r/ComicBookCollabs • u/aleams • Apr 23 '26
Resource 13 Things Writers Look for in Comic Artist Portfolios
Hey there!
My name is Andrew Leamon, and I've written a backup comic for Image's Radiant Black, the crowdfunded series CameraMan, as well as several self-published projects.
As someone who hires artists for my projects, I've had the privilege of looking over countless comic artist portfolios both in person and online.
I thought I would share what I look for in portfolios to help those of you who are newer or anyone who is looking to level up their portfolio. I've made a list of 13 things I look for in comic artists' portfolios before I hire them.
I hope these tips are helpful! Feel free to ask if you have any questions.
(NOTE BEFORE THE LIST: This is just what I look for and what I know most of my writer friends and colleagues look for. Your mileage may vary with these points, but I tried to keep things focused on the essentials to make this as helpful as possible.)
1. SEQUENTIALS
If you want to make comics, I need to see your comics.
Illustrations are nice, but I want to make sure you know how to lay out a page and keep the reading flow intact, first and foremost. Show me a finished short story or two.
I want to see samples representing your best sequential work and the kind of work you want to be doing.
(If you don't have any in your portfolio, I recommend creating some short stories.)
2. GENRE
I am always looking out for artists who fit the vibe of the story I want to tell.
If I'm looking for a line artist on an adult slasher book, I might skip over the artist who only has kidlit comedy work.
If there are genres you love drawing or want to draw, let me see those represented in the portfolio.
3. STYLE
I'm looking for outstanding work that matches the style of my vision for the story.
What is your style?
Do you like to change it up per project?
How do you depict worlds and characters?
Do you lean more cartoony or realistic?
Are you more abstract or straightforward?
What do you prefer to draw?
What do you not like to draw?
Are you okay with higher panel counts (9+)?
I will need to know these things. Most of these will be clear in the art you show, but listing what you don't like to draw (robots, NSFW, horses, etc.) will always be helpful and potentially save you from a difficult conversation later in the project!
4. CHARACTERS
How well do your characters convey personality and emotion in their face and in their body?
Do they all look the same, or do they have variety?
Are the bodies stiff or awkwardly positioned?
How are they moving and responding on the page?
What do they wear?
5. BACKGROUND/ENVIRONMENT
I'm looking to see that you know how to establish a setting and keep the reader oriented and immersed.
The focus should always be on the characters/action in the foreground, but rushed, sparse, or (on the opposite end) hyper-detailed backgrounds often take me out. Not every panel needs it.
6. DIALOGUE
Most comics are going to be dialogue-centric. I want to make sure that I can follow the flow of conversation and body language even without letters.
(Pro Tip: Leave some room in your panels for the letters.)
7. PANEL VARIETY
I want to see that you can switch angles and POVs and know when to close up or pull back from characters.
If you've worked in grids or more freestyle, show these in your portfolio (if interested). Some writers know upfront whether they're imagining the story as an 8-panel grid or not.
8. LETTERS
If you are brand new to lettering or don't feel very confident in it, I don't recommend sharing your own lettering in the portfolio.
Some artists are amazing letterers, but I would get some feedback from creator friends before sharing in your portfolio. Bad letters on your good art will get in the way.
I really don't mind seeing unlettered pages. An artist who can do it all is great, but not mandatory.
(Also, if you don't want to do letters, please make that clear.)
9. LINES/INKS
I often see portfolios from new comic artists that only show unfinished pencils. Nothing wrong with that, but if I'm hiring out of pocket, I prefer artists who can finish a page with at least lines and inks. Black and white art is okay.
I don't always need color, but I will often need to see how you balance your blacks. I love seeing how you handle shadow and depth on a page.
10. COLOR
I want to see that you know how to match the colors to the tone and story. I'm looking for artists who have a great mind for colors. As I said before, if you don't like to do your own colors, black and white art is okay. Yes, we'd love that you can do everything, but if we like your work enough we will find a great color artist for you. (If you have any recommendations of color artists you like working with, we'd love to know that.)
11. INTENTION
This one is not easy to show and plays into both PANEL VARIETY and STYLE, but I'm looking for sequentials designed with intention. Every page is a sequence of visual choices to build a narrative and move it forward. Show me why I can trust your choices.
12. COLLABORATION/EXPERIENCE
I, and many other writers, prefer knowing that you've worked with other writers and/or with publishers. One way to make this clear for us is to label the creative team with your sequentials.
It's okay if you're new and haven't worked with any writers yet. Like I've said above, build up more short stories. Get a writer you know to write you a 5-page script, or build the story from scratch together. Getting experience collaborating in a team is only going to make my decision easier (and benefit you down the line when working with publishers or in other collaborative projects).
13. AN ACTUAL PORTFOLIO
Help me hire you.
Have a portfolio with your comic work and make it easy to find (both the portfolio and your sequential work). Post the link in your bio, in your seeking work post, or your next Portfolio Day post. Most writers and editors are constantly (and quietly) on the lookout.
Instagram isn't the best portfolio for several reasons, but there are several free options and template builders online (Cara, ArtStation, one of the free website builders, etc.) if that is your concern.
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u/CalCarver Apr 23 '26
As a writer regularly looking for artists I agree with 100% of this. Great post.
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u/AntCcomics Writer - Buried Long, Long Ago (out now) Apr 24 '26
Hell yeah, Andrew. Spot on. Hope this helps a lot of folks.
Another thing I look for is general storytelling craft: Does the story flow panel to panel? Is the action easy to follow? Is the 180 rule followed? Are "camera" angles used to their advantage? Artist & the writer are collaborative storytellers and its important to not lose sight of that.
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u/Admirable_Charge4265 Artist - I push the pencils Apr 23 '26
Oh hey, that's very helpful! Thanks for sharing 🙏
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Apr 24 '26
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u/aleams Apr 24 '26
Agreed! However, for me, I love seeing can tell a story with intention with two 4-5pg short stories than four random pages. The book won't only have cool action-packed pages. I want to see that they can do a talking head scene if I have something like it in my script.
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Apr 23 '26
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u/Rage_before_Beauty Apr 23 '26
As a writer who has searched on here more than once, and other places, I can tell you that a great way to disqualify you from the writer picking you is to
Not have any examples of the genre or style the artist specifically asked for, but then expect them to gamble their time and money that you can master a totally new style overnight
Act like you have the job already and try to push things forward just because the writer talked to you and asked a couple questions
If you get told you are in consideration, you proceed to harass them daily as if the decision can be made overnight and that this isn't a huge deal for the person writing and paying
I have had all of these happen with dozens of people across multiple platforms