I've finally finished my first illustration portfolio... but have a ways to go yet
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After a period of frustration, I decided a year ago that I wanted to try and become an illustrator, or at least do something with illustration, as I had yet again felt that strong familiar feeling of being unfulfilled in life just being a UI designer. Since that moment of staring at the ceiling and making the decision, I've reduced my work hours to two days a week and have created four book dummies, each containing 3 full illustrations (the rest being tight sketches).
I've listened to pretty much every 3 Point Perspective episode, and I almost watched all of the Critique Arena critiques while I was finishing up my portfolio pieces. I learned a lot watching and listening, I'd take little notes here and there adding to an ever-expanding list: "Things I need to do to improve". And the more I watched, the more I realised was missing from my work; I can do rendering and value, and my lighting and colour is improving, but the design elements are the weakest - boring shape language, a lot of 'newscaster' layouts (or theatre stage horizontal layouts), basic character design that's missing variation in shape and appeal, fairly static poses (although my silhouettes are at least clear), a bit of a lack in clear storytelling as the illustrations were often dependent on the supporting text, the list goes on...
The good news is I know which bits I need to work on, and which courses will give me the tools I need to level up. And I'm confident I'll get there if I put in the work, and keep learning. I've gone through Will's Creative Composition, there's some gold in there which I'll implement in upcoming illustrations. So it feels like I've gotta another year of solid building and work to do to get to a place where I am feeling confident. I'm still going to submit to agents at this stage, as I do like the books I've created, and will resubmit with a beefed up portfolio and new dummies every few months.
Here's my portfolio, for those interested: https://www.jasoncrowley.art
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@Jason-Crowley wow, sounds like you are on a roll, getting so much work done. That is awesome. I'm sure it will serve you well to have gotten all that practice over time, and finished pieces ready to be seen. Good for you to have gotten this far along your illustration journey
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@MerryMary Thank you
Yep, feels like the journey is just starting, just wish I was a little bit younger 
Better late than never!
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Congratulations @Jason-Crowley, that’s a big accomplishment!
Trust me, you’re not the only one getting in the game late (smile).
Keep it up!
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Jason, you have a beautiful website and I really like some of whats going on in your pieces. It's also great that you are able to assess your strengths and weaknesses. However, speaking from personal experience, to improve the things you listed (composition, design, complex storytelling and character acting) you really need someone (a teacher/mentor/pro level friend) who will drawing over your work and show you how to specifically improve your ideas in your style. Thats what I would look to find in your next year of study. If you can get even i little bit of that kind on one on one I think you will see a lot of improvement faster than working only on your own.
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@Mimi-Simon This is good advice! Funnily enough the first 6 months of my last year of work involved a mentor who worked in the industry as an art director for 20 years, I learned a lot there and they were able to get me to where I am now.
I plan on doing an SVS portfolio review once I have around 10 new pieces where I feel I am succeeding in character, set, storytelling, etc; I need them to pull no punches. Those will be standalone pieces rather than a full book dummy, as having to apply any changes to character/setting/composition across a full dummy is a lot of work. I'll be starting with the How To Fix Your Art prompts while continuing to write several picture book stories.
Appreciate the advice
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You look like a pro.
Could there at least be one bright/sunny/happylooking image in the portfolio?
Mic
