@duh Thanks for the feedback about the perspective. I agree, I need to make a choice about the story. I agree the blue one makes for a better story, so I think I will go with something along those lines. Thanks again.

@robbery said in Hello! I would like to reintroduce myself.:

robbery_illustration.

welcome back @robbery ! im looking forward to see your illustrations.
Just had a look at your instagram and it looks so nice 🙂

Have fun!!

@jeremy-ross the explicative was the first thing that came to my mind...

@duh Thank You, I didn't realize my Instagram was set to private. That should be fixed now.

I think my goal is to just get better at this craft, and to have better backgrounds with better gags and props. I need to learn how to tell a story in my paintings (aka Illustrations). I am currently taking the Picture Writing Course, and in the process of writing a children's book for my grandsons. I plan on doing my own illustrations as well, and I want it to turn out the best that I can.

@neilpriceart thank you for sharing your experience! I will check it out!

@cory-leick That's great Cory, I had a similar experience where I gave away the rights to my images for a decade. I've got the same dream, creating my own picture books! Let's go for it! Here's to the future. 🎊

AT least something went right in 2021 - Interesting to see how many children's books, old and new, in the top 25 best sellers of 2021. All totaled, David Pilkey sold around 3 million best selling books last year plus the ones, I suspect, that didn't make the list.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/88253-dav-pilkey-dominated-the-2021-bestseller-list.html

I'm liking how this is developing. I can't improve on Melissa's feedback and agree with what she has said. Looking forward to the next steps.

Hi all,
Names Max, first time poster here with a bit more of a business question about renegotiation of a price.

So just a bit of a behind the story but without the names because of NDA's.
Got offered a high quality job for a large company selling a product with my artwork on it, was told to send over what I'm expected to be compensated.
Sent over, no real reply to the price and was told to have a video chat with the team in a few days times.
Essentially was told the price was too high on the video call and since they're giving me a certain product valued at a certain amount and that's why they can't compensate me as much. A bit of back and forth about how retail value isn't the same as actual compensation.
After the video call after feeling the pressure, I naively signed the deal at a much lower price, and then the old buyers (or sellers remorse kicked in).

How would you go about renegotiating a price? Have you experienced with having to renegotiate?

all the best,
Max

Re: [Excited](but so uncertain how to move forward)
I am sorry that I have not been good to stay up to date on this forum. I am a terrible technology user. Still learning where to fit in this new high-tech world and apply my art to it. Also I have taken a bit of an illustration break and have been dipping my toes in the 'becoming and author' territory. I LOVE it! But have a long ways to go.
You all inspire me by sharing your art. I am becoming braver...gradually, and I hope to share soon. I know that it definitely part of any form of progression-taking that 'sharing your work' step.
I hope all is continuing to go well with your art! Keep creating!

I haven't posted for a while, happy new year everyone. Does anyone recognize what adobe or Kyle Webster brush I used to create the pastel on rough paper look? I can't find it. Also is there an easy way to create a favorite brushes section? Thanks
whatbrush.jpg

Congrats! Must be very exciting for you. Hope the work comes pouring in! Love your work.

@michael-angelo-go thanks! This was super helpful

@davidhohn You made a good point!

I also talked to a friend this afternoon, she said some ADs' got the passion to search for talents by themselves, through contests such American Illustrators, SOI, and channels like Behance or "It's nice that!" Some just don't want to be bothered at all ...

Calling the company is a great idea. I'll definitely try it. At least I can have a better idea if they want any illustrator submission or not.

This guy reviewed it - makes me curious for sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE02xGd2CCY

@Asyas_illos awesome! Thank you! yeah I am definitely a little shaky on animals- more of those would be good! These are from different projects 🙂

@joosterwijk Thanks! I agree about the layout. I am using Squarespace and its pretty user friendly, but I feel like the size of the images keeps changing and the layout is really different depending upon the device. Animals and black and white- definitely.

@Jeremy-Ross I read this earlier and I watched that class RIGHT away! SO helpful. Thank you for suggesting!

@TessaW SUCH great suggestions- I want to do them all. lol. Underwater would be so fun to do 🙂

Seriously, thank you guys for taking the time to look at my portfolio. SUPER helpful. I will share as I keep adding!

I don't have anything to add to the wisdom other people have shared, but just on a quick critique note- I love your art and style and think you are definitely good enough to get work- I just question whether you have enough variety displayed on your website when you first land on it.

Yes, you can click on each image to see expanded examples and more variety, but I wonder how many people actually click on them? It would be my instinct to get more variety of characters and settings right when you land on your website. Clicking on each image would just be a bonus from there. I feel like whenever I see pro illustrators organize their website like yours, they also have a good variety on their landing page. I sometimes hear the advice from Will Terry that if an art director doesn't see evidence that you can do something, they will err on the side of caution and not choose you. Right now you mainly have young women characters in landscapes with some animal interactions and bugs. Old people? Babies/toddlers? Men? Interiors? Architecture? I'd consider if there might be a different way to arrange your work so we can see the variety right away. Pulling some pieces hidden away in your different sections would help instantly and then you could fill in any gaps with new pieces from there. Just something to consider! It can be tricky to figure out the way you want to organize your website for max impact and organization.

I also noticed that sometimes when I go to your website I get certain examples of your work, and other times I get three more examples on your main landing page, two of which doesn't seem to match with the rest of your style. (The girl with the net/boy with the star and Le Jardin Zoologique)

I also just want to point out that if you mainly like illustrating girls in naturey scenes, I think that would lend really well to social media and having your own print shop. I think the ones in your editorial section would work especially well. That maybe another way to diversify your income.

Just an FYI for anyone that's a big fan of that world, A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh was published in 1926 and enters public domain this year. That includes Winnie-the-Pooh, and his friends Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Kanga, and Roo.

Be aware though that Tigger joined the gang in 1928, so he as a character is still copyrighted.

Happy New Year!

My creative gears starting turning and creative juices started flowing as I was reading through this list of movies, stories, etc. entering into the public domain in 2022. This only covers the US so if you’re like me, living outside of the US, best to double check (not sure how). Anyhoo, thought I’d share as a new year creative exercise in case anyone was looking for one.

Winnie-the-Pooh, Bambi, and 400,000 sound recordings enter the public domain in 2022