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The Good Ship Illustration

The Good Ship Illustration

Welcome to The Good Ship Illustration - the podcast for illustrators who are quietly working away in their sketchbooks thinking… “is it just me?”


…it’s not just you!


We’re Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell and Tania Willis - three full-time illustrators from three different corners of the industry (and three different age brackets ). We live in the same seaside town in the UK and started having cuppas and chats… and accidentally became illustration agony aunts.


Now we record those chats for you! We answer your questions about confidence, tricky clients, pricing your work, creative block, picture books, publishing, and everything in between.


✨ New episodes every Friday. ✨


Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and do send us your questions!


P.s. Fancy some freebies? Head to thegoodshipillustration.com for colour workshops, picture book templates, and other treats.


Byeeee for now!


 x The Good Ship Illustration (Helen, Katie & Tania)


🚢🚢🚢

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  • 119 episodes
  • Updated July 10

Episodes119

Newest first
  • Apr 25, 2025 · 19 min

    “I’m not sure how to price my illustration work. I think I panic and undercharge because I’m worried they’ll change their mind if it’s too much.”

    This week’s podcast question is from Annabelle: “I’m not sure how to price my work. I think I panic and undercharge because I’m worried they’ll change their mind if it’s too much.” Ooft. This is a juicy episode. Money, mindset, value, VAT nightmares, and charging what you’re worth. Bon apetit from your Good Ship pals. Tuck in. Timestamps 00:00 – The question: “How do I stop undercharging?” 01:30 – People can feel when you don’t believe in your prices 03:00 – What affects your value: niche, profile, usage, experience 05:00 – Editorial vs publishing vs live illustration: pricing realities 06:30 – Raising your rates to manage your workload 10:00 – Calculate what you need to earn (and start from there) 12:00 – Most illustrators can’t actually work 8 hours a day 14:00 – Self-worth ≠ pricing strategy 16:30 – Add 20% and see what happens 18:00 – TL;DR: You’re probably undercharging Stuff we mention: The AOI’s Pricing Calculator Jessica Hische’s brilliant tool: The Dark Art of Pricing Our Business Course for Illustrators gives you the pricing confidence (and strategy) that no one teaches you at art school. → Join the waiting list Freelancer’s Bible by Alison Grade – super helpful if you like numbers and practical steps Have a lovely week. And up yer rates. x Helen, Katie & Tania 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 🎙

  • Apr 18, 2025 · 16 min

    Illustrator vs artist: what’s the difference? + Creating your portfolio 🥳

    Thanks for sending in yer juicy questions. Here are the ones we tackle in this week's podcast episode: “How do I build an illustration portfolio if I only have fine art work?” “What’s the difference between an illustrator and an artist?” Ahh yes that ol' chestnut. How to pivot from fine art to illustration without losing your mind. We dig into the figuring out what kind of work suits your actual personality. No more trying on other people's uncomfy too-small style jumpers. The illustrator vs artist line is a bit blurry - we get into why that’s actually a good thing. Promise. Honourable mentions: Fenugreek soup Dream clients and imaginary briefs Katie’s two-week job limit "Just make the kind of work you want to get hired for” Timestamps 00:25 – Q1: How to turn a fine art practice into an illustration portfolio 01:00 – Making the kind of work you want to be hired for 02:00 – Picking your corner of illustration industry 03:30 – Fine art vs illustration: different goals, same skills 05:00 – Picture book makers: an exception 06:30 – Your personality probs already picked your niche 08:20 – Know what suits your work style (and what definitely doesn’t) 10:00 – Unexpected places you might find your dream illustration job 11:30 – Be a detective: trace the work you love back to the source 12:00 – Q2: What’s the difference between an artist and an illustrator? 13:30 – Do labels even matter anymore? 14:30 – “Artist” vs “Illustrator” – what clients think they’re hiring 15:30 – Choose the title that helps the right people find you Stuff we mention: Our Business Course for Illustrators walks you through exactly how to figure out where you fit and how to build a portfolio that attracts the right clients. → Read aaaall aboot it here Want to uncover your weirdness and figure out your unique style? → Fly your freak flag with us Got a question for the podcast? Pop it in the question jar here: Podcast question form Thank you! x Helen, Katie & Tania 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 🎙

  • Apr 11, 2025 · 24 min

    Illustration trends vs your creative voice PLUS what materials to use

    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 🎙

  • Apr 4, 2025 · 18 min

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

    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 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 🎙

  • Mar 28, 2025 · 17 min

    How to become a paid illustrator (The step-by-step guide! lol)

    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 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 🎙

  • Mar 21, 2025 · 13 min

    Should you quit Instagram if you're an illustrator?

