Illustration jobs, book deals and more …
There are few things we love more than shouting about our brilliant students! You’re going to be amazed and inspired by their astonishing career success stories (and if you enjoyed these, find more here) …
Siski Kalla
Siski has taken MATS MBA (Money BadAss) and Creating Collections for Home Décor, but children’s book illustration is her real passion – she took Illustrating Children’s Books last year and has just taken the 2020 class**. Since finding Make Art That Sells, she’s tells us she’s thrilled that she’s now making a living out of her art, was commissioned to illustrate I Love You This Much for Wonderbly, and is currently working on a picture book for Trigger Publishing.
**BREAKING NEWS! We’ve just heard that Siski has already got another board book commission based on the work that she did for Illustrating Children’s Books 2020! Huge congratulations, Siski!
Siski says: “I feel like the most important success has been in my growing confidence – and with that has come the possibility of making a living out of my art. Before taking any Make Art That Sells classes, I made a tiny bit of money doing family portraits (tiny!) and printing textiles, but I had another job for real earnings. After taking MATS MBA (Money BadAss) and Illustrating Children’s Books, I started making real money, working for various clients on their books, and doing editorial work. Now I make my living out of illustration – my dream!”
Siski adds: “Getting the contract with Wonderbly is the highlight to date. Such a great company to work with and I just loved working on the illustrations – I was able to indulge my love for children and nature and magical light and colour all in one go!”
Illustrating Children’s Books is now over until 2021, but if you want to to create your own unique picture book pitch then you must check out Lilla’s brand new course, My Kid Book Pitch, but hurry – class starts Monday, October 12th!
See more of Siski’s art on her website and Instagram.
Bregje Raaijmakers
Bregje has taken MATS MBA (MoneyBadAss) plus she’s taken Assignment Bootcamp a number of times. She says that she’s currently most interested in the editorial market, and her major success is that she was on the cover and throughout the Flow magazine special in April 2020. Bregje says “This was number one on my bucket list and my biggest editorial assignment yet!”
Bregje tells us that she’s since been asked to do another commission for Flow, as part of a small private surprise for their employees during the current pandemic, and hopes to work more with them in future.
See more of Bregje’s art on her website and Instagram.
Colleen Finn
Colleen’s finished art for Editorial LIVE: Illustrating for Magazines and More. Editorial LIVE won’t run again until 2021, but you can explore this market and four more with Lilla’s self-paced course, Hot Markets for Your Art Part B.
Colleen is another Make Art That Sells addict (there are a few around!) who signed up for My Year of Art School – all of the courses that we offer for the year in one fantastic bundle – in 2019. She tells us that by October she was financially independent, and by December she had a book illustration gig!
Her first book, which is about finance with the working title of “Earn, Save, Spend” by financial planner Laura Davis, will launch at the end of the year.
Illustration by Colleen Finn for Earn, Save, Spend.
She tells us that she got a huge variety of jobs, including everything from clothing patterns for gnome dolls and designing holiday lawn inflatables to Thanksgiving oven mitts and Halloween greetings cards. There are tons of markets out there which need your art! Let Lilla show you how you can crack them.
Art by Colleen Finn. The markets for your art are endless!
See more of Colleen’s art on her website and Instagram.
Want to spend a full year with Lilla Rogers and put a rocket ship under your creative career? My Year of Art School will be on sale again at an incredible 50% off in our Giant Cyber Sale this fall – keep your eye on our social media and blog for details!
Ellen Rooney
Ellen has taken a ton of Make Art That Sells courses, including Hot Markets for Your Art Part A, Illustrating Children’s Books (twice!), Assignment Bootcamp and MATS MBA (Money BadAss). She says “Make Art That Sells is a professional training program for anyone who wants to produce art for the markets that Make Art That Sells covers. It fills that gap between classroom and professional practice, plugs you in to a very positive community, and pushes you to hold yourself to a higher standard.”
Ellen’s first picture book as an illustrator, Her Fearless Run by Kim Chaffee, came out in April 2019 and received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. She has two more books coming out in 2020, and is under contract for another three. Would you like to write and illustrate your very own children’s picture books?
Illustrating Children’s Books isn’t running again until 2021, but there’s still time to sign up for My Kid Book Pitch, which kicks off next month. In this brand NEW course from art agent Lilla, you’ll use her playful Make a Story Recipe to create your own unique, authentic story, even if you’ve never written a story before or don’t (yet) think of yourself as a writer. It’s perfect for everyone, whether you’re a writer, an illustrator, a doodler or a daydreamer: find out more here.
See more of Ellen’s art on her website and Instagram.
We hope you enjoyed the show – and if you want to read even more Make Art That Sells student success stories, be sure to check out our alumni success archives here!
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
