I Got REJECTED by Illustration Agencies | Portfolio Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 22 лют 2024
- Rejection is a part of any journey. It is okay to get rejected. You need to learn from these experiences. Just don't ever give up on yourself.
Please let me know in the comments what would you change, edit, or add in my portfolio.
You can find me here:
Instagram: / hanna.t.art
TikTok: / hannatart
Website: hannatkachenko.com - Навчання та стиль
Dear Hanna, Although I have a different profession (I’m a tech lead with 12 years of experience) I would like to tell you how I have handled rejections in the past.
At the beginning of my career I got rejected multiple times and in some cases without any clarity on reasons. In order to not go to depression hole, I have developed mental shields to help me: for any company where I believed to have 100% match of skills, I considered 60% chance to get rejected. For every 10 places I apply, I believed only 2 might decide to start interview process with me. Reality was better but this helped me to keep trying and improving my skills.
Now I have just started to learn digital painting, I love content in your channel and hope you will get success stories to share later this year 😊
Don’t give up, improve your skills (which are already great) and stay positive
Thank you so much ❤ I do believe that rejection is only mean I moving forward❤
Hanna. It's because traditional publishers/agents want only this whimsical type shit looks like a 3 years old draw it. Sorry to say this but I really don't like the pieces won on illustration's contests. It looks ugly. Not because your work is not good enough. Your art is too good for them.
True. Her work might be too polished for what they are looking for.
@@GoldenVulpesExactly, this is the right word, thank you!
I think art is subjective. If you don't like something, it doesn't necessarily mean it's ugly. But I understand your perspective! I also think that my style might be a factor. However, I'm grateful to have had two books published. It's reassuring to know that there are people who appreciate my work. Thank you for your kind words about my art! ❤
Your work is so beautiful! I have worked in a few different industries, and it's interesting how most of the time the people who approve or reject work really tend to focus on what they think SELLS. "Think" being the operative word, because most of them are not always artistic people themselves, but they are looking for visual patterns and trends of what they think will sell to the mainstream public. A lot of times, they end up choosing mediocre work(not always, but..) that are copies of popular/original artists, because they "think" it's going to sell. Then all of a sudden, another new original illustrator/artist will come around and become successful, and then they'll start looking for artists of that style again! It's a questionable cycle of capitalism and original, talented artists. I think you should keep doing what you are doing, keep trying agencies but also keep listening to yourself, because you've got something :) Continuing to grow your original work and finding people who trust in your story & art is the way to go!
Thank you so much for this beautiful comment! You can't imagine how much this actually means to me❤
DON'T CRY PLS😭.YOUR DRAWINGS ARE MASTERPIECES❤❤
Thank you so much 💜
@@hannatkachenko You're welcome ❤
I think your work is beautiful (for what it’s worth). Just because it’s not a good fit for them, doesn’t mean it won’t be a good fit for another agency. Keep going! Push it out to as many agencies as you can and you’ll find the right fit I’m sure of it 😊
Thank you so much ❤️
I will be definitely looking more into it :)
Your talent is certainly too much for what they are looking for. There is no point in rejecting these incredible works, it is extremely well done, detailed, the color palette is beautiful... I don't understand what more or less they could want, your art is perfect like that and I'm happy that you have maturity to understand that you shouldn't change the characteristics of your characters to please these people, your work as it is, it already has an identity, you can adapt changes by your will, but not by others, everything is beautiful like that and with time it will only to improve!❤️
Thank you so much for these kind words! You just made my day ❤ I think that my style might not be "in" with adults in the industry right now. But that's okay, I believe there is a place for everyone ❤
Don’t give up! Your only failure would be to quit. Someone will need your talents. Find out what they didn’t like and grow on it. Rejection doesn’t mean failure. Rejection is a chance to learn and grow. All the best artists had disappointments. Keep growing. Don’t quit.
As I told in this video I wont give up as long as I enjoy doing this work 💜
Your art is beautiful.
