How to Make a Living as a Freelance Illustrator with Merijn Hos (S01E08)

In this episode, I talk to Merijn Hos, an Utrecht-based illustrator, visual artist, and occasional art director. We cover topics such as his work routines, advice to illustrators who are just starting, his experience with ADHD, what makes a good illustration brief, how he develops his style, and much more.

Biography

Merijn Hos is an illustrator, visual artist and occasional art director based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He graduated in 2004 with a BFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts, Utrecht. He has worked for clients such as Apple, Nickelodeon, Calvin Klein, Dropbox, New York Times, Coca-Cola, Nike, Wired Magazine, and Adobe, to name a few. Besides illustration, he works on sculptures, art direction, and films, in collaboration with his brother Jurriaan, and he also exhibits his work internationally.

Selected Links From the Episode

• Merijn's Website
• Merijn's Instagram
• Juriaan Hos
• Memphis Style
• Hugo & Marie
• Fontanel – Merijn Hos Interview

Show Notes

• Introduction [00:00]
• Episode Introduction [00:52]
• Advice for Illustrators Who Are Just Starting Out [02:15]
• Routines of a Professional Illustrator [04:54]
• A Tidy Desktop Is a Tidy Headspace [09:05]
• How to Develop Your Illustration Style [13:18]
• Making a Living As an Illustrator [17:34]
• Short Episode Break – Support the Podcast [20:23]
• Merijn's Current Struggles [21:13]
• What Makes a Good Illustration Brief [24:28]
• Mistakes and Lessons Learned [27:19]
• Advice for Being a Better Illustrator and Creative Professional [33:50]
• Episode Outro [35:33]

Full transcript and more at https://creative.voyage/