Art by Mag Takac
On this 3PP hotline episode, Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry share how to make your thesis project stand out, how to stop procrastinating and start working in your style, and so much more!
ASK A QUESTION
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SHOW LINKS
Calvin and Hobbes
Chris Van Allsburg
Brandt Woods
Derek Laufman
Loish
Ross Draws
Pizza Pat, illustrated by Will Terry
Patrick Willems
This Pretty Planet, illustrated by Lee White
The Complete Kickstarter Playbook by Will Terry
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What is the best way to make your thesis project stand out? Create something real and marketable- a finished product. Use this as an opportunity to make the kind of art you want to get hired to produce.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to enter the publishing world, but easier every day to self-publish and create your own projects. Take matters into your own hands, create and share your projects on your terms, and who knows? Maybe you’ll come to the attention of someone who can give you even bigger opportunities.
Leaning into your style can be scary, but you can ease into it by creating small projects, receiving and implementing feedback, and repeating the cycle.
QUESTIONS
We kicked off the episode with a portfolio critique for Nada. Tips included revisiting basic drawing skills, ensuring that the chosen level of realism for her book remains consistent throughout all the illustrations, and making the portfolio section of her website more immediately visible.
Portfolio reviews are coming to Patrons in the next month, so stay tuned for the chance to have yours critiqued!
Lukas asks, “I want to write and illustrate my own stories but have been procrastinating for years by learning one craft after another. How can we cultivate the courage to create what we are here to make?”
The anxiety of developing your creative voice is real. When you’re strictly practicing technique, it’s easy to analyze if your work is good and where you need to improve. Once you begin creating in your style, such things are much harder to determine. Venture into this new territory with short-term projects that you can complete and repeat over and over again. If you add a new print to your shop once a month or finish a five-page story every week, you’ll be able to receive and apply feedback quickly. If a project flops, it’s no biggie; you can improve on the next try.
Marc asks, “I'm struggling to build an Instagram following. Is it realistic these days to build a decent fan base organically?”
Growing your fanbase is not as straightforward as it used to be, but you can do it by offering entertainment or education to the right audience. Before investing lots of time into growing your following, consider who you need to win over to succeed in your chosen field. For example, if you want to be a children’s book illustrator, you only need to impress an agent or a publisher; if you want to fund a Kickstarter, having followers is essential.
If you’re serious about growing on Instagram, post consistently (five to seven times per week). Engage with other accounts strategically: follow artists with 100k+ followers, turn on notifications, and be one of the first people to leave a thoughtful comment when they post. If you do this consistently, you’ll attract the attention of the account owners and others who follow them.
YouTube is an often-overlooked platform for artists frustrated with Instagram. YouTube shorts with story, intrigue, or novelty built into the presentation offer great potential for reaching new fans.
Christopher asks, “Any tips to make my BFA thesis project stand out?”
Creating a finished, marketable product (like a book or comic) is a surefire way to stand out. People also love to see fresh takes on familiar themes, so making your version of classic book covers, movie posters, or board games is a great option.
Tom asks, “When working in ProCreate, do you use the ‘Display P3’ color profile or something else, like sRGB mode?”
It doesn’t matter which mode you pick in ProCreate unless you’re going to print your work. In that case, you should use Photoshop to switch to CMYK.
O’Rourke asks, “Is the anime style viable as a professional illustrator?”
If you only want to work in anime, it’s viable, but if you want to branch out into other work (like books), you’ll be hard-pressed to find a market for that style. Your best options are selling your work directly to your fanbase (rather than relying on a publisher) or joining an anime studio.
Liz asks, “Why is it so hard to enter book illustration these days?”
Publishers are more selective now about whom and what they will publish. Their preferences around diversity and messaging dictate the kinds of books they choose. Fortunately, it’s becoming easier and easier to make your own books without a publisher. Rather than stressing about not being picked, launch your projects yourself. Not only will you learn a ton, but you’ll become visible to people who can offer you additional opportunities.
Cayetano asks, “What are some important things to keep in mind when running a Kickstarter?”
You need to read Will Terry’s The Complete Kickstarter Playbook!
All a successful Kickstarter has to do is fund the production of your product; the real money comes when you sell the product after it’s made.
LINKS
Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com. Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44
Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt
Lee White: leewhiteillustration.com. Instagram: @leewhiteillo
Daniel Tu: danieltu.co.
Lily Camille Howell: lilycamille.com
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If you want to be a part of the discussion and have your voice heard, join us at forum.svslearn.com.