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. It really is for all levels!
First though I need to remind you to join me and my brilliant Bootcamp Special teachers, Zoë and Riley, in a FREE live Zoom event THIS FRIDAY, February 4th, at 12 noon ET/5 pm GMT! 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 artist Hsinping Pan. Look at their friendly expressions and sweet pastel colors (and that cat!). Your characters can be cute, fierce, bold, bright or whatever you like – have fun with them!
Lilla’s tip: Think about including a variety of facial expressions, as seen here in this piece by Bambi Ramsey for Illustrating Children’s Books. See how the different pearls all show different expressions?
Art by Bambi Ramsey for Illustrating Children’s Books. Bambi is now represented by my agency 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!
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.
Here’s another example from my artist Helen Dardik:
Art by Helen Dardik for Bagel in Love (Sterling).
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?
This is a great warm up for class. Why? Find out the big reveal day one of Bootcamp Special: Character Play! You’ll be well prepared!
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.
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!
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!
Lots of love
Your fearless art leader
P.S. Don’t forget about the FREE live Zoom event THIS FRIDAY, February 4th at 12 noon ET/5 pm GMT – pop a Post-It on your ipad now!
