We’re so excited that Bootcamp Special: Character Play starts THIS MONDAY, April 7th!
Over the past couple of blogs and newsletters, we hope you’ve seen how simple and enjoyable it can be to create cute and quirky characters that you can license for children’s books and toys and games – two of the biggest and most lucrative art markets for illustrators – as well as tons of other markets, like partyware, home décor, apparel for both adults and children, bags, journals, packaging, and more.
In Bootcamp Special: Character Play, you’ll create two gorgeous pieces of art for your portfolio every month for three months, like these by Make Art That Sells student Lisa Blakeborough. Sign up now!
Now it’s time to build on what you’ve learned and start creating a powerful portfolio that will help you land work in these amazing art markets! Sign up for the class now!
In Bootcamp Special: Character Play, you’ll get something every Monday for three months to dig deep into how to develop winning characters that can help you land paying jobs. First, brilliant children’s book art director and author, Zoë Tucker, will share an exclusive mini text to inspire you to create portfolio art aimed at the picture book illustration market. Then, smash hit game creator Riley Wilkinson will lead you in turning your art into a fabulous pitch for the toy and game market.
As well as helping you build your portfolio, these two industry experts are also always on the look out for artists to work with on their professional projects. In a recent Zoom event, Zoë and Riley both shared some gorgeous products illustrated by Make Art That Sells students – check them out below!
#1 Tara Zalewsky’s board game illustrations
Make Art That Sells student Tara Zalewsky’s beautifully painterly illustrations for Don’t Crush the Critters from Skillmatics.
Riley is a toy industry expert and game inventor who, among other things, created the Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game, which has sold over 2,000,000 units and has more than 10,000 five star reviews on Amazon. You can find out more about Riley on his website and follow him on Instagram here.
He shared how Make Art That Sells student Tara Zalewsky had got a gig with him refreshing the art for a board game called Don’t Crush the Critters from Skillmatics, including the packaging, board, cards, and more.
Riley thought Tara would be great for the job after seeing her art in class. Tara shared on her Instagram page: “Taking these courses has led to a career refocus for me and infinite inspiration for future projects!”
Art by Make Art That Sells student Tara for Bootcamp Special: Character Play. Teachers Zoë and Riley are always looking for new artists to work with!
See more of Tara’s art on her website and Instagram.
#2 Brizida Magro’s picture book illustrations
Art director Zoë commissioned Make Art That Sells student Brizida Magro for this gorgeous picture book illustration gig after seeing her work in class.
Zoë is a children’s book art director with more than 25 years experience, with a client list that includes Alison Green Books, Dorling Kindersley, Quarto, Wide Eye Editions, Scholastic and Magic Cat, and the dream team that is Julia Donaldson and Axel Schaeffer.
She’s also a picture book author in her own right, with seven picture books since 2019, including the best-selling Greta and the Giants.
Zoë also teaches Illustrating Children’s Books alongside Lilla and has often shared how she is always looking out for new talent amongst Make Art That Sells students. She told us: “As soon as the students work starts going into the classroom, I just start making notes of people that I want to work with!”
Most recently, Zoë shared how she’d fallen in love with Brizida Magro’s art in class and had then gone on to commission her for a picture book project she was working on for All the Things We Carry by Helen Docherty.
In an interview with Brizida for Illustrating Children’s Books, she said: “In 2019, I think, I got my agent. But I wasn’t getting a lot of direction and I didn’t really know what I was doing with my portfolio. That’s when I decided to take the Make Art That Sells class, and I feel like that was really the tipping point for me, where I really understood what my portfolio needed to have to get work in children’s books.”
See more of Brizida’s art on her website and Instagram.
Want a chance to get YOUR art spotted by an industry expert and land gigs like this? Hurry HURRY, Bootcamp Special: Character Play starts MONDAY! Sign up here.
Art by Brizida for Illustrating Children’s Books.
#3 Brian Lambert’s puzzle illustration
A fabulous new collaborative puzzle concept, created by Make Art That Sells teacher and toy expert Riley and illustrated by Make Art That Sells student Brian.
Riley also shared a stunning puzzle illustrated by Make Art That Sells student Brian Lambert.
This was a brand-new concept created by Riley for a collaborative puzzle, where children can put the big pieces of the puzzle together while their parents work on the smaller, more intricate pieces. Brian’s beautiful illustration style was perfect for this gig.
Brian’s illustration for Bootcamp Special: Character Play which first got him noticed in class, not only by Riley but also by art agent Lilla, who offered him representation. Sign up now!
See more of Brian’s art on his website and Instagram.
Want to get something every Monday for three months that will inspire you and bring you joy? Want to get your art in front of art director Zoë and toy industry expert Riley and maybe land jobs like these? Then don’t miss out – join the class now!
Monday, April 7th: Create some gorgeous eye-catching art for your illustration portfolio while learning just how easy it can be to create winning characters in Bootcamp Special: Character Play!- Monday, April 7th: Don’t miss the amazing lively Zoom with art agent Lilla and fabulous Make Art That Sells teachers Zoë and Riley on the first day of Bootcamp Special: Character Play! Join us at 12 noon EDT/5 pm BST and you could win a FREE place in class!
- Monday, April 14th: What would your career look like a year from now with art agent Lilla’s guidance and help? We’re so thrilled to announce small group mentoring with Lilla in her brand new Inner Circle. Spaces are strictly limited but there are still a few spaces left – find out more and sign up here.
Lots of love
The Make Art That Sells team xxx
