You can use this as an opportunity to browse through different styles of illustration, and see how they are being put to use; whether it’s an awesome advertising campaign, the cover of a magazine or something you’ve never even thought of.

If you are submitting your work to an illustration agency to be considered for representation, you need to be confident that your work is up to a professional standard, otherwise, your efforts may go unnoticed. Before you send your work to an agency, you should ask yourself: ‘Is my work ready to appear next to these artists in an illustration agency’s portfolio?’

Don’t rush into it. Work on your craft, analyse professional illustrators’ portfolios, then ask yourself why they are represented by the agency.

Is it their:

• Range of skills
• Technical ability
• Attention to detail
• Unique style
• Conceptual ideas
• Eye for colour
• Unique point of view
• Years of experience?

If you are just starting out, don’t compare your work negatively to that of professional illustrators. They are likely to have years of experience under their belts, which is a lot of time to refine their style and skills. What you should be analysing is what sets them apart from the rest. Does your work have something unique?

Asking for advice

Critical analysis of your own work is tough, but you can always ask people in the creative industry for advice. If you are unsure of your work and style, instead of submitting your work to an agency for representation, ask them for some advice on how you can achieve your goal! This can be a great way to introduce yourself, and agents will often have some ideas for good additions to your portfolio. Illustrators are generally a friendly bunch, so reaching out to a few and asking them what they think of your work can be a great way to receive some professional feedback.

When thinking about who to ask, perhaps don’t go for the most famous or successful artists, they are likely to get hundreds of requests and it’s unlikely that they can answer them all! You don’t need to speak to the most internet-famous illustrator in the world for useful advice, you just need to find somebody who knows more than you do. The Association of Illustrators offers some great advice, and portfolio reviews too. Make sure you take advantage of every opportunity you can to get feedback on your work.

There is nothing wrong with being a beginner. Everybody starts somewhere; it takes time to transition from being a student into a professional in any field. Anybody can improve their craft with hard work and practice. Don’t try to skip that step. Is your portfolio full of top-quality work with a range of commercial subjects? Do you have a unique style? Do you have the technical skills to deliver work in a professional environment? If the answer is yes, then who cares if you’ve done 3 jobs or 3000? Go ahead and submit your work!

If you’re interested in representation you can submit your application here!