What You Need to Become an Illustrator in Madison, Wisconsin

The city of Madison, Wisconsin features a strong local arts community and well over 30,000 corporations and independent businesses.  These days, talented Madison artists by the score successfully pursue careers in the competitive field of graphic design, with illustration experts leading the pack.

Madison Schools and Training Programs for Illustrators

Madison, Wisconsin host an assortment of colleges and private arts facilities that provide classes, workshops and degree programs for aspiring commercial illustrators.  Madison adult schools with renowned graphic arts divisions include Drake University's Madison Campus, Cardinal Stritch University, Madison Area Technical College, Madison Media Institute, Herzing College and University of Wisconsin. 

Nonetheless, many illustration artists residing in Madison obtain professional skills and degrees online.  Prolific accredited virtual fine arts colleges include The Art Institutes, Full Sail University, National University, Stratford Career Institute, DeVry, ITT Tech and University of Phoenix.  Many online schools also feature convenient physical campuses and training facilities.  University of Phoenix and ITT Tech both maintain campuses in Madison.

Working as an Illustrator in Madison, Wisconsin

Many Madison illustrators create commercial art for local graphic design firms like Acacia Web Design, Emanation Graphics, Landscape Designs, Flatbed Graphics and Sleeping Dragon, for instance.  Many more Madison artists design body illustrations for neighborhood tattoo retailers  like Big Guns Tattoo, Tranquil Tattoo, Black-7 or Lotus Blue. 

Other local illustrators design complex technical drawings for Madison engineering firms like Danforth Illustrations, Intense Engineering, Fineline Engineering, Novatech Engineering and Nicol Engineering, among others.  Some Madison artists design anatomical images for local medical illustration services such as Kress-Russick-Illustration, Kobs-Illustration or As-Illustrated. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, illustration professionals employed full time in the city of Madison, Wisconsin report an average annual salary of about $50,410 per year, with a reported mean hourly rate of around $24.25.  These estimates, however, do not apply to the statistical employment values of local freelancers.

Skills of a Professional Illustrator

Professional illustrators are graphic designers who are exceptionally skilled at drawing and coloring detailed, innovative, compelling visual images in a diverse assortment of visual settings.  Illustration artists understand the qualities and restrictions of various print processes.  They are also entirely familiar with digital illustration design software packages such as Adobe Dimensions, Simply-3D, ACD Canvas, Dreamweaver and Mayura Draw.  Interpersonal qualifications most preferred of professional illustration artists are well developed communication skills, severe attention to detail and extraordinary creative talent.