From Taipei to New York, from inexperienced art school graduate to in-demand illustrator of dozens of children’s books, Benrei Huang shares a wealth of career advice for aspiring illustrators.

Have you dreamed of becoming an illustrator, or going overseas to further develop your illustration career? Are your lack experience and connections the only things holding you back? Do you have the art skills but don’t know how to construct a good story? If you have been plagued by any of these questions, fear not, experienced professional illustrator Benrei Huang is here to show you the way!

Huang’s career guide is divided into two parts. The first part narrates her experience of moving to America to pursue her dream of becoming a professional illustrator. She describes everything from learning how American art agents operate, to preparing an attractive portfolio, to discovering the channels through which to approach publishers, to how to stand out from other illustrators being considered for a job. Huang’s distillation of her rich experiences will teach readers the principles at work in the American art and illustration market.

The second part of the book is devoted to the art of illustration, revealing the tips, techniques, and approaches that have proven effective in Huang’s nearly two-decade career. How do you create an illustration to perfectly complement a nursery rhyme without overshadowing the impact of the text? How do you avoid racial and gender stereotyping when designing characters, a major taboo in the American market? What are the important differences between working with traditional and digital art tools? How do you flexibly mix them so that each highlights the strengths of the other?

The Way of the Illustrator is a dreams-come-true story from an accomplished professional, and a not-to-be-missed guidebook to the American illustration market. It is the perfect book for aspiring illustrators, whether they are mid-career, just starting out, or simply considering illustration as a career choice.