I NEED YOUR HELP! Portfolio WIP

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.