#dear ad

If this is a picture book, then having the illustrator’s name and bio (but not necessarily photo) is standard. If this is just a book cover, then usually the illustrator’s name is mentioned on the back cover and the copyright page, nothing more. If the case is the latter, and the client is still insisting on your photo and bio, politely let them know that that’s not “industry standard.”

If this is a picture book or a graphic novel or something, well, it IS industry standard to include the illustrator’s name, and if you insist on being anonymous then you’re the one making things weird. That’s like asking your date not to tell anyone that you’re dating. They will, understandably, be insulted.

The good news is that, unless this book goes viral or becomes a bestseller, it isn’t going to define your career. You don’t have to put any of this work in your portfolio or post about it on social media. (Unless that’s part of your contract.) Having one project out there in a different style won’t determine your career forever, but you’ll have to course-correct by producing new portfolio pieces that ARE in your preferred style. Eventually the “a bit weird” book will drop down in the Google search results and in your memory, like that person you once dated who was also “a bit weird” and you’d prefer to forget.

-Agent Thumbnail

You’re overthinking this.

No one is going to judge a cover by its book, or judge an illustrator by the author. Unless you’re illustrating something super objectionable, like, I dunno, a pamphlet for the KKK, art directors DO NOT CARE. We’re used to working on stuff that isn’t our personal cup of tea. That’s called being a professional. If this author is having success and making money, and you can get on that train, cool.

As we’ve said before, AD’s mostly care about the quality of work in your portfolio, and whether you’re easy/reliable to work with. We don’t have the time to sit around judging your every career move.

-Agent Thumbnail

ADs don’t look down on a little artistic nudity, or suggestive themes in a portfolio. But if that’s all your portfolio contains, we’re going to think that’s all you’re interested in drawing. As we’ve said many times on this blog: you will be hired to do the kind of work that’s in your portfolio.

If you don’t want to do NSFW art at all, then leave all your NSFW art out of your portfolio - even if it’s your newest and best work. Create some new portfolio pieces in your spare time that represent the kind of work you would like to do. 

If you don’t mind doing NSFW art, but you don’t want to be pigeonholed by it, then put it in a separate page on your website, clearly labeled “adult” or “NSFW.” Then - you guessed it! - use your spare time to create new portfolio pieces for your website’s main page.

Yes, your portfolio is going to look a little sparse while you work on creating new art and rebranding yourself. That sucks, but it’s the price of climbing out of an artistic pigeonhole. Every artist has probably had to go through some version of this process at one point. As long as you get cracking on creating new and awesome work as quickly as possible, it’s only temporary.

-Agent Thumbnail

Friends and family are terrible judges of art. They just are. Maybe they love your art - maybe they insist that it’s the best they’ve ever seen, no really, you’re so talented, you should be, like, famous!! Or maybe they tell you that your drawings are a foolish waste of time and you should give up and pursue a “real job.” Either way, they’re not speaking as professional artists or art directors. They’re speaking from their own limited experiences and personal tastes. Don’t judge the value of your artwork based on how much (or how little!) enthusiasm they show.

There’s a difference between the art that clients want to hire and what your family and friends will personally respond to. If you want to be a professional artist - and I’m guessing that’s what you meant by “asking strangers to be interested” in your art - then clients’ opinions are the ones that matter - after all, they’re the ones writing the paychecks, not your friends.

For example, maybe you drew a super historically accurate illustration of a Viking burial plot, because that’s your jam, that’s what you love, that’s what gets you out of bed in the morning. And maybe your friends look at it, say “cool drawing bro” and then go back to scrolling on their phones. But if you sent that illustration to Smithsonian or National Geographic magazine, or a publisher of history textbooks or something - now they might be very, very interested. Do you see what I’m saying?

Whatever it is you love creating, there’s an audience - and probably potential clients - out there. Think about what you want to do, and throw yourself into becoming really, really good at that thing. It’s so much healthier than fixating on other people’s feelings, which you can’t control.

Next, if you haven’t already, make friends with other artists. That might be by signing up for art classes, or local meetups, taking an online course, or attending some conventions. Find your tribe. They’ll love hearing about your work, sharing critique and feedback, and collaborating on projects, and this will be invaluable for boosting your confidence and motivation.

I hope that helps, Anonymous.

-Agent Thumbnail

A portfolio is a digital or physical collection of your very best, finished work - usually between 10-15 pieces. Your portfolio can be a website, or a printed book, or both - but either way, it should be curated and cleanly presented. You’re going to be showing it to potential employers, so it should be something that you’re proud of.

(Check out the free PDF Bootcamp 2: Getting You Hired by Drawn & Drafted. Also check out this blog post Portfolio Book Makeover by Kelley McMorris if you want an example of a physical portfolio.)

But you’re getting way ahead of yourself here. If you’re just starting college, you don’t need a portfolio right now. Portfolios are for convincing people to hire you. It’s good that you’re thinking about these things (and reading blogs like Dear AD!), but as a beginning art student, your current job is to, well, make drawings and get good at making drawings. A portfolio is a collection of your best work - and your best work is yet to come!

Keep researching the illustration industry and working hard in your classes. Once you have a clear idea of your future career, and who you want to convince to hire you, you can start building a portfolio.

- Agent Thumbnail

“Hi (AD name)! Thank you so much for considering me for this project. Unfortunately my schedule is currently full and I’m not able to take on more work until around (this fall/next year/whenever). But I’d love to work with you and I hope that you’ll keep me in mind for future projects. Thanks again.”

-Agent Thumbnail

It’s great that you got an honest portfolio review and that you’ve been able to view your work from a professional standpoint.

Most likely, if your work isn’t good enough to get hired by the company, the AD will just delete your email, recycle your mailer, and forget about it. If your work shows promise and is very close to being at a hireable level, the AD may keep your name in mind. So, in contacting art directors, there’s not much lose besides your own time (and in the case of mailers, a bit of money.)

Consider sending out quarterly mailers or emails, and don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear anything back. Keep improving your art, and keep showing it to people who can hire you.

- Agent Thumbnail