The MCOI Online Directory

Malta Community of Illustrators
3 min readDec 7, 2022
Via pch.vector on Freepik

After much planning and discussions, we are pleased to open the call for submissions for the Malta Community of Illustrators Online Directory.

What is the MCOI Online Directory?

It’s a way for clients or even galleries and art directors/ individuals who would like to collaborate with you — to be able to find you, to get a feel for your work, and of course to get in touch with you. Its main purpose is of course to encourage clients to hire illustrators.

What will it look like?

The Directory will be similar to any Illustration Agency Portfolio, with two main important differences.

1: We will not take any commissions from you. MCOI is a research project that is supported by MCAST.

2: Agents often choose illustrators who have a unique style and who are different than other illustrators in their portfolio. We will not be doing this, the main thing we will look at is work quality and a couple more criteria.

How do I submit?

  • Submit up to five Illustrations that need to be optimised for web (RGB, 72dpi, around 1500px on the largest side, depending on the illustration).
  • Your name, your focus and specialisation, your website / social media page, your contact details eg. John Camilleri, packaging illustrator who also specialises in illustrated typography, works in mixed media, www.johncamilleridraws.com, @johncamilleridraws
  • Submit through this link

How is the work selected?

We’ve had to make the tough decision to make this on a selection basis rather than have everyone submit and be automatically added to the directory. The reason for this decision being that we want to maintain a level of professionalism at the MCOI. We always aim to help and guide everyone, including beginners where needed, however if we keep a high standard, every one of us will benefit.

Ultimately the MCOI aims to educate on illustration as a professional industry, so we want the public and relevant organisations / clients to see Maltese illustration as something that is far more than a hobby, somethings that is valuable and that they want to pay good money for. Our vision is long term, we hope the community understands.

We have come up with a set of criteria to help you decide whether the MCOI directory is for you:

  • Having recognised clients (even if recognised only locally)
  • Students and illustrators who are just starting out with exceptional and promising work are welcome to submit
  • Concept art, game art, comics and storyboards are also welcome
  • Technical excellence is a must
  • Reliability and Availability.

If your work is not selected, you will get feedback explaining why it didn’t get selected. Sometimes it might just be a case of choosing different works, other times, you might just not be there yet, and we will guide you accordingly.

Who will be deciding on your work? We’re always transparent at the MCOI. The board deciding on your work is made up of several illustrators who are part of the original founding member team of the MCOI:

Marietta Mifsud

Fleur Sciortino

Derek Fenech

Zack Ritchie

Ruth Ancilleri

Moira Scicluna Zahra

Thank you for reading, we look forward to seeing your submissions!

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Malta Community of Illustrators

News and research behind the Malta Community of Illustrators project. maltaillustrators.com Supported by MCAST research