Info on Working as an Illustrator in Wisconsin

Nowadays, talented visual artists throughout the state of Wisconsin consistently land local gigs in the field of graphic design.  However, despite the many kinds of qualified, employment-seeking local graphic designers, artists who specialize in commercial illustration are most appreciated by potential employers.

Wisconsin Schools and Training Programs for Illustrators

Universities, colleges and independent art studios all over Wisconsin advertise classes, workshops and degree options in commercial illustration.  Accredited Wisconsin colleges with graphic design programs include University of Wisconsin in Madison, University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin in Green Bay and University of Wisconsin in Kenosha, to name a few.  Popular non-accredited fine art schools in Wisconsin include Bradley Gallery of Art in Plymouth, Oakwood School in Franklin and Gallery Fifty-Six in Kenosha, among others. 

Another viable educational option for aspiring Wisconsin artists is online training.  Successful accredited online fine arts colleges include The Art Institutes, Full Sail University, Stratford Career Institute, DeVry, National University, ITT Tech and University of Phoenix.  Virtual schools often provide local resource facilities.  The Art Institute has a campus in Milwaukee.  University of Phoenix has campuses in Madison, Milwaukee, Grand Chute and Brookfield.  ITT Tech runs facilities in Madison, Germantown, Green Bay and Greenfield.  DeVry maintains locations in Milwaukee and Waukesha.

Working as an Illustrator in Wisconsin

Wisconsin illustrators often create commercial artwork for local graphic design firms like Graphic Design Express in Appleton, Lakeshore Graphic in Manitowac, Coral Graphics in Rhinelander, Graphic Design Marketing in Fond du Lac and Waterfront Graphic Design in Lodi, for example.  Other local artists might team up with neighborhood tattoo parlors like Blackheart Tattoo in Milwaukee, Studio Tattoo in Racine, Tomah Tattoo in Tomah or Tattoo Hotline in Janesville. 

Precision illustrators might work for Wisconsin engineering firms such as Buveck Consultants in Milwaukee, Baxter-Woodman in Burlington, Davy Engineering in La Crosse, R.A. Smith in Brookfield and Midwest Engineering Services in Waukesha, among others.  Some Wisconsin artists are employed by local medical illustration companies like Amphion-Medical-Solutions in Madison, Cygmus-Business-Medical in Atkinson or Holt-Medical-Illustration in Silver Lake.  

Professional illustrators employed full time in the state of Wisconsin report an average annual earning of about $39,500 per year, with a reported mean hourly wage of around $19.00.  Wisconsin corporations employ approximately 150 full time illustrators, not including local freelancers.     

Skills of a Professional Illustrator

An illustrator is a type of graphic designer who is exceptionally talented at drawing and coloring original, detailed visual images.  Most professional illustration artists are able to work with a wide variety of traditional visual media forms, as well as with illustration design software.  Popular digital illustration programs include Diagram Designer, Adobe Dimensions, Macromedia Freehand, Inkscape and Vector Eye.