The conference Portfolio Fest is our chance to celebrate the skill and hard work of our illustrators. Illustrators are invited to submit a portfolio for conference faculty and fellow creators to peruse and enjoy the artwork, while playing Portfolio Bingo for a prize. We look forward to showcasing your work!
Contact Carolinas IC, Ashley Belote.
Suggested 10-15 images. There are excellent resources online and in books about children’s publishing to help guide your selection of the types of images to include. The basic rule is to include your very best work and the work you want to be hired to do. Otherwise, please do consider your market. Don’t include “mature” subject matter, anything that would require content warnings, or still lifes, no matter how lovely. You are not only representing your skill, you are representing your point of view and your ability to carry a story.
Yes! Please do! In fact, you should never display your work without providing some sort of takeaway for interested art buyers: a business card, postcard, or bookmark is best. Make sure your name and contact information are prominently placed. Because space is at a premium, we ask that you choose ONE takeaway to accompany your portfolio. NO easels, card holders, or printed books will be allowed.
You may include a dummy, either of an original story or a treatment of a classic fairytale; either option would be a great way to show that you can portray characters consistently and that you understand pacing and flow, all of which are essential skills in producing a picture book. Again, make sure your name is clearly displayed. Your dummy MUST be attached in some way to your portfolio.