I'm a farm girl from Appalachia raising a pile of boys in the big city. I drew my way through all the messy days of toddlerhood but hid my drawings in a box. One morning I realized I was turning 40 and all my ideas were in the closet. So I opened the door, dusted off the box, and now I'm trying to find my way.

That's the pretty version. The reality has been pretty messy, lol. I'm currently a part time freelance graphic designer wearing too many hats while also homeschooling six boys! Technically five because the first has graduated! I didn't know where to start with illustration so I began with graphic design and I've been a part time graphic designer for two years (If you're doing the math I'm 43 - I spent a year learning AI and PS and wandering around before hanging my shingle. I've been cutting my teeth and learning a lot. I've gained a lot of digital skills and confidence and really want to marry that with my illustration aspirations.

That's why I'm here in this space - it seems the world is full of one off/topical classes but this feels more like art school. I'm currently taking two of the level 1 curriculum classes and doing the exercises. But just for fun I watched @Lee-White's How to Discover Your Style. What a great class! I'm glad I did that one now in the beginning because it really gives me a clearer picture of where I am and where I want to go.

Here's my edited Dream Portfolio:

Some of these illustrators I'm more familiar with than others and I want to make learning more about them part of the process.

And now for the Reality 'Portfolio':

The first thing that jumped out at me is that I haven't finished any larger more complex pieces - true illustrative scenes. I have lots of sketches still in that dusty box but they're still in the dark. And my second thought was - get busy!

So for this more long term project I have three goals that I'm adding to my workflow. 1) I'm going to pick one of these illustrators to explore in more depth. 2) Complete my first master copy - I've already selected my first piece - a simpler scene. 3) Select one composition from my box and complete that illustration drawing on inspiration and techniques from my Dream Portfolio.

Thanks for welcoming me into this community!

Today I had time to just play. I decided to use a small watercolor sketchbook I have to just experiment with shape, color and texture. Here is my usual watercolor and colored pencil but I decided to add some graphite. My erasing shapes was difficult - it's a small sketchbook and I don't have a tiny eraser. But I just ordered a Tombow micro eraser that should arrive tomorrow!

So tomorrow I'm placing an order for my very first postcard - eek!! I'm sending it out to people in both the children's illustration market and the surface design market so I chose a piece that I thought might work as a crossover. And I think I've decided I like little conversation bubbles, lol!

I left one bubble empty so that I can personalize the front of the card.

Who else is with me in sending out your very first cards?

I just completed my very first master copy. Original by J.P. Miller.

My copy done in watercolor, gouache and colored pencil. No digital edits other than getting scanned colors to accurately depict the original and healing a couple of colored pencil crumbs. My colors are slightly off IRL. My printer slightly cropped the original which is why my clouds are cut off.

I had quite a bit of trouble placing the eye - I should have done a quick value even on the ipad before painting and I would have seen the issue beforehand. I also had no drybrush experience - I like it!

Thinks I learned - I rely more on line work in my work than shape - something to pay attention to. Also, stop when you get tired. It's obvious in the detail work that I was running out of steam. If I was fresh I would have tested my mark making and perhaps have been more accurate.

Things like markmaking and whiskers that are spontaneous linework are very difficult to copy!

I think the next thing I want to do is go into my sketches and pick out one of my original rabbits and place it in a scene reminiscent of this one and complete it in a similar style.

My submission is a book cover for a book I wouldn't mind writing! Thanks to everyone who helped me push this concept and illustration farther - I valued your help!

Another:

@Amber-Lynn-Benton Here is the first exercise.

Last night to relax I watched Stephanie Fizer Coleman's newest Skillshare class - Develop Your Style Draw One Illustration Six Ways.

So far I've only drawn two ways but it was a nice way to spend an evening:

I just wanted to create a place to gather my work for the creative composition class. I thinking posting my progress might help me be accountable. I’ve watched the entire class and am now working through the workbook.

I’ve still been illustrating Vikings. This is my seventh iteration and I think my favorite:

Here’s a closeup:

And if you want to see all the other versions in the order I drew them you can check out my Skillshare Project:

https://www.skillshare.com/projects/Viking-Tales/196985?via=user-profile

@Alicja-W The MATS classes are great. My only caution is that there are so many students taking those classes I would caution against using the assignments in your portfolio. Take the same concepts to a new topic. I heard first hand from more than one agent that they recognize the assignments from those classes.

@Coreyartus @Ash-Weaver There is actually an editorial class: https://courses.svslearn.com/courses/take/editorial-illustration/lessons/1037305-editorial-illustration

James Yang teaches another class here as well called portfolio promotion in which he discusses getting work and building a portfolio. He talks about the industry changes over the last couple of decades.

Also if you can catch the ideation class live that looks like it would be helpful for editorial work.

On the Skillshare platform I highly recommend all classes by Roman Muradov - He’s quick and dirty (messy) and really takes you inside his thinking process.

There are some other editorial classes there, but another teacher that you should be sure to check out is Tom Froese - especially his Odd Bodies and Map classes. He also has a helpful YouTube channel. I actually found SVS Learn from one of his YouTube videos:

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCrbP0H9WGKWMq9rs4tl2GuA

Another tip I was recently given is to try illustrating NPR stories.

I’ve still been illustrating Vikings. This is my seventh iteration and I think my favorite:

Here’s a closeup:

And if you want to see all the other versions in the order I drew them you can check out my Skillshare Project:

https://www.skillshare.com/projects/Viking-Tales/196985?via=user-profile

Another:

Last night to relax I watched Stephanie Fizer Coleman's newest Skillshare class - Develop Your Style Draw One Illustration Six Ways.

So far I've only drawn two ways but it was a nice way to spend an evening:

@LisaF I did get the emails but was unable to attend because of a prior commitment. But please communicate my hope to the SVS team that the replay is made available to subscribers - it's just not always possible to attend live.

Attempt #2:

@Buddy-Skelton Wow! Exquisite brushwork!

@Susan-Marks I think your solution was much better on this exercise. I studied it again after finished mine. I may repeat this one!

Here’s my Emphasis using value exercise. I have a feeling that this wasn’t supposed to be a lighting exercise but I had a hard time seeing another way to use value. Would love to see more examples of this exercise.