A portfolio website first and foremost. Either hire someone to make it for you or learn how to make it. I don't have a website myself but I'm building one at the moment. I haven't been on Instagram in nearly a month. Honestly I'm getting tired of it.

Remember that you are 'renting' the space off Instagram. You've signed up to their Terms and Conditions so they have complete control of what you post. They also have the ability to change how that platform works without any notice. I recently had an art piece removed by Instagram because of a copyright issue (the record label requested it be removed and it came up in my notifications) so you have to factor in that too. When you have your own site you could post anything you like. You have Behance too...you could easily integrate your projects into a site using Adobe portfolio.

Also, there no guarantee these sites are around forever...your own website will be there as long as you want. Who uses MySpace now? It was THE thing a while back LOL. It will happen to Instagram too.

Thanks for sharing your time lapse link. It will be fun to see your process!

@SketchyArtish yes, when I first opened Jakes class, in the right section you could see discussions according the class. something like "where can I find this pen" or "i can't find the pdf for the exercise"
Some i found quite useful.

@arent-draper sounds great!

You really captured the "love" in this, nicely done!

@Jason-Bowen Far out! Love these!! Looking forward to seeing more.

Irina,

I am so glad that you started a thread on this discussion.
I am currently working on my website and I am planning to approach some agents and publishers this year.

I am also wondering about the best way to arrange my website.
I am a painter and illustrator but my work ranges from children's style illustrations to portraiture and landscape paintings.
I am not sure if I should focus my website on illustrations that are geared towards children's illustration and avoid putting my other art like my portraiture and landscape work on the same website.
Or have one website with categories for the different type of art that I do.

I am also wondering how the process of getting published works when representing oneself.
Is it better to have an agency represent me rather than approaching the publishing companies directly?

I do know that many publishing sites do have a section where you can submit your project directly but I imagine they receive many submissions via email and it is probably easy to get lost in the masses.

How should one approach a publisher as an illustrator and author?

Jessica Jolicoeur

I am finding this out with the "How to Draw Mammals course." Everything I tried at first looked really ripped because I was focusing on bones and muscles. I had to go back and look for where the animals stored fat and what is the natural gesture. That really helped.

Not this year, but next year is a real possibility...Please, please, please let us know how great it is!

@murielle Oh wow that was so interesting and learnsome! (Apart from learning your dutch as well! :p) Thank you so much for your awesome tutorial. ♥

I use Inprnt.com to sell prints and find it really good. I find the quality of the print really good. Lovely pic by the way. Inprnt like society6 or redbubble take care of the sale, printing, shipping etc. so you get a percentage of the sale. I found Inprnt to be the best percentage wise.

Anyone on Format?

https://www.format.com/magazine/galleries/illustration/illustration-portfolio-examples-2016

Oh this is so great and handy! Thank you so much for sharing it with us! 😃

@Coreyartus you’re welcome! Hope you can use it. 🙂

I joined up in November. I think the Big Book directory is great! lots of helpful info in addition to up to date contacts. My local chapter Nor Cal is very active too. I’m attending my first Local Chapter conference in May and am looking forward to the portfolio critique. I will also be attending the Summer conference in LA which I am anxious and excited about. The members are helpful and have answered every question I’ve had very quickly. As said earlier there are contests and grants that are offered for writers and illustrators. I haven’t gone in for any yet but I plan on it.

That's awesome!

thanks guys! Looking them over now!

@MsIllo Word! I'm an engineer too! XD

@CatOnPaper Sorry, I did not mean to make it sound scary. As an illustrator, once your illustrations are approved and handed over, both your job and responsibilities are complete to my knowledge (I am new to illustration). As a graphic designer though, you are responsible for making sure not only that the page layout is done correctly, but also that everything is at the proper resolution and in the right colour format. When you are working one on one with a client, you are often responsible for prepress prep as well. If something is missed by you or the printer, and there are mistakes in the final books, you could be responsible for that. As a graphic designer you would always have your client approve the final design and sign off on it, but if you make a technical mistake that’s on you. It’s just more involved that’s all.

Just to add that I registered self-employed before I had any money coming in, as I got a grant to setup my business and got a laptop with the funding and a business bank account to put my earnings into. Worth looking into getting funding off arts organisations or sponsorship.