How to get started with freelance illustration

An online workshop by Jana Heidersdorf

So you want to be a freelance illustrator. Or perhaps you’re not even quite sure you want to be a freelance illustrator. You mostly want to pay your bills by making art or make art for a living (those are not the same thing, mind you. ’A living’ should include more than paying bills, right?). Now, freelance illustration is, in my humble opinion, the most straightforward way of making money as an artist. That’s why I do it. It’s still a bit bonkers, the way any career in the arts is a bit bonkers, and it can be intimidating to get started. For one thing there’s your least favorite aunt, the well meaning teacher and society in general telling you to *not do it* because you will starve and die on the streets despite the existence of successful illustrators who are doing *just fine*. There’s also reality in which being an illustrator is totally possible, but it’s not easy, at times confusing and definitely scary. I mean, it’s also *the best job*, but it’s anxiety-inducing all the time. Ok, not all the time. But often. And most certainly when you’re just starting out.
How do you find clients? How do clients find you? How often are you allowed to send somebody your portfolio without being annoying and is it normal if there’s no reply (freebie: Yes—yes it’s very normal.) And once you do get clients, the issues don’t end: How much do you charge, what does a contract look like, when does your client take suspiciously long to reply? What if you cannot make a deadline—will you actually die aka never work again in the industry unless you change your identity? It’s A LOT. Especially if you have an anxious-perfectionist disposition that is trying very hard to convince you of your own inadequacy. 
I’ve been a freelance illustrator for eight years now, my friends call me ’established’ (whatever that really means), and I believe I have learned a whole lot in those years, enough that I feel confident I have something to teach, but I’m still learning myself every day because this is a weird little career you’re planning on pursuing and it’s different for everybody. I won’t promise you a career in freelance illustration as soon as you’ve taken my workshop. That’s more of a long term project and less of a two day affair. I do, however, promise that I will do my best to clear up some of the confusion and give you the best tools I know for succeeding in this shared dream of ours. This is the kind of workshop I wish my art school had offered. We won’t have enough time to get into each of your individual hopes and fears in detail, but I want to make sure I’ll answer as many of your questions as possible so that by the end of this workshop you’ll hopefully have a good grip on what’s next for you and where your journey is headed.

Every month we host a workshop for our community! We don’t limit ourselves to a certain style but explore them in different mediums and processes. We had fine artists as well as concept designers showing us their way of working. The goal is to broaden our view, perception and knowledge of art, to learn together as artists and establish a creative environment where growth comes natural.

We try to make our workshops affordable for everyone, however, prices depend on the artists we hire, materials, rent, and many more things. Regular, the ticket fee is about 70-150 Euro per Day. We’ll let you know about upcoming Workshops here on our Website, in our Newsletter, or on Instagram.

If you have requests please don’t hesitate to let us know via E-Mail!

Storyboarding

an online workshop by Rembert Montald

Unlock the power of visual storytelling in this comprehensive 1-day online storyboard workshop, designed for aspiring and professional creatives in the entertainment industry. Whether you're already working in film, television, or animation, or want to work there eventually, this hands-on course  will teach you how to effectively translate scripts into dynamic visual sequences that enhance narrative flow and character development.

Guided by seasoned industry professional Rembert Montald, you’ll dive deep into the key principles of storyboarding, including composition, shot selection, pacing, and camera movements. With a detailed step- by- step- guide  you’ll learn how to create clear, communicative boards that not only bring stories to life but also resonate with directors, producers, and animation teams.

Oil Painting: Technique & Transformation

A workshop by Adam Paquette

I want to share a way of understanding painting as something more than just making images. Over two sessions, I want to unpack and explore the material properties of oil and a range of techniques we can use to achieve different effects. We will cover specific techniques for starting paintings, painting directly as well as glazing and layering, and organising pictorial space with colour and value composition. You’ll be encouraged to reflect on your own thoughts and ideas, and make conscious choices about the materials and methods that you can call on to support your specific painting goals. We will also look at historical and contemporary artists who have expanded the use of the medium to reflect their spiritual and philosophical ideas, and how the imprint of these explorations remains in the way we use oil paint today.

