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One week to go until the official launch on 5th April and we already have nearly 60 talented and diverse illustrators taking part in ‘The zero2illo 12 Week Challenge’.
Turnout has far exceeded my expectations and left me without time to email everyone back personally, so please consider this post my thank you for joining me for the ride.
Don’t worry if you haven’t had time to email over your bios, illustrations and links yet - the challenge will remain open to anyone to join at any time, just send over your info and I’ll add you to this post.
I’ll also be adding a forum to zero2illo in the next few days, so be sure to join so we can get more conversations going back and forth amongst us all as we work towards our goal.
Psssssst, don’t forget to sign up to the mailing list for extra info, resources and tips each month.
So, here goes - meet your fellow ‘12 Week Challenge’ participants…
Jonathan Woodward (that’s me!)
I’m currently a professional Graphic Designer (8 years in the corporate world, 4 years freelance) and run the company Kinetiva alongside my wife as Location Independent Professionals. I have however always had the aspiration to follow my passion and become a full time Illustrator.
For many reasons (including self doubt, lack of confidence in my abilities and general procrastination) I’ve never made the leap, but now at 34 years young I’m tired of putting it off and have decided to get over myself and go for it.
My illustrations are produced using traditional cut and paste collage so you’ll often find me flipping through fashion magazines and feeling the texture of printed pages in magazine shops (yes, I do get some funny looks from other shoppers!)
Warren Belfield
I grew up in the suburbs outside of Richmond Virginia, filling my head with Monster movies and superheroes.The greater part of my childhood was spent daydreaming and drawing.
Since graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2001 with a BFA in Illustration, I’ve had the fortune to work on many different types of projects including illustration, design, concept art, and storyboards for animation and video. Much of this work was for Hand Turkey Studios, a company I helped start in 2004.
These days I live in Richmond with my wife, our son, two cats and a wiener dog. The greater part of my adult life is still spent daydreaming and drawing.
Caleb Morris
A 30 year old Gulf Coast native, Caleb Morris has been exhibiting his work in the streets and galleries of North America and Europe for the past 4 years. In addition to showing in galleries around the United States, Canada, and Europe, he has had the opportunity to work for clients such as: MTV Networks, SJC Drums, Swatch, and many clothing companies, international magazines, and record labels.
When not fighting insomnia or deadlines, Caleb can be found planning his next scheme to travel across the country and record it in his sketchbook.
Katriona Chapman
I”ve been freelancing as a children’s illustrator for a few years now, but always seem to work with the same few clients & have reached the stage where I really want to push for more in my career. What I’ve always wanted to do is illustrate picture books, but I seem to be stuck in the educational market, and illustrating books for older children.
I would also love to be an illustrator full-time, but at the moment I spend just as much time out of work as I do working on commissions. (Not that I do nothing during dry spells - I’ve written & produced dummies for three of my own PB ideas and am always working on personal projects). I am a self-taught illustrator, working in traditional media, and with hardly any business-sense at all!
Willa Gebbie
My name is Willa Gebbie, I am 27years old female, living in Glasgow. I started out my career with a degree in Chemistry and I am currently working as a Research Scientist.
Over the last few years I have been putting “plan B” into action, dreaming of a career in graphics, design and illustration. So, I have been working full-time and studying illustration and graphic design in the evening. Just last month, I officially finished my HND.
Now, I have set myself the awesome task of putting a portfolio, website together and picking up some work, ultimately changing career and ideally working with fashion and apparel illustration and design.
I have a blog
Justin Segal
Justin Segal is an animator and concept designer with a lifelong passion for drawing. As a child he would lock himself away to draw comic strips or full comic-book adventures. He has designed, authored or illustrated many books, including “The Presidents Almanac,” “Civil War Almanac,” “The Amazing Space Almanac” and “The Ultimate Guide to the Sky.”
In 2010 he received a diploma in Advanced Character Studies from Animation Mentor, learning from the top animators working in the industry today. He was singled out for two Student Choice Awards by his peers.
He lives in Valencia, California with his wife and son, who also enjoys drawing!
Erica Sirotich
I am an aspiring illustrator residing in Sarasota, Florida. My work is quirky and colorful, primarily inspired by animals, children, and children’s books. I’ve worked for local magazines, t-shirt designers, nonprofit organizations, and software companies, but I really would love to break into the editorial and children’s publishing markets.
About a month ago, I took a giant chance and quit my job to pursue illustration full-time. I realized, after four years of working in other fields, that illustration is what I really want to do and I won’t be able to forgive myself if I don’t give it a shot. I’ve been making progress-building up my portfolio, networking through social media platforms, teaching myself new skills, and researching prospective clients. But I also realize that I have a LONG way to go. I look forward to moving forward toward a sustainable and successful illustration career alongside fellow members of the Zero to Illo community!
Ressa McCray
I am Ressa McCray. I have a degree in Graphic Design. I have been working Freelance for six years. Since last year I have been working on my illustration skills in the realm of t-shirt design. Been printed once so far at RIPT Apparel with another print in April. I am hoping to increase my skills so as to get more consistently printed. Thanks for the opportunity.
