Do you want to know how YOU can have a successful career in children’s book illustration?
We absolutely love sharing our students’ many success stories, and with just five weeks to go until the start of Illustrating Children’s Books 2020, our emphasis today is on our former Illustrating Children’s Books students who have gone on to land book deals and build amazing children’s book illustration careers in this wonderful art market.
Imagine getting a call from an art director to say they adore your work and would love to work with you … Imagine going into a bookstore and seeing your own beautiful art on a front cover … Imagine holding your very own children’s picture book in your hands! This has been a reality for huge numbers of our students – let Illustrating Children’s Books co-teachers, renowned art agent Lilla Rogers and brilliant children’s book art director and author Zoë Tucker, show you how you too can create the children’s book illustration career you’ve always dreamed of.
With sales of children’s picture books soaring as parents turn to them to connect with their children and for home schooling during the current coronavirus crisis, there’s never been a better time to launch your children’s book illustration career. Book your place now!
Nadja Sarell
Art created in class by Make Art That Sells student Nadja Sarell. Nadja snagged her first board book commission after sharing her artwork in her portfolio. Want in? Book here.
Nadja tells us that she got a board book commission shortly after uploading the art that she created in class to her portfolio. Eat Up, Bear by Terry Pierce will be published in 2021. Nadja says: “It was a really wonderful project to work on, requiring lots of research on black bears. Unfortunately I can’t share any pics just yet!” She also tells us that she’s already signed up for Lilla’s new children’s picture book writing course, My Kid Book Pitch (registration for that course is currently closed, but you can secure your spot at a 15% discount when you buy our brilliant Kid Book Double Scoop bundle!).
See more of Nadja’s work on her website and Instagram.
Caroline Bonne-Müller
Images from Make Art That Sells student Caroline Bonne-Müller’s first children’s picture book, Portrait of an artist, Claude Monet, which she landed after taking Illustrating Children’s Books. Book here.
Caroline says: “My first children’s picture book, Portrait of an artist, Claude Monet, was published at the beginning of 2020 by Wide Eyed Editions from the Quarto group. It was a dream job, and only possible because I took Illustrating Children’s Books several times, which gave me the confidence to travel to Bologna Children’s Book Fair with the portfolio I’d built up from Make Art That Sells classes. After that, I was contacted by two publishers, the first one is the one above and the second one I am working at the moment with, another dream job! Thanks for all your classes! As the cherry on the cake, I also found a lovely agent, thanks to all the beautiful assignments, enthusiasm and belief in us!”
See more of Caroline’s work on her website and Instagram.
Audrey Suau
Make Art That Sells student Audrey Suau’s character, Pearl, created in class. A magical picture book starts with a memorable character, which is why co-teachers Lilla and Zoë dedicate two weeks to character development, so you learn everything you need to catch an art director or publisher’s eye!
Audrey says: “I just wanted to share that I got my first job in illustration and it’s partly due to Make Art That Sells courses because they loved my “Lucky Pearl” illustration that I created for Illustrating Children’s Books. I’m very thankful and full of hope for the next steps!”
See more of Audrey’s work on her website and Instagram.
Anna Wilson
Full page spread from Make Art That Sells student Anna Wilson’s first picture book commission, The Librarian’s Stories, which she got after sharing artwork she created for Illustrating Children’s Books.
Anna says: “I felt so lucky after the last Make Art That Sells Illustrating Children’s Book course to have shared work from the course and be offered my first contract to illustrate a children’s book, written by the fabulous Lucy Falcone and published by a small US publisher. It is such a fabulous course, I have taken it twice and may even do it again!”
See more of Anna’s work on her website and Instagram.
Mel Armstrong
Artwork from Make Art That Sells repeat student Mel Armstrong’s first picture book, A Home for Luna. She got the gig after taking Illustrating Children’s Books for the first time, and is now working on her seventh book! Book your place here!
Mel is another Make Art That Sells addict who has taken Illustrating Children’s Books a number of times. She says: “Illustrating Children’s Books transformed my life! After doing Illustrating Children’s Books, I got my first picture book deal with New Frontier Publishing. A home for Luna, written by Steph Gemmill, was published 2019 in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and is now going on to be published in the US in both hardback and paperback. My second book with New Frontier Publishing, Into the Wild, written by award-winning Australian author Robert Vescio, is due to come out in October this year. I’ve also had a board-book published by Hallmark called Look, Baby!, and other books include two books for Little Tiger Press/Penguin Random House, which will be published in 2021, and an ABC book for Auzou, which will be published later this year. I’m currently working on a book for Harper Collins in the UK and another for a popular Korean publisher. If I hadn’t taken Illustrating Children’s Books, I would never have achieved this. I’m eternally grateful for what I learned.”
See more of Mel’s work on her website and Instagram.
We hope that you’ve loved seeing all our students’ beautiful artwork as much as we have – and if you’re hungry for more, find more alumni success stories here.
Want in? Registration is open now: book here!
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
P.S. We’re launching Lilla’s brand NEW course, My Kid Book Pitch, with a fabulous early bird offer from a week today, on Thursday, June 25th – don’t miss it!
