Network research

• Prepare a document, diagram or piece of artwork that outlines and expresses your practice. You can write this as a CV, Biography, Personal Statement or Manifesto. Or you could experiment with all these forms to promote your work to different audiences. 
• As an illustrator, your document should look aesthetic or creative, as well as providing practical information about you and your practice. 

So working towards the above document I thought that my portfolio would be the best idea to put forward for this section. It documents everything about me and my practise, it looks aesthetic and creative as it includes all my work and photography, has a bio about me and also includes the different areas I love to work in, surface pattern, illustration, editorial and book illustration. As I have been up-dating this on my website this would be the best opportunity to showcase my work, to my fellow illustrators and

I have added a few screen shots below so it can be seen on this blog too, how I have put all my work into one place and also have up-dated the art work so it’s at its most recent.

My hidden surface pattern portfolio on my website, where you need a password to view it is below:

The animals section below:

2. Networks

2.5. Prompt: Portfolio reviews

So after looking at this projects prompts for Networks and audiences, with adding in the section above for my portfolio. I had my feedback from the agent at the Illo agency, the main thing was that they were not going to represent me at present, which I must admit I would have been surprised If they wanted too, as I have little experience and know my work needs refining. But she did say that I needed more art work on the portfolio, more book illustrations, spreads and character work was the main thing. The agent picked up on the surface pattern and suggested showing more of my book illustrations with the surface pattern work, as this would help with the connection of the surface pattern on the portfolio. (Which makes sense and something I hadn’t focused on or thought of yet, this could be a main difference in my style over other illustrators, so showcasing this more would be good). They offered to do a in person portfolio review at Bologna book fair, as they would be there, if I had any more art work to show them. Unfortunately I had to decline as the cost of getting to Bologna is not something I can afford at present, and I don’t have anymore book art work to show them yet. Hopefully next year would be timing, where I would have more work and be able to get to Bologna.

The agent asked me to keep in touch, and send over some more work in maybe a year’s time, or when I feel I have got more work and more book spreads refined and ready.
Overall I was really happy with the outcome, I have seen where my work can go, and move forward in this direction, knowing that I have some feedback from a well known agency. It has given me more confidence that with more work and working on specific areas I can really make a stride forward.