how does someone become a freelance artist specifically a children's book illustrator?

Answer 1

If you're in Canada, check out the "Canadian Writers Market" book. It'll have all of the possible publications, and it's updated yearly. If you're in USA, there must be something of the sort, but I couldn't tell you what it's called.

Check out http://www.wwforums.com - you can talk writers, so maybe you can team up.

Check the libraries or bookstores for books on freelancing. I know a little about freelance writing, and I can't imagine it's much different. I have one for writing that's just amazing, called, "Getting Started as a Freelance Writer" by Robert W. Bly.

Try to find someone out there who IS a freelance artist, maybe over the Internet, maybe through someone you know, and talk to them about the business. If that fails, try calling up some of the children's publishing houses, and tell them you're a student interested in the business - maybe they could answer some of your questions.

Ask around, you never know where you'll find the right connection.