*REVISED DATES*
Just starting out?
Don’t know how to kick start a career in Illustration?
Feeling stuck?
Muddling through?
Don’t worry. We’ve all been there…
Join Author and Illustrator Sarah Horne for a three-day course on all things to know about book illustration and the (unglamorous) business side of things.
I’ll be honest… being a freelance illustrator is really not for the faint of heart! Yes, it is incredibly rewarding but it requires hard work, resilience, grit and perseverance, and a savvy business mindset. This course aims to provide valuable information and practical skills and tips for early-career illustrators. As well as being equipped with the fundamentals, you will have time and space to think and to explore and work on a project creatively.
This course will be held in-person at the beautiful St. Peter's church in Brockley, south London. The aim is to equip you for the wilds of an illustration career in a safe, creative and nurturing environment.
During the course you will receive a 1:1 mentoring and portfolio review with me.
Each day will run loosely as follows:
9:30 am - Coffee and pastries
10 am - 1 pm: 2 sessions in the morning with a break between. We will be learning about building a creative freelance business, copyright basics and many other hot topics- there will be space for Q&A and any burning questions, also some group-time. See the listed topics below on what will be covered.
1 - 2 pm: Lunch break (no food provided, but local restaurants and cafes are available)
2 - 5 pm: Free- space. Time for creativity, drawing, creating, 1:1 mentoring sessions will typically take place during this time.
4 pm: Informal group discussion to review the day's work over tea and cake (provided)
5 pm: End of the day.
We will cover the following in the morning sessions:
Copyright 101-
Finding your lane and your unique voice
Buy outs
Agents- Literary vs Illustration agencies.
Getting work
Streams of revenue.
Finding new clients
Social media
Events and School Visits
Sub rights
Publishing co-editions.
Royalty deals
Accounting
Creative processes
Group critique at the end of each day, with tea and cake.
Short projects will be set.
Characterisation
Observation drawing
Visual narrative
Portfolio building.
the mysterious world of AI and generative artwork and what it may mean for creatives.
Any burning questions you may have
Included:
A short illustration handbook/workbook written by Sarah, with all the important points and a recommended reading list. (worth £30)
Personal mentoring and portfolio review session.
Basic art supplies (paper and pencils) provided.
Tea and cake!
A friendly, supportive and creative community
New illustrator friends.
Accommodation:
If you are travelling in here is a list of reasonably priced accommodation in the area
Spaces: 10 Spaces available
About Sarah Horne:
I have been an illustrator for close to 25 years. I’ve seen pretty much every kind of illustration brief fly across my desk! I am known primarily for humorous young fiction illustration, I have a love for the surreal and the fantastical. In last 20 plus years, I have illustrated more than a hundred books and worked for pretty much all of the major publishers.
I am an Illustrator mentor, and offer 1:1 mentoring to illustrators at all stages, it’s a very rewarding thing to see creative progression and confidence really build, and to see my mentees go on to win illustration commissions and representation!
Clients include: Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Simon and Schuster, Hodder, Orchard, Hachette, Nosy Crow, Guppy books, Walker books, IKEA, The Guardian, Nike, and Kew Gardens.
PRICE:
3 day, in-person course.
£395 per person.
£335 per person (15% discount) for current and past mentoring program illustrators, please see your emails to get the discount. or contact me here
Payment options: You can pay in full, or simply pay a deposit of £100 to secure your place. Places are intentionally limited to help support everyone and enable community and creativity. Final balance will become due 6th September.
This is a wonderful opportunity to invest in your practice, to learn the nuts and bolts regarding a career in illustration (that perhaps nobody has told you), and to strengthen your practice with time to experiment, and 1:1 mentoring/ portfolio reviews. It’s going to be great fun and I am really looking forward to working with you!