Hi! Here's my entry.

I've been posting my work on my local Facebook group for illustrators for a long time. But few days ago, I first post an illustration with a comment that I have a project (picture book) ready to be shared with publishers, just a basic announcement... and in an hour or so two publishers (in my country we don't have agents) approached me and asked for the manuscript. That never happened before, when I was only posting illustrations! And I also did not believe people from publishing houses are actually present in those Facebook groups or following my account. But they are. They were just waiting for a project. So - you, guys from SVS, were right. We need to work on projects and be present on social media, so the right people might find our work.

Does anyone of you also have a success story or almost success story (because I have no idea if it actually will be a success story at the end;) to share? Might be great to hear those!!

Hi everyone,
I had this page in my book (personal project), where the scene should happen in the attic. Before watching draw 50 things, the attic was... well - nearly empty (such a shame!) So I decided to take it to another level. Before moving on a more detailed sketch, a lot of the items are now just a lumpy place holders, I wanted to check with you guys the general composition and value. What do you think? Is there something bothering you? Thank you!

I'm working on a layout for one of my own picture book, trying to participate in mermay (but I've actually never ever draw a mermaid before, so it's freaking me out!), and working on sketches for a book with cute short rhymes for children - I'm very excited about this one, it looks I might get a few nice portfolio pieces out of this.

OK - so I've made a second sketch layer with 58 objects - no place holders this time.
But I'm having trouble with the main character's posture. I want it to translate like she's leaving the attic. But I'm not sure if she looks that way... Any advice?
Thank you!!!!

Sooo.... finally I'm posting my finished #draw50thigs drawing! It was actually finished about half a year ago, but since then life has been super busy and I totally forgot to make an update here... But here it is! It was a great challenge and I'm really glad I give it a try. It definitely helped me with my illustrations. Now I'm not afraid to put much more stuff into a picture, because I know it is worth the effort. So thank you @Will-Terry for coming up with this whole thing!

I’ve been busy working on illustrations for a book about fairies, it’s fun, but it takes a lot time so there’s almost none left for my own projects. Need to find some balance there. And do a better planning next time I take on a job.

Halfway through...

Hi! The work I feel the strongest about probably would be these pictures I've done for a picture book of mine, the name of the book is "Hair" and it's about a little girl with long, but seriously long hair and all the misfortunes she encounters because of it.
I was able to write the story thanks to the writing picture books class and the storytelling class, which are amazing BTW.
Both these illustrations are double spreads.

Hi there
Even though I was reading the discussions on the forum for quite a long time, I never had the guts to share with you my work before I finish it. But finally I got the courage and here’s my take on Feb 3rd Thursday.
The illustration is in progress - I roughly have the colors laid down and now I am working on the younger sister.
I thought of love and remembered my sister - how we were always fighting, but whenever one of us got in troubles, the other one was always there, helping (and laughing...).
Any suggestions or thought will be appreciated!
And a bunch of THANK-YOU! to Will and Lee and Jake for doing such a huge amount of work!

@nadyart This is soooo sweet!

@KaraDaniel yes, I do. I usually do not stress about making the lettering super cool, I just place the words in the space where I plan to have it, and if you do not use any fancy graphic program, I think you could print the manuscript, cut it into pieces and glue it onto the pages along side the sketches maybe? Or do a nice clean hand lettering... ? Good luck with your book dummy! And if you would feel comfortable sharing a little bit of it with us here, that would be really cool!

@Chip-Valecek
Only one character had never seen snow - that would be Will, the Fennec, and well, he had never seen snow before because he’s a fennec, they live in a dessert.
The other two characters would be maybe a bear and a badger and they would be totally not impressed with the snow of course. But curious why the fennec is acting so weird...

Maybe I’m overthinking it? I’m afraid this idea is too complicated and will not translate clear enough for the audience to comprehend easily...

@KaraDaniel
When I’m working with a publisher on my own book (where I’m both writer and illustrator) they want to see first a pdf dummy and a word document with the manuscript. Afterwards, I’m sending them PDFs with updates, usually in 3 rounds - first clean sketches, second full colour images, third illustrations with text together (if I do the lettering).
However when I work on someone else’s book, we are sending pictures back and forth with people from the publishing house, because there could be a lot of changes and updates. It is usually also in a PDF form.
I do use indesign a lot, but I don’t think it’s a necessity if you are not expected to deliver text and illustrations together. I would always create a nice clean pdf with updates of your work to send the publisher though. But you do not need indesign for this.

Hello! After what seams like ages, I finally have some free time to do the monthly prompt properly.
Here’s my first sketch. The twist here would be that those tracks in the snow would actually be totally normal footprints, but Will the Fennec had never seen footprints in the snow, in fact he had never seen snow before, so he’s really amazed by the sight of them.
What do you think? Is it a legit idea?

Thanks ahead for your comments and feedback!

@burvantill Thank you!
I think what I would like to do differently next time is to don't be afraid and ask for bigger timeframe. Im on a tight deadline with the fairy book and also on a tight deadline with my own project (another book, also will be published by a publisher, so I'm under contract there too). I'm now in a situation where there's a possibility I will not be able to deliver on time one of those two projects. And I have few other things I would love to get done. And I won't. Because there's no time. I have my nose buried deep in paper drawing fairies, trying to also squeeze in some monkeys (for the other book), and regretting I was to shy to ask for more time in a first place... Well, that's how I learn, I guess.
BUT - I'm still happy and grateful I have work. Of course.

I’ve been busy working on illustrations for a book about fairies, it’s fun, but it takes a lot time so there’s almost none left for my own projects. Need to find some balance there. And do a better planning next time I take on a job.

May the force be with you!

@burvantill Good job on exploring all those ideas! I like last row the best.

@JennyJones Thank you! I'm playing around with this character a little bit, try to find some story for her... But I definitely hope to post some picture with her for the contest. But since I've never drawn mermaids in my life, I'm super nervous, the more I sketch and draw this one, I see how complex creatures mermaids can be.