Help! Agents say my work is beautiful but not what they are looking for.

Mimi Simon

@Nyrryl-Cadiz I think you may be getting at something here but I think its not that my art looks the same as lots of other illustrators but that all my projects have slightly different styles. Thus together they all kinda blend and may start looking generic. I don't think i'm really at a point in my artistic journey where i have a fully formed style and I love so many different things (golden age illustration, anime, french comics, jrpgs, disney) that I end up trying something a little different for each project depending on what i think would fit the subject matter.(i think thats one of the joys of starting a new project) this is helpful for when I've worked for clients because i can match their style but its seems to be a big negative for trying to get into publishing.
My long term plan is to move over my older more animation style illustrations into a specific visdev section and fill out the illustration section with more publishing specific pieces which will be more in line stylistically with each other. However I still like many of those older pieces so I don't want to just dump them before I have something else to replace them with.

I took a look at your portfolio and and your work is great especially the middle grade section. Is that the older style or the newer style?

NessIllustration

@Nyrryl-Cadiz Wow Nyrryl, I hadn't see your new portfolio since your style change! What an amazing and unique style, it's gorgeous! Congrats on your new agent, it's SO well deserved!!

Nyrryl Cadiz

@NessIllustration Thank Ness. You have been a huge help in me chugging along despite setbacks. I love your classes.

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Mimi-Simon Hi Mimi! I'm sorry for only responding just now. I moved to a new city and things have been very hectic. lolz

Yes, from what I've seen, I think your portfolio looks too animation-y which is quite prevalent recently. It's not that it's bad (I actually love it myself) but almost everyone is doing it right now and when starting out, you need to do something different to stand out.

Also, yes, the work in my Middle Grade tab is my old work. I also couldn't bring myself to delete them because of all the hard work I spent creating them. Luckily tho, my current agent suggested that they would work perfectly for middle grade and even proposed that she market me as an illustrator who can do 2 styles.

Perhaps this could also be something you should consider. Your work already has a lot of older looking kids (6+ yo). I think you'll be a great fit for the middle grade and older markets.

Anyway, I hope this has been helpful. All the best!

Mimi Simon

Just wanted to post a little update on my progress here. A month ago, I received an interested reply from KT Literary saying they liked my work and would love to take me on in the future when they start expanding into representing illustrators as well as just authors and author illustrators. I haven't heard anything since but it could be something that comes to fruition in the future. Just this past week I got a reply from Nicole Geiger of Full Circle Literary saying she forwarded my query to her associate Taylor Martindale Kean because it could be a better fit. Full circle seems like a great agency so I really have my fingers crossed on that. Now for more waiting...

mag

@Mimi-Simon This sounds great!! Your art is amazing, be sure to pick the right agent and not just the first one who offers - and definitely keep us updated! Fingers crossed!

Tom Harshberger

@Mimi-Simon Best of luck Mimi! Your art is great!

Mia Clarke

@Mimi-Simon yay! Big congrats!!!

Mimi Simon

@Tom-Harshberger Thankyou!! (and for the insta follow as well : )

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Mimi-Simon congratulations Mimi! I definitely cross my fingers too! This is so exciting