Topic: Tatumhart Illustrations

[Tatumhart]

Hi new friends,

I have so many questions.  All about my website, so perhaps this is the right place to post?

URL: www.tatumhart.wordpress.com

If anyone would have a second to visit my website, I would like to get a little feedback on my art and website before I send out samples to art directors.  I would like to send packets/postcards by the end of the year.

Before I send out any publicity, I'm going to change the URL to drop the wordpress.

I've had a bit of a problem in that cassiehart.com is already taken *by an illustrator!*  She does great work, but she's not me.  And I get called "Cathy" all the time, so I'm afraid that if I use "cassietatumhart.com" people will hear my name wrong and not be able to find my site.  That's why I'm using tatumhart.  But then, they might misspell "Hart" also.  Any thoughts?  Am I over thinking this? 

I'm wondering if it's a problem that I'm using "Tatumhart Illustrations" as my website name.  I don't really want to file any paperwork with the state or county to work under the name "Tatumhart Illustrations."  I'll work under my real name.  I just thought it sounded cool for the website.  Plus, since another illustrator already has my name...it seemed like I needed to do something different.  But if it's going to cause me trouble later, I'll just change the header to my actual name.

Also, and more importantly, how can I improve the actual art on the website?

Any feedback is appreciated.  You guys are so great.

[evilrobot]

Hey Cassie
 I posted some stuff on your intro post like I said there you have a knack for character likenesses and that's a big step in the right direction. Other than that the main thing I can tell you is just "DRAW LIKE YOU DRAW" what I mean by that is don't try to actively pursue a style or try to copy anyone else's style of working. Just keep drawing the way and the things you like to draw and your personal style will keep developing with each new drawing. You're going to start to figure out how you like to draw eyes, noses, fingers, all that stuff and it will be all yours. Not that I'm saying don't study the craft. By all means practice, practice, practice, anatomy, color, rendering, perspective. Learn all you can and then just keep adding it to your drawings in a way that feels comfortable for you. I tried to draw like someone else for a long time. It doesn't work you'll just get frustrated. I guess that would be my number one tip.

Here's a few resources that I used and they helped me a lot when I first got started.
http://escapefromillustrationisland.com/2010/02/04/how-to-create-a-free-portfolio-website-using-wordpress-com/ you can down load a PDF here that will show you how to make a professional illustration website for free using wordpress

Here is the number one drawing resource of all time I've ever found. It use to be one of those correspondence courses you got through the mail back in the 60's it's old but these guys were masters of the craft of cartooning and it helped me a lot.  Here someone has collected all 18 parts of the course on one blog. http://comicrazys.wordpress.com/category/famous-artists-cartoon-course/page/3/ I can tell you from experience that if you follow along and do every assignment by the end your skill level will have doubled or more.

Hope these help you out. Good luck with your career and hey, have fun!

[olmue]

I think your website name is fine. And Hart isn't bad--you could be named Csíkszentmihályi, after all. I can't see why you'd need to file any paperwork because your web site name isn't your own actual name. If you illustrate a book, your contract is with the publisher, not anything to do with your state or county, and while you may pick a pen (brush?) name, you would be paid with your real name (for tax purposes). So...don't overthink it!

Other than that the main thing I can tell you is just "DRAW LIKE YOU DRAW" what I mean by that is don't try to actively pursue a style or try to copy anyone else's style of working. Just keep drawing the way and the things you like to draw and your personal style will keep developing with each new drawing. You're going to start to figure out how you like to draw eyes, noses, fingers, all that stuff and it will be all yours. Not that I'm saying don't study the craft. By all means practice, practice, practice, anatomy, color, rendering, perspective. Learn all you can and then just keep adding it to your drawings in a way that feels comfortable for you. I tried to draw like someone else for a long time. It doesn't work you'll just get frustrated. I guess that would be my number one tip.

^ I LOVE this. So true!!

[Tatumhart]

Fantastic. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.  I will check out those links and try to stop overthinking. It's genetic, but I'm sure I can overcome.

[Lyon]

I have the same problem with the name being already taken by another author/illustrator. Plus to top matters off, she seems to be quite a big wig in her field.

I chose to put "illustration" after my name. If I was to do it over I would put "art" there now since half the time people add an "s" to the end and can't find me.

As far as filing paperwork, that depends on the laws in your state and town where you plan to do business. I have to file paperwork and pay a merchant fee once a year where I live, for the town, I have to file a tax form with the state to pay sales tax on "personal property" (my computer and peripherals and software.) But I am also in business as a sole proprietor and file as such on my US Tax return. But I do sell my art services to more than publishers, and I do sell tangible goods as well, so have to collect sales tax for merchandise sold in the state.

