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The Good Ship Illustration

The Good Ship Illustration

70 episodes

3 days ago

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!...

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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!...

Show more...

Episodes (20/70)

The Good Ship Illustration

💰 How to protect your time, energy and income as an illustrator

“Can you just do it for free?” NO. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about working for free, how to say no without guilt, and why having nice strong boundaries won't ruin your career (we promise). Tania shares a BRILLIANT script for saying no to unpaid work. Thank you Taniasan, we luv ya. Other good bits of note: How to stop feeling bad about saying no to cheeky requestsHow charity auctions can be a smarter way to give backFree pitching: where to draw the lineThat time Katie back...

2 days ago

17 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

Is this normal in publishing… or am I being taken for a mug?

When your project goes a bit pear-shaped you might wonder if that’s just how the illustration industry is. Well, this week we’re talking all about what's good, bad, and normal... and whether there are red flags you should look out for in your illustrator-publisher relationship. Highlights: Why it's never okay to get feedback on a Friday and be asked for a full redraw by Monday 🙃What’s typical in the picture book process (roughs, colour roughs, final art, etc)When changes are fine… and when ...

1 week ago

22 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

“Help! I found my illustration style… and I don’t like it” 😩

Have you ever looked at your own work and thought… egh? When you work so hard to find your style* it can feel rubbish to realise you don't even LIKE IT 😅. *We're not big fans of the word style...but we have to use it so you know what we're on about. We have a WHOLE ENTIRE COURSE about finding your creative voice & flying your freak flag. This episode is allll about not-holding-the-bar-of-soap-too-tight. It's also about: What to do when your style feels a bit too safe or mainstreamWhy bein...

2 weeks ago

22 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

The joy of not finishing (all) your online courses

Quick note before we start: In this episode we use the words "women" and "creative women" but we know these things don’t just affect women, and not everyone relates to binary gender labels. This chat is based on our lived experience and isn’t meant to exclude anyone. You’re always welcome aboard, however you identify. WE LUV YA. xx Good Ship How many unfinished online courses have you signed up for and then abandoned or forgotten about them? 👀 Yep, us too. Oh well. ...

3 weeks ago

15 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

The curse of "Final Artwork"

BE MORE WONKY In this episode: Why quick sketches usually have more life in 'em than polished piecesHow perfectionism kills creativityBeware of the pause button (when you're doing graphic recording / live illustration)What to do when you're scared your work isn’t “worth the money”Tips for keeping final artwork fresh and looseHuman vs AI: what if the secret is just… being wonky?Timestamps, if you're into that kind of thing 00:00 – Can sketches be “the” illustration?01:00 – The gap betwee...

1 month ago

12 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

Inside Helen's hermit cave

Where does she go? What happens in there? Come and have a wee peek inside Helen’s hermit cave with us. BUT FIRST - is it true? Do you prefer a podcast when there's a video too? Katie's just been to Australia and chatted to some creatives and they all said that they *ONLY* listen to a podcast if there's a video to go with it. Whaaat!? Let us know on Instagram if these rumours are true. You're allowed to slide into our DMs 😆 ❤️ We're @thegoodshipillustration. Right, podcast stuff. T...

1 month ago

10 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

Get more illustration work: A pep talk, some tips, and a tiny rant

Errrr, how do you find illustration work in 2025? Pitching? Instagram? Postcards? SEO? In this nice an' juicy episode we’re answering the 'Heeelp, how do I find clients as an illustrator?' question. What worksWhy we don’t “hunt” clients 😅SEO tips to help the right people trip over youHow to be pals with art directorsPitching can feel YUCK (but it doesn't have to)Old-skool stuff that still worksSHOW YOUR WORK, PLEASETimestamps, for people who like that sort of thing: 00:00 – Listen...

1 month ago

19 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

Residencies and Substack

Hiya. This week’s episode of The Good Ship Illustration podcast is all about artist residencies... illustrators are allowed to go on them too! Our Tania’s just returned from her first ever residency (in a chateau, of course. Ooh la laaa) and we wanted to hear about the muscly trees, the chickens, and whether she got the entire chateau to herself. What a residency actually looks likeHow to pick the right oneDrawing for the sake of it. Mmmmm.Going analogue, trying Procreate, and brush chatSubst...

1 month ago

31 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

Live Illustration (Course Closes Tonight!) No-fluff Q&A

Today’s a biiiig day... the doors to our Live Illustration Course are closing tonight! AGH! In this special live illustration-y episode, we grill Katie with loads of the brilliant live illustration questions you submitted. Katie also shares some behind-the-scenes stories about v early gigs, navigating some more unusual client requirements (hiya, Apple lawyers!), and why your own values matter just as much as your skills. Timestamps 00:36 – Is it risky to live illustrate...

1 month ago

34 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

“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 y...

2 months ago

19 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 ar...

2 months ago

16 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 d...

2 months ago

24 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 whatAsk your characters what they eat for breakfastMagic 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)Th...

2 months ago

18 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 drawingFinding your creative voice and confidenceSharing your browniesHow to balance a job while building your illustration care...

3 months ago

17 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 wh...

3 months ago

13 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 ...

3 months ago

19 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 ...

3 months ago

14 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 gard...

4 months ago

13 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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 ...

4 months ago

20 minutes

The Good Ship Illustration

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...

4 months ago

15 minutes