How to…get commissioned by Creative Review...?     11th Sep 2009

How to…get commissioned by Creative Review...?

My cunning 10 step plan to commission heaven...

Creative Review Johanna Basford

1. Take a large sheet of paper, a few inky fine liners and begin composing a hand drawn piece which illustrates your unique, ‘organic' creative process. Add lots of little hidden details, small quirks and areas of curios. 

 

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2. Begin scanning and Photoshopping the inky artwork. Remove all signs of tea spillage and chocolate fingerprints.

 

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 Have completed artwork printed out by your friendly local Repro Guy. 

 

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Cut and paste onto cover of super cool design magazine, Creative Review. 

 

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Feel a bit guilty at covering up existing cover, so send friendly email to Matt at Design by Music and apologise. Take the opportunity to pitch your freelance illustration services to them. 

 

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Temporarily allow OCD to take control. Hand embellish. 

 

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Hide all pens to put an end constant embellishing. Begin to creatively savage the publication. Marvel at the crispness of a fresh scalpel blade. Have a temporary crisis of conscience over magazine mutilation. Tell yourself the end justifies the means. 

 

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Insert Portfolio CD, business card and witty letter to the Editor, Patrick.

 

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Wrap in brown paper and Johanna Basford tape. Hope the nostalgic qualities of such a retro package wins over the hearts and minds of the Creative Review editorial team and makes them think, "wow, we love this girl's work and her intrinsically charming approach. (PDF's have zero character) We should feature / commission / follow her" 

 

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Cross fingers, boil the kettle and await email, phone call, text, tweet or carrier pigeon message from CR.

**UPDATE**  Read how my cheeky little exercise in self promotion went down at the CR office on the Creative Review Blog.

**UPDATE 2** I've been commissioned by Creative Review! Cue fanfare, marching band, fireworks and release small flock of white doves! More details coming soon. Ah, I love it when a plan works out!

Posted in - Cool

Comments

  • Very good Johanna, liked this post - please keep me informed of the outcome & if you get that big commission/article from CR.
    John Paterson     11th Sep 2009
  • I will indeed John, already had a nice email and a couple of Tweets from them, so it looks as though my plan caught their attention!
    Johanna     12th Sep 2009
  • Best Blog yet! Awesome plan. I hope it works.
    James     12th Sep 2009
  • Thank you one and all for your most lovely comments. No commission yet though...one wonders what further action to take? Perhaps a delivery of Creative Review Cup Cakes will seal the commission?
    Johanna     16th Sep 2009
  • Great idea... and great artwork! I think it will work. Its already posted on the CR blog!
    Andy     16th Sep 2009
  • Brilliant Johanna, all the best with it.
    Ryan     16th Sep 2009
  • Stunning work and excellent approach!!
    Andrea Eaton     16th Sep 2009
  • Just amazing...that is all I have to say.
    Jason Alejandro     16th Sep 2009
  • Absolutely love this and the rest of your wonderful work. Promptly bookmarked. Well done.
    Charlie Hocking     16th Sep 2009
  • Wonderful job! Great attention to detail on this. Cannot wait to hear your good news when they give a ring.
    memekode     16th Sep 2009
  • Bravo! *clap clap* Love the effort and the execution! By the way, I saw your work via CR Blog therefore I am here to say HELLO! and HANG IN THERE! you will get what you wanted for your love in illustration....
    dA     17th Sep 2009
  • Thank you James, that is very kind of you. I hope it works too.
    Johanna     16th Sep 2009
  • Johanna You will surely get a commission from CR. You deserve it. Bip
    Bip     16th Sep 2009
  • Hi Joanna Seen this originally on the CR Blog. Just a quick message to say nice job on an novel idea. Well done. Hope it works out well for you - your work is really good.
    James K     16th Sep 2009
  • Your illustrations are amazing, truly beautiful. I wish you lots of luck. BUT I think with your creative sales techniques,you will not be waiting for commissions for too long. Keep us posted
    jane     18th Sep 2009
  • 10/10 - love it - hope it works for you!
    Sarah     18th Sep 2009
  • so clever and brave hope you get your cover or other commissions! you deserve it!
    Maya     18th Sep 2009
  • Love it...
    shaun smith     18th Sep 2009
  • Fantastic! Found your blog via the creative review website, hope you get somewhere with CR! Best wishes.
    david messer     18th Sep 2009
  • Terrific idea, brilliantly chronicled & totally inspirational illustrations. If i hear of any suitable projects i will email. Best Wishes.
    Midge Cunliffe     18th Sep 2009
  • You are everything I love about an illustrator! I hope CR features an article on you next month!!!
    Holly Ellison     19th Sep 2009
  • 100 for effort! Nice!
    Patrick Tan     22nd Sep 2009
  • Hey Johanna; I work at Creative Review - and I just wanted to take the time to say well done - the issue looked fantastic! Id have loved to have been able to slyly keep the copy for myself!
    Clemma R     22nd Sep 2009
  • Your Work is F**CKING AMAZING. SO DREAMY and MAGICAL and VERY INSPIRING. Thanks for cheering up a dull day!
    Luke Agio     24th Sep 2009
  • Lovely work and a fantastic promotion effort, I hope you get commissioned, you richly deserve it.
    Kirsty Hall     15th Oct 2009
  • Congrats on your recent coverage. I have a crowd of designers, would be great if you could join us, check us out and let me know what you think. http://blur-designs.net
    Mark Batup     16th Oct 2009
  • Fantastic work, has made my friday, thanks xx
    Kate Saker     16th Oct 2009
  • Beautiful work. Great to see a Scottish talent doing such amazing things.
    Rufus Spiller     16th Oct 2009
  • Clap! Clap! Clap! Love love love everything - the work (of course), the process, the wit and the humor. You are a genius!!!
    Denis Fuentes     26th Oct 2009
  • Noice! Thanks for sharing :)
    Willa Gebbie     25th Nov 2009
  • congratulations, you are well worth it! I love your work :)
    virvla     25th Nov 2009
  • The very best is that you do have the work to back up your marketing skill. Congratulations!
    Bruno     25th Nov 2009
  • Generally I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this post really forced me to do so, Excellent post!
    TSwain     2nd Feb 2010

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