Here is my first attempt at an SVS contest, it had to be a bee

There's a fun challenge by Fran Menses (frannerd), as seen in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CymuyLlA5X0 (prompts are listed in the video's info box). It doesn't really have specific time restrictions, and lots of people are doing it too (hashtags on instagram #frannerdchallenge #30thingstodraw).

In my case inktober made the inner critic even worse it seems >.>

I keep being told that my style could be suitable for book illustration, but not sure what further directions to take to improve in the ways that are required for various projects.
Here are a few works and more can be found on photoshopoholic.com

Thank you all so much for the detailed advice and input! I never expected this many tips and will keep coming back to read them while improving the website~ Thank you for being part of the journey!

@NessIllustration Definitely had doubts about those descriptions and put them for the sake of having more content and text, it's such a relief to remove it! :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: The domain for my name is taken, what about "Millerillos" (short for illustrations) or "IllustrationMill" or "YanaMillerArt"?

@ThisKateCreates There seems to be strange connection problem when trying to follow the link from my Instagram profile as well, I'll need to fix that somehow ><
Making art for magic the gathering cards must be one of the ultimate dreams! I heard that some of them paint on enormous canvases, which makes the art so detailed and impressive when reduced to small card size. Never knew that their commission prices were in thousands! =O Another dream!

@nyrrylcadiz Thank you so much for the advice! It's so difficult to choose one!
Recently one of the artists mentioned that their income comes from several things — client work, private commissions, selling prints, blogging and advertising. If that's the case, does the website still need to target one of them?

@TwiggyT Thank you for the compliment!! It's hard to analyse your own website from distance and your comment has given me wings! Will definitely add the "illustration art by" tagline, why didn't i think of it before!

@theprairiefox Oh yes, choosing an audience and courting for it should have been done at the beginning, but i still wonder who my audience might be! Having new content upfront sounds brilliant, maybe a future blog page will become the homepage and illustrations will go on a separate page? I've always had issues with too many goals and a hesitation to choose a narrower path, it might be the reason why i feel so behind as a creative. Thank you so much for the advice and compliment!

@Julia Never thought about the sketchbooks having a different style, thank you for bringing that up! I don't remember seeing any artist's website with a sketchbooks page, so i thought it was a unique kind of content to feature.
It's so exciting to know that someone is from Sydney too, drawing together would be so awesome! There's also life drawing classes and group sketching events we can visit for ultimate inspiration!

@dji Definitely thinking about the possible domain names. Would something like "IllustrationMill" still sound like a company rather than an individual entity? It suggests my family name, and the watermark is also shaped like a mill, so it would make a bit more sense than the current domain. Thank you so much for the compliment!

@Braden-Hallett That's the most difficult question for me at the moment, i'll definitely take the time to think about it! I've always wished to illustrate children's books, so publishing agencies and art directors will definitely be an important audience to target!

@smceccarelli Thanx so much for all the advice, and for taking a look at my website! ! Incorporating scenes and characters together seems like a whole new level of challenge, i'll slowly paddle towards that direction xD

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen Thank you! ^-^

@TessW Thanx heaps! Definitely gotta try join that challenge :))

@tombarrettillo Thank you! :)) That advice is eye opening for me (-intended pun-), i usually overlook (-intended pun #2-) such details but they seem to make all the difference!

@julian-beresford Thanx so much! Looking at those artists' works now -

@rcartwright Thank you! ^-^ Putting illustrations in the front page definitely sounds better, initially i took that photo to show my drawing materials and the rug to bring an oriental feel to it, but using it as the focus is probably not resourceful at all -

Adore all the details and colours, just wow!

P.s. are you using the original Inktober prompts for the daily themes?

Latest from the Mountain Beehive sketchbook~

A truly sweet drawing that fits right into the winter-holiday theme! There's nothing that I could add or take away!
It faintly reminded me of a Soviet cartoon about a little bear and a little Chukcha boy's friendship always makes me cry for some reason
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEPogh5ZhIk

There's so many details! Would never want to leave a website that looked like that!

Thank you all so much for the detailed advice and input! I never expected this many tips and will keep coming back to read them while improving the website~ Thank you for being part of the journey!

