On Monday, October 9, I started the MATS Illustrating Children’s Books Course 2023. I wanted to take a course on that subject for quite some time and with new funding being secured (Yay “Gründungszuschuss”), I just went for it.

I tried to read as much as I could about the course and also listened to a live Zoom by art agent Lilla Rogers and art director Zoë Tucker. Both are amazing ladies and they run the course, so it was very insightful. It seemed a good fit for me and the goals I want to achieve, so I bought the course. The colourful, bubbly style of Lilla really appeals to me and Zoë has said so many helpful things already on the free zoom, that it was a no-brainer.

It is a fully packed five week extravaganza with weekly assignments and a tonne of helpful tips. It is only day two and I am fully hooked. Everybody has to chose one of three texts written by Zoë to illustrate (not the whole text), there are weekly mini assignments, daily sketchbook prompts to get your art juices flowing and a big assignment per week with a live review bei Lilla and Zoë. On top there is a tonne of tips (already on day two of the course). Can it get even better? We will see.

I will take you along as often as I can. Time is a precious thing and I’m already anxious about making all the assignments on time. After all, I’m also a mum and a muralist.

Today I show you the illustrations I made for the first mini assignment. We had to come up with some accessories for the main character of our story. I will tell you more about the story in my next post, where I introduce you to the character and let you in on how I tackled the preparations for this part. For now let me tell you that the name of the character is Erin and the story takes place somewhere in the North.