Entry 10 & 11 of 12: May


It has been so hard for me to keep up with my continual promotional efforts because I have done so much in the last two months, I can't keep track. This time around I've decided to combine two months in one just because of everything that has happened and so much stuff has overlapped from March and April.

I have finally switched my freelance work over to more illustration than design work (it has been the opposite for several years). Illustration jobs have been very steady with some existing clients and a few new ones here and there. This is exactly where I want to be freelance-wise. I am still holding onto the full time job, but am in negotiations of going part-time with them. Once I know a little more on their end, I'll be able to make the decision: "Do I stay or do I go?" Hopefully, by next month's entry, a decision will have been reached.

I sent out a press release last month announcing my new painterly technique and also updated my portfolio to reflect the new work. I feel I have grown leaps and bounds from when I first started promoting myself. The more work I do in this technique, the more I begin to dislike my vector work. I am slowly phasing that look out of my portfolio.

I had mentioned before about working with a rep on building my portfolio. She has been extremely nice and helpful by taking me under her wing and showing me how I can grow my style. Well, in April, she signed me. I was (and still am) so excited. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off of me. There is still a need for me to do my own promotion, but it feels good to know I have my own cheerleader out there rooting for me and helping find me work. She has already gotten me a nice project that I am currently working on.

The projects for the last two months have been four full page illustrations for an activity book, four spot and a one page illustration for a children's magazine, and I am currently working on an illustration for a logo and some illustrations for educational materials.

My critique group continues to give me much needed support and gets me excited about being creative. Having a critique group has been the most beneficial thing in my career thus far. I never would have thought of it. There are many ways to connect with a critique group. You can see about joining an existing group or you can start your own.

I also heard back from the SCBWI contest I mentioned last month. I won an honorable mention which was pretty exciting. I've had several congratulatory emails since. That made me feel even better. I also decided to pay for another online portfolio listing. This one is geared toward children's illustration buyers and seemed like a great place to test. I've gotten a few hits from their site, but I've only been listed a couple of weeks. I just noticed today that I am "illustrator of the week."

One thing I have slacked on is doing another postcard mailer. I've been working on the illustration here and there and I really need to get it out the door. I'm thinking of doing a larger size card through the US Postal Service and send those to places I would really like to do work for. I may also mail out some smaller ones too.

One additional market I have been thinking on and off about promoting is the gift/greeting card industry. There are tons of children's products out there and I think my style would fit in well. I need to get a new Illustrator's and Graphic Design Market book and build a mailing list. I also need to have some appropriate samples in my portfolio. Way back when, I did an independent study in college that consisted of coming up with greeting card designs (100 I believe) and getting submission info from different companies. I had a good time doing it, but by the end of the semester, I was pretty much burnt out on the notion of trying to get into that market. Now that I'm more and more comfortable with my style, I think I should see what comes from my promotional efforts.

Well, I hope May will be full of surprises and good projects. I hope to get some more promotional things done, but I wouldn't mind being too busy with projects and not get a chance to do any of it.

Click here to read Holli's previous installment.