Please critique my work before SCBWI conference
-
Hi. I’m an aspiring author/illustrator of adventurous books for kids (PB/CB/MG) and I would greatly appreciate quick thoughts on my March characters and portfolio.
Are there any pieces you would prioritize or cut? Any major corrections needed or style adjustments needed?
I have a local SCBWI conference coming up in May and I’m getting my portfolio reviewed by an agent. Want to try to clean up anything obvious before then if possible.
I have a writer background and just started drawing again in 2018 when I discovered digital inking and coloring.
Anyways, here's my art. Thanks. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
-
This post is deleted! -
I think it's overall generally okay. It's not my cup of tea, but I don't think that's a valid critique on my part.
I think if you have a conference coming up and you need second opinions on your work, you need to have more confidence in the work that you produce. You gotta show them that you can sell your work in order for an agent to sell your work to a broader audience. Just words of wisdom
Finis Coronat Opus
Instagram: www.instagram.com/madgcartoons/
Behance: www.behance.net/madgcartoons
Website: https://michaelangelodgo.wixsite.com/madgcartoons -
I looked at your stuff and really liked the story behind Ezio and I also liked the little unicorn that he is trying to feed. As far as something you could work on, I noticed that the bears and the rabbits that are jumping and fighting feel stiff and there doesn't seem to be a lot of action in their gestures. If you work on gestures, that may help some in your illustrations. I would even suggest that you could go research how successful animators have had their characters jump or fight something just to get a better gesture for your characters. You could also try to vary the width of the lines that you make, such as go from thick to thin.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiminyrose/
-
@Michael-Angelo-Go Thank you so much. That totally makes sense. Haha, yeah, my confidence probably isn’t as high as it should be after Critique Arena and my post probably shows that.
-
@Kim-Rosenlof Thank you! That’s great advice I will definitely be using!
-
@Kevintreaccar the main thing that stands out to me is that everything is the same view. By that I mean there are no different point of views or angles. I hope that gives you something to think about.
-
@Mandy-Forte It does! Thank you! I'm so focused on trying to develop skills across the board that, yes, I've completely forgotten about our role as "director." Definitely need that thought (and variety), too. Thank you!
-
I wonder whether you are showing too much. I really like everything from the top to the black&white one excluded. Don't get me wrong. The rest is cool too, but it's got a bit different stuff. I guess the top stuff is the newest right?
Anyways, good luck with the conference! -
Thank you so much for the feedback!
Yes, I agree this would definitely be too much to include all of these pieces. This is more a list of all 11 contenders so I didn’t replace one people recommended cutting with one people would’ve recommended cutting.
It’s a real hodgepodge in age. Funny enough, the warrior bear in action is probably the oldest piece while the rabbit copying her is the newest other the the March contest entries. Unfortunately, since she’s mirroring the bear, she carried over the stiff pose.
The black and white piece was my first attempt at coloring a piece in a middle grade book-style. Can I ask if it’s the concept, the art or the coloring/value that makes it your least favorite? (Just in case it’s something I can fix or a mistake I can grow from). Totally makes sense if you just prefer the ones in color, though.
-
@Kevintreaccar it's not that its my least favourite. I just thought it doesn't fit with the rest. Simple reason - its the only black and white
I thought its better to submit pieces that work together. Thats why i pointed out all the top ones until B&W one. I like snowmen too. BTW: my least favourite is the ghost. -
@aska Thank you again for the feedback! That helps so much. And it makes a lot of sense. As Jake and Will talked about in the last Critique Arena, I’ll definitely need to make sure it’s focused on the task/job at hand because you’re right – this general list is a little all over the place. Thank you!
