Welcome to week 1 of the ‘zero2illo 4 Week Portfolio Challenge’.
If you’re new to the site, read more about this challenge here. Those of you who joined me in the first zero2illo ’12 Week Challenge’ will know that there was a fair bit of work to be completed before you even thought about creating your portfolio pieces in weeks 4-6.
One of the main things we covered prior to creating our portfolio pieces was to make a one page business plan called an OGSM which stands for Objectives, Goals, Strategies and Measures. This powerful tool will help you ensure all of the illustrations you create are targeted and fit coherently within your portfolio. You can find details of how to complete your OGSM here. If you haven’t yet done this, I’d highly recommend you complete your OGSM before diving into this new challenge.
Even for those of you who participated in the ’12 Week Challenge’ previously and have already created an OGSM, now would be a great time to re-visit it and make sure it still fits with your illustration career aspirations.
This week’s task
- Create one new targeted illustration for you portfolio.
Here’s how this weeks task will work:
Part 1:
Write a post on your own blog documenting the stages in the process of creating your illustration along with displaying the final piece and then add a link to your new illustration in a comment on this post so that your fellow challengers can return here and check out your new work.
Documenting the process of how you created your illustrations can be a powerful and enlightening exercise, helping you to see where refinements could be made not only in streamlining your workflow (very important when working on tight editorial deadlines) but also forcing you to take a step back and look at your work from a distance (less can be more, but sometimes it’s hard not to work a piece to death).
Part 2:
Use the Portfolio Pieces & Websites board in the zero2illo clubhouse to get critiques, feedback and any help you need while working on your illustrations (I don’t really need to say this as we have such a lovely community of folks on here but please remember to play nicely – only constructive and helpful critiques please).
To keep this board organised please can each participant wanting critiques and feedback on their work add a ‘New Topic’ in the Portfolio Pieces & Websites section and name it: ‘Your name’ 4WC Illustration Critique. (For example - Jonathan Woodward 4WC Illustration Critique).
I’d also like to encourage everyone to visit each others blogs over the next 4 weeks and leave comments of support and encouragement.
During the next four weeks of the ’4 Week Portfolio Challenge’ I’ll be featuring some inspirational illustrators to get those creative juices flowing, so keep an eye on zero2illo throughout the week. Ok, what are you waiting for….let’s get to it!
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