The power of oil painting lies in its capacity for constant transformation on and off  the canvas. Understanding oil paint as a layered, flexible, constantly changing material, we eventually recognise that our relationship with paintings over time also becomes a space for the transformation of our own thoughts and ideas. Painting is more than just making images - developing technique is a way to free your hand to be able to follow where your mind wants to explore.

Sculpting Portraits

a workshop by Alexandra Slava

Portraiture is undoubtedly one of the most prominent genres in the history of art. It is also animmersive process that allows artists to capture an individual’s appearance and personalitythrough their own perception and artistic sensibility. Working from life is a profoundly fulfillingexperience, essential for developing a visual vocabulary and a deep appreciation for the humanform. Thus, creating a portrait from a life model is one of the most effective practices for aspiringstudents to master techniques and develop their own voices as distinctive artists.

This workshop emphasizes the method of direct observation, along with the study of the basic anatomy of the human head, its proportions, linear and volumetric qualities, and the fundamentals of composition and aesthetic ideals. The technique offered is designed to translate complex visual information into a clear structure, facilitating an accurate depiction of the model in three dimensions. The methodology employed by Alexandra Slava, the founder and principal instructor of the Berlin Sculpture Atelier, makes the acquisition of strong craft skills in figurative sculptureenjoyable and accessible to everyone.

Painting from Life -
with watercolor and Gouache

a workshop by Iga Oliwiak @igayah.art

The aim of the workshop is to learn how to capture views using watercolor and gouache techniques. The important part is that we will use a setup that allows you to paint literally everywhere—with as few materials as you can carry, especially while traveling.

We will learn to sketch not only a subject (like a building or a tree) but the whole scenery, including the foreground, middle ground, and background, capturing the specific color and light conditions of that time and place. It will be important to analyze what you see before putting any brushstrokes on the paper. We will also learn how to mix accurate colors so they look natural while keeping in mind the correct values.

By practicing painting from life, you will not only document the places you’ve visited but also improve your sense of color and light, which is very useful in any painting or illustration you might work on later (be it digital or traditional). This type of practice is often used by professionals already working in the game or animation industry (including studios such as Disney, DreamWorks, or Sony Pictures Animation) to continue improving their observational skills.

Urban Sketching

ein Workshop von Gris

Urban Sketching, das Zeichnen der Orte um uns herum ist eine tolle Art und Weise neue Gegenden zu erkunden und schon bekannte Plätze auf magische Weise in der eigenen Kunst festzuhalten. Dabei ist es hilfreich zu schnell skizzieren und kolorieren zu können, um möglichst schnell einen Eindruck der Wirklichkeit auf dem Papier entstehen zu lassen.

In diesem eintägigen Workshop werdet ihr von Gris die Grundlagen zum lockeren zeichnen und dem kolorieren mit Aquarell lernen. Gris wird in Demos zeigen, wie er verschiedene Motive zeichnet und malt und dabei genau erklären welche Techniken des Sehens, Analysierens und Zeichnens er verwendet. Neben den Demos und des theoretischen Teils wird es einen großen praktischen Teil geben, in dem ihr selber das wunderbare Funkhausgelände erkunden könnt - ausgestattet mit Materialien von unseren Freunden von Schmincke und Hahnemühle .

Es gibt viel Zeit für individuelle Fragen und Feedback, welches ebenfalls in der Gruppe geteilt und besprochen wird.

Lasst euch also an diesen Tag in die große Urban Sketching -Bewegung einführen und nehmt euch wichtiges Wissen mit, um zukünftig die Orte um euch herum elegant und spielerisch im Skizzenbuch festhalten zu können!

Sketching with Nature

a workshop by Jana Heidersdorf

In this workshop we’ll let the beauty of nature spark our creativity, whether it will take shape in fantastical creatures, dreamy surreal portraiture or tender botanical studies. Drawing itself is a tactile process of observation, our brush strokes following our gaze, forging familiarity and intimacy with our subject. It’s an act of love and curiosity. Do you want to spend midsummer with a bunch of fellow artists celebrating nature and inviting magic into your sketchbook? Close to the longest day of the year, we’re celebrating the beauty of nature in full bloom.

