artists + illustrators survey · most) yearly surveys to find out more about my audience – who...

artists + illustrators

SURVEY

2014

PIKALAND

The Pikaland Artists & Illustrators Survey 2014

When I set out to do the Pikaland Survey 2014, I

didn’t know where to start. I’ve been doing (al-

most) yearly surveys to find out more about my

audience – who was reading, what they were inter-

ested in, and who needed my help.

I’ve come a long way, and with each year I dig into

my data – I unearth new findings, and discover

new ways in which I can be of service to my read-

ers. From the different type of content that is re-

quested to the kind of projects that you wanted to

see, your comments and suggestions were all read,

digested and some were earmarked for me to im-

plement.

And so this year, I decided to try something differ-

ent. Instead of making it just about Pikaland, I de-

cided to try and make the survey more about YOU

instead. So I did a survey that invited you to share

your income along with questions on what worked,

and at the end of it, to publish what was recorded.

To tell you the truth, I was really nervous when I

gave this project a go. I knew there was a line and

I wasn’t sure that it was mine to cross. But I did it

anyway. They say that the best way to learn is to

do it, and boy did I learn.

I learned that pushing the envelope is hard.

I learned that it’s okay to make mistakes.

I learned to be hopeful.

I didn’t add a conclusion to this survey as I wanted

you to make up your own mind about where this

data can lead you, but I hope that by the end of

this you’ll feel hopeful too.

A note before we begin.

All of the data collected during the survey is kept purely for the purpose of the survey, and will not be shared with any individual or company. We place great emphasis on privacy!


Doing a survey that crosses international borders

is a challenging one. And while I knew that running

this survey was ambitious, it was something I had to

try. I got a few emails after the survey that gave me

great suggestions and raised questions – and I learnt

a lot. My promise to you is that I’ll make it better the

next time round.

Here are some of the issues that I faced when it

came to the portion on income:

Location + Currency

How much one person earns might be enough for a

family of 4 in Asia, while the same amount might not

be able to feed one in the UK.

Quantity

While location is a primary consideration, personal

choices are also difficult to define. For example, 2

persons living in the same location have different

ideas about what constitutes a comfortable income.

Goals

In the same vein as location and quantity, everyone

has different goals and thus it also boils down to

what they need, and what they want.

So while I’ve shown the average income one makes

in the included charts, the above 3 reasons come

into play before one can decide on a conclusion –

al of which are very subjective. I’ve also included

examples of income that they’re currently earning

through various projects. This would allow for a bet-

ter viewpoint of earning potential which will also

open up possibilities and conversations on the ways

that an artist and illustrator can earn alternative in-

comes in the modern landscape.

On income + money


This survey isn’t perfect. There were a few errors that happened in the sur-vey program that led to problems such as looping (forms were not submitted and instead got looped back to the beginning) and a number of uncom-pleted submissions (which were discarded).

Be more diligentI realise that I had made a big error when the field to gather data for where the responsers were based at wasn’t complete (I did not include Africa in the list of options). Rookie mistake!

Giving an out for certain questionsFor sensitive questions, I should have provided an option to opt out of the question instead of indirectly not allowing respondents from mov-ing forward. I later added it in, but I knew that the damage had already been done.

Understand the software betterIt was the first time I had used Survey Monkey and complications arose after the survey went live. While I had tested the survey several times without problems, respondents alerted me to er-rors as I updated the survey.

Structured the survey betterAs this was my first time creating a survey that also touched on the topic of income, It ran a lot longer than my other surveys. I’ve since learnt a lot from the data, and therefore will be able to cut down on the number of questions and keep it laser focused the next time round.

What you should know

What I could have done

better


Pikaland started out as an illustration blog in 2008 –

featuring artists and their wares daily for 4 years. Since

2012 the blog has begun to dig deeper into the pro-

cess and business side of being an illustrator by piec-

ing together clues on how artists can move forward in

the modern digital era.

The site features artist interviews, creative ideas, PDF

guides and online workshops for artists and illustra-

tors who are interested in advice on how to navigate

life, business and creativity.

Read: http://wwww.pikaland.com

I’m an art and design magazine editor turned illus-

trator; and an adjunct lecturer at The One Academy,

Malaysia where I touch on topics about creativity and

illustration. As a self-taught artist, I regularly write on

the topic of entrepreneurship, illustration and creativ-

ity; deciphering clues and shedding light on the inter-

section between them.