Thank you 🥹❤️
Hey lovely, your work is really stunning, I love those unicorns. I work in more surface design, not children's books, but a creative director told me that sometimes they wont take more than one person for a particular style or look because they don't want them to compete within the agency/ studio. So it could be that they feel like they have their bases covered with someone who does something similar to you already. Unfortunately then it's kind of like who got in first situation. I once got rejected from an illustration agency when I was first starting and they did give a list of 5 reasons of what could have been the reason for rejection which I found super helpful and helped me to evaluate my work from a different perspective and I realised that as good as I thought it was, it wasn't on par with the other artists they had. That was hard to come to terms with but ultimately really helpful in my journey of improving for a commercial market. Keep going and don't give up, definitely apply at other agencies as you are sure to resonate with someone! :)
Thank you, Katie, for sharing your experience! I also work in surface and print design, but without an agency. It is perfectly okay to be rejected in any field. As I said, rejection is part of the journey. I will definitely be looking more into agencies :)
Hanna my heart goes out to you. 😕 Rejection is always so hard. Us artists we are very sensitive people and truth is part of what we are is in our art. So of course it hurts when things like these happen.
I’m a profesional children’s book illustrator, have worked on many books with different publishers even the big ones and let me tell you I too have been rejected at times. It’s just part of the industry.
I’ve also noticed that illustration agencies are getting larger and and larger by the minute and the art style of the artists they represent is kind of similar with an exception here and there. I’m not saying that’s good or bad I’m just saying they stick to clients who lean towards those type of illustrations and is easier for them to sell those so those are the artists they want to represent.
If you want my advice I would say always keep creating and growing as an artist. Don’t let things like these bring you down. Don’t change your style to fit others this doesn’t mean you can’t tweak certain things but the essence of your style please try to maintain it.
You will find someone who will fall in love with it and want to represent you. It will might take time but you want someone who believes in your work and appreciates it. Try other agencies and if you can find smaller ones even better.
If you have your heart set up on illustrating only books then I suggest you try to find a literary agency that also reps illustrators instead of an illustration agency. They are smaller and have artists with much diverse kind of styles.
I hope this helps a little but please keep creating. Don’t let this stop you because we all have been there.
Hugs,
Alicia.
Hello Alicia,
Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to write to me. Also, thank you for sharing your experience, as I am sure it can help a lot of artists!
Right now, I am not even sure that I want to be represented. I think I will take time to work and grow as an artist. As my experience shows, you don't need to be signed to do what you love.
P.S.: I am pretty used to rejections, but sometimes when you think, "this is the one," it hits hard. But I embrace even those moments ❤
Your art is so amazing! Truly, I’m just a beginner at this illustration world and actually it’s been tough to find a place to work or an agency, but god, your art inspires me so much!!!! My grandma always says “if one door doesn’t open for you it’s because other doors are waiting for you” so I like to think that all things happen because of something and not just without a reason. I hope you find what you’re looking for and a place where you feel comfortable working on. Your art inspires me to don’t give up so don’t give up!❤
Thank you so much! I love your grandma saying. I do believe in it myself !❤
You are an amazing artist! Those people just don't have eyes. 😁 And the way you got your first book published(the author looking for you specifically) is so rare and unique that is amazing!
Thank you so much ❤
Don't change your style!! It's really beautiful and it would be so sad that you change it because someone told you... 😭🧡 It's really sad when we get rejected, but at the same time if you don't do anything you already have the "no" and you were brave to send your work knowing that there was the possibility of a rejection. It's something to be really proud about yourself 😊
Thank you ❤ My sister used to say: " A "no" ia something you already have. So you have nothing to be scared of".
I’m on the same boat, I know the feeling but we shouldnt give up! I’m here if you want to talk
Thank you so much! We shouldn't and we wouldn't let rejection discourage us. It's just a part of our journey!
I really don't understand that🙈i absolutely adore your illustrations! They are missing out! Keep your head high and continue ❤❤❤ i love your work hanna❤❤
I guess it’s just the style not really typical for children’s books 🙈 thank you Christina ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Your work is so good. I’ve watched your illustration videos on repeat ❤
That makes me so happy! Thank you 🥰
Maybe those agencies don't represent your kind of work but it's not that it's not out there , there are so many books with such artstyles and the elf book really liked it . Maybe try more agencies . Some publishers stick to the very classical storybook feel. Me too hoping to get into it 🙏. I hope you too get where you want.
