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| shinsei19
131th Post
 
Regular Customer
   
|  "Re(1):O.T. Comic books"
, posted Mon 2 Jun 20:08
quote:
Has anyone been to a portfolio review session at a comic convention? What do you know about it?
Ooh, a MMCafe topic I have some insight into haha. Hmmm, well I've been to the San Diego Comicon 2 years in a row (3 after this one ^_^) and gone to many, many portfolio review sessions. Now, it's the biggest comic convention in the nation, so things may be a little 'different' than the smaller conventions, but here are a few things that I've learned:
- Generally you should show up with your best work, not the most volume per se, but simply your most stunning pieces. If you're going for a comics portfolio review, remember that these guys are looking for the creme de la creme and they wanna see storytelling. They don't really care if you can do pinups (unless you're godly with pinups heh), as their industry deals with telling stories.
Thread On: Setting up your Portfolio
- They're fairly busy. Conventions are gatherings, huge gatherings, and everyone and their grandma (I've seen it @_@) wants to get their stuff shown, critiqued, and land that glorious job of drawing things for a living. Keep that in mind when planning out how you wanna hit up portfolio review sessions. If the company hosting it is large, you'll want to get there early. I know DC holds a raffle/lottery to see who gets a spot in line at the SDCC (San Diego Comic Convention), while Dark Horse is a first come, first serve basis. And keep in mind that the editor you're about to see has probably seen dozens, if not hundreds of portfolios so far so make your 5-20min. with him or her count. Make it worth their while.
- Artists will look at your stuff, but editors will give you jobs. Now this works on and off, as some artists have a lot of clout with their editors so if you get buddy-buddy with one it could be a big break. But generally speaking only editors give out jobs, particularly at conventions, but you'll have a lot easier time getting an artist to look over your work. A good tip is, if you don't feel your stuff is -quite- up to snuff, is to try and find artists to look at your work and give you general pointers.
- In this industry the chances of you landing a job as a random portfolio at a convention is astronomically low... No one bats 100%, no matter how good you are (most of the time haha...not everyone is a J.Scott Campbell or Pat Lee or whatever). Keep that in mind and don't let it get you down if the editor says you're not ready. And remember that editors aren't there to baby your feelings or boost your ego (necessarily), they're scouting talent for an industry, a business. If you get a harsh critique, grow that thick skin and take in the constructive, block out the negative, and grow as an artist...and come back stronger next time.
I think that's about it...check that link out, there's some helpful info on setting up your portfolio in there....sorry this is so long, but I dunno, comics is a serious business...and it should be treated as such. The portfolio review is like your initial interview session with a company, in an industry designed to churn out a pop product. Keep that chin up and hit -as many- portfolio reviews as you can...the more you do this, the more likely you'll make it, as you'll get more points of view on your work and you'll be able to pick away more weaknesses over time.
Of course, if you were just curious and didn't want so much info, uh, sorry about that haha ^_^ Good luck!
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| Satoshi_Miwa 2212th Post
Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master
    
    
    
    
| "Re(2):O.T. Comic books" , posted Mon 2 Jun 23:13
quote:
- Artists will look at your stuff, but editors will give you jobs. Now this works on and off, as some artists have a lot of clout with their editors so if you get buddy-buddy with one it could be a big break. But generally speaking only editors give out jobs, particularly at conventions, but you'll have a lot easier time getting an artist to look over your work. A good tip is, if you don't feel your stuff is -quite- up to snuff, is to try and find artists to look at your work and give you general pointers.
Be wary of this, though, as some artists won't be too helpfull. I point to the case of Joseph Micheal Lisner, who showed his art to some Image hack and had his work trashed basicily (Back in the early days of image). So be carefull who you show your work too.
Especially if it's manga influenced. It may be all the rage, but check any of the comic boards and you see an strong undercurrent of manga hate building up (and oddly enough, not at manga itself but at the bad image and Marvel copies)....
Separated at Birth?
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"O.T. Comic books" 
"Re(1):O.T. Comic books" 