Pikaland is a platform where I experiment with my

ideas and share the things that I’ve learnt along the

way.

Email me: [email protected]

About Pikaland

About Amy

If you have any comments, feedback, or suggestions, please write to me at [email protected]

Conversely, if you’d rather do it anony-mously, you can use our Google Form.

GOT FEEDBACK?

GET IN TOUCH >

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1eSXjkZaaoX4QxiqakEumf6KRo5rhg-ri4p3AcPypNGw/viewform?usp=send_form

mailto:[email protected]

http://pikaland.com

mailto:[email protected]


USA


USA Total number of respondents: 91

Age groupMale / Female

9%

91%

Female Male

Do you have an agent?

No Yes

5%

95%

Websites used to sell products

What software do you use to manage your website

Wordpress

Behance

Blogger

None of the above

Squarespace

Cargo

Bigcartel

I don't have a website at all

Tumblr

Shopify

0 10 20 30 40

Etsy

On your own website

None of the above

Society6

Spoonflower

Amazon

Craigslist

Ebay

0 13 25 38 50

18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

0 10 20 30 40



Annual income (USD$)

How do you earn your income?

Current occupation

Below $15,000

$15,001 to $30,000

$30,001 to $50,000

$50,001 to $75,000

Above $75,000

I don't feel comfortable sharing!

0 10 20 30 40

Graphic designer

Educator

None of the above - I'm a fulltime illustrator!

Art director

Photographer

0 13 25 38 50

Through artwork/illustration commissions

By selling my handmade products (through Etsy, craft fairs, etc)

I work full-time in an unrelated field

None of the above

Through 3rd party services like Society6/Cafepress/Zazzle

Licensing

I sell wholesale to shops

Selling copyrights to my work

0 15 30 45 60

I’m a full-time illustrator!

Pitching to bloggers



How do you market your business?

What worked for me(in descending order)

Other jobs taken on:

A list of projects/jobs undertaken + income:

Facebook / Instagram / Emailing / Twitter / Blog subscribers

Word of mouth Exposure on bigger blogs

Chalkboard artist / Adjunct lecturer Retiree / Barista / Tutor & translator Surface pattern designer / Court mediator Human resource assistant / Tax accountant Sales rep at call center / Accessory Designer

Selling a piece of original art: $500Illustrating a children’s book: $5000 advance plus royalties

Branding project: $10,000Licensing illustrations for a card series for a major company: $30,000

In-house designer for a large brand: $58,000Studio assistant to an established illustrator: $2,500New York Times illustration: $500 ~ $800 per image

Selling vintage jewelry: $500Web design: $80,000

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Newsletter

LinkedIn

Craft fairs

Mailers

Emailing prominent bloggers to pitch your work

None of the above

Instagram

Advertising

Magazines

0 18 35 53 70



UK


UK Total number of respondents: 26

100%

Male / Female

Female Male

Age group


No Yes

4%

96%



18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

0 3 7 10 13

Etsy

None of the above

On your own website

Society6

Ebay

Spoonflower

0 2 4 6 8 10

Wordpress

Blogger

Cargo

Behance

Bigcartel

None of the above


Tumblr

0 2 4 5 7 9





Current occupation

Below $15,000

$15,001 to $30,000

$30,001 to $50,000

0 4 9 13 18 22

I'm a fulltime illustrator!

Graphic designer

Educator

Photographer

Art director

0 3 6 9 12




None of the above



Licensing


0 3 6 9 12 15








Blog / Twitter / InstagramFacebook / Word of mouth

Entering competitions

Full time cleaner / Student / LibrarianWorking part time in an unrelated fieldTeaching assistant / Web designerDoing workshops for kids

Pet portraits: GBP£10-20 per portrait

Commissioned graphic design work: GBP£6,000

Licensing: GBP£2,000 for one image use

Children’s activity books: GBP£120 for double page spread

Illustration for a local museum: GBP£250

Facebook

Blog

Pinterest

LinkedIn

Craft fairs

None of the above

Instagram

Newsletter


Magazines

Mailers

0 3 6 9 11 14 17



EUROPE


EUROPE Total number of respondents: 34

Male / Female

Female Male

Age group


No Yes



6%

94%

9%

91%

None of the below

Etsy

On your own website

Society6

Spoonflower

0 3 6 9 12

Cargo

Wordpress

Blogger

Behance

None of the above

Tumblr


Bigcartel

0 3 6 8 11

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

0 4 7 11 14 18





Current occupation



None of the above



Licensing



0 6 13 19 25

below $15,000

$15,001 to $30,000

$30,001 to $50,000

I don’t know

I don't feel comfortable sharing!

