You must have mastery over your medium, whether it is digital (Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, Photoshop) or traditional (ink, watercolor, oils). This includes understanding anatomy, perspective, color theory, and composition. You cannot break the rules effectively until you can follow them flawlessly.
"This piece serves as a reminder of the primary requirement that no school can teach: the audacity to create your own ground to stand on. An illustrator does not wait for a path to appear. They draw it into existence, one step at a time, often while looking down into the abyss of uncertainty. The requirement is not just to draw—it is to build." requirements for illustrator
Modern illustrators must bridge the gap between hand-drawn artistry and digital output. You must have mastery over your medium, whether
Written visualization (Manifesto)