Paula Mould
Paula Mould is an experienced Flash developer who specializes in programming dynamic data driven web sites and cross platform desktop applications. Paula also a professional artist and illustrator, specializing in abstract mixed media work. Media can range from chalk pastels to acrylics to encaustic.
Sara Koncilja
bio: I studied art between the age of 14-19 on a high school level, but then decided to take up something more practical and did librarianship, information science and book studies at the university (I’ll be defending my final thesis next month).
During my student years I traveled a lot, lived in France and Czech republic and worked as a junior illustrator for a slovenian children’s magazine for a bit more than a year. I also worked on two children’s books written by others, published in the last 2 years, but since it’s hard to survive as an artist in such a small country I’m currently trying to find my way abroad, which will be the biggest challenge for me.
John Pfleeger
My name is John Pfleeger and I’m a stay-at-home-dad, freelance graphic designer, and wanna-be illustrator. Like you, illustration has always been my passion. It is only recently that I’ve decided to make a go of it.
Joe Chapman
My name is Joe Chapman, and I am also known as Doubleclick (a name I use for music). I am half of a music production team called Two Fingers. I have recently taken up drawing again after many years of absence, and am relearning the ability with pencils and a graphics tablet.
I also sculpt. In recent years, this has been an annual activity based every Halloween (you can see my pumpkin carvings in the links below). I intend to get a decent camera and introduce 3d elements into my illustrations.
I have had a couple of small jobs doing graphics for websites and t-shirts, but I would like to properly establish myself as an illustrator. I live in Brighton, on the south coast of England.
Lori Fagerholm
I’m a newish, kinda-working freelance illustrator and graphic designer, and I’m SO excited about your idea. I’m [email protected], Twitter ID lorifagerholm, my online portfolio is at , and I’ve attached an illustration, a recent self-portrait I really like. It’s smallish, so let me know if you’d like a larger file. Here’s a little bio:
I’m a San Francisco Bay Area-based illustrator and graphic designer working in traditional and digital media. The thrill of helping people realize their graphic visions makes this among the best jobs in the world. What can I draw for you?
Allan Lorde
Allan Lorde is an illustrator and graphic designer from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He’s kept himself busy with creating gig posters over the past decade for a number of artists, both local and international. Squirrels make him happy.
Olivier Perkins
Spore* is a freelance illustration/ design/ photography/ art/ good things studio run by me, Olivier Perkins. Specializing in not specializing, I enjoy the flexibility of an eclectic aesthetic and am well versed in the fine disciplines of tea & coffee making.
Originally grown in the UK, transported to New Zealand by sail boat and planted in the Taranaki region, where I currently live with my wife, 2 daughters, a big dog, a small cat and 3 different sized fish.?When not behind a pencil or basking in the hypnotic glow of a computer screen you can usually find me drifting around above (or below) the sea, or crashing into trees on a mt. bike.
Jon Davis
I tinkered with a bit of 3D animation for a few years, producing a couple of shorts which got shown at a few festivals.
But the last year or so, I’ve decided to go back to illustration, which is what I did at college.
This year I decided I really waned to make a go of it and start making money, and hopefully a living at it. I’m going for children’s books, because I feel that’s what my style fits, and all the ideas and inspiration I get seem to fit with that subject matter.
I’m currently working towards going to the London Book Fair on 20th April, where I want to make a few contacts and show my work around a bit.
Erica Mulherin
I was born in the high desert of Wyoming in the year of the Tiger and currently reside in the more temperate yet soggier climate of the Pacific Northwest with my husband and spoiled- stinking-rotten-to-the core cat, Lulu. I am a collector and maker of things.
I am influenced by: Sergio Aragones, Berkely Breathed, James Christensen, Mary Blair, Jim Flora, Edward Lear, Terry Gilliam and Terry Pratchet just to name a few.
TJLubrano
So, at the moment I’m a Master Sociology student with many hobbies (hopefully I can edit this soon in GRADUATED!). Yes. The mind of a creative one is never silent hehe.
I love being creative and can’t imagine a day without making a few sketches. There are a lot of images floating through my mind and I need to capture them on paper. This isn’t always easy though. You want to know why? My thesis. No further explanation is needed. Because of the fact that I never considered a real career in illustrating, I took the safe social approved path.
Now I’m on a point that I can’t ignore my love for drawing. Interesting is that I didn’t start blogging because I wanted to display my drawings. me blogging was a random thing and here I tell random ramblings accompanied with doodles. What I never expected was that blogging would open a door into the illustrating world. It gave me a new perspective and the courage to pursue what I love the most.
I hope that I can bring it to the next level with the 12 week project and that I meet new inspiring people along the way as well ^_^. Do stop by if you have the chance!
Karen Whitaker
I am a self taught artist living in Georgia. I have been married for 25 years and have three children, one married, one in college and a fourteen year old son. I also have a two year old grandson. I have wanted to be an illustrator and writer for most of my life. I have put my own dreams on hold for too many years and now I am ready to be a little more “self-focused”.
For the past year I have been concentrating on working my way towards that goal. I have written five manuscripts for picture books. One is complete with a dummy which I have been sending out for six months now. I have a website and I started a blog about six months ago. I am active with it and several group blogs.
I have experience in most mediums, from watercolor to clay. My favorite mediums are oils, watercolors, pastels, and inks. I have a tendency to mix mediums. I also have some experience in graphic design. I have been doing most of my work digitally for about a year now. I currently use Painter X and Photoshop.
