Blog

2024 IA Membership Drive

Why we need each other

Sometimes the pieces of the puzzle come together, but it’s not just luck or skill that makes this happen

Fears For Tiers At Redbubble

The introduction of a tier system for artists on Redbubble has raised concerns about the site's treatment of smaller contributors. What's led to the change, and for the average user, is Redbubble still worth it? Opinion, by IA member Chris Murray.

In memory of Sandra Eterovic

Renowned Australian illustrator / artist Sandra Eterovic passed away suddenly on November 18, 2018. Fellow illustrator Sonia Kretschmar reflects on Sandra's legacy with Illustrators Australia.

Awareness, determination and self promotion – meet Derek Brazell

It’s never just about talent. It’s knowing you’re running a business and that you’ve got competition, so need to get in front of commissioners effectively with strong self promotion, awareness of what’s going on in the world and the illustration business, and determination to succeed.

Limitless new worlds – meet IA Awards judge Carl van Wijk

"While illustration is art it shouldn't be decoration. It needs to be compelling and have a purpose." Illustrators Australia sits down with Carl van Wijk and talks about the medium of illustration.

The value of networking and the power of the word of mouth – meet Sally Brownbill

"I wanted to create a creative hub for people to display their work and be found. I also wanted to help creatives get their name out to a much greater audience and have another platform for them to show their work and be part of a community."

SHOUT opens to a full (and loud) house

On Friday July 13th Illustrators Australia's much loved homage to the Heidelberg School's famous paintings on little wooden cigar boxes returned for the 20th time at Collingwood Gallery.

Protecting your work

It seems almost everyone has at some stage experienced blatant theft, astonishing ignorance or awkward misunderstandings relating to copyright. But there are ways to minimise your exposure and seek redress if your work is used without permission or payment.

Bettina Does Beatrix

Who says there’s no glamour in illustration? Guess who painted the adorable Beatrix Potter watercolours in the animated blockbuster of the moment, Peter Rabbit? IA alumnus Bettina Guthridge, that’s who.

Revving up your Redbubble income

Redbubble, Zazzle, Society6 – there are myriad print-on-demand websites out there, all with their own quirks. Plenty of IA members opt for Melbourne-based Redbubble, so we’ve asked a few old hands for their top tips.

Caring for your creative self

​Hands up who’s knackered? Even great years can be exhausting by December. So how about making your first act of self-care for silly season 2017 a theatrical pat on the back for everything you’ve achieved over the last 365 days – large and infinitesimally small? Closely followed by some gloriously guilt-free downtime to rest, reward yourself, and reflect on the positives of the year that’s drawing to a close?

On graphic narratives, retro aesthetics and longevity – Meet IA's Alex Mankiewicz

"There’s no other art form that encompasses such a wide range. What an illustrator might be asked to do in the space of a month would be the equivalent of a musician composing an ad jingle, pop song and documentary soundtrack all at once – doesn’t happen in any other field." On graphic narratives, retro aesthetics and longevity – Meet IA's Alex Mankiewicz

On the child-like play and freedom of illustration; meet IA's Sheryl Cole

Sheryl Cole is an Illustrator, Artist, Designer and Art director, whose heart has always been inspired and captivated by the beauty of nature. When Sheryl is not out curiously exploring the outdoors, she's inside recreating that experience within her illustrations and commercial design projects.

We are the champions - The 2018 KidLitVic conference

Children’s book illustrator Nicky Johnston knows only too well how tough and competitive her industry is. And not just for emerging artists trying to establish a foothold. Even established illustrators have a tough time adapting to a publishing and marketing landscape that’s constantly changing. So when she was approached to create an illustrative visual identity for the first KidLitVic conference held in May 2016, Nicky jumped at the chance.

10 conferences to keep the creative juices flowing

We all struggle to get out of our studios sometimes. Work calls. Bills don’t pay themselves. Devoting days to exhibitions, seminars, workshops and even, heaven forbid, holidays can be hard to justify when deadlines loom. But without regular doses of inspiration we’re a fair chance of creative stagnation or burnout. For the thrill- and tax deduction- seekers amongst us here’s our top 10 list of conferences worth planning your next year around.

Mixed media, ephemera and self-love; profiling IA's Ron Monnier

"Love your work! It’s my belief that if you love your work, you’ll love your life. Art, not only is my profession, it flows through my veins." An interview with IA's Ron Monnier.

Meet IA's Lisa Stewart; on the energy and excitement of illustration.

"I love it when you get the story from the publisher or agent. Those first images you see in your mind are very exciting and sparks fly around and you can't stop thinking about the author's words and how to best honour them with your illustrations. That lasts until the day you hand them in."

