Our picture book illustration course, Illustrating Children’s Books, is one of our most long-running and best-loved courses, and with good reason: thousands of alumni have gone on to land book deals and representation because of the work they did and the things they learned in class.
This five week long LIVE course is taught by illustrator and former top art agent Lilla Rogers, with 30 years’ experience of assessing artists’ portfolios and assigning picture book illustration jobs, and brilliant children’s book art director and picture book author Zoë Tucker. Zoë has worked on hundreds of children’s books, including the author-illustrator dream team Julia Donaldson and Axel Schaeffer, and she’s always looking out for new artists to commission – check out some of the Make Art That Sells students she’s worked with after spotting them in class in tomorrow’s newsletter!
Just some of the many dozens of books Zoë Tucker has art directed in her decades in the industry. Illustrator Tisha Lee (left) was a Make Art That Sells student who Zoë spotted in class – Zoë is always looking for new artists to commission. Read Tisha’s story and more in tomorrow’s newsletter!
Today though we wanted to share some recent Illustrating Children’s Books student success stories – find them below, and if you’re hungry for more then check out our huge student success story archive here.
Don’t forget that you can sign up for Illustrating Children’s Books right now with a huge saving – up to 50% when you buy as part of a bundle. Our massive annual sale is on NOW – find out more and save at least 30% here.
Sayani Mukherjee
Sayani (left) at the launch of the most recent book she’s illustrated, plus some more of her front covers.
Make Art That Sells student Sayani is an Indian children’s book illustrator currently based in Dublin, Ireland. She reached out to tell us that over the past few years, she has had the pleasure of working with a variety of publishers, including Hachette, Faber, and Magination Press (APA), on several exciting children’s book projects, and that she’s also represented by the Plum Pudding Agency.
One of Sayani’s gorgeous spreads. She studied microbiology and worked as a teacher before discovering illustration and Make Art That Sells.
Sayani told us: “Interestingly, I didn’t come from a traditional art background. I studied microbiology and worked as a biology teacher before discovering my true passion — illustration. That’s when I came across the Make Art That Sells children’s book illustration course, and it was truly a turning point for me.”
Another of Sayani’s gorgeous spreads from one of several picture books she’s illustrated since taking Illustrating Children’s Books.
Sayani continues: “I can’t thank Lilla and Zoë enough for their incredible guidance and support. Through the course, I learned not just the technical side of creating characters and storytelling, but also how to understand the children’s publishing market: what art directors, publishers, editors and agents look for, and how to present my work professionally. The weekly reviews were so valuable, and I learned just as much from seeing how others approached their assignments.”
Some of Sayani’s art for Illustrating Children’s Books. In this intense five week course, you’ll learn everything you need to land your own picture book illustration deal.
Sayani added: “The Facebook group was such a supportive space — I received so many insightful suggestions and encouragement from fellow artists there. It made a big difference in my journey.”
More of Sayani’s art for Illustrating Children’s Books. In this class you’ll create a ready-to-send pitch presentation that contains everything an art director or publisher wants to see to give you work.
Sayani concluded: “I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone dreaming of entering the world of picture book illustration. If I could do it without any formal art training, I truly believe anyone can!”
See more of Sayani’s work on her website and Instagram.
Carla Hoffenburg
Carla with her three most recent books. Since signing up for Illustrating Children’s Books on a whim, she’s now got five book deals, and been included in two anthologies.
Like Sayani above, Carla is another Make Art That Sells student who has carved out a successful career in picture book illustration despite not having a traditional art background: she worked full-time in banking and finance for more than a decade before moving into illustration. She is now a full-time children’s book illustrator, who has had five books published, been included in two anthologies, and completed a number of private commissions.
Carla got in touch to say: “Lilla, I wanted to say a huge thank you for all that you do. I’m sure you’ve heard this many times before, but your courses really do change lives—and they certainly changed mine.”
Art from one of Carla’s most recent books.
