Video thumbnail illustration by Mariama Ross.
Join a new live, online session with a guest instructor every month – and enjoy instant access to all past sessions, like the one referred to above with literary agent and art rep Nicole Tugeau of Tugeau 2 Illustration.
Be part of the conversation Tuesday, January 31 for the Marks & Splashes Guest Group Critique with special guest instructor, author-illustrator Courtney Pippin-Mathur starting at 7:30 p.m. (U.S. Central Time.) (8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.)
We'll look at fairy tale illustrations (two-page spreads) from the group.
Courtney is the author - illustrator of Dragons Rule, Princesses Drool!, set to be published in May, 2017 by Little Simon, Simon & Schuster.
You can opt for just the single session. Or subscribe for monthly sessions like this for just $8.95 per month!
Monthly group critiques are 'perfect practice'
They tell you...
What isn't working
When to push harder
When to just stop
And help you...
Get a fresh perspective
Our guest critiquers – illustrators, author-illustrators, children’s literary agents, art directors, maybe an editor or two – examine your final in a spirit of teaching and mentoring.
Think more like a pro
Watch up close and personal how full-time creatives evaluate and troubleshoot their own and others’ pieces.
Prepare for... that thing
That upcoming kidlit (or illustrators’) conference, important promotional mailing, post or sit-down with a client or a prospect.
And nudge you to...
Sharpen your discernment powers
Remind you of those bedrock principles of draftsmanship, design and communication. (Funny how they keep bringing you back to those.)
Meet your tribe
Your colleagues and the expert practioners. Who share their What I Wish I Knew Then stories and become your contacts in ‘the biz.’ (It’s called networking.)
Get better at... getting better
Practice with critiques helps you understand the hierarchy of feedback and how to navigate it wisely – knowing what’s valid for you now, vs. what to set aside for later.
Precious moments. Practical stuff. Group critiques – in the classroom or around a cafe table with friends – have been training artists for centuries. Be part of a time-tested tradition, updated for the 21st century.
Join us around the table in new, live, online group sessions every month – and enjoy watching replays of past sessions at your leisure.
Improvement comes from consistent focus
Sometimes it will be your work being discussed. More often than not, it will be someone else's.
You'll benefit by being there. Watch and listen. Absorb the insights to help you later, when it's just you behind the drawing board making all those essential design decisions.
You don't have to go it alone...
Participate in all of our monthly live programs. Access replays of all past sessions...
Like the ones we've enjoyed and learned so much from last year, taught by these wonderful children's publishing professionals:
Mira Reisberg, author-illustrator, teacher and founder, Children's Book Academy
Jeff Crosby, author-illustrator
C.S. Jennings, author-illustrator
Giuseppe Castellano, senior art director, Penguin Random House
Jodell Sadler, founder KidLit College and agent
Len Smith, animation character designer
Karien Naude, illustrator
Marsha Riti, illustrator
Nicole Tugeau, agent and artists' rep, Tugeau2 Children's Illustrators
Annette Simon, author-illustrator
Renowned author-illustrator Robert Quackenbush Halloween Critique Bash (explains the scariness)
Terry Widener, illustrator
Just us, with Mark and Chris, illustration art by Chris Perry
Chris Schechner, designer, illustrator and art director for 20+ years for "Pockets" magazine
Christy Stallop, illustrator
Award-winning storyboard artist and children's illustrator Larry Day
Mark Mitchell, author-illustrator and moderator
Wendy Martin, author-illustrator and teacher
Kelly Sonnack, senior agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Mira Reisberg, Round 2, illustration by Lisa Goldberg
Loraine Joyner, senior art director for 23 years with Peachtree Publishers
Nick Balian, illustrator animator, art manager for digital publisher ustyme Books
Denise Fleming, award-winning author-illustrator
Mary Sullivan, award-winning author-illustrator
Catch up critique - Illustration by Kathryn Powers
Mira follow-up critique, illustration by John Wanczyk
A bit like being in art school...
For $8.95 per month.
We'll keep it real by limiting enrollment...
Secure your spot at the table while you can.
30 Day Money Back Guarantee!
Try out the subscription. You can easily cancel at any time. If you find your first experience of a session not helpful or just not your cup of tea, write me (c/o the How To Be A Children’s Book Illustrator blog) and I’ll refund you same day, no questions asked and no worries (and we’re still friends.)