Make Art That Sells courses really work. We’ve got dozens of success stories to share, from students at every stage of their journey, from setting up a new website or having the courage finally to send that email, all the way up to landing incredible book deals and representation.
Why are Make Art That Sells students so successful? Here are just some of the reasons why:
- You’ll learn everything you need to know to get the gig: this is real world learning from experts. Our teachers, including top art agent Lilla Rogers, brilliant children’s book art director and author Zoë Tucker, renowned creative director Margo Tantau and smash-hit game creator Riley Wilkinson, have decades of industry experience under their belts. That means that not only do they have tons of insight to share, but they can teach you how to present your art so that you’re showing art directors, publishers and potential clients everything they need to see to know you’re going to deliver.
- You get market-savvy, on-trend information. As a busy art agent, Lilla knows exactly what’s been commissioned right now – and up to two years in the future. That means she knows just what’s being assigned to artists right now and what clients are looking for, and she passes that knowledge on to you in the assignments she writes for each course.
- You’ll challenge yourself and grow your art in ways you never thought possible. Art agent Lilla likes to say that she tricks you into making your best art. Her assignments are designed to stretch you, and being surrounded by like-minded creatives means that you bring your A-game every time.
- You get the support you need. Students rave about our wonderful encouraging course Facebook groups. As well as finding a community of creative people all around the world and the opportunity to learn from so many people on the same journey as you, they’ll also give you the support and encouragement you need to turn your dreams into reality.
Today we’re sharing just some of our amazing students’ success stories – and we’ve got tons more coming up in the next few weeks – but first …
- Do you want to illustrate children’s books?
- Are you dreaming of getting that email from an art director saying how much they love your art and want to work with you?
- Do you want to create magical worlds and characters for children to fall in love with?
Our career-changing Illustrating Children’s Books course starts next month, on Monday, May 23rd – plus you can sign up for it during our big Spring Sale, which starts April 29th, and save 20%! Don’t miss it – set an alarm on your phone now!
Plus don’t forget to join art agent Lilla for a FREE live Zoom event on Friday, April 29th at 12 noon EDT/5 pm BST. She’ll be answering your questions, popping students up on screen so she can chat to them live, reading a portion from the book she’s currently writing and doing a five minute drawing or journaling exercise – be sure to join us!
On with the student success stories!
Kayt Bochenski
Kayt has taken multiple Make Art That Sells courses, including Redrawing Black History (which is completely FREE – register here!), Bootcamp Special: Character Play, My Toy Pitch, Assignment Bootcamp, and Illustrating Children’s Books.
She was approached by England footballer Jamie Vardy and his wife Rebekah to illustrate their book, Cedric the Little Sloth with a Big Dream, after they spotted art she’d created for Illustrating Children’s Books on Instagram.
Art by Make Art That Sells student Kayt Bochenski for Cedric the Little Sloth by Rebekah and Jamie Vardy.
Kayt says: “It’s a really lovely story about a sloth who wants to play football. I used all the wonderful character development skills that l learnt in Illustrating Children’s Books last year to create Cedric the Sloth, and loved every moment of it. I have worked as a designer for a long time now, developing and art directing books with lots of wonderful illustrators, and have always wished that one day I could be on the side, illustrating the books myself. It’s finally happened and I really hope that I get to do it again, and again, and again. THANK YOU Lilla and Zoë!”
Rebekah and Jamie Vardy’s children enjoying Cedric. No one is crying or fighting, and their pajamas have no food stains on them, so it is possible that these children aren’t real.
Kayt adds: “It was all down to someone seeing my Mr Tibbles characters on my Instagram, so get your stuff out there and keep believing in yourselves!”
Kayt was approached to illustrate the book after showing some of the art she created for Illustrating Children’s Books on Instagram.
See more of Kayt’s art on her website and Instagram.
Vendela Vrensk
Vendela took Illustrating Children’s Books in 2021 and has just received her first copy of her first children’s book.
Make Art That Sells student Vendela Vrensk’s first book has just been published.
Vendela says: “It’s called La iaia velleta i el suquet de peix de la Barceloneta (“The little old grandma and the fish stew from Barceloneta”), by Ana Ayala. It’s a very small edition, but it’s published with the financial aid of the Ayuntamiento, the municipal of Barcelona, and we are also having an exposition in one of their mini museums, Casa de la Barceloneta.”
Vendela’s art on display in Casa de la Barceloneta in Barcelona.
Vendela adds: “I just wanted to say thank you to Lilla and Zoë because the Illustrating Children’s Books class was so extremely helpful to me and gave me the tools I needed to be able to pull this off! I am very proud of the book!”
See more of Vendela’s art on her Instagram.
Cornelia Pompsch
Make Art That Sells student Cornelia created this character for Illustrating Children’s Books and shared it on Instagram, where it was spotted by German publisher Jupitermond Publishing.
Cornelia took Illustrating Children’s Books in 2021, when she chose to illustrate The Night Lights, written exclusively for the course by Make Art That Sells teacher, children’s book art director and picture book author, Zoë Tucker.
It turned out to be an excellent choice! Cornelia explains: “A publisher noticed my Lampy character on instagram and I’m now illustrating a whole children’s book with a cute little firefly! It’s a wonderful story that shows that no one should let gender stereotypes hold them back from their dreams.”
The front cover and main character Rosalie from Make Art That Sells student Cornelia’s first book.
Cornelia adds: “I’m so excited, it’s my first children‘s book and I’m so grateful. I’ve learned so much in this class and met so many great people. Thank you for your help and support and thanks to Lilla Rogers and Zoe Tucker for this amazing class!
See more of Cornelia’s art on her website and Instagram.
Natallia Bushuyeva
Natallia first took Illustrating Children’s Books in 2017, before going on to take My Year of Art School* in both 2018 and 2019. In all, she’s taken Illustrating Children’s Books four times!
(*Have you missed out on My Year of Art School 2022(all of our courses for an entire year at an incredible price)? Check out some exciting news about MYoAS’s little sister, My Semester of Art School, below!)
Natallia with her first chilren’s book, Bang voor de grote wolf.
We’re delighted that her first children’s book, Bang voor de grote wolf, was published by Clavis Publishing in autumn 2021.
Natallia told us: “I took My Year of Art School in 2018 and 2019. The most important part for me was Illustrating Children’s Books, which I took four times. This course helped me to realize my dream to become a children’s book illustrator. This incredible experience opened doors for me in the children’s book industry. My first book was published last year and the other one is coming soon. The knowledge I got in these classes was very deep, contemporary, and intensive. Illustrating Children’s Books became an essential manual in my new profession. Plus, there was a very friendly supportive environment among students. Here I made new friends and we still communicate after my studies are finished.”
See more of Natallia’s art on her website and Instagram.
We hope you enjoyed seeing our talented students’ dreamy art and reading their stories – we have lots more coming up!
And if you’re feeling inspired and ready to sign up for Illustrating Children’s Books, then set an alarm NOW for our Spring Sale, from April 29th (or just go ahead and sign up now at full price, we won’t stop you).
There’ll be 20% off every single one of our incredible online art courses, plus up to 40% off our fabulous bundles, including My Semester of Art School: all of our courses for the rest of the year at an amazing discount. Don’t miss it!
See you in class!
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
