How to be a Children’s Book Illustrator – Dave Reed

Unless you know someone in the business, it’s hard to even know where to start! This was me. I was in your shoes a few years ago. I graduated from SVA (School of Visual Arts in NYC) almost 20 years ago and decided to go back and take a children’s book illustration class in 2016. I started my first book in that class and completed it two years later. I’ve been hired for about 6 book projects since then. There is so much more than just creating great illustrations and in this class I’ll walk you through pretty much everything from top to bottom. I’ve even included my personal contract for you to use if needed. This class isn’t for everyone, but for those few who are serious about jumping into the world of children’s book illustration, this class is for you.

What you’ll Learn:

How to break down a story into visual ideas / Creating a Dummy Book

The value of your art style and what you can bring to the project

How to use the provided contract (And breakdown of the contract)

What to do if you receive an NDA

How much you should charge for your work

Tips on creating artwork, backgrounds, and using references

Tips for dealing with getting stuck, frustration, and avoiding art burn out

Communicating with the clients and client changes

Common issues and struggles i’ve dealt with so you hopefully won’t have to!

How to present your work to the client / best ways to deliver finals

Dealing with Imposter syndrome / ways to stay motivated

How to choose the right project, and knowing when to say NO.

Lots of tips and examples from my own projects along the way!