Portfolio Tips for the children's book industry
I’ve had many a RedBubbler asking me for advice about becoming a children’s book illustrator. Rather than write to the individual, I thought I’d post the information for all the read.
In 1998, I decided to become a children’s book illustrator, I learnt the hard way! – It took me two years to get my first picture book published (apparently this was fast going). I would like to share some of my knowledge with fellow Redbubblers, in the hope that your success as a published artist will be an easier journey than mine. All I ask is that you share with me your success stories.
Preparing your work for publishers is the first, and most important step for getting noticed by publishers.
Portfolio Tips
- Show uniform, quality colour copies on an easy A4 or A3 format.
- Make your portfolio light weight and easy to carry or mail out
- Label your portfolio
- Don’t show originals EVER!
- Don’t show more than one style
- Do show colour and BW work
- Do show one or two samples of finished sketch
- Do make sure the image reflect subject matter appropriate for children (parents, grandparent, animals, interior/exterior scenes.
- Do give each image its own space. One image per spread, unless it is a series of images.
- Include 12-18 pieces in your portfolio. Fewer don’t show enough. More can be too much to take in. It’s better to have 10 pieces of WOW! Than 20 pieces of so so.
Visit bookstores and Libraries. Read and study the latest releases, award winners and the classics. You’ll learn from other illustrators, get ideas, get a feel for how plots are constructed and how characters are developed or the rhyme and pacing of a picture book text. Enjoy the research!
Perfect your craft and don’t submit until your work is its best.
Compare your work to published illustrators. Can you improve? Really step back from your work and ask yourself. Does my work measure up? Join a critique group. Don’t ask friends what they think.
Be patient, learn from rejection, and don’t give up. Thousands of manuscripts and illustration samples land on editors desks. They are so many factors that come into play when evaluating submissions. You might not hear back from publishers immediately. Persistence and patients go with the job. As Winsten Churchill put it “Success is going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm”.
All the best and good luck my fellow RedBubblers!
Nina
Karin Taylor
excellent advice
thank you Nina for sharing
it’s very generous of you to do so
Nina Rycroft replied
Thanks Karin, happy to help.
Rosemaree
Some great advice here Nina… One day I might actually get the courage to submit the stuff I have written for kids to a publisher… My daughter does beautiful artwork both with paint and pencil. I have had her illustrate a few little things that I have written over the years for individual children (family and friends) and even a couple that I have thought of occassionally sending to a publisher but have never wuite had the courage to cross that line… Perhaps one day…
Nina Rycroft replied
Well there is no excuse now. Best of luck!
mobii
Thank you for sharing such valuable experience, Nina.
Nina Rycroft replied
All the best with your books Mobii!!)
Lara Cooper
Thanks Nina…this is very helpful.
Nina Rycroft replied
Hi Lara, All the best. Hope to see your artwork in bookstores very soon.
AnitaInverarity
This is wonderful, practical, realistic advise- Thank you so much for sharing. I would love to acheive a published work some day xxxxx
Nina Rycroft replied
Hi Anita, I can’t believe you haven’t been published. Please send off your portfolio to publishers!
CherTheArt
Thank you, Nina. This is all very helpful advise and thank you for sharing. :-)
Nina Rycroft replied
Hi Cher, No a problem. Goodluck!
Peace Mitchell
Thanks for these tips Nina! I’m working on a book at the moment and need all the help I can get. I love your success quote too, shall keep it in mind!
Nina Rycroft replied
Thanks so much Peace Mitchell, happy to help. Whinston Churchhill havs some amazing quote to draw from!! Might make a great tee.
pinkyjain
Thank you soooo much for this Nina. Such excellent wonderful advice!!!!!!
Nina Rycroft replied
Thanks pinkyjain!! Glad I could help.
Lara Cooper
Im working on it!
AnitaInverarity
Aw that is sooo nice of you to say- I may give it a go some time (would have to work on my presentation somewhat).
Thank you for all your superb advice here xx
Carol-Anne Kozik
This is so helpful – what a gem you are to share with us all. I too am in the process of “doing” a book (actually I am writing it and my hubby is illustrating it) – so we have taken note of your advise. Love the inspirational quote too – so very true!!!
Carol xxx
Nina Rycroft replied
Thanks Twirly Angel, Glad I could help. Best of luck with your book !)
Dawnsky2
this is great advice and i have been searching for the ‘right’ pulishers for a while,,i thought of bm-ing you, then came across your journal,,great advice,,thank you so much,,but i still dont know who to submit to,,hehe,,any advice? :)
Nina Rycroft
Glad I could help Dawnsky,
Here is a snippet from another journal entry I wrote….all the best!
Spend time getting the publisher’s name and title correct.
Visit your local library or book shop, the imprint page lists names and addresses of publishers. Or (for Australians) join the Australian Society of Authors, they publish a book each year listing most Australian publishers (names of the art directors, editors etc). Even with all this information I still find myself calling the publishers to get the Mrs, Miss or Ms correct. It’s time consuming but if you get this detail right, you’ll make a positive first impression.