0 4 9 13 18 22

Graphic designer


Educator

Art director

0 5 9 14 18




Blog

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

LinkedIn

Mailers

Craft fairs

Newsletter

None of the above

Magazines


Advertising

0 4 8 13 17 21





Own blogFacebookBehance

Word of mouth

Life drawing modelAnimatorPsychotherapistWeb developerNewspaper designer

Illustrations for medical information brochure: $4,500Illustration for educational project: $2,000

Book covers: $1,000Private commission for tattoo design: $200

Animation project: $10,000Creating a music videoclip: $15,000



CANADA


CANADA Total number of respondents: 8

Male / Female

Female Male

Age group


No Yes



13%

88%

13%

88%

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

0 1 2 2 3

Blogger

Wordpress

Cargo

Behance

None of the above

0 1 2 3 4

Etsy

Society6

Spoonflower

Craigslist

None of the above

0 1 3 4 5





Current occupation

Below $15,000

$15,001 to $30,000

$30,001 to $50,000

$50,001 to $75,000

0 1 2

Graphic designer

Art director

Educator

Photographer

I'm a fulltime illustrator!

0 1 2 3 4 5




0 1 2 3




Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

LinkedIn

Newsletter

Craft fairs

Mailers


0 2 4 6 8





Own blog / Twitter / RedditFacebook / Art shows

Tumblr

Waiting tablesWorking fulltime in a semi-related fieldTeaching digital illustration part-time at a university

Storyboarding: $800Cake decorating: $100 - 200 per month

App & book illustration: $10,000Black & white illustrations: $200 (per illustration)



AUSTRALIA


AUSTRALIA Total number of respondents: 11

Male / Female

Female Male

Age group


No Yes



100%

100%

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

0 1 3 4 5

Etsy

On your own website

None of the above

Society6

0 2 3 5 6

Wordpress

Squarespace

Blogger

Bigcartel

Cargo

0 1 2 3 4





Current occupation

Below $15,000

$15,001 to $30,000

$30,001 to $50,000

$50,001 to $75,000

Above $75,000

I don't know

0 1 2 3 4

Graphic designer

Photographer

Art director

Educator


0 2 4 5 7




Licensing



0 2 4 5 7








Facebook / Word-of-mouthFace to face contact

Instagram / Etsy

AnimatorClerical office jobBasic photo/design/web work for familyRetail

Licensing artwork to a hospital in the USA: $4,500Seasonal catalogue for a furniture chain: $7,000

Creating illustrations for wedding invitations: $2,000 ~ 3,000Wholesale, commissions for painting & doll making: $20,000

Painting: $50

Blog

Facebook

Pinterest

None of the above

Craft fairs

Twitter

Newsletter

Magazines


0 2 4 6 8



ASIA


ASIA Total number of respondents: 17

Male / Female

Female Male

Age group


No Yes



100%

12%

88%

18-24

25-34

35-44

0 3 5 8 10

None of the above

Society6

Etsy

On your own website

0 2 4 5 7

Behance

Wordpress

Cargo

Blogger


0 2 3 5 6





Current occupation

$15,001 to $30,000

$30,001 to $50,000

Below $15,000

0 2 4 5 7

Educator

Graphic designer


Art director

0 2 3 5 6



None of the above



0 2 4 5 7








Facebook / Word-of-mouthPitching to clients directly

Regular contributions to local animal shelter, which highlights artists’

work in return

Full-time Design managerPart-time English teacherManaging Editor of a Wildlife conservation magazine. I work part-time in an unrelated field & have a scholarship

Branding for companies: $2,000Commissioned paintings: $200 ~ 300Presentation boards: $80 per frame

Visual drawings for amusement park: $1,000Character design for commercial product advertisement: $1,200

Facebook

Blog

Twitter


Pinterest

Craft fairs

Mailers

None of the above

Instagram

0 2 5 7 9


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Compiled & designed by:Amy Ng @ Pikaland

artists + illustrators survey · most) yearly surveys to find out more about my audience – who...

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