There is a picture I made in my portfolio of a Crocodile character that I really love, The character is a powerful monster, but meek and likeable, gentle and awkward. I think I love it because there is so much packed into the image.
I have a collection of images that I keep in a folder called subject, these are images that I would like to do a version of, and the consists of a lot of the standard things that a picture book illustrator would need to draw. Parties, classes, museums, nature scenes.Maybe I’ll try combining a bunch of them into single images.
One thing that I think is super important about our portfolios in the digital age, is it needs to be easily accessible in all times. You can get to mine through all my social media and even my email signature.
A question i have about portfolios is: What are the objective qualities in a portfolio that makes editors or art directors notice?
Hi everyone! I'm Sophie Benmouyal, a children's book illustration from Montreal, Canada. (I used to work on all kind of illustrations gigs. Now I want to commit to children's books.)
The question is interesting. I'm beginning my 4th year as a freelance illustrator. But I'm a full-time illustrator since the end of last year. Before that, I was also working as a freelance graphic designer.
For the 2 to 3 first years of my illustration career, I was searching for my style. I tried several approach. My portfolio showed different kind of clients' work. Last year, I began to understand where I want to go and to commit to it. I changed the way I saw my portfolio and what I showed in it (I think I was also quitting my "graphic designer" way of thinking. At the moment, I'm trying to add more of what I like. I don't show all of my client's work anymore. Just the type of illustration I want to do again. There's also a lot of personal work.
Since I like to explore a lot of techniques, I now use my online portfolio as a way to remember where I want to go and how I want to draw things. An exercise I want to do eventually is to print some of my favorite work, paste it into a notebook and write beside each image what I like.
So I think that my favourite thing in my portfolio is my most recent actually. It feels like something has actually clicked with the way that I work. My intuitive nature with the brushes I pick has set in and I feel that maybe my style is cementing itself more maybe?! I always thinking about something that Riley said, when looking at work would you recognise who it was by without their name being on there and this is something that I am aiming for.. whether I am there or not remains to be seen but definitely a goal!
That latest scene is great, there is a kind of look that is emerging which is a ton of fun and the lettering is so accomplished. Your style makes me think of a point an click adventure game, it feels like I can pick up and interact with the objects. FUN!
Hi Kim! I saw your work on your Instagram and on the MATS Facebook group. Really like what you did for for MATS. The texture and your color palette on Coco Moloko is unique. Your last piece for Dodo island is really fun! I understand what you mean about "something has actually clicked". It happens to me last year. Instead of looking at others' work and try to fit in, it felt like I had finally found my style and I know what I truly want to do. I think you are on the right path for your goal!
Wonderful topic! Something I’m going to have to learn more about. I’m just a dance teacher turned illustrator childrens book author, still trying to get my bearings. I’d love any advice at all! Thanks! Love your posts!
Yes! That’s my go to! I’m so glad it helped! Think about it: I helped you & you’re helping me with my illustration dreams… what a great thing we have going here! Thanks for this!
💼 My favorite thing in my portfolio is my ghost forest and flower spreads. I had fun playing with negative space to indicate the ghost. I've also been experimenting with brayers and acrylic ink, and I love how the trees turned out. I also like the energy the small splatters of paint created in the flower piece.
🕳 I would like to add even more outdoor scenes using the same techniques. I enjoyed both the process and the way it looks :)
👋 How can I learn to better evaluate my own work? How do I manage creating picture book dummies, art for social media, experimentations, and portfolio worthy pieces?
I love the clarity you have about what you love, the ghost pieces are really sophisticated!
I happend to hear of a way to better evaluate your own work, and the ‘trick’ really is to evaluate the work of others, that’s where you build the evaluation muscles to evaluate your own work!
Remember to look for two things; 1. What you like 2. What you wish was better.
💼 I think my current favourite (it changes all the time) is an illustrative representation of a special group of friends; it's the three of sitting on one friend's sofa, which is our 'safe space' where we talk about so many different things. It's not a literal representation of us or the space, as there are lots of additional or changed details, but the emotional response it elicited in my friends was so powerful to me and the level of response I'd love to elicit from strangers in times to come. [all that said, no idea if it's the technically best piece or one that would be in any way appreciated by art directors!]
