Really enjoyed reading this post; thanks Adam! Reading this, I just created my artistic statement: “I make colorful and playful textured art with a story in mind.” Need to update my website. Also, I have avoided social media like a plague and just recently decided to give it a go with a level of discipline. I make art for myself and share with the world.
Thank you for this! I’m currently in the starting-my-portfolio stage, so I found the numbered list at the bottom of this post particularly helpful. I’m curious how people decide which draw this in your style prompts they choose to do and their reason behind choosing the ones they do. There are sooo many. Is it because you are just instantly inspired by a particular image? Is it because you like the composition or subject matter? Is it because you especially admire or are friends with the original poster themselves and want to participate in their community? Is it to get out of your comfort zone and try new subject matter you wouldn’t normally choose?
I’m often tempted to do them and see the value in them for honing what makes my style unique and to take subject decision-making away, but on limited time I steer away from them because I can’t use the art I make from them for anything. Also, I’m never sure exactly how much of the original to keep and how much to change….only style or also content?
I recommend them here primarily as a way to participate in the community, the utility of them is making friends. It’s also practice, and it’s a convenient way to show how you both fit in and stand out. The reason I would do it when starting out (and why I still do it) , is that it will inevitably help build your audience, which will consist of other illustrators, but also people who hire illustrators.
The one’s that jump at are when I think it will let me showcase my style, either because it’s some thing that is missing from my portfolio, or something i think I might draw well. I keep a list of DTIYS that I hope to do in the future.
How much to keep or change seems to me to be the purpose of the exercise. My pre-production for an illustration is quite epic, so a DTIYS lets me get to the final stages with minimal effort.
All in all it’s about community participation. This business is a community.
This is excellent, Adam! Thank you for this. I'm going to follow this advice! I'm in my second ICB now.
All the best Angela!
Really enjoyed reading this post; thanks Adam! Reading this, I just created my artistic statement: “I make colorful and playful textured art with a story in mind.” Need to update my website. Also, I have avoided social media like a plague and just recently decided to give it a go with a level of discipline. I make art for myself and share with the world.
That’s brilliant Jeremy, hope it helps
Thank you for this! I’m currently in the starting-my-portfolio stage, so I found the numbered list at the bottom of this post particularly helpful. I’m curious how people decide which draw this in your style prompts they choose to do and their reason behind choosing the ones they do. There are sooo many. Is it because you are just instantly inspired by a particular image? Is it because you like the composition or subject matter? Is it because you especially admire or are friends with the original poster themselves and want to participate in their community? Is it to get out of your comfort zone and try new subject matter you wouldn’t normally choose?
I’m often tempted to do them and see the value in them for honing what makes my style unique and to take subject decision-making away, but on limited time I steer away from them because I can’t use the art I make from them for anything. Also, I’m never sure exactly how much of the original to keep and how much to change….only style or also content?
I recommend them here primarily as a way to participate in the community, the utility of them is making friends. It’s also practice, and it’s a convenient way to show how you both fit in and stand out. The reason I would do it when starting out (and why I still do it) , is that it will inevitably help build your audience, which will consist of other illustrators, but also people who hire illustrators.
The one’s that jump at are when I think it will let me showcase my style, either because it’s some thing that is missing from my portfolio, or something i think I might draw well. I keep a list of DTIYS that I hope to do in the future.
How much to keep or change seems to me to be the purpose of the exercise. My pre-production for an illustration is quite epic, so a DTIYS lets me get to the final stages with minimal effort.
All in all it’s about community participation. This business is a community.
Thank you for this thoughtful response!
This is is such good advice! I'm going to work through this and hope, that later I can reference back to you!
All the best!
This is great advice and very informative! 👏
Thank you!
Thanks for this, Adam! Great advice!
Great insight, thanks so much. 👍