So I’m back from C2E2 (the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo) and while I didn’t return with any job offers I did learn some stuff (never too old, eh?).
Basically the way most companies handle portfolio reviews has changed. Gone are the days where a long line of kids with portfolio in hand would get seen one by one by editors who ranged from helpful to “over it”. Now what they do is have you sign a waiver which you staple to photocopies of your work and then submit to them. If they like your stuff your name will be on a list that they’ll post. If it’s not, “thank you come again”. While this is great for them and actually allows them to review your work with more time and by committee (which will helpfully allow for a better fairer selection process) it’s tough for those of us who are submitting portfolios. Basically it means that we aren’t there when our work is getting critiqued so we’re not getting any feedback. For all intents and purposes you’re throwing your work into this vacuum with your fingers crossed.
Unfortunately my name wasn’t on the list for either of the big two, and to date I haven’t been contacted by any of the other companies I dropped my work off with (Boom, Dark Horse, etc.). I was, however able to speak to Mark Chiarello, the Art Director for DC. We had a frank, positive and greatly appreciated conversation about my work. I hope to follow-up with him and show him that I have taken his advice to heart. He pointed out some things to me that I had been wrestling with in my work that I’m hoping will help me resolve those issues. We’ll see how it goes. At the end of the day though, all the advice in the world is no substitute for getting back to your art table and just drawing.
One last note about the con, I hope to upload some pictures over the next couple of days, so keep a look out for them.
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