Portfolio Refresh, and 100 things project
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It's time for me to refresh my portfolio and website, and I could use some advice.
I'd like to have just 9 strong images arranged in a grid (instead of the hodgepodge of tiles I have now at www.valerielightillustration.com)
I want to use the 6 illustrations below, plus make another 3 new ones. What do you think I need to show more of?
For reference, I just did a project recommended by Chad Beckerman from CAT, where he asks you to list your 100 favorite things to draw, and then make sure your portfolio reflects those things. It really helped me, and it's fun!
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So many good things! Your style is very unified, and the images show lots of motion and whimsy. I love all of the details in each image, the secondary narratives going on, and the expressiveness of the characters. Congratulations for successfully incorporating so many things! One thing I notice is that they are mostly spot/vignette images. Even though the one in the top left is cropped, it sort of functions as a spot since the space all around the characters and the garage are mostly white. So perhaps you could also include an image with a full bleed?
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It’s looking good! The list is awesome and made me giggle! Maybe throw some animals in there maybe anthropomorphism?
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Your portfolio is building very well. You are definitely playing to your strengths and that is always best. You have a nice sturdy foundation of illustrations. Nicely done excited to see much more of work. Thanks for posting the list it is certainly a wonderful idea.
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@Valerie-Light I think you should also consider what kind of work do you want to produce in the future, and produce more of that, unless you want more of a variety of work? Also consider producing examples that show that you can draw other subjects. I hope this is helpful.
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@Valerie-Light I am totally going to make a list like this for myself as I try to build my portfolio. I like your layout and ideas, but I would add some more characters, for sure. Maybe more kids. But its great! I love your work.
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@Robert-Henderson Thanks!
@Asyas_illos Good ideas!
@jenn I'm really stoked to hear things are looking unified. It has taken some searching!! Agreed about full bleed art.
@AlliFaith Agreed, more kid characters. I think I need some closeups, too.
@PenAndrew Yes! I'm open to anything, but I'm learning that I'm happiest with subjects that are somewhere in the Venn diagram between fairytale picture books, Choose Your own Adventure novels, board games, adventurous chapter books, and gradeschool science.Thank you all for the feedback and encouragement.
At the moment, do you think there's anything on my Instagram that should be in one of those three empty spots?
www.instagram.com/valerie_light_illustration -
@Valerie-Light I love your bear and bunny toasting marshmallows!
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@Valerie-Light Thanks for sharing this idea, I have started it and reached 72 out of 100.
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@PenAndrew how's your 100 things coming? I think I started with about 150 and had to narrow it down. Now i have to revise again because I need room for rickety houses and elaborate porches.
I'm thumbnailing for a piece that uses the characters from my Storm submission, and fills one of the empty gaps in my portfolio, with:
-full bleed
-closeup of kids interacting
-realistic interior perspective
-shows off something my portfolio is lackingWhich do you like?
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@Valerie-Light I almost feel like you could take that 100 and seperate it into categories of person, place, thing, action, feeling and draw out of a hat and get 25 really interesting illustrations that touches on all of your 100 favorite things to draw
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@Valerie-Light I have about 72, but I am not hitting a realisation point yet.
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@AngelinaKizz Yes thats what I have done with my list found categories, environment and nature, Halloween, science fiction and something else.
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I'm working through some companion illustrations that go with the characters I put into my Storm prompt. Starting to think about narratives that these two sisters could be involved in.
Question: Is a sister who is part-bat and usually upside down a fun idea, or is it too weird?
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@Valerie-Light I don't think it's too weird, but I didn't get part bat without you saying part bat. Could you lean into the bat more? Wings? hair that mimics the shape of a bats head?
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@AngelinaKizz Thanks, Angelina, that's a good point. I can lean into that more, and spend some more time on the character design.
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@Valerie-Light I really like the composition where the child character is being pulled - I think you could have a lot of fun with the poses in that one.
