Month: September 2021

9/27/21

Do you like getting gorgeous postcards? A survey. Plus Sarah Walsh’s brand-new puzzle.

Personally, we love getting mail and we love sending you our pretty postcards with our artists’ latest and most gorgeous work. We’ve scaled way back due to Covid, but we’re thinking of rebooting the card mailings. Loads of our art directors tell us they love them, save them, and pin them to their walls.
Here’s the rub: We know lots of you are still working from home, so we wondered if you’re getting your business mail. Susan and Kim called around and got a mix of responses. Some of you are going into the office sporadically and getting your mail; some of you are back in the office full time, and some are getting your mail forwarded to home.
So we thought: let’s do a poll. We’d love to hear from you.
Above: Our postcard front, mailed in July of this year to our art directors, editors and others who buy art. This card featured cherished original paintings by our artists, past and present.
Above: A recent postcard. Art by Åsa Gilland.
See what I mean? Our cards are pretty.

 

Art directors, editors, art buyers: we’d love to hear from you.
(The poll only lets you pick one answer, just so you know.)
We’re thinking of sending out our pretty postcards again. Which one applies?
I’m back in the office and get my mail there.
I work from home but my mail is forwarded to me.
I work from home and my mail is NOT forwarded to me.
I go into the office about once a week or so and get my mail.
I go into the office like once a month or whatever and get my mail then.
I don’t go into the office. I don’t get my mail. I’m sure there’s a giant pile.
Other.
Above: One of our postcards
featuring Helen Dardik.
Are you an art buyer or editor? Would you like receive our postcards which we send out about 7 or 8 times a year? Or are you already on our mailing list but would like to give us a new address?
Simply reply to this email.

 

See amazing artwork and products by our artists below!
Above: Illustration for Martini & Rossi Fiero
Animation by Bonnie Dain

 

These three fully-illustrated books by Zoë Ingram are now available!
Above: Walker Books
Above: David & Charles
Above: Running Press

 

Above: Dare to Dream 1,000 piece puzzle by Sarah Walsh for Flow/Workman

 

Above: A recent greeting card by Kelly Anne Dalton for Sellers Publishing

 

Above: A recent greeting card by Clairice Gifford for Sellers Publishing

 

Above: Fish illustrated by Jessica Allen for Texas Highways Magazine

 

Class starts October 18th!

 

Did you know that I teach a writing course? I created it a few years ago after years of working with artists on their writing their own books and from co-teaching my picture book course, Illustrating Children’s Books (available 2022) and Illustrating Children’s Books Plus with art director/author Zoë Tucker on my e-course platform, Make Art That Sells.
Basically, my philosophy is this:
Creating a unique picture book comes from understanding what makes you unique and discovering the story you’re excited to tell. To help you do this, I’ve created a playful, personalized and structured course called My Kid Book Pitch that will bring out your special story. It’s packed full of quirky worksheets, Magic Cards, fun exercises and weekly interactive LIVE videos that will guide you step by step to create your own special brilliant story – the story that only you can write. I hope you’ll join me October 18th! Learn more or sign up here. Personally, I can’t wait for this one.
Above: Art by Tequitia Andrews
I hope you enjoyed the show! Check out our site to see more.
Want great art for your project? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be delighted to assist you with any of your art needs.
xo
Lilla
Agent, Artist, Author
Founder, Lilla Rogers Studio
Co-Founder, Make Art That Sells

 

9/16/21

Here’s my business mantra, and only two spots left in our VIP Retreat next week.

Above: Art by Kay Wolfersperger

 

My mantra is this: Play business like it’s a game. In other words, do fun things that benefit everyone–the creative director/editor, the artist, and the agency. Make up fun stuff that everyone will enjoy. It’s served me well in my (almost) 40 years in the business, kept me out of trouble, and kept us constantly energized.

 

In that spirit, one of the things we love to do most around here is our Annual Artists and VIP Retreat, which begins next Wednesday. Last year it went virtual. We were actually surprised by how much everyone loved it (yeah, we do miss the live singer/guitarist and yummy hors d’oeuvres in my garden, I’ll grant you that), but the Zoom aspect enables more VIPs to attend, plus a whopping 25 artists are attending this year from Jakarta to Los Angeles, from Barcelona to Berlin. And we’ve only got two spots left for VIPs. Read on…

 

VIP ATTENDEES
Here are some of the blue-ribbon companies–featuring creative directors, executive editors, senior industrial designers, senior product managers–that will be attending next week, from the book, toy, stationery, and gift markets:
Sterling Publishing | NYC
Penguin Random House | UK
Penguin Random House | US
Little, Brown and Co. | NYC
Running Press | Philadelphia
Editions Auzou | Paris
Uncommon Goods | Brooklyn
Buffalo Games | NY
Raspberry Books | UK
teNeues Publishing | NYC
Educational Insights | CA
Design House Greetings | MN
SPEED ART DATING
The VIPs and the artists meet each other in private breakout rooms (one-on-one) for 10 minutes to view artists’ breathtaking new work, view their toy pitches, or see their book dummies. It’s just under two hours long with the VIPs each meeting with 8 artists. We call it Speed Art Dating. Several VIPs have signed up for ALL THREE DAYS, and many are back from last year.

 

NEWS FLASH–ART DIRECTORS, CREATIVE DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, EDITORS: Thursday is filled, but if you’d like to attend Speed Art Dating either next Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 2PM ET or Friday, Sept. 24 at 9AM ET to meet one-on-one with our fabulous artists and feast on their jaw-dropping work, simply reply to this email. But hurry! As of this writing, we have only one spot available on Wednesday and one on Friday. Simply reply to this email and let us know you’re interested.

