Lilla here. Today I’m sharing Part 2 of the FREE #MATSprep illustration assignment I created for you to get you warmed up for Bootcamp Special: Character Play. Today you’re going to find out exactly how easy it is to create winning characters for some of the hottest art markets right now. This course really is for all levels!
Win a free place in class!
First I need to remind you to join me and my brilliant Bootcamp Special teachers, Zoë and Riley, in a FREE live Zoom event on the first day of class, Monday, July 10th at 12 noon ET/5 pm BST! Zoë and Riley are both incredible teachers who are a joy to learn from as well as having huge amounts of information to share, and I know we’re going to have a blast. Join us – scribble a note on your hand now so you don’t forget!
Here’s Part 2 of your FREE illustration assignment!
For Part 1, you drew desserts (if you missed Part 1, catch up here). Now, you’re going to turn them into characters simply by drawing faces on a few of them! This turns them into characters that can be used in children’s books, toys, games and more. Isn’t it incredible how easy it is?
Art by my artists Hsinping Pan (left) and Maria Gabriela (right). I offered Maria representation after I spotted her art in class. Want representation too? In Bootcamp Special: Character Play, you’ll get your art in front of two art agents and a children’s book art director – wow!
Tip: Think about including a variety of facial expressions, like in this example by Make Art That Sells student Kate McFarlane (below right).
Art by Make Art That Sells students Jeanine Murch (left) and Kate McFarlane (right). Your characters can be cute, fierce, bold, bright or whatever you like – have fun with them!
Why? Because showing a variety of emotion in your character shows the book publisher or art director that you can handle moving your character throughout the text, with all the variations in mood and tone.
Try experiment with different eyes to see the difference they can make to the mood of your art. Art by Make Art That Sells students Bindy James (left) and Saskia Diederichsen (right).
Here’s one more example from Make Art That Sells students.
Art by Make Art That Sells students Sam Pernoski (left) and Anda Corrie (right).
Do you see how simple it can be? Heck, you can even draw a face on a mug! Here’s a ceramic cup I made.
My ceramic face mug! See how that side-eye makes the emotion?
Creating characters works in any style and any medium, and all levels are welcome, plus knowing how to dream up new characters can be huge for your creative career, because it covers so many markets!
A character can be anything with eyes – and look at all those dreamy art markets! Children’s books and games and toys are two of the biggest art markets right now, but lots more need your unique characters.
I hope that now you’ve learned how simple it can be to come up with playful new characters, you’ll want to dig deeper in Bootcamp Special: Character Play. Zoë and Riley will give you tons of inspiration and advice, with fresh new texts every month, plus insider tips and a little bit of input from me too. Join us!
As ever, don’t forget to share your art so that I can see what you do. Share it online tagging @makeartthatsells and using the hashtag #MATSprep so I can find it easily. I’ll be looking!
Mark your calendar:
- If you’re missing Assignment Bootcamp: Portfolio (or you’re kicking yourself for not signing up) then don’t miss Bootcamp Special: Character Play, which starts July 10th. Find out more here.
- Join me plus Make Art That Sells teachers Zoë and Riley for a FREE live Zoom event on Monday, July 10th at 12 noon ET/5 pm BST. Mark your calendar now!
- In our next newsletter: See how Riley’s Sneaky Snacky Squirrel character made the leap from board game to board book.
Lots of love
Your fearless art leader
