Sketchnoting aka. live illustration is having a moment. People such as
and have been working for years to boost the skills of sketchnoters, and recently launched a live illustration course!
There are lots of ways to learn, which is excellent, but at some point, we need to go out into the world and share our new awesome skills. So how do we do that? Let’s see.
Disclaimer to the disclaimer: there are a lot of people who actually DO make a full time income just from sketchnotes, so it IS possible for some. That said, I think diversifying your income streams is the way to go, at least that’s the thing I’m pursuing right now.
How do you do this?
Practice, practice, practice.
Practice at home with podcasts and keynote sessions, but even better, practice at real, live events. Are there any interesting talks or creative conferences in your area, such as TEDx or Creative Mornings? If yes, then pick up your gear and go! And if you are happy with your work, after the event, go ahead and show it to the organisers or send it to them. They might share it on their platforms!
Also, each time you make new sketchnoting work, share it on you website. This one’s really important because that’s how your ideal clients will find you.
Also, update your website!
These are the things I did when I stated working as a sketchnoter / live illustrator, and this is what worked for me. See what’s realistic in your area and for your personality and don’t be afraid to go out into the world! You are offering a valuable service to potential clients, visualising their meetings to help their audience remember more and have a tangible takeaway. You are helping your clients, not the other way around!
But Zsofi, you don’t understand, I’m not good enough, I’m not ready…
Nobody is. I for sure wasn’t when I started! You can take a lot of online courses (and you probably should take at least one) but at some point, you need to go out and find the clients who would benefit from your skills.
Rest assured, I too am nervous before an event. Here is what I tell myself in those moments:
Any drawing is better than no drawing, which is the alternative.
Good luck at your first event, let me know how it goes!
Thanks for sharing, Zsofi! Your articles are always fun and practical.
One thing to consider for people just starting is to sketchnote topics you know well and events you’re already interested in, because you’ll have a built-in knowledge of that domain. This can help with being concerned about your skills because you’ll have a secret benefit in the area of your interest.
The disclaimer to the disclaimer :) Insightful as always, Zsofi. Do you suggest any specific course for character illustration?