How to Get Artwork Used As Magazine Illustrations

Jan 9, 2011
Alina Bradford

Magazine Cover For Sennaciulo Magazine - Alina Bradford

To get your artwork printed as magazine illustrations, you will need to create art that works for magazines, network, and develop your artistic style.

In my career as an artist and magazine art director, not only have had my artwork published in magazines around the world, I've also learned what magazines look for in illustrations. Seeing your artwork on the cover of a magazine illustration for an article isn't as hard as you may think. Artists simply need to follow a few simple guidelines and success will come.

Make Art That Works For Magazine Illustrations

First and foremost, create art that can be used as magazine illustrations. If it doesn't fit the dimensions and needs of the magazine's art department ,then your submissions will be pushed aside right away.

Cover art should have the focus in the center of a portrait oriented canvas. This allows the art department to place teasers (those short article summaries that appear on the cover of magazines) and the name of the magazine around the art without obscuring the subject.

Inner magazine illustrations are less restricting, but still should have a portrait orientation for full-page illustrations. Smaller illustrations need to have a definite focus on an object, such as a person or object.

Networking to Find Leads For Magazine Work

Most of my magazine work has come from knowing people who work for the magazine. I didn't make these connections by going to fancy parties, either. Here are some networking tips:

Let people you talk to online know that you are an artist or illustrator who does magazine work.
Make sure you have plenty of samples of your work online and link to them whenever you can.
Don't be afraid to offer your services, even when you haven't been asked. You never know when a magazine will need a new freelance or in-house illustrator.
Send art directors samples of your work with the note that you would like for them to keep you in mind for future projects. Magazine guidelines listed on the publication's website are invaluable for this.

For more networking ideas check out these articles:

Develop Your Artistic Style

Magazines already have access to cookie cutter clipart. What they want is illustrations that stand apart for the average. This sometimes means a zany style, bold color use or interesting brush strokes. Bland photo-realistic art probably won't get much use because, well, clipart is cheaper and works just as well.

To develop your own personal illustration style try these tips:

Sketch a lot. Sketching gives you the freedom to experiment with ideas and styles.
Illustrate your fantasy world. It worked for Salvador Dali.
Experiment with various mediums and mixing mediums.

For more ideas see How to Create a Signature Painting Style.

Though breaking into the magazine illustration biz takes time, artists with talent, the right contacts and a memorable style will get their work published.