Illustration Tutorial: Tips to Create Your Professional Portfolio

Learn the keys to organizing the illustrations in your portfolio an appealing, elegant manner with Ricard López

You may be an incredible illustrator, but if you don’t know how to market your work, it could get stuck gathering dust in a drawer. That’s why one of the first steps to selling your work lies in creating a professional portfolio.

What’s the best way to make it eye-catching? And to ensure it leaves a good impression on the person looking to hire you? Ricard López, also known as @ricardilus, is a professional painter and illustrator who has worked for clients including Joyería Suarez, Planeta, the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC - National Museum of Catalan Art) and Penguin Random House, (who published his illustrated tale: La Verdadera Historia de Peter Pan).

In this tutorial, Ricard López reveals some basic tips for creating a professional portfolio.

Watch the following video:

2. Prepare a different portfolio for each project

It’s important to create a different portfolio for each type of job you want to win. Children’s publishers and advertising agencies are very different audiences.

3. Showcase a range of techniques and styles

It’s helpful to demonstrate the variety of techniques and styles you master. Select a range of illustrations that highlight your versatility. You never know if your client might need your services for another job that's totally unrelated to the one you’re pitching for.

4. Less is more

Don’t go overboard. Ten to fifteen illustrations that meet the above criteria will be enough.

5. Use your social networks

Social networks can be a gateway allowing many people to get to know your work. Create accounts in Instagram, Facebook... and upload content. Remember to post regularly and always provide your followers with quality content.

6. Create your website

While it is a good idea to have social networks, Ricardilus also recommends creating your own website. Clients often don’t have the time to review all your Instagram content, and a well-structured, clear and attractive website can make you stand out.

Like these tips? If you want to learn how to combine illustration with text to create unique stories using digital and manual techniques, don’t miss Ricard López (Ricardilus)’ online tutorial: Introduction to Picturebook Creation.

You may be interested in:

- Illustration Techniques with Digital Watercolor, with Ricard López Iglesias.

- Picturebook Creation, with Flavia Z Drago.

- Fanzine and Self Publishing Lab, with Alfonso de Anda.

- Design and Illustration of a Fanzine, with Violeta Hernández.