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A Few Thoughts On Editing Your Portfolio – by Andrea Offermann http://
kidlitartists.blogspot.com/ 2013/07/a-few-thoughts-on- editing-your-portfolio.html -
Portfolio Comparison: What Made An SCBWI Winner – by Eliza Wheeler http://wheelerstudio.
com/2011/08/22/portfolio– comparison-what-made-an-scbwi- winner/ -
Putting Together A Prize-Winning Portfolio – by Molly Idle http://idleillustration.
com/2012/07/16/putting- together-a-prize-winning- portfolio/ -
Mentee Portfolio vs Grand Prize Winner Portfolio – by Juana Martinez-Neale http://
juanamartinezneal.com/blog/ 2013/05/21/mentee-portfolio– vs-grand-prize-winner- portfolio/
When creating a series of images from the same story for your portfolio, it is good to make sure that each one of those images in the series is different from the others – not just in terms of scale, viewpoint, and composition, but also in what aspect of the story it is telling. For example, one piece might highlight the relationship between two characters, one piece might show some action, and one piece might show an environment. Sometimes I’ve ended up with pieces that are essentially duplicates of each other—showing the characters at very similar moments in the story—and that takes up valuable real estate in your book!
Portfolio-related posts on my blog:
http://jenbetton.blogspot.com/
http://jenbetton.blogspot.com/

When choosing the art to go into your portfolio, make sure that your illustrations are appropriate for a children’s book audience. A kidlit portfolio geared towards picture books should have illustrations of children, babies, and animals. A middle grade portfolio should have some cover illustrations and black and white illustrations. Fine art sketches, or illustrations geared toward a more mature adult audience, or including original art in your portfolio will make you look like an amateur.
This shows that you can illustrate the same character over and over and over and over again (which is necessary for a 32 page book or a middle grade book).
Your illustrations should vary in the setting, the composition, and have show different emotions. Have your illustrations tell a story. Make the Art Director wonder what happens next.
The first page of a portfolio should be your best piece. It should aptly sum up who you are as an illustrator and what Art Directors can expect from your art. The last page of a portfolio should be the second strongest piece. This illustration that should leave a good lasting impression.
Think of your portfolio as a fence. Start off with a strong piece (like the post of a fence), and then have a supporting piece (like the railing). Make sure there are strong pieces that are placed between the supporting pieces to hold up your work.
Most portfolio showcases have a size restriction. If you don’t pay attention to the spec sizes of your portfolio you may not be able to present your work. https://www.scbwi.org/event-45th-annual-summer- conference-in-los-angeles/ showcase/
In your portfolio you should have 10-12 pieces. Only pick your best pieces. The art directors look at your worst piece and acknowledge that you may produce work like that. If you aren’t sure if you should put the illustration in your portfolio . . . Leave it out.