2014 PIKALAND artists + illustrators SURVEY
A note before we begin. When I set out to do the Pikaland Survey 2014, I didn t know where to start. I ve been doing (almost) yearly surveys to find out more about my audience who was reading, what they were interested 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 readers. From the different type of content that is requested 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 implement. And so this year, I decided to try something different. Instead of making it just about Pikaland, I decided 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. 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!
On income + money 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 better viewpoint of earning potential which will also open up possibilities and conversations on the ways that an artist and illustrator can earn alternative incomes in the modern landscape.
What you should know This survey isn t perfect. There were a few errors that happened in the survey program that led to problems such as looping (forms were not submitted and instead got looped back to the beginning) and a number of uncompleted submissions (which were discarded). What I could have done better Be more diligent I 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 questions For sensitive questions, I should have provided an option to opt out of the question instead of indirectly not allowing respondents from moving forward. I later added it in, but I knew that the damage had already been done. Understand the software better It 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 errors as I updated the survey. Structured the survey better As 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.
About Pikaland 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 process and business side of being an illustrator by piecing 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 illustrators who are interested in advice on how to navigate life, business and creativity. Read: http://wwww.pikaland.com About Amy I m an art and design magazine editor turned illustrator; 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 creativity; deciphering clues and shedding light on the intersection 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: amy@pikaland.com GOT FEEDBACK? GET IN TOUCH > If you have any comments, feedback, or suggestions, please write to me at amy@pikaland.com Conversely, if you d rather do it anonymously, you can use our Google Form.
USA
USA Total number of respondents: 91 Male / Female Age group 9% 18 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 91% 45 to 54 Female Male 55 to 64 65 to 74 0 10 20 30 40 Do you have an agent? Websites used to sell products Etsy 5% On your own website Society6 95% Spoonflower Amazon No Yes Craigslist Ebay 0 13 25 38 50 What software do you use to manage your website Wordpress Behance Blogger Squarespace Cargo Bigcartel don't have a website at all Tumblr Shopify 0 10 20 30 40
USA Total number of respondents: 91 Annual income (USD$) 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 Current occupation Graphic designer Educator one of the above - I m I'm a full-time fulltime illustrator! Art director Photographer 0 13 25 38 50 How do you earn your income? Through artwork/illustration commissions By selling my handmade products (through Etsy, craft fairs, etc) I work full-time in an unrelated field Through 3rd party services like Society6/Cafepress/Zazzle Licensing I sell wholesale to shops Selling copyrights to my work 0 15 30 45 60
USA Total number of respondents: 91 How do you market your business? Blog Facebook Twitter Pinterest Newsletter LinkedIn Craft fairs Mailers ers Pitching to pitch to your bloggers work Instagram Advertising Magazines 0 18 35 53 70 What worked for me (in descending order) Facebook / Instagram / Emailing / Twitter / Blog subscribers Word of mouth Exposure on bigger blogs Other jobs taken on: 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 A list of projects/jobs undertaken + income: Selling a piece of original art: $500 Illustrating a children s book: $5000 advance plus royalties Branding project: $10,000 Licensing illustrations for a card series for a major company: $30,000 In-house designer for a large brand: $58,000 Studio assistant to an established illustrator: $2,500 New York Times illustration: $500 ~ $800 per image Selling vintage jewelry: $500 Web design: $80,000
UK
UK Total number of respondents: 26 Male / Female Age group 18 to 24 100% 25 to 34 35 to 44 Female Male 45 to 54 0 3 7 10 13 Do you have an agent? Websites used to sell products Etsy 4% On your own website Society6 96% Ebay No Yes Spoonflower 0 2 4 6 8 10 What software do you use to manage your website Wordpress Blogger Cargo Behance Bigcartel ve a website at all Tumblr 0 2 4 5 7 9
UK Total number of respondents: 26 Annual income (USD$) Below $15,000 $15,001 to $30,000 $30,001 to $50,000 0 4 9 13 18 22 Current occupation I'm a fulltime illustrator! Graphic designer Educator Photographer Art director 0 3 6 9 12 How do you earn your income? Through artwork/illustration commissions By selling my handmade products (through Etsy, craft fairs, etc) I work full-time in an unrelated field I sell wholesale to shops Through 3rd party services like Society6/Cafepress/Zazzle Licensing Selling copyrights to my work 0 3 6 9 12 15
UK Total number of respondents: 26 How do you market your business? Facebook Blog Pinterest LinkedIn Craft fairs Instagram Newsletter Pitching to bloggers ers to pitch your work Magazines Mailers 0 3 6 9 11 14 17 What worked for me (in descending order) Blog / Twitter / Instagram Facebook / Word of mouth Entering competitions Other jobs taken on: Full time cleaner / Student / Librarian Working part time in an unrelated field Teaching assistant / Web designer Doing workshops for kids A list of projects/jobs undertaken + income: Pet portraits: GBP 10-20 per portrait Commissioned graphic design work: GBP 6,000 Licensing: GBP 2,000 for one image use Children s activity books: GBP 120 for double page spread Illustration for a local museum: GBP 250
EUROPE
