Using Self-Assigned Projects to Build Your Illustration Portfolio
(Illustration by Thomas James)
Are you looking for an inspiring and effective way to build up your Illustration portfolio with the type of work that you’d like to be hired to create?
I’ve written about the value of personal projects before here at Escape from Illustration Island, but today I’d like to share a technique that you can use to take this concept to the next level.
Self-Assigned Projects
Back on Episode 6 of the Escape from Illustration Island, artist Penelope Dullaghan spoke about her success with using what she called Self-Assignments to boost creativity, have fun, and create new work. The basic idea was to commission herself to produce a new Illustration based on a certain topic, working method, or other set of criteria.
In fact, Penelope later used another creative technique that grew into the popular Illustration community Illustration Friday, where artists can create new work every week based on a single word.
As I prepare to market myself again after setting off in a completely new stylistic direction than before, I’ve begun to use a similar approach to build upon the body of work in my own portfolio. In short, I’ve been “hiring” myself for projects as a way of creating new work that both expresses my creative vision and shows potential clients what I might contribute to their next project. As a result, I’ve been producing work at a faster rate and targeting my portfolio to the types of clients I’d like to work for (as seen in the example above).
Focusing Your Efforts
Most artists already create personal work on a regular basis, but it is often done in a much more casual way than is being described here. By “assigning” specific projects to yourself, you can focus your energy on the type of artwork that is much more relevant to real-world applications. This will increase the likelihood that your latest piece will be strong enough to include in your portfolio, and make more of an impression on Art Directors and other potential clients.
Be Your Own Art Director
One of the major things that sets this way of working apart from more casual personal projects is that you are taking on the roles of both Art Director and Illustrator. By assigning projects to yourself with clear directions, limitations, and deadlines you can simulate the type of scenario that you would find yourself in if you were actually commissioned by a client. The benefit of this is that you will often end up with a higher quality of work than if you were simply left to your own devices.
Target Your Market
Another great reason to consider using self-assigned projects to build your portfolio is that it allows you to create the type of work that you would like to be hired for. For example, if your dream project is to work on book covers, assign yourself book covers. If you want to work in the editorial market, assign yourself editorial projects based on the latest news items. This method can be used for whatever your target market might be.
Define Yourself
Basically, anything you can do to make yourself more attractive to your target market, and show your potential clients how you would interpret a certain project, will help to set you apart from the growing crowd of Illustrators out there. Even if an Art Director generally likes your work, you will be even better off if you can help to show them what types of projects you should be commissioned for.
In addition, you’re likely to have much more fun and find endless inspiration by assigning projects to yourself based on the type of work that you’d like to create.
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Do you use self-assigned projects? Please share your thoughts in the comments section of this post.
Related Posts:
- The Importance of Personal Projects
- How to Stand Out and Be Noticed
- Promotion 101 for Artists
- EFII Podcast Episode 6 – Penelope Dullaghan
- Creating Your Promotional Strategy
- Stop Consuming, Start Producing
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For the past couple of years I have been giving myself assignments, mostly with Illustration Friday, but lately on my own. I have found it is a good way to find my style, both with imagery and with how I approach the process of creating art. Slowly but surely I have built up a substantial number of pieces, and now I think I am close to taking it to the next level. I am hoping that the self-discilpine it takes to create self-assigned projects will carry over into my future work as an illustrator.
Thanks for your comment, David. Illustration Friday is a great way to not only create regular work, but it can also be a good way to practice working on projects that you might be struggling with, or topics that don’t necessarily inspire you.
For example, a while back I made a commitment to participate in Illustration Friday every week for a month, even if the word of the week didn’t do anything for me. It was a very educational experience, and I recommend everyone try it.
Thomas, I totally agree with this. A lot of people write to me and say they are looking to “break into” editorial…but have nothing in their portfolio that shows me they CAN do editorial. I can’t risk hiring someone to do something I’ve never seen them do.
That’s a great point, Stephanie. It always helps to show an Art Director how you would interpret a story, book cover, or any other subject. Otherwise, they can’t envision when or for what project they would ever hire you for. Also, it shows a great deal of motivation when an artist works on projects on their own without waiting for someone to tell them to do it. Thanks for weighing in with an Art Director’s perspective.
Self assignments are great. I recently did that with a self published book, I wanted to include an extra story. So I did it as a little golden book, and all the illustrations were like childrens books.
I think people think a portfolio has to focus mainly on work you got paid to do. But you have to start somewhere. All a portfolio really needs to include is successful pieces. Successful means that is 1) a finished piece of work, not a sketch, or clearly missing elements. 2) clearly gets an idea across.
One suggestion I’ve told people is to look for articles that are illustrated, read the article, and think of how they would have done the illustration for the article. It’s like having an actual assignment.
