For the next five days, I’m going to help you grow your work to prepare you for our hugely successful course, Illustrating Children’s Books. For the next week we are going to imagine that you have just been commissioned to illustrate a children’s book. I hope you’re as excited about this MATS Prep as I am!
I’m going to share a series of fun exercises to help you tackle your project. I’d love to see what you do so be sure to share it on social media! Share your images on Instagram: Tag us @makeartthatsells and use hashtags #mymatsprep and #matskidbook
So, let’s say you have just received a commission to illustrate a children’s book. You’ve been sent the manuscript. Now what? One of the first things you’ll want to do is to get to know the main character, like how an actor “becomes” the character. So for today’s MATS Prep, you’re going to delve into exploring a character.
For the MATS Prep this time around, our character is named Birdie. (This is an actual photo from my family album!) Jot down who you think this person is (you can make up anything!) and then draw Birdie in your own style! Add a scene if you like.
I’m thinking that you will draw her and perhaps even write all kinds of stuff around her telling where she lives, what she is about, her story.
Where is she? Where is she going? Why is she in a hurry? What does her clothing say about her? What is she holding in her hand? Why? Is she saying something? To whom? What? Why? Just make up stuff! Don’t censor yourself or edit.
Who is Birdie, and what is she saying?
{Photograph courtesy of Lilla Rogers}
Check out her expression. Let something pop into your head about what she is thinking. Play pretend!
Where is Birdie going, and why?
{Photograph property of Lilla Rogers}
Is she from another planet? Is she a magic child who can walk through walls? Is she really 200 years old but looks like a little girl? Does she own 50 pairs of socks? Maybe she is on her way to help a friend who happens to be a whale named Phil.
Have fun, be quirky, be eccentric, be you. Let your intuition play. Play pretend. Make up a story. All styles and all levels are welcome to join in. We are an open, supportive community here and encourage all levels of talent.
I can’t wait to obsess over Instagram and see what you come up with!
An example from last MATS Prep. The character was Minette by @thebrotherskent
Wonderful characters by illustrator David Roberts
Share your images on Instagram: Tag us @makeartthatsells and use hashtags #mymatsprep and #matskidbook
Are you ready to dive in and make a commitment to your success as a Children’s Book Illustrator?
Sign up HERE. Hurry! The last remaining spots are going fast!
Lilla’s Tip of the Day: I want to remind you that talent is not finite. I promise you that you will absolutely get better at your art if you keep learning and making art.
Your style will evolve, your drawing ability will improve, your color palettes will be richer and more beautiful, and your composition will flow more easily. As an agent (and an artist) I’ve seen this over and over. Talent, like a muscle, grows with use.
xo
Lilla