EUROPE Total number of respondents: 34 Male / Female Age group 6% 18-24 25-34 35-44 94% 45-54 Female Male 55-64 0 4 7 11 14 18 Do you have an agent? Websites used to sell products 9% None of the below Etsy On your own website 91% Society6 Spoonflower No Yes 0 3 6 9 12 What software do you use to manage your website Cargo Wordpress Blogger Behance Tumblr I don't have a website at all Bigcartel 0 3 6 8 11
EUROPE Total number of respondents: 34 Annual income (USD$) 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 Current occupation Graphic designer bove - I'm I m a a fulltime full-time illustrator! Educator Art director 0 5 9 14 18 How do you earn your income? Through artwork/illustration commissions By selling my handmade products (through Etsy, craft fairs, etc) I work full-time in an unrelated field Through 3rd party services like Society6/Cafepress/Zazzle Licensing Selling copyrights to my work I sell wholesale to shops 0 6 13 19 25
EUROPE Total number of respondents: 34 How do you market your business? Blog Facebook Pinterest Twitter LinkedIn Mailers Craft fairs Newsletter Magazines rs to Pitching pitch your to bloggers work Advertising 0 4 8 13 17 21 What worked for me (in descending order) Own blog Facebook Behance Word of mouth Other jobs taken on: Life drawing model Animator Psychotherapist Web developer Newspaper designer A list of projects/jobs undertaken + income: Illustrations for medical information brochure: $4,500 Illustration for educational project: $2,000 Book covers: $1,000 Private commission for tattoo design: $200 Animation project: $10,000 Creating a music videoclip: $15,000
CANADA
CANADA Total number of respondents: 8 Male / Female Age group 13% 18-24 25-34 88% 35-44 45-54 Female Male 0 1 2 2 3 Do you have an agent? Websites used to sell products 13% Etsy Society6 Spoonflower 88% Craigslist No Yes 0 1 3 4 5 What software do you use to manage your website Blogger Wordpress Cargo Behance 0 1 2 3 4
CANADA Total number of respondents: 8 Annual income (USD$) Below $15,000 $15,001 to $30,000 $30,001 to $50,000 $50,001 to $75,000 0 1 2 Current occupation Graphic designer Art director Educator Photographer I'm a fulltime illustrator! 0 1 2 3 4 5 How do you earn your income? Through artwork/illustration commissions By selling my handmade products (through Etsy, craft fairs, etc) I work full-time in an unrelated field 0 1 2 3
CANADA Total number of respondents: 8 How do you market your business? Blog Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Newsletter Craft fairs Mailers rs Pitching to pitch to your bloggers work 0 2 4 6 8 What worked for me (in descending order) Own blog / Twitter / Reddit Facebook / Art shows Tumblr Other jobs taken on: Waiting tables Working fulltime in a semi-related field Teaching digital illustration part-time at a university A list of projects/jobs undertaken + income: Storyboarding: $800 Cake decorating: $100-200 per month App & book illustration: $10,000 Black & white illustrations: $200 (per illustration)
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA Total number of respondents: 11 Male / Female Age group 18-24 100% 25-34 35-44 Female Male 45-54 0 1 3 4 5 Do you have an agent? Websites used to sell products Etsy 100% On your own website Society6 No Yes 0 2 3 5 6 What software do you use to manage your website Wordpress Squarespace Blogger Bigcartel Cargo 0 1 2 3 4
AUSTRALIA Total number of respondents: 11 Annual income (USD$) 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 Current occupation Graphic designer Photographer Art director Educator above - I'm I m a fulltime full-time illustrator! 0 2 4 5 7 How do you earn your income? Through artwork/illustration commissions By selling my handmade products (through Etsy, craft fairs, etc) I work full-time in an unrelated field Licensing Selling copyrights to my work Through 3rd party services like Society6/Cafepress/Zazzle 0 2 4 5 7
AUSTRALIA Total number of respondents: 11 How do you market your business? Blog Facebook Pinterest Craft fairs Twitter Newsletter Magazines ggers Pitching to pitch to your bloggers work 0 2 4 6 8 What worked for me (in descending order) Facebook / Word-of-mouth Face to face contact Instagram / Etsy Other jobs taken on: Animator Clerical office job Basic photo/design/web work for family Retail A list of projects/jobs undertaken + income: Licensing artwork to a hospital in the USA: $4,500 Seasonal catalogue for a furniture chain: $7,000 Creating illustrations for wedding invitations: $2,000 ~ 3,000 Wholesale, commissions for painting & doll making: $20,000 Painting: $50
ASIA
ASIA Total number of respondents: 17 Male / Female Age group 12% 18-24 88% 25-34 Female Male 35-44 0 3 5 8 10 Do you have an agent? Websites used to sell products 100% Society6 Etsy On your own website No Yes 0 2 4 5 7 What software do you use to manage your website Behance Wordpress Cargo Blogger I don't have a website at all 0 2 3 5 6
ASIA Total number of respondents: 17 Annual income (USD$) $15,001 to $30,000 $30,001 to $50,000 Below $15,000 0 2 4 5 7 Current occupation Educator Graphic designer above - I m I'm a full-time fulltime illustrator! Art director 0 2 3 5 6 How do you earn your income? Through artwork/illustration commissions I work full-time in an unrelated field By selling my handmade products (through Etsy, craft fairs, etc) Through 3rd party services like Society6/Cafepress/Zazzle 0 2 4 5 7
ASIA Total number of respondents: 17 How do you market your business? Facebook Blog Twitter ers Pitching to pitch to your bloggers work Pinterest Craft fairs Mailers Instagram 0 2 5 7 9 What worked for me (in descending order) Facebook / Word-of-mouth Pitching to clients directly Regular contributions to local animal shelter, which highlights artists work in return Other jobs taken on: Full-time Design manager Part-time English teacher Managing Editor of a Wildlife conservation magazine. I work part-time in an unrelated field & have a scholarship A list of projects/jobs undertaken + income: Branding for companies: $2,000 Commissioned paintings: $200 ~ 300 Presentation boards: $80 per frame Visual drawings for amusement park: $1,000 Character design for commercial product advertisement: $1,200
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Compiled & designed by: Amy Ng @ Pikaland