I think furry art would be extremely appropriate to put "furry" art in an illustration portfolio, espcially if you want to go into children's book illustration. You know how many children's books feature animal characters?

Thats a good point!

Important thing: Where are you?
Other thing: Do you have a source of income or are you financially stable (like a second job, a rich partner etc.)?

Generic illustrator's advice:
Go to bookcons, check if there are children's book cons (like the children's book fair in Bologna, Italy). See how well the illustrators are making.
Write your fav illustrators to set up interviews... during cons, an email interview or even better, a telephone interview. People love answering your questions if you are attentive and make it about them, not about you.
Is there a get together of illustrators in your area? Go there.

Stuff from my own experience in Germany and the Netherlands:
Children's books and school book illustrations are about the lowest paying jobs for illustrators, and there is no way of making a living of that alone here.
Why? There are a lot of artists who studied illustration/design, got secure income by a rich partner and love making children's books/illustrated cook books for almost free. Most children's book artists that don't rely on their partner's income usually have a second job for 2 or 3 days a week and do their stuff on the other 3 or 4 days.
Maybe it's different if you are in the US or Australia or wherever. I don't know.

Also beware awful writers. Confident people can still lack skills.

The end. Good luck.

A lot of things to think about, thank you so much for this!

I've worked on two books thus far and I'm contracting a third atm.

Here's some stuff I've learned, but I'm by absolutely no means an expert.




I've always been paid by the page but some people have told me it's been different for them. Starting out it was really low, I think I was paid $15 a page and I've seen low ballers on freelance sites wanting full illustrations for five bucks a pop. (avoid those people)

It goes up pretty quickly if you're working for a company or with the same author for a long period. (25-50+) Anyone who's not going to pay you at least 15 is a red flag and also anyone working without a contract. Not because everyone without a contract is evil, but because you never know and it's nice to have your responsibilities in writing if it ever went sour.

I was paid hourly when I worked for a company and now contracting I'm being paid per page.
From what I understand, some people make a butt ton per page. But it's some people and it seems that it's the exception and not the norm.

It's been feast and famine for me.


Publishing Houses have their own illustrators. And they like to use theirs over anything anyone else has (probably because they trust them and know they're reliable etc). And you, can totally apply to work for a publisher. Most publishers of children's literature will have a submission area for artists to apply in. And this can be magazines or books or posters etc. It's pretty varied.
I don't actually have that much experience beyond that here, never applied and never worked for a publisher :)


On portfolio stuff. I always get this advice from other artists.

'focus more' 'vary it up'

And the former is really about focusing my portfolio as a whole, a sort of draw for the job you want. And the latter is variety in the form of what content I have in those completed pieces.

I think you should include furry art. The furry community doesn't have a patent on anthropomorphic animals. :3
Just use common sense for subject and pick images that look like they could be from a children's book. That focus thing again. (tho I feel like you have a lot of variation already and I think your work would be great in children's stories omg)


LASTLY

Here is a very useful article about someone making a children's book.http://muddycolors.blogspot.com/201.....ture-book.html


Hope that helps!
And again, not an expert at all!

Hey! Someone is looking for an illustrator on reddit so I linked your page to them. Just wanted to give you a heads up https://www.reddit.com/r/furry/comm.....est_kids_book/

Oh wow, thank you! :D

Hope it works out!