Darren Di Lieto
@darrendilieto.com
Creative Director at Hireillo · 🔗🌳 linktr.ee/dilieto
My laptop case was looking a little worse for wear, so I treated it to a shiny new one! Which means cracking out a fresh batch of stickers. 😃 How many artists do you recognise and can name?
February 9, 2026 at 11:21 AM
My laptop case was looking a little worse for wear, so I treated it to a shiny new one! Which means cracking out a fresh batch of stickers. 😃 How many artists do you recognise and can name?
I wrote this as a script for a video on why artists should have an identifiable illustration style, but who has time to record videos these days? So, I’ve turned it into a blog post instead. Check it out on Hireillo!
www.hireillo.com/blog/one-sty...
www.hireillo.com/blog/one-sty...
One Style to Connect Them All: Why You Need a Unified Visual Voice
Artwork by Torbjörn Källström Hello, Darren here. If you’re reading this, you’re probably an illustrator, designer, visual thinker, doodler-of-doodles, or some delightful mixture of all three. Today I...
www.hireillo.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:53 PM
I wrote this as a script for a video on why artists should have an identifiable illustration style, but who has time to record videos these days? So, I’ve turned it into a blog post instead. Check it out on Hireillo!
www.hireillo.com/blog/one-sty...
www.hireillo.com/blog/one-sty...
Talked comics, industry, and real life with @jasonpiperberg.bsky.social
👉 youtu.be/DJPJ5Z-g5WU
Potential podcast: 300 DPI 🎙️ Thoughts?
👉 youtu.be/DJPJ5Z-g5WU
Potential podcast: 300 DPI 🎙️ Thoughts?
January 29, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Talked comics, industry, and real life with @jasonpiperberg.bsky.social
👉 youtu.be/DJPJ5Z-g5WU
Potential podcast: 300 DPI 🎙️ Thoughts?
👉 youtu.be/DJPJ5Z-g5WU
Potential podcast: 300 DPI 🎙️ Thoughts?
We made a podcast! 🎙️🙌
For the very first episode of 300 DPI, Darren Di Lieto turns the mic on his co-host Jason Piperberg. Jason talks about making a living in comics, building popular digital brushes, and shares his thoughts on pay, creative ownership and how AI is reshaping the industry.
🎙️ youtu.be/DJPJ5Z-g5WU
🎙️ youtu.be/DJPJ5Z-g5WU
300 DPI: The Reality of Making a Living in Comics
YouTube video by Hireillo
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 3:59 PM
We made a podcast! 🎙️🙌
It’s been a minute since my last update, so here are a couple of photos taken by second-year student Poppy Frith of me reviewing portfolios at last week’s Industry Ready event at DMU. It was great to be invited back again this year and to check out the students’ work.
January 21, 2026 at 2:34 PM
It’s been a minute since my last update, so here are a couple of photos taken by second-year student Poppy Frith of me reviewing portfolios at last week’s Industry Ready event at DMU. It was great to be invited back again this year and to check out the students’ work.
I had a nice little chat with Tom Froses about the State of Illustration and the industry in general, if you fancy checking it out. 🙂
This week, our creative director @darrendilieto.com joins @mrtomfroese.bsky.social on the Thoughts on Illustration podcast. Together, they have an honest conversation about confidence, pricing, late payments, mental health, and the quiet pressures that illustrators face today. youtu.be/UzMmz2o7y9g
The State of Illustration Report | Interview with Darren Di Lieto of Hireillo
YouTube video by Mr. Tom Froese
youtu.be
December 31, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I had a nice little chat with Tom Froses about the State of Illustration and the industry in general, if you fancy checking it out. 🙂
Love this document!
If you're in need of an artist contract template that's suitable and customizable for a wide variety of work, check out this Ultimate Artist Contract template from @hireillo.com
2846be00fbf75e36288b423d67083d35.us-east-1.resend-links.com/CL0/https:%2...
2846be00fbf75e36288b423d67083d35.us-east-1.resend-links.com/CL0/https:%2...
The Ultimate Artist Contract Template
What is the Ultimate Artist Contract?The Ultimate Artist Contract is a specially created contract template that you can tailor to different commissions without it taking hours of work and becoming an ...
2846be00fbf75e36288b423d67083d35.us-east-1.resend-links.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Love this document!
