Top 10 Illustrations for your Children's Book Portfolio

Learn the Top 10 types of illustrations publishers are looking for when hiring illustrators. Displaying these topics and themes in your portfolio shows art directors that you can produce the work they need for their children's book projects!
These top themes are popular across the globe and are relevant to any style! Use these topics as prompts to develop illustrations in your unique style with your own artistic voice.
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Intro by: ITSme Learning Creative Director Bhavi Patel
Art Featured: By Illustrators as credited from the ITSme Society Agencies
Concepted and Produced by: the ITSme Learning Team: Emily Coggins, Cassandra Smith, and Seb Arango
Edited by: Singulare

[@solrossi_illustration]

Thank you guys! This video is very useful

[@vinnymukayofc]

I'm a Brazilian artist and I'm trying to be a Picture Book illustrator. This video was very informative and answered a question that I always had. Thank you!

[@ITSmeLearning]

You're welcome! Glad you found the information useful.

[@paula_cuantica]

Awesome video, thanks for all the useful tips, I have been trying for years to be represented by an agency and now I see I am missing a lot of things in my portfolio! Many, many thanks!

[@ITSmeLearning]

You're welcome! Glad you found the video helpful.

[@user-oc5ox1mr9o]

Thank you very much for the information, I will apply some changes to my portfolio

[@ITSmeLearning]

That sounds great! So happy we can help ❤

[@shohineedeb9089]

Thank you for all this priceless information. As a beginner, you have provided me with a lot of clarity.

[@ITSmeLearning]

You're very welcome!

[@jasongarnett6992]

Thank you for the information, I have been trying to get represented and been turned down many times but nobody ever tells you exactly why. I will be working hard on my portfolio to make sure that I include all 10 and hopefully the next time I submit my portfolio to ITSme or any other agency they will not turn me down...😂😂😂

[@ITSmeLearning]

Glad you found the information helpful! It can be hard for agencies to give feedback to everyone who submits, that is why we are making this content! So artists can improve their portfolios and increase their chances of work and representation!

[@kmufti6783]

very insightful..I didn't know fan-art made the cut for portfolios!

[@ITSmeLearning]

Yes, it is more acceptable now then it use to be!

I loved the tips! Glad to see I already have a lot of these topics in my portfolio, I just need to work on the remaining ones (hello dinosaurs!)

[@ITSmeLearning]

That's great! Dinosaurs can be a lot of fun to illustrate

[@louiseforshaw3207]

This is my wonderful agent ❤

[@ITSmeLearning]

Bhavi is awesome! She will be doing a lot more videos on here soon, so keep an eye out 👀

[@NoodlesByPao]

Thank you for this. I got some freelance illustration gigs but I can’t get representation at all.

[@ITSmeLearning]

Glad you found the information helpful, that is why we are making this content! So artists can improve their portfolios and increase their chances of work and representation!

[@donniebendraws]

I see my strengths on some and my weaknesses among the 10. Oh well, I know now 😅 Thank you for this information. ❤

[@ITSmeLearning]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@tonybarber2759]

That's a great insight, thank you.

[@ITSmeLearning]

You're welcome!

[@deninugroho4591]

this video is so helpfull. Before this I'm an fulltime illustrator in a publisher company, it's different on there because we must be able to adapted and duplicate in various style and genre. I'm in a new journey to be freelance illustrator and this video gave me a guidance whatt should i do to build my portfolio. Thankyou Bhavi, I hope there would be a chance for to join on ITSme talent!

[@ITSmeLearning]

Thank you! We are glad you found the video helpful. 🙂

[@roniick7816]

Its really helpful.

[@ITSmeLearning]

Thank you! We are happy to share our tips and industry information!

[@nataliaryapolova979]

Thank you very much for this super helpful video! I have a small question: these are tips for a picture book illustrator. If I would like to focus on non-fiction (education) books would the rules for a portfolio be different?

[@ITSmeLearning]

Other than numbers 4 and 7, yes these are applicable for non fiction portfolios. You would just focus the illustrations on non fiction topics/ stories. We will be releasing a blog on nonfiction portfolios soon, and video in the future!

[@zai_elia]

Can we include character design / book covers in portfolio?

[@brucegay9569]

Wait, fan art is acceptable in a children's book illustration portfolio? How? And why?
I would like an elaboration on that.

[@ITSmeLearning]

That's a great question - and a topic / subject a lot of people misunderstand. We'll be doing a video about that in the future!

[@sramaxhiku]

Thank you for this great video. I'm desperate for professional advice: Can I illustrate a children's book in Sketchbook Pro instead of Photoshop? Thank you.

[@ITSmeLearning]

Yes! Most digital programs will work to illustrate a children's book.

[@sramaxhiku]

@ITSmeLearning Thank you very much for your advice.

[@ITSmeLearning]

@@sramaxhiku You're welcome!