Tim Easley

Art Director · Illustrator

4 articles · Apr 2025 — Nov 2025

Quotes

  • “If you're 'hustling for scraps', it sounds like full-time freelancing might not be for you.”
  • “The design industry is still very much school > college > uni > junior > midweight > senior, so most people at each stage are around the same age.”

Articles & interviews

  • Should you give up on freelancing?

    Creative Boom · Nov 13, 2025

    Creative Boom’s advice column by Tom May explores whether struggling freelancers should give up or persist. Through insights from illustrators, designers, and creative professionals, the article argues that freelancing challenges are common and often require mindset shifts, diversification, and patience rather than quitting. It encourages readers to balance financial stability with creative fulfillment and to redefine success on their own terms.

    Keith Dodds StudioStudio Slatemother
  • Illustrators Face Unprecedented Hardships in Current Market

    Creative Boom · Oct 23, 2025

    The article by Tom May explores the severe downturn facing illustrators in 2025, with many professionals reporting drastically reduced commissions, shrinking budgets, and widespread client ghosting. Interviewees cite AI-generated art, economic pressures, and social media algorithm changes as key factors. Some illustrators are pivoting to design, teaching, or other creative work to survive.

    Creative BoomJuliana Castro Studioillustration
  • Navigating Ageism in Creative Careers at 40: Practical Tips

    Creative Boom · Oct 8, 2025

    Written by Tom May for Creative Boom, this advice article explores how creatives over 40 can navigate ageism in the design and creative industries. Through insights from designers, illustrators, and mentors, it highlights both the challenges of bias and the advantages of experience, confidence, and resilience that come with age.

    Eertmoed Studiocareer_advice
  • Illustrators Counter AI Dolls with #StarterPackNoAI Movement

    Creative Boom · Apr 17, 2025

    Creative Boom reports on the #StarterPackNoAI movement, a social media trend where illustrators create hand-drawn versions of AI-generated 'doll' images to celebrate human creativity. The campaign pushes back against the rise of AI art, emphasizing individuality, authenticity, and environmental awareness. Artists from around the world share their perspectives on why human-made art remains vital in an increasingly automated creative landscape.

    illustration