SF Illustrators Day Portfolio

MOO

I am set to go to Illustrators Day for the scbwi event. I am feeling very overwhelmed. I am proud I guess. I know that my drawing skills are still not what I see in others on this list (I know I shouldn't compare myself but...I do). I am traditional and my style is quite different from the others here. And I'm kind of old (physically-inside I'm still 13). I submitted some pages for the First Look Prompt which will all be shown on a big screen and critiqued, I guess. I'm kind of nervous. I'm sure everyone will be kind but, I can't help thinking they are going to look at my stuff and say, "What the heck is she doing here?". My friends and some of my family like my work because they aren't necessarily artists and don't realize that my perspective is off or I don't use enough different views and that it takes me forever to figure out how to draw a chair, let alone put something in it! I've been trying to put a portfolio together and I don't have a lot of time. I hope it doesn't look like I rushed through everything and didn't take time to make it more quality..should I even bring one? It will just be on a table-not critiqued. Well, I just wanted to vent my feelings I guess. It will be good for me, I'm sure. Swallow my pride and enjoy the learning.......thanks for reading if you made it this far

smceccarelli

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen I wanted to respond already to some previous posts of yours to tell you how much I admire you and find you inspiring. All the things you are doing with publishing your own book marketing it all by yourself, and now setting out to do this challenge - you are an example to follow! I am not the youngest either, and I fight endless self-doubts about starting now along this path (especially because it implied some tough decisions that non-artists do not really understand). Your story and your choices give me a lot of courage and confidence in what can be done with a bit of determination and faith in oneself. So, you do not need to question yourself: reaching people is what artists do for a living, and I can tell you that you are doing great in that field!
And you definitely can be proud of your work - the drawings of the boy and the boat and the pony are really charming and can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anybody else´s, I have no doubt.

Camomilla

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen I think @smceccarelli said it so well - your style is unique, charming and warm. I wish you the best of luck on the Scbwi-event

Dulcie

Good luck with your day at the SCBWI event @Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen! ...I too am hoping that determination and focus can help make up for lost time.... I believe it is possible, hope it proves so for you

Lisa M Griffin

It takes courage to put your art out there, so I think it is great that you are doing just that! Being around other creatives and absorbing that good energy is never a bad thing. I took part in a First Look Panel at a SCBWI event where (3) art directors in the publishing world were commenting on the artwork on screen. Yes, certainly butterflies BUT it was a great way to see and hear their take on your work while retaining your anonymity. I mean you can tell the person next to you that the artwork on screen is yours, (or not) but I took notes throughout the presentation and was able to learn a lot from what they had to say about a variety of artwork. Good luck to you and enjoy yourself!

Rich Green

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen - I have found that the SCBWI Day events like this are really fantastic. Like you I was very nervous about many of the exact same things when I went to my first one, and then a year later when I went to my second one. But there is something that happens when you put yourself and your work out there, that is hard to explain.

There is a saying I love Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone and I really believe it to be true. When you push yourself to experience something that makes you uncomfortable you grow and enjoy life in a way you never could have the day before.

I definitely say bring your portfolio for the table view. Many times there is time for event goers to mingle in the room where the portfolios are placed. You can look at everyone else's work, talk with other authors and illustrators. Chat with the guest speakers that are part of your event etc.

You just never know where it all might lead!!!

MOO

@Rich-Green Thanks Rich. You're a good example of exactly what you said to me about experiencing life Thank you for your encouragement

MOO

@Lisa-M-Griffin Oh! Well, thank goodness it's anonymous Ha! I will definitley take some notes.

MOO

@Dulcie Thank you!

MOO

@smceccarelli Thank you so much. I can tell you it has and continues to be been a very hard road but I sure do appreciate your kind words. I would never have thought of myself as an inspiration to anyone, that kind of makes me want to push forward in itself Thank you so much. I will try to remember your words when I am in the depths of self doubt and wondering what the heck I've gotten myself into! Ha! Ha! Thank you again.

MOO

@Camomilla Thank you Camomilla. Tusen Takk!