Inner Circle (Sept 2025)

Over the past four decades, I’ve done everything from teaching to agenting to pitching to writing books to speaking to illustrating to founding two businesses and more.

During my illustration career, my clients included Anna Wintour, Estée Lauder, the Grammys, and Rolling Stone magazine, and I had agents in New York, Paris and Tokyo. I’ve authored and illustrated my own arty book, I Just Like to Make Things, and I created a pitch for and got a jewelry craft line of 80 different products to a national manufacturer including a variety of necklaces, leather cuffs, rubber stamps, and scrapbooking papers. I’ve filmed two courses with CreativeBug in San Francisco, I founded an art agency, and co-founded a teaching platform with more than 30,000 students. I author and illustrate a regular column for Uppercase magazine, and most recently I’ve taught a live course in France and Portugal.

My book, I Just Like to Make Things (Quarry books) and some of my illustration gigs. Let me show you how to get work like this.

I’ve had the privilege of representing top artists like Lisa Congdon, Helen Dardik, Carolyn Gavin and Sarah Walsh, and a hundred more artists over my 30 years as an art agent. I have taken on quite a few artists, including top artists, when they were unknown as illustrators, and guided them and helped them become top working illustrators with their own personal brand.

Why am I telling you all this? Because I’ve done a lot of stuff! And that means that I can help you to succeed in a myriad of ways. I know the Illustration business and all its lucrative opportunities inside and out.

Jobs agented by Lilla Rogers Studio. I have a huge wealth of experience in the creative industry, and I want to help you prosper and thrive.

Never before in the history of the world have there been so many opportunities for artists. Let me help you explore them, work out what would be perfect for you, and plan your next steps.

Would you be great for a children’s book, a graphic novel, or an illustrated non-fiction book? Would your art be amazing on a home decor collection including gorgeous fabric and, say, a pretty tea set, or on the cover of journals and cards? Are you perfect for designing art-driven toys, puzzles, and games, or illustrating a tarot or oracle deck? Perhaps you could teach online or in person at retreats? Perhaps you could write an illustrated book or column, or write, illustrate, and share tips on Patreon or Substack? Maybe you could sell products with Faire or in your own shop?

I’ve either personally done these things myself or agented them, or know top artists who do these things, and now I want to share the wealth of my knowledge and wisdom with you. Join me in Inner Circle!

I’m going to do everything I can to help you succeed, at whatever level you’re at and whatever your goal.

Inner Circle is your chance to be personally supported and nurtured by an art agent, educator and creative powerhouse with decades of experience to share. For six incredible weeks, you’ll get as much handholding as you need to transform your career and set you on the path to success.

As part of Inner Circle you’ll  meet with Lilla for a private 1:1 to discuss your creative career. This is gold!

You’ll meet weekly in a small group of just 12 participants at most, and while I will lead the group with a Question of the Week download for you to consider ahead of the session and discuss, I will customize the actual content entirely to the needs and wants of you, the group. That means you’re going to get personalized help to succeed in your career, while the small close-knit group means that you’ll get to know each other well, and can build relationships to keep supporting each other going forward.

As well as our twice-weekly group meetings, at the end of the six weeks you’ll also meet privately with me once for an hour on a one-to-one basis to discuss whatever you want: perhaps you’d like me to view your portfolio and draw out your strengths and how you can make it even better, help you draft a pitch or help you write an email to an art director, go through a deal you’ve been offered, or something else – whatever you need. You’ll be well-prepared for this meeting ahead of time and we’ll discuss in advance what we’re going to cover.

Plus, as a free bonus you’ll also be enrolled in my unique business course for creative people, the MATS MBA (Money BadAss), to learn how to play business like it’s a game and create your own formula for success.

Sign up to Inner Circle today!

Unprecedented access to my wisdom and experience.

Inner Circle is your opportunity to feel like you’re being represented by me: I’ll nurture the participants of the mentorship intensive in exactly the same way I supported the artists I used to represent.

