Thank you for for purchasing our Bootcamp Bundle!

Over the next few weeks we will be hosting live sessions with artists, animators and illustrators including Mark Conlan, Fotini Tikkou, Loreta Isac, Ella Kasperowicz, Con McHugh and new addition Christoper DeLorenzo – and we’ll be sharing the replays right here!

From mastering the art of pitching and selling your creative ideas to finding your voice, developing your portfolio and discovering ways to attract new clients, in this Bootcamp Bundle you will learn practical skills, industry insights and gain strategies and advice to help you thrive in your creative career.

Whether you’re an emerging or an established illustrator, our Bootcamp Bundle is guaranteed to inspire you and provide actionable strategies to help you level-up!

Bookmark this page! Recordings of all live sessions will uploaded here as they drop.

What’s Included:

Let’s dive in!

Session 01: How to Survive (and Thrive) as an Illustrator w/ Mark Conlan

Mark Conlan is an Irish artist and illustrator who recently relocated to Dublin after over 10 years living and working in Melbourne, Australia.

Known for his characteristic, whimsical style, and unique and playful colourful artwork, Mark Conlan works across illustration for products, editorial, picture books, advertising and commissions for with some of the worlds most recognisable brands, including Etsy, Adobe, Coca Cola, Air BnB and The New York Times.

In this Masterclass you will hear the story of his unconventional career path as an artist; from working in agencies to striking out alone, and how building a creative career without formal training gave him the freedom to carve his own route into commercial illustration, alongside incredible tips and advice on forging a sustainable career.

Watch the replay now:

How to Survive and Thrive as an Illustrator – Tips & Takeaways from Mark Conlan

• Personal Projects Lead to Client Work – The best client opportunities often come from personal projects. Regularly creating and sharing work that reflects your unique style helps attract the right audience.
• Embrace Uncertainty – Moments of doubt and creative block are natural. Instead of fearing them, use them as a sign to push through and explore new ideas.
• Develop a Consistent Creative Routine – Treat illustration like a full-time job by showing up daily, even without client work. Set structured work hours and commit to creating regularly.
• Sketchbooks Are Essential – Keeping a stack of sketchbooks for brainstorming, idea generation, and tracking small wins helps fuel creativity and track progress.
• Time Management is Key – Block time for client work, personal projects, and admin tasks. Using timers (like the Pomodoro method) can increase focus and productivity.

“You don’t have to work all day and all night. Setting boundaries is about making room for the right decisions, not just saying no to everything.”

• Set Clear Boundaries – Learn when to say no to projects that don’t align with your goals or that may cause burnout. Prioritise projects that energise and inspire you.
• Diversify Your Income – Don’t rely on client work alone. Consider selling art prints, licensing artwork, teaching, and collaborating on product designs to create multiple revenue streams.
• Marketing Your Work Matters – Share your process, inspirations, and stories behind your work, not just finished pieces. Clients and collectors connect more deeply with artists who are authentic and open.

“Every time you show up, push your doubts aside, and take action—you’re moving forward. Success isn’t built on giant leaps, but on small, consistent steps.”

• Lean on Community – Creative work can be isolating. Engage with other illustrators, join local meet ups, and build an online support network to stay motivated and inspired.
• Celebrate Small Wins – Acknowledge progress, whether it’s finishing a sketch, reaching out to a client, or updating your portfolio. Tracking small victories builds momentum.
• Rejection is Redirection – Don’t take rejection personally. Use it as an opportunity to refine your work and find the right audience.
• Experiment Without Pressure – Not everything has to be perfect. Some of your best ideas emerge when you allow yourself to play and explore without rigid expectations.
• Contracts and Professionalism – Always use contracts to set clear project scopes, timelines, and fees. This protects both you and the client and ensures smooth communication.
• Find Your Unique Voice – Whether through subject matter, style, or medium, developing a recognisable artistic identity helps clients find and remember you!

“Your creative path is uniquely yours. Don’t compare it to others. Embrace the detours, the quiet seasons and the breakthroughs.”

Session 02: Illustrating Magic! Bringing Children’s Stories to Life w/ Fotini Tikkou

In this video we meet Greek illustrator and ceramicist Fotini Tikkou to discuss her journey into the children’s illustration industry, offering insights into building a creative practice and securing your first book deal. Fotini shares valuable advice on pitching to publishers, developing a unique style, and navigating the challenges of the illustration world.

Her masterclass includes a step-by-step guide into illustrating two different children’s books from ideation to storyboards; sketches and final artwork, alongside a round up of tips & takeaways on reaching out to publishers – plus practical portfolio tips, such as maintaining consistency, showcasing strengths, and regularly updating work.

The session concluded with a Q&A alongside providing short creative exercises to help illustrators explore their style with drawing exercises.

Illustrating Magic: Bringing Childrens Stories to Life – Tips & Takeaways from Fotini Tikkou

Engaging and Age-Appropriate Illustrations

“Illustrating for children is obviously different because your target group is young and very, very young readers.”

• Keep visuals fun and interesting to capture attention.
• Use a vibrant colour palette, dynamic compositions, and relatable characters that appeal to young readers.
• Pay attention to small details—children love spotting hidden elements in illustrations.
• Balance simplicity with engagement to avoid overwhelming young readers.

Expressive Characters & Emotions

“It’s essential to be able to show a range of emotions. Kids should be able to identify with the characters.”

