/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

>>3450659
Hey friendo! I wrote the top half of that (bottom is someone else, but also good insight). In order to answer your question, it'd be helpful to know a little bit more about what it is that your interested in, the type of work you want to get, and your current status. If you're comfortable with it, it'd be useful to see your work (ie. a blog, attached image, etc.)

>>3450722
I honestly don't even know, just vague notions of wanting to go into illustration. I know how unhelpful just saying illustration is, that's part of why I'm asking this question, not only for a starting point to try and break in but trying to get a better image of where I could even break into to.

My status is just a mediocre amateur, but I'm trying to be forward thinking and hoping a more concrete aim could help me better visualize what I'm actually trying to study and improve.

>>3450749
For sure - it's understandable to be a bit lost. Just understand that illustration doesn't necessarily mean fantasy & sci-fi illustration, which /ic/ tends to lean towards. Many, many different types of businesses use illustration, and if you're a skilled illustrator with a unique and versatile style, you'll be a valuable asset to all sorts different places.

You might have been the guy asking this in another similar thread, but I'll just parrot my response from there: Researching different types of opportunities all starts with just keeping an open and attentive eye while going through your day to day. Anytime you see artwork on something being sold, or as part of a promotion/advertising, or as part of a larger brand, etc. , take note of what its for and who published it. Someone hired an artist for it and paid them, and if you research who was the commissioner and reach out to them, they might hire you as well.

You can also look at what other people are doing. Here are some links to some successful illustrators I admire, featuring a very wide range of styles & techniques. Take a scroll through some of their posts and take note of the types of projects they do & the brands they contribute to.

https://www.instagram.com/ricardocavolo/
https://www.instagram.com/tomhaugomat/
https://www.instagram.com/samspratt/
https://www.instagram.com/barrytheartguy/
https://www.instagram.com/francescociccolella/
https://www.instagram.com/sirmitchell/
https://www.instagram.com/oliverbarrett/
https://www.instagram.com/geolaw/
https://www.instagram.com/boglio_boglio/

You'll notice they all have one thing in common: a distinct and cohesive style. You'll need a more focused stylistic vision & portfolio, which just comes with time & experience. Your style is your brand, and the more focused & cohesive it is, the easier it is to see where your work might best be applicable.

Hope this helps!

>>3450778
Thanks. I'll keep all this in mind.

>>3450778
Different anon,
Some of those look pretty good, others leave me wondering how they got their following.
In particular Ricardo, his style is certainly unique and has a lot of vibrant colors, but I wouldn't really say it's appealing. (Apparently wrong in that boat though).
I guess as important as choosing a style to go with is, you should also just be prolific with it?

>>3450783
For sure!

>>3450818
I intentionally shared a few illustrators that range from more realistic to more stylized, graphic work to help show how a variety of different styles can find success. I have lots more examples if you're curious.

Regarding to Ricardo and his following - I was sort of in the same boat when I discovered him. I was gifted one of his art books and didn't think much of it. It was only later on that things sort of clicked, and now hes one of my favorite artists. I do find it very appealing now but I understand how it can seem almost childish and terrible.

One of the reasons he's so popular is because - again - he has such a stylistic consistency and cohesion to everything he does. People are attracted to those who have a singular vision, and people love to support that. A singular, wholesome stylistic vision is very appealing, and you get attached to not only the work, but the person behind it. People want to explore Ricardos world.

>you should also just be prolific with it
In my opinion, this is exactly right. Really own what you do, and immerse yourself in your own stylistic universe.

>>3450778
how do you keep being cohesive if you're still learning?

Hey what's the word for a Pre-mock up ad pitch? I think it started with an S.

>>3451276
Nevermind.
Finally, it turns out it was in the most obvious thread I kept overlooking

>>3451086
It's tough to answer because it depends on a lot of things, mainly where you're currently at and and what you wish to do in the future. But if you don't know what you want to do, then that makes it harder.

Ultimately, if you feel you are still learning, then there's not a whole lot of use in trying to keep things cohesive. The focus is to grow as an artist (both your creativity & your fundies), but ALSO to explore different things. Really try exploring different styles of working. You may discover something you really like and it may push your work in new, exciting directions. A good style is the result the way you naturally work mixing with your influences and inspirations. Try incorporating stylistic elements from different artists into your work to see what happens. The point is to explore different ways of doing things to see what you like best. With time, you'll zone in more & more on a particular way of working that you enjoy most.

