Pen & Ink

[Silence04]

I found this digging through some older work. I forgot all about this piece, lol.
Do you guys think this it is too creepy to show in a portfolio?

http://www.olgraphics.com/eyeball.jpg

[Neuro]

Ewwww! LOL! That is some great detail. Wonder who pissed her off?

I think it really depends on what type of job you are going for. I think if you are in a more professional environment it might turn off the interviewer a bit. Not because it's a bad piece but just the subject matter. That's just my .02.

[Vikia]

I agree, depends on who you are showing it to. The subject matter is not for most situaltions.

[lesliegraphics]

Yikes! It really depends on who looking. In general though I would say no because it's just too weird. I have some similar pieces of pencil drawings I did about slasher like themes from movies and as good as the damn things are I have never been able to really show them to try and gain futher gigs. The funny thing is when ever anyone does see them, friends, etc., they are "Wow, Leslie, I didn't know you were into this kind of stuff. . . . " And I just have to say hey it's just artwork. But I can't help but wonder if they have a different view of me, now that they've seen the darker side of me. . . . .

[balou]

Neat drawing but I'd have to say, yes, too creepy for professional portfolio.

[Logo-Mechanix]

I gear the pieces I will show to the client I am showing them to. In other words if I was going corporate that gets left out, but if I'm going metal band it's cool. It is a great piece I love it personally.

[that mike guy]

I say show it.

You made it, its your art, and stand by it.

Some clients may be a little turned off by it, but in the end, you'll make up for it by sticking to what is true for you rather than "going along to get along."

A LOT of people advised me when I was designing my website, that I should play it safe to appeal to a wider audience. I said f**k 'em, this is what i do.

Did i lose some potential 'conventional' clients? Yep.
But just the other day I got a phone call from a reasonably big name in the entertainment industry because they saw my site and was impressed that they could find someone with artwork that's, quote" edgy and not so corporate like everyone else".

Here's a favorite quote of mine which sorta relates:
"Do what you love, and tomorrow will pay the rent."

Its true... its more like 5 years than 'tomorrow' lol, but its a good quote to live by.

[lesliegraphics]

That Mike guy,

Your ****'em attitude is all fine and dandy, I guess it just really depends on how hungry you are and when the rent is due, yes? All graphic designers, artists, and creatives have to bend over now and again and play the corporate game if you want to survive in the business. And that is totally ok, some of my most boring, and I mean, just shoot me boring, clients, pay really well, but would never want to see my most exciting stuff, ever. And I would not dream of showing that stuff cause it would take money right out of my pocket. I don't see that as giving up on any personal vision, just being sensitive and aware of reality.

[EC]

I've grown to have more of Mike's attitudes over time. It's certainly not a "*** 'em" attitude at all. The more you show of your personal style the more likely you'll appeal to clients with whom you have a connection. I suppose if you're not in a position to be choosy about clients it's a different story like you said.

I've learned that "Corporate types" are not afraid of looking at fun or daring things. I think they're smart enough to know that they're not gonna get an eyeball on a fork for a logo or something.

[lesliegraphics]

I totally agreed but I'll tell you I have run across types that if they do in fact see any sort of body part impaled on anything they are turned off and look at you in a very different way than they did before they saw the eyeball. See the problem here is not your connection to them, rather their connection to you. They are going to be paying you and the bottom line is you don't want to offend in any way or you just might lose the job. When I was first starting out right from college, I met with a possible illustration job, and being really stupid at the time about all this, I included in my drawings to show a few nudes that downright shocked the guy and it clearly showed. These were beautifully rendered and I included them simply to show how well I can draw the figure. The guy was actucally red faced. And I never heard from him again. That was the last time I ever did that.

[EC]

Ok here is my take and I don't recommend it for everybody. If I feel afraid to offend somebody with work that I feel represents "me" ... then that person never really will have a connection with me to begin with.

I used to play it safe and position myself in such a way that would appeal to the broadest corporate audience, but I've broken free from that a little bit and I think my clients are a better match for me.

Again, I totally don't recommend this philosophy for everybody. It totally depends on the situation and your own personal goals. :)

[Neballer]

Show it.
You'd be surprised on how many "corporate" clients think like I do. They're people too, and are dying to see something that doesn't "fit it the box."

[Logo-Mechanix]

Mike only said what we are all thinking and would like to do, but sometimes if you need the dough you gotta sacrfice a pice in your portfolio so you can eat that week.

[EC]

Mike only said what we are all thinking and would like to do, but sometimes if you need the dough you gotta sacrfice a pice in your portfolio so you can eat that week.

Who can argue with that. ;)

[MyST]

Why not bring it and keep it out of site until you've been able to get the proper "feel" of the interviewer?

You could, during the course of the interview, mention that you've done some pretty radical stuff. If he reacts negatively, keep it out of site. If he says he'd like to see it...

¢¢

[:: JJ ::]

I think it depends on what type of relationship you have with the client, they will know your style and what quality you work by. Being yourself is the way forward but being aware of potential clients is also essential.

[SurfPark]

Maybe I'm wrong, but should a drawing be part of a graphic designer's portfolio? Most of the jobs I go on are looking for layout basics. If drawing is included, its usually as part of a piece. I can say "Yes, I designed this piece and the artwork in it." I've never said "I drew this." To me, it seems more of an illustrator's portfolio. You might be applying for both, but I wouldn't include it in a design portfolio, because it wasn't designed, it was drawn.

[:: JJ ::]

Yeah, I agree with Surf.

[lesliegraphics]

I've always said if you had anything to do with a piece and it is good put it in your portfolio. Then you can showcase some illustration you did, or whatever. It impresses in a good way if you can show that you can illustrate as well as design. I'm a graphic designer/illustrator and have always had work where I was both in one project.

[defjoe]

Show it.

also Drawing IS part of a GD portfolio. It shows you can think beyond a computer setting. Which coems in REAL handy when you have those clients that are not computer savvy (as far as GD are). also it gives you a leg up. As an employer if I see somone with a great design portfolio AND can also freehand illustrate. I would be more apt to hire them.

[Mitch Wood]

Show it.

also Drawing IS part of a GD portfolio. It shows you can think beyond a computer setting. Which coems in REAL handy when you have those clients that are not computer savvy (as far as GD are). also it gives you a leg up. As an employer if I see somone with a great design portfolio AND can also freehand illustrate. I would be more apt to hire them.


Not in a million years, unless I was an illustrator, and in that case I would only put it in if the job called for this type/style of illustration work.

Your sketch book is for this sort of stuff, not the folio.

[defjoe]

Hummm, then I wonder how I got all of my jobs.

[Mitch Wood]

Padawan Joe, sleep with the boss, I hope you didn't? ;)

Seriously though, drawings like this show none of the skills that you need to get a job within Graphic Design. What is the drawing communicating? Who is it aimed at? What were your constraints?

It is a nice rendering, but all it shows is that.

Surely you had lots more than a techinique to sell yourself to get them jobs?

Look at it from a employers perspective. I for one would rather see great visual research and progression of ideas and explorations rather that a mere technique.

As I said, a sketchbook is the right format to present this at an interveiw/initial client meeting and would never use this peice to sell myself as a final finished project, unless this was purely the niche of illustration work I was going for.