Tim, that is a very good point that you make; that people think that a portfolio has to consist of paid work. I recently pared down my online portfolio- a LOT- getting rid of several things that I’d been hanging on to for a while just because I was paid for them. I’m glad that I did- what I have left is much more representative of what I WANT to do (which is the way it goes- sometimes assignments are great, others less so!).
I love self-assigned projects! One of my self-initiated projects that I’m working on right now is a series of cards and prints that I plan to sell online and locally- so it will generate some income as well as add to my portfolio.
Hi Tim. The idea about creating an alternative Illustration for an article is a great one, and something that I’ve done in the past. Sometimes I search through the newspaper and think about how I would illustrate it. It’s a very effective exercise in getting ideas flowing.
Not just to build your illustration book. As an art director and designer, I’ve done this in the past also. Particularly when leaving retail advertising fulltime and starting my own freelance business and needing more in my book than retail ads and brochures. I gave myself design assignments, a series of billboards for a radio station, a book on children’s photography. I actually started working for the radio station, designed their logo which they still use (this was back in the late ’80′s) and I still show one of the billboard designs on my online portfolio. While they didn’t want to spend the money to produce the billboards, they sure did like them a lot.I did too.
I’ve been creating work for Illustration Friday as a way to stretch and build my portfolio. I’m 20 weeks into my plan to do it for a year. When that’s done, I’d like to try something else. What other projects are out there like IF? Thanks!
Hi Fred. I believe Sugar Frosted Goodness is very similar to Illustration Friday, and I’ll be publishing a post very soon about other ways that Illustrators are creating self-assignments. Cheers.
If you are into fantasy art illustration, try Art Order. Run by the creative director for WoTC’s Dungeons and Dragons brand. About every two weeks, he posts a challenge, based on an actual assignment. People create the work, and post their art. Sometimes there is a critique.
Hey I checked out that artorder and it looks great. One problem: I can’t make an account and can’t find any way to contact them about the problem. I tried a different browser like it said, but no luck. Very disappointed because it looks like the kind of place I’m looking for but everything is locked if you can’t make an account!
Very nice blog. Thank you for doing it. I just (a few hours ago) got invited to do a presentation for a company that I love because I was able to send samples of things I did on my blog (self-asigned) that showed what I meant to do for them.
I really like your blog and the ads on your site. I will come back and explore. And a very cool book cover, The Old Man and the Sea. Really cool. Was that done on your own?
Later,
N vala
PS I wish LinkedIn would use hotmail emoticons. I love them.
Thanks Nancy. The Old Man and the Sea book cover Illustration was a self-assigned project to create the cover art for one of my favorite books of all time. It was a dream project that I’ve wanted to create for a while, so it made for the perfect self-assignment.
One of the value of using our own assignments vs. paid ones is it shows who we are very clearly. In most cases, the final paid assignment is not your favorite ones. The another practice is how we judge ourselves as an Art Director. I normally leave what I assigned myself for a couple days and come back to it again with fresh eyes and with a very critical attitude. Then sometimes get amazed that how I missed something or if there are some ways to improve it.
One of the reason I want to leave graphic design and do more illustration is because of this. We can do what we enjoy and there are some people out there that like it.
Nice article indeed. We are our own worst critics. If you’re looking to build up your portfolio, self assignments are great. And when a perspective employer is swooning over one of your self assignments, NEVER let on that it self assigned. If it’s an ad for Pepsi, and they don’t ask – don’t tell. In the real world of graphic arts and design, jobs come in all the time with a due date of yesterday. Not only do you have to be really good at what you do, you have to be really quick sometimes too.
You want a challenge? Have your wife, daughter or son assign you a project. “3 versions in my inbox this time tomorrow.” Now, THERE’s a challenge to see if you have “The Right Stuff”.
Nice post, Thomas, thanks.
Self-assigned projects are also a good way to go after particular clients. A good example might be a magazine that covers a subject you’ve never had occasion to address in a paid assignment. So you give yourself an assignment on that subject and send it to the art director. Regardless of whether it pays off with an actual assignment, it’ll make a nice addition to your portfolio by showing off your versatility.
I do this. I’m only at the very beginning stages of becoming a professional illustrator, so I’m using this as a way to build up my portfolio and practice my craft. I’ve noticed my work has gotten better since I started doing this.
I have a few types of assignments I give myself. Hallmark Cards has a monthly contest for card designs. So, I usually use that as an assignment and do entries for them every month. I also pick traditional nursery rhymes and fairy tales to illustrate. Then I have an actual book I’m working on illustrating as well. And another one waiting in line once I complete that one.
All of these are self-assigned and, so far, haven’t paid off. But I think they’ll be useful as, in a few months, I begin to weed my portfolio, polish my site, and send out submissions to art directors and agents. It’s all part of laying the groundwork and building your portfolio.
Karen B. Jones
http://www.illustratedbykarenjones.com
That’s great Karen. That’s exactly the type of determination that makes for success. Keep up the great work!