Definitely! I posted this video to show every artist who struggles that we are not alone in this! With dedication and hard work, you will also get into it! Thank you 🥰
You are one of my favourite illustration channels, how you work with light inspires me so much! I have bought your course and watched it so many times. I think that they are just not your agency and you will find the right representation. I wonder if including more young children characters would help the readers (young children) identify more with the illustration just because they can see themselves in them, if that makes sense. Perhaps this is missing from your portfolio? Equally I love your work so much so don’t change it to suit them!
Do you have a patron because you would be someone I would love to support on there. Chin up, another huge opportunity is waiting for you, you just can’t see it yet 😊❤
Thank you so much! ❤ I was thinking the same thing, and I'll definitely be working more on that! P.S.: I don't have any sources yet, so I think you may have mistaken me for someone else 😊
Your illustration has a beautiful quality. Especially your lighting!
If I can give a critique, it would be one I notice because I struggle with the same in my own drawing: lines not being fluid and natural. This may be due to your medium; nevertheless, I wonder if working on your lines would transform your illustrations (even if you don't see lines in your final illustrations). The ability to draw simple and quick, in a fluid motion, brings life and vitality to a drawing. Tomm Moore is a good example of this; so much movement and fluidity to his lines and shapes. I don't know what it takes to achieve this... a lot of practice, and probably thousands of hours drawing from real life?
Maybe it's a matter of taste, and you don't care for artists like Tomm Moore...
Sophistication has a dampening effect on charm. This is true in all aspects of life, and easily seen in art. Children don't seem to care for sophistication. As long as there's deep expression, they're happy with crude.
In a nutshell: I would spend less time arranging illustrations (in my opinion you already have high talent and skill here) and more time on the fundamentals of drawing.
Great work :)
Thank you so much for your feedback! I think what you're referring to has more to do with taste and style. But I totally agree with you! Working on lines and being able to draw simply and quickly is something every artist should focus on!
Its hard understand what these people want. Cause, honestly theres a bunch of styles who could be called "ugly" or too simple. We look and think " how this person has payed and get published and me dont?" Haha. I know this can be mean, but is a real feeling i pass through. But i have a problem on drawing people or urvan real life places, i usually draw fantasy, maibe that gap is the problem for us.
I think the secret is to create what you love and share it, and people will find you on their own ❤
Have you thought about getting your portfolio to other companies and to get your portfolio reviewed by portfolio reviewers in the industry?
Yes I did had a portfolio reviewed. But apparently just not enough :)
I've been researching this job type and agents aren't used by illustrators too much. They are more difficult to get to work with than with publishers just send your portfolio to publishers directly. Is that correct or am I crazy?
Ufff.. Hard to say.. I've learned that usually publishers work with agencies. But who knows.. I will be diving deeper into it and doing more research :)
If you want to hear my very unprofessional opinion I think it's more related to how your portfolio is compiled than to your art. I looked at your portfolio and I think you have some really nice pieces there but also there's 30+ of them which is just too many for a portfolio. I don't know if this was just my device but I also couldn't see bigger version when I clicked on the pictures it stayed super tiny. Plus you basically have many of pictures there twice which just takes precious space which could be used to showcase your strongest work. I think working with someone to fine-tune your portfolio would be a good idea if you haven't considered it already, as I said I think your work has a lot of potential.
Rejections always stinks especially if it's something you've been working on for long time. That comment about your eyes not being drawn in the coreect style is just ridiculous imo. It sounds like something a gatekeeper would say because it benefits them, not you, like when I hear fine artists complain about what gallery owners told them they shouldn't do because their art won't sell and then their art sold anyways. And like Europe is not even a single market, it's just ridiculous. Please don't give up there are people out there who will enjoy your art and who would be willing to pay for for it too. I mean you already illustrated books you will find more of them eventually.
Thank you for your feedback ❤ I will definitely work on my portfolio and will check the issue with the zoom in option on my website! I won't give up, I do believe that there are space for everyone ❤
Hey Hanna, have you thought about publishing your books with Amazon KDP?
Yes I did but at the moment I don't think it is something for me. But who knows :)