Reposted by Darren Di Lieto
December 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Darren Di Lieto
This week, our creative director @darrendilieto.com joins @mrtomfroese.bsky.social on the Thoughts on Illustration podcast. Together, they have an honest conversation about confidence, pricing, late payments, mental health, and the quiet pressures that illustrators face today. youtu.be/UzMmz2o7y9g
The State of Illustration Report | Interview with Darren Di Lieto of Hireillo
YouTube video by Mr. Tom Froese
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 1:32 PM
This week, our creative director @darrendilieto.com joins @mrtomfroese.bsky.social on the Thoughts on Illustration podcast. Together, they have an honest conversation about confidence, pricing, late payments, mental health, and the quiet pressures that illustrators face today. youtu.be/UzMmz2o7y9g
Reposted by Darren Di Lieto
We had a smashing time at Thought Bubble this year! 😃
November 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
We had a smashing time at Thought Bubble this year! 😃
Reposted by Darren Di Lieto
Whether you are an artist or someone who hires artists, the 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 template is perfect for you!
· Customize for various jobs
· Reuse with future projects
· Document the agreements between parties
· Enjoy peace of mind knowing you are protected
hireillo.gumroad.com/l/artist-con...
· Customize for various jobs
· Reuse with future projects
· Document the agreements between parties
· Enjoy peace of mind knowing you are protected
hireillo.gumroad.com/l/artist-con...
November 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Whether you are an artist or someone who hires artists, the 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 template is perfect for you!
· Customize for various jobs
· Reuse with future projects
· Document the agreements between parties
· Enjoy peace of mind knowing you are protected
hireillo.gumroad.com/l/artist-con...
· Customize for various jobs
· Reuse with future projects
· Document the agreements between parties
· Enjoy peace of mind knowing you are protected
hireillo.gumroad.com/l/artist-con...
Reposted by Darren Di Lieto
The new State of Illustration 2025 report from @darrendilieto.com has some good news—and some tough news—for illustrators.
www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/20...
www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/20...
State of Illustration 2025: Anxiety Rising, Income Is Not
The annual survey from Hireillo (Hire an Illustrator) has released its annual State of Illustration 2025 report, drawing on survey responses from 1,500 illustrators worldwide. The report offers a snap...
www.dailycartoonist.com
August 26, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The new State of Illustration 2025 report from @darrendilieto.com has some good news—and some tough news—for illustrators.
www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/20...
www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/20...
Over the weekend at Mil-D-Con, I watched actor Mark Williams (known for The Fast Show and Father Brown) participate in a Q&A session. He certainly doesn't suffer fools gladly, and it was delightful to watch. 🙂
October 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Over the weekend at Mil-D-Con, I watched actor Mark Williams (known for The Fast Show and Father Brown) participate in a Q&A session. He certainly doesn't suffer fools gladly, and it was delightful to watch. 🙂
Twelve 12x18-inch prints, and I'm out of matte black ink. They were fresh cartridges, yikes. 😱 ... Luckily, I have more ink arriving tomorrow.
September 30, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Twelve 12x18-inch prints, and I'm out of matte black ink. They were fresh cartridges, yikes. 😱 ... Luckily, I have more ink arriving tomorrow.
It's my forty-third birthday, yay! 🥳 Time doesn't half fly. Shown is a fun little gift my fantastic partner got me. 🙂 Now it's time for cake and lots of it! 😋
September 25, 2025 at 2:38 PM
It's my forty-third birthday, yay! 🥳 Time doesn't half fly. Shown is a fun little gift my fantastic partner got me. 🙂 Now it's time for cake and lots of it! 😋
I'm sorry for the radio silence. I've been swamped and have been working on a top-secret project, while also trying to go to the gym more regularly. Here's a photo I took during a recent trip to London.
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I'm sorry for the radio silence. I've been swamped and have been working on a top-secret project, while also trying to go to the gym more regularly. Here's a photo I took during a recent trip to London.
Reposted by Darren Di Lieto
We hope you're having a good week! Yesterday, we (re)published an interview with art director @tommykane.bsky.social from the 2007 offline archive. Tommy is a brilliant artist and a remarkable person; some might even call him a genius! Enjoy. 😁
🔗 www.hireillo.com/blog/tommy-k...
