Inside Illustration is a multi platform season for AOI Members focusing on a particular area of illustration for each Season.

Each season includes an exclusive Podcast, a Creative Course for members, in-depth Article, Resource, Commissioner interview and a comprehensive ‘How To...’ guide publication for those interested in entering the area based on the season theme.

Illustration for Children Season – New!

Podcast: Children’s Picture Books

A great conversation exploring creating children’s picture books from the publisher and artist sides, with Jane Buckley, Senior Art Director of children’s books at Simon & Schuster and illustrator Chanté Timothy, hosted by Rachel Emily Taylor.

Article: Almost Anything Is Possible

Illustrators and commissioners across a range of projects aimed at children talk to Jyni Ong about storytelling, stretching creative muscles and attracting the audience. With illustrators Eva Cremers, Diane Ewen and Natasha Durley.

Resource: Illustration for Children Basics

What are the basics you need to know about illustration for children? This resource explains the various areas from animation to products, what you’ll need in your portfolio, clients, briefs and licences for commissions focused on children.

Interview: Alex T Smith ~ author illustrator

Alex T Smith talks to Greg McIndoe about about his bestselling book series Claude becoming a children’s animation for Disney, and creating fresh characters for his new animated series, The Coop Troop with Sixteen South production company: “Why play safe when you could be weird?”

Creative Practice Course ~ Children

Members have the opportunity to take part in this four-session creative course with Dave Bain and guest illustrators Chanté Timothy (above), Henry St Leger, Pintachan studio and Beehive Illustration covering Children’s products, books, animation and storyboarding and publishing for education.

How to get into Illustration for Children

Get more than the basics for what you need to know to get into illustration for children. The How To covers what you need in your Portfolio; the different commissioning areas; Clients; Briefs, Deadlines and Fees plus Licensing and Contracts. With advice from agents and illustrators.

Inside Illustration motion illustration by Yukai Du

Branding Season

Podcast: Artists & Commissioner

Guests for the Branding season podcast are Heidi Lightfoot, Together Design Creative Director and founder, and illustrator / designer branding-experts Kate Larsen and Nicola Robson. The podcast is hosted by Rachel Emily Taylor.

Article: Branding Is Personal

Illustration is effective in branding for companies across a multitude of applications. Alix-Rose Cowie talks to clients commissioning branding work for identity and packaging and the illustrators responding to those briefs.

Resource: Branding Illustration Basics

What are the basics you need to know about illustration for branding? In this useful resource we explain the industry, what you’ll need in your portfolio, branding briefs, logos and licences and contracts for branding commissions.

Interview: Head of Studio, Jhy Turley

Jhy Turley, Head of Studio at award winning Uncommon Creative Studio (Campaign’s Creative Agency of the year and Independent Agency) talks to Derek Brazell about commissioning illustration that is right for the brand and the story the brand is telling.

Creative Practice Course Branding

Members have the opportunity to take part in this popular four-session creative course with Dave Bain and guest illustrators Kate Larsen, Loe Lee, Justin Poulter and Chris Dickason, covering Illustrative food branding, Representing people, the Illustrated brand and Characters for branding.

How to get into Branding Illustration

What are the essentials you need to know to get into branding illustration? This downloadable How To by James Hughes covers what to expect from this area of commissioning and the type of illustration examples you’ll require, to what typical branding licensing is. Plus quotes from illustrators and ADs in this area.

Inside Illustration motion illustration by Yukai Du

Editorial Season

Podcast: Artist & Commissioner

Exploring the essential aspects of editorial illustration from both the commissioner and practitioner sides, the podcast examines the qualities that make excellent editorial images. With AD Corinne Myller and illustrator André Carrilho, hosted by Rachel Emily Taylor.

Article: Motion in Editorial

The expanding use of motion in online editorial is explored by Derek Brazell, talking to Art Directors from The New York Times and The Ethel, and motion illustrators Rami Niemi, Vidhya Nagarajan, Carl Burton, Nancy Liang and Erik Carter.

Resource: Editorial Illustration Basics

What are the basics you need to know about editorial illustration? In this resource Tess Redburn explores the industry, what you’ll need in your portfolio, licences and contracts and approaching art directors (and keeping them ‘sweet’).

Interview: AD Sarah Habershon

Sarah Habershon talks to Alix-Rose Cowie about her role as Art Director of G2 at The Guardian newspaper, the approach to take for the tone of the illustration, keeping a welcome sense of humour, and needing “an artist who will really understand the copy and get to the heart of the story”.

Creative Practice Course

Members recently had the opportunity to take part in this four-session creative course with Dave Bain and guest illustrators Kotryna Zukauskaite, Bett Norris (above), Sarah Tanat-Jones and Vanessa Lovegrove covering current affairs, lifestyle, food and portraiture in editorial.

How to get into Editorial Illustration

What are the essentials you need to know to get into editorial illustration? The How To covers what you need in your Portfolio; the different areas of editorial illustration; Editorial clients; Briefs, Deadlines and Fees plus Licensing and Contracts. With advice from illustrators working in Editorial.

Inside Illustration motion illustration by Yukai Du