One of the things that makes our outstanding LIVE online classes unique is that they offer an unparalleled opportunity to get your art directly in front of our brilliant teachers – art agent Lilla Rogers, children’s book art director Zoë Tucker and creative director Margo Tantau. As well as being warm, inspirational and effective educators, they’re also creative professionals at the top of their fields, and they’re always looking to scoop up new talent: Zoë told us that she has recently taken on two MATS students for children’s book illustration work, and ALL 18 of the new artists taken on by Lilla Rogers Studio since MATS started in 2013 have been former MATS students!

Plus of course at the same time you get to make some amazing art, strengthen your portfolio, get motivated and discover our incredible supportive global community!

Over the past couple of years, art agent Lilla has run a Global Talent Search in conjunction with MATS to help her scope out her next artist, but with the GTS taking a year off she’s been focusing on the wealth of talent we see day in day out amongst our amazing students. In the last couple of months, we’ve already announced that Lilla is now representing MATS students Kelly Anne Dalton and Bambi Ramsey, and today we’re thrilled to be able to tell you that she has scooped up yet another student. Step forward please …

Erica Root!

Lilla says: “I have been in love with Erica’s work since she started taking Make Art That Sells courses. She’s taken numerous MATS classes, including Illustrating Children’s Books twice, Assignment Bootcamp twice, Portfolio Review Live, Hot Markets for Your Art and Drawing Faces, and then this year she signed up for My Year of Art School, which includes all our live courses. I saw her work in class and thought it was wonderful, and then I kept my eye on her and was always excited to see what she would do with an assignment. I particularly loved the lists that she did in MATS MBA – they made me think that I really wanted to get her a book or some stationery products using these, they need to be made. It has been incredible to see her style and the way she draws faces, for example, to evolve over the past couple of years.”

Erica’s portrait of Ida B. Wells from Assignment Bootcamp. She has incredible range and an immediately recognizable style.

Lilla adds: “She has a totally unique distinctive style: you see one of her pieces and you immediately know it’s by her. She’s recognizable from her soft texture and her pencil shading, and her color palette is beautiful too: for me, if the color isn’t right then that’s a deal-breaker. She can also draw incredible portraits and has a fabulous sense of humor which shines through in her work. I’ve mentioned before that I’m looking for artists who are strong in a number of areas, and Erica has brilliant children’s book illustration work, stunning graphic novel work, wonderful lists and stationery products and also work that’s great for cards, which we licence a lot of. She’s also not afraid to dive into lettering, and she puts so much into her work – there’s always lots of imagery and lots to look at. I can’t wait to work with her!”

One of the gorgeous lists Erica created for MATS MBA, showing off her fantastic sense of humor. Wouldn’t you love a whole book of lists like this?

We caught up with Erica to find out more about her MATS journey so far, how it feels to get offered representation by one of the world’s leading art agents, and what brings her joy!

MATS asks: How did you get started in art and design?

Erica says: I have always been obsessed with art. Ever since I was tiny, all I wanted to do was to draw. From about the age of 10 I attended a visual and performing arts school which really helped to fuel the fire. Over the past two years, I finally decided that it was time to give my passion for art the attention it deserved, and honestly, it was impossible to ignore it anymore. That’s when I signed up for Make Art That Sells courses. It was truly the first time in my adult life that I had given myself permission to pursue this dream that, up until then, had been kind of a secret.

MATS asks: Which MATS courses have you taken?

Erica says: This year I am taking My Year of Art School (yahoo!) but last year I took a bundle that included Portfolio Review Live, MATS MBA, Global Talent Search, Lilla’s Art Recipes: Drawing Faces, Hot Markets for Your Art A & B, and Assignment Bootcamp; but I got so sad that it didn’t include Illustrating Children’s Books that I ended up signing up for that too!

One of the assignments which Erica produced for the Global Talent Search, demonstrating her beautiful portraits, gorgeous florals and controlled, muted color palette.

MATS asks: Which was your favorite and why?

Erica says: I really have loved all of them but there are two that really stood out to me. Illustrating Children’s Books is amazing and super intense; I learned a lot about the children’s book industry! Assignment Bootcamp was another favorite because it really gave me a feel for a lot of the markets that I wasn’t familiar with – and it contains so much good information and so many insider tips!

MATS asks: How did you feel when Lilla got in touch to discuss representation?

Erica says: I am not even kidding, I stared at my email for about 10 minutes reading and rereading just in case I misread it – I even made my husband read it out loud to me to make sure I wasn’t imagining it! And even after he’d read it to me, I still thought there was a possibility I was dreaming!

MATS asks: What brings you joy?

Erica says: Lots of things, both big and small, bring me joy… being with family, drawing, watching my son get excited about art, trying new foods, watching my daughter suddenly turn from a child into a responsible, kind, funny adult (hmm… this could actually go under the “things that bring me lots of anxiety” category too though), dessert, good music, looking at incredible art, a cozy day in bed on a stormy day, babies!!!, that burst of creative inspiration you get when you suddenly just feel super motivated and pumped (I live for that feeling!), my son’s hysterical laughter, daffodils … ohhh, I could go on and on …

Erica’s whimsical salt and pepper shakers for Assignment Bootcamp. Again, you can see her humor shining through, plus being able to draw faces will always get you more work!

MATS asks: What’s your best tip or piece of advice for MATS students?

Erica says: I would definitely say to try your very best not to let the comparison game get into your head! It is really, really easy to look around at what everyone else is doing and to feel like you don’t measure up. I felt (and still sometimes feel) that – big time! When I started the courses I remember thinking that I didn’t know if I’d ever get to where I’d feel confident in my work or be able to grow a wonderful portfolio the way that I saw so many others doing. As soon as I let that go and decided instead to learn from those artists who were much further along than I was, I just felt myself open up. I was suddenly free to create the work I wanted to create without all of the self-doubt and fear of not being “good enough”.

MATS asks: Favorite piece of work from MATS?

Erica says: I really feel great about my final piece for the Editorial course that just ended. I am sure that one reason I love it is because I enjoyed making it so much. Going into it, I was a little nervous that it would be hard to portray what the article was saying in a style that felt like “me” but once I started drawing it just felt right and the ideas started flowing! Animating it was really a really fun component to add too!

Erica’s finished piece for Editorial LIVE, showing the morning routines of successful women. Look at the gorgeous details and that lovely color palette.

MATS asks: What work did Lilla have you create for her before launch?

Erica says: Lilla asked that I revamp and modify some of my existing work as well as create an editorial piece and another strong portrait piece to add to my portfolio. Lilla also went over my website with me and really gave me some great guidance about which pieces she felt were the strongest along with advising about some older work that she thought could be removed.

Thank you Erica and congratulations again!

If you’d like to get your art work in front of a top art agent, sign up to one of our renowned live courses today – and who knows, maybe next time it could be you getting that dream email!

Erica’s most recent piece of art work for Illustrating Children’s Books: look at the joy and all the adorable details.

See you in class!

Lots of love

The MATS team xxx

P.S. Want to make some beautiful job-snagging work for your children’s book illustration portfolio? Want to dip your toe in this exciting and lucrative creative market? There’s still time to sign up for Illustrating Children’s Books PLUS but HURRY! Registration closes TODAY!