No one yet. I have a couple of sites that I'll be showing the executives but there's still time to submit. In the meantime, I want to share a few thoughts about getting a job with the internet.
Even though more eyeballs visited the previous post with my ugly drawing than any of my posts that showcased my stunning finished pieces (I'm sure they're there, you just have to dig), if you checked the comment section you'll see that I got very few submissions.
I apologize to those who tried to post a link but couldn't. If your post appeared, I googled and found your page even if the link wasn't there. If you couldn't post at all, send a link via Twitter @TadStones or on Facebook, just make sure it's the one that I actually update.
Of course, in addition to these I checked out the artists that they followed and I also got some professional submissions who learned I was looking from friends or my tweets. Of course, I kept looking on my own and as I did so I learned that some talented artists don't know how to showcase their work or take their site for granted or aren't thinking about what a potential employer needs to see. So here are some things to ask yourself:
WHAT DO YOU LOOK LIKE? Not your photo but when someone searches for you, what do they see? I'm not talking about your embarassing facebook photos or the fact that everything you posted on the net is still there somewhere. I'm just talking about your professional presence. Here's what you should do: use a friend's computer to search for your name and a simple qualifier like "Edgar Quenton Wigglefingers, artist." Use your friend's computer so your Google algorithms won't slant the search in your favor. Even better, let your friend search. Don't back seat drive but watch as they try to find samples of your work. And once they're on your website, see how long it takes them to get to the specific work you'd like an employer to see.
If you have a dedicated portfolio site, keep it updated with your best work. If you can't post your current work because it's confidential, at least keep a "Sketches" or "Doodles" folder alive. Employers understand that you can't show current work because of your job, or will they? Next question:
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? Why are you standing over the body of Doc Pilferson with a bloody knife? Or the more common: Where do I find your resume? It should be its own tab on your site and updated every time you take a new job. I don't get the "resume on request." I guess you are trying to filter out... I don't know, internet stalkers? rabid fans with no boundaries? The murderous widow of Doc Pilferson? You should make it EASY for the potential employer to get an accurate assessment of you. If you are brand new, trying to break in, put down your education or the job you have to pay the bills. Your art remains your major selling point.
WHAT ELSE ARE THEY SEEING? Again, not talking about your goofy prom picture or the YouTube video of your friend popping your sebaceous cyst. I mean your artwork on other sites. When I hit an artist that has some sketches that seem like they'll fit my needs, I immediately look for tumblrs, blogs and deviant art pages because I'm hoping for more sketches or finished art with that same feel. The best discovery is when the artist uses his different sites for different types of art like devoting his Tumblr to quick sketches, crazy ideas, whatever while his central site has finished examples or paid work. The more common situation is cross posting the same material on all sites, augmented with some extra sketches. That's understandable because different sites have different audiences. I'm just talking about an ideal world where everything is optimized to get you work. If you have a dead site, or a blog or Tumblr that only has your old work, see if you can add a post directing people to your new site. I know that can be a problem. I have a dead Facebook page that continues to get friend requests and pokes.
In any case, evaluate your overall internet presence through the eyes of potential employers. Make sure they will easily find what you want them to find. If you are an artist who does everything, separate it into clear categories: backgrounds, character designs, character cleanup, sketchbook, etc.
If you are using Deviantart.com as your portfolio then upgrade to the level that allows you to have separate folders displayed on your main page with clear icons of what category is inside. Consider dumping your old work. If you like it and feel that it's executed at a professional level, it doesn't matter how old it is. But I've heard producers and directors say that they like seeing the old work. It shows the growth of the artist.
That's true. That is useful. Maybe seeing your high school fan art is useful too. But let me be your advocate here. Although it is useful for the employers to see your warts and all, it doesn't mean it's in your best interest. You can't lie about your talent. It is what it is. But we all have bad drawing days (Note illustration on previous post.) DON'T PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR PORTFOLIO THAT YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR. Finally:
WHAT CENTURY AM I WORKING IN? If you are an artist, hopeful entrant, working professional and/or seasoned veteran, you need a web presence. Use a free site or buy your own domain name. The days of lugging a big leather satchel from studio to studio is rapidly drawing to a close. A special note to veterans: you are getting work because people know you and your work. If you've worked at one place too long, your profile outside that studio might be virtually invisible. Worse, you have no control of who is running the shows at your studio. If your dependable employers, I'm talking directors and producers here, don't sell a show, you need to visible to the new guy. Don't count on the studio to do it. The guy who did sell a show will tend to hire the artists that he knows he can depend on. Translate that into "the artists he's worked with before from outside your studio."
While you are employed, build a site. Have fun, share some stories and opinions... but imagine your audience includes potential employers because it does. Check with your studio but few companies have any objections to showing the work you did on projects that have already aired. And don't hesitate to add original sketches. Maybe there's a style that you've always wanted to work in but never had a chance. That whole "old dog, new tricks" thing is bullcrap.
Okay, that's the update and then some. If you've come to this site recently, you might want to check out my most popular posts HOW TO PITCH AN ANIMATED SERIES which is worthwile reading for all sorts of mediums. The images on this post are all by Flaviano Amentaro who I found in my character design search. He's an amazing artist in several mediums.
Remember, you can still send me your character design links. I'm looking for non-traditional designs of humans and animals for a show targeted at kids 2 to 7. It's not an action adventure cartoon but he does have action cartoon gags. Post your in the previous comments, the comments to this post or send me a link @TadStones on Twitter. Good luck. --Tad
Hey Mr. Stones,
I just started building my portfolio site but there is one thing that bothered me for years and I need an advise from a real master/veteran. You are looking for a non-traditional design but most portfolios are full of Fanart. If I would come up with something unique (character or style) should I show it? Do I have to worry about someone stealing it because at this point I am still a "nobody"? Please let me know.
Well, and thank you for giving us DW
Posted by: Alexander Auernhammer | 02/04/2013 at 05:29 PM
First off, if you never show your work to someone you will never sell it. Usually I hear this worry expressed by writers I've never heard anyone worry about someone ripping off their style.
If you truly have a unique style, it comes from you. It's not a single drawing, it's the way you draw. And I have a hard time believing that you, or anyone, could draw a few characters that are so incredible, so magical that the style alone makes them a huge hit. Think of the most successful animated characters: Mickey Mouse, SpongeBob, Bugs Bunny, Homer Simpson and think of they way they were first drawn. The style did not make them successful, it was the combination of animation, personality, writing, the time in which they were created, etc.
The portfolios I'm looking at most seriously don't have fan art. They may have model sheets of existing characters that the artist created when he worked on those shows. Look at the links I've posted in the past. I've never posted fan art except for the post about fan fiction.
And finally, you can't copyright your style. Any popular artist has followers who are inspired by their work and try to match it. Eventually, they develop their own style.
Don't hide your light under a bushel.
Posted by: Tad Stones | 02/04/2013 at 06:58 PM