Carla explained how she came to find Make Art That Sells and kickstart her illustration career: “Back in 2020, during lockdown in Sydney, I started sketching my kids around the house. I realised that the little activities we were doing together could make a great children’s book. While searching online for how to make that happen, an ad for Illustrating Children’s Books popped up, and on a whim, I enrolled.”
Carla continued: “Looking back, my artwork had a long way to go, and I was definitely on a steep learning curve, but I absolutely loved the experience and learned so much. Since then, I’ve continued taking Make Art That Sells courses (I’m currently doing Illustrating Children’s Books Plus) and they’ve become a huge part of my illustration journey.”
A spread from another of Carla’s beautiful books.
Carla didn’t just find career success through Make Art That Sells. She told us: “Some people I met on the class Facebook group and I formed a critique group called Illoguild, through which I’m happy to now call people like Adam Ming, Jen Gubicza, and Katie Stack actual friends (I even stayed with Katie and Jen in Bologna in 2023!).”
Carla concluded: “I wanted to let you know how deeply grateful I am for everything you’ve created. I’m hoping one day I’ll make it to a European retreat!”
See more of Carla’s work on her website and Instagram.
Heather Dryden
Art by Heather for Illustrating Children’s Books. Since taking the class, Heather has landed an agent and multiple book illustration deals. Sign up during our big annual sale and save up to 50%! Find out more here.
Heather is yet another Make Art That Sells alumni with a string of book illustration deals under her belt (anyone else noticing a theme here?) – as well as picture book A New Day, she’s also illustrated two board books and two activity books for publisher Ballon, and is currently part-way through a contract with Townhouse Publishing for four board books – phew!
Illustrations from Heather’s most recent picture book, A New Day.
Heather told us: “A New Day is written by Emmaline Carroll Southwell and published by Affirm Press. The book explores how young readers can navigate life’s challenges with strategies to help regulate their emotions and how each new day is an opportunity to be happy and positive.”
Heather has also illustrated two board books and two activity books for publisher Ballon, and is currently working on four board books for Townhouse Publishing.
Did Make Art That Sells contribute to her success? Heather was clear that it did! She said: “Make Art That Sells most definitely helped me! I wouldn’t have found my agent without all the invaluable information shared by Lilla, Zoë and the many courses offered by Make Art That Sells. I can’t thank Lilla, Zoë and the Make Art That Sells team enough on how the courses changed and improved my illustration and to be able to finally call myself a published children’s illustrator.”
Another of Heather’s illustrations for Illustrating Children’s Books, which she credits with helping her land an art agent and multiple book illustration deals. Sign up here now and save in our huge sale.
Heather added: “I have taken Illustrating Children’s Books many times and learned so much each time from working on the different texts, as they were so varied and needed different approaches. The wonderful community that goes with taking the courses is so helpful too, to receive peer feedback and make friends. I found with each time I took Illustrating Children’s Books I would try harder and harder to get into a review, and that was a good motivator to put everything else on hold and invest all of my energy into my characters and the assignments.”
See more of Heather’s work on her website and Instagram.
Are you ready to take the first step into YOUR amazing picture book illustration career? Sign up now to save at least 30% and up to 50% in our huge annual sale – and don’t miss our fantastic Get Me a Picture Book Deal bundle, with three incredible courses with a massive 40% discount! Find out more and get it here.
- ON NOW! Save up to 50% off our career-changing courses in our huge annual sale! Click here to explore our sale pages, or download your FREE copy of our Sale Guide here.
- Tuesday, November 25th: FREE ZOOM at 3 pm ET/8 pm GMT with Lilla plus special guests top art agent Margo Tantau and brilliant author-illustrator Tamisha Anthony. Learn how to submit your art to agents from two agents with decades of experience plus an author-illustrator who has been there. Plus FREE course giveaway!
- Friday, December 5th: Celebrate the final day of our huge annual sale with Lilla in conversation with the brilliant and much-loved Meera Lee Patel at 12 noon ET/5 pm GMT in this FREE Zoom. Plus a FREE course giveaway!
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
P.S. Did you miss the fabulous Live with Lilla #2: Get the Inside Scoop on Children’s Books with art director Zoë Tucker.? Watch the replay below