For us city dwellers it can be challenging to stay connected to the natural world in everyday life, as few of us have the privilege of romantic wildflower meadows and mystical glades right at our doorstep.

As a fantasy artist and illustrator creating dark, surreal imagery full of flora and fauna, the natural world is an essential source of inspiration for me and going outdoors to explore and connect with its inhabitants—yes, even in the city!—is an essential part of the process. There are rich textures and vivid greens to be found all around in nooks and crannies, especially in the Summer!

All the while we’ll be recording our findings in journals and sketchbooks. I’ll be along, providing some additional prompts and ideas and by the time we’re done those pages will be brimming with fresh ideas and inspiration.

Storyboarding for Comics

a workshop by Julia Beutling

No matter which medium you want to use for your comic, at some point you will most likely need some kind of storyboard.

You know you can make these panels look pretty in the end, but you also want to ensure a certain feel and clear readability in your story. ALL the big visual decisions are first made in the storyboard phase and there are hundreds of decisions to make. It can feel overwhelming, and it’s not always easy. This workshop helps you find a clearer path through that process. During the workshop, each participant will be creating the storyboard for one comic scene they decided on beforehand. We’ll be going through the classic high-impact steps of page planning like script, storyboard, lettering and color choice, each with a thorough introduction and plenty of visual examples. (This is also a good opportunity to find out which of these steps you feel comfortable with at all.)

While you’re creating your storyboards, we’ll check if your scene works as intended for others, and try to improve it if necessary. You’ll get individual feedback from Julia, and you can open your work up to other participants as test readers, if you want.

Julia Beutling has been working as a freelance illustrator and comic artist for 13 years and illustrated over 20 books. She’s been publishing her inadvisably long webcomic Being Monsters for two years now, which received two grants and an award. She loves animals, fairy tales and old movies.

Character Design

A 2- day Workshop with Lars Weiler

Character Design does not exist in a vacuum. Similar to how a character in a movie does not exist in a vacuum. There's a story to consider, other characters, and the world they all live in. When it comes to character design for games, there are a million ways to approach your subject. How do we navigate decision paralysis, genre and budget constraints and how do we come up with a design that can not only convince potential clients but ourselves as well?

Over the course of this two-day workshop, I will attempt to give you the tools to solve these questions yourself. We will cover the basics as well as the nitty gritty of character design. We will talk about how world building impacts, empowers and limits your choices. We will use this theory to craft a character design of your own by the end of the workshop using either your own world or one we develop as a group.

Lars Weiler is a Concept Artist for PLAION known for the Metro and Dead Island franchises and specializes in character design. He previously worked as a freelancer for role playing publications and as a teacher. In his spare time, he works as a Dungeon Master in his homebrew campaign and obsesses over game and movie theory.

Aesthetics of the Human Figure

an Online Workshop by Alexandra Fastovets

This workshop will be all about the aesthetics of the human body and the search for its logic in drawing. There is a wide variety of approaches and understandings of how to depict an impression of what you see in real life. Another question all together is how to find the things you want to paint and distinguish and distill what you like from the millions of things you potentially could draw. Amongst all these possibilities it is important to find your own feelings, your style and your story that you would like to tell the viewer more about. This story is not to be understood like in a book or a movie - it is a visual story within one drawing that directs the viewer to something that impressed you about the particular scene you decided to draw.

In this online workshop we will use the human figure as an example for this since it is both complex and simple, unified and full of detail, static in its structure and flowy in its movements. We will talk about light and shadow composition, flow and line direction, general structure and applied anatomy. Furthermore, there will be time for demos, practical exercises and critiquing your work.