Chad Behnke
I live in downtown Chicago where I am currently working as a web designer and front-end developer. In my free time I enjoy politics as well as animation (watching, not doing….motion media has not been good to me…).
Thus far my illustration medium has been 100% digital, using vectors and combining them with textures in Photoshop. However, I have recently started learning and practicing using analog materials as well and doing more drawing and trying to learn inking techniques.
Andre Castelo Branco
I am André, from Brazil. I`m currently finishing college - a Computer Science course - and working in that area as well. But my real passion lies in drawing and painting. In that context I am drawing and painting a storyboard for a friend, he has a short film project and I am helping him.
John Gibbs
John Gibbs is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He received his B.F.A. in Sculpture and Scientific Illustration from the University of Michigan in 1998. During his time at the university, John attended summer courses at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. John then continued his studies in Florence, Italy, taking the opportunity to explore the arts in Western Europe. In 2000, John moved to Chicago and began working as a production artist at a small print shop.
Over the next few years, he worked his way up through the computer graphics industry to the position of Art
Director at one of the top twenty advertising agencies in Chicago. John is currently, living in North Carolina pursuing a career in fine and commercial art.
Dylan White
I’m an illustrator / animation director / vfx compositor living and working in London.
My past and regular clients include FilmLondon, RoughTrade Records, Nexus Productions, HSi , Partizan and Aardman.
My animation and vfx work pays my bills and I don’t do nearly enough drawing. I really enjoy working in the animation/ad industry and I’ve made some fantastic friends, but as the hours in postproduction and the years begin to accumulate, I often yearn to just be doing more drawing.
I now rent my own deskspace in a studio so I can work on my portfolio between freelance gigs, and I’ve taken a business course recently with the AOI.
Susan Mordigal
I’m a totally right-brained illustrator in love with children’s picture books. So much so that I have decided to write and illustrate one myself. Our rescue beagle mix Cosmo has a wonderful story to share and I aim to tell it! Hmmm, now we just need a publisher… I’ve been drawing and painting since my earliest memories and never looked back. After deciding to go to an Art College, I graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia PA. To supplement my artistic education, I’ve taken many continuing ed classes in art and creative writing, including the New York Botanical Garden’s Illustration program. To supplement my education in life, I’ve been married to a wonderful left-brained man for almost 18 years, have two wonderfully talented sons, volunteer at hospitals with Cosmo as a certified pet therapy team, and held various positions as classroom volunteer, cub scout leader, cake & cookie decorator, cross-stitcher, domestic goddess, guitar player, and psuedo-nurse. I could go on but….you get the idea.
Asa Schultz
My name is Asa Schultz. In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ll admit that professional illustrator is not a career goal of mine. But, I absolutely love all types of visual media, and at every chance I get, I try to learn more of the disciplines. I’ve recently become much more interested in illustration, and really want to learn more and grow (especially drawing). I’m participating in the 12 week challenge to learn as much about I can about illustration. I am currently studying graphic design at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.
Maria Bogade
After studying Audiovisual Media at the University of Media in Stuttgart I started working as a freelance animation artist. I am mainly working with award-winning Studio SOI in Ludwigsburg. I was lucky enough to work an projects like “Angel afoot” for german Television and “The Gruffalo” for the BBC.
I live with my spouse and two daughters in Ludwigsburg. Besides working as an animation artist I am currently seeking the opportunity to become an illustrator for children books. So I sharpen my pencils every single day, to achieve my childhood dream.
Tom Barrett
Tom Barrett has always loved to draw. He can’t remember a time when he hasn’t doodled or sketched on whatever paper surface he had available.
Over the past few years, he has had a desire to illustrate for children. It was a chance visit to Holly Conger’s website, Living the Creative Dream, that gave him to push to get going. He started a blog 2 years ago to start his journey and find inspiration and encouragement in others.
Tom likes to experiment in all mediums, but prefers watercolor because of its softness and transparency.
Weylon Smith
My interest in art began at an early age. Long before I knew what design or illustration was, I pored over album covers, book jackets and the backs of cereal boxes, always knowing I would make a living creating art. My grandfather was a commercial artist in the sixties (the kind that really knew how to draw because photography wasn’t as ubiquitous as it is today) and had a huge influence on my interest in art.
Since 2005, I’ve served as senior graphic designer at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. I specialize in identity and logo design, and have been published in LogoLounge volumes 3, 4 and 5.
A lot of my work straddles the fence between design and illustration, and it’s my goal to develop my illustration chops alongside my design skill set.
Jason Castillo
I’m an illustrator from Chicago. I’ve worked as a full-time designer or illustrator since graduating in 2004 until I was laid off in June of 09. Since then I’ve been on my own whether I like it or not (I usually like it). Because I’ve been working full time at various companies I haven’t developed a truly unique illustration style but also because I’ve worked very different jobs I can work in many mediums and styles. I think my strongest style (and the one I enjoy the most) is whimsical and cartoonish though. I usually draw things out and color them on the computer but lately I have been having fun with oils.
Melanie Schultz
I teach high school math in New York City. My work is mainly digital, with some collage/pencil as well. I work in both Photoshop and Illustrator.
