Branding for the Artist

So you’re thinking of getting your branding down? Whether it’s tweaking your artist identity or doing a complete rebrand. Here are some tips for making your branding solid and cohesive.

Before you start branding yourself, you want to sit and think about how you want people to see you and your work. Think about the direction you want to go into, what kind of work do you want to be known for? What kind of connection do you want employers to make when they see your logo? Is there something in your field of work that is recognizable that’ll make you stand out from the crowds? Do you want to go by your name or a pen name? Are these things appropriate for your line of work? Or will it seem out of place when you are marketing yourself These are all things to consider before even making your way to the drawing board. 

When you have a general idea of the direction that you want to go into, and how you want to market yourself then it’s time to dive into the visual aspect of your branding. You want to think about visual language, design, and the mood you want to set. A good start is to look at the body of work that you’ve already produced. Is there a color that you use more than others? A style in shape language you lean on? Is your art more rigid or organic? It’s okay if you feel like your work is all over the place! Even if you think it is, when you compile all your work together, there are more connections than you think there are, and doing this will help you in your direction of branding.

Now, when you have your audience and direction down, you want to think about your logo. You want your logo to be simple, readable, and recognizable. It can be something as simple as just your name! But even if you go with something as simple as your name you still want to be recognizable. Think of some fonts that might go with your industry, something that’ll read that you are working in the market you want to go for. If you’re going for children’s markets you might want something more organic and playful, while if you’re going into an older audience you might want something more mature and structured. If you decide to have an illustrated logo you want to apply the things mentioned above as well. The big thing to keep in mind always is ‘Is this readable?’ and ‘Does this appeal to the market that I want to go into?’ Even if you don’t feel like a professional, doing this will separate you from a beginner and someone who feels like they are in the industry. 

To share an example, My logo here, Is of a fox. I did it in a style to make it feel like is was a lino cut out. To show that my work is geared towards publications and to pay homage to early printmakers, which is where I take a lot of my inspiration from! 

You can even take your logo a step further, as on my website, I have my logo animated, which can make you stand out from other artists! 

A great way to organize your branding to make sure that it feels cohesive and fluid is a branding board. A branding board can be as big or as small as you want. It should have all the colors, typefaces, and designs that you want to implement with your look. It’s okay if things change or switch out, even if you feel like it’s a lot in the beginning! That’s okay you’re figuring yourself out and navigating in the world of art! There is bound to be some trial and error!

Here is an example of my branding board, it has changed throughout my college experience many times until I felt that it was where I wanted it to be.

And lastly, you want to make sure your presentations, whether it be for a class or a portfolio presentation stay consistent, use the branding you have made for yourself for these! It can be as simple as your colors and fonts or maybe add some infographic elements to tie it in with your branding! It’ll help recruiters and employees see the connections between your overall branding and work. And make you seem more professional.

We hope these tips with branding help you on your artistic journey and good luck on your branding endeavors!!

The HoneyDripper is the Savannah College of Art and Design’s juried comics and illustration blog, dedicated to publishing, promoting, and showcasing the finest in student work.​