Gouache paint is a thick watercolour paint, that is opaque. It is great for flat areas of colour - by flat I mean even, no patchiness, completely covering the surface it is on. 
Here are some tips from my years of painting with gouache, that I hope you will find useful.


1.You don't need a fancy paint palette.
Squeeze out a little blob of paint onto a shiny surface - a printed postcard, or a plate or a paint palette (plastic or ceramic) wet a brush, a size 6 round brush is good for this, and add a little water to the paint, mix with the brush until it is the consistency of single cream. ​

I've been a member for years. It is tough being a freelance illustrator, and it can be a very isolating experience, especially if you don't work in a shared studio where you would have other artists to talk to about problems.
The AOI support, promote, and protect illustrators in many ways.
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They provide help and advice with legal matters, contracts, licences, price negotiations etc.
They run provide seminars and write articles on things that relate to illustrators.

You can have a portfolio on their site, where commissioners can find you.
They run portfolio consultations where you can get advice on the direction you should go in, what elements could be missing from your portfolio, etc.
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They do a fantastic job at campaigning for illustrators on topics such as copyright

The AOI also advertise meet ups for illustrators which take place all over the country.
Have a look at the Association of Illustrators here.

There iBadges by Jo Brown, Illustrator, who DOESN'T Work for FREE.

I created these pin badges initially for my own amusement, but they are proving very popular, particularly artists and makers of all kinds, and the self-employed.
Somehow writing it on a badge reinforces the message, and if someone comments on it, it starts a conversation.

Creatives are often asked to do something 'for free' by a relative, a friend or in business -
though they don't frame it that way - more likely something like:

'It'll be great exposure! '
'You will be seen by all our followers',
'it's a great opportunity',
'-it's for a good cause... '
'it'll only take you five minutes' (!) 
​'We have no budget...'
'but you do it because you love it...'
Or, they can minimise the effort by beginning  'Just...' as if the thing asked for takes no effort at all.

Why I Don't Work For Free (and neither should you)

1. Art is work.
It takes time and skill, and effort.
Years of training, development and practice. It could be a 'quick sketch' but years of drawing and choice making have got you to the point where you can do that sketch.
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2. Just because you love something, it doesn't mean it doesn't have value.
You wouldn't ask a plumber to work for free because they love plumbing, would you?

(there is a third reason, see end of post)

So with all these things in mind,  I created my badge I Don't Work For Free.

I had photos of it in my images that I used to apply to markets last year, and it led to a really fun collaboration.

The Illustrators' Fair organisers commissioned me to provide badges for stallholders in Summer 2023.
It was great seeing everyone wearing them, and sharing the message on social media. 
In December the range of self employed artist badges expanded to Art Is Work, I Am Working and my favourite I Draw, You Pay.

 I have other ranges of badges, not just for the self employed, but lots of them have messages. The messages are different depending on the viewer, I think, you can put your own spin on it. 
I am particularly fond of Not Even Listening.
Buy my badges here.


3.If you needed it, yet another reason you shouldn't work for free.
Nobody values something they didn't have to pay for.
If you work for free, the person will not value your work.
​They won't want to pay for it next time either.