Laura Nuttall
I studied Art History at Kingston Uni, and went on to work all over the place including BBC Music Entertainment and Sotheby’s. Sitting behind a desk started to drive me slowly insane so I quit last year and have been slowly getting a portfolio together, finally deciding to go for it as an illustrator. My main influences are Jamie Hewlett/ Phillip Bond/ comic book artwork, Vargas and Elvgren, vintage advertising and I work predominantly in gouache, pen and ink, acrylic and oil whilst currently trying to master Photoshop etc. I have been commissioned to produce and have completed a mural but no other commercial work as yet. So I’m absolutely at the beginning, starting from scratch!
Jason Lysinger
My name is Jason Lysinger. I am 32 years old and live in Idaho, United States. I have been in Architectural design for the past 14 years but have always had a passion for illustration and the arts. Currently I am between jobs and working hard on improving myself as an artist. I have done several contracted art projects, but my most notable would be as a 3D Artist for the video game industry. I like working in the digital medium but my favorite is graphite and ink.
Megumi Lemons
My name is Megumi Lemons and I’m an aspiring children’s book illustrator currently living in Phoenix, Arizona. I received a BFA in illustration from the California State University in Long Beach. After graduating, I gave the freelancing life a go and actually got a few assignments, one of which was illustrating an educational book for Scholastic in 1994, but then life took over and my illustration career got derailed.
For the last 6 years I’ve been working as a production artist for a company that produces fine art for interior designers, furniture companies, hotels, and poster publishers. That is my day job. At night and on weekends, I’ve been building up my portfolio and attending SCBWI conferences and workshops. I work mostly in acrylic and acrylic gouache, sometimes with colored pencils for accents.
Erika Harm
I graduated with a BA in studio art in spring 2008. I worked steadily in graphic design until the end of 2009, designing marketing material and planning permits. I’ve done freelance work since 2007: making crafts, doing private commissions, and promoting myself at conventions. I’d really like to learn more about illustration and it’s licensing in publishing, gaming and education.
Amanda Crawford
Amanda Crawford lives in Montreal, Quebec. She worked as a painter for many years, did comics for a bit, but feels that all roads have really and truly been leading her to illustration. She is currently working on a picture book of her own, and would love to work in the field of children’s illustration.
Carla Martell
My name is Carla. Years and years ago I did a degree in visual communication design, majoring in illustration and animation. I thought I wanted to illustrate children’s books, or to work for an animation company - which I eventually did, in the UK (the animation bit). Sitting at a drawing board was too much for my fidgety nature and I ended up working in the dance/theatre world as a director and choreographer - and I still do! Recently, however, I’ve been wanting to go back to my first love of drawing/illustration/design.
I completed a post-graduate diploma in Multimedia about five years ago, and started to think about a change of direction. This year I took part in Thing-a-day 2010, which got me drawing again. Because I was producing a drawing a day, I had to work fast, so the easiest way was to draw by hand and colour in Photoshop.
It’s not how I would always choose to illustrate, but it taught me that sometimes fast work produced better work, and that I really did enjoy the process…which has led me here. I’m not sure what I want to do with this yet, but the most important thing is to get some work together, have a go, and find out along the way.
Jo Fallon
Since graduating in 2006, I have been continuing illustration in my time outside of work, and have been successfully selling prints and cards in a small number of independent shops. However, having recently reduced my working hours to Part Time, I would like to seize the opportunity to devote more time to pursuing my illustration work and earning a livelihood from it. By taking part in this challenge, my main aims are to improve and update my website, start earning commissions and overcome my marketing and promotional fears!
My work uses a combination of digital and traditional drawing techniques, and is influenced by my Japanese background and subtle textures. Portraits, Japanese folklore, animals and plants are particularly favourite themes.”
Beth Haudiquet
I’m a colourful and creative individual, I have always been passionate about art and design. I graduated from university in 2008 with a degree in Fine art and Illustration. I love anything and everything creative, my work combines many techniques - pattern and texture, photography, digital and hand drawn images.
Jill Matuska
I’m a 36 year old graphic designer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have been doing creative things pretty much my whole life dabbling in just about anything. In the past, I was never really a master of one thing. For example I never kept good habits about drawing or painting regularly.
I have always been rather ADD about things I get into. I might get curious about a certain medium and start a few paintings. Or maybe I would have an idea for a story and start writing ideas for a comic. But overall, I have always been a creative thinker and obsessor.
Throughout school I would take various art classes and absolutely loved taking them. But I never really accepted that an artistic career was very practical so I got my degree in Criminology and worked in the corporate world for some time. Then six years ago I returned to school and received a degree in graphic design. Art continued to pull me and even in my graphic design job I wish to be illustrating or creating fine art.
On Ry
I’m a 29 year old boy 
. I’ve just finished a short course on painting with traditional media like colored pencil, pastel, watercolor, markers, acrylic and air brush. Before that, I have not been participated in any art school. I know my art background is weak, and there is lots of things to learn. This make me excited because I love to learn new stuff.
Kristine Astop
I’m a geeky Canadian girl who draws a lot of circles. I am currently employed as a keyboard monkey for a company that makes widgets, thingies and whatchamacallits. But, my ultimate goal is to figure out what I wanna be when I grow up – Pirate, Space Vixen, Burlesque Queen, Zombie Hunter, or maybe even enter the death-defying world of professional Illustration.
