Uploaded May 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This is my second live Q&A session. Almost 2 hours long this time! In today's video, we talk about:
00:04:32 - How do you make time for personal projects?
00:08:00 - What are some lettering/typography tips?
00:16:11 - How can I avoid copying my influences?
00:23:14 - How can I find my style?
00:31:15 - Is Photoshop a must-have tool for illustrators?
00:36:08 - How can I get hired to do more spot illustrations?
00:40:58 - Are open source/editable illustrations a threat for freelance illustrators?
00:50:43 - Do you have office hours as an illustrator? Do you take evenings/weekends off?
00:58:29 - What are the basics I should start learning to become an illustrator?
01:12:00 - What are your favourite books on illustration?
01:19:00 - How do you get larger projects for advertising, packaging, etc.?
01:21:00 - How to illustrate an imaginary scene when you don't have references?
01:26:41 - Is it better to have a consistent style or is it okay to have variety?
01:29:47 - Do you have set boundaries to help you stay focused while working?
01:31:36 - What is a bad experience you had and how did you grow/learn from it?
01:39:39 - Should you have to choose between graphic design and illustration, or can you do both?
01:41:48 - What do you do when you're not feeling motivated?
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO
See this list on my Amazon Associates page:
amazon.ca/shop/mrtomfroese?listId=1LKKP1IHFZ2AA&ref=cm_sw_em_r_inf_list_own_mrtomfroese_dp_v3j2E5FHs92gr
- Hand Job: A Catalog of Type by Michael Perry (featured on thumbnail)
- Meggs' History of Graphic Design by Philip Meggs
- A Designer's Art by Paul Rand
- Find Your Artistic Voice by Lisa Congdon
- Art Inc. by Lisa Congdon
- Speedball Textbook for Pen and Brush Lettering, 20th Edition
- In Progress by Jessica Hische
- The Golden Secrets of Lettering by Martina Flor
- Graphic Design: The New Basics by Ellen Lupton
- Thinking With Type by Ellen Lupton
- The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst
- The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield
- Freelance, and Business, and Stuff: A Guide for Creatives by Hood & Hood (available on Hoodzpah's website): hoodzpahdesign.com/product/fabas-freelance-business-book-print
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS!
Find me elsewhere:
Skillshare: tomfroese.com/teaching
Instagram: @mrtomfroese
Twitter: @tomfroese
Web: tomfroese.com
Behance: behance.net/tomfroese
This is my second live Q&A session. Almost 2 hours long this time! In today's video, we talk about:
00:04:32 - How do you make time for personal projects?
00:08:00 - What are some lettering/typography tips?
00:16:11 - How can I avoid copying my influences?
00:23:14 - How can I find my style?
00:31:15 - Is Photoshop a must-have tool for illustrators?
00:36:08 - How can I get hired to do more spot illustrations?
00:40:58 - Are open source/editable illustrations a threat for freelance illustrators?
00:50:43 - Do you have office hours as an illustrator? Do you take evenings/weekends off?
00:58:29 - What are the basics I should start learning to become an illustrator?
01:12:00 - What are your favourite books on illustration?
01:19:00 - How do you get larger projects for advertising, packaging, etc.?
01:21:00 - How to illustrate an imaginary scene when you don't have references?
01:26:41 - Is it better to have a consistent style or is it okay to have variety?
01:29:47 - Do you have set boundaries to help you stay focused while working?
01:31:36 - What is a bad experience you had and how did you grow/learn from it?
01:39:39 - Should you have to choose between graphic design and illustration, or can you do both?
01:41:48 - What do you do when you're not feeling motivated?
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO
See this list on my Amazon Associates page:
amazon.ca/shop/mrtomfroese?listId=1LKKP1IHFZ2AA&ref=cm_sw_em_r_inf_list_own_mrtomfroese_dp_v3j2E5FHs92gr
- Hand Job: A Catalog of Type by Michael Perry (featured on thumbnail)
- Meggs' History of Graphic Design by Philip Meggs
- A Designer's Art by Paul Rand
- Find Your Artistic Voice by Lisa Congdon
- Art Inc. by Lisa Congdon
- Speedball Textbook for Pen and Brush Lettering, 20th Edition
- In Progress by Jessica Hische
- The Golden Secrets of Lettering by Martina Flor
- Graphic Design: The New Basics by Ellen Lupton
- Thinking With Type by Ellen Lupton
- The Elements of Typographic Style by Robert Bringhurst
- The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield
- Freelance, and Business, and Stuff: A Guide for Creatives by Hood & Hood (available on Hoodzpah's website): hoodzpahdesign.com/product/fabas-freelance-business-book-print
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS!
Find me elsewhere:
Skillshare: tomfroese.com/teaching
Instagram: @mrtomfroese
Twitter: @tomfroese
Web: tomfroese.com
Behance: behance.net/tomfroese
