Tips on Becoming an Illustrator in San Antonio, Texas

The city of San Antonio, Texas features a prosperous local fine arts culture and a thriving, media-based commercial economy.  Naturally, the city is filled with resident visual artists pursuing careers in the field of graphic design, especially as commercial illustrators.

San Antonio Schools and Training Programs for Illustrators

San Antonio is scattered with colleges and independent local art schools providing a broad selection of courses, workshops and degree programs in commercial illustration.  Colleges of fine arts in San Antonio include the International Academy of Design and Technology, Everest Institute, Saint Philips College, San Antonio College and University of Texas.

Yet, each year, scores of aspiring San Antonio commercial illustrators pursue online educational programs.  Popular accredited online graphic design colleges include University of Phoenix, Full Sail University, ITT Tech, National University, The Art Institutes, DeVry and Stratford Career Institute.  It often happens that accredited virtual schools provide convenient local campuses.  ITT Tech, University of Phoenix and The Art Institutes all maintain facilities in San Antonio.

Working as an Illustrator in San Antonio, Texas

Many illustrators living in San Antonio, Texas do commercial artwork for leading local graphic design firms like Fractals Graphic Design Ideas, Barefoot Graphics, Zang Graphic Design, Bobton Graphics and Pelican Graphic Design, to name a few.  Other local artists might draw edgy illustrations for San Antonio tattoo shops such as Nemesis Tattoo, Raven Tattoo, Prick Tattoo or Tattoo Graffix. 

Some San Antonio illustration technicians work for local engineering firms like Bain-Medina-Bain, Civil Engineering Consultants, GKW Engineering, HDR Engineering and Maestas-Bailey, among others.  Some local artists create anatomical charts for medical illustration services such as David Chapman, Karl Frey or Ebony Art. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, full time professional illustrators working in the city of San Antonio, Texas claim a yearly income of about $42,990 on average, with a reported mean hourly wage of around $20.65.  However, these figures do not apply to the incomes of local part timers and freelance professionals.  

Skills of a Professional Illustrator

Professional illustration artists are experts at drawing and coloring detailed, recognizable designs with compelling emotional impact.  Illustrators help create annual reports, brochures, corporate identity portfolios, calendars, print ads  page layouts and more.  Many professional illustrators hold Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Advertising or Graphic Design.  Most illustrators are completely familiar with related software packages like Sothink-Logo-Maker, Intaglio, iDraw, Sketsa SVG and Adobe Dimensions.