My work is in a state of evolution (just last month it was a footless invertebrate). I’m slowly developing my own “style”. Coming from a portrait background, humans are my favourite subject matter. I dig pin-up girls, Burlesque beauties, circus freaks, aliens, and other assorted curiosities. And I’m a bit of a retro girl as I work in primarily
graphite or markers.
Fanie Grégoire
My name is Fanie and I’m a Montreal (Québec, Canada) based illustrator||graphic designer & crafty geek.
I am a newly graduated graphic designer. You may want to take a look at my portfolio in Graphic Design.
I collaborate on Craft Leftovers monthly zine with The Crafty Life comic and I’m also a facepainting/makeup artist.
Tim Rodgers Jr.
My name is Tim Rodgers Jr. born in NC in 1983 and moved around since my father was in the military. I’ve drawn since a young age but the earliest I remember is drawing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Somehow I ended up at VCU and entered their Communication Design program getting my BFA.
Very thankful for the professors and people I’ve come across there and I now work for Little Lights Urban Ministries. I’m their media and publications coordinator and I also teach an after-school art class once a week. - Really wish I made all of this sound much more exciting…but it’s all good. Excited to be here and ready to roll.
Miros Soriano
My name is miros soriano and i want to be part of your challenge. i love illustrating and drawing almost all the time, when i`m not working. I work in Grupo Medios doing motion graphics in México and 26 years old and my dream is to be a great illustrator
Kamil Tatara
My name is Kamil Tatara. I was born in the city with the name difficult to spell. Szczebrzeszyn, southeast Poland. I grew up in the Renaissance town of Zamosc, studied in the full Gothic town, Torun. There I become Master of Fine Arts, With faculty Drawing media. Now, since two years live in Poznan, Poland.
I’m graphic designer and I?m not happy about it anymore asI touhgt I will when I ended my studies. I’m missing art, Art, ART. I love to draw and much more I love to paint. Allmost ten years ago I was saying ” acrylic painting is not painting at all. And afterall I become acrylic painter nowdays. What a shame that I forgot all those lessons I’ve got at classical classes. Painting, drawing, sculpturing and composition. Now I’m decided that I want to be happy and I?ll try back on a track where I suposed to be.
Jessica Lalan
My name is Jessica, I’m an aspiring illustrator particularly interested in children’s books. I was always dazzled as a child by the beautiful illustrated books he would send as gifts, and the wonder never wore off. I’m excited for the 12 week challenge, it’s just what I need.
Val Woodhouse
I stumbled into being a freelance desk top publisher in 1992 and spent much of the next 10 years earning a nice, if unspectacular, living. I built a reputation not just on the quality of my work but also on being reliable, easy to work with, friendly and having an uncanny knack of getting the client’s needs right almost at the first go.
When the word-of-mouth clientele dried up, I realised the other thing I needed was qualifications. So after taking a couple of years out to do proper jobs and save up money (almost to the sacrifice of my sanity) I took the plunge to return to college and emerged, butterfly-like, with a HND in Graphic Design and a new-found love of illustration. Unfortunately this was in the worst recession in living memory and I couldn’t find anyone hiring a 40-something rookie. So here I am, withering away to nothing, desperately fighting off government pen pushers who insist graphic design is just drawing pretty pictures and why don’t I take a nice typing job instead?
Style-wise, I especially like stuff that’s bold and colourful, especially if I can shoe-horn in my silly sense of humour. I’m a word nerd so I love typography too. I’m mostly interested in usable art, such as badges, clocks, mugs, T shirts, etc.
Maria Senkel
My name is Maria Senkel. I was born in Venezuela but lived in Boston, Massachusetts for many years until I finally settled in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am currently unemployed but I worked in the investment industry for over 23 years as a software tester. I am currently attending the Art Institute of Charlotte for interactive media and web design.
I have created art since I was 11 years old and I hope to continue until the day I die. I enjoy all forms of art including illustration and I have won a few awards for my work. I have used all different mediums and I have greatly enjoyed illustrating with color pencils but lately I have fallen in love with the simplest of all materials, the graphite pencil. The beauty and the range that this very simple and accessible medium offers is very intriguing to me.
Lynn Alpert
I’ve been a graphic designer for 25 years, and now focusing on my illustration career. I love all kinds of illustration, but my main passion is children’s illustration. I’d like to illustrate children’s books and someday, write them, too. I live in St. Louis, MO.
Char Reed
I’ve been trying to work as a freelance fantasy illustrator since the summer 2009, learning all I can about working in the industry. I’ve taken an online portfolio course with Schoolism, a few courses with ConceptArt.org, bought e-books, listened to podcasts and read every blog I can find about freelance illustration. So far, I’ve put a lot more money into learning about my chosen profession than I have gotten out of it. I’d love to turn that around with this 12 week course, so that’s why I’ve signed up!
