Picture book Portfolio - NEW ART on last page

[ben c]

they're all great, but that last one is the strongest. i think because it is as graphic as the rest, but the composition is more dimensional and it definitely makes the piece stand out from the others, and from other art i've seen in a similar style. really fantastic!

i know it's part of the design choice, but i think a lot of eds/ADs might be thrown off by the lack of eyes. i hate to say it, but they can be very easy to confuse.

also, these are great for a pitch for a specific book (or series of books), but not really as a portfolio showcasing you as an artist. i think most eds/ADs would want to see additional pieces with different characters, more emotional range, close-up compositions etc. of course the art here is beautiful, but eds can be very literal, so the more variety they can see, the more likely they are to consider you for whatever projects they happen to have.

[Wibo81]

Wow, the great Ben Caldwell replies to my post. I'm a huge fan of your work and follow your blog.

As a beginning illustrator you get conflicting tips and messages about putting together a portfolio. A lot of people emphasis a consistent and strong style others mentions variety as a great selling point. I think you're just advising me to get away from this theme and explore other characters, settings and maybe shots. And your right. I may make one more illustration in this series (close-up!!) and move on to something else, probably with animals.

My portfolio website does have other, different work on it to complement this stuff (no close-ups though)

Thanks for the feedback, you're probably right about the eyes. something to keep in mind for the next project.

Here's another one I finished last week.

[ben c]

if "great" means sleepy, then yes i am the "great" ben caldwell!

i think showing that you can do the same characters/enviro/etc consistently is important, but i've been on both sides of the industry and they can be very literal. if you show 20 pages from a single project as your entire portfolio, they assume that's all you can do.
it can be very frustrating!

so, hypothetically, if you were showing stuff to an editor, i'd have a portfolio with only 5 or so of the strongest pieces from that series, with the rest being other work, then have the rest of the project handy to whip out if the editor was interested.

having a consistent style is different, completely fine.

i personally like the eyeless look, but eds and kids might be distracted by it, or creeped out. i wouldn't necessarily change it, just be ready when they ask "where are the eyes?".

that last one's also really fantastic! definitely a portfolio piece.

cheers!
ben c

[willborough]

good stuff man!

B

[Wibo81]

Here's the latest one. What Ben C predicted sort of happened. An art rep told me that I hadn't proven that I could draw kids. So this one features kids and a dog. Next up is another spot illustration.

[ben c]

well i'm sorry to hear about the rep, but this last piece is fantastic! and i think the story behind it seems cool. i don't think i mentioned it before, but another great thing for an illustration portfolio (and work in general) is art that makes the viewer wonder about the story behind the picture.

all of your work has that, but this piece more than any of them.



edit: at second glance, the black kid looks a little weak. first, his body looks much smaller to his head than the other kids. (simple scaling could fix that) also, his expression seems a little too vague compared to the others. the others have much more interesting and specific body language and expressions, he looks a little like an extra in a christmas manger play.

but that's just me nitpicking.

[Wibo81]

Hey Ben.

Thanks! You're absolutely right about the proportions being messed up. Because of the lack of perspective clues, I've been tinkering with it ever since I've "finished" it. Will fix and post again. I can strengthen the expression but not sure what to do with the body language. Might also tweak the colors of the bike on the left.

Thanks again!

[themightykwan]

Wouter your stuff is great! Dare I say fabulous! Ben has given you a lot of great tips!

I would like to add that I'm not sure how many pages are in your book. But AD's and Editors also don't want a completed picture book sent to them. I would stop where you are. Usually when you send Dummies(Not completed books for consideration of publication) they don't want the whole thing done because it can give the feeling that there's no room for their input and that there's no room for them to make changes or suggestions. They want something in the formative stages. They usually ask that you have 1-3 completed images and the rest of the book in semi tight to tight pencils for submissions. Your book looks great to me, but don't go too far! Unless you are going to go the self publishing route.

As far as reps, I'm not sure if you are sending exclusively to Art Agents or if you are also sending to literary agents who also rep Artist/Illustrators. If you can get a literary agent/rep it would help a LOT in the selling of your book to a publisher!

I think your work is great. .It is a style that I've seen before, but I like how your personality and imagination shines through in your images. Best of luck to you! I'll be following you on your blog! Gorgeous work my friend!

-Wilson

[Wibo81]

Yes, you're right several people have told me not to go to publishers with a finished project. I'm moving on to different stories. Once I get everything figured out I will probably go with a dummy that has no more than 4 illustrations.

I have sent my stuff to literary agents. I've had some replies coming in. Nothing concrete just yet.

[themightykwan]

Yes, you're right several people have told me not to go to publishers with a finished project. I'm moving on to different stories. Once I get everything figured out I will probably go with a dummy that has no more than 4 illustrations.

I have sent my stuff to literary agents. I've had some replies coming in. Nothing concrete just yet.

Thank goodness! I would hate for something like that to stop you from getting your work chosen. I'm glad folks have filled you in. Please keep us in the know on how your efforts are going! Your work is excellent. I don't think it's a matter of if, but rather when for you Sir!

[Sirspamdalot]

Excellent work!

[Wibo81]

Thanks everybody for the comments. This might be some what redundant. It's the same image but with the changes suggested by Ben C and some other small tweaks.

[Wibo81]

I had some issues with the composition with this one. Still not completely happy with it.

[Sirspamdalot]

Another nice piece! But I agree that the composition is flawed.

Seems to me that the sand turret, two monsters, and shovel handle are spaced too evenly. And the height of the shovel, and side and bottom of the umbrella, align too neatly with the red monster. Also, the left edge of the sand castles blocks the rightward flow of the handed ice cream and tossed car, discouraging our gaze from flowing through and around the right half of the picture. I also feel like the monsters' colors are too saturated to properly show their distance. The green monster pops forward even more than the soldier at the far right, who should seem much closer to us.

Here's a rough reworking that might provide some useful ideas.

[Wibo81]

Another nice piece! But I agree that the composition is flawed.

Seems to me that the sand turret, two monsters, and shovel handle are spaced too evenly. And the height of the shovel, and side and bottom of the umbrella, align too neatly with the red monster. Also, the left edge of the sand castles blocks the rightward flow of the handed ice cream and tossed car, discouraging our gaze from flowing through and around the right half of the picture. I also feel like the monsters' colors are too saturated to properly show their distance. The green monster pops forward even more than the soldier at the far right, who should seem much closer to us.

Here's a rough reworking that might provide some useful ideas.

Wow, thanks Sirspamdalot. I will definitely look into your remarks. I didn't do any atmospheric perspective because 1. The monsters should be the focus of the story and 2. we're actually only looking at a couple of feet. But I agree using it adds a lot of depth and sells the scale contrast more. I will definitely give it a try.
I might shorten the highest tower in the sand castle to keep the flow of the eye going. And give some of the back turrets some more atmospheric perspective. I don't want to get rid of the turrets completely. I think I need them to sell the idea of a sandcastle-city under attack.

I will post it again when I've made the changes. Thanks again, I've been messing with this one for too long. I lost the ability to look at the larger picture. That's why a message-board like this one is great.