Portfolio critique needed

Sarah Foelske

Hello! I just found this forum as I was listening to the podcast and found it so helpful!

I've worked for 20+ years in advertising and design in New York, LA and Toronto and have decided to transition to illustration.

My illustration work is collage style.

I work with paper first and computer second.

I would love some eyes on my portfolio and site as it stands now. https://www.makenice.me/

My plan is to experiment more with scale and materials in the near future.

Thank you!

Jeremy Ross

Hi @Sarah-Foelske , cool style! Nice work on the raptors logo too!

Look forward to seeing your illustrations.

IgorWoznicki

This looks pretty cool!
Not exactly my cup of tea and something I know enough about to criticise the pieces themselves, however when I was browsing through your categories, I've noticed that... some of them seem unnecassary?

What do I mean by this? Your editorial category, for example, had only two images in it and one of them (the Make Nice one) is in most of the other categories as well, so basically, editorial category has one image in it that I wouldn't see anywhere else. It feels kinda pointless to create a separate section that I have to go to just to see one picture.

I dunno, maybe this is just me being picky or something, but seeing how many of your images are being repeated through multiple categories, I feel it would be much clearer and more comfortable for the viewer to reduce the amount of sections one can go to.
Right now, this seems very unorganised. A lot of categories filled with not many images that repeat themselves in most of them. I'd even go as far as to call this a bit chaotic. For me, the sections that make a lot of sense not are branding and type, maybe paper piece too, but it has tons of things that could work in the type section as well.

Hopefully I don't sound to harsh. I like this work, it looks good and professional.
I just felt kinda confused while looking at all of this and I don't think that's what you were aiming for

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Sarah-Foelske really interesting but I feel your style is more graphic design than illustration. Which field do you want to get into? I feel you could fit into editorial illustration but you might need more conceptual and narrative pieces. Anyway, welcome to the forums. I hope we can help you in your journey.

aska

@Sarah-Foelske Hi, i really like the effect of swinging name MakeNice on your site Your portfolio looks interesting. Some kind of collage technique? However I need to ask a question about the banana piece? Whats the story behind it?

Sarah Foelske

Thank you!

Sarah Foelske

@IgorWoznicki Oh I like that! I don't feel like this is too harsh. Should I just have one category? "Work"? Which category do you think works best. I actually have heard that feedback once before and I thought I had addressed it, I guess not. I'd love additional thoughts about how to clean-up!

Sarah Foelske

@Nyrryl-Cadiz Good idea. I'll make more narrative. I really don't think I need to define myself as one or the other as I do both and I think making more narrative work is a great idea. Thanks!

Sarah Foelske

@aska Just for fun!

Lee White

Welcome to the forums! I LOVE collage work and think you have a great eye towards design. I'd use that talent to start making some images specific to an illustration portfolio. Typically illustration will solve some kind of visual problem for an art director- maybe it's a portrait of a musician for Spin magazine, or maybe it's an editorial image that gets an idea from an article across to the viewer, etc. There are many different kinds of visual problems to solve in illustration. So that is my advice to you. Find what kind of problem you can solve for an art director. Try to ask yourself "where is the best place for my collage illustrations to end up (and why)?" Who is the person who needs to hire you and why would they do so?

I'd say figure that out and then get 10-12 pieces in that theme going and you are in business! Good luck and let us know how we can help you here on the forums. : )

Sarah Foelske

@Lee-White Thank you! I LOVE these tips. I will do this and repost.