Bootcamp Special: Character Play 2024

Contents & Schedule

Get a sneak peak of Riley and Zoe’. Joining them will be like summer camp for your portfolio!

Gorgeous products illustrated by artists represented by Lilla Rogers. Look at all these incredible characters! Let Zoë and Riley show you how you can get jobs like these.

You’ll get something every Monday for the duration of the course, a little packet of awesome to brighten your Monday, inspire and motivate you. Our students tell us that Monday quickly becomes their favorite day of the week!

• On the first Monday of the month, you’ll get an exclusive mini-text from picture book author and art director Zoë, along with an assignment and supporting downloads to help you start to tap in to your unique character, including a Character Inspiration Board handpicked for you by Lilla.
• On the second Monday of the month, you’ll get an Assignment from Riley along with a supporting video that will help  you to start to think about connecting your character with the magical world of toys and games.
• On the third Monday of the month, you’ll get an exciting bonus from one of your teachers or special guest, children’s book illustrator Tamisha Anthony.
• On the fourth Monday of the month join Zoë and Riley plus fairy artmother and top art agent Lilla for a thrilling LIVE event! You’ll be able to ask your teachers questions plus they’ll have tons of tips, advice, insight and info to share.

And exciting news….the mini texts from Zoe for 2024 will be based around characters for themes:

• Picture book
• Character-driven non-fiction book
• Middle-grade fiction title

You’ll also get access to our exclusive class Facebook group. Some say our community is the most supportive of any they’ve experienced. You’ll enjoy an invaluable community of like-minded artists of all levels to inspire, support and motivate you. 

Sign up today!

Is This for You?

Bootcamp Special: Character Play is open to anyone regardless of their ability and experience. It’s a great way to build on previous experience of Make Art That Sells courses or to run alongside another Make Art That Sells course, but it’s also a fun standalone course if you just want to take some time for yourself, play, create some art and see where it takes you.

Some of the stickers that Erin Williams was commissioned to create. There are so many ways to use the artwork that you make for Bootcamp Special: Character Play!

Bootcamp Special: Character Play is for you if:

• You love dreaming up whimsical new characters and you want to get paid for it
• You want to learn how to create unique new characters and how to license them
• You’ve already taken My Toy Pitch or Illustrating Children’s Books, loved them, and want to broaden and strengthen your portfolio
• …or you’re thinking of taking My Toy Pitch or Illustrating Children’s Books and you want a taster of creating characters
• You do not have time for an intensive learning experience – instead, you are looking for a structure for staying on track and accountable, so you can create a strong body of work over several months
• You want access to a community of talented, supportive artists
• You want to treat yourself, do something for you and have fun making art
• You loved the assignments in any (or all!) of our other Make Art That Sells classes and want more of them!

Art by Make Art That Sells student Brooke O Neill for Bootcamp Special: Character Play.  Imagine creating appealing, engaging characters like these – don’t miss this course!

FREE #MATSprep Assignment

Art by Zoe Ingram who is represented by Lilla Rogers Studio. Want representation? Bootcamp Special: Character Play is an amazing opportunity to get your art in front of TWO art agents and a children’s book art director!

Art agent Lilla has created this #MATSprep assignment to help you get warmed up and ready for class. It’s open to everyone, whether you’re taking the class or not, and it will let you see how easy it can be to create unique, quirky characters.

Face mugs by Lilla Rogers. Look at how that side-eye really makes the expression.

For Part 1 of the #MATSprep illustration assignment visit the blog here

For Part 2  of the #MATSprep illustration assignment click here

Plan your learninG

Here’s a sneak peak from class with a  download of the class intro. Find out more about the class, fill out the fun mini-interview worksheet and read about setting out your workspace.

To download Preparing for Class CLICK HERE.

Don’t miss out on Bootcamp Special: Character Play. Sign up today!

Meet Your Teachers

Art agent Lilla says: “I put together two of my favorite teachers, Zoë Tucker and Riley Wilkinson, to teach this course. Zoë is an expert art director for children’s books and Riley Wilkinson is an expert in toy and game development. You are an excellent hands! We’ve talked for many, many months about the assignments and I’ve personally helped to make sure that the assignments generate powerful assets for your portfolio yet ensuring that they are accessible for all levels of ability and experience.”

Lilla noticed the incredible energy between Zoë and Riley when they were contributing to each other’s classes. She also realized that so much of what they both teach is all about creating unique new characters – and so Bootcamp Special: Character Play was created!

Zoë Tucker

Zoë is a brilliant children’s book art director whose clients include Scholastic, Alison Green Books, Frances Lincoln, First Editions, Hachette UK, Harper Collins UK, DK, and Magic Light Productions. She’s also the author of several highly acclaimed children’s picture books, including Ada and the Number-Crunching Machine and Greta and the Giants, both of which she originally wrote for our Illustrating Children’s Books course; and others including Meet the Supremes and Meet the Beatles. She also co-teaches Illustrating Children’s Books alongside art agent Lilla Rogers.

Zoë holds a copy of her first picture book, Ada and the Number-Crunching Machine, illustrated by Make Art That Sells student Rachel Katstaller, which she originally wrote for Illustrating Children’s Books.

Riley Wilkinson

Riley is a creative director and creator of The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game, a smash hit preschool game that has sold more than two million units and has nearly 10,000 five star reviews on Amazon. He’s also an art agent with Lilla Rogers Studio, where he heads up the brand new Let’s Invent toy design department, and he co-teaches My Toy Pitch alongside Lilla.

Riley with the 10th birthday edition of his Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game, which has sold more than two million units and has nearly 10,000 five star reviews on Amazon.

In other words, not only will you learn how to create characters in Bootcamp Special: Character Play, but you’ll also get your unique creations directly in front of an art director and and two art agents!

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity. Sign up to class today!

Q&A with Zoe & Riley

We caught up with Zoë and Riley to ask some questions about the brand new Bootcamp Special: Character Play.

Q: Why did you write this course?

A: Riley says: “Lilla asked us both what sort of course we’d LOVE to take. Zoe and I were like twins: THIS is the course we’d both take. Based on the wild popularity of Illustrating Children’s Books and My Toy Pitch, we took bits from each to give students a course that gives them a taste of two huge children’s markets. There’s no other course like it anywhere! Plus, Zoë is such an expert. I’ve taken her classes, and I’ve wanted to work with her for years. Now we get to spend three months together with all of you!”

Zoë adds: “Yes! We wanted to show you how simple and enjoyable it can be to develop great characters, which are key for the toy and children’s book markets. And it gives us a chance to connect with our wonderful students again: they are the heart and soul of Make Art That Sells, and Riley and I (and Lilla) love any opportunity to meet with them!”

Art by Make Art That Sells student Martine Stuhlberger for Bootcamp Special: Character Play. 

Q: What’s different about this course?

A: Zoë says: “In some ways it’s very familiar. The structure is very similar to everything you’ve come to know and love about Assignment Bootcamp: Portfolio: great content, broken down into bite size assignments that are fun and easy to engage with, lots of motivation and accountability, and tons of tips and ideas from Riley and me.”

Riley agrees: “Absolutely. Lilla, Zoë, and I wanted to give students what they’ve been asking for: MORE, MORE, MORE! The Bootcamp projects and deadlines are a proven formula that works: do more work and more opportunities show up!”

Zoë continues: “The whole course is focused around creating your own cool characters that will work in books, the toy market and lots of other products and markets. It gives you the all the basics you need to get started, and if you’re interested in learning more then you can dive into Illustrating Children’s Books or My Toy Pitch.”

Q: Why should someone take this course? Why do I need it?

A: Zoë says: “When I was younger, I never knew my job existed. I think a lot of people are like that. I didn’t quite understand what Riley did until a few weeks ago (don’t tell him!). I think students sometimes don’t know all the cool stuff they can do with their art, and in this Bootcamp course we hope to show them another angle, something new and accessible to them as another revenue stream. Hopefully this course will inspire and excite students about the possibilities around them. And it should be a lot of fun too!”

Just some of the gorgeous products illustrated by artists represented by Lilla Rogers. There are so many products out there that need your art!

Riley answers: “Feeling stuck or bored? Bootcamp is exactly the fix. Just like a personal trainer who tells you to do those push ups, Make Art That Sells Bootcamp keeps your creativity in shape and refreshed! As a creative director in the toy industry, I crave motivation and seek it out. As a former Make Art That Sells student, I took the courses to keep making art, and working alongside other artists helps you become a better artist. Plus the children’s market needs your art! You’ll get character and toy assignments that add variety and interest to your work.”

Q: Which part of the course are you most excited about?

A: Riley says: “The Zoë/Riley combo is such a creative JOLT! Every time I talk to her, I’ve got ten more project ideas. Plus it’s sort of a secret way for me to work with a children’s book expert! The two of us combined is exactly the kind of course I’d love to take.”

Zoë says: “Definitely! I’m so excited to be working with Riley. I feel like together we have lots to offer, and lots to learn.”

Co-teacher, toy creator and art agent Riley hard at work writing course content.

Riley adds: “Also, I can’t wait to see students fall in love with their own art style and become more of who they were meant to be as artists. It’ll be so much fun to see what students create each month. I’m not giving you any clues, but Zoë’s stories and my assignments are sure to bring out your best. I get so much out of seeing the work!”

Zoë agrees: “Yes! One of my favourite parts of Make Art That Sells is connecting with our students and seeing their work grow and develop, and seeing them get picked up by art directors and agents all over the world. I am constantly inspired by the work I see in the gallery, and the kindness and support we experience in the Facebook groups and on our live reviews.”

Illustration by Maria Ofili for Bootcamp Special: Character Play

Want in? Sign up  now!

Want in? Sign up  now!

FAQ’s

If you have a question about Make Art That Sells please check these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) first. If you do not find an answer to your question here please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Q: I’ve never taken an online class before. How does it work? Do I need to be at my computer at a certain time?

A: You will have access to new content each Monday for three months in a beautiful password-protected online classroom here on the Make Art That Sells website. You’ll create one piece of artwork for your portfolio every month, and will have the option to post your work to a public gallery where it can be viewed by Lilla and other art agents, your peers, potential clients, art directors, and other industry experts.

You only need to be online at a certain time if you want to join the live monthly events. If you can’t join live, replays will be saved in the classroom for you to view when it suits you.

Q: What format is the class taught in?

The class consists  written assignments, videos, downloads, live events and more, delivered via a password-protected online classroom.

Q: What do you get in Bootcamp Special: Character Play?

Each month you’ll create one finished portfolio piece, led by your teachers, picture book author and art director Zoë Tucker and toy and game expert and art agent, Riley Wilkinson.

Each month you’ll get an exclusive mini-text from Zoë with an assignment plus an assignment from Riley, supporting downloads, videos, and more.

There’s also a monthly live session with Lilla, Zoë and Riley, where they’ll discuss that month’s assignment, answer your questions, share tips and advice, and tons more. A replay will be available in the online classroom after the event if you can’t join live or want to rewatch it.

There may also be bonus materials such as video tutorials, interviews with industry experts, downloadable worksheets and more.

Q: Can I interact with Zoë, Riley and Lilla during the course?

You can comment and ask questions during the monthly live sessions. Lilla, Zoë and Riley may also pop in to the private Facebook group from time to time, so keep an eye out! Remember you can always ask questions of the super-supportive MATS community in the private group.

Q: How much time will the class take?

Bootcamp is designed so you can keep up even if you have a full-time job or other significant commitments.

Q: I will be away for some of the time the class is running. Does this matter?

Bootcamp is spread out over three months so it’s likely that most students will be away at some point. With a month to complete each assignment, you should be fine. If you miss the deadline for sharing your art in the public gallery each month, you’re welcome to share in the class Facebook group for peer feedback.

Q: Do I need any special materials?

The course looks at art using a variety of media. We encourage you to try new things, so it is up to you. Use any materials you like – digital or traditional. Just get out your favorite art supplies! You can use a scanner or even your smartphone camera to photograph your work. You may find it useful to have access to a printer to print out course materials.

Q: Do I need any special software?

As with all Make Art That Sells classes, it’s possible to complete the entire course using traditional techniques (painting, drawing, etc.), but if you wish to complete the assignments digitally you’ll need basic knowledge of Photoshop or Illustrator. Photograph or scan in your assignments to showcase your work at its best.

Q: Will I be able to communicate with others in the class?

Yes, you’ll be able to communicate in the private Facebook group (where you can also share your work). This is a great chance to connect with other artists and designers, get different perspectives and share your work.

Q: Is this an art class or a business class?

This class is purely assignment-based aimed at helping you strengthen your portfolio and create commercially-viable pieces. Your teachers will share advice and tips, but if you are looking for significant business/industry insight please consider taking one of our other popular live courses.

By registering for any of the Make Art That Sells classes and participating in any of the Make Art That Sells community areas, please be aware you are agreeing to the following Terms & Conditions:

• You acknowledge that your work will only get viewed by Lilla if you submit your assignment(s) as directed when any given class is live. You also acknowledge that although Lilla will view every piece of work submitted and provide general feedback to class during any live courses, and that only a handful of pieces will be chosen each week for specific critique (which will be shared with the class), and there is no guarantee that you will receive personal critique from Lilla during the course. Furthermore, you acknowledge that there is no feedback from Lilla Rogers offered in any course which is not live (i.e. our instant access self-paced classes).
• You agree that Make Art That Sells may give permission to select art directors to view the finished works submitted for critique. Should they be interested in working with you, Make Art That Sells will put you in contact and you can continue your discussions directly.
• You give permission for Make Art That Sells to use any images you submit for critique in any class, or share in the class community area, to be included in any future class-related marketing or promotional strategies, online or offline. You will always be credited and will retain the rights to your work.
• You agree to the class Ground Rules which are as follows:
  • (i) Stay open
  • (ii) Be positive
  • (iii) No negative critique of others
  • (iv) No excuses are necessary. If you miss a deadline for submitting your assignment that is fine, but the entire class does not need to know the reasons for that.
• You acknowledge that Make Art That Sells and Do What You Love Ltd are the owner(s) or licensee(s) of all intellectual property rights in the site and the digital products you purchase, including any databases that hold relevant information about the site and its products. They are protected by copyright or trademark registration and you may only use any of the digital products in line with these terms.
• You acknowledge that all of the digital products that are available for sale on our site are owned or controlled by our licensors, or us. Upon payment of the price for any of these digital products, we grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the digital products for your own personal, non-commercial use.
• You agree that you shall not redistribute, transmit, assign, sell, commercially exploit, broadcast, modify, adapt, edit, sub-license, rent, share, lend, or transfer any digital products that you purchase through this site, or any of the contents delivered via Live Zoom or within our private communities.
• You acknowledge that Make Art That Sells reserves the right to delete any inappropriate comments in the classroom or any of the class-related community spaces, in order to provide and maintain a supportive classroom environment.
• You confirm that you are purchasing a single license for this course for your individual use only. To enquire about educational/corporate rates (for official groups of 10 or more) please send an email to hello [at] makeartthatsells.com.
• You acknowledge that Make Art That Sells/Lilla Rogers Studio reserves the right to replace any advertised content with alternative content of equivalent value without notice.
• You acknowledge that Make Art That Sells/Lilla Rogers Studio reserves the right to replace any advertised lead teacher or co-teacher with another suitable lead teacher or co-teacher chosen at Make Art That Sells/Lilla Rogers Studio’s sole discretion without notice. This includes replacing Lilla Rogers for any particular course should she be unavailable due to unforseen circumstances, such as illness.
• You acknowledge that all sales are final and no refunds will be given before, during or after class.
• You acknowledge that, if paying in installments, no part-payments will be refunded should you cancel your place before class begins.
• All courses are priced in GBP £. Any approximate $ equivalents given are for reference only. When paying by PayPal, you will be charged in your local currency at the prevailing PayPal exchange rate.
• You give permission for your email address to be added to the mailing lists of Lilla Rogers Studio, Make Art That Sells and Do What You Love. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Policy

We do not store credit card details nor do we share customer details with any 3rd parties.

Delivery Policy

All our courses are delivered online in a private password-protected classroom. We do not deliver physical products in the post, but rather send you an email with the URL of the classroom and the password you need to log in. This email is sent to the email address you used to register for the class. Our online communities are offered via individual Facebook groups, to which you can request access, which will be granted once your enrolment has been confirmed. You can access the private classroom for your course via the Account section of this website, on or after the advertised start date of the course. For self-paced classes, you can access the private classroom via the Account section of this website, as soon as your purchase is complete.

Make Art That Sells reserves the right to change the time of any advertised Live Review without notice, for any reason whatsoever. If you have any issues accessing classrooms you can contact us at [email protected] where we will always endeavor to respond within 72 hours.

You can view our full detailed terms & conditions here: https://makeartthatsells.com/terms-conditions/

Make Art That Sells, 2023