🕳 I am feeling quite good about my portfolio and that it has enough of the kind of work I'm looking to get. I think it could usefully have more children and work that would be suited to children's publishing, but I also think I'm fine to concentrate more on the grown-ups for the moment.
👋 I am constantly wavering between whether to just have the single page with all work on, or separate categories. Currently I have nine categories and the front page has a selection from all of them. I hear points for doing it both ways. I feel like I may be leaning more toward a single page again and keeping it much more curated. But then, what do you do with the old stuff? Keep it on a non-public page, or just on your desktop? Put all work beyond a certain age on stock sites? Something else?
I’m going to have to see this sofa scene! , May you find the work you want to do, I always feel the portfolio is like the prototype of the work that we will be doing!
About portfolio, I prefer the single page, and I think I still have 50 pages on mine, I want to get it down to 12, my plan for doing that is making new illustrations, that combine the best from what is currently there, like drawing a zoo scene and taking out 5 of the animal things… I’m still some ways away from that goal though!
I saw what I thought was an excellent portfolio recently, and it was just one page of 35 images, plus huge client list on the about page: www.kata-illustration.com
Same question here about how to organize my portfolio. Categories, front page, etc... There was a discussion about it on an episode from Three Point Perspective. In their opinion, less is better. Present your best work, not everything. For example, don't put a sketches or exploration page if it is not representative of what you do.
I would love for you to check it out and give me any feedback you might have.
Long story short, I’m self taught and fairly new. My passion found me at 38 and i’ll be celebrating 3 years in this field soon. So far i’ve illustrated 2 books that will be released in 2023. I’m actively looking to be represented by an agency, in fact I got everything set up and started sending my portfolio out this last week. 😬
• my favorite thing about my portfolio is that i think it covers the things that should be in a children’s book portfolio, for example: diversity, different body types, animals, classrooms, friendships etc.
•I would like to add more cute, delightful, playful illustrations to it.
Can I reserve my question about portfolios till after your feedback?
Hi Cheryl, I did take a look at your portfolio, here are some things I liked:
1. I love your color scheme and textures.
2. I love your depiction of a classroom
3. I love the scene with diversity and masks, specifically I like the confidence you have in using flat colors with textures .
When I ask art directors which portfolio pieces of mine stood out to them they always mention the same character sheet that depicts Cleopatra in a variety of poses, so i think it’s useful to include a piece like that.
I would also suggest that for your profile picture you use a closeup, I think the photo needs to say, I’m approachable and fun to work with.
I would also adjust the tone of the from one of longing, to one of service. I feel that confidence goes a long way.
Good luck with sending your work out, the feedback you’re going to get is going to be so valuable!
Hi Ren, I think the portfolio is primarily a website these days. A secondary portfolio would be something like instagram.
I’ve not tried printed iterations myself, though my agent does print out some images to bring to book fairs, as for postcards, as I work in Kidlit , the #kitlitartpostcard hashtag has worked really well for me on twitter
I think it’s okay to have a little bit of text in a portfolio, I hardly have any. And ultimately the right audience for your portfolio can pick up on all the unsaid things, like silent nods.
I try to fill my images with these knowing nods.
These are just my thoughts but I think what’s cool is that everyone’s portfolio is unique to them:)
Hi I’m Adam, picturebook illustrator.
There is a picture I made in my portfolio of a Crocodile character that I really love, The character is a powerful monster, but meek and likeable, gentle and awkward. I think I love it because there is so much packed into the image.
I have a collection of images that I keep in a folder called subject, these are images that I would like to do a version of, and the consists of a lot of the standard things that a picture book illustrator would need to draw. Parties, classes, museums, nature scenes.Maybe I’ll try combining a bunch of them into single images.
One thing that I think is super important about our portfolios in the digital age, is it needs to be easily accessible in all times. You can get to mine through all my social media and even my email signature.
A question i have about portfolios is: What are the objective qualities in a portfolio that makes editors or art directors notice?