• Use facial expressions and body language to convey emotions clearly.
• Experiment with different poses and movement to make characters dynamic.
• Adjust lighting, colour, and shadows to set the tone of a scene.

Portfolio Prep & Submitting to Publishers

“Do your research. Each publisher has a different style, and you should find the ones that align with your work.”

• Curate your portfolio to reflect your strengths and the type of work you want to be hired for.
• Research publishers and agents before submitting to ensure your work aligns with their aesthetic.
• Personalise your emails—avoid mass submissions and instead tailor your approach.
• Keep submission emails short and engaging, including a few low-resolution images in the email body.
• Respect submission guidelines and ensure links to your portfolio and social media are included.

Navigating Book Deals & Deadlines

“Respect deadlines. Publishers appreciate punctuality, and it helps build a professional reputation.”

• Expect to receive a brief with project details, deadlines, and contracts.
• Character design is key—editors may request changes, so be flexible.
• Storyboards and sketches should be finalized before moving to color to avoid unnecessary revisions.
• Set boundaries for revision rounds to prevent endless changes.

Creating a Coherent Visual Universe

“It’s really important to create a universe for the characters—you need a consistent aesthetic and style.”

• Characters, settings, and objects should feel cohesive within the book’s world.
• Work collaboratively with authors and publishers, but assert creative boundaries when needed.

Overcoming Creative Blocks & Staying Inspired

“I love quick, fun exercises to get creativity flowing!”

Try these exercises to develop your skills:

• Speed character sketches: Draw different silhouettes in under 5 minutes each.
• Emotion flip book: Illustrate a character showing a full range of emotions.
• Reimagine classic fairy tales: Place familiar stories in new settings or styles.
• Limitations challenge: Use an unexpected brush, continuous line, or a restricted color palette.

“Remember: You don’t have to draw perfectly—just create something every day!”

Decoding the Brief: Visual Language for Illustrators w/ Christopher DeLorenzo

Live Class: Thursday 20th March @ 6pm GMT | Registration open now

With a style derived from his background as a graphic designer where he started out designing logos and communicating messages, Boston based illustrator Christopher DeLorenzo creates drawings that find a certain poetry and balance in their form and shape.

His illustrations have a clean-lined, firm aesthetic, but the content itself holds a cheekiness that keeps up-to-the-minute brands such as Mr Porter, Converse, Google, and Tiffany & Co. eager to work with him. As clean and crisp as his flowing line drawings are, they are underpinned with tiny yet intentional imperfections, making them approachable and relevant to a wide range of clients and projects.

Christopher DeLorenzo will be joining us on Thursday 20th March to present a brand new masterclass focused on decoding client briefs and how to master your own visual language to sell your ideas to clients whatever their budget. Essential viewing for artists, designers and illustrators alike!

Session 04: GIF Making 101 – Bringing Motion to Illustration w/ Loreta Isac

Thursday 3rd April @ 6pm – 7.30pm BST (GMT+1) | Registration opens 27th March 

Loreta Isac is a Bucharest, Romania-based Illustrator & Animator. Passionate about snowboarding, jogging, traveling, music festivals and nature, her personal creations often involve animating and transforming various plants or objects. Her work focuses on themes such as well-being, nature, melancholy, visual poetry, and music, constantly follow her curiosity and evolving as a result.

Her specialty lies in creating illustrations and short animation loops for social media content, music animation videos, and occasionally, filter animation, working with preferred techniques that include frame-by-frame animation.

In her upcoming masterclass GIF Making 101: Bringing Illustrations to Life Loreta will share an overview of her creative practice alongside teaching you a simple framework to bring motion into your illustration with Procreate – perfect for beginners!

Session 05: Passion Into Profit: How to Make & Sell Your Art w/ Ella Kasperowicz

Thursday 17th April @ 10.30am – 12:00pm BST (GMT+1) | Registration opens 10th April 

Ella Kasperowicz is an Illustrator and Print Designer based in Nottingham, UK creating colourful, playful and relatable designs. She loves finding humour in the everyday and hope her work makes you smile.

Her clients include BBC, CASETiFY, Falmouth University, Harper Perry, It’s In Nottingham, Moonpig Australia, National Trust, Pip Organic, TOMS, United Nations, University of Nottingham & Wild Rumpus.

Ella brings her experience working in print design, paper goods and illustrated merchandise into her upcoming Passion to Profit: How to Make & Sell Your Art masterclass bursting with tips and advice on how to get started with selling online and at art markets – ideal for anyone keen to diversify their income with illustrated products!

Session 06: Animating Brand Stories with Character w/ Con McHugh

Thursday 1st May @ 10.30am – 12:00pm BST (GMT+1) | Registration opens 25th April

Con McHugh is an animator and illustrator based in Bristol who has built a reputation for his distinctive analogue-inspired, looping animations characterised by hand-drawn imperfections and a rhythm that feels almost musical. In a digital world that strives for polished perfection, his work is refreshingly tactile, celebrating simplicity and the charm of imperfection.

In his home studio in Bristol, Con deliberately avoids a perfectly curated workspace, instead opting for something a little messier—a reflection of his creative process. A bit of chaos balances out the discipline of design, bringing a looseness into his animation which defines is now-iconic style.

For his upcoming masterclass Animating Brand Stories with Character, Con will unpack his inventive creative process and share simple animation techniques that you can try at home to inject personality and character into your practice. Not to be missed!

Thank you for purchasing our Bootcamp Bundle! Bookmark this page for recordings as they drop. We look forward to seeing you on our live sessions soon.