Lilla here. Today I’m sharing Part 2 of the FREE #MATSprep illustration assignment I created for you to get you warmed up for Bootcamp Special: Character Play. Today you’re going to find out exactly how easy it is to create winning characters for some of the hottest art markets right now. This course really is for all levels – and it’s just £99 (approx. $126)!
Win a free place in class!
First I need to remind you to join me and my brilliant Bootcamp Special teachers, Zoë and Riley, in a FREE live Zoom event on the first day of class, Monday, July 8th, at 12 noon ET/5 pm GMT! Zoë and Riley are both incredible teachers who are a joy to learn from as well as having huge amounts of information to share, and I know we’re going to have a great time. Join us – scribble a note on your hand now so you don’t forget!
Make fabulous art for your portfolio, like this by Make Art That Sells student Claudia Marianno.
Here’s Part 2 of your FREE illustration assignment!
For Part 1, you drew some bathroom items – if you missed it, catch up here. Now, you’re going to turn them into characters simply by drawing faces on a few of them! This turns them into characters that can be used in children’s books, toys, games and more. Isn’t it incredible how easy it is?
Art by my artist, Katie Vernon.
Tip #1: Think about including a variety of facial expressions. Why? Because showing a variety of emotion in your character shows the book publisher or art director that you can handle moving your character throughout the text, with all the variations in mood and tone.
The image above by my artist Katie Vernon shows pencils, but it could just as easily be toothbrushes or shampoo bottles. See how the variety of poses and expressions adds to the interest of the piece? Think about how you use the shapes too – see how Katie experiments with placing the pencils both vertically and horizontally.
My artist John Coulter won a competition by Toronto-based studio Boring Friends with this hilarious entry based on the prompt to “make shitty art”. Don’t be afraid to use humor in your work!
Tip #2: Let your quirky personality shine through. Don’t be afraid to use humor – like in the example by my artist John Coulter above. Character design is a great way to demonstrate your fabulous kooky self to an art director or client.
My ceramic face bowl! See how that side-eye makes the emotion?
Tip #3: Try experimenting with different eyes to see the difference they can make to the mood of your art. Do you see how simple it can be? Heck, you can even draw a face on a mug! Here’s a ceramic bowl I made (above).
A character can be anything with eyes – and look at all those dreamy art markets! Children’s books and games and toys are two of the biggest art markets right now, but lots more need your unique characters.
Fun fact: Creating characters works in any style and any medium, and all levels are welcome, plus knowing how to dream up new characters can be huge for your creative career, because it covers so many markets!
As ever, don’t forget to share your art so that I can see what you do. Share it online tagging @makeartthatsells and using the hashtag #MATSprep so I can find it easily. I’ll be looking!
I hope that now you’ve learned how simple it can be to come up with playful new characters, you’ll want to dig deeper in Bootcamp Special: Character Play. Zoë and Riley will give you tons of inspiration and advice, with fresh new texts every month, plus insider tips and a little bit of input from me too. Join us!
- Monday, July 8th: Join brilliant children’s book art director and picture book author, Zoë Tucker, and creative director, art agent and smash-hit game creator, Riley Wilkinson, for Bootcamp Special: Character Play, now in its third year, and discover how to make winning characters for books, toys, games and more! FUN FACT: This course is just £99 (approx. $126)!
- Monday, July 8th: Join Lilla, Zoë and Riley for a FREE live Zoom event at 12 noon ET/5 pm BST on the first day of Bootcamp Special: Character Play to meet your teachers and get your questions answered by three industry experts!
- Next newsletter: Win a FREE place in Bootcamp Special: Character Play on the first day of class!
Lots of love
Your fearless art leader
