We are so proud of our Make Art That Sells Alumni, and we are pleased to feature a series of spotlight interviews showcasing their successes and artwork. We’ve asked them to share how the MATS courses have helped them learn and grow. You can see more Alumni Success stories here
Today, we have an interview with Kate Mazeika who has taken Illustrating Children’s Books class twice!
1. Tell us a little about how you got started in art and design…
I knew I wanted to be an illustrator since high school when a local illustrator spoke to my art class about his job. I went to Columbus College of Art and Design and earned a BFA- my major was illustration.
2. Lilla always says “People buy your joy”. What brings you joy?
I get a lot of joy from creating textures and playing with color. I also like to learn new skills/digital techniques and find ways to incorporate them in my work.
3. Which is your favourite market(s) to design for and why?.
Children’s publishing is my favorite market, I love the story telling.
4. What are you working on currently?
I am in the middle of a project for an educational publisher. I am also working on sketches for the second book in a middle reader series. The first book will be out later this year. (BTW when I first contacted the publisher she saw my MATS pieces and commented on how much she loves work from MATS students).
5. What are some the key things you have learnt from the MATS experience?
I took the MATS ICB class (2 times) because I saw a hole in my portfolio-compelling characters. I understood basic character design as an artist but MATS ICB helped me understand how to design characters that enhance the picture book text. Now I know it when I see a great character in a picture book and I am pushing to create those characters in my own work.
6. How have the classes helped your artwork evolve/grow?
I feel like Lilla and Zoe laid out the tools and gave great examples. And the reviews are full of great information-everything from the main discussions to the random bits and tangents really resonated with me and helped me see what I really needed to focus on.
7. Any aha moments during MATS you would like to share?
An aha moment would be when I saw people approach the same text in polar opposite ways- someone may be very classic and detailed and someone else very humorous and graphic. It made me see there is no single way to interpret a text, there are infinite right ways.
8. What are your key successes and how did the ‘Illustrating Children’s Book’ class help you grow?
I signed with an agent about two months after my second MATS ICB class. I added interesting characters to my portfolio from each class and I think all of my characters are more interesting now.
I stopped obsessing over every tiny detail (no time!) and I think my work has been better for it. That was an important lesson for me.
9. What did you discover about yourself?
I would tell the other artist to expect to grow quite a bit- and to be surprised and how much work they will get done in just five weeks. And that there is an amazing community of MATS artists on social media that you will stay in touch with long after the class is done.
10. How would you describe taking a MATS class to a fellow artist looking to develop their art?
A whirlwind- lots of adrenaline, great encouragement from Lila, Zoe and the MATS community, and a great challenge to stretch yourself as an artist.
See more work here: Website | Instagram
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Graduates of our courses have gone on to win work from clients such as Hallmark, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Oopsy Daisy, Uppercase Magazine, West Elm, Midwest CBK, and more. It is industry learning that works in the real world. Find out more HERE and start today!
