If money is not a problem, i suggest getting a cintiq. My dream device is the Wacom Mobile Studio Pro 16’’. If you want mobility and your budget is slightly lesser, then I suggest going with an ipad. It’s also important to note that you can’t use photoshop with it... yet. I hear adobe is working on an app for the ipad. However, it will probably be buggy in it’s first release. It will probably take a few years before we have a full-pledge adobe photoshop on the ipad. If you still have cash to spare but also need the mobility, then the surface pro would be awesome. You can use photoshop and many other pc programs — very convenient. Lastly, if the budget is really tight, you can always get a laptop/desktop and pair it with a wacom alternative. I hear Huion and XP-pen make great display tablets for affordable prices. Or you can get a refurbished/ used cintiq.

Hmm... did you charge the pencil before using it? Sometimes that’s my problem when I work in procreate. I would be very deep working on a piece and then the pencil just gives up on me. It has spooked me a couple of times. I thought I broke the pencil. Then, I remember to charge it and everything is fine. Also, if you shutdown your ipad, be sure to plug in the pencil when you restart it again. it will automatically pair your pencil with the ipad. I hope this helps.

@nyrrylcadiz Thank you Nyrryl 🙂

I'm so happy, there's something about Raul's work, love it so much … thank you so much for helping me find them!

I am so new to selling art! I know enough to know that selling high quality prints is important. Advice? And maybe resources for printing in Davis County, Utah?

Tasks do seem to be harder to accomplish when you are your own client! A portfolio is a constant work in progress as you curate your images into a consistent style. Put out something so people can find you, and you can improve it as you go along.

Personal opinions:

I find the black background in some sections a bit stark - a cool dark grey background and/or an accent color might work well. Your influences of anime and classic cartoons tended toward bright palettes so try experimenting what would accent your pieces well.

I don't think you should show the sketchbook drawings in your portfolio, save those for social media. The target audience for a portfolio site generally wants to see your finished pieces so they can visualize how you'll do their project.

These sometimes change but the 5 I probably follow the most are as follows (in no particular ranking):

-Brian Cook- very cartoony style, but has made a name for himself drawing butts on things.

-Alex Pardee- this guy has been around for a while and I've only recently discovered him. Very disturbing yet colorful style.

-Eric Powell- created "the goon" comic series and draws with fairly profound thick lines. Excels at drawing imperfections in people.

-Matt Inmann- the webtoonist known as "the oatmeal". Draws in basic shapes but has fairly recognizable work.

-Chris Notbusch- this one is a bit of a curve ball, as he is a sculptor not an illustrator... But his attention to detail in texturing and anatomy is pretty awesome.

Today I am:

Coloring ancient Egytian style plants Researching quilt patterns for new project!

Thank you so much

The first design looks great to me too. In case it's of any assistance to you, I thought I'd mention that when I first saw the little mouse (on a small screen), I thought the inner ear was the eye, the tip of that ear the nose, and the shoulder blade and elbow the ears... but then there were additional features (the real face) that my mind was confused by for a few seconds until I zoomed in and realized the correct orientation of the little fellow's head. Since these will be printed small, I thought I'd share my experience for what it's worth. Thank you for sharing these choices and your decision making process with us. 🙂

@adamshephard I would watch the placement of the wings. Right now they do not seem to be part of the dragon. I also can not tell what is going on with his back legs. I would look up dragon reference and see how they are constructed.

@irina

@irina said in Agent or no agent. How to get work and what's your dayjob:

Thank you muchly again. One more thing

Is it customary for agents to help you develop your work? Like offering constructive feedback or telling you what they find is a stregth in your work and what you need to develop? Is there any help with growth in that sense?

It´s not common for agents to do that. That´s what I understand from listening and talking to other artists as well as my own experience. They may point out illustration styles that sell well (my agent does - though mostly I don’t know what to make with the information), but will not offer feedback. Indeed, my agent is so careful to avoid expressing any comment on my work, that I almost think there is some taboo there....

Also i suppose if you have kids, how do you balance work and family. What happens if you are a woman and get pregnant and still want to be a freelance illustrator. I.ve been recently thinking that. What if you are just breaking into illustration and become pregnant. What state support do you get paid for maternity leave. Is there such a thing? What if you have no parents to help or what if you are a single parent or have ailing parents etc. What if you have another job and you do your art at night? Etc

woo hoo! Congrats 🙂

@jason-bowen thank you 🙂

@benr I think he's just started doing them again, not as many though 😞

Oh, I wasn’t talking about doing all that now. I was speaking more of a “someday down the road” way. I guess I didn’t make that clear.

@sas I'll check them out, thanks so much!!!

I love that image hehe. I used to have geese and ducks and they are amazing and it so captures their way 😃

Rie Cramer is also from the Golden Age, actually in the https://pierangelo-boog.blogspot.com/ website he has a huge long list of illustrators and images that you can browse through from many periods

Have a similar issue... the sketching part, less polish. Where I think you could improve is stepping out of the comfort zone. Something you really struggle with. Tried that a while back with buildings and vehicles. Perspective heavy subjects. after a while i sucked a little bit less at those subjects plus it strenghtened the subjects i was more comfortable with as well. Trying to gain pleasure from the pain and frustration new subject matter can bring.

Also noticed the use of photo refs, I do not know if you use it all the time... for many drawing without is a big step out of their comfort zone. Just a thought... im biased to that way of drawing... im unable to follow reference exactly, dont use it often. Mind wanders off, get bored easily. Something i should remedy...

Veel succes 🙂

@irina Just to add that 50 mm - 85 mm is the best focal range for me, as it achieves sharpness across the whole image. Also less lens distortion - move yourself rather than zooming in and out to get square edges. Although photoshop does a pretty good job of fixing distortion, less post-production the better I say. I try to have it a f11 (smaller aperture) and always use a circular polariser, to stop any glare or reflective surfaces making life difficult. Paint gets shiny. I autofocus then turn off the autofocus once its set pin sharp. And if you have no lights, sunlight diffused behind a cloud is class. You can't beat that big bulb in the sky.