As far as your art, I would go to a few conferences and do a bit more research on what to include in your portfolio. I was all gung-ho to get myself out there when I began pursuing children's book work almost 10 years ago, but looking back, I now know I wasn't ready and I wish I'd spent more time perfecting  my craft before spending time and money on advertising that got no return.

Publishing is a slow business. Don't rush yourself, there's plenty of time to get it right.

[Julia K.]

Hi Cassie- I agree with Lyon 100% . It was at SCBWI conferences that I learned what my weaknesses were- internet hadn't been invented  yet!
Your characters are really cute and you have some fun scenes- but your figures- especially your hands and feet need some fine tuning.
I'd study some books on creating avatars or cartooning to get the basics and then stylize them to you.
I also would not use a wordpress, blog spot for my portfolio website. Art Directors want them free of all that clutter and easily navigate-able.
What I would do is put contacting art directors on the back burner- use your wordpress sight to post new work, interact with other illustrators through illustrationfriday.com and study other illustrators websites and blogs. Also get the current Artist and Graphic Designers market and the Children Writer and Illustrators Market.
Like Lyon said you got plenty of time!

[Tatumhart]

Lyon and Julia, that's good advice and exactly the type of feedback I was looking for.

Thank you! Everyone here seems so nice.

[PaulaP]

Hi Cassie,

You do have cute ideas and set-ups in your illustrations. A good way to learn and grow with your art is to study art on children's illustrator reps sites (just google children's illustrator reps, or something similar - there are a lot!). Pour over people's work, especially ones that speak to you, and figure out what it is that makes them good.

As for having different names for different things, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As long as they all sound like you or have your name in them somehow, you should be OK. Also, the IRS or other tax or license people don't care, as long as you give them all the money they ask for. :~)

[Kacey]

Hi Cassie  - - - from a fellow Kacey

I have had similar concerns with spelling, just because Kacey comes spelled in so many different variations, but I wouldn't worry too much about people misspelling Hart because if they get most of the letters right, or search your name with "illustration", google will probably help narrow it down.

As for your work, I think you frame your characters well and your style is consistent throughout your portfolio and certainly kid friendly. I'm in the same boat and just starting out in the children's book arena so not much for advice... however, I do know it is important to show your ability to make expressive characters and stay on model. Keep studying figures from life and anatomy books, and like Julia K. said ...participate in sites like illustrationfriday.com, and checkout other illustrators' work both online and in bookstores! Check out rep sites to get a feel for what they are looking for - keep pushing forward! You are off to a great start!

[Tatumhart]

Thanks Paula. And yeah for fellow Cassie/Kaceys!  Isn't it crazy how people can get your name wrong? I'm on the phone a lot at work, and I get called Patsy sometimes.

Anyway, thank you for the encouragement. I've been emailing around my local swicb chapter and every critique group right now is all writers. (I'm so new to all this, I don't even know if an illustration crit group is normal.) So I'm glad to have found the blueboards.

[evilrobot]

The SCBWI board is really slow to reply. You can post your work there for a review but it will take a long time usually before anyone will look at it. I also haven't been able to find a group for children's artists lots for writers but not artists...Maybe writers are just nicer people than us artist who like to sit for hours staring at paper and computer screens.......anyway if you find anything let me know I'm interested in joining an online critique group if I can find one....

[Tatumhart]

Oh, yes. I will let you know.

[Julia K.]

You're right, artists aren't as social as writers - art critiques tend to happen more one on one  and for a certain piece. On the blueboards you can throw up a request for an illustration critique just like for a writing critique or a query critique.
And a lot of good advice has already been given - draw from life, carry and draw in a sketch book.  Study anatomy even if doing cartoon characters, read up on the industry and study other illustrators web portfolios.  Do illustration friday- every week and study what other illustrators put up on their blogs. The above things take work and might seem not as fun as getting together with other illustrators- but the hands on stuff is what gets you better.

[Tatumhart]

It would be cool to have a little group where you could kind of be familiar with each other's work and talk on a regular basis about new work and which pieces help your portfolio and which pieces need help.

But I'm so grateful for the feedback I've gotten here. It's really what I needed for now.  I've been practicing heads and hands for a week and working on pdfs from that website that William posted earlier. So helpful. Thank you to everyone. If I were the type of person who felt comfortable using the little smileys, I would go find one that looked like a hug and post it to all of you.