10 Online Resources Every Illustrator Should Know About
Hi, I’m Dean, the host of Women of Illustration, a community dedicated to helping artists make a living from their art. With over 12 years of experience as a full-time illustrator with Letter Shoppe, I've tested numerous resources and tools tailored to artists and illustrators. Whether you're in search of useful websites for artists, the best apps for illustrators, or invaluable advice to enhance your freelance journey, we've got you covered.
Explore my curated selection designed to empower artists and enrich their creative endeavors with the tools, subscriptions, and apps I personally use on a monthly basis. Please note that some links are affiliate links. If you plan to use these tools, please consider clicking my links first. :)
“These apps, subscriptions, and resources I use have made running my full time illustration business so much easier!”
fivver workspace (Free-$24/mo)
I've been using this tool since it was known as and.co, and it completely streamlines my expenses, proposals, invoices, and helps me track my time. Designed specifically for freelancers, it’s a comprehensive project management and invoicing tool. My favorite feature is that it ensures you get paid your deposit as soon as your client e-signs your proposal.
printful ($7 to $30 per item +shipping)
This is my favorite print-on-demand service for creating and selling custom products without managing inventory. It connects to nearly any website platform, including WordPress, Squarespace, and Shopify. They handle printing, shipping, and can even add your branding. You can also store your own inventory with them for fulfillment along with your print-on-demand products.
calendly (free-$12/mo)
I love this scheduling tool because it streamlines appointment booking, making it convenient for both you and your clients to find a time that works without getting confused with time zones. It can send reminders, clients can easily reschedule, and you can even charge for the session if you offer coaching or want to provide a fee for onboarding or giving art direction to new clients.
Typeform ($25-$83/mo)
This versatile platform is perfect for creating engaging and interactive surveys, forms, and quizzes. I use it to connect with my audience when I need feedback on products or social media ideas. You can customize designs with branded colors and photos. It’s also great for creating questionnaires for clients that calculate custom quotes based on their answers, with an option for them to pay at the end.
placeit ($89/YEAR or $14/MO)
This is a service created by Envato that offers an extensive library of mockup templates, design templates, and video animations. It’s perfect for creating professional-looking visuals to showcase your illustrations on products if you don't have the budget or time to take your own product photos.
adobe ($20.99-$49.99/mo)
As much as I have tried to use Procreate, my number one will always be Photoshop. I always purchase the entire Adobe suite of creative software, and I use Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign the most because they are essential for professional illustrators. These tools offer powerful features for digital art, graphic design, and more.
Astropad ($30-$80)
Since I personally don't like Procreate, I use Astropad to transform my iPad into a graphics tablet. This is ideal for digital artists who already love using the Adobe Suite, as Astropad mirrors your screen, enabling you to use your iPad and Apple Pencil for precise drawing and editing in software like Photoshop and Illustrator.
Squarespace ($16-$54/mo)
This website-building platform is one I recommend if you have limited products and are mostly interested in gaining client work due to the array of tools Squarespace offers. They recently added the ability to send proposals, estimates, contracts, and customizable forms for client questionnaires. It is also super easy to create stunning websites with limited web design knowledge.
shopify ($39-$399/mo)
If you're looking to create a large inventory of products over time, Shopify is the best e-commerce platform for you. It's ideal for selling your illustrations and managing inventory, payments, and shipping. The best part is that any other app or addition you'd like to add to your website will likely work seamlessly with Shopify. However, designing non-templated pages may require some web design assistance.
Google worksapce ($6-$18/mo)
To enhance your online presence professionally, I suggest getting a custom domain email. It's more than just a Gmail account, offering robust features for communication and organization. Part of Google Workspace, it seamlessly integrates with other tools like Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Meet, which work smoothly with Calendly if you book many meetings.
