Lots of fun to see these all! My son insists I add mine to the mix . . .

So as I've been working on multiple scenarios between two characters, I find myself struggling to keep them as consistent as I want (even though it isn't my first time). I would LOVE a course showing Will, Jake, and Lee's process working to maintain consistency of character. Does this resonate with anyone else?

Hello! If anyone has a little time, I'd love your thoughts on what I might do to improve this piece. There are a few things I still plan to do, but I'd gladly hear anything you have to suggest. Thanks so much!

I really love the Creative Comp class here at SVS. Thumbnailing my compositions (especially with value) has been most helpful. Since I liked how my thumbnail turned out from Will's prompt (regarding Amanda's long walk to the school bus from her house on the first day of school), I always wanted to take it to finish. Since it worked so well with SCBWI's May prompt "Arrival," I got to do just that.

It was due today, so it's all turned in. But I welcome any feedback. Thanks!

I tell everyone about SVS and we all love it. There's so much relevant, helpful information that really sticks with you. Keep doing what you're doing!

As far as suggestions go, several members from my crit group and I were talking about how we'd like more female perspectives. We appreciate your nice assortment of classes and instructors, and we learn from everything we hear, but it would be nice to have a better balance of female perspectives - perhaps especially when it comes to contests?

Don't walk away! You've created such an intimate feeling, great perspective, wonderful colors. Even if you do nothing else, you should submit it.It's beautiful! I think sometimes we hear so many suggestions that it makes us forget what we enjoyed about it in the first place and we grow discouraged. Believe that what you've made is outstanding!

It would have been better to show my thumbnails before asking this question, but I didn't. And I still really want to make sure this is reading as intended. (I'm willing to start over, if needed!)

I talked to my crit group last night, realized this needed a little tweaking, and want to see if it's now reading properly. I'm also happy to hear any other useful critique. Thanks!

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Thanks, both of you!

evilrobot, I don't think you'll regret joining SCBWI. Almost every month they send out an email called Insight with various articles and interviews (this is different from their quarterly magazine you'll receive in the mail). Within Insight is a contest called DrawThis, featuring two winners (no special prize; just exposure) and a link to all the other submissions. Each month introduces a new prompt word for the following month, always due the 20th. If you Google "SCBWI Insight," it'll take you to the page with links to past issues to give you a better idea of what Insight is and links to submission guidelines for DrawThis.

Also, on SCBWI's website, there's a dropdown menu featuring other contests they hold throughout the year. There aren't a ton, but it definitely gives you something to work toward like SVS. Good luck and don't hesitate to ask any other questions you have.

You are on to a great start, Corlette! I really enjoy your stylization, color choices, and textures! There are two things that might take you a step further:

1. Storytelling/interaction. At present, the top illustration doesn't have any interaction between the characters. They're posing and looking at us - which can be okay in certain settings, but art directors are looking for illustrators who can tell a story. They assume you are already capable of drawing giraffes and elephants (which are really cute, by the way!). If you haven't already watched it, SVS has a great class on visual storytelling that really gets you asking the right questions to get the job done.

2. Value. (This is something I've had to really work on, by the way.) At present, your top image is painted in relatively the same values. Pushing and pulling value makes it easier for us to "read" all the fun elements you have happening. Ask who is most important to the story you're telling and create the strongest value difference around that character. Again, SVS has great tutorials to help you out here (Light and Shadow and Color and Light).

You're on your way, Corlette! I do like your storytelling of the girl with her pose and costume to depict the way she feels. Keep things up and you'll create some beautiful things!

What a great mood, and I love your textures and lighting. Good job (especially in only a few days)!

I tell everyone about SVS and we all love it. There's so much relevant, helpful information that really sticks with you. Keep doing what you're doing!

As far as suggestions go, several members from my crit group and I were talking about how we'd like more female perspectives. We appreciate your nice assortment of classes and instructors, and we learn from everything we hear, but it would be nice to have a better balance of female perspectives - perhaps especially when it comes to contests?

For anyone who's watched the Spring Critiques with Lee and Will, have you had any issues with it not being synched properly? It's happening for me. Aaron said he hadn't heard anyone else dealing with the issue, so I wanted to double check with all of you to see if it's just me, or if others are having problems with it too.

Thanks!

I second a mixture of both! Thanks so much for what you do. SVS has helped me improve dramatically!

@Lee-White Thank you SO much, Lee! This is very helpful and I'll certainly take what you share to heart.

(And hopefully it can help others out there in this same position?)

Dear Wise Forum friends,

I've been emailing with an editor from a smaller publishing house who is interested in having me illustrate a 32-page book. I can tell he's fishing to find out what kind of an advance I would ask for (calling it "sort of a blind man's bluff"), and also admitted their "advances are modest."

As far as my experience goes, I illustrated a book for a vanity house (where they hired me), getting below market rates and am currently illustrating a pb for another small press on the lower end of advances. Does anyone have experience in how you might approach an editor with regards to payment? I know Will encourages us to decide what the lowest we would be willing to go would be, but beyond that does anyone have advice?

This editor is also interested in a sketch/draft sample of an illustration from the mss. I've heard people say we should be paid for this. What are your thoughts about it, and what kind of price might I ask for doing a sample piece?

@Lee-White Just the advice I needed! Thanks, Lee!

You are on to a great start, Corlette! I really enjoy your stylization, color choices, and textures! There are two things that might take you a step further:

1. Storytelling/interaction. At present, the top illustration doesn't have any interaction between the characters. They're posing and looking at us - which can be okay in certain settings, but art directors are looking for illustrators who can tell a story. They assume you are already capable of drawing giraffes and elephants (which are really cute, by the way!). If you haven't already watched it, SVS has a great class on visual storytelling that really gets you asking the right questions to get the job done.

2. Value. (This is something I've had to really work on, by the way.) At present, your top image is painted in relatively the same values. Pushing and pulling value makes it easier for us to "read" all the fun elements you have happening. Ask who is most important to the story you're telling and create the strongest value difference around that character. Again, SVS has great tutorials to help you out here (Light and Shadow and Color and Light).

You're on your way, Corlette! I do like your storytelling of the girl with her pose and costume to depict the way she feels. Keep things up and you'll create some beautiful things!

I do have one more question I hope Will (or anyone else) will answer for me. Almost everyone encourages limiting a physical portfolio to 12-15 pieces (maybe 20 max). Should we do the same with our online websites? Or should we include even more (as Will obviously has)? Assuming we only add solid pieces, what's a good rule for how many pieces we should include in an online portfolio? I recognize the less-is-more mentality, but if we hope to include all of Will's list above in our online portfolio (multi-tasking these elements into each piece), should we be adding more to what we have online than what we would include in our physical portfolios?

This is so helpful. Thanks!

Is anyone else having trouble with last night's 3rd Thursday video not syncing properly?