Lilla here. Today I’m sharing the first part of a FREE two part #MATSprep illustration assignment I’ve created for you to get you warmed up and ready for Bootcamp Special: Character Play, which starts NEXT MONDAY, July 8th!
Let Zoë, Riley and me show you how easy it can be to create winning characters that you can license for children’s books, toys, games and more.
Q: Hold up. What’s Bootcamp Special: Character Play?
A: Bootcamp Special: Character Play is a playful, relaxed course that’s designed to boost your creativity and give you more income streams for your art, so you can make more money doing what you love. It focuses on two fabulous art markets – children’s picture books and toys and games – and is taught by two top experts.
Art by Make Art That Sells student Tina Burke for Bootcamp Special: Character Play. First you’ll create a character based on an exclusive mini-text from Zoë, then turn it into a toy with help from Riley! Sign up here.
I am grateful to the thousands of students who have taken my Make Art That Sells courses and the kind words you send me about my teaching style, because you’ve found that my assignments grow your art like nothing else and because they help you land real paying jobs. You wanted a whole course that was nothing but assignments, so I created the student-favorite Assignment Bootcamp course, which is now in its eleventh year, with a focus this year on lettering.
If you adored Assignment Bootcamp and you’re jonesing for more – or you’re absolutely kicking yourself for not signing up – you do NOT want to miss Bootcamp Special: Character Play.
Bootcamp Special: Character Play follows the same much-loved formula as Assignment Bootcamp, in that you get something every Monday for the duration of the course – maybe a video, a mini assignment, an insight from a creative professional or something else – and a fresh new assignment every month that will help you crank out some gorgeous portfolio art designed to get you paying gigs. The focus is all about creating appealing characters that you can license in two fantastic art markets: children’s picture books, and toys and games.
Meet your teachers: brilliant children’s book art director and picture book author, Zoë (left), and art agent and smash-hit toy creator, Riley (right).
Plus it’s taught by two of your favorite Make Art That Sells teachers: brilliant children’s book art director and picture book author, Zoë Tucker, and art agent and smash-hit toy creator, Riley Wilkinson. I know you’re going to love the energy of these two amazing creatives and the wealth of information they have to share with you!
Q: Okay. What’s a #MATSprep, and why should I do it?
A: A #MATSprep is a free illustration assignment that I write for you and share in the Make Art That Sells newsletter and blog to get you prepared and inspired for class! They’re open to everyone, whether you’re taking the class or not, and they’re a great way to learn a little more about the class, the art market, and my way of teaching, that tricks you into doing your best work.
They’re a great way to get ready for class, plus the #MATSprep, like all the assignments I write for my Make Art That Sells classes, are created using the insights I get from seeing all the jobs that my artists are getting, which means I know exactly what clients are looking for, and which markets are hot right now.
Ready to go? Here’s Part 1 of your FREE #MATSprep …
Here’s your assignment: bathroom items!
For the first part of this #MATSprep, I want you to draw a few items that you might find in a bathroom – maybe bottles of shampoo and conditioner, bars of soap, or a toothbrush and toothpaste, for example.
Art by my artists: a perfume bottle by John Coulter (left) and a bathroom pattern by Erica Root(right).
You can make a scene with your items, or simply place them on your page – these little items are known as icons. You could do a toothbrush for every member of a family, or a row of shampoo or perfume bottles with lots of different shapes. Maybe a whole set of nail polish with the same shape bottle but lots of different shades, or some shiny pointy nail scissors or tweezers. I can’t wait to see what you do!
Tip: Think about your color palette, and have fun with it. Will you go bright? Soft? Dark? Anyone who’s taken my classes knows how much I love color. Your choices here will affect the whole mood of your piece. Perhaps you’ll go for soft pastel bars of soap, or bright colorful sets of make-up.
Two bathroom scenes by my artists Åsa Gilland (left) and Mara Penny (right). You don’t need to create a scene for this prep, just place some items on your page, but it’s fun to see different styles!
What medium will you use? Something precise, something messy? Again, this will affect the mood and tone of your finished art. The purpose of a #MATSprep is to play without any pressure, so try to have fun with it. And this course really is for all levels: it doesn’t need to be perfect.
Two dreamy bathrooms by my artist Flora Waycott. What items can you spot?
Look out for Part 2 of the #MATSprep in our next newsletter! You’re going to take your art and turn it into a character! It’s easier than you think. Stay tuned!
And of course 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!
- Monday, July 8th: Join brilliant children’s book art director and picture book author, Zoë Tucker, and creative director, art agent and smash-hit game creator, Riley Wilkinson, for Bootcamp Special: Character Play, now in its third year, and discover how to make winning characters for books, toys, games and more! FUN FACT: This course is just £99 (approx. $126)!
- Monday, July 8th: Join Zoë and Riley for a FREE live Zoom event at 12 noon ET/5 pm BST on the first day of Bootcamp Special: Character Play to meet your teachers and get your questions answered by two industry experts!
- Next newsletter: Get Part 2 of your FREE #MATSprep warm up exercise from Zoë and Riley for Bootcamp Special: Character Play!
Lots of love
Your fairy artmother
P.S. Don’t forget to join me, Zoë and Riley in the FREE live Zoom event on Monday, July 8th at 12 noon ET/5 pm BST for a chance to win a FREE place in class – pop a Post-It on your sketchbook now!
