Debbie Ridpath Ohi: UPDATED: My Bluesky Starter Thread For Illustrators. Pls see my MAIN BLUESKY STARTER THREAD for Bluesky basics, resources, & more #BlueSkyTips. Also: Index Of Custom Feeds & LISTS: KidLit/YA Graphic Novel Community, Colorists & Flatters, KidLit Art Directors/Designers, KidLit/YA Illustrators. 🧵👇🏼

UPDATED: My Bluesky Starter Thread For Illustrators. Pls see my MAIN BLUESKY STARTER THREAD for Bluesky basics, resources, & more #BlueSkyTips. Also: Index Of Custom Feeds & LISTS: KidLit/YA Graphic Novel Community, Colorists & Flatters, KidLit Art Directors/Designers, KidLit/YA Illustrators. 🧵👇🏼

When posting art, I strongly recommend making sure your images include identifying info, in case it is shared/scooped out of context. I always try to include my signature & a URL. To those sharing art: always include artist credit. #BlueSkyTips

USE HASHTAGS! Hashtags will help your art get discovered when people use Search, custom feeds, etc. For art appropriate for children's books, for example, use #KidLitArt. Also a GREAT way for artists to categorize their work, make it easier for users to browse as well as search your own feed.

If you're interested in illustrating for children's books, I highly recommend following @brianlarossa.com (Scholastic art director). Bluesky is his platform of choice when looking for illustrators. Follow @kidlitart.bsky.social & @kidlitchat.bsky.social for upcoming chat topics. #BlueSkyTips

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When posting your art, use ALT text! Not only does this help visually impaired who use screen readers, but it will help your art get discovered via custom feeds, search. To myself, I use Bluesky's accessibility settings (bsky.app/settings/acc...) to require alt text. #BlueSkyTips

Oh I didn’t know about this feature thank you!

Follow @ginaperry.bsky.social for #KidLitArtPostcard challenges, @charlenedraws.bsky.social & @tiffanyharveyart.bsky.social (@kidlitart.bsky.social chats), @boringstorybook.com for KidLit Community feedlove, @kellienicely.bsky.social for art feeds. Feel free to suggest others! #BlueSkyTips

@brianlarossa.com is so committed to helping the #kidlit community here. @mindyalyseweiss.bsky.social has the foresight to have included Bluesky in #PBparty. @kidlitchat.bsky.social is hosted by @bonnieadamson.com and @gregpincus.bsky.social every Tuesday!

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And Debbie posted this, @kdubaygillis.bsky.social !

Thanks!!

You're welcome! 😊

Looking for a wkly event for kidlit community? Check out #KidLitChat, hosted by illustrator @bonnieadamson.com & @gregpincus.bsky.social. Topics at @kidlitchat.bsky.social. Also, not too late to join @anneappert.bsky.social & @adriakarlsson.bsky.social #IllustratePride challenge! #BlueSkyTips

Hey @kdubaygillis.bsky.social , as luck would have it, Debbie just posted this!

Thank you, Debbie! I'm glad things went well today.

Biggest tip for illustrators who find Bluesky "too quiet": Instead of just posting your own stuff & expecting others to engage with you & your posts, venture out & engage with others on THEIR content. Like, share, reply. More community engagement tips: debbieohi.link/bluesky-tips #BlueSkyTips

New To Bluesky? Here Are Some Tipsdebbieohi.link (Last updated June 2nd, 2024) – Shortlink to this post: https://debbieohi.link/bluesky-tips Quick navigation: Book Launch threads – Bluesky Lists – Bluesky Feeds – Feed Index – Hashtags – Community ev...

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Note: These are just suggestions, based on my own experience. I encourage you to add or post YOUR tips/resources for illustrators w/ #BlueSkyTips hashtag. There's no ONE right way to use social media, and it's an especially challenging time for illustrators (HUMAN illustrators, that is) these days.

For those of you who haven't yet, pls read my MAIN Starter Thread first: debbieohi.link/starter. Advice #1: Fill out your profile. If you're hoping to find work, incl a LINK where potential clients (or agents / art directors / editors) can find out more about you, see your portfolio, contact you.

Shout out to @debbieohi.com , the hardest working #kidlit advocate on Bluesky 💙🦋🐬🦕🌀

Aw....thank you so much, Erica! Honestly, I'm just passing it forward. And at this point, there are SO many other kidlit community advocates on Bluesky at this point; it's encouraging & very exciting. 💙

📌 Thank you for this thread!

I'm with you

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Hi Debbie, is there a way to be added to the graphic novel comm? I have an *ahem* unannounced GN project.

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