17 Book Illustrator Interview Questions and Answers

Book illustrators work with authors and publishers to bring stories to life with pictures. Most book illustrators specialize in a particular type of book, such as children’s books, textbooks, or graphic novels.

To become a book illustrator, you need a mix of artistic talent, creativity, and business skills. You also need to be able to promote your work and sell your services to potential clients.

If you’re hoping to break into the book illustration business, you need to be prepared for a job interview. During an interview, you’ll be asked questions about your experience, your artistic process, and your rates. You’ll also be asked to provide examples of your work.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of book illustrator interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working with a tight deadline?

Book illustrators often have to work with tight deadlines. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle the pressure of working under a deadline. In your answer, explain that you are comfortable working under a deadline and give an example of a time when you had to meet one in the past.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with a tight deadline. I once worked on a book where we only had two weeks to complete it. We were able to get everything done within that time frame, although it was quite stressful. I enjoy being challenged like that because it makes me feel more accomplished when I finish.”

What are some of your favorite books that you’ve illustrated and why?

This question can give the interviewer insight into your artistic style and help them understand what you enjoy illustrating. You can answer this question by naming a few of your favorite books that you’ve illustrated, describing why they are your favorites and giving an example of how you brought the story to life through illustrations.

Example: “My favorite book that I’ve illustrated is The Little Engine That Could. It was my first children’s book illustration job, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love the message of hard work paying off and the way the characters come alive on each page. In one scene, for instance, the little engine is climbing up a steep hill with all her cars behind her. I used vibrant colors and shadows to make the image pop.”

How do you stay creative when working on multiple projects at once?

Book illustrators often work on multiple projects at once, so employers ask this question to make sure you have the ability to stay creative and focused while working under these conditions. Use your answer to highlight your creativity and problem-solving skills by explaining how you manage to keep your ideas fresh even when working on several illustrations at once.

Example: “I find that I can stay creative no matter what project I’m working on. In fact, I think it’s important to switch up my style every now and then to avoid getting bored with a particular illustration. To do this, I take inspiration from different sources, such as other artists or nature itself. For example, if I’m illustrating a book about animals, I’ll go outside and sketch some of the wildlife around me.”

What is your process for developing characters and settings for a book?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your creative process and how you apply it to the work you do. When answering, consider describing a specific project that involved developing characters and settings and explaining what steps you took to create them.

Example: “When I begin illustrating a book, I first read through the entire story so I can get an idea of the plot and setting. Then, I sketch out some ideas for characters and settings based on my initial impressions from reading the book. After that, I start creating digital sketches of each character and setting, which I then use as reference when painting.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to make changes to your artwork based on feedback from the author or editor.

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you react to constructive criticism. They want to know that you can take feedback and use it to improve your work. In your answer, try to show that you are open to receiving feedback and using it to make improvements.

Example: “When I first started illustrating children’s books, my editor gave me a lot of feedback on the artwork I submitted for one of my projects. At first, I was frustrated by all the changes she wanted me to make, but eventually, I realized that her feedback would help me create better illustrations. Now, when I receive feedback from an editor or author, I am more receptive to making changes.”

If hired, what types of books would you like to work on and why?

This question helps employers understand your interests and preferences. It also allows them to see if you have any experience with the types of books they publish. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific book or type of book that you would like to illustrate. This shows that you are passionate about the work you do.

Example: “I am very interested in children’s literature. I love working on stories that kids will enjoy for years to come. I find that illustrating these types of books is rewarding because I know my illustrations will help kids learn new things and develop their imaginations. I think I would be a great fit for your publishing company because I want to work on books that inspire kids.”

What would you do if you were given a vague description of a character and were asked to create an illustration of them?

This question can help interviewers understand how you approach a task that requires creativity and problem-solving skills. Use examples from your past experience to show the interviewer that you are able to use your critical thinking skills to complete assignments with little direction.

Example: “In my last role, I was given a description of a character that included their gender, age and personality traits. The client also gave me some ideas about what they would like the illustration to include, but no specific details on the characters appearance. I used these guidelines to create an image of the character based on my own interpretation of the information provided. When I completed the illustration, it matched the client’s expectations.”

How well do you pay attention to detail when working on illustrations?

Book illustrators must pay close attention to detail when working on illustrations. This question helps employers determine whether you have the ability to work carefully and accurately. When answering this question, explain that you are a highly organized individual who can manage multiple projects at once. Explain how your organizational skills help you stay focused on the task at hand.

Example: “I am an extremely organized person, which is why I’ve been able to complete so many projects in a short amount of time. In my last role, I was responsible for illustrating five books per year. Each book had between 20 and 30 pages, which meant I needed to illustrate over 100 images each year. My organization skills helped me stay on top of all of these projects while still maintaining quality.”

