Lilla here. I’m so thrilled that it’s nearly time for my toy and game creation course, My Toy Pitch, which starts NEXT MONDAY, March 7th! I loved seeing the beautiful art and magical toys and games that my students came up with last year, and I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do this year! Plus I love teaching this class with Riley: I love his inventiveness, his insights, and his general nutty joyfulness.
Today I’m sharing the first part of the My Toy Pitch #MATSprep. This is the same warm up exercise that I gave you last year before class. Why? Because sometimes it can be incredibly valuable to repeat an exercise and compare the two. How have your tastes changed? How has your art grown? Plus, in the toy and game market especially, it’s very important to know what’s out there right now, and this assignment will help you look at that.
If you haven’t done the assignment before of course then that’s great too, because it’s a fun and effective way to start to get familiar with the wonderful toy and game market.
Toy pitch created by Make Art That Sells student Trina Dalziel for My Toy Pitch. All styles are welcome!
First things first. What is a #MATSprep anyway, and why did I create this one for you? A #MATSprep is simply a playful warm up assignment that’s designed to get you ready for class, and they’re free for everyone to take part in, whether you’re taking the course or not. They’ll give you a little taste of what you’ve got to look forward to in class and start to stretch your creative muscles in preparation.
I created this assignment for you to get you excited about the toy and game market, and to ease you in to creating a pitch. In My Toy Pitch, you’ll get to explore four of the biggest toy and game categories right now, so we’ll start off by taking a look at those in a treasure hunt. Then in Part 2, my co-conspirator, Riley, will give you a whacky theme to start drawing, then you’ll join us both in a LIVE Zoom event on Friday to find out how to put it all together!
Q: Okay but why should I, as an artist, be exploring the toy and game market?
A: As a successful art agent, I see exactly which art markets are popular right now, and the toy and game market – things like play sets, games, puzzles, and more – is huge, and growing rapidly. We said that the toy and game market was a great one for 2021 – read more here – and that’s still true as we head into 2022.
Puzzles and other toys illustrated by artists represented by Lilla Rogers Studio. Customers and manufacturers are increasingly looking for art-driven products – which is great news for illustrators like you!
Toys and games are increasingly art-driven too – customers want beautiful, visually appealing products – which makes it ideal for anyone looking to add an extra income stream, especially as it’s open to all styles.
Plus as an educator and a creative, I know what incredible kooky imaginations my fellow creatives – you – have. I want to show you how you can put those amazing things together: a market that needs your art, your limitless imagination and your quirky, unique mind, and give you a whole new way to diversify your income streams. And finally, it’s an exciting market that keeps evolving, and exploring it will help you stay fresh and current, and broaden your illustration portfolio. It’s win-win!
Toy pitch by Make Art That Sells student Anna Lindsten for My Toy Pitch. What will your pitches look like?
So, here’s your schedule for the next couple of weeks:
- Today, I’ll share Part 1 of your FREE #MATSprep. You’ll get your blobby worksheet to research the toy and game market, take part in a treasure hunt, find companies to pitch to, get excited for the course and feel more prepared for class.
- On Wednesday, March 2nd, you’ll get Part 2, a quirky visual topic that my co-teacher, creative director, toy agent and game inventor, Riley Wilkinson, has dreamed up just for you.
- Then on Friday, March 4th, you’ll find out how to turn your art into a fabulous toy pitch! Join Riley and me for a FREE live Zoom where Riley will then teach you how to take your drawings from Part 2 and turn them into a hot toy pitch! Join here.
- Class starts Monday, March 7th. Ready to sign up? Book your spot here.
Here’s your free toy design #MATSPREP assignment!
It starts with a blobby worksheet:
How to fill it in:
1. You’re on a treasure hunt to find toys and games you love! For each category, I want you to find a toy or game that you adore, whether it’s something you have in your home, something you find online, or from visiting toy shops in person. Really explore the market, do some market research and indulge your senses. The four categories on the worksheet match the four markets we’ll be working on in class (Pretend Play, Games, Characters, and Play Sets), so it’s a great way for you to get more savvy about each category.
2. When you’ve found an image you love, copy or draw it right on to the blobby worksheet.
3. Take a moment to think about why you like the item in particular. Is it the quirky quality? The material it’s made from? The art and beauty of the item? That it would be fun to play with? You’ll begin to see trends and indicators of your personal toy style – colors, types, etc.
4. Share your worksheet on Instagram using the hashtag #MATSprep and tagging @makeartthatsells. Riley and I will be looking to see what you do! I’m so excited to see what you come up with.
Here’s an example I did for you:
Lilla’s completed Blobby Worksheet. Download your blank copy here and fill it in. Don’t forget to share it on social media using the hashtag #MATSprep and tagging @makeartthatsells!
Here are a few of our favorite companies that are making beautiful toys and games to get you started. Get ready to be blown away by the gorgeousness! Think about what excites you. Which toys feature a lot of art?
You’ll see that art plays a huge role – the market has never been more art-driven. This means that you have a great advantage as an artist, because right now companies are looking for artists who can make art and also come up with toy pitches. Let Riley and me show you how.
Don’t forget to share on social media with the hashtag #MATSprep and tag @makeartthatsells! Riley and I are excited to see what you come up with, plus we’ll be chatting about them on the live Zoom on Friday, March 4th. Be sure to set a reminder to join us. We can’t wait to see what you do!
Stay tuned for Part 2 coming your way on Wednesday, March 2nd, for the big reveal on what to draw. You definitely won’t be able to guess what Riley came up with!
Don’t miss out, sign up now! Find out more and book your spot here.
See you in class!
Love
P.S. Don’t forget to look out for Part 2 on Wednesday, plus join Riley and me for the FREE live Zoom event on Friday, March 4th to find out how to put it all together! Write it on your calendar now.