Angela Fernihough
My name is Angela Fernihough, I live in Bath UK. I did a degree in Art, Design and Media at Portsmouth University and then went to work in a bank for 9 years !! I always carried on doing creative projects in my spare time but the combination of the last couple of years not being a great time to work in finance and the prospect of a milestone birthday with a zero on the end, I decided to take the plunge and become a full time illustrator/graphic designer working from home. I officially set up business on 1st Jan 2010 as Studio Anjou and although I feel like a total fake I am managing to convince people I can do it and have had a few jobs come in.
I work digitally using a wacom graphics tablet and Adobe illustrator/ photoshop. I’ve attached one of my most recent images which has been sold as a greetings card.
Dinalie Dabarera
Dinalie is an aspiring illustrator living in Sydney, Australia. In her spare time she likes to draw lemming people. Currently an earthbound student, one day she dreams of being a freelance illustration professional living in a houseboat in Amsterdam with her French boyfriend and her beloved cat for company. If all else fails, she will always have her fat gorgeous cat.
Nori Tominaga
Hi there, I’m Nori and I reside in Melbourne, Australia. I love all things art and specialise in humourous 2D and 3D illustration. I’ve been lucky enough to have a career that spans graphic design to advertising to videogame art and just recently decided to go it alone. I want to achieve my dreams and be part of this fun little challenge in 2010!
Ellia Hill
My name is ellia ana hill but am known online as greenbeanbaby…. i’m a short freelance cut paper illustrator who creates cutesie cut paper characters… i’m a mom to two kids, a 5yr old and 3yr old so that is my “day” job although all my jobs mesh together… i love superheroes and zombies and i love playing video games… i’m a wife to a talented husband [who's also an illustrator] who shares similar passions for art, superheroes and video games…
For the illustration aspect, i’ve done many custom illustrations as well as maintained an etsy shop for awhile… i’ve been featured in several online craft sites include etsy storque… i’ve been a guest instructor at the art college i graduated from [Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design] and i also design rubber stamps… i have an iphone app where you can download my art and i also have artwork to be licensed out at IMAGEZOO… but i am in dire need of hitting the publishers and bigger clients these days for a substantial living… as my youngest is going to school this fall, i’m working on this time to set up and prepare for such a venture… and i’m QUITE excited about the 12wk challenge!!!!
Iain Welch.
I live in Herefordshire, in England. I have a BA (hons) in illustration from the University of the West of England. My work is produced with traditional materials and then ‘fluffed up’ with the computer. My two favourite things are dogs and biscuits.
Melanie Matthews
My name is Melanie; I’m 23 and currently working as a freelance illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. I’m a big fan of modern graphic design and print design, and I also love illustration of the early-mid 20th century, from old vintage magazine illustrations to illustrated cereal boxes and Little Golden Books.
Although most of my professional work is created digitally, I also enjoy painting and I love to explore ways of combining traditional and digital techniques. My goal in illustration is to be working freelance fulltime, creating illustrations for advertising, apparel, editorial/magazines and children’s publications.”
Tom Sain
I grew up in an un-artistic family, and always played around with art. Then I went to school for art not knowing where it would lead. I think I thought I would learn about all art forms, including animation. I studied painting, ceramics and photography as well a little design. Got a BFA, then an MFA and then became an art handler/exhibit designer at an art museum. I taught computer graphics and design for 2 years. And now for the past 10 years have been working as a graphic designer/creative director in advertising, where I also occasionally illustrate.
I also create storyboards for TV and do web animations in Flash. Last year, I sold 3 illustrations and 2 paintings, and that is wetting my appetite to keep that going on the side. I hope to at least retire to illustration and animation, if not sooner! 
Carolina Espinosa
Hello! I’m a graphic designer and illustrator based in Montreal, Canada. My illustration style is a mix of collage and hand drawn elements that come together with lots of gluing, cutting, painting, scanning and everything else in between.
The final results are creative images born out of my imagination that show my love of old engravings, strong concepts and great type. It’s nice to meet you and I hope you enjoy my art.
Shannon Eberhard
My name is Shannon Eberhard and I live in the desert mid-west. My story is like most artists, I have always loved to draw and anything else that involved creating with my hands… I studied and received a degree in Illustration at Southern Utah University.
Then I put off starting illustration professionally for three years by working as a wild-land firefighter. This was fun work, but the digits on my feet were one after the other losing all feeling due to nerve damage from excessive hiking. I figured if that kept up I might not have any nerve or backbone for that matter, left over to attempt professional art making… Ok bad joke, but anyway this year (The worst economically in my life time…) I decided to wade into freelance illustration.
So, to say it simply, I am very grateful for all the social networking, and sites like yours that act as a sort of guide and support.
Robyn Diaz
I’m an Illustrator living in Albany NY. I’ve always found inspiration in books and pictures, and like to create images that tell stories. I studied Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design, then after graduating in 1999, I moved here to work in the video games industry. I have been making art and directing in games ever since.
I also own and run an art supply store, Central Art Supply, here in town with my family. There is a great artists group in Albany called The Upstate Artists Guild, which I helped found in 2004 and am currently an active board member of. We exhibit works of local artists at our gallery each month, and organize the monthly event called, First Friday.
While I’m not working at the store or on games, I am at home in my studio developing my portfolio and practicing my skills to get back into the Illustration world. Collaborating with other artists on books and topics for new projects really keeps me going and inspired.