As an art agent, I looked for what was best in an artist’s portfolio, what other pieces the artist could create to make their work even stronger, and which markets and who specifically to pitch to. Then I would negotiate, review the contract and sign the deal. In other words, I can help you with all aspects of your career from A-Z! Plus I have experience to share across the creative industry: as a founder, speaker, writer, educator, creator of a national craft line, and more.

If you’ve ever seen me popping up a volunteer on-screen during a live event so that we can chat one-on-one and wanted to do it too, this is your chance to get your very own pop-up! You can ask me questions, have me look at your work, and discover what makes you special.

You can bring your questions to any of the group sessions and I’ll set individual assignments for the week based on our conversations. You can also ask anything that you’ve ever wanted to know or ask.

I have some suggestions for the kind of questions you can ask me. We could cover questions about :

• Your art
• Agents & Clients 
• Pitching & promoting your work
• Markets
• State of mind
• Contracts, fees & negotiating

Click here for your downloadable copy of my checklist. Which questions resonate most with you?

I can  help you with your questions. As an art agent for thirty years, I helped my artists secure literally thousands of commissions across a huge range of markets, including illustrating children’s books, authored and illustrated children’s books, books with Chronicle and the top five publishers, designing and pitching toys, games and puzzles, illustrating for magazines, home decor, greeting cards, illustrated ceramic commissions from Anthropologie, stationery projects and more.

My years as an agent provides me with a treasure trove of contacts. Depending on where you are in your career (there are no guarantees), I may give you a specific name of an art director, editor, or agents or companies to contact that I think would love your art or your project. Although rare, I may even reach out myself to an art director or editor from my vast client list on your behalf. Again, it all depends upon if I think you are ready for the next step.

Weekly Monday group sessions

We’ll discuss the Question of the Week download. Then each Monday group session will be carefully curated to the wants and needs of that individual, specific group. This  check-in is for you to share how your personal assignment is going, ask me anything and get my (supportive!) feedback.

For example, perhaps I’ll explain what you need to get a picture book deal, or demonstrate a technique because everyone is curious about dip pens or watercolor paper. Perhaps I’ll talk about trends in home décor, with examples from products I’ve agented.  Expect spontaneity merged with a rich depth of content that will transform your creative career.

I know the secrets of who succeeds in the business and why. I can also give you all my secrets on how I’ve succeeded as a founder, an illustrator, an agent, a columnist, a jewelry craft designer, an online educator, a retreat teacher, an in-person teacher in my studio, and a speaker. I can’t wait for you to join me and for us to unlock your brilliant career together.

Weekly Thursday group sessions

A two-hour group zoom which will include a review of each artist’s own personal assignment. I will guide each of you on what you will work on next.

Let me help your career! You might not even realize what you’re capable of. I’ll give you tips and direction:

• This is what you’re already doing brilliantly
• These are the signs of your style

Then I’ll suggest tiny tweaks that can make a huge difference in your art.

Of course every project or goal requires a bit of work, but if the enjoyment and excitement of doing it is strong enough, that will carry you through. So it’s about finding something that lights your fire and that fits your natural inclinations and your natural art style. Are you a teacher, a writer, an explainer, or a shower of things?

A private 1:1

Enjoy a warm, supportive private 1:1 with me to talk about whatever’s on your mind – maybe you want to polish a pitch, finish an assignment from a Make Art That Sells class, learn how you can strengthen your portfolio, get specific names of editors or art directors who would love your work and discuss how to approach them, or something else entirely.

You can work on what you’ve learned during your time in the Inner Circle and then meet with me to discuss your next steps. You will just need to  book your 1:1 within six months of the end of the mentorship intensive. 1:1’s will be over zoom and full instructions will be given at the end of the 6 weeks,

The Inner Circle, both the group sessions and the private 1:1, mean I can really personalize the support and advice I give you. Your temperament, your body of work, you time and energy level, and your financial desires, all lead the way on the kind of creative career is a great match for you.