Also, don't forget to make personal work that you see through to completion. Whatever you do - do NOT become a person who has nothing but sketches & unfinished work to show. Learn to see your work through to completion. Studies and practice should be a supplement to your finished works, not the other way around.

>>3451294
this is good stuff. thanks anon!

I'm looking to do some freelance work for some small businesses, what's a good way to gauge decent compensation for my work?

>>3450659
What's the difference between commercial art and fantasy art?

When giving my portfolio to an employer, I know I should post my best pieces, but when showing them on a reel, do I put the most best one on the first or last order?

What type of payments do big companies use for their freelance artists, especially if they are from different countries? What personal documents do they ask?

>>3454908
Don't listen like I know what I'm talking about, but wouldn't it be best to intersperse quality? Assuming it's all good, you'd want to start strong and end strong and definitely include strong pieces in the middle so it doesn't feel like a slog between good pieces. If you just go from bad to good, you're starting off weak and letting it taint the portfolio but the opposite is starting strong and going out with a wimper.

>>3454953
that makes sense. Thanks for your input!

>>3454228
It's hard to gauge, but always go for a little higher than you feel comfortable. It's easy for them to negotiate down, but a lot hard for you to negotiate up. I typically work small businesses at around $45/hr, but I like to work fixed-price instead of hourly so I'll usually estimate the time needed to complete it and then multiply it by the rate. That's the simplest way to do it, but it can get so much more complex depending on what it is. There's no hard rules you need to follow. Small businesses can often have higher budgets than you might think. Really depends on what they do.

>>3454944
I'm US based. I'm usually paid via check, direct deposit, or Paypal. On a few occaissons I've been paid via Venmo. Anytime I've worked internationally, I've been paid via Paypal or direct deposit. It's usually just whatever is most convenient for the client.

>>3454343
Fantasy art IS commercial art, as in it's a smaller sect of the larger commercial art industry. Commercial art can be understood as an umbrella term in which all sorts of freelance artist fall under. Some people focus on editorial, others on branding / advertising, some people on fantasy art, etc. These different fields all have more similarities than not, with the main difference being the type of work they produce for their respective commercial projects. Fantasy art (for cover art, video games, fantasy-related apps, card games, etc.) is just one type of commercial art job. Note that fantasy art =/= concept art. Fantasy art is illustration, while concept art falls under different usage & considerations.

>>3454908
As the other anon mentioned, disperse the quality. Have your strongest work in the beginning, the middle, and at the end. Keep in mind it's a good rule of thumb to assume you'll be judged by your worst work. If there is a significant disparity in quality, consider removing the lesser work (despite how much you may like it) and replace it with newer, better work.

>>3450659
bumpan. more art / life advice please

>>3460485

>>3460486

>>3460491

>>3460485
>>3460486
>>3460491
>>3460514
Super useful, thanks anon. This is a great thread

>>3454908
Why would you show a portfolio of 2D static artwork on a reel?

Awesome this is still alive.

Might as well post some content, though I'm not sure how relevant this is.

>>3463921
>post begins with anime and picasso
Haha, holy shit. This is gonna be good.

>>3463921
Wait, this was actually a good read. But like in the completely wrong thread. This would be good in /AST/ or just about any thread about style.

>>3463454
I didn't specifically said it was 2d. Let's say it's animation or motion graphic related

>>3463921
TL;DR - A good style comes from deconstructing and interpreting the fundies, but you can't do so unless you learn them first.

>>3463921
>Amuria and Ramy
whatever happened to those 2

Anyone have tips for starting to get your first freelance illustration jobs?

>>3460485
>>3460486
>>3460491
>>3460514
Where is part 1?

>>3467125
what type of art do you do?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j7xq6zogWQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=900fXN3dPUM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbzfEDQ27pc

maybe get discord and join art communities they usually have a marketplace channels for selling art or for people announcing if they need an artist

if you do porn maybe try at the /co/mmissions threads
>>>/aco/2358508
>>>/aco/2340281

more ''serious'' places are freelancer.com and upwork, recently i found commend.me but i haven't tried it.

>>3467332
Thanks for the links! I pirated the whole 'Art of Freelancing' a while ago and it was pretty inspiring, but seemed to be extremely geared towards people who want to do what Noah Bradley does. I guess I'm more interested in stuff like magazines and posters and stuff. Definitely not porn. I'll check out those job sites!