Art assignments written by a top art agent
Get ready to love Mondays! For too long, Mondays have been unfairly maligned. The end of the weekend, the start of the working week, they’re either blue, grey or manic … but not any more! Assignment Bootcamp starts TODAY, which means that, from March to June, Monday is now your new favorite day of the week!
Why?! Because, for the next 18 weeks, from March 1st to June 28th, you’ll get a little packet of awesome from top art agent Lilla Rogers every single Monday that will inspire, intrigue and excite you, and add up to make some incredible art assignments to stretch and strengthen your portfolio. What a great way to start the week! Move over, Friday, because there’s a new leader of the pack.
Create stunning portfolio pieces designed to catch the eye of clients and land you work, like this fabulous graphic novel for Bootcamp 2020 by Make Art That Sells student Audrey Szabo.
What is Assignment Bootcamp anyway? Bootcamp is now in its eighth year. We caught up with Lilla to ask what it’s all about and why it’s one of her most popular courses, year after year.
Lilla told us: “My students told me that they really loved the art assignments that they got in other Make Art That Sells courses, so they wanted a course that was just art assignments!
Lilla adds: “And at the same time, my inbox was regularly filled with artists wishing to be represented. While I frequently liked the style of the work, I knew that their current images would NOT attract jobs. It kinda broke my heart: here were artists with great talent—some even with four-year art degrees—submitting work to me, and yet the work was not real-world based. It would not pull jobs.”
Lilla continues: “So I created an art assignment course based on professional briefs: Assignment Bootcamp was born. It has run every year since because it really works. Students have gotten work directly from their class art assignments. Plus it’s incredibly fun and super affordable – averaged out over the four months, it costs about the same as having a couple of lattes a week, and for that you get something such as inspiration, downloads, videos, trend boards or guest art directors every single week. And every year we get students emailing in to ask if we can please run it all year round!”
Make Art That Sells student Annie Bakst’s finished portfolio piece from a previous Bootcamp was one of several by Make Art That Sells students that made it into Uppercase magazine. Read more here. Plus Annie has also landed a gig illustrating a graphic novel, just like the Bootcamp assignment!
How about coming up with the assignments for Bootcamp? How do you do that?
Lilla says: “As an art agent, I assign jobs to my artists every single day. I know what clients want to see, what they assign, what they’re looking for, which imagery is hot, which color palettes are exciting, and which products are selling like gangbusters. Then I use all of that incredible information plus a healthy dose of whimsy to come up with brand new art assignments for my Bootcamp students, just like the ones I give to my artists.”
Lilla adds: “It’s hugely important to me that my Bootcamp students are surprised and delighted by all of the art assignments, so I also put a lot of time into thinking of something playful and fun that will help you create great art whatever level you’re at. It’s a challenge that I throw myself into year after year!”
Explore four of the hottest markets for your art right now, based on art agent Lilla’s industry insight, and create gorgeous art for your portfolio, like this poster for Bootcamp 2020
by Make Art That Sells student Helen Panayi.
Okay, sounds good. But who is Bootcamp for? Is it just for professionals or for people just starting out? Am I good enough?
Lilla says: “It’s for anyone! love the challenge of thinking up something that I can surprise you with that will look great in a portfolio, will be easy enough for beginners and challenging for experienced artists to shine. It’s for anyone who wants to have a great time making their work better and market-ready in a supportive environment. Even if you’re just looking for a rich, rewarding art experience every week over four months – maybe you’re looking for a creative outlet during the current pandemic, or even exploring a whole new career. All levels, all styles are welcome.”
Lilla adds: “I secretly design the assignments so that everyone benefits. We have top artists in the class as well as newbies. There’s a lot of energy in the course, and friendships develop that last for years. And of course that’s hugely important right now.”
And what’s on the menu this year? What can students expect from Bootcamp 2021?
Lilla says: “Now that’s a closely guarded secret! Okay, here’s what I can tell you. For the first assignment you’re going to use blobby worksheets, videos and lettering to create something really striking for a product that’s always in demand. There’s a big focus on color in March, including an exclusive reveal of my Color Combo of the Year trend board, which is going to be fabulous – I’ve always loved color and, as an agent, it’s such a dealbreaker for me, and I find the combination of two colors and how they work together incredibly powerful.”
Lilla adds: “Plus the way the weeks fall this year means that you get two months that have five Mondays in, so you can expect two extra weeks of bonus material. But the only way to find out for sure is to sign up – join me, book your spot here!”
Don’t let this be you! Every year we get emails from students kicking themselves for not signing up. Friends don’t let friends miss out on Bootcamp, people. Book your spot here now!
PLUS join Lilla for a FREE live Zoom event TODAY at 12 noon ET/5 pm GMT! She’ll be answering your questions, sharing stories, dropping hints, showing eye candy and more. Set an alarm on your phone and pop a Post-it on your sketchbook now! Join here.
See you in class!
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
P.S. Hurry HURRY – registration for Assignment Bootcamp closes soon and this course won’t run again until 2022! Don’t miss out: book your spot now!
