Portfolio

Creative Presence: Website

My website is live! CLICK HERE

Start-Up Wednesday: Self-Employment

This was a useful workshop for me, because I'd much rather employ myself and be my own boss, than work for anyone. That even includes clients, but if I want to have my own shop or even just write graphic novels, I'll need to know how to manage my own finances and time.

Marketing is very important - HOW do I market myself? Instagram.

Need multiple sources of income, especially at the start - commissions (doing what I like doing - portraits/characters), book advances (are they actually a thing?), daytime work (Wilko or other).

TAXES!!! Keep a record of costs/expenses and expenditures etc - incomings and outgoings.

Don't undercharge - VALUE your own work. Have pride in my abilities and talent - my service and product.

Be NICE!! Who > what - make sure people want to work with me

Start-Up Wednesday: Marketing & PR

SEE PHYSICAL BOOKLET FOR NOTES

I've started thinking seriously about my plans for the future - I don't want to be a professional illustrator but I DO want to write comics and graphic novels, and own a shop/gallery/event space similar to Colours May Vary where I can showcase mine and others' work.

In the workbook we got from Anna Franks, I've written notes and reflections about my practice and my ambitions. 

Career Track Tuesday: Presentation Skills

Having the opportunity to actually present to a group of people I didn't really know actually increased my confidence presenting. In the end, I'm talking about something I love doing, and about myself - a topic I know a lot about!

The 5 main things to think about when presenting:

1. Speed
2. Volume
3. Pitch
4. Emphasis
5. PAUSE!

Don't rush. CONFIDENCE.

Hanbury Hall 26.01.18

Notes from symposium:

Blink Art & Big Active

• Agencies make it more possible for illustrators and other creatives to collaborate? With photographers, animators etc.
• Artists 'live in a vacuum' - agencies can add context and credibility to your practice.
• Blogs can be important if it's your thing - keep clients updated on your practice
• INDIVIDUALITY is important - don't look at what other people are doing/don't compare yourself to others
• Ask clients: "What is it about my work you really like?"

The Dots

• Creatives are 'no-collar' jobs - creative skills, job-hopping, project by project basis
• Machines can't replicate creativity! Our skills are valuable
• Diversity
• Portfolio tips: quality > quantity, tailor it to specific clients, START STRONG, include personality, show passion and enthusiasm, concepts not just final pieces

Anthropologie

• VISUAL MERCHANDISER - curating a shop space to make it inviting for consumers

Ricky Richards

• Pronto Projects - responding quickly to events like national disasters - work becomes iconic and goes down in history!
• Influence of Inputs - generic input = generic output
• Look for interesting/obscure source material
• Preposterous PR - unique responses that make you stand out, like Mr. Bingo!

• Self-directed projects are the MOST important. Show passion and individuality.
• Don't put things in your portfolio you don't want to do again.
• Animation is a great skill to have with rise of internet. 
• IDEAS > style

It's Nice That & Nobrow

• People that aren't suited to commercial publishing
• PERSONALITY!
• Brave enough to do your own thing
• ELCAF - run by Nobrow
• Treat Instagram like an online portfolio
• BUT it doesn't need to be serious
• BE HUMAN - people like helping graduates, they've been there
• DO MY OWN THING

Business Cards

At a zine fair I did last year, I used these stickers as my business cards. I want to continue using them for Hanbury because they're fun and personal like my practice. I can draw something individual on each one and the hand written type adds more personality! Plus I can stick them on people!