@djly For sure valid feedback! I am frustrated with those thumbnails as well, the platform atuocrops it and there isn't really a way for me to adjust it that I can find. The only thing that seems to fix it is making the squares bigger so that face isn't cut off. But then the squares on the kidlit page are much bigger than the others. I dunno how important uniformity of thumbnail size is across the site though.

Here's a screenshot to save some link clicking time. x)

@djly Thanks for the feedback! I fixed the title sizes as best I could, I hope they look more uniform now? I need to see if I can fiddle with the opacity easily, maybe like the way the images in the portfolio fade when you mouse over them.

@hannahmccaffery I was worried some of the illustration stuff would be too dark for kidlit since a lot of the work in there is from a creepy retelling of fairy tales series I did. But I'll look at it more. I took out that background image though, just made it a muted sort of brown, hopefully it looks better now?

@animatosoor I switched it to a greyish-brown, what do you think? Still too muddy? Some of the publishers do kidlit as well and I definitely need more stuff in that section, you're not wrong, haha. Been trying to finish up some pieces to throw in there, but so far they are slow going. There's one more going up in a bit that features a ~gasp~ kid in it, haha. So hopefully that'll help. I did throw a few cutesy sticker illustrations that look pretty kid-friendly in there, maybe that helps? I'm hoping they pass as spot illustrations. At least until I can get more kid stuff done.

@Sophie-Lawson Thanks so much! You're very kind. I changed up the color in the background, what do you think? I think you were right on that black, so I switched things up. Better? Worse?

Thanks SO much everyone for all of the feedback in this thread! You've all been super helpful and I already feel better about art directors looking at my site thanks to you all!

@nikolett I didn't even notice the multiple fonts! I thought I just had the script and the serif! I'll definitely double check that, thank you! I'm so not a graphic designer, haha. Just hope that isn't too apparent to the art directors, eek.

@ShannonBiondi Thanks for the suggestion on the gryphon! I've wondered about that, maybe I'll fade it more or just make the homepage a solid, like you said.

I've always heard that art directors don't want to click around a bunch when looking at a portfolio, so that's what concerns me about leaving the sections. But I do agree that it makes it easier to find genres, especially kidlit. I am sending to a few places that do kidlit and I'd like them to be able to see easily that I have that stuff in my portfolio.

Gah! Not sure what to do.

@Chip-Valecek Oh, that's really cool! I like that idea. Is that something that you know how to code? Or does your site platform allow that kind of thing?

Also: your website link in your signature doesn't work for me for some reason. I found the link in your profile though and that took me there.

@sarahlawrence Thank you for your feedback! I am relieved to hear you say that you think my style is cohesive enough--it feels all over the place to me! That was a big part of why I sectioned them off.

If I group them all then I'll certainly trim the number of images down a little since I've heard 15-20 images is all you need.

Hey all! So I've been fiddling with my website and I keep going back and forth on whether or not I should have every art piece in one place or keep it separated as it is now in "genre" sections (fantasy, kidlit, sketchbook, etc):

https://www.kaseysnow.com/

If you have a second, would you mind giving some feedback? I'm sending out postcards for the first time to publishers (aiming at companies that do all ages books and have YA/fantasy series) and I just wanna make sure I don't look like a total newb when/if they check out my website.

Thanks!

I can see it selling out at comic con now.
Love it! The way you rendered the city is so fun to look at.

Alright, tinkered with it a bit more taking into consideration the recent suggestions--thoughts?
I think I might just turn the suckers into hard candy, keep the lump in the mouth to imply she's got one in there, and call it good on the candy thing. Maybe just put an open bag of candy at her feet or something. I like the sucker idea, but dunno that everyone knows what the loop handle suckers are.

@chrisaakins Ahh, see, I actually want it to read as outside the tree house--birds are messy! There'd be poop and birdseed everywhere if it were inside, haha. Maybe I'll make it longer so it falls behind the wall and looks more intentional? Or change the design so it definitely does not look like a structure in the distance though.

@KathrynAdebayo Glad it makes you feel cozy! And you're so right about that globe, wow. Definitely gonna lengthen that shelf so it fits (and maybe make it smaller).

@sketchbook Yeah, I guess the sucker isn't mission critical. I just loved to suck on candy as a kid while reading or hanging out in a secret place, so I guess I was trying to bring that bit of childhood in. Maybe I'll try to change it into one of those loop-handle suckers? A last ditch attempt? Otherwise maybe I could do bubblegum or something I guess.

Thanks so much for the feedback guys! I really, really appreciate it! I'll post an updated screenshot soon!