Description
Create original illustrations for print and digital media using traditional and digital techniques to communicate ideas, stories, and information.
- • Use pens, ink, watercolor, markers, vector, and raster software to create illustrations.
- • Integrate line, color, texture, space, and perspective to convey ideas, emotions, and tone.
- • Review briefs and confer with clients, editors, writers, and art directors on concepts and scope.
- • Produce thumbnails, roughs, and comps; present for approval and revise per feedback.
- • Maintain a current portfolio showcasing styles, subjects, and capabilities.
- • Create spot art, editorial, book, advertising, packaging, or web illustrations as required.
- • Research subjects, audiences, and trends to inform visual solutions.
- • Practice and study new techniques, tools, and workflows to improve craft.
- • Draw people, products, architecture, and environments from life, photos, or reference materials.
- • Create character designs, turnarounds, and expression sheets.
- • Estimate schedules and material or licensing costs; manage project budgets.
- • Color, shade, and render line art using traditional and digital media.
- • Collaborate with designers and production staff to ensure layout and typography integration.
- • Prepare print- and screen-ready files with correct color profiles, resolution, bleeds, and metadata.
- • Create storyboards or visual sequences to support narratives or motion projects.
- • Ink and refine line work digitally or traditionally for clean finals.
- • Gather or shoot reference photos to support accuracy and detail.
- • Market work through websites, social media, portfolios, and promotional materials.
- • Deliver final assets in required formats; manage naming, version control, and asset handoff.
- • Negotiate scope, pricing, and usage rights; prepare invoices and track approvals.
- • Participate in exhibitions, online galleries, or contests to promote work.
- • Teach or mentor others in illustration techniques and workflows.
- • Build and maintain custom brushes, textures, and style libraries.
- • Archive and back up working files and final artwork for retrieval and reuse.
- • Ensure compliance with brand guidelines and accessibility or legibility standards.
- • Coordinate with printers or vendors for proofs and production quality.
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Related Pathways
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