Laura Alvarez
I’m Laura Alvarez, graphic designer and illustrator from Spain, living in NY. After 10 years working for others I’m trying to be a full time illustrator. Still starting, but working as much as I can.
My style… I like textures and hand-lettering, fishes, imagination and humor. I try to have a little of each in every illustration.
I use traditional mediums and digital painting.
I have great expectations in this project, or at least win a bunch of illustrator friends!
Jon Wilcox
My name is Jon Wilcox and I’ve been calling myself a freelance illustrator and designer for the last three years. However, I really haven’t been doing enough of either, and especially not illustration which is my real love. I also dream about shifting my portfolio over to being ONLY illustration. There are a million ways to distract myself and procrastinate and I really want that part of my life to be over and move on to actually doing things.
I’m originally from the Detroit area but currently live in Seattle with my wife. We may be moving back to the midwest soon, though. I’d love to start getting my act together before we start the moving process!
Sue Rundle-Hughes
My name is Sue Rundle-Hughes and I just adore drawing. I am now a freelance illustrator but I originally studied costume design HND, meaning to work in theatre, and then I did an English literature degree (I was a perpetual student). A teacher friend asked me to illustrate his story for an educational website and I have been interested in illustration ever since.
I have worked with greeting card companies, designing cards and calendars, and I have illustrated books for educational publishers. However, I would really love to illustrate a picture book one day and I’m in the process of writing my own.
I favour digital illustration nowadays as it is quick and easy to send to clients, but I also enjoy working traditionally, using pen and ink, acrylics, watercolours and coloured pencil, and recently I have found a love for mixed media collages.
I also work part-time in a children’s after school club, which I find very inspiring as children are so creative. I live in Stafford UK at present but I am originally from Wales.
Chelsea Conlin
My name is Chelsea Conlin, and I’ve been working full-time (or as much time as possible) as a freelance illustrator since Januray, 2008. The vast majority of my clients are private individuals, but I have had a few jobs for small companies.
I work mostly in Corel Painter, though I use Photoshop for editing and final touches. I specialize in fantasy/sci-fi illustrations and, up until a couple months ago, was focusing on fully-rendered digital paintings. I realized, however, that the thing I love most is inking and working with inked images, so I’m going to try and do what I enjoy!
dicom
A hobbyist who loves to try and create, build and tinker. Art was something that use to be a huge part of my life when I was younger. But as I entered the workforce, I soon let that and many other things go by the way side. It’s not until a year or so ago, that I realized how long it had been since I focused on anything creative or anything that came from within.
Now, it’s a game of catch up to try and rebuild everything that I felt was good about myself before too much more time passes. I try and participate in shirt design derbies and contests as an ongoing creative exercise. I find that by participating in these things, it makes it a lot easier to set short term goals and makes the creative cycle slightly more challenging as there’s usually a due date on each particular project.
Laura Colgan
My name is Laura. I’m from Dublin, Ireland and I graduated in November from the National College of Art and Design with a degree in Visual Communication. My two degree projects ended up being illustration, one a children’s book and the other advertising for a play. I want to grow more as an illustrator and gain more confidence and experience.
Kristen Williams
I am currently working as a freelance storyboard artist in Chicago, IL, I worked as an in-house illustrator for a year at an agency but then when back to freelance. I really wanted to be more a part of the online illustration community and I stumbled upon EFII podcasts. This is where I heard Jonathan’s podcast and he talked about being location independent.
This is exactly what i want to do, I got super excited and became a subscriber, and now Im ready to start the 12 week challenge. I’ve had a very strong desire for long time to be location independent, and not really sure where to start or how to get there. So this challenge is perfect for me.
Donna Jeanne Koepp
My name is Donna Jeanne Koepp and I like to say I suffer from Multiple Muse Disorder. I love all kinds of art and have tried many media from drawing, stained glass, sculpture, collage but I always return to drawings and illustrations.
When asked as a child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always responded, “I want to illustrate children’s books!!” Life has a way of presenting many forks in the road and right this minute I am a construction estimator who wants to be an illustrator when she grows up. The goal has never waivered, and I am so ready to get back on the original path.
Loni Edwards
Hello! My name is Loni Edwards and I am a Children’s Book Illustrator. I work mostly in Photoshop, using my trusty Intuos. I love to draw animals and give them human personalities. It must be from all of the Looney Tunes I watched growing up.
I participate in Illustration Friday frequently and I also do commissioned illustrations, greeting cards, and pet portraits. I am excited about this challenge as I really want to get going on my freelance business.
Shantala Robinson
Shantala Robinson is an illustrator and fine artist based in Vancouver, BC. She graduated from Sheridan College with a BA in Illustration in 2007 and has been happily creating images ever since. She loves to travel and would one day like nothing more than to travel the world making images any way she can.
Brendan Ninness
I’m a freelance Illustrator based in Perth, Australia. I love Japanese ero-guro / J-horror / indie manga artists, weirdo illustrators, and Illustration obsessed in general.
I’ve only been out in the “real world” about 2 years now, freelancing as an illustrator, but also working part time for the government as a graphic designer, and getting involved in a whole bunch of different creative roles/projects.
