What's my style? Who's my audience?
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Hi Julie!
From first impressions, I can't see anything to worry about. Even though you work across different mediums, a quick glance at your website and instagram accounts shows a really consistent 'hand' and style to your work. It does all feel like it's the work of one artist.
Can't believe I'm writing that as I often have the same panic myself about my own work.
If I'm pushed to point something out, then there's an instagram post of a watercolour mouse reaching out which is slightly more 'traditionally cutesy' compared to your other work which all seems to have an edge to it.
But still, it's clear you doodled that in your own style. It wouldn't confuse me at all.
What would help is to segregate your website portfolio into sections, if you wish to showcase childrens' illustration together, tattoo work together, etc.... and just remember you don't have to show EVERYTHING in your portfolio, only pick your strongest work that you want to get more of.
Social media accounts can be more experimental, most people are OK with that.
But definitely see what others on the forum say, they're super helpful here.
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Hello julie I think a lot of us feel the same way.I love horror themes too ,but I know what you mean about it putting people off and I was thinking of putting them in a separate gallery or page. I really loved your portfolio and your and your horror work is really cool,and you have amazing designs, so maybe just different sections or instagram pages would work.
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@smceccarelli Hi Simona,
Thank you so much for the feedback. It's a great relief to hear I have consistent mark making as this is one of the areas I was panicking about.
The more I've gotten into tattooing the more I've begun to hate the entire industry because there's so much drama and resentment among artists, so I don't really see a long term career there. By contrast the illustration community is one of the most supportive I've ever encountered.
I also agree that my work isn't particularly suited towards children. I've had people tell me it is to which I never understood but tried to lean into (very unnaturally) so it's good to know I'm not crazy. Ha ha.
I guess I'll make it my goal at the moment to research companies that would be interested in licensing my type of work (because I'm not really the American Greetings type), and trying to figure out how to narrow down my market to at least a range that I can dedicate marketing time towards.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback. I really appreciate it.
P.S. Checking out your website now and am very impressed. You're a role model for consistency and I'm going to use you as an example for myself of how to build a targeted portfolio.
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@tessaw Hi Tessa,
Thank you for having a look at my work. I'll be sure to focus more on the subjects I'm putting out there. I really like the idea of doing a tarot card deck now
By the way, I had a look at your instagram and you could fool me - your work looks very professional and I would not have been surprised to find out you work in animation or story boarding. Your Inktober compositions are really impressive. -
Hi Julie!
I could nearly have written the same post. I want to get jobs in children's book illustration, but I also want to do graphic novels...and I love doing pointalist ink drawings that look nothing like my illustration portfolio. sigh
Anyway....I think your work could easily be geared toward the fantasy or horror markets. With a few changes I could see some of the work on your website being books covers for those genres.
http://twiggyt.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/twiggyt_art/
Twitter: @twiggyt_art -
@heather-boyd Hi Heather,
It's refreshing to hear that there are others who share these anxieties. Your story is so similar to mine! I also had health crisis throughout my 20's (and still do unfortunately) that made me "fall behind" in life and worry about catching up. I had to have 6 brain surgeries in 4.5 years and it totally derailed everything. I'm 30 now and it was nerve wracking at times to be the older student in college surrounded by a bunch of 18 year olds.
I'll definitely take your advice to heart about not needing to post everything. I'm pretty good at limiting my website, but Instagram feels like a black hole where the pressure is on to keep chucking things into it for fear of disappearing.
Also thank you for the feedback on the grey text - I think I can fix that pretty easily.
I'm so thrilled to have found these forums. Everyone is so thoughtful and encouraging. Thanks for taking the time.
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@lei Hi Lei,
For sure, I think the overall feedback I'm getting is the need to make portfolio sections and be more selective about what I post. It's very relieving to hear that you think it all looks like it was created by the same person though.
Thanks for your feedback!
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@dottyp Thanks Dotty!
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@twiggyt Hi Twiggy,
It's neat to know that so many of us have this struggle. Looking at your Instagram account I see that your work definitely fits in with children's illustration. However even the pointilism baby elephant still looks like it's your style - just approached differently. Perhaps as the artists we see more differences in our own work than others do. At least that's my take away from this thread.
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@juliekitzes Thank you - I don’t think I can be a role model for anything, let alone consistency
Truth is I dab in a million different things too. I´ve done a fair amount of 3D modeling, a lot of concept art, portraiture in oil, caricature, animation, I even made a short graphic novel a couple of years ago. And you wouldn’t imagine I have a secret identity doing minimalistic vector illustration for corporate clients (and enjoying it quite a bit, actually). The freeing things is that you can do whatever you want as an artist....you are simply not compelled in any way to put it into your portfolio. I decided to freelance only as children illustrator, so I have a public profile only as children illlustrator. If I manage to reach the point where I can write and illustrate my own books, I may one day give up the idea of a portfolio geared to illustration jobs. A portfolio is only a marketing tool, it´s not an identity profile of you as an artist.... -
@smceccarelli Ha ha, that may be true but at least you're giving off the right impression to outsiders. That's a very good point about identity. I think especially with things like Instagram I get caught up in the "hey, look at all the things I can do and look how often I'm doing it and don't stop looking at me because I need to stay on everyone's radar all the time or you'll forget I exist..." I'm very quiet and chill in real life but when it comes to art online I become that kid in class that won't shut up and needs constant attention and validation. I think it's because I'm at a point where I'm putting a lot of work in to my art and marketing but not getting enough jobs and my massive student loans from art school are weighing heavily on me. I work hard, but I need to learn to work smart.
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@juliekitzes I think you're right. I'm definitely my own worst critic.
I'm not sure if a person can be artistic without wanting to try everything...as demonstrated by all the art supplies I have and don't use.
