Illustration for Children’s Books: Creating a Joyful Universe

Start by getting to know Maddy. She explains her backstory in education and how she grew to love children’s illustrations. Dive into the influences which inspired her work, how she finds joy in her illustrations, and what to expect from the course.

Gather visual references for your illustration before learning about the tools Maddy uses for drawing. She explains how to incorporate proportions into your drawings and how small changes can affect a character’s age. Learn how to design clothes to suit your characters’ surroundings, then experiment with space and scale to add interest to your piece.

Follow Maddy’s steps for drawing the finished project, starting with rough sketches before refining your idea and settling on the final shapes. Learn about color and how to play with different elements to build shapes and colors that work well together. See how to add details and final textures to your piece using scanned paper.

To finish the course, find out how to save, sign, share or even sell your illustrations. Maddy shares how she built a community of people in the children’s book industry, along with her tips for finding a good agent and the lessons she’s learned during her career.