 

My Recent Favorites
I went a little overboard on collecting a few of my recent favorites to put in this newsletter. Here you go.
Various LRS artists + former LRS Artist Suzy Ultman

 

Creating a unique book comes from understanding what makes you unique and discovering the story you’re excited to tell. To help you do this, I’ve created a playful, personalized and structured course that will bring out your special story. It’s packed full of quirky worksheets, Magic Cards, fun exercises and interactive LIVE videos that will guide you step by step to create your own special brilliant story – the story that only you can write. I hope you’ll join me October 18th!

 

Want great art for your project? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be delighted to assist you with any of your art needs.
xo
Lilla
Agent, Artist, Author
Founder, Lilla Rogers Studio
Co-Founder, Make Art That Sells
9/9/21

WebinART with our newest artist Ruth Burrows

September 9th, 2021 — WebinART with Ruth Burrows

In our latest webinART, Lilla had a great chat with Ruth about how found her way to illustration, and how she is now living her “best life”

Click here to watch the replay

9/9/21

Join me today at 12:00 PM ET to meet our newest artist.

 
We’re excited to invite you to join us TODAY at 12:00 PM ET for the next in our series of WebinARTs with our newest artist Ruth Burrows. We JUST took her on and already her vivid color and lively imagery has pulled a variety of illustration projects for clients like Crocodile Creek, Penguin Random House, The Washington Post, and more.

 

Click here to join our free public WebinART on Zoom with our artist Ruth today at 12:00 PM ET. Password: Ruth99
–> I’ll show you the stunning mini portfolio that Ruth sent us some time ago in hopes of securing representation. You won’t want to miss this.

 

I’ll chat about why we took her on and I’ll ask Ruth about how and why she went from her previous successful non-illustration 20-year career to illustration. You’ll swoon at her gorgeous work in her slideshow on screen. Plus we’ll take a few questions live, and we’ll have a giveaway of Ruth’s gorgeous art!

 

–>No worries. You won’t be on camera. It’s a webinar; not a meeting.

 

We can’t wait to see you there!

 

 

Ruth Burrows, illustrator
Lincoln, UK
Clients:
The Washington Post
Penguin Random House UK
Crocodile Creek
Owlet Press

 

 

I hope you enjoyed the show! Check out our site to see more.
Want great art for your project? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be delighted to assist you with any of your art needs.
xo
Lilla
Agent, Artist, Author
Founder, Lilla Rogers Studio
Co-Founder, Make Art That Sells
9/7/21

Guess who I’m interviewing next?

Coming this Thursday!

 

Both images above were created in my MATS Bootcamp course this past Spring
Join me Thursday for our WebinART as I chat with our newest artist
and view her gorgeous work. I’ll show you the mini portfolio she sent hoping to get representation.
This Thursday
September 9th
12.00 PM ET.
—–
We’ll be broadcasting live on Zoom here on Thursday. See you then!
WebinART link here
Password: Ruth99
p.s. You won’t be on video, no worries. It’s a great chat to have on in background!
Find links to our entire WebinART series HERE.

 

Above by Ruth Burrows

 

Agent Kim Fleming gathered up a collection of character images for you this week. Characters are such a key part of illustration work.
Highlights magazine

 

From My first Animal songs / Mes premières chansons d’animaux (Editions Gründ)

 

Character studies

 

Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

Akiara Books

 

Available for licensing as of this writing.

 

From Princesses Can Fix it (Page Street Kids)

 

I hope you enjoyed the show! Check out our site to see more.
Want great art for your project? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be delighted to assist you with any of your art needs.
xo
Lilla
Agent, Artist, Author
Founder, Lilla Rogers Studio
Co-Founder, Make Art That Sells
9/3/21

A guest visitor and get ready to swoon over our latest products. Including an Anthro chair.

Guess who stayed with me for a week? After two years, we all finally got to meet in person! Yes, our toy agent, Riley Wilkinson, came out from Tucson to work with me on a new course for 2022, and it was wonderful. We filmed, wrote content, styled photos, and went shopping for toys at new and vintage shops. Stay tuned.

 

Clockwise from bottom left: Agent Kim Fleming, Agent Riley Wilkinson, Studio Assistant Patty Kantlehner, Agent Susan McCabe, Financial Manager Julia Parker, and me.
Look what we spotted at the Toy Shop of Belmont! Dare to Dream puzzle by Sarah Walsh, Zodiac by Katie Vernon, and Moths by Flora Waycott.
Contact us to assign or license art. We’re happy to help you find the perfect artist or gorgeous images for your project!

 

Above: Toy products by our artists
From Top Left, clockwise: Space Dress Up Kitty (Galison) by Flora Waycott;
Unicorn Puzzle & Dominoes (Mudpuppy) by Rebecca Jones; Puzzle (Puzzle Michele Wilson) by Helen Dardik. Wooden dolls on top right by Suzy Ultman. Raspberry (top) by Helen Dardik.
Photo by Lilla Rogers.

 

Animation by Natasha Dewitz

 

Zodiac Puzzle (Running Press)

 

Sloth chair (Anthropologie)

 

Big Horse Tattoo (Djeco)
Butterfly backpack (High Sierra)

 

Clothworks collection

 

Softback Journal (Roger La Borde)

 

I hope you enjoyed the show! Check out our site to see more.
Want great art for your project? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be delighted to assist you with any of your art needs.
xo
Lilla
Agent, Artist, Author
Founder, Lilla Rogers Studio
Co-Founder, Make Art That Sells