Creating a portfolio

WHO: Mela Bolinao from HKPortfolio (agency)
SCBWI WORKSHOP: "How to create your best portfolio."
She's an artist's agent and gave some good advice about how to start to put something together for a children's book illustration portfolio presentation.

If you missed my notes from the conference, click here.

Aim to have 12 to 15 strong pieces of work in your portfolio that you are particularly proud of and best represent you and your style. BTW: eyes with rendered eyelids are in at present with publishers, dot eyes are not. Always start with your favorite piece and end with something really strong, too. Make sure most of your work is in color unless you specialize in children's chpater books (interior chapter illustrations). She also added that is is good to have a Web site and it reflects the same kind of work as your book, but always, always, update with new work regularly.

Here are her dos and don'ts:

DO:
• apply a uniformed look to your portfolio
• show your signature style (if you have more than one, create separate portfolios)
• illustrate the right age for the right target audience
• use cropping to strangthen your subject matter (and if your painted edges are tatty or messy, crop those too)
• always include your recent illustrations
• if a specific image continues to bring you in work, continue to show it in your book, no matter how old
• look to create unique characters
• use interesting perspectives
• use broad color presentation (don't show every image using the same color palette)
• make sure your characters show emotion
• show ethnic representation
• demonstrate effective interaction between the main characters
• be selective about your work and only show your best (it's better to have 8 really strong pieces than 12 where some are weak)
• include a dog character! (or cat, or both)

DON'T
• show different stylistic approaches in one portfolio
• include your favorite dog or cat portrait unless a client specifically asks for it
• show a scene where all the characters are faceless
• include a still life of fruits, unless you show, say, a family of worms making a home out of them
• use editorial or advertising samples if the client is working on a picture book
• show a technical illustration of a car
• show dates as to when the image was completed
• pad your presentation using a wide range of media if you are not up to par (if you're just learning to paint with oils, for example, but haven't mastered your technnique, wait until you have to show your work in oils)
• ask your mom to help you with your portfolio selection!!!
• put more than 30 images in your book, it may not bring the right response or focus to the real 'meat' of your portfolio
• show a Macy's Thanksgiving parade scene if you don'tt want to aquire work that will make you pull your hair out and scream!
• put a Picasso lookalike sample or any copy of a masterpiece in your book
• ABSOLUTELY do NOT show nude portraits, (especially self-portraits), best to keep those tucked in your sketchbook

To go to HK Portfolio's website and view the agency's illustrator works, clickhere