doors.
✨ Join by the end of January 2025 and you'll get:

• A Good Ship Illustration sticker pack.
• The chance to win a 1:1 mentoring session with us - the 3 captains.

Learn more and join here: Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag

Come and say hello!

✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com

p.s. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