🔗 www.hireillo.com/blog/tommy-k...
September 18, 2025 at 9:04 AM
We hope you're having a good week! Yesterday, we (re)published an interview with art director @tommykane.bsky.social from the 2007 offline archive. Tommy is a brilliant artist and a remarkable person; some might even call him a genius! Enjoy. 😁
🔗 www.hireillo.com/blog/tommy-k...
🔗 www.hireillo.com/blog/tommy-k...
I had an interesting chat with @mrtomfroese.bsky.social yesterday for his Thoughts on Illustration podcast. I'm looking forward to the episode, which I expect will be released sometime in October/November. 🎙️
September 17, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I had an interesting chat with @mrtomfroese.bsky.social yesterday for his Thoughts on Illustration podcast. I'm looking forward to the episode, which I expect will be released sometime in October/November. 🎙️
Morgan is selling a few books I picked up on Kickstarter several years ago. They have been sitting on my shelf since then.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15732093...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15732093...
September 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Morgan is selling a few books I picked up on Kickstarter several years ago. They have been sitting on my shelf since then.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15732093...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15732093...
Reposted by Darren Di Lieto
If you're an artist seeking a contract for your next commission, the Ultimate Artist Contract is perfect for you! 👉 shop.hireillo.com/l/artist-con...
Buy once and get free lifetime updates! The lawyer-reviewed template includes terms that prohibit AI (LLM) training.
Buy once and get free lifetime updates! The lawyer-reviewed template includes terms that prohibit AI (LLM) training.
September 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
If you're an artist seeking a contract for your next commission, the Ultimate Artist Contract is perfect for you! 👉 shop.hireillo.com/l/artist-con...
Buy once and get free lifetime updates! The lawyer-reviewed template includes terms that prohibit AI (LLM) training.
Buy once and get free lifetime updates! The lawyer-reviewed template includes terms that prohibit AI (LLM) training.
Stop doom-scrolling and enjoy nature. Maybe touch some grass? There's always tomorrow for work and social media. I took this photo of the ducks and birds at Bradgate Park near Leicester.
September 6, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Stop doom-scrolling and enjoy nature. Maybe touch some grass? There's always tomorrow for work and social media. I took this photo of the ducks and birds at Bradgate Park near Leicester.
It's nice to see that the State of Illustration is getting some coverage. 😃 Thank you downthetubes.net (John Freeman) and @dailycartoonist.bsky.social (Alan Gardner)! 🖖 #stateofillustration #weareillustrators #illosurvey
1. bit.ly/dtt-state7
2. bit.ly/tdc-state7
1. bit.ly/dtt-state7
2. bit.ly/tdc-state7
September 2, 2025 at 2:03 PM
It's nice to see that the State of Illustration is getting some coverage. 😃 Thank you downthetubes.net (John Freeman) and @dailycartoonist.bsky.social (Alan Gardner)! 🖖 #stateofillustration #weareillustrators #illosurvey
1. bit.ly/dtt-state7
2. bit.ly/tdc-state7
1. bit.ly/dtt-state7
2. bit.ly/tdc-state7
I host livestreams now. 😃
Join us for a livestream Q&A session with US attorney Kiff Stahle on September 10th! There will be a curated live chat where you can ask all of your pressing IP-related legal questions. Tickets are $20 and limited, so be sure to reserve your spot now! 🔗 kiff-sep25.eventbrite.co.uk
August 28, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I host livestreams now. 😃
That's me done emailing everyone who said they wanted to be told about the latest State of Illustration report. If you didn't get an email from me, please reach out or subscribe to my Gumroad list. I think I've earned the right to take a five-minute break. I might go for a walk. 😁 shop.hireillo.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
That's me done emailing everyone who said they wanted to be told about the latest State of Illustration report. If you didn't get an email from me, please reach out or subscribe to my Gumroad list. I think I've earned the right to take a five-minute break. I might go for a walk. 😁 shop.hireillo.com
Over the bank holiday weekend, I worked with four clients, helping them with their budgets and finding the right illustrators. It's a lot of behind-the-scenes work, but it's rewarding to connect people and help them earn a living.
August 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Over the bank holiday weekend, I worked with four clients, helping them with their budgets and finding the right illustrators. It's a lot of behind-the-scenes work, but it's rewarding to connect people and help them earn a living.