“My advice is to think locally to find a niche. “I have a strong passion for the culture and traditions of my country, and it’s always more fun to work on what you’re passionate about.’ “My best-sellers are mainly patterns and folkloric, regional graphics from my country, México,” digital artist and graphic designer Nahiely Velázquez, a.k.a. Local Culture Add some folklore to your illustrations. This poster has been my inspiration for many of the protest images I have recreated over the years.” 4. I often find inspiration in the work of activists and visual culture from the past, like the World War II ‘We Can Do It’ propaganda poster that has since become such an iconic image. “It’s important to me to illustrate my point of view about these serious subjects. “In my work, I also reflect on current events like the global protests of 2020, elections and politics, and the COVID-19 pandemic.’ Find inspiration in visual artists from the past. “My favorite topics for illustrations are those I care deeply about, such as women’s rights, the #MeToo movement, and the Black Lives Matter movement,” the graphic designer, illustrator, and pop artist Gal Amar says. Current Events Create illustrations you have a vested interest in. Remember to upload your images well in advance so clients can use them in their seasonal campaigns. Whether you’re illustrating local or global events, mark up your calendar for the year ahead. “These are evergreen themes because they’re celebrated every year, and designers always need fresh holiday illustrations.” “The first topic that comes to mind is major holidays: Christmas, Easter, birthdays, etc.,” Russian-based artist Alenka Karabanova tells us. Annual Holidays Designers are always in the market for fresh holiday illustrations. They can be used both for educational or marketing purposes, and they are interesting to create because I get to study and learn about the history of different places.” 2. “Illustrations that capture the unique cultural features of different cities are among the most in-demand. “I enjoy traveling and exploring new cities, so most of my illustrations are related to this topic,” Pavel Smolyakov tells us. When illustrating travel, get specific in terms of historical landmarks and details.
Modern travelers are so diverse, so there is truly so much you can do within this topic.” Capture the uniqueness of the location. “There is always a corner on the planet that we long to visit-even if it’s just through an illustration.
“My best-selling illustration themes include sports, food, technology, cultural values, and holidays, but my personal favorite is travel,” Vadim Georgiev admits. Read on to learn their tips and ideas for what sells on Shutterstock-now and in the future.Ĭreative Illustration Ideas Illustrations ideas that look to the future.
Heading into 2021, we asked more than twenty talented artists from around the world to tell us about their favorite subjects to illustrate-from timely events to evergreen subjects. Illustration in the 21st century has evolved rapidly, with new trends like contemporary art collage, tactile lettering, and 1920s-inspired art deco design reshaping the industry and inspiring emerging artists. By the 20th century, publishers had fully released the potential of great illustrations to sell magazines and newspapers. By the turn of the 19th century, illustrations were everywhere-from the novels of Charles Dickens to local galleries and bookstalls. Moving into 2021, we asked more than twenty talented artists to discuss their favorite best-selling subjects to illustrate.Ĭommercial illustration, as we know it today, dates back to the 18th century, when the English wood-engraver Thomas Bewick created a studio for the printing of illustrations featured in educational materials, art books, newspapers, and more.