Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erin Nielson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Erin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I love being an artist, and have always wanted to do something creative. There are struggles, however, with being a freelance artist. The pay is often sporadic, with stretches of time earning a small income followed by the occasional big payout. Because I run my own business, I also have to keep up with marketing, finances, emails, contracts, and more on top of doing the creative work. Sometimes I’ve wondered what it would be like to have a more “regular” job. The idea of having a more regular income sounds nice, and it can be stressful running a business on my own. Every time I think about what my life would be like if I switched jobs, however, I quickly realize that I’m already where I need to be. Despite the struggles that come sometimes being a freelance artist, I wouldn’t want to do anything else!

I love the freedom that comes from running my own business. I’m passionate about what I do, and creating children’s books is exciting for me. Even when I’m not working, I find myself wanting to spend my free time reading or writing stories, drawing characters, or thinking about children’s literature. It’s a part of me in a way that no other job could be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Erin!
I’m a freelance illustrator in McKinney, Texas. My love of art started early, with my paintings and artwork hung in my grandmother’s home. I attended college at Brigham Young University and graduated with a BFA in illustration. Soon after graduating, I married my husband, Matt, and moved to Texas for new adventures. I work from my home studio, and I collaborate with clients on illustrations for children’s literature, from picture books to young adult novels. My favorite projects to work on are middle-grade fantasy covers and interior illustrations, and I’m currently writing my first middle-grade fantasy novel.

I love to create imaginative and whimsical artwork (especially if I get to include an animal or two), and past clients include Bookshark, The Friend Magazine, and Pauline Books and Media. I recently finished illustrating two books for self-published authors: Celeste Saves the City by Courtney Kelly, and Cinnamon Goes Over the Edge by Alli Caudle and Susan Paroff.

I’m definitely more introverted, and I typically start a project with a clearly defined creative brief. From there, I’ll submit preliminary sketches and concepts to arrive at the final product – well before the deadline.

Most of my clients are in the NYC area, and we typically communicate via phone or email. Clients are encouraged to offer feedback and critique throughout the process, as illustration is a collaborative endeavor. I enjoy working 1:1 with passionate people who understand the power of imagery, and who are excited to put something new into the world.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

One of the biggest ways that I think people can support artists and other creatives is simply to value their work. I regularly get emails from people who want me to just illustrate their book because it’s a great story, sometimes without any payment in return. While most illustrators do enjoy what they do, it is still work. Many illustrators have spent years at school developing their skills, and all of them have put in many hours of work to learn how to draw, compose an interesting piece, tell a visual narrative, create an interesting and consistent character, etc. It also takes time, and sometimes money, for the illustrator to create their artwork. Any working illustrator needs to be compensated fairly for that time, skill, and cost.

Society can show that they value everything that goes into an illustration by being willing to pay for it. If you’re hiring an illustrator, be willing to pay enough to compensate them fairly for their time and talents. If you find a piece of artwork that you like, respect the image rights. Credit the artist, and be willing to pay for the rights to print it, sell it, etc. There are a lot of other ways to support artists online, too, from sharing their social media to becoming a member on their Patreon to ordering from their online shop. As more people try to respect and support artists in these ways, it helps the creative ecosystem thrive.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One of the things that made the biggest differences in how I run my business was hiring an expert to help me. I asked Brianne Huntsman, a business woman and career coach who runs The Huntswoman Group (www.thehuntswomangroup.com) to help me nail down a marketing plan and business priorities. I’ve worked with her several times, and each time I’ve seen a noticeable improvement in my business and a significant increase in revenue! I highly recommend hiring someone who knows what they’re doing to help–it’s worth every penny.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.illustrationbyerin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illustrationbyerin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IllustrationbyErin/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/illustrationbyerin/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/IllustrationbyE
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/illustrationbyerin?fan_landing=true