Tips on Becoming an Illustrator in Green Bay, Wisconsin

The city of Green Bay, Wisconsin features a flourishing field of resident artists pursuing careers in commercial illustration among Green Bay's many thousand local companies.  Green Bay corporations cultivate a continuous demand for talented local graphic designers, especially illustrators.

Green Bay Schools and Training Programs for Illustrators

Green Bay colleges and independent art studios provide a broad, ever-changing selection of professional-level classes and degree programs for aspiring commercial illustrators.  Green Bay schools of graphic design include University of Wisconsin, Globe University, Bellin College, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and New Saint Joseph School. 

Popular alternative educational approaches include various accredited online schools.  Successful internet-based colleges with degree programs in commercial graphics include The Art Institutes, Full Sail University, Stratford Career Institute, DeVry, National University, ITT Tech and University of Phoenix.  In many cases, online design colleges supplement their net-based curricula with local resource facilities.  ITT Tech has a campus in Green Bay.

Working as an Illustrator in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Many Green Bay illustrators create commercial art for local graphic design companies such as Axis Graphics, Tekni Graphics, Stainless Graphics, Prima Graphics and Skyline Technologies, for instance.  Local illustrators with a low rider edge sometimes work for tattoo shops like Unleashed Tattoo Illustrations, Electric Art, Mayhem Ink or Outlaw Ink. 

Technical illustrators draft intricate diagrams for leading Green Bay engineering firms like Coastal Planning & Design, GAI Consultants, Rappette Engineering, Packerland Engineering and Solar Engineering Solutions, among others.  Some Green Bay artists work for medical illustration services like Hohol Medical Placement, IOD Incorporated or Van Severen Studio. 

According to information recently compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professional commercial illustrators employed full time in the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin report an average annual earning of about $39,420, with a reported mean hourly wage of around $18.95.  However, these figures do not reflect the employment stats of part time illustrators or local freelancers. 

Skills of a Professional Illustrator

Professional illustrators are talented graphic designers who are especially gifted at hand-rendering original, detailed images.  Illustration artists are hired for many purposes which include print design, exhibition design, website design, advertising and online marketing, among other things.  Illustration professionals are proficient with all kinds of mechanical and digital methods and techniques.  Today's professional illustrators are fully familiar with related design software packages such as Adobe InDesign, Quark Xpress, Ulead Photo Impact, Auto CAD and Toon Boom Digital Pro.