Is my portfolio too niche? Is there a market for my passion project? What should I post? Illustrators Jake Parker, Lee White, and Will Terry take on these questions and more in this 3PP Hotline episode!

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SHOW LINKS

Children’s Book Pro
Pickleball Paul by Will Terry
Jake’s take on AI art
Simon Stalenhag books
Tales from the Loop
Blender
Midjourney
Brandon Dorman
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Puss in Boots
Glaze

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Maybe your style isn’t the problem; sometimes you just need to expand your subject matter to show agents and art directors what you’re capable of.
Social media seems all-important, and it can be helpful in your marketing efforts. At the end of the day, though, your real work should take the highest priority. If that means posting less in favor of illustrating a page of comics or working on a passion project, so be it.

QUESTIONS

Jason asks, “Is it better to pitch my stories to an agent or directly to a publisher? Any pointers given the current publishing landscape?”

Publishers rely on agents to sort through the talent pool. Agents are also more likely to take a chance on a new artist with potential. Pitch to agents first for your best shot at success!

Mimi asks, “Is there still a market for longer, color-illustrated books? I think it would be fun to illustrate more complex stories (48 to 88 pages) like those I grew up with, but I don’t see a lot of new books like this.”

Graphic novels are the new long-form, illustrated storybooks. You don’t see many traditional picture books longer than 32 pages as bookstores find them unprofitable. While the market may be small, if this is a project you’re passionate about, you can always self-publish with Kickstarter. Your book might find a broader market if it’s aimed at adults rather than kids. If you build up an audience first, you could receive enough backing to fund a long-form picture book on your own.

SJ asks, “Have you tried 3D software like Blender?”

Jake uses Blender to make 3D models of complex images (like spaceships) which he needs to draw from multiple angles for sequential art. He believes that, for illustration purposes, you only need to know a small fraction of Blender’s abilities to improve your workflow, and it’s not hard to learn. Experiment with it for a few afternoons or an hour a day for a month and you’ll be able to make some pretty cool stuff.

3D modeling is most helpful to illustrators with a digital style. If you prefer the low-tech route, you can get the same benefits by making clay models of your subjects and photographing them from different angles.

Ireen asks, “Can a portfolio be too focused? My goal is to break into traditional publishing as an illustrator for middle-grade and YA fantasy books. I’ve been giving myself the types of assignments I’d like to be hired for, and as a result, I have a ton of YA illustrations and no children’s book illustrations. I’m worried my portfolio isn’t diverse enough to get an agent.”

Niche portfolios can land agents; they just need to get in front of the right people. If your art is stellar and you’re easy to work with, you’ll find an agent who’s excited to represent you.

Ireen’s skills are pro-level and we’re huge fans of her style. We only suggest that she expand her subject matter to include present-day people and situations. Historical characters are great, but contemporary stories are everywhere and you’ll get more work if you can include modern subjects in your portfolio. The YA section of the library can give you some inspiration!

Amber asks, “What should I post online when all I’m working on are book dummies?”

That depends on your goals. If you want to drive traffic to your shop or build momentum for a Kickstarter launch, you’ll need to take time to create new work for social media. If you’re busy with other projects, it’s totally fine to step back from social media. Post your portfolio pieces in the top 9 to 12 squares of your grid so agents and art directors can see your best work if they stop by, then move on with your life. You can return to regular posting when your schedule opens up.

Mark asks, “Can a fully-finished book made as a passion project form part of a portfolio?”

Absolutely!

Jessica asks, “How polished should my line drawings be when submitting book dummies to agents?”
Lee’s quick answer? “In a dummy, I should be able to recognize a truck, but not a Ford F-150.” In other words, your drawing should be readable, pique interest, and show your skills while remaining flexible to change. Our course, Children’s Book Pro, covers this in detail!

Brian asks, “Any drawing warm-ups you guys swear buy?”

A few favorite warm-ups are: