Getting a professional evaluation, and...where are the ❤️ posts?

xin li

Regarding the issue:
I think it is called "bookmarks" in svs forum. You can find them by going to your profile, and click the 3 dots with the around blue background, then select "bookmarks" from the menu.

Regarding mentorship:
I have a very good experience with Giuseppe Castellano at IllustrationDEPT. It might be helpful to do some research on the potential portfolio reviewers/mentors, find interviews of the person, articles the person has written, or artwork they have produce (if the person is a working artists as well). Basically, get an idea from what perspective the person will critique your portfolio. I think it is also a good idea to get different people to review your portfolio if you are able to economically.

NessIllustration

@LauraA I actually offer portfolio reviews too, they're 1-1 meetings, 1-hour long https://portfolioreviews.mailerpage.com

Kevin Longueil

@LauraA I'm pretty sure some of Giuseppe Castellano's students are doing well...i know there was an issue with one of our members having a very frustrating interaction..or non-interaction with him..after she had paid i believe...not cool. I do plan on getting another portfolio review from him though or mentorship when i have enough new pieces in my portfolio( color pieces)...the first review was really helpful ..and he is hooked into the publishing world very deeply it seems . Maybe try the portfolio review since it is cheap and then you can decide if he is right for the mentorship? There do not seem to be a lot of options out there...
.. i found the thread about Giuseppe not getting back to Laurel and put it below

https://forum.svslearn.com/topic/8746/mentorship-with-giuseppe-castellano?_=1616171251074

https://illustrationdept.com/classes

LauraA

Thanks for all your suggestions! I will be looking into all of these. @Kevin-Longueil Yes, that's the conversation I was referring to. I'm glad that you had a better experience with Giuseppe's mentorship, @xin-li.

And it figures that I would find all the bookmarks under another three dots, @KathrynAdebayo. I looked and, violà! There were all the posts!

LauraA

@lizardillo When you got the consultation with Alison Branagan, was it a portfolio consultation or a business consultation? Just wondering if your response above meant that sometimes she does portfolio reviews and sometimes business consultations and I should just wait for the portfolio reviews to become available again. There are portfolio reviews available with Fig Taylor. Thanks!

lizardillo

@LauraA I’ve just gone through my old emails and it was a business consultation sorry not just a portfolio one. Sorry had I forgotten that part.

LauraA

@lizardillo Ok.Thanks for letting me know quickly, though!

lizardillo

Hi Laura,

I have a portfolio crit booked in with InkyGoodness tomorrow at 11.

It's only 30 mins so quite short for £30. I will let you know how I get on just in case this is something you would be interested in.

There are still slots available for tomorrow and Weds 28th April. you have to book a ticket through Eventbrite.

The times are UK time (BST)

LauraA

@lizardillo Thanks! Just signed up for next Wednesday!

BTW, I have started meeting with Giuseppe Castellano as well (two sessions so far) and I really like working with him.

lizardillo

@LauraA Brilliant!

I was looking at him too. I think I need a more varied and stronger portfolio before I go to him. I'm still in the graphic design/illustration switchover so all of my past illustration work is too business-y and corporate at the moment (and also hidden as it was for agencies). I don't think I'm children's book material so I need to find my niche, I'm hoping tomorrow will help.

Good luck with your crits.

LauraA

@lizardillo In the mentorship, Giuseppe has you start new work, so once you're ready that too can add to your new portfolio.

Good luck with your evaluation as well!

LauraA

So, @lizardillo, how did your critique with Inky Goodness go? I just had mine today. I thought it was useful, if for no other reason than to get me used to talking to people who are evaluating my work. She actually encouraged me to start an email dialogue with publishers. The thing that surprised me the most, though, is that she asked me if I wrote my own stories, because there was obviously storytelling ability in my images. Inside, I did a silent cheer, because I do want to tell stories, but didn't realize it was coming through!

Lee White

@LauraA We are launching our new "Chilren's Book Pro" within the next few weeks and it will have a mentor option. I'll be teaching there. As will Will and Jake and a whole host of other teachers. Maybe this will work for you?

In addition, we will be offering live workshops for our foundations too. This was put on hold while we built the children's book classes. Lot more on the way here, so hang tight!

Stay tuned to find out more! : )

lizardillo

@LauraA Hi Laura,

That sounds great, and really encouraging. I hope it has helped with what direction you want to go in.

Mine was ok too but I didn't get the link to the form until the evening before so I don't think there was enough time to prep beforehand. I had created my PDF in anticipation but not realised I needed to send the PDF beforehand but that makes perfect sense now! She had looked through my website beforehand though.

She also asked me if I wrote my own stories as my images show storytelling too. I said that I really struggle with getting words out (I'm dyslexic) and I am better describing things with pictures and I feel I would be better working with an author. I feel some of the tutorials here have helped me with that but I'm not sure my work is children's book material.

We spoke about how some of my work might be good for licensing (food illustrations rather than children's illustrations).

All in all I felt the zoom chat was a bit short, mainly because I have trouble being concise with my points, but she said she will be following it up with notes and suggestions afterwards, I'm still waiting for those but looking forward to them.

I am starting a 4-week art licensing course she is running that starts on 5th May and Ilm quite excited about it.

LauraA

@Lee-White Thanks for letting me know about this, Lee! In fact, I was on the verge of writing you guys an email because I wondered what had happened to all those options mentioned about a year ago. I have really been needing them this year! Right now I am doing a mentorship with Giuseppe Castellano, but I am definitely interested in the Children's Book Pro live option, and it's just a matter of how much stuff I can do at once. I feel like I'm almost there but the last steps require custom advice.

LauraA

@lizardillo Hmm, that's interesting because she mentioned educational for me. But I would really be more interested in storytelling. She also said that she wasn't really a children's lit person. But it was still good to get another opinion!