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#MYMATSPREP: Setting (Day 2)

MYMATSPREPDAY2 Make Art That Sells #MYMATSPREP: Setting (Day 2)

We are pretending all week that you have just been commissioned to illustrate a children’s book.

Yesterday, you played around with drawing a character called “Jitna”. Now, you’re going to play with the setting. The environment, or setting, is one of the most exciting parts of a children’s book.

Why? Illustrators love settings because it’s their opportunity to create an imaginative world that adds to the text.

buildingsWhat’s the view out of your window? All photos by Lilla Rogers

For today, you’re going to make a setting exploration drawing. Go to your bedroom window and draw what you see outside. (If you don’t have a window in your bedroom, you can choose another window.) Do your visual research. Look up at the sky, look down below, look for people, cars, trees, things on the sidewalk, things in the distance. I can’t wait to see what you see!

viewWhat’s the view out of your window?

“But Lilla, the view out of my window is really ugly. Or boring. Or lame.” First of all, I doubt that. You may be tired of it but we’re not.

Here’s what I say to you: Use anything as an opportunity to be creative. Look and look and look. Space out. Daydream. See what comes. You are a creative person! To be a success, you must be able to make magic out of any assignment! That’s why the client will come to you! Just because it might now come easily right off the doesn’t mean it’s not possible.

When I was an illustrator, I realized that any assignment had the potential to be an award-winning piece. I thought, “What would my art heroes do with this? They would do something amazing, so maybe I could if I open my mind and visualize. (Deep breath!) I just need to imagine something marvelous.” And so can you. Maybe not right away, but bit by bit you will delight yourself as your work becomes more consistently beautiful. So think about that as you take on this MATS Prep today.

Part of what makes a children’s book so appealing is a magical environment. Whether you draw realistically, or paint in a moody style, or design in a witty way, it’s the well-observed details that matter.

You can label your drawing with the name of your town/city so we can enjoy the huge variety of MATS Prep participants. It’s going to be remarkable to see the variety of life out there: city streets, country living, who knows? Personally, I can’t wait to learn more about you!

Of course draw in your own style, or any style you like.

Tomorrow, you’ll use the information you gathered today.

Share your images on Instagram: Tag us @makeartthatsells and use hashtags #mymatsprep and #matskidbook

Lilla’s Tip of the Day: The best artists are known for their style, and art directors come to them for what they (the artist) can uniquely deliver. Allow yourself to take the risk to try something different. Be open to whatever style emerges today as you draw. Maybe it’s a slightly different look. There’s no law that says you need to stay in one style.

yourtalent Make Art That Sells #MYMATSPREP: Setting (Day 2)

xo

Lilla

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