Hi everyone! I'm Sophie Benmouyal, a children's book illustration from Montreal, Canada. (I used to work on all kind of illustrations gigs. Now I want to commit to children's books.)
The question is interesting. I'm beginning my 4th year as a freelance illustrator. But I'm a full-time illustrator since the end of last year. Before that, I was also working as a freelance graphic designer.
For the 2 to 3 first years of my illustration career, I was searching for my style. I tried several approach. My portfolio showed different kind of clients' work. Last year, I began to understand where I want to go and to commit to it. I changed the way I saw my portfolio and what I showed in it (I think I was also quitting my "graphic designer" way of thinking. At the moment, I'm trying to add more of what I like. I don't show all of my client's work anymore. Just the type of illustration I want to do again. There's also a lot of personal work.
Since I like to explore a lot of techniques, I now use my online portfolio as a way to remember where I want to go and how I want to draw things. An exercise I want to do eventually is to print some of my favorite work, paste it into a notebook and write beside each image what I like.
I find using what we like is a great way to clarify our voice. Who knows where our tastes come from, but the make us unique!
Hi I'm Kim, I have spoken to most of you through MATS at some point I am sure!
I am new to digital art by a year and am looking to move full time from teaching in to illustration, especially kidlit.
I have set up a website www.kimberleyadams.co.uk and have an instagram www.instagram.com/kimberleyadamscreates which I use a my portfolios but I am still trying to gain an agent and a bigger following... it takes time I know sigh! haha!
So I think that my favourite thing in my portfolio is my most recent actually. It feels like something has actually clicked with the way that I work. My intuitive nature with the brushes I pick has set in and I feel that maybe my style is cementing itself more maybe?! I always thinking about something that Riley said, when looking at work would you recognise who it was by without their name being on there and this is something that I am aiming for.. whether I am there or not remains to be seen but definitely a goal!
That latest scene is great, there is a kind of look that is emerging which is a ton of fun and the lettering is so accomplished. Your style makes me think of a point an click adventure game, it feels like I can pick up and interact with the objects. FUN!
Thank you Adam, that's really kind of you to say that!
Hi Kim! I saw your work on your Instagram and on the MATS Facebook group. Really like what you did for for MATS. The texture and your color palette on Coco Moloko is unique. Your last piece for Dodo island is really fun! I understand what you mean about "something has actually clicked". It happens to me last year. Instead of looking at others' work and try to fit in, it felt like I had finally found my style and I know what I truly want to do. I think you are on the right path for your goal!
Thank you Sophie, and also super super well done on your signing!! SO EXCITING!
Wonderful topic! Something I’m going to have to learn more about. I’m just a dance teacher turned illustrator childrens book author, still trying to get my bearings. I’d love any advice at all! Thanks! Love your posts!
Talara did you once recommended ‘constructive test’ to me, that was so good, and I still do it!
Yes! That’s my go to! I’m so glad it helped! Think about it: I helped you & you’re helping me with my illustration dreams… what a great thing we have going here! Thanks for this!
Hi everyone,
I'm Rachel Michelle Wilson, a children's book author-illustrator.
Portfolio: rachelwonders.com
💼 My favorite thing in my portfolio is my ghost forest and flower spreads. I had fun playing with negative space to indicate the ghost. I've also been experimenting with brayers and acrylic ink, and I love how the trees turned out. I also like the energy the small splatters of paint created in the flower piece.
🕳 I would like to add even more outdoor scenes using the same techniques. I enjoyed both the process and the way it looks :)
👋 How can I learn to better evaluate my own work? How do I manage creating picture book dummies, art for social media, experimentations, and portfolio worthy pieces?
I love the clarity you have about what you love, the ghost pieces are really sophisticated!
I happend to hear of a way to better evaluate your own work, and the ‘trick’ really is to evaluate the work of others, that’s where you build the evaluation muscles to evaluate your own work!
Remember to look for two things; 1. What you like 2. What you wish was better.
Thank you so much, Adam!
Ooh, yes -- that's so true. I learn a lot by participating in illustration critique groups.
