Thread by @charisloke

THREAD: general tips that might help folks applying for art opportunities/ sending portfolios to clients. I'm writing this from my experience mentoring for US college apps, commissioning for New Naratif, and picking submissions for a comics anthology + a workshop scholarship.

Which is to say, I've read hundreds of application essays, conducted phone interviews with applicants, looked at many, many portfolio sites, and gone through lots of submission packets.

I've also applied for grants, residencies, scholarships, degree programmes, workshops, and jobs. Although apps for each of these differ, there are common aspects.

Here we go!

Tip 1: think from the point of view of the client or panel. What are they looking for? This is a skill that will help you each and every time. Your application is not just about you, but how you fit into what they are trying to do, and how you can help them meet their goals.

First of all, a panel doesn't just review *your* application - they may be looking at hundreds of other apps at the same time. Make it easy for them by following the application formats, submitting things on time, and so on.

Thinking from the point of view of others will also help you avoid coming across as entitled in your emails or essays. It's easy for a reviewer or interviewer to pick up on this tone, especially if they've just had conversations with non-entitled applicants.

Tip 2: do your research. What are the criteria for the application? Who is the sponsor/ organiser/ client? What work do they do? What are their goals? This is usually easy to find out from the application form or website itself.

This will inform how you put together your application + present yourself. For example, if I'm applying for a grant that emphasises leadership and networking, I'll include examples of times that I was able to guide a team and make connections.

Another example: if you're sending a portfolio to me because you're interested in illustrating for New Naratif, the first thing I'll look for is whether you have ever done editorial illustration or worked with publications.

If not, I'll look for pieces that show you can take an abstract idea or issue and depict it in a thoughtful way, at a minimum skill level.

If it's very clear you've never looked at the New Naratif site, have no idea what we do, or what editorial illustration is, then:

Some applications might have criteria such as "For ages 35 and below", or "For women artists located in [x, y, z] countries". If you very clearly do not meet these, please don't apply. Or make passive-aggressive comments online suggesting that you should be considered.

A caveat that there are times where you might decide to apply to something even though you don't meet all of the criteria. I've done it - after careful consideration (and I explained why in my app). Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't. Be polite and nice.

Tip 3: keep your app essays/ email focused and within the limits specified. If you're asked for a 100-150 word statement, don't send 500 words. Nobody, and I repeat, *nobody* is important enough to justify sending far more than what was asked for. Don't be that asshole.

At the same time, don't send one or two sentences either! Give reviewers enough information to justify choosing you.

I usually go through several drafts when writing application essays. At each stage I cut words that aren't essential or don't help.

hemingwayapp.com can be helpful in this regard.

Another method of trimming is to read the essay aloud and see which parts are a mouthful.

Tip 4: pick the most relevant samples to send. Unless specifically asked for, don't send huge portfolio PDFs full of unrelated work. Reviewers don't have time to wade through your 80-page PDF, *especially* if only 3 of those pages contain what they're looking for.

They don't need to see your life's work; they can judge from a few samples, your portfolio website, and how you write your essays/ emails. If you're applying for comics work, send comics pages. Don't send logo designs.

Please, don't send huge 80-page PDFs.

(you'd be surprised how many of those I have gotten.)

If you're sending your work to an art director, it's commonly recommended to attach 2-3 JPGs to the email and include a link to your portfolio website.

Tip 5: give specific rather than vague or general answers to questions - this shows that you are clear about why you are applying, and have put thought into it. The same applies to examples.

It also helps you stand out from other applicants and might be the deciding factor when a panel is picking between several finalists who have the same levels of qualifications.

"By going to this workshop, I will learn a lot."
v.s.
"By going to this workshop, I will improve my pitch packet for [z comic] which I hope to send to [x, y] publishers. I'll also get to meet comics professionals and get feedback on my portfolio from them."

Often, applications/ interviews are about *how* you frame and say things, though you still need to have solid content backing up that nice presentation. It takes practice to get good at applying for things - so do it even if you aren't sure of your chances!

Consider every rejected application as a practice run.

Get feedback from friends or mentors you can trust. For things like grants, residencies, scholarships, it's helpful to talk to people who've gotten it. They can tell you quirks or strengths that the programme looks for.

It might also help to think of applications in a different way: instead of picturing it as a competition or fight to the death...

...think of it as a way to show the organiser what you can do, who you are, and how you can help them (and vice versa).

In other words, be yourself!

(your non-asshole self, of course.)

I like to think of portfolios and apps as risk assessment tools. They help the art director assess the risk of hiring/ funding you. More specifically, "If I hire this person and they have a bad day, what's the worse that could happen?"

Will you have the experience and maturity to handle it? (and if you can share specific examples of incidents where you handled challenges, this is a plus!). Will you still be able to turn in work of a certain standard? Or will you run off into the ether and never be seen again?

Anyway, I want to acknowledge that traditionally, the formats of many kinds of applications are biased - towards people who know how to write or speak in certain ways, who have access to certain kinds of cultural capital including networks.

I want to make things like applications for grants much more accessible, and lower the barriers to entry for artists who haven't gone through pathways like university.

But while those old formats still exist, it's useful to learn how to work within them as best as you can.

Feel free to comment with questions or add tips of your own!

(as an example, here's an application I wrote to apply to an art residency. There's a short essay and my artist CV: patreon.com/posts/resource… )