Our raved-about, life-changing LIVE online course, Illustrating Children’s Books, starts on Monday, 27th July (places are still available: book yours here)! It’s an incredibly rigorous course that’s also hugely playful and fun, which is why our students take it again and again. Your teachers, top art agent Lilla Rogers and renowned children’s book art director Zoë Tucker, will teach you everything you need to know about the wonderful world of children’s book illustration, in an accessible, step by step way that will break everything down and help you bring your A-game to every assignment: as Lilla always says, she tricks you into doing your very best work!
You’ll get daily drawing prompts, weekly LIVE Facebook reviews with your teachers, and weekly assignments that will build into a show-stopping professional pitch presentation that contains everything an art director or editor needs to see to give you a kids’ picture book gig.
To celebrate and help you prepare for this popular course, Lilla has created five weeks of FREE assignments that will stretch your creative muscles and get you into the zone – find the first one below.
Are you ready? Here’s your schedule for the next five weeks:
- TODAY! – Character: a memorable character is vital to children’s picture books, which is why Lilla and Zoë spend so much time in Illustrating Children’s Books on helping you develop unique characters to bring the story alive. Find your first assignment, and some tips and guidance from Lilla, below.
- Thursday, July 2nd – Setting: this is your opportunity to create a fabulous imaginative world that will entrance your reader. You’ll dig deep into environments in Week 4 of Illustrating Children’s Books.
- Thursday, July 9th – Flip your setting: art agent Lilla will teach you a cool trick to find the magic in your environment – you’re going to love it.
- Thursday, July 16th – Scene magic: art agent Lilla shares three powerful techniques to create depth (distance) in your artwork. Enjoy this free mini art class that will give your illustrations a giant boost.
- Thursday, July 23rd – Put it all together! Illustrating Children’s Books starts Monday, July 27th, so it’s time to combine everything you’ve learned over the past five weeks and buckle up for this incredible course that will lead you step by step to create a beautiful pitch presentation ready to wow art directors and editors alike. Don’t miss it – book your spot here!
Character “Pearl” created by Make Art That Sells student Janie Secker for Illustrating Children’s Books.
Ready to dig in? Here’s your first assignment …
For the next five weeks, we’re going to imagine that you have just been commissioned to illustrate a children’s picture book. Take a moment just to imagine how that feels … Perhaps the art director or editor has spotted art from Illustrating Children’s Books that you shared online (it happens!), perhaps they’ve been a fan of your art for a while or perhaps you sent over your finished pitch presentation, but either way you’ve opened up an email saying that they love your work, they have the perfect project for you and they’re desperate to work with you! How thrilling … Let’s get stuck in!
Let’s say that the art director has sent through the manuscript and it’s time to get to know your main character. Today we’re going to delve into exploring a character with a simple prompt. Don’t overthink it, just relax and have fun with it.
Today, you’re going to draw Jitna as a child
Here’s our very own wonderful Make Art That Sells Manager, Jitna.
Your teacher, art agent Lilla, says: “Draw her in your own style. Check out her pig-tails, her ¾ profile, the placement of her pupils. What do you think she’s looking at? What emotion is she projecting? Is she expansive and wild or thoughtful and observing? Think about her clothing and expression. Add a scene if you like (she’s on a train from Mombasa to Eldoret in Kenya, age four, if that sparks your imagination, but you can make up anything you like). Play. Have fun.”
Lilla adds: “I’m thinking that you will draw Jitna and perhaps add items around her that show where she lives, what she’s all about, her story … Get to know her! Have fun, be quirky, be eccentric, be you. Indulge your intuition. Play pretend. Make up a story. Remember, all styles and all levels are welcome to join in. We are an open, supportive community here and encourage all levels of talent.”
When you’re done, share your art on social media and don’t forget to tag us in @makeartthatsells and use the tags #matsprep and #matskidbook so that Lilla can see what you do – we’ll be sharing some of her favorites.
Lilla’s Tip of the Day: “I want to remind you that talent is not finite. I promise you that you will absolutely get better at your art if you keep learning and making art. Your style will evolve, your drawing ability will improve, your color palettes will be richer and more beautiful, and your composition will flow more easily. As an agent (and an artist) I’ve seen this over and over. Talent, like a muscle, grows with use.”
Book your place on Illustrating Children’s Books here!
Lots of love
Lilla and the Make Art That Sells team xxx
