Info on Working as an Illustrator in Oklahoma

The state of Oklahoma features a healthy fine arts culture and numerous resident visual artists pursuing careers in commercial illustration.  Oklahoma corporations maintain an ongoing economic demand for local graphic designers, especially illustrators, to create corporate logos, characterizations, product packaging design, business identity packages and much more.

Oklahoma Schools and Training Programs for Illustrators

Oklahoma offers many colleges and independent art studios with courses and degree programs in commercial illustration.  Aspiring Oklahoma illustrators focus on traditional visual arts, digital graphics and computer science, among other things.  Oklahoma colleges of fine arts include Yukon Fine Art Center in Yukon, Metro School of Fine Arts in Edmond, University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City and  Yarnell School of Fine Art in Tulsa.

On the other hand, Oklahoma artists of overflowing proportions lately prefer to acquire professional skills online.  Successful accredited online graphic arts colleges include Stratford Career Institute, Post University, Full Sail University, University of Phoenix, The Art Institutes, DeVry, National University and ITT Tech.  In addition, various online schools also provide local campuses.  University of Phoenix has campuses in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Owasso (near Tulsa).  ITT Tech has locations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.  DeVry maintains a facility in Oklahoma City.
 
Working as an Illustrator in Oklahoma

Many creative local illustrators create commercial artwork for graphic design firms like Design Graphics in Oklahoma City, Cyn Pro Graphics in Tulsa, Sigma Graphic Design in Broken Arrow, Stone Graphic Design in Edmond and Red River Graphics in Marietta, to name a few.  Illustrators with a cutting edge are sometimes employed by neighborhood tattoo studios like Chill Tattoo in Oklahoma City, Eyewitness Tattoo in Tulsa, Virtu Tattoo in Ada, Skinsations in Norman or Ascension Tattoo in Elk City. 

Technical local illustrators often work for Oklahoma engineering firms such as BKL in Tulsa, Brawley Engineering in Oklahoma City, Red Plains Professional in Edmond, Larkin Engineering in Midwest City and Darryl Crosby Illustration in Yukon, among others.  Some visual precision experts create anatomical charts for medical illustration companies.  Prominent local examples include Nene Tomas Illustrations in Oklahoma City, Gil Adams Illustration in Tulsa, Medical Transcription in Bristow and Nescatunga Illustration in Alva, for instance.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the reported average annual income of a full time illustrator employed in the state of Oklahoma is about $51,130, with a supposed mean hourly rate of roughly $24.60.  Oklahoma companies support roughly sixty full time illustrators.  None of these stats apply to part time illustrators or local freelancers. 

Skills of a Professional Illustrator

Professional illustrators are often multi-skilled artists whose areas of expertise might include history, science, architecture, interior design, fashion design and other topics.  Illustrators are fully familiar with traditional drawing and coloring techniques, as well as with digital illustration design software programs such as Draw It, e-Picture-Pro, 3D-Studio-Max, Adobe Fireworks and Compact Draw.