Thank you all for the tips! I don't have a lighting setup to get those consistent shots so I ended up going with your idea @von_Nimmermehr and using the natural light solution. I then take it to Photoshop for some more pop and color balancing.

@lpetiti This was the video that I got that info from... she has a few videos that are really informative and current
https://youtu.be/8sdUDg29GCI

This was a very helpful video, I'm going to have to try some IG reels and see if I get any growth. I really like the "ask questions" part. Jake Parker had mentioned that helped his growth a bunch too in the past.

@Frost-Drive hi! I agree with the others. They look quite cosistent. Similar linework, textures, colors.

@Urvashi-S Glad it's helpful. Most "realistic" cityscapes will employ multiple different sets of Left and Right VPs. This is because typically the world doesn't exist in a simple, tidy grid.
You can always tell the cityscape drawing of someone new to perspective because everything is just a little too perfectly parallel with each other, or at 90 degrees to each other. (Hey, we've all been there!)

So, yes you could certainly use something like this.

Hello everyone! I haven't been on the forum for a while. Busy life. I've been enjoying the great work people are posting. Quick question for the group, does anyone have a good resource for clients looking for b/w spot illustration? Attached two of my recent assignments. I really enjoy the b/w work flow and want more of it. I've found the usual suspects, like the New Yorker, but not much else. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!! -T

alt text

alt text

@Frost-Drive these should all be available at your library -- I checked them all out digitally with Overdrive.

@Griffin Here are some places you can find examples of postcards:

https://subitclub.com/postcard-post-archive/

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mailersandcoffee&src=typed_query&f=top

Also, next Thursday is the next #kidlitartpostcard social media event, even though you can't print & send at the moment, this event has been getting pretty good traction:

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/kidlitartpostcard/
http://www.ginaperry.com/blog/2021/5/26/announcing-kidlitartpostcard

My approach to my own website is one that I wouldn't recommend to anyone who is not an absolute nerd (I code for a living so doing my own site this way was a natural for me; but understandably not for everyone else). However, prior to this I used Adobe Portfolio (comes with any Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for what I understand) and for a non-coder it was okay. You can even host your own domain name there for added professionalism. I just switched because I wanted more control design-wise and felt comfier with code over time.

Regarding Wordpress, I've used that in the past too, not in wordpress.com but as in hosted WP installations (many web hosts these days will throw in WP installs for free; the company I use, Dreamhost, does it). WP's advantage is that it features hundreds of thousands of plugins that allow enabling WP to do pretty much anything. On the minus side, the mishmash of posts, plugins and databases WP eventually becomes turns it into a headache to maintain after a few years, IME.

Most people seem to choose Squarespace for portfolio use these days, anyway.

@K-Flagg I agree. I try to discourage my own students from doing a lot of contests for that very reason. @Frost-Drive I'd recommend just doing stuff for fun right now, like Inktober or Slowvember.

I really like Robb Mommaerts work, he is a master of inks.

I also like David Sierra, his work has a vintage air to it but it's really nice.

Mitch Leeuwe has a more commercial look, but he also has great and inspiring tutorials.

There is also Lorenzo from the Etherington Brothers, he has lots of tutorials and tips that works for a wide range of styles but it goes great for children and juvenile targets.

There are a few others I really like but I would need to do some digging for their links :P.

If you do it under the same name, it could be problematic. Lets say your name is credited in a children's book. Some kid liked the art so much that looks for you online and ends up finding some spicy stuff.
You should judge it yourself, is it ok for your target audience to find online the other stuff you do? It might be that you dont really have anything distasteful that shows by searching your name, but if you do... It might be wise to use a pseudonym.

@donnamakesart Definitely agree. It made me concerned about the students they'll be teaching. If they're bullying adults, God help their students.

Even if it is bullying, I wish it was something I could ignore and forget...

@LauraA Hey that's a cool solution! And yes, I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable they are. I hope your overall experience is positive!

HI Elisa!
This is tricky. I am running into sort of the same thing. Basically I am learning that I have been getting better way faster by doing MORE lower paying jobs. I am learning speed, skill, and communication at such an exponential rate compared to when I was just trying to work on my portfolio. I am not at the level where I can make what I want to per project yet... but I feel like I am playing the long game and I am getting there. I don't know what your art looks like (I'd love to see!) or what your financial situation is. I also see I your picture you have a baby (I have three- I get the time thing!) but that's what I have found in my own life. That was probably not super helpful lol. But, you're not alone in your ponderings... Best of luck!!

I think what you're looking for are watercolour triads. Choosing 1 red, 1 yellow, and 1 blue from which to mix all your colours in a limited palette. This will ensure your colour palette is harmonious. For example this is a colour wheel I created with just three primaries and a little colour study of a character I did using this limited palette.

Aussie Triad.jpeg

Gretel colour study 1.jpeg

And here's a fantastic resource that will elaborate on the topic and provide many more triads!

https://www.janeblundellart.com/watercolour-triads.html

I could spend all day every day just playing with watercolour triads 😝 I hope you get as much delight out of them as I do!

@lpetiti Sounds good!!

good. I think there is a second part to that one also. I think its called creative composition 2.0

@willicreate Thanks very much ! I had the intention of them all working in the same kitchen in a mediterranean setting like Italy or south of France, so I guess they could be brothers. I'll perhaps put some text on the page explaining that or change the title to make it more obvious. Thank you 🙂

@jthomas I personally think the action could start at around four or five. If the story has a good hook and flow, I flip through pages quick. What troubles me is I don’t know who Jaz is as a person. From the first chapter I get his strong sense of justice and can be headstrong, aka a hero type. But what makes Jaz 'human'?

You don’t have to answer all the questions in chapter two. Having a mystery can foster audience retention. It would be better to allow Jaz to have his adventures before reintroducing the mother. To show how the crystal got into the pod, the easiest thing to do is show the antagonist exit the pod bay and then setup the charge. No dialouge needed.

Speaking from personal experience, I think you should move on to working on chapter two. It's better to have a draft of a completed story than to risk a project get stuck in development hell.

@Griffin hi! I’d recommend separating them. Have 1 page for the children’s illustration and another for your MG and YA

@burvantill Love that you're going with just your name! That is awesome! Definitely rock star status. My name is too common for that, unfortunately. 😂

Share more when you have it!