I placed in the Carmelite prize top 3! Next Thursday I will go to London to find out which prize I got, the event being a great time to also meet and discuss work with art directors and publishers within the children's book industry. Luckily professionalisation continues beyond the PPP module... I look forward to the event and engaging in some sweet sweet industry level illustration.

I believe there will also, as part of the top 5, the opportunity to receive a portfolio review from the publishers. This will also be a great way to  show my work (beyond chickens), though I will have to put some thought into what kind of portfolio I show them. As a whole body, my portfolio doesn't just sit in publishing. Perhaps, when visiting a publisher, I should showcase a more specific body of work.

The news came at a great time. I've spent my recent PPP time wondering where my work sits, if anyone likes it (the usual graduate incessant whining etc etc) but to get this recognition (particularly from a publisher like Hachette) is a confidence boost for sure. A year ago I wasn't sure if children's illustration suited me and now I have not only my own enjoyment in it, but some confidence in my ability from the *real world* too.