[Editor’s Note – In collaboration with Mark Kaufman, Illustration Age is bringing back the popular comic series for illustrators, I Drew This Thing. To prepare for the relaunch we thought it would be nice to take a 3-part look back at some of the greatest hits in this collection. Please enjoy Mark’s always hilarious, sometimes painful look at the life of an illustrator and get ready for more awesome to come.]
The short-lived illustration series I Drew This Thing was originally commissioned in 2011 for the (now discontinued) Escape From Illustration Island blog. I had a blast doing these, so I was delighted when Thomas James approached me about doing a monthly reboot for Illustration Age. You can read my original outline for the series below. Five years on I think these still resonate with anyone who picks up a pencil for a living. I look forward to writing and drawing a few more.
Illustrators. You know them. You love them. You’d like to hire them, but, you know…
I Drew This Thing is my feeble attempt to delve into the illustration game and those brave souls who practice the craft. Like actors, writers, and sad clown paintings, illustrators bare their souls for all to see, and what do we have to show for it besides superior hand skills and a second job? Creativity, passion, and a misplaced sense of insecurity and self-doubt that’s what.
Say it loud. Say it proud. I’m an illustrator dammit! And I also teach.
Later weirdos,
Check back for Volume 2 and stay tuned for the relaunch of I Drew This Thing! You can also get your grubby hands on one of these as a print or other product here.
ILLUSTRATION AGE 
Great! I’m an illustrator… :(
Wonderful! I’m nothing of that kind. But I see colours when I’m listening to music and every word has an own face and colour. And I’m German. But no illustrator. Which is a shame. Best wishes :-)
that’s called synesthesia. it’s a neuralogical condition
I know – I was just to lazy to check the spelling :-)
Too lazy. ..
the day I understood that all I wanted in this world was to illustrate Ideas, was my lesson of a business world. If you do one without the other, you are on the road to doom. The business world has tools that can help the illustrator to do what he most want (ilustrate) and earn money. Is it easy? No!I do think Art schools should take the business and marketing tools more seriously, because in the end, the image created by the illustrator has to be purchase, and that it isn’t art, it’s business marketing and sales, and all those have tools aren’t taught in the art world. And then being an artist, creative, illustrator it’s each time more and more related to poverty.Sad and wrong conclusion.
Hahhaaa, I love these! :D I am a graphic designer that has been tinkering with illustration here and there, and well…it’s not easy :P But it’s amazing :)
Top one looks like my CV!!! Most of all I do it for the awesomeness.
Oh my, the money,sex, drawing. Made me laugh out! Genious.
It’s like a cheap copy of david shirgley
Oh, you drawing?? Wow, you have to have a lot of time. Sometimes, I draw pictures. … and I listen and nod and a fist is in my Pocket….
sehr gut! da steckt viel wahrheit drin
“What’s the difference between an Illustrator and a large pizza?”
I’m not an illustrator, but coming from the Arts I can still totally relate! Oh the quizzical looks I get sometimes…
x Motte
http://mottesblog.blogspot.com/