Great advice :)
💼 I think my current favourite (it changes all the time) is an illustrative representation of a special group of friends; it's the three of sitting on one friend's sofa, which is our 'safe space' where we talk about so many different things. It's not a literal representation of us or the space, as there are lots of additional or changed details, but the emotional response it elicited in my friends was so powerful to me and the level of response I'd love to elicit from strangers in times to come. [all that said, no idea if it's the technically best piece or one that would be in any way appreciated by art directors!]
🕳 I am feeling quite good about my portfolio and that it has enough of the kind of work I'm looking to get. I think it could usefully have more children and work that would be suited to children's publishing, but I also think I'm fine to concentrate more on the grown-ups for the moment.
👋 I am constantly wavering between whether to just have the single page with all work on, or separate categories. Currently I have nine categories and the front page has a selection from all of them. I hear points for doing it both ways. I feel like I may be leaning more toward a single page again and keeping it much more curated. But then, what do you do with the old stuff? Keep it on a non-public page, or just on your desktop? Put all work beyond a certain age on stock sites? Something else?
I’m going to have to see this sofa scene! , May you find the work you want to do, I always feel the portfolio is like the prototype of the work that we will be doing!
About portfolio, I prefer the single page, and I think I still have 50 pages on mine, I want to get it down to 12, my plan for doing that is making new illustrations, that combine the best from what is currently there, like drawing a zoo scene and taking out 5 of the animal things… I’m still some ways away from that goal though!
https://www.tashagoddard.com (should be able to spot it).
I saw what I thought was an excellent portfolio recently, and it was just one page of 35 images, plus huge client list on the about page: www.kata-illustration.com
I feel like that's something to aim for.
thanks for sharing!
Same question here about how to organize my portfolio. Categories, front page, etc... There was a discussion about it on an episode from Three Point Perspective. In their opinion, less is better. Present your best work, not everything. For example, don't put a sketches or exploration page if it is not representative of what you do.
Hey Adam, hi everyone! I’m Cheryl, a children’s book illustrator.
My portfolio website is
https://www.cherylannwarren.com/
I would love for you to check it out and give me any feedback you might have.
Long story short, I’m self taught and fairly new. My passion found me at 38 and i’ll be celebrating 3 years in this field soon. So far i’ve illustrated 2 books that will be released in 2023. I’m actively looking to be represented by an agency, in fact I got everything set up and started sending my portfolio out this last week. 😬
• my favorite thing about my portfolio is that i think it covers the things that should be in a children’s book portfolio, for example: diversity, different body types, animals, classrooms, friendships etc.
•I would like to add more cute, delightful, playful illustrations to it.
Can I reserve my question about portfolios till after your feedback?
Thank you and Happy Holidays
Hi Cheryl, I did take a look at your portfolio, here are some things I liked:
1. I love your color scheme and textures.
2. I love your depiction of a classroom
3. I love the scene with diversity and masks, specifically I like the confidence you have in using flat colors with textures .
When I ask art directors which portfolio pieces of mine stood out to them they always mention the same character sheet that depicts Cleopatra in a variety of poses, so i think it’s useful to include a piece like that.
I would also suggest that for your profile picture you use a closeup, I think the photo needs to say, I’m approachable and fun to work with.
I would also adjust the tone of the from one of longing, to one of service. I feel that confidence goes a long way.
Good luck with sending your work out, the feedback you’re going to get is going to be so valuable!
Thanks Adam! I agree with the changes you suggest I make. I’ll keep you posted 😊
Hi Ren, I think the portfolio is primarily a website these days. A secondary portfolio would be something like instagram.
I’ve not tried printed iterations myself, though my agent does print out some images to bring to book fairs, as for postcards, as I work in Kidlit , the #kitlitartpostcard hashtag has worked really well for me on twitter
I think it’s okay to have a little bit of text in a portfolio, I hardly have any. And ultimately the right audience for your portfolio can pick up on all the unsaid things, like silent nods.
I try to fill my images with these knowing nods.
These are just my thoughts but I think what’s cool is that everyone’s portfolio is unique to them:)