The reason I want to participate in the 12 week challenge, is I’m looking to reboot my technique / style – as I’m now full time freelance, and I don’t really enjoy the style I’ve developed during my studies and kept up. My current technique is digital and painterly. I want to find fun in my illustrations again and develop a more graphic style, more stylized and “naïve” mixing in traditional media a bit more to get away from the computer screen. I love the idea generation part of the process, but get bogged down in the actual illustration part of my current process.
Nicolene Louw
I am based in South Africa and have been a freelance illustrator, fine artist and lecturer for the last five years. I adore “my job” but absolutely suck when it comes to marketing and business. I really needs a kick in the ass for neglecting the business side of things for so long because it is currently threatening my ability to make a living from my illustration.
Michelle Kondrich
Michelle Kondrich is an illustrator who is currently living in New York City but will be moving to Denver with her husband in July. Michelle’s work is a unique mixture of humor and the strange. She works primarily in pen and ink (with lots of cross-hatching) but has been expanding her digital painting skills as well.
Michelle is very excited to participate in the 12 Week Challenge. She has been working on launching a freelance career and knows that having the support and encouragement of the Zero2Illo community will make the process much more fun!
Scott Blows
22 year old self-taught illustrator. I mainly draw in my spare time, I have done some freelance stuff before for local bands and t-shirt/clothing companies. I work full time for the mouse (Mickey), which is rather nice as it allows me to be creative within my job. I don’t have a website just yet, but I have a tumblr blog you can all check out, it hosts all my sketches and drawings.
Cat Rocketship
I am Cat, I am 26 and live in Des Moines, Iowa. I am a painter, I advocate for artists, and I run about a million projects for artists, from figure drawing nights to indie art + craft markets.
It’s time to focus my skills, sit down and put together a portfolio, and learn about drumming up work in the realm of illustration.
Griffin
I have a long list of names but most call me Griffin. I’ve been a nomadic professional illustrator since 2006 and only recently settled in Boston, MA to become a full time student working towards a PsyD in Forensic Psychology.
I recently just completed my first full sized graphic novel called “Healed” (http://www.homelesscomics.com) am working on a Pin Up set for Rogue Burlesque and am working on a children’s picture book based on the Beauty and the Beast legend.
Verena Münstermann
My name is Verena Münstermann. Sometimes I use the synonyme jody-claire. I’m a young illustrator from Belgium and I’d like to make some connection in the whole world.
I’m 23 years old and I want to start my illustrator profession. I live in a little village in Belgium.
I love to invent little storys and illustrate them. So I have decided to illustrate children Books and to draw Comics.
You can found my Blog here : jodysillustration.blogspot.com (the Blog is on german and french, but I will make a new blog on english)
Brian Bowes
My name is Brian Bowes, and I am Illustration-aholic. During some recent conversations with friends, I realized that Illustration is my “A” plan, and what’s more, there’s no “plan B.” Currently I work at a day job, and my goal is to go full time Illustrator, and to not look back. It is my hope and intention that this 12 Week Challenge will not only help me achieve my aims, but help us all raise the quality of our work and our lives.
Currently my focus is on Young Adult books, Action and Adventure Stories, Steampunk imagery, with some Sci Fi and Fantasy twists. All of which might fit under the umbrella of Book Illustrations.
Marcela Vargas
I was born and raised in Colombia, and moved to Canada after studying Communications in Bogota. I have a diploma in Classical Animation and Digital Character Animation but my real passion is illustration. For over a year now I have been working towards a careers in illustration and with my alter ego, LittleMissMachete, hope to get the best out of the 12 week challenge.
Amy Hunt
I am a graphic designer based out of Richmond, Virginia. I never thought of myself as an illustrator before, but after putting together my senior portfolio, my illustrations stood out the most. I would love to stretch my limits in my illustration work so I am very excited about this challenge!
I am currently involved in apparel design and have a line of t-shirts coming out this week.
Related posts:
Woohoo! I will browse through the list later ^_^! But I saw a bunch of cool stuff already!! I can’t wait to start!
Ciao!
Great stuff Jon, thanks for all the work you’re putting into this! Time to check out everyone’s websites : )
Awesome artwork in this blogpost alone! Mind blown (:
I’m adding everyone on twitter
Excited to be part of the group. Will check everyone out over the next few days.
Wow…this is gonna be something else! I’m already a fan of at least one of the participants. Thanks for setting this up, Jonathan!
Jonathan, this is great! It will be really valuable to have a community of people to share this with. Thanks
Motivated and inspired just by the enthusiasm shown. Let’s make it happen folks!
Yay for Johnathan!!! And everyone else, I love how there is so much variety!
Can not wait to start! But more importantly, I can not wait to discover the awesomeness of this new community and the art they will be sharing!
there are some people in that list who should already be household names. I am really excited about this project and seeing how everyone else gets on.
I’m excited to be a part of such a wonderful and diverse group of talent! It’s very nice to meet you all.
Thank you so much for adding me to the list! Such a great opportunity to meet so many talented artists. So many I’m surprised aren’t super famous already!
I can’t wait for this challenge to start!
Thanks Jonathan! I like the nice variety of the group.
I sent my info in yesterday. Hopefully I made the cut. If not… I’m still going to participate anyways…. so there!
Hey Griffin, got your info. I’ll be adding the last 10 or so profiles later this evening. Great to have you with us
I figured. I’m just being excited.