Bella Figura - Figuren zeichnen mit Stift und Pinsel

ein Workshop von Gris

Würdet ihr gerne Charaktere und Figuren aus dem echten Leben schnell und dynamisch in euren Zeichnungen wiedergeben können? Vielleicht in der S-Bahn auf dem Weg zum Park oder in eurem Lieblingscafe? Dann ist dieser Workshop von der urban-sketching Legende Gris genau das Richtige für euch!

In diesem Workshop beschäftigen wir uns im theoretischen Teil mit grundlegenden Körperproportionen und lernen dann diese anzuwenden um schnell und locker Figuren zu skizzieren. Nach der Mittagspause mit (Akt)Model wird Gris in Demos zeigen, wie er mit Stiften und Aquarell das Model gekonnt und schwungvoll auf Papier einfängt. Selbstverständlich seid ihr dann dran und zeichnet das Model mit viel direktem Feedback, sowie praktischen Tips und Tricks von Gris.

Gris malt und zeichnet, seit er „denken“ kann. Die Anderen sind dann irgendwann zur Schule, zum Sport oder zur Ausbildung gegangen. Gris hat weiter gemalt. Bis heute. Seine künstlerischen Arbeiten umfassen sowohl Malerei, Zeichnung und Musik. Seine Partner und Kunden umfassen unter anderem Schmincke, Hahnemühle, Faber Castell und Boesner.

Mixed Media Sketchbooking

A workshop by Eileen Tretter

Discover the enchanting realm of sketchbooks through our immersive mixed-media driven workshop. A sketchbook is a safe space to experiment freely with your art style and a great place for sprouting the first ideas of a story you maybe have always wanted to tell. Through a series of engaging exercises, you'll experiment with a variety of different mediums including ink, coloured pencils, markers, watercolour etc., as well as get to learn a playful approach to create characters and stories. Eileen will guide you through several playful, very hands- on exercises that will broaden your traditional drawing and painting skills and give you new confidence in your creative abilities. By the end of this workshop, you'll leave equipped with newfound inspiration and a set of tools to find, define and illustrate your own story.

Eileen has been working as a freelance artist for the last 6 years, doing all kinds of illustrative and creative jobs, including murals, posters, and creative design work for design studios and private clients. She has been a part of Drink and Draw Berlin since 2018 and has taught workshops, classes and artistic Team-building events for clients including Zalando, Meta and N26. Next to her obligations at drink and draw and freelance career she has filled countless sketchbooks and finds this medium her favourite of all.

The Art Of Shapes - Procreate Edition

A workshop by Kika Klat

This workshop will dive into Kika’s use of digital media revolving around the Procreate drawing and painting app for Ipads. As with the traditional workshop, Kika Klat will let you in on her techniques to translate the world around you into beautiful shapes that are fun and interesting to look at, but the focus is geared more toward the technical aspect of the medium.

Kika will demonstrate her workflow in painting demos and tell you everything there is to know about finding and creating inspiring references to setting up a traditional sketch and translating it to a digital illustration in Procreate. She will explain the different tools in Procreate that you can use to explore and define your own bulletproof workflow.

All levels are welcome from beginner to advanced, since Kika will cover techniques that can be used to get started with drawing altogether, but that are also applicable to find and/or broaden your style and add another tool to your draftsmen skillset.

Stylized Figure Drawing - “Rules” & How To Bend Them

A workshop by Valentin Scheiner

This workshop will focus on a creative and playful, yet skillful approach to figure drawing with colored pencils.

What are the skills needed to create a convincing figurative drawing and how do you stay free, unrestricted, and expressive while learning and applying them?

You will have the opportunity to learn directly from the instructor as he shares his approach to figure drawing. You will learn about the structure of his drawings, the concepts, and ideas that drive his practice, and thoughts and tips about the usage of colors. You will also learn about common mistakes that many artists make and how to avoid them, as well as techniques that will help you to progress quickly after the workshop is over.

An important part of the workshop will be drawing from life with direct feedback from the instructor and also Q&A parts to answer every question that arises.

This workshop is suitable for all skill levels. If you are a beginner, you will learn how to get started, what to focus on, and step-by-step workflows. If you are experienced in figure drawing it will provide you with new ideas and inspirations on how to improve and vitalize your figure drawing.

