How can you tell when an illustration is ready for feedback?

2 Follow the guidelines

If you are working on an illustration for a client, a publication, or a collaborative project, you should follow the guidelines and specifications that have been agreed upon. These may include the style, tone, color palette, dimensions, resolution, file format, and deadline of your illustration. Following the guidelines will ensure that your illustration meets the expectations and requirements of the project, and will also make the feedback process smoother and more efficient.

3 Check the basics

Before you share your illustration with anyone, you should check the basics of your work. This includes the technical aspects, such as the quality, clarity, and consistency of your lines, shapes, colors, and textures. It also includes the artistic aspects, such as the composition, balance, contrast, harmony, and focal point of your illustration. You should also proofread your illustration for any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors, especially if you have any text elements. Checking the basics will help you avoid any obvious mistakes or flaws that could distract from your illustration or affect its meaning.

4 Seek feedback early and often

One of the best ways to know when your illustration is ready for feedback is to seek feedback early and often. This means that you don't have to wait until your illustration is finished or polished to share it with others. You can share your sketches, drafts, or mockups with your peers, mentors, clients, or target audience, and ask for their opinions, suggestions, or questions. Seeking feedback early and often will help you validate your ideas, test your assumptions, and discover new perspectives or opportunities that could enhance your illustration.

5 Be open and receptive

When you share your illustration for feedback, you should be open and receptive to the comments and critiques you receive. This means that you don't take feedback personally or defensively, but rather as a constructive and collaborative way to improve your work. You should listen carefully, ask for clarification, and thank the feedback giver for their time and input. You should also evaluate the feedback objectively, and decide which ones are relevant, useful, and actionable for your illustration.

6 Implement and iterate

After you receive feedback on your illustration, you should implement and iterate on your work. This means that you apply the feedback that you have accepted, and make the necessary changes or adjustments to your illustration. You should also test and review your illustration again, and see if it meets your purpose, follows the guidelines, and checks the basics. You may also want to share your illustration again for another round of feedback, and repeat the process until you are satisfied with your illustration.