We recently connected with Jenny Eickbush and have shared our conversation below.

Jenny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

My art career took a bit of a winding path before I landed on illustration. When I did set my sights on becoming an Illustrator, it was about five years before I could say I was earning my living that way.

My degree is in musical theatre, so I have a passion for storytelling. But when I graduated and decided I didn’t want to pursue a career on the stage, I was feeling pretty lost. I’ve always loved making art, so I interviewed for a summer job at a theatre where I used to perform, and was hired to paint sets! That experience helped me get a job working at a faux finishing and mural company, and still let me spend my summers painting at the theatre.

I’d been making a living moving a brush around for a few years. I loved the work I was doing and the wonderful people I was doing it with, but it was becoming clear to me that I had a desire to be my own boss and lead my own projects. I wasn’t sure what that was going to look like, when I found Jim Kay’s first illustrated Harry Potter book. It was like a light bulb went off in my head! Here was something that combined art and storytelling in an amazing and beautiful way! I knew I had to set my hand at trying this illustration thing, but I didn’t know where to begin.

I didn’t go to art school, and I didn’t have any connections in the illustration industry. Since I wasn’t willing to take on the tuition costs of a formal university, I knew I had to assemble my own curriculum.
I set my clock an hour earlier every morning, so I could practice my drawing skills and do one drawing a day before work. I went to the library and checked out a dozen different illustrated books every week so I could see what was being published in the market, and what work I liked in that market. I found that I liked illustrators that incorporated printmaking, so I took an evening printmaking class. Then I added a Saturday morning digital painting class so I could learn Photoshop. I did that for about two years.

When my husband accepted a job that moved us to a new city, instead of looking for a new nine to five, I took a job waiting tables in the evenings so I could spend my days creating an illustration portfolio. After six months, I had a portfolio of about 15 pieces, and I started applying for illustration work. I went to a couple conferences, I started sending mailers; and I started booking a few small jobs!
Now when I say small, I mean SMALL. Like, $150 for a full wrap book cover small. I knew the pay was really low, but I also knew I needed to cut my teeth and get some published work under my belt. I kept working on my portfolio, and kept taking on more small jobs. Eventually the jobs became a little bigger, and I started asking for more money. I continued working and getting better, and my number of commissioned projects and rates were able to increase again!

I now work full time as a freelance illustrator! I’m still continuing to learn as my business continues to grow. I’m not sure if I could have sped the process up, because everyone’s path is so different! I found my biggest bursts of momentum when I would reach out to become involved in a community. I joined a critique group, I started watching some online art courses and engaging in the forums, I paid for a three-month mentorship from a seasoned pro. I found these resources during the world on Covid, so I was able to participate in all of this engagement online! I know it can be frustrating when your dreams seem so big and your progress seems so slow. Just try to remember that your path is meant to be as unique as you are, and keep working to take little steps forward every day.

Jenny, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My creative services are mostly directed at illustrating cover art. I interpret the content of a book, an album, a magazine article, or a game, and create a visual that will help my client put their work in the hands of the right audience!

I do my best to create work for the kind of content that I would want to consume: stories for people who are messy, or sometimes feel like outsiders. Stories that can get a little dark, and fight to find hope. And if there’s some kind of supernatural or fantasy element, that’s all the better!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Creative Pep Talk Podcast, created and hosted by Andy J Pizza, has been a huge influence! This show really helped me get specific about what kind of work I wanted to create, and how to better market it. It’s a great listen for business strategy ideas, specifically meant for artists.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known about this one, but it didn’t exist when I was starting out: The Illustration Department! There’s a weekly podcast hosted by Giuseppe Castellano, where he interviews creatives in the field, class opportunities, a forum, and a free weekly critique group. I participate in the critique group most weeks, so come join and say, “hi!”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jennyeickbush.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennyeickbush
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyeickbush