How do you define success? It means different things for each of us and of course keeps on changing throughout our lives as we grow and develop.
What does success look like to you? Print out and complete our quirky FREE Dream Snail worksheet to help you plan your amazing creative career.
Perhaps it could mean snagging that amazing kids’ book illustration gig … Setting up a friendly group for fellow artists to support and inspire each other … Getting so many job offers you can pick and choose exactly what work you want to do … Taking the plunge and sharing your work for the first time … Or signing up for your first MATS class!
We recently asked our MATS community to share their MATS successes so far, and today we’d like to share some of our favorites, as well as announcing the winners of our fabulous Lilla Rogers Studio totes and products plus a place on Lilla’s Art Recipes: Drawing Faces. We had planned to pick three winners, but we loved your amazing stories so much that Lilla actually chose six! So drum roll please …
THE WINNERS
EMILY HAMILTON
Since taking MATS courses, specifically the Illustrating Children’s Books courses, I had the confidence to send out a small portfolio to a children’s book agency. They wrote back within a day and have worked with me to help build my children’s book illustration portfolio and I’m now officially signed up with the lovely Plum Pudding Illustration Agency!
Thanks so much to Lilla and the amazing MATS team – the courses helped me to grow as an artist and to be inspired by some incredibly talented creatives. It gave me confidence in my own work, to put the hard work in and to believe in myself. I’m so excited for the future!
LUCIA KEMPSEY
A few years ago, I took the MATS Hot Markets for Your Art Part A & B courses, which not only put me in touch with lots of other lovely and supportive like-minded artists and pushed me to create much stronger work, but also got me my first agent and, a few years later, a publishing agent too. In the last few years, my work has been bought by hundreds of high street stores, used by publishers in children’s publishing and featured in Mollie Makes magazine.
When my daughter was born 7 years ago, I made a vow to myself that I wanted to follow my dream of being a designer. At the time, I was working in a hospital admin job that I hated, but I wanted to be able to show her that you can have a job you love if you work hard. A couple of years later I took the MATS courses (and a couple of other online courses too) and now, at almost 40, I am finally doing a job I absolutely love. It’s the only job I’ve had where I never clock-watch, where I feel fulfilled and never want to change career again! My work has been sold to clients I never imagined possible, including Mudpuppy Kids, Sainsburys, Boots Miniclub, M&S, TJ Maxx, Hallmark, Accessorise and many more.
So, I am very thankful for the MATS course for literally changing my life!
MITZIE TESTANI
After becoming a mom, I left my job as a graphic and interactive designer to stay home with my son while he was little. When I realized how much I enjoyed drawing for him to teach him words, I decided to try Lilla Rogers’ Make Art That Sells courses. One of her classes encouraged us to try painting. BAM! I finally found my love and my style. I started to wonder seriously whether I could change my career path because I loved making art so much.
After building up a portfolio, I was approached by two separate agents about licensing. On a whim, I also decided to start searching for local jobs that would allow me to illustrate and be flexible around my son’s school schedule. I found the most unexpected and enjoyable job at a local cookie company.
For the past two years, I have worked as part illustrator/part graphic designer. At work, my illustrations are not only used for packaging (which I also get to design), but at times for cookies too! I continue to paint on the side and participate in local art shows and I’m pursuing children’s books. I’m so happy that I just sold my painting from my most recent art show and I’ve also been offered a month-long feature at a high-profile local gallery this summer. I’ve also started selling my work on Etsy, by following the formulas for making art that sells.
I definitely recommend the coursework from MATS (in fact, I still take the courses when I have time—and I’m very excited about the new editorial illustration course). They teach you how to generate ideas, work efficiently, and how to gently critique your own work, which all built up my self confidence. They also have classes structured around my life and skill level (but all of the courses are populated both professional illustrators and beginners, which makes it all feel achievable right where you are.)
Both the self-paced and live courses also come with private Facebook groups, which has led me to a wonderful tribe of mentors and supporters with whom I can ask questions and get feedback on everything from my art and career decisions, to sharing my life’s events. Thank you, Lilla, for making it possible for me to follow my dreams.
JANE SANDERS
ALICIA ROGERSON
The course really empowered me to be brave and put my work out there, to be confident and price it right!
So far I’ve achieved the following:
- Awarded an Emerging Artist six month mentorship program that concludes with a solo exhibition (June 2019) at an established gallery (along with marketing, graphic design and installation)
- Awarded a grant to fly interstate to attend an arts conference for five days all expenses paid
- Awarded a solo exhibition (November 2018) which had a busy opening night
- Awarded a place in an upcoming event to create art for a retail shop for a book festival (PAID!)
That doesn’t include all the commissions, client enquiries and online sales that I’ve achieved. Or the new art that I’ve created and portfolios that I’ve been able to refresh and expand.
So thank you, thank you, thank you for the course and helping me take another step forward into making my art career sustainable.
FIONA BARDEN
I just wanted to drop a quick line to say that I have been approached by a UK book publisher to work with them on a series of four board books based on numbers, shapes, colours and animals. This will be my first time working on children’s books and is something that I have been dreaming about for a long time now. I’m so excited (and slightly terrified!)
I can’t thank MATS enough – I initially saw the Illustrating Children’s Books course advertised, but after looking at your site I realised that there was so much more I needed to learn, so I signed up for the My Year Of Art School in 2018. It was invaluable. My confidence has soared (I even had the confidence to negotiate a better fee!), my portfolio has been vastly improved, my website looks so much more professional, my social media presence is better, I have a plan on how to move forward and I am much more knowledgeable about the markets I want to work in. I really can’t thank Lilla, Zoe and Beth enough (along with everyone else behind the scenes), I feel that I am finally on the right track thanks to them!
I’ve still got loads to do on the self-paced courses and I’m desperately hoping I’ll still have the time available to complete them before the end of the year) – I know I still have so much left to discover with MATS! THANK YOU!
