What Should You Include In Your Illustration Portfolio?
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- What do you put in your illustration portfolio? Illustrations that you like, or illustrations that clients like?
You don't have to guess what potential clients want to see in an illustration portfolio. There is a very easy way to find out what subjects clients are regularly searching for.
I was going to post the list in the description but decided I didn't want to make it too easy for you 😜
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I’m James, an illustration agent @folioart - I share what I’ve learned about the illustration industry to help new illustrators find their first clients and become professionals faster.
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Again, you really nailed it. You helped me understand something that I've spent decades struggling with. I am not a young or new artist. I'm a middle aged artist with close to 30 years of experience. But my schooling was focused on fine art and that education had a very "conceptual art" slant. We learned to make bodies of work based on ideas, feelings, abstract concepts. Usually in ways that are indirect. Process was more important than product. It's a totally different approach than professional illustration. We were trained to try to" not be too didactic". The opposite of illustration for a client.
Now I'm trying to build off of my extensive knowledge in art making and transition into freelance illustration. I'm trying to identify my "style" even still at this age, because I've experimented with every style you can think of. I like to do a variety of different stuff because I get bored if I do one thing. But this so obvious I feel stupid video made me realize that I CAN be all over the place. Just in terms of subject matter instead of style and technique.
What I do want to know is if there is still a place for traditional media or if I should build my digital portfolio? I LOVE painting and drawing with paint and paper. It's as natural to me as breathing. I have a lot of experience in Photoshop so I can actually make digital changes if necessary, and I'm proficient in digital painting, I just don't like it as much.
Hey Willow, thanks for the kind words. There's definitely a place for traditional media, you just have to be able to scan/photograph and edit it digitally so it looks the best it can be
@@TheIllustratorsGuide fantastic thank you!
I would just like to say thanks for these videos - As someone who has been out of the illustration loop since 2000 working in other artistic fields and looking to get back into illustration
your videos are extremely helpful indeed. Getting any of this information, for me anyway has been extremely hard to come by.
I like how you are brutally honest. Showing what one needs to search for in order to increase the chances of landing work and projects.
I am at a breaking point in terms of working in unfulfilling and meaningless jobs. I hate where I am as far as a meaningful career. I do not have one.
If you have some other information that will assist me. I will truly appreciate it. Thank you.
I'm sorry to hear that! Well, i think the best thing you can do is try and start a side hustle and build it up until you're doing what you love
Thank you for these videos, James! I'm more headed into children's illustration and I'm finding your videos quite helpful. Love how you explain things!
I appreciate it Billie
I would like to say thank you. Your advice is very clearly and you keep it short for audiences to digest. Very helpful to me.
Thank you James. My face always looks so serious while listening and burst into laughter at the end of your videos.
This video is truly valuable and offers an excellent strategy. Out of all the illustration courses I have taken, even though they were practical-oriented, no teacher has provided such a cool tip and strategy. I hope you will continue to make more videos.
Exactly the kind of advice I was looking for, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Holy crap this was the holy grail of art illustration hacks ever!❤😮🎉
Two holy's in one comment! Thanks! #blessed
Amazing video! I‘m just starting out and have been building my skills and portfolio for a year now I really hope to get my foot into the aspect of working with clients through an agency soon
Excellent video James. A most informative little gem for a new illustrator. Your videos are a massive help with so much important info. Thank you very much, mate!
Thanks for the kind words!
Thank you so much James! That is so helpful! I know how to create a strategic portfolio now! Appreciate your videos so much!
Real great advice. Thank you very much.
Thank you for your advices. It's really useful
Thanks for the guidance. Brilliant video.
Omg this is so helpful, very grateful for all your videos
happy to help!
Brilliant idea! Thank you
Thanks for the info. It's super helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you ! that was useful ^_^
Glad it was helpful!
I was writing them as watching the video but when i came to the description u let me down James LOL just kidding thanks for the great info ;-)
Haha, just wanted to make sure you were paying attention ;-)
Great videos. Thanks for the useful advice. In addition to this, are illustrators normally asked to produce a certain style or can they get hired based on their own style?
Freelance illustrators are hired for their own style and unique point of view. There are some instances where an illustrator would be hired to imitate a style, if you went to work for Disney or whatever. My main focus here is on illustrators that have their own style.
This is an amazing video, I wish I came across it sooner. How much does an illustrator's instagram / tiktok following play into whether they become represented by an illustration agency (if at all)?
It's a factor, but not everything. There are plenty of great illustrators who don't have large social followings. It's not the most important thing in the world.
@@TheIllustratorsGuide thank you so much!!
Useful points, thank you. Also I was wondering, can I as an illustrator, also have a career as a surface pattern designer for example textiles and wallpapers? Or is that a market exclusively for textile or graphic designers? I would love to do both. Is that possible? Great content. 🌞💯🙏
Sure you can! Do whatever you want! I don't know much about surface pattern and textile industry, but I know it doesn't work in the same way as freelance illustration does exactly. My advice here won't necessarily apply to that kind of work.