FREE bonus course: the MATS MBA (Money BadAss)

As part of Inner Circle, as a bonus you’ll also be enrolled in my business class for creative people, the MATS MBA (Money BadAss). The exact content of Inner Circle will vary according to the needs of the group, but I may suggest a section to read or a worksheet to aid your progress from the MATS MBA (Money BadAss).

You’ll get an incredible in-depth Playbook packed with assignments, tips and advice plus 20 video lessons that will help you to learn how to create your personal plan for success, build a thriving business and make real money doing what you love.

Even if you’ve taken the class before, it can be an amazing experience to work through the course materials again because you’ll be at a different point in your business and career, and your outlook and needs may well have changed.

A small, close community

Inner Circle will have a maximum of just 12 participants. That means it’s a fantastic chance to get to know your fellow creatives better, foster supportive relationships, and build a network that will help you thrive in your career.

Facebook group

As well as the live group meetings, you’ll also have access to the  Inner Circle private Facebook group

I’m incredibly excited to mentor you and help you thrive in your dream career. From my decades of teaching and as an agent, I know I can help improve any career and spot the magic in anyone’s talent. See you there.

Join me in Inner Circle and let’s get started!

Watch the video below to find out more about the exciting ways I can help creatives as part of Inner Circle.

Now, take a listen to the audio. I have six examples of the kinds of creatives I envision in my mentoring intensive—along with case studies describing how I would guide each of them to reach their full magical potential. You can listen to the audio here:

Join me for 6 weeks of intensive mentoring.

SCHEDULE SUMMARY:

• Inner Circle starts on 29 September, 2025.
• On Mondays you’ll receive a Question of the Week download and a weekly group check-in via zoom at 1 PM ET to ask any questions and check your progress.
• On Thursdays you’ll  join me  in a group meeting via live zoom at 1.30 PM ET. In a two-hour zoom I will review each artist’s own personal assignment and I will guide each of you on what you will work on next.
• Book your private 1:1 within 6 months of the end of the 6-week mentoring programme

Sign up to Inner Circle today!

We want our creative career mentoring to be available to as many people as possible, so we’re  offering a 3-month installment plan:

Pay by 3 installments:

• Payment 1: 30% payable at the point of purchase
• Payment 2: 30% payable 1 month after the initial purchase date
• Payment 3: 40% payable 2 months after the initial purchase date

(3 x installments: £895.50, £895.50, £1194)

Simply select ‘Pay Deposit’ at the checkout.

Let 2025 be the year for your art to shine! Sign up today!

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 a mentoring intensive 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 six weeks in a beautiful password-protected online classroom.Each Monday Lilla will set a theme of the week as a discussion point. Join her in a live zoom each Monday and Thursday where you will be able to ask questions in a small exclusive group. This mentoring intensive will be tailored to the  specific group.

You only need to be online at a certain time if you want to join the live weekly sessions. If you can’t join live, replays will be saved in the classroom for you to view when it suits you. However, due to the bespoke nature of the programme we encourage you to attend the live zooms in order to interact with Lilla and make the most of this exclusive opportunity.

Q: What format is the class taught in?

A: The class consists of a series of PDFs and live zooms delivered via a password-protected online classroom. As well as group sessions, you will also be able to book one 1:1 with Lilla to be taken within 6 months after the end of class

Q: Can I interact with Lilla during the course?

A: You can comment and ask questions during Lilla’s weekly live zoom sessions. Lilla will pop into the Facebook Group from time to time, so keep an eye out! Remember you can also ask questions in the private group.

Q: How much time will the programme take?

A: The membership intensive is 6 weeks. There is no set amount of time each day, however we encourage you to set aside  some allocated time during the 6 weeks to fully focus and work on your creative goals.

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

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

Sign up to Inner Circle today!

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.
• As a mentorship programme, Inner Circle is excluded from  any sales  relating to courses or bundles.

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, 2025