Who loves children’s book illustration success stories? We do! Our career-changing online course, Illustrating Children’s Books, starts TODAY! Every year, this course creates a whole new flurry of book deals for our wonderful students – we’ve shared some new children’s book illustration success stories below – and if you want more, find them here.
What’s Illustrating Children’s Books all about? Over five incredible weeks, your brilliant teachers, top art agent Lilla Rogers and renowned children’s book art director and author Zoë Tucker, will lead you step by step to create a fabulous pitch presentation that contains everything an art director or publisher wants to see. And on the way, they’ll teach you everything you need to know about the wonderful world of children’s book illustration in a way that’s both fun and fascinating: you won’t want it to end.
Art by Make Art That Sells student Erin Vanessa Sand, who is now represented by Lilla after Lilla spotted her in class. Lilla is always looking for new artists to represent!
You’ll get daily drawing prompts, weekly LIVE reviews with your teachers, Lilla and Zoe, tons of beautifully designed downloadable worksheets, and lots more.
Did you miss the Live Zoom from Monday? Watch below!
Get your FREE Text Chooser
The Illustrating Children’s Books classroom is now open! Sign up now and you’ll get instant access to your first daily drawing prompt, plus three brand new original texts written especially for class. So you can dive straight into class, your teachers, Lilla and Zoë, have created this insightful Text Chooser Tool, that will help you dig deep into your personality and find the right text for you.
Jester Hipster, Sherlock or Madame Bodoni: what type of children’s book illustrator are you? Our unique texts are carefully designed to help every student shine.
Covering animals, people and objects, and in a range of moods from tender to humorous to dreamy, these unique texts have been carefully designed to ensure that every student does their very best art: you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve in just five short weeks. Book here!
children’s book illustration success stories
Ready to see some of the stunning children’s book illustration jobs that our students have landed recently? On with the show …
Wendy Leach
Wendy has taken various Make Art That Sells courses including Illustrating Children’s Books three times, MATS MBA (Money BadAss), Lilla’s mini course Illustrating Children’s Books PLUS and Portfolio Review.
Art from A Small Kindness, illustrated by Wendy, who credits Lilla and Zoë and Illustrating Children’s Books with helping her to land her dream illustration job.
Wendy recently got in touch to let us know “I just wanted to write to let you know that Illustrating Children’s Books really did change my career. I thought it was a bit of marketing to say ‘land your dream job’ … but holy macaroni I did! I got to work with one of my dream authors on a book that shares a message I truly believe in.” Wendy’s dream job was to illustrate the children’s picture book A Small Kindness, written by one of her dream authors, Stacy McAnulty, on a subject that is close to her heart: kindness.
Wendy adds that the reasons why she credits the Illustrating Children’s Books course and co-teachers Lilla and Zoë for helping her land the job are as follows: “They tell you what you need to show in your portfolio or website to let an agent or art director know you are capable of creating a full picture book. They give you a structure to create those pieces. They help show you how to stand out and really polish your pieces so they shine. They bring a joy and an excitement (along with everyone else in the class) for a truly wonderful experience.”
She adds “I also learned that it’s about accepting where you are in the journey and finding the joy in the moment of creation: the realization that if you put the work in you will improve and get where you want to go. And I also learned to get my work out there.”
Art created by Wendy for Illustrating Children’s Books, which was referenced by the client when she landed the job. Create job-snagging art like this: book your place on Illustrating Children’s Books now.
A last word from Wendy: “How do I really know that Make Art That Sells got me the job…? They sent some of my homework assignments from the course as reference!”
See more of Wendy’s art on her website and Instagram.
Brigida Magro
This was Brigida’s first Illustrating Children’s Books, and she has also taken Illustrating Children’s Books PLUS, My Kid Book Pitch, and MATS MBA (Money BadAss).
In September 2020, shortly after finishing Illustrating Children’s Books, Brigida attended her local SCBWI regional conference in Colorado, where she won the Grand Prize for the calendar contest people’s choice to be sent out to art directors for the full page spread she created in class.
Brigida’s full page spread that she created for Illustrating Children’s Books, which won the Grand Prize for the calendar contest people’s choice at her regional SCBWI conference in Colorado.
When Brigida joined Illustrating Children’s Books, she said that she was “chasing an old dream”, so we were thrilled to hear that she has just landed a children’s book illustration gig, illustrating Gift & Box by Ellen Mayer. Publication is scheduled for fall 2023 – we can’t wait to see it!
See more of Brigida’s art on her website and Instagram.
Kim Malek
In 2020, Kim landed her first children’s book deal after taking Make Art That Sells courses including Hot Markets for Your Art, Assignment Bootcamp, Lilla’s Art Recipes: Drawing Faces, Editorial LIVE and MATS MBA (Money BadAss).
Kim says: “I attribute this fabulous project to my growth from Make Art That Sells classes. So when I was approached by a publisher who’d seen my work, I was amazed—and ready. I had the confidence, skills—and even worksheets!—to organize a big chunk of work in a short time and stay happy, open, growing. I knew how to clear the decks to make time because I’d already practiced that. And I knew how to figure out how to draw and paint new things because I’d already practiced that. It just went really well. I had fun, and the publisher was thrilled with my illustrations. It’s kind of magical when you’re hired for your style and exactly what you want to do!”
Art created by Kim for Assignment Bootcamp.
Kim’s first book is already being reprinted, and she’s also signed a contract for her second book, starting in spring 2021. See more of her art on her website and Instagram.
Yuchita Erayanie
Yuchita is another Make Art That Sells student who landed a children’s book illustration job after taking Illustrating Children’s Books for the first time; she’s also taken MATS MBA (Money BadAss) and has signed up for Assignment Bootcamp 2021.
Art by Yuchita for her children’s book illustration job, illustrating Little White by Carolina Zanotti.
Yuchita said: “I just want to share some good news, I just finished illustrating my first children’s book illustration job! I was approached on Instagram by NuiNui Publishing and was asked to do a spread for a story about a little white shark, written by Carolina Zanotti. Long story short, I got the book! Illustrating a picture book has been my dream since forever and if it weren’t for this course, Lilla and Zoë’s encouraging feedback and structured course, and of course the ever so supportive Facebook group, I don’t think I would have pushed myself so hard!”
Yuchita’s front cover for Illustrating Children’s Books.
See more of Yuchita’s art on her website and Instagram.
Hurry! Class starts today – don’t miss a minute! We can’t wait to see what you’re going to do. Book your spot here.
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
P.S. Want to see more incredible Make Art That Sells student art? Be sure to follow us on Instagram!
Did you miss the all-star zoom last Friday?
Watch the replay below!
