Portfolio help please! Thanks ^^
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Hey there! I've been tailoring my portfolio to concept work since I graduated, but landed a job in coloring book illustration recently. I'm starting to like it alot, and my first book is published and doing really well! Yay!
My current job wont be forever, and so I'm starting to research a ton on finding illustration work either in-house or freelance. I'd like to freshen up my portfolio to tailor to finding these jobs. Any advice?
Thanks so much!
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@Mossy I’m not a professional illustrator, but having listened to 3PP for years and each episode multiple times, these are the thoughts that are coming to mind:
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Is there particular illustration work you’re attracted to? There are a few different things that fall under that umbrella: picture books, book covers, greeting cards, etc.
I would think about which of those you want to focus on, then choose a few successful artists in those fields and see what they have in their portfolios. -
On 3PP, Will has mentioned multiple times to try and avoid including the “filler” illustrations - the ones that just move the story and aren’t terribly interesting. These are important when actually making a book, but in your portfolio, be sure to jazz it up with the interesting stuff!
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Don’t put things in the portfolio that you don’t want to do. If you’re a little “meh” about certain ones (even if they’re technically good), probably try to leave those ones out.
For example, if one of your better technical illustrations is of a horse, but you really aren’t interesting in drawing horses for a living, probably don’t include the horse one, even if it’s good. -
Lastly, one thing I hear a lot is update your portfolio often, especially in the beginning and especially if it’s not getting you work.
I hope it helps - it’s all from the guys on the 3PP podcast. They know their stuff!
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@Mossy hiya! First off congratulations on the book. As for your portfolio, I'd say open a separate tab focused on your illustration work. Great concept work as well.
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Your concept art's amazing- I loved looking at your portfolio! I'm new to illustration myself, and don't have any more advice to offer than you've gotten already. For my own portfolio, I only have children's book illustrations, because that's what I want to be hired for. But I've seen illustrators who have multiple skill sets use separate tabs to show each of them, like Nyrryl suggested.
Hopefully other illustrators can chime in with more advice. Good luck and congrats on your book!!
