Hurry hurry HURRY – LAST CHANCE! Registration for Illustrating Children’s Books 2024 closes TODAY! This class won’t run again until 2025, so if you want in – sign up now!
There’s something magical about a picture book, isn’t there? Opening the pages, the feel, the smell – and of course the beautiful art. How must it feel to get to illustrate a book of your very own: to spend weeks or months digging deep into the text and bringing it to life for generations of children to enjoy – and getting paid to do it?
How do you get a picture book gig? By showing art directors and publishers exactly what they want to see in your portfolio and pitch. And that’s what top art agent Lilla Rogers and brilliant children’s book art director and author Zoë Tucker are going to do in just five weeks in Illustrating Children’s Books.
It worked for these students … ! Today we’re sharing four more amazing success stories from our graduates – including publishing deals with top publishers Puffin UK, Little Tiger Press and Usborne, plus the student who landed some freelance work for Warner Bros off art she did in class! Read on for all the details, find even more student success stories here, and sign up here, because registration closes TODAY!
Success story #1: Maxine Lee-Mackie
Make Art That Sells student Maxine – who says she’s “obsessed with fairy tales” – has illustrated several books since taking Illustrating Children’s Books, including a gorgeous version of Aladdin for her favorite publisher, Usborne (check out the video to see all the incredible details!). Plus she also told us that Warner Bros asked her to do some character development work off the back of the art she did in class!
A spread from Aladdin for top publisher Usborne, which Maxine landed after taking Illustrating Children’s Books. Learn how you can get amazing jobs like this – sign up now.
Maxine said: “Since I was that new and insecure illustrator 15 years ago, I’ve worked on projects with clients that I didn’t even consider were a possibility – Disney, Little People Big Dreams, Simon & Schuster and this one with Usborne – my absolute favourite publisher to work with. I always wanted to illustrate one of these books. They have a special quality that just makes them magical.”
Maxine’s work from class which caught the eye of an art director from Warner Bros – she told us “IT WORKS!”. Registration closes TODAY – sign up here!
Maxine adds: “The last time I did a Make Art That Sells course, an art director from Warner Bros got in touch and commissioned me to do some visual development work on a new production for Cartoon Network. We had a Zoom and he held up one of my final pieces from Illustrating Children’s Books and said it was what caught his eye and why he contacted me. Now I want to develop more quality pieces for my folio, because IT WORKS!”
See more of Maxine’s work on her website and Instagram.
Success story #2: Jojo Clinch
Art by Jojo for Illustrating Children’s Books. Registration closes TODAY and this course won’t run again until 2025! Hurry – sign up here!
Jojo is a long-time Make Art That Sells student who recently landed her first children’s book illustration deal illustrating Mummy and Me, written by British reality TV star Lydia Bright.
One of Jojo’s full page spreads for her first picture book deal, which she got after taking Illustrating Children’s Books several times. It’s a great course to repeat – sign up here.
Jojo said: “When I took my first Make Art That Sells class (Illustrating Children’s Books back in 2017), I had never really illustrated for children beyond my kid’s birthday invitations. The classes gave me the confidence to pursue a dream career and I have learnt so much from them, plus I have made some really lovely friends along the way. So a big, BIG thank you to Lilla and everyone at MATS!”
Art by Jojo for Illustrating Children’s Books. You’ll create gorgeous character sheets like this to help you land paying jobs – but hurry, registration closes TODAY! Sign up here.
See more of Jojo’s work on her website and Instagram.
Success story #3: Audrey Suau
Audrey has recently published her first author-illustrator book, Rêve de médaille, and credits Make Art That Sells with giving her a start in the industry. We’ve previously shared that she also told us that she got her first illustration job based on the art she did for Illustrating Children’s Books!
Audrey’s first author-illustrated book has just been published.
Audrey told us: “Rêve de médaille is not the first book I illustrated but it is the first that I wrote and illustrated and I’m very proud of it. It is about a bunny who always dreamed about a gold medal. It explains what sportsmanship, fair play, and the games are, and shows that there are greater rewards than victory.”
Audrey credits Make Art That Sells with starting her illustration career after she got her first illustration job from art she did in Illustrating Children’s Books (left).
Audrey adds: “Make Art That Sells helped me to start in the industry. It gave me the information I couldn’t find elsewhere and helped me to build my portfolio. I also found amazing friends and support.”
See more of Audrey’s work on her website and Instagram.
Success story #4: Ciara Ni Dhuinn
One of Ciara’s full page spreads from her new book. She got her first picture book illustration deal after taking Illustrating Children’s Books – sign up here.
Ciara has gotten a ton of work from art she made for Make Art That Sells classes over the years, including her first picture book illustration deal back in 2019 for Puffin UK, and now a beautiful board book for Little Tiger Press.
Ciara’s front cover design for her first Illustrating Children’s Books class. You’ll create a ready-to-send pitch with front cover, character sheets and more, but registration closes TODAY!
Ciara said: “I started taking the classes years ago when I had time, including Illustrating for Children’s Books. I’ve illustrated several books since then, but next week in the UK and Ireland I have a book coming out with Little Tiger Press that I’m super pumped about. I’m always blown away by the talent that shows up in these classes, it is very humbling and inspiring.”
Another spread from Ciara’s new book, one of several she’s illustrated since taking Illustrating Children’s Books. Registration closes TODAY – sign up here.
Ciara adds: “If it wasn’t for the home decor classes and the book classes I would have never thought about the work the way they help you visualize how to think about the work. That helped me build my portfolio to submit for consideration on projects.”
See more of Ciara’s work on her website and Instagram.
Want to land children’s book illustration work just like these students? Then HURRY – registration closes TODAY! Here are just some of the things you’ll get in this career-changing course:
- LIVE reviews by Lilla and Zoë featuring a selection of class work loaded with even more tips and pointers: your teachers review every single piece of art submitted to the class gallery and choose their favorites, so it’s an incredible opportunity to get your art seen by them (art agent Lilla is always looking to scoop up more artists from class!) but even if your art isn’t chosen you’ll still learn a ton
- PLUS art director at Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Tracy Shaw, will be joining Lilla and Zoë as a guest reviewer in Week 5, adding some amazing insight and potentially looking for new artists!
- Three brand new and exclusive texts by picture book author Zoë Tucker for you to choose from, allowing you to dive in instantly: our texts are written especially for class, and three have been published (so far!), so you know that they’re professional quality and will help you build a powerful book illustration portfolio
- In-depth videos on every aspect of the creating and pitching of your children’s book, growing your creative business, and Lilla’s art technique demonstrations
- Interviews with top art directors, successful illustrators and other industry experts: we ask them everything you want to know
- Boatloads of beautifully presented downloadable worksheets
… and tons more.
Want in? Then HURRY! Registration for this raved-about course closes TODAY and it won’t run again until 2025. Can you afford to miss out? Book your place here.
- Closes TODAY: Registration for top art agent Lilla and brilliant children’s book art director and author Zoë’s raved-about course, Illustrating Children’s Books, closes TODAY and won’t open again until 2025! Sign up here.
- Closes TODAY: Get The Children’s Book bundle and save a huge 20% off three of Lilla’s powerful children’s book courses: Illustrating Children’s Books, Illustrating Children’s Books PLUS and My Kid Book Pitch. HURRY! This offer ends TODAY!
- Next newsletter: Is making art that sells selling out? Art agent Lilla tackles one of the Big Questions about being an illustrator!
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
P.S. Did you miss the fabulous live zoom on Monday? Watch the replay below:
