Deadlines... yeah yeah yeahhh, but what about doing illustration stuff just for YOU!?
This week we chat about squishing in personal projects when client work always feels much more urgent.

We are gathering ourselves after a very exciting Illustration Business Club launch.

Phew! Definitely time for fun non-worky projects around here.

(Rough) Timestamps if you want to skip to a certain bit

• 00:00 Question: “How do you make time for personal artwork?”
• 01:00 Why deadlines are easier than self-led projects
• 02:00 Fine art drive vs. illustration mindset
• 03:00 Projects we have managed to finish (and why)
• 05:00 Creativity that doesn’t look like ‘work’
• 07:00 You’re probably doing more than you realise
• 08:00 The power of art clubs + sketching friends
• 09:00 Big projects that turn into ‘scratch records’
• 10:00 Permission to make things simple (or stop entirely)
• 12:00 Sorting hat trick for choosing ideas
• 14:00 Productivity
• 16:00 Parking ideas and bullet journaling
• 18:00 Craft supplies, hoarding, and deferring projects
• 20:00 New paints, new studios, more art clubs
• 21:00 Psssst...you’re probably already doing more than you think

Byeeee for now!
x The Good Ship Illustration (Helen, Katie & Tania)

Come and say hello!

✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com

p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙

First things first, DOORS CLOSE TONIGHT! We start on Monday.

https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/business

Be lovely to see you in there.

Psssst, this is the lowest the price will ever be, and we're not opening the doors again until September 2026.

🚢🚢🚢

Right. Podcast shownotes.

Yes. Where were we?

Here's a very quick lesson on copyright and licensing before you listen to this episode 🤓

Copyright = you own the work.
Licence = permission your client buys to use the work in specific ways (where, how long, which media, exclusive or not).

Ok, lesson's over. Thanks for coming.

If you'd like to earn more without drawing more, then keep your copyright, license the usage, and price it properly.

It's juicy, not boring. We promise!

Timestamps, if you want to skip ahead to a certain bit

• 00:00 Why giving away copyright is a no-go
• 01:00 Licence basics you can actually use
• 02:30 Picture books: advances, royalties, reversions
• 04:30 Foreign rights & special sales (how the money flows)
• 06:30 Trust, statements, and chasing missing royalties
• 07:30 Licensing agents & exclusivity windows
• 09:00 Advertising uses: above/below the line (cost jumps)
• 10:30 Building a simple “menu” clients can pick from
• 12:00 Case study: the map that earned double via licensing
• 14:00 Live illustration: online use vs print/murals
• 16:30 Excluding branding/merch in your standard licence
• 18:00 Merch options: flat fee vs % royalty
• 20:00 Originals, ownership, and cautionary tales
• 22:00 Why this stuff makes your work pay better

Come and say hello!

✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com

p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙

🌎✏️ The Illustrator’s Income Atlas - exciting free workshop announcement!
🗓️ 24th Sept | ⏰ 1pm UK | 📍 Online
Let's sit down together and map out your illustration income. You'll leave with a plan (a map, woohooo) you can stick on your wall and use.
Save your spot and SIGN UP HERE!

https://www.thegoodshipillustration.com/atlas

Ok, on with the shownotes 🤓

We’ve taken our Business Course, given it a fresh lick of paint, and made it eeeeven more fun.

It's now called Illustration Business Club...

And the doors open tonight! (19th September 2025).

You don't need your shoulderpads. Just bring yourself and a bit of an open mind to learn how the money-and-business side of illustration works.

In this episode, we talk a bit about why we’re saying goodbye to the word “course” and what this shiny new Illustration Business Club is gonna look like. You're in for a treat - it’s eeeven better.

By the way, if you're already in the Business Course, you don't need to do anything. You'll be inside Illustration Business Club automagically.

Phew!

• Lifetime access
• Community perks: private Facebook group + co-working every 2 weeks
• Nice open chats about pricing, clients, and fees

It'd be lovely to see you in there!

Timestamps, for our timestamp fans.

• 00:00 Big news: the Business Course has changed
• 01:00 Why “club” feels right (and way more fun)
• 02:00 All modules unlocked: learn at your pace
• 03:00 Community: private group + live calls
• 04:00 What art school didn’t teach you
• 05:00 Honest conversations about money + fees
• 06:00 Adding new income streams
• 07:00 Pricing insights: Katie & Helen’s two perspectives
• 08:00 Guest interviews + insider knowledge
• 08:30 Bonus: live Q&A with copyright lawyers
• 09:00 How to join the Illustration Business Club
  
  

Links mentioned

• Join the Illustration Business Club HERE
• Sign up for our free income workshop HERE
• Come and be our Instagram pals HERE

Byeeee for now!
x The Good Ship Illustration (Helen, Katie & Tania)

Come and say hello!

✏️ @thegoodshipillustration
🌏 www.thegoodshipillustration.com

p.s. We love answering your illustration questions. Click here to submit your question for The Good Ship Illustration Podcast 🎙