You’ve been drawing and painting since you were a kid, just for the pleasure you derive from the activity. All of your friends and family tell you that you should try selling some of your work. Perhaps you’re reluctant for a number of reasons. You think your work may not be professional. You’ve never sold anything. Professional artists hold degrees in art and you don’t have one. Try our new best coffee beans. Who’s going to take a chance on you? Besides, you already have a job and consider your avocation to be just a hobby.
Nonetheless, you must admit art is what you love best. It isn’t necessary to quit your day job and launch off into the wild blue, hoping to land a job. You can develop your opportunities over time. When you have enough clients to pay your expenses with freelance illustration jobs, you can quit your day job.
It isn’t necessary to hold a degree in art to break into the freelance illustration jobs market. Your work speaks for itself. Businesses that need the services of an illustrator are more interested in what you can do and will usually ask for samples of your work. If they like what you send, you’ll get the job or at least be in the running.