I know that this is still, unfortunately, a bit of a taboo subject for some. I'm also unsure if this has been talked about before or even if this is the right kind of forum for it.
The creative arts crowd seems well known for having an above average presence of mental health issues. Depression, anxiety, OCD, BPD... they can have a big effect on the quality, the content and the amount of work you put out.
I'm wondering how those of us who want to make a living from art can deal with such big variations in the work that we do? How do professional artists keep to contracts and deadlines when they suffer through periods when they can't even pick up the tools to do the work?

Hi everyone,

I have been looking to 'up' my children's illustration output for a while. I joined SCBWI last year and then a few months ago SVS. I have only recently started to think that this could be a viable career option, at 34. I sent my first batch of postcards out at the start of the year, entered some competitions, heard diddly squat back from anybody and then felt pretty crappy about it all for a while.
I know there are a lot more setbacks in my future but I really am in for the long haul on this one. I am so glad that I finally discovered that SVS has an active forum for illustrators! I have a feeling it will be a real morale boost!

Happy be be starting this journey with so many great artists!

My website is...
www.christopherhillustration.com

I just really need some honest critiques. Thanks for your time!

Hi everyone,

I have been working on a commission piece for somebody I know. It isn't the kind of thing I have done before so I am not used to making prints. I am wondering where I should look for a one-off print? I have done postcards before and flyers etc but I haven't ever had to print something of higher quality.
I have looked online at places like Fedex, where I have had a couple of banners printed before, and they apparently do posters and stuff.
Basically I have no idea. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Thanks, C

@eric-castleman Thank you so much for taking the time to give such an in-depth critique. You made a lot of really good points, and yeah, I would much rather have the honesty when it is given constructively like you did... I want to improve and it is finding out my flaws that will help me to do that.
I have a lot to be working on, that’s for sure. I think because I have come from a background of such a different style of illustrating that this is a very steep learning curve. But, learning is what I am here to do.
With more thought in the design stage I think that picking more dynamic poses and angles will become easier but I think my biggest challenge is with rendering and textures. I still find it difficult when working digitally to decide on which brushes to use and how to work with texture more naturally.
Thanks again!

@kajsah Thanks for the reply! I will be sure to check those out, I’m still looking around but luckily I have a very loose deadline!

Thanks for the reply!

I’m still looking around at the moment but I will post back to update.

No order too small sounds good though, I’m not used to just printing a single item!

Hi everyone,

I have been working on a commission piece for somebody I know. It isn't the kind of thing I have done before so I am not used to making prints. I am wondering where I should look for a one-off print? I have done postcards before and flyers etc but I haven't ever had to print something of higher quality.
I have looked online at places like Fedex, where I have had a couple of banners printed before, and they apparently do posters and stuff.
Basically I have no idea. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Thanks, C

I know that this is still, unfortunately, a bit of a taboo subject for some. I'm also unsure if this has been talked about before or even if this is the right kind of forum for it.
The creative arts crowd seems well known for having an above average presence of mental health issues. Depression, anxiety, OCD, BPD... they can have a big effect on the quality, the content and the amount of work you put out.
I'm wondering how those of us who want to make a living from art can deal with such big variations in the work that we do? How do professional artists keep to contracts and deadlines when they suffer through periods when they can't even pick up the tools to do the work?

And if so, where should I be looking?

I didn’t have enough time to complete an entry for the mushroom village but I followed along closely and I’m itching to get started on a piece

@eric-castleman Thank you so much for taking the time to give such an in-depth critique. You made a lot of really good points, and yeah, I would much rather have the honesty when it is given constructively like you did... I want to improve and it is finding out my flaws that will help me to do that.
I have a lot to be working on, that’s for sure. I think because I have come from a background of such a different style of illustrating that this is a very steep learning curve. But, learning is what I am here to do.
With more thought in the design stage I think that picking more dynamic poses and angles will become easier but I think my biggest challenge is with rendering and textures. I still find it difficult when working digitally to decide on which brushes to use and how to work with texture more naturally.
Thanks again!

@sarah-luann Thank you for the critique! I hadn’t even realized that the four pieces I recently removed contained all of the children in my portfolio It just didn’t even occur to me!
As for the palette, I will really take a look at this. My favorite artists all use limited palettes and darker colors... the first that springs to mind is Jon Klassen... so I don’t know why I haven’t adopted this in my own stuff when that is what I like to see myself.
Definitely some food for thought, thank you!

@sarah-luann Thanks for your thoughts
I'm now looking to do Children's books. I used to do more editorial style stuff (and a lot of political cartoons that I have removed all trace of) so it has been difficult to get my portfolio looking like it is going in the right direction. Along with that I feel like my style changed a lot and so it made a lot of my stuff obsolete and I am struggling to be less cartoony. I think personally I feel like my portfolio feels kind of aimless right now.
Also, in terms of the actual illustrations, I guess I am wondering how far off professional looking my stuff is.

@smceccarelli you are fine... I know nothing about all this kind of stuff so I find it very interesting!