I NEED YOUR HELP! Portfolio WIP

Asyas_illos

I’m not sure how how to describe it and it is just one persons opinion, some people can rock it for sure, but to me it seems just very stiff?, maybe is a better word.? Kind of like too much of a good thing is a bad thing I feel like it just gets built up and something that’s meant be smooth and flowing, loses its essence. Maybe I just have that feeling because I myself don’t understand how to use it and use it well? I do agree with what others have said as well but knowledge of those elements I think fall into skill as well, knowing those storytelling aspects and composition and so forth. I am having to discontinue my subscription as well do to changes in my life at the moment, but I really wish I didn’t I have learned so much and there’s still so much I need to learn ! If you’re able to I would sign back up and keep taking classes that interest you or that you think you need work on. Cool? Hope to see more from you in the future! By the way I always loved that book cover, it’s definitely my favorite!

seelliott

Hi Kori, Just wanted to throw my two cents into the ring! I am no expert so please take my opinion with a pinch of salt.

I think you are doing lots of things well and you have great skill in your anatomy and colours. I think your problem is content and consistency of style.

You say you want to focus on picture books or middle grade books. If you are focused on picture books these are aimed at 5-10 year olds and are heavily story driven. You only have one image with a child that looks the appropriate age. You also only have a few story driven images. Can you write a sentence to describe what is going on for each piece? Do you want to know what is going to happen next in the story? I would add some images that are before the action, during the action or after the action.

Take your samiri cat for example. I personally love this image but if it was in a children's book the cat needs to be doing something. How about drawing the cat 6 times in different poses cooking or cleaning or fighting or something? A character sheet is a great portfolio piece.

It looks a bit like you have a few styles. I see a line art comic style, ones like the haunted forest one and the fang and mitton one. I love this book cover by the way! It totally ok to experiment but keep looking for something that doesn't fit. If you couldn't see it in a picture book or middle grade book then however lovely the image is take it out.
Like your Dex Van Staten piece. This is great and the detail is lovely but can you see this in a picture book? A middle grade book maybe but even then it would have a younger character alongside it to give it context plus some interaction and story.

Have you ever tried illustrating a fairy-tale or preexisting story? Try a book cover and some internal illustrations.

I look forward to seeing how your portfolio develops. Keep going. You are doing a great job.

Check out Will Terry's portfolio course for some great tips.

Kori Jensen

@Jeremy-Ross Thats a great challenge and absolutely I agree. I think I'll do it too!

Kori Jensen

@neschof Your opinion is still very much appreciated my friend. You guys and gals are amazing to the empth degree. I shall be taking your advice as best I can. UGH! why is there a 120 second limit on when I can reply to you all. I just want to give you all a verbal hug.

Kori Jensen

@Asyas_illos You are so kind with your advice my friend. Fluidity has been a struggle, especially within my 2d cartoon characters. This is why I try to make up for it in a dynamic background. However, as you (and my other friends here) said, I am lacking a certain something in my skill set. I am sooooo determined to learn what I must learn and obtain what I must obtain in order to become a master Illustrator. I am not as good as I thought I was and thats okay. Such is the life of an illustrator. I would not have it any other way, its the journey to becoming a master that is truly rewarding. And I sooo appreciate that there are others like you who take the time to help me.

As for my book cover, you are too kind. I hope to wow others and truly make them feel something when they look at my art.

Kori Jensen

@seelliott Thank you so much! I see a lot of good advice and I just wanted to make better sence of what you are saying. Possibly due to the fact that it's first thing in the morning and I am not fully here. And there were a lot of ideas in here.

As far as I understand it, you think I need to make more of an effort to make my art more child friendly rather than all of the detailed and mature subject matter?

As well I get what your saying about the samurai cat (also one of my favourites too ;)) I need to diversify the content so that it can be visualized as a fully realized, walk talking, character.

As for showcasing different styles, do you think it's good to have more than one style within your portfolio as long as they are appropriate to a children's book. Is that what you are saying?

I have done fairy tale book covers, but I'm curious to know what I could do with them now.

I'll do my best to improve and I thank you for taking the time out to helping me!
PS I love your art. makes me feel warm, like I am back in my elementary school's library reading a book. THANK YOU!

CukiArtist

@Kori-Jensen Currently I would say your art style is more suited for middle grade or chapter books than picture books. (Still valid options). I'm currently trying to put a portfolio together for the same market, which shows I'm also a rookie and not a professional but here are my 2 cents.

This old episode from 3 Point Perspective podcast is about making a good portfolio and includes a list at the bottom of things to try and include. This might help you set goals. https://www.svslearn.com/3pointperspectiveblog/2019/5/22/building-a-strong-portfolio

For example with this Jack cover, why not now create some interiors for this book including full page, spot and vignettes. Show your character, Jack doing different things from the story such as climbing the beanstalk, sneaking around the giant's castle, interacting with the goose etc. This shows that you can tell story, create consistent characters and handle a variety of things such as exteriors, interiors and animals.

