Our student-favorite LIVE online course, Illustrating Children’s Books, starts in just over a week, on Monday, July 7th and there’s still time to sign up!
Why is this course, which is now running for the twelfth time, so popular? Why do our students take it again and again? Because it’s incredibly rigorous but also playful and fun – and it really works. Tons of our students have gone on to get picture book illustration deals, land agents, and more after taking this course (you can read some of their stories here).
Plus it’s led by industry experts. Your teachers, former top art agent Lilla Rogers and renowned children’s book art director and author Zoë Tucker, will teach you everything you need to know about the wonderful world of children’s book illustration, in an accessible, step by step way that will break everything down and help you bring your A-game to every assignment.
Art by Make Art That Sells student Anasabina Dys for Illustrating Children’s Books. In just five weeks, you’ll create a ready-to-send professional pitch presentation. Sign up now!
You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve: as Lilla always says, she tricks you into doing your very best work!
You’ll get daily drawing prompts, weekly LIVE reviews with your teachers, and weekly assignments that will build into a show-stopping ready-to-send pitch that contains everything an art director or editor needs to see to give you a kids’ picture book gig.
Art for class by Make Art That Sells student Sarah Deleye. Your pitch will contain everything an art director or publisher needs to see, including gorgeous character sheets like these.
To help you prepare for this popular course, Lilla has created a series of five FREE assignments that will stretch your creative muscles and get you into the zone – find the first one below.
This is going to be an intense couple of weeks, but it’s going to get you in great shape for Illustrating Children’s Books, and you’ll be amazed at how much you learn! Ready to dig in?
Here’s your first assignment …
We’re going to imagine that you have just been commissioned to illustrate a children’s picture book.
Take a moment just to imagine how that feels … Perhaps the art director or editor has spotted art from Illustrating Children’s Books that you shared online (it happens!), perhaps they’ve been a fan of your art for a while or perhaps you just sent over your finished pitch presentation and they fell in love with it … but either way you’ve opened up an email saying that they love your work, they have the perfect project for you and they’re desperate to work with you! How thrilling … Let’s get stuck in!
Let’s say that the art director has sent through the manuscript and it’s time to get to know your main character. Today we’re going to delve into exploring a character with a simple prompt. Don’t overthink it, just relax and have fun.
Today, you’re going to draw your teacher, Zoë, as a child.
Here’s Zoë aged around five. Check out those overalls!
Art agent Lilla says: “Draw Zoë in your own style. I love the overalls and that papier mâché dinosaur. And the hair – do you see her ribbons? What is she looking at? What emotion is she projecting? She’s shy perhaps, but proud of the dinosaur she made. Think about her clothing and expression. Add a scene if you like. Bricks are a fun graphic pattern to draw: you can give them a pretty clay color if you like. Change out the colors of Zoë’s clothing too. Play. Have fun.”
Lilla adds: “If you like, you could add items around Zoë that shows a little about where she lives, what she’s all about, her story … Get to know her! Have fun, be quirky, be eccentric, be you. Indulge your intuition. Play pretend. Make up a story, or keep it simple. Remember, all styles and all levels are welcome to join in. We are an open, supportive community here and encourage all levels of talent.”
When you’re done, share your art on social media and don’t forget to tag us with @makeartthatsells and use the tag #MATSPrepICB12 so that Lilla can see what you do – we’ll be sharing some of her favorites.
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.”
Book your place on Illustrating Children’s Books here!
- Monday, July 7th: Illustrating Children’s Books starts! Join your teachers, former top art agent Lilla and brilliant children’s book art director Zoë, for five incredible weeks where you’ll learn a ton about the picture book industry and create a ready-to-send pitch that contains everything an art director needs to see to give you work! Don’t miss out! Sign up here.
- Monday, July 7th: Join Lilla and Zoë for a FREE live Zoom event at 12 noon EST/5 pm BST to celebrate the start of Illustrating Children’s Books and you could win a FREE place in class! You’ll find the link to join the Zoom in our Instagram and Facebook Stories and on the front page of our website on the day.
- Available NOW! Sign up for the Brilliant Kid Book Bundle and save a whopping 20% on art agent Lilla’s last two LIVE courses for the year, student-favorite Illustrating Children’s Books and the wonderful Assignment Bootcamp: Lettering. Find out more here.
- Next newsletter: Don’t miss Part 2 of your FREE five-part #MATSPrep warm-up illustration assignment for Illustrating Children’s Books!
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
P.S. Look out for Part 2 coming up on Saturday, June 28th – and don’t forget to share on social media so Lilla can see!
