Lilla here. Welcome to your #MATSprep for Assignment Bootcamp:Portfolio, which starts one week TODAY on Monday, January 9th!
“What’s a #MATSprep?” you ask. A #MATSprep is an assignment I create for you to warm up in preparation for a course that I’ll be teaching.
The prep is free, so even if you don’t sign up for the course, you can still benefit from the instruction.
This particular prep is to get you ready for my Assignment Bootcamp: Portfolio course, which is now in its tenth year. It’s a hugely popular course, with almost a thousand students taking it each time. I adore coming up with assignments for you that teach you something, but also ideally motivate you to make gorgeous art and expand your portfolio to pull in lucrative projects.
Here’s your free warm up assignment.
Your assignment is to draw these filigree items from my collection.
I see you raising your hands.
Hey Lilla, what the heck is filigree? It’s intricate metalwork, usually made up of lots of lace-y lines, and used in jewelry.
Why did you give us this assignment? I can’t tell you everything just yet, because I like to surprise you in class, but this is a great way to focus on your line work and line-making tools. After having drawn filigree, you’ll be well on your way for the Mini assignment on January 9th and the Big Assignment on January 16th.
Oh, and Lilla, how should I draw these things? I want you to experiment with pens and pencils, markers, paint brushes and other line-making tools, whether digital or traditional or both, and draw these filigree bits. As you make lines, observe which tools you love and what kinds of lines they make, and take notes. Follow your passions and tune into the line-making that’s satisfying to you. This is one of the ways that you find (or evolve) your style. It’s also a way to get better at your line quality, which is key in any artwork and something I look for as an art agent.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Can I research and draw other filigree items? Yes, you can. Remember, it’s your portfolio.
Here are some more filigree pieces that I found on the web. Note that a lot of them are symmetrical.
Here’s the link. I’m not an affiliate; I just thought you’d like to see it. Apologies in advance for getting you off track and shopping, ha ha.
Be sure to share what you do so that I can see it! Tag in @makeartthatsells and use the hashtag #MATSprep so I can find it easily. I’m obsessed with scrolling through your beautiful art.
Intrigued? Can’t wait to share the assignments with you in class. It’s going to be wonderful for your portfolio in a product category that we license frequently at my art agency.
Want another little hint? We’re going to do a whole month on lettering – and I’ll drop more hints in the next couple of newsletters too.
Ready to sign up? Just click here.
