Three Reasons Why You Should Check Out The Portfolio Showcase (Even If You're Not An Illustrator) #scbwiSummer22

The SCBWI Summer Conference Portfolio Showcase is now open for viewing! Even if you aren't an illustrator, I encourage you to go check out the amazing art.

 According to Priscilla Burris, SCBWI's Illustrator Programs Consultant, Portfolio Showcase Director, and Advisory Council Member, there are 218 portfolios registered in the Showcase this year. Eleven (11) countries outside the U.S. are represented, including Australia, India, South Africa and Germany!  

This year, participating illustrators were asked to indicate whether they were agented or unagented. Two (yes, I said TWO!) Grand Prize winners will be selected - one agented and one unagented. TWO Honor winners will be selected - again, one agented and one unagented. From Priscilla, on this exciting change: "We want to provide a space for participants who are serious about seeking representation. Every portfolio is given this opportunity but an award highlights this possibility." In addition to the Showcase awards, The Ezra Jack Keats Showcase Award For Illustration will be given to a promising BIPOC artist who has never been published. participants have this option when registering.

The Showcase winners and Honor recipients will be announced live on Zoom on Saturday, August 6th at 9 am PST, and the winning portfolios will appear at the top of the Portfolio Showcase page.

Even if you aren't able to browse the Showcase during the Summer Conference, you can do so afterward. All portfolios will remain on display until September 11th. See last year's post for behind-the-scenes info as well as history behind the SCBWI's Portfolio Showcase. 

Three Reasons Why You Should Check Out The Showcase (Even If You're Not An Illustrator)

1. To show support for your fellow kidlit creators. Help spread the world about the portfolio showcase by posting about it online and encouraging others to check out the wonderful art. If you especially enjoy an individual's portfolio, post about it and encourage others to check out that person's website. **Note: Never publicly share an illustrator's art online unless you have express permission, especially if the image does not have the artist's name/identifying mark as part of the image.

2. To learn. Especially if you are an up-and-coming children's book illustrator, you can learn a great deal by studying the portfolios of more experienced illustrators in the Showcase.

3. For the joy. A study by neurobiologist Semir Zek showed that that viewing a beautiful work of art can create the same chemical response in the brain as being in love. Also, see this article for more benefits of viewing art (decreased stressed levels! increased empathy! relief from mental exhaustion!).

Above: My own career was jumpstarted by the SCBWI Summer Conference Portfolio Showcase, back in 2010. You can read the full story of what happened here.

Whether or not your portfolio ends up winning an award, however, be assured that your work is being viewed by many in the industry. I've heard many stories of agents and editors contacting illustrators months (sometimes years) after seeing their work in the Showcase.

Now stop reading and go check out the Portfolio Showcase!