Abstract Anatomy for Character Design

A life drawing and character design workshop by Lars Weiler

Character design can be challenging. Life drawing as well.

This is why we thought of a workshop where we try to deal with both and streamline our understanding of life drawing principles so that we can apply them to our character design and general creative processes.

Over the course of a day we will figure out the fundamental building blocks needed for character design:
Anatomy, materials, and storytelling.

Often, the technical aspects of a drawing can get in the way of the creative process. Lars will present you a variety of techniques and ideas about drawing to simplify the technical stuff so that you can focus on what matters: Good design. To that end, there will also be guidelines about what actually makes a successful and iconic character design. As part of this workshop, you'll learn the theory behind character design, and a variety of drawing techniques and you'll design a character using the tools taught in this workshop.

This workshop is geared towards artists with a more intermediate drawing or painting skill set. Knowing what gesture means in drawing terms and being able to draw primitive shapes and rotate them in 3D space on paper/canvas/screen will greatly enhance your experience and ability to work with the principles presented. You can bring your favorite materials for this workshop, no matter digital or traditional. Pens, pencils, and basic paper are free to use for you in our location.

Lars Weiler is a concept artist for Plaion and an illustrator for various fantasy role-playing publications. He has been an instructor for Drink and Draw life drawing and anatomy workshops and has also taught his knowledge about perspective, gesture, design, and anatomy for several classes in different art schools in and outside of Berlin. He also serves as a dungeon master in his own Dungeons & Dragons campaign where he obsesses way too much over the laws concerning enchantment magic.

“Confident Lines “

Ink and Brushpen workshop by Bayar Zedensodnom

This workshop is all about confidence in doing art. Since ink is a notoriously unforgiving medium it is perfect to practice your accuracy as a draftsman, as well as gain the courage to work decisively and boldly.

You will learn how to become loose when drawing while keeping your sketch accurate and make conscious decisions about shapes and negative space. A big part of drawing with a permanent medium is to own your mistakes and figure out a way to make them work in a finished sketch. The workshop will also touch on intuitively approaching composition and storytelling, depending on the subject matter. You will learn different approaches to composing, starting, and rolling with an ink drawing, as well as the theoretical pros and cons of the medium.

In several exercises, Bayar will guide you through his approach to drawing with ink. You will receive technical input on how to approach an ink drawing, as well as valuable information about the mindset that is needed to work with a non-erasable medium. You will get to draw a nude model, various objects, and still life, as well as photo references.

Bayar has intensively been working with ink for the last couple of years, focusing mostly on life drawing, portrait drawing, and crowd scenes. As a founding member of Drink and Draw Berlin he has been teaching life drawing classes and workshops since 2015. Next to his obligations at drink and draw he is working as a freelance artist, doing commissions, and selling his original artworks.

“Experimental Lifedrawing”

by Kate Voronina

In this two-day workshop, we tried many different techniques and approaches. Kate gave us insight on how to use the right materials and composition to tell a story. How setting different goals and time constraints will help you create a more meaningful artwork in the end.

“The Spooky Workshop”

by Jana Heidersdorf

In this 7-hour online Workshop, Jana talked in depth about how to create captivating, creepy artwork that makes your spine tingle. We worked with textures, explore compositions and learned how to glean actionable knowledge from our own inspirations to become a master of the dark arts.

“REPLICA 2.0“

by Kate Voronina & Susannah Garden

We often get trapped in ways of drawing that offer the most realistic interpretation of a subject, even though this is not the only option to depict the world and get better at making art. The past workshop with Kate Voronina and Susannah Garden was designed to precisely combat this issue!

“An Introduction To Soft Pastels”

by Nathan Aardvark

Nathan gave us an introduction to his tools of choice. We learned how to use Color to indicate light and shadow, work with the model, and how to keep making progress and breaking through barriers as an artist.

“Fifty Shades Of Skin”

by Iga Oliwiak

In a 7-hour online workshop, Iga introduced us to understanding light in color, especially in relation to skin and skin tones.