Lilla here. Today I’m sharing Part 2 of the #MATSprep assignment I wrote for you to get you ready for my Assignment Bootcamp: Portfolio course, which starts in just a few days, on Monday, August 1st.
Don’t forget that these two prep assignments are part of the actual Mini assignment you’ll get in the first week of Assignment Bootcamp: Portfolio. How cool is that?!
Today you’re going to play with some color blobs. Anyone who’s taken any of my courses will already know that I’m obsessed with color: as an art agent it’s make or break for me. Your palette can change the whole mood of a piece, and great colors will always help amp up your income from your art. That’s why we’ll be focusing exploring color in the first month of this year’s Bootcamp!
Plus today I’m also going to share some time management tips, because I know it’s something that creative people are often challenged by, because of the flood of brilliant ideas that fill your brain. I often talk about the emotional and psychological side of being an artist in my courses – look out for a few newsletters along those lines next month too.
But for now, let’s crack on with …
Here’s Part 2 of your FREE #MATSprep:
Today we’re going to make some color blobs!
Step Two
I want you to take the flower or flowers you drew for the first part of the #MATSprep (Step One) and make about six color blobs based on your original sketch. (Didn’t get to Part 1? You can find it here. There’s still plenty of time to catch up – but if you don’t have time for either before Bootcamp starts then that’s fine too: you won’t be behind in class.)
Step Three
Add two neutrals to your color blobs. Some examples of neutrals include grey, beige, tan, cream, and colors from items like mud, dirty water, old rag, dirt, twigs, stone, pebbles, and the like.
Don’t forget to share your blobby colors on social media. Be sure to tag @makeartthatsells and #MATSprep so I can find them – I’ll be looking!
Assignment Bootcamp is packed full of surprises, to keep you motivated and engaged, and to help you find the joy in your art-making! Find out more and sign up now but HURRY – class starts August 1st!
Step four
Next, look at your calendar and block out at least two times each week that you’ll work on the class assignments. Even just a half hour or an hour is good. Obviously, the more time you can commit, the better.
Find a regular and consistent time and day of the week for your creative time. Ideally, your creative time should relate to something that’s already built into your life, such as that half hour when you are on the train coming home from work and you have a sketch book or your iPad handy. Perhaps you could fit in reading the assignment and sketching for a half hour. Maybe you can work on the assignment on Saturdays from 10 to noon when everybody’s out of the house. You might set a regular time to work when all are fast asleep or first thing in the morning before everybody’s up. Perhaps a great time to work on the assignments is on Fridays because you tend to leave work early anyway. Whatever works for you.
So now that you’ve thought about what times would work for you, go ahead and book your art-making times right now in your calendar. Book two sessions per week (no more, no less), and set them to repeat each week.
I know you may be super motivated and want to book a million hours per week, but keep it to two sessions (ok, three max) because the last thing I want is for you to feel like you are f*ing up and not working during all those times you blocked out on the calendar. Under-promise and over-deliver. You can always do more art sessions than you plan.
You’ve now done FOUR of the five steps for August’s Mini assignment! Sign up now to get Step Five, where it all comes together, plus the Main assignment for August and all the other fabulous content! (Don’t worry if you’ve signed up and didn’t have time to do the prep – you’ll have a week to do all five steps ready for the Main assignment.)
Join me for a FREE public live Zoom event TOMORROW, Friday, July 29th, at 12 noon ET/5 pm BST! Here’s what I’ll be doing:
- talking about the #MATSprep
- answering your questions, about Bootcamp or anything else (ever wanted to ask an art agent something? Now’s your chance!)
- sharing advice about how to manage your creative career
- popping a volunteer up on screen so I can talk to them 1:1
- and giving away an incredible bundle of self-paced courses that are essential for your illustration career: the MATS MBA (Money BadAss), Portfolio Review and Lilla’s Art Recipes: Drawing Faces!
Set an alarm on your phone now and join the Zoom here.
See you in class! Class starts THIS MONDAY!
Lots of love
Your fearless art leader,
