Hurry! Class is filling up fast! I hope you’ll join me as we make some incredible art together.
Today, I want to share some recent MATS alumni successes, focusing on the illustration jobs our students have gotten for the Children’s Book industry after taking some of our courses! These are so wonderful to celebrate as we prepare for the next session of the Illustrating Children’s Books class, starting on Monday, October 2nd.
Please join me in congratulating them! MATS WORKS!
ANNABEL TEMPEST
Annabel illustrated three BabyLit Books published by Gibbs Smith. ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘Moby Dick’ (above) were just released and the third book, ‘The Jungle’ book, is next.
Annabel writes: The reason I took MATS courses was in order to build my portfolio to a point where an agent would take me on. It worked! I’m delighted to say that I was taken on by Vicki Willden-Lebrecht’s agency ‘Bright’
Read Annabel’s Alumni Success interview here.
MATEJA LUKEZIC
Mateja received a gig to illustrate five books with a publisher in the UK because of the work she did in the Illustrating Children’s Books class.
Mateja writes: The content from the Illustrating Children’s Books class was incredibly valuable. It made me confident to take my portfolio to a Children’s book fair and show it to publishers which led me to my first book. I just finished the first book ”I am a Bee” of the five books from a series of animals. Now, I’m working on a second one, which will be about lions.
Read Mateja’s Alumni Success interview here.
LISA LARSEN
Lisa was contacted by Kalmbach Publishing to create two coloring books for adults, plus an author to illustrate a children’s book which was recently published. Lisa also has her fabric designs with a product company.
“After finishing two sessions of the ‘Illustrating Children’s Books course and sending many applications out, I was contacted by a published author to illustrate one of her books. The piece that got me the job was the spread I created for Mats-A. The book is now on Amazon and is called ‘Oma is 100’. These courses are not just an “art class”. They truly help launch your career as an illustrator and designer. Thank you Lilla Rogers for your amazing inspiration and wonderful courses that push us out of our comfort zones!”
Read Lisa’s Alumni Success interview here.
NIKKI UPSHER
Nikki was approached by American Girl to illustrate a 95 page children’s book, after the Manager of Creative spotted Nikki’s work online during one of our classes.
Nikki writes: I did some test girl characters for American Girl and then worked with an art director doing sketches for the book and once this was approved I worked digitally to add color and pattern work. The book was published June 2017.
Read Nikki’s Alumni Success interview here.
ALEXANDRA THOMPSON
Alexandra was awarded the mentorship award by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators LA (SCBWI), giving her the opportunity to have her work reviewed by 6 industry professionals.
Alexandra writes: I took the first round of Illustrating Children’s Books, and my illustrations really helped to strengthen my body of work. I learned so much from the course and it helped me put together a solid portfolio. I’m so glad I took the course! It gave me confidence to join SCBWI and attend my first conference – an incredible experience.
Read Alexandra’s Alumni Success interview here.
WENDY LEACH
Wendy has taken two sessions of our ‘Illustrating Children’s Books’ class and told us that one of her assignments got her featured as the illustrator of the month on the society of children’s book writers and illustrators website!
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I’m an art agent with more than 30 years of experience. I’ve teamed up with acclaimed children’s book art director Zoë Tucker to provide you with everything you need to launch your children’s book illustration career to bring it to the next level. Through this step-by-step, supportive and engaging five-week online course, we will help you create a brilliant pitch, and also give you all the tools, insight, and advice you need to succeed.
Read more about what you’ll get in class here.
By the end of the course you will have your own distinctive presentation ready to send to clients (which includes character sheets, a gorgeous double-page spread and a show-stopping front cover, based on a text provided in class).
You will also have all the insider knowledge you need to identify and approach clients, and then work with them in a professional way once you have secured the gig. And you will do all of this in the company of other like-minded artists from around the world in our supportive class community.
