How To Be A Children's Book Illustrator

Frequently Asked Questions

1.) What can I expect from the course?

You'll be able to satisfactorily complete the illustration project you've set for yourself, be it a picture book dummy, partial dummy or some strong painted samples for a mailing or your portfolio,using the lessons as your roadmap..

You'll acquire new strategies, skill and confidence in drawing, design, color and painting.

You'll have a better understanding of children's publishing and how to promote your work in this changing market. You'll have the steps for proceeding with just about any assignment, from thumbnails to full-color final art.

2.) How long does the course last?

The course is self-paced and you have a lifetime to put the lessons to practice.
But to answer your question officially, six months.

3.) How much is it?

Tuition is $249 upfront or $54 per month for five months with the sixth month free.
This includes your membership in the online community, resource sharing site and monthly online group critiques with Mark.You also have the option to extend your membership and critiques beyond the course for a nominal monthly fee.

4.) I've never taken an art class before and can't draw a straight line. Will I be out of my depth here?

If you've never taken an art course, you'll find this an exciting introduction to drawing, painting and children's book art.

5.) I've studied art. Will this curriculum be 'old hat' for me?

Many of our students have some college backgrounds in art or paint or have even worked in art-related fields. Some of the ideas taught here may be familiar to them. Many of our students have reported that they appreciate the review.and though the course reintroduces
some familiar essential concepts, it fills in some knowledge gaps.

Make Your Splashes is designed to help artists at all levels meet the challenge of pictorial composition, and support all students on their paths to publication.

6.) Can this online course be a substitute for art school?

No more than taking guitar lessons at a local music shop cansubsitute for earning a university degree in music.

Still, you don't need a degree in music to play the guitar, or write and record a song.
The same goes for painting a picture. Plenty of visual artists have been 'home schooled.' Make Your Splashes - Make Your Marks! falls in a time-honored tradition of individual study, informal classes and workshops with teachers to develop craft.

Taking classes at an accedited college or professional art school is always encouraged. But for those unable to attend classes on the ground, good online instruction offers a powerful alternative, providing access to information quickly.

FAQs answered or grappled with in the course:

How and where do you find work as an illustrator?
Is there enough work even for the best?
How do you get started?
How do you know what to leave in and what to leave out in a picture?
What captures a child's imagination? How can an illustration create a magical page that transmits the meaning of the story in a way that it sears itself into a young mind?
How do you develop a personal style of illustration that will appeal to children?
How much detail is "too much?" in an illustration?
What should you include in your portfolio to catch a publisher's interest?
How do you lay out a book?
Do I need an agent?
What types of contracts and terms might an illustrator be faced with and what pitfalls should he be aware of?
In what form do you submit your illustrations for a book proposal?
What is the process from illustration to publication?
How do I take a character, or characters that will appear in many different perspectives in the book and make him look like the same person each time? How do I make a character visually consistent from page to page throughout a picture book?
How do you translate a story into a cohesive flow of words and pictures?
How do you gain confidence in illustrating a children's book?
I've heard over and over that it's a long shot. What do you think?
Do you need formal training to illustrate a children's book?
How do I get as many published "clips" as fast as I can?
Is it better to try to develop a "style" for children's illustrations or just do the work and let your natural way of doing things be your "style?"
How do you balance the work of illustrating and marketing to find more work?
I have both my BFA and MFA, but how do you "get your work out there" to the children's book industry? What steps must you take to enter that world as both an artist and a business person?
How do I bring out that 'something extra' in my pictures and words that will
make my book stand out?
What basic knowledge do you need to illustrate a children's book?
How do I make a dummy book?
Can I really make a living at this?
How does one get past the fear of doing one illustration or book?
What guidelines are there for submitting to a publisher?
Is my work good enough?
How do I get better?