Getting started on my portfolio
As a children's book illustrator, having a portfolio that truly reflects your style and abilities is crucial. A bit scary to think about, really. However, I've set a goal to improve my portfolio to make it stand out. I want to share my process and some tips with you as I go along. Let's dive into the real work!
Reviewing Existing Work with a Critical Eye
The first step in my portfolio overhaul is to review my existing work with a critical eye. This means taking a hard look at each illustration and deciding if it still fits my style and the direction I want my portfolio to go. Over time, our skills and tastes evolve, that’s natural. And for me, at least, the illustrations that I once thought was my best work no longer fits my style. By removing illustrations that no longer like, I can make space for new pieces that better represent who I am as an illustrator today.
Don't give up! making a portfolio is an ongoing process!
Using a Planning Sheet for Inspiration
After I’ve cleared out the old illustrations, I take a step back and think about what my portfolio needs. This is where my trusty planning sheet comes in. I created it to help me brainstorm ideas and stay on track. I jot down the kinds of illustrations I feel are missing. I need more diverse characters, different settings, and illustrations that capture a wider range of emotions. This planning sheet helps me to see this work more as a funny game, and I don’t get overwhelmed.
Drawing New Illustrations
With an idea of what I want to include, the next step is to get drawing! This is where the fun begins. I dive right in and start filling the gaps I’ve noticed in my portfolio. I challenge myself to draw characters that I usually don’t draw so much, bringing me out of my comfort sone.
Here is one of the new illustrations I’ve created as part of my portfolio update.
Puh! I missed it!
Can you guess who inspired this illustration? The emotion I chose for this piece was relief, which I found quite hard to illustrate! My idea was to show a man relieved that he didn’t step on dog poo, and then I thought of Poirot :) It was fun to draw something out of my comfort zone!
Building a standout portfolio is an ongoing process, and it can be overwhelming at times. If you're an illustrator looking to refine your portfolio, I encourage you to just begin. Start by evaluating your existing work, use a planning tool to guide your next steps, and then dive into drawing. And of course, make it fun!
If you’d like to use the same planning tool I’m using to organize your portfolio, I’ve made it available for download if you subscribe to my Substack newsletter.