    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 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 🎙

  • Mar 14, 2025 · 19 min

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

    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 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 🎙

  • Mar 7, 2025 · 14 min

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

    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 🚢💨 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 🎙

  • Feb 28, 2025 · 13 min

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

    "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! 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 🎙

  • Feb 21, 2025 · 20 min

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

    🚢 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. x 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 🎙

  • Feb 14, 2025 · 15 min

    The secret to *actually finishing* your picture book ❤️

    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! 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 🎙

  • Feb 7, 2025 · 15 min

    Saying no as an illustrator: dropping projects can boost your career.

    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 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 🎙

  • Jan 31, 2025 · 17 min

    Why drawing digitally is NAUGHTY 👀 (or is it?)

    Nahhh. It's not really. That was a naughty title. Anyway, we got this brilliant and juicy question in our students-only Facebook group for the Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag Course. 🎺 31ST JANUARY = YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET SOME GOOD SHIP ILLUSTRATION SNAIL-MAIL STICKERS WHEN YOU JOIN! Don't say we didn't warn you! Sign up here. Megan said: "I just opened up the Microsoft Surface Pro I bought for digital drawing, and I’m freaking out a little. Not just about the expense, but a sense of cheating or something. Will this kill the joy of drawing on paper? Does anyone combine analogue and digital drawing worlds?" Topics Megan’s question: Is digital drawing cheating? Analogue vs digital: can you mix them? Why digital tools are lifesavers for fixes, tweaks, and deadlines. Handmade isn’t about the tool, it’s about you! The danger of too much choice. Top tips for keeping your digital work cohesive. Happy accidents. Will drawing digitally kill your love of drawing on paper? Other Stuff we mentioned Our Tania’s Genius Colour Workshop: Join in here Brush sets for Procreate by Vivian Mildenberger: voila (we're not an affiliate, we just love 'em.) Find Your Creative Voice - course doors are open, in case you fancy workin' on flapping your freak flag a bit more in 2025.) Click here to see what all the freak flag fuss is all about. 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 🎙

  • Jan 24, 2025 · 11 min

    Can you be an illustrator with children and a job?

    Chelsea asked us: "Would love some advice goal-wise for those of us still holding part-time jobs and two small kids under five, trying to transition to an illustration career. Is it even possible? I'm feeling impatient and a bit trapped." We chat about: Why “slow and steady” beats high-pressure goals. Low-pressure ways to carve out creative time (even with little ones around). How parenting can inspire your creative work. The importance of being kind to yourself and how to keep drawing. Why editorial illustration might not be the best fit right now. Links Mentioned Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag Course doors are open! Check out Polly Dunbar’s lovely illustrations: Polly Dunbar on Instagram Freebies for illustrators on our website: The Good Ship Illustration Freebies p.s. Good Ship Illustration News Our course, Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag doors are now open and if you clamber aboard before the end of January we'll send you some exciting snail mail (a brand new Good Ship sticker pack!!) 💛 Read all about it here: https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/freakflag 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 🎙

  • Jan 17, 2025 · 21 min

    What tech do you use as an illustrator? Featuring Helen's 25 year-old Epson scanner that WILL NOT DIE

    At The Good Ship Illustration, we love keeping it simple. You don’t need the fanciest gear or the latest tech to be an illustrator. Our Helen’s 25-year-old scanner has survived being dropped multiple times and it’s still goin' strong. This week on the podcast, we’re sharing the tech setups we actually use to get our illustration work done. Katie tells us about her iPad obsession, the magic of cloud storage, and why a second screen is a game-changer when she remembers to switch it on. Helen sings the praises of her indestructible Epson scanner, her return to good old-fashioned paper workflows, and where she stashes all that paper. Tania shares her decades of Photoshop muscle memory, her love-hate relationship with Wacom, and her dream tech collaboration. Dear Apple, if you’re listening, please call us about the maxi pad™ (an extra-giant iPad for picture book illustrators) 😅 Listen to the episode for: CMYK vs. RGB in Procreate, and whether publishers have a preference. Our ongoing battle with storing work. Why we’re convinced illustrators need a bigger iPad (yep, it's the maxi pad again). Timestamps: 00:20 🎉 Find Your Creative Voice is open all year! 03:10 Katie’s tech setup: giant iPads, Procreate hacks, and Dropbox magic. 06:30 Helen’s trusty scanner and her glorious return to traditional workflows. 09:45 Tania’s Photoshop loyalty, Wacom woes, and dream tech. 13:00 CMYK vs. RGB in Procreate—how does it really work for publishers? 16:30 Why illustrators need an oversized iPad. 19:30 Our tips for archiving your creative work. x Your Good Ship pals 🚢✨ Pssst… Exciting news! 🎉 Our course Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag is now open for enrollment all year round! Join anytime and get instant access. 🌟 December & January Bonus: Everyone who hops aboard gets a shiny Good Ship sticker badge. Plus, three lucky new members will win 1:1 mentoring with the captains. Climb aboard HERE. 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 🎙

  • Jan 10, 2025 · 15 min

    Help! I’m shy. Do I really have to go to book fairs to start my illustration career?

    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. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙

  • Jan 3, 2025 · 21 min

    Big goals, no pressure: Planning your creative year with The Good Ship Illustration

    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. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙

  • Dec 27, 2024 · 20 min

    Hardest Year Ever? An Honest Look at the Illustration Industry in 2024

    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. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙

  • Dec 20, 2024 · 12 min

    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 setups 04:30 – Christmas bingo, tiny bowls of crisps, and the unwritten rules of bingo culture 08:15 – Why quick, unplanned drawings can sometimes be your best work 10:50 – Helen’s 30-second cut-out reindeer and a carpet fitter 11:50 – Permission to treat yourself this Christmas. Ron and Betty would approve Links Mentioned: Find Your Creative Voice Course – Treat yourself to a creative boost Find out more here (and if you join before the end of January 2025, we'll send you some gorgeous stickers in the post. SNAIL MAIL!) 🎄 Merry Christmas and a happy new year from all of us at 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 🎙

  • Dec 13, 2024 · 29 min

    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 with The Good Ship Illustration captains. There are 3 spots up for grabs! When you join, we'll email you all of the details. Click HERE for all of the course info and to climb aboard. We'd love to have you sailing with us. Anyways, what's this podcast episode about? From early career wobbles to trusting your creative voice, tackling imposter syndrome, and the confidence to charge what you're worth. Plus, loadsa tips to help you separate your self-worth from your creative work (they're not the same thing!) Got a question for us to tackle in a future podcast episode? Send it in - we’d love to hear from you! 👉 Submit your questions here Timestamps: 00:21 Celebrating that Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag is now open for enrollment all year round! 03:00 Why you’re not a “wannabe” illustrator 05:15 Navigating client relationships 07:55 The power of asking clients what they love about your portfolio 10:38 Silencing negative self-talk and spotting unhelpful stories you tell yourself 12:12 Why it’s better to be an indie band than Top of the Pops (for illustrators) 13:13 The magic of “imperfections” and human marks in your work 15:17 Pricing confidence: why your value isn’t tied to your hours 16:18 Gamifying rejection and making it work for you 18:37 Forget the rules: how naivety can be your creative superpower 21:46 Avoiding comparison traps with a creative quarantine 22:35 Why having multiple versions of your work can unlock playfulness 25:34 Tips for breaking big, scary projects into manageable chunks 28:26 Time tricks for staying fresh and playful under pressure 30:00 Why getting older makes everything easier Links & Resources: 🎓 Find Your Creative Voice, Fly Your Freak Flag Course 🎁 Enrol by January 2025 to grab your free badge and the opportunity for 1:1 mentoring. 📅 Join our Planning Party: 16th January 2025, 1:30 PM (UK time). 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 🎙