Meeting conceptual demand... meet IA's Katherine Smith.

"As it is so easy to photograph and the cost of commissioning photographs has dropped, illustrators have had to respond through creativity. I am excited by the opportunity to illustrate scenes that can’t be photographed, meet a conceptual demand and are quirky."

The ingredients of a freelance illustrator: IA's Ben Sanders gets profiled

2 mugs of coffee. 3 briefs (two on the desk, one under my jeans). 15 sketches. 1/2 hour of design. 1 lunch. 30 emails. 1 bucket of mouse clicks. 2 RedBubble sales. 1 or 2 uploads. Stir well and season to taste... in this installment of our Member Monday features, get to know Illustrators Australia's Ben Sanders.

30+ years and 20,000 commissions... meet IA's Nick Diggory

30+ years and more than 20,000 commissions for advertising agencies, designers and publishers all around the world... meet Illustrators Australia's Nick Diggory.

Meet Michelle Frantom (Dr. Grafix)

Have you met Illustrators Australia's featured member, Michelle Frantom (Dr Grafix)? A career artist with a PhD in visual art, Grafix creates bold, satirical artworks from the south coast of WA.

The Melbourne Writers Festival 2017

Where to go, who to watch and what to make - IA's picks for things to do at the 2017 Melbourne Writers Festival

Blume Illustrated Festival Wrap-up!

Jody Pratt, Working Party member and former President of Illustrators Australia, talks about Blume Illustrated, a multi-faceted magazine and festival-based project that took place in Katoomba, NSW May 26-29, 2017.

The people have spoken!

Flushed with success at being the joint winners of the 'People's Choice Award' at Illustrators Australia's recent group show 'Paper + Pixel' at Collingwood Gallery, Serena Geddes and Rhiannon Mowat share some advice for those reluctant to show their work.

Paper+Pixel draws in dream clients and a major prize money can’t buy

In preparation for Illustrators Australia's next major group show Paper + Pixel - opening May 5 2017- we have a look at what's in store for the exhibition...

Anna Hoyle – Not Quite Right

It’ll come as no surprise to fans of Anna Hoyle’s pun-packed paintings celebrating vintage books and collectables and the absurdities of consumer culture that humour is central to her mission as an artist.

Tonia Composto Is Making Up For Lost Time

2017 promises to be massive for Tonia Composto. She has Excel spreadsheets full of goals (most of which began life ─ like many of her wildly colourful, quirky, printerly illustrations ─ as sticky notes. Such a liberating, no-pressure medium, the sticky note).

Burning Questions for those ‘In The Know’

IA’s recent In The Know Seminar at Docklands gave experienced and emerging illustrators the chance to fire questions at an industry panel. Here are a handful of Q&As we couldn’t resist sharing.

Mitch Vane Shares Her Lessons Learned

A highlight of IA’s recent In The Know seminar was the opening address by Little Lunch creator Mitch Vane. Funny, candid and insightful, Mitch captivated the audience with tales from her stellar, 35-year career. Lessons learned? Our top five are right here.

Vale Alex Stitt 1937-2016

Five Ways to Stay Motivated

Knowing it's difficult to be creative all the time, we've compiled 5 best tips to stay motivated.

The Facilitator - Lara Chan-Baker

An insightful article on Lara Chan-Baker of Jacky Winter Group.

Don't weaken Australian copyright laws!

The Federal Government is set to make significant changes to copyright laws based on the recommendations from the Productivity Commission. If they are implemented, these changes will have a negative impact on the business concerns of Australian creatives.

An Interview With Annie White

Annie White – part of the stellar panel of speakers at IA’s upcoming In the Know seminar at Docklands on August 27 – has been conjuring up illustrated characters from books she loves all her life.

An Interview With Gregory Baldwin

Gregory Baldwin, a speaker at IA’s highly anticipated seminar and panel discussion In the Know, shares how he got to where he is today.

Five Reasons to Join Illustrators Australia

Find out the top reasons why you should become of a proud member of Illustrators Australia.

An Interview With Serena Geddes

A brief history of the 9x5

The 9x5 members exhibition, (inspired by the Heidelberg School of artists in the late 1800s, in which cigar boxes measuring roughly 9 x 5 inches were used as the substrate in an exhibition of the same name), has been a mainstay of IA’s exhibition activities since 1995.

Farewell to Phil Masters

Phil Masters, inaugural IA President and Member Number 1, passed away in January 2013. The following tribute is from fellow illustrator and his great friend Fredd Briggs.

IA Members donate $2010 to Red Cross for Japan

We sincerely thank all our members that participated in the IA for Japan appeal by donating their artwork for Auction.