Do you have experience illustrating maps? If so, can you provide an example of how you would represent a location on a map?

Book illustrators often create maps to help readers visualize the setting of a story. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience with creating maps and can do so effectively. In your answer, share an example of how you would represent a location on a map. Explain what steps you would take to ensure that it looks visually appealing.

Example: “I have worked on several projects where I had to illustrate maps. One project required me to draw a detailed map of a fictional city. To start, I researched different types of cities and which ones were similar to the one in the book. Then, I drew out the major landmarks and streets. Next, I added smaller details like parks, restaurants and shops. Finally, I colored the map using bright colors to make it more visually appealing.”

When do you think it’s appropriate to add your own artistic flair to a book’s illustrations?

This question can help interviewers understand your artistic style and how you approach a project. Your answer should show that you are able to work within the parameters of an assignment while still maintaining your unique style.

Example: “I think it’s important to maintain the integrity of the author’s vision, so I only add my own flair when it is appropriate for the story. For example, if the book was about a dog but didn’t have any illustrations of dogs in it, I would feel comfortable adding some drawings of dogs into the book. However, if the book already had several illustrations of dogs in it, I would not want to change those illustrations unless there was a specific reason why I needed to do so.”

We want to ensure our books appeal to both children and adults. How would you make sure your illustrations appeal to a wide audience?

The interviewer may ask this question to see how you can create illustrations that appeal to a variety of audiences. Use your answer to highlight your ability to create appealing and engaging illustrations for children’s books.

Example: “I believe it is important to make sure my illustrations appeal to both children and adults because I want the book to be enjoyable for everyone who reads it. To ensure my illustrations appeal to a wide audience, I always try to use bright colors and interesting characters in my work. This helps me create illustrations that are visually appealing to all readers.”

Describe your process for creating a series of illustrations that tell a story.

Book illustrators often work on a series of illustrations that tell a story. Employers ask this question to learn more about your process for working on a project like this. Use your answer to explain the steps you take when creating a series of illustrations. You can also share any special skills or techniques you use while working on these types of projects.

Example: “I always start by reading through the book and taking notes on what I think would be interesting scenes to illustrate. Then, I sketch out some ideas for each scene and choose my favorite ones to develop further. After that, I create digital sketches of each illustration and send them to the author for feedback. Once they approve the sketches, I begin coloring in each illustration.”

What makes you qualified to illustrate a particular book?

This question can help interviewers understand your qualifications and how you apply them to the work you do. Use examples from your experience that show your skills, knowledge or creativity in book illustration.

Example: “I have a degree in graphic design with a focus on typography and color theory. This education has helped me develop my eye for detail and create illustrations that are visually appealing. I also worked as an intern at a publishing company where I learned about different genres of books and what makes each one unique. This knowledge helps me choose the right style of illustration for each project.”

Which types of media do you prefer to work in and why?

This question can help the interviewer determine your skill set and experience level. It’s important to show that you have a variety of skills, but also that you enjoy working in different media types.

Example: “I prefer working with traditional media because I find it more enjoyable than digital media. However, I am comfortable using both digital and traditional media. In my last role, I worked primarily with pencils, markers and watercolors. I found this combination of media allowed me to create illustrations that were detailed yet vibrant.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of book illustration?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what book illustration entails. You can answer this question by explaining which part of the process you enjoy most and why it’s important.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of book illustration is creating a story that children will love. I always try to make sure my illustrations are bright, colorful and fun so kids want to read more books. I also believe that illustrating characters with unique personalities helps children learn how to interact with others in their own lives.”

How often do you update your portfolio and what do you include in it?

This question can help interviewers understand how you keep your portfolio up to date and what you include in it. This can show them that you’re passionate about your work, eager to learn new skills and have a desire to improve your portfolio as you grow professionally.

Example: “I update my portfolio every six months or so. I like to add pieces that showcase my growth as an illustrator and artist. For example, when I first started illustrating for children’s books, I would only include illustrations from the book I was working on at the time. Now, I also include some of my favorite pieces from previous projects.”

There is a specific audience you need to appeal to with this book. How would you research your target audience and incorporate that into your artwork?

The interviewer may ask this question to see how you would approach a project that requires appealing to a specific audience. Use your answer to show the interviewer that you can research and understand your target audience, as well as incorporate their preferences into your artwork.

Example: “I would first do some research on my target audience by reading reviews of similar books and speaking with parents who have children in the age group I’m illustrating for. This helps me get an idea of what they like to see in illustrations and what kind of characters they prefer. Then, I use these insights to create characters and scenes that appeal to them.”