@NessIllustration Definitely had doubts about those descriptions and put them for the sake of having more content and text, it's such a relief to remove it! :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: The domain for my name is taken, what about "Millerillos" (short for illustrations) or "IllustrationMill" or "YanaMillerArt"?

@ThisKateCreates There seems to be strange connection problem when trying to follow the link from my Instagram profile as well, I'll need to fix that somehow ><
Making art for magic the gathering cards must be one of the ultimate dreams! I heard that some of them paint on enormous canvases, which makes the art so detailed and impressive when reduced to small card size. Never knew that their commission prices were in thousands! =O Another dream!

@nyrrylcadiz Thank you so much for the advice! It's so difficult to choose one!
Recently one of the artists mentioned that their income comes from several things — client work, private commissions, selling prints, blogging and advertising. If that's the case, does the website still need to target one of them?

@TwiggyT Thank you for the compliment!! It's hard to analyse your own website from distance and your comment has given me wings! Will definitely add the "illustration art by" tagline, why didn't i think of it before!

@theprairiefox Oh yes, choosing an audience and courting for it should have been done at the beginning, but i still wonder who my audience might be! Having new content upfront sounds brilliant, maybe a future blog page will become the homepage and illustrations will go on a separate page? I've always had issues with too many goals and a hesitation to choose a narrower path, it might be the reason why i feel so behind as a creative. Thank you so much for the advice and compliment!

@Julia Never thought about the sketchbooks having a different style, thank you for bringing that up! I don't remember seeing any artist's website with a sketchbooks page, so i thought it was a unique kind of content to feature.
It's so exciting to know that someone is from Sydney too, drawing together would be so awesome! There's also life drawing classes and group sketching events we can visit for ultimate inspiration!

@dji Definitely thinking about the possible domain names. Would something like "IllustrationMill" still sound like a company rather than an individual entity? It suggests my family name, and the watermark is also shaped like a mill, so it would make a bit more sense than the current domain. Thank you so much for the compliment!

@Braden-Hallett That's the most difficult question for me at the moment, i'll definitely take the time to think about it! I've always wished to illustrate children's books, so publishing agencies and art directors will definitely be an important audience to target!

I've had my portfolio website for over a year and don't know what to think of it.

Illustrations are in 3 separate categories on the front page, each can be expanded to view more. There's a Sketchbooks page which will soon be replaced by a Blog page (someone mentioned it's better to put sketchbook/WIP things in social media, keeping the website for finalised artwork).

Thinking about changing the layout similar to Holly Exley's website — it features all the illustrations in small category groups which are seen straight away without needing to scroll. Plus the detailed left-hand menu with all the projects listed.

Do the About and Contact pages have enough information for potential clients? I also need to add a commission sheet with all the prices and details, could be why nobody has contacted me for work so far >< Or maybe the illustrations/style need to be developed more?

One more thing — is the domain name Mountainbeehive too long and should I be using my name instead?

3 and 11 are my fav — snowgrandpas ftw!! All of them together would work well as a series too, especially if they were to interact

There's so many details! Would never want to leave a website that looked like that!

A truly sweet drawing that fits right into the winter-holiday theme! There's nothing that I could add or take away!
It faintly reminded me of a Soviet cartoon about a little bear and a little Chukcha boy's friendship always makes me cry for some reason
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEPogh5ZhIk

Love the illustrations and idea! I had a crazy thought a while ago to draw every illustration during November with a moustache. But there's a Folktaleweek challenge in the middle so it probably won't happen ><

They look so adorable and cool! I especially love the tiny bear in the pocket and the way you use lighting, empowering the magical atmosphere. This should be a series for sure!

Seeing everyone's interpretations of the prompts was so inspiring, can't wait for next year!
There's also a challenge coming up in November called "Folktale Week", which looks very fun and many artists are joining, which can be seen under the #folktaleweek / #folktaleweek2018 hashtags. The prompts are – forest, magic, witch, ghost, insect, mirror and animal. All the arts made to preview the challenge look amazing!

Amazing pieces of art! * wants to hang them on my wall for inspiration*

I had the same problem for ages and thought there was something wrong with my computer/account!
It went back to normal after changing the 'skin' (go to Settings --> Select a Skin) to Paper. Other skins probably work too, I didn't experiment much ^^