As for showing different styles. I don't think it's a bad thing but I would suggest create projects like the Jack example above with each project show casing a different style but consistent within the project.

Kori Jensen

@CukiArtist Those are valid points and wonderful ideas. I think I can capture the hearts more with a recognizable story and with different perspectives to tell the story. Thank you so much for your advice my friend :).

seelliott

@Kori-Jensen Hi Kori,

My main point is not to have just character designs. Have them interacting and doing things. As long as you can describe what they are doing.

As for styles I struggle a bit because it is so subjective. I have heard that it is best to have just one and if you wanted to add in another later then you could do another portfolio to showcase that. Your comic style really comes out in most of your pieces

The book cover looks good. You could add this straight into your portfolio to showcase a cover and the child looks a lot younger but it feels more middle grade than picture book maybe. That might be just me.

I would agree with @cukiArtist that you might fit well in middle grade but really choose which one you think you will enjoy the most. Middle grade has a lot of black and white. I am learning that it is quite different in style and content.

I am just trying to fix my portfolio as I couldn't choose between middle grade and picture books so did a bit of both to help me decide. I think Picture books has won! Thanks for your kind words about my art.

Kori Jensen

@seelliott hmmm I'll have to look into that for sure. Although I like the idea of making a drawing for every page. I just might need to adjust my style, or adopt a new one in order to be a children's book Illustrator.

As for youth pieces, you might be right. Or perhaps I can plant myself in both. As sketchy as that might sound...pun intended.

PS no worries about the compliments, you got talent!

Kori Jensen

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Kori Jensen

@seelliott hmm I wonder if I could make it in book cover design for teen novels?

xin li

@Kori-Jensen keep going with your work, it takes time to build up portfolio and land an agent. I agree with what other´s already said regarding critique on your current work. I can add a list of excises, learning methods that have helped me.

Dream portfolio excise.
I first heard from Lee at SVS about the Dream portfolio. The gist of it is that you find 20 images from different artists (can do this online) that you think is the best art in the entire universe, and that would be your dream portfolio. Then you analyse why these images speak to you. Then you pick a few do Master copy of each image. This excise has a lot to chew. If you have SVSLearn subscription, I think you can probably find the lecture about Dream portfolio.
constantly looking at how other artists solve particular problems, and try to copy it, and then try to find a different approach to solve the same problem.
I constantly looking at how other artists draw. Sometimes, I would go look at how a certain artists draw a toy, shadows, a row of houses, a boat, a stack of book, if I am working on that. I look at how that artist make that stack of book hers, not just a generic stack of book. Then I try to figure out how I can draw a stack of book that is mine. I copy a lot of artists on my sketchbook for excise purpose. I never post these things online, no one needs to see them.
Observational drawing /life drawing
I slowly starting this one now. I take a sketch book to the playground when going out with my kid.
quick painting studies
This one is really good for learning about composition, color and value.
You can look for beautiful photographs online and do 30mins-1h painting study. You can also try to paint with limited values. I think Lee might have a vide about this on his YouTube channel or on SVSLearn.

Hope this make some sense. And keep practicing. Draw everyday if your schedule allows, , even if it is only 20mins a day.

Kori Jensen

@xin-li Thank you so much for your advice. I haven't done this yet. It sounds like I need to look for artists that I love. I mean I have a couple. I hope it'll be enough. There are so many good artists out there.

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Kori-Jensen I like your website. It's simple and clean. The biggest issue I'm seeing is that you don't have a lot of kids and youths. If you want to work in the children/ middle grade/ young adult market, you need to add more characters in those age ranges.

Kori Jensen

@Nyrryl-Cadiz short and sweet thank you for your keen eye. I am most certainly going to keep that in mind moving forward. I admit I did not think of that. But ill be doing my best to add children. Thank you

Jules

Hi Kori! I really liked looking at your pieces! You have some really great poses on your characters, and your background work is great too!
I agree with (can’t remember who said it) the comment about finding different brushes. I think expanding brushes would really help add different texture and depth. I had the same problem with brushes when I started doing digital art. I’ve gotten a little bit better, but it’s still something I’m learning.
Another thing that I noticed is that some parts of your pieces look really different from the rest of the piece. For example, your ninja piece has a great background, but the simplicity of the character looks out of place in the background. I’m not entirely sure how to fix this because I have this problem with some of my pieces too, but if you can find ways to make them look like they are the same style or texture, that could help. (Someone else probably knows what I’m talking about and could articulate it better )
You are doing a good job! Keep pushing yourself and trying new things.