What does this class include?

(tap the arrows to expand each module)

    1. Welcome and Orientation

    2. Character Study Intensive Syllabus

    3. Notebook Paper

    4. The Importance of Characters to a Successful Illustration Career

    5. Bringing Variety to Your Characters

    6. From Character Study to Agency Representation

    1. Explaining the Brief: The Person Who Inspires Me

    2. Brief: Creating your Human Character

    3. Brief: Placing Human Characters into a Narrative

    1. The Difference Between Animal and Anthropomorphic Animals

    2. Explaining the Brief: Animals and Anthropomorphic Animals

    3. Brief: Creating your Animal Characters

    4. Brief: Creating your Anthro Animal Characters

    1. Grab Attention with Anthropomorphic Objects

    2. Explaining the Brief: Still Life, to Full of Life

    3. Brief: Creating your Anthropomorphic Object Character Study

    4. Closing Remarks and Continuing Your Journey

    1. Schedule Coaching

    2. Share your work!

Course Summary

  • $190.00
  • 5 Comprehensive Illustration Assignments
  • 9 Video Lessons Taught By Industry Pros
  • Private Coaching Via Email or Video Call

  • Learn the fundamentals of character design

  • Create visually striking characters to elevate your portfolio

  • Attract clients and agents and become a pro, doing what you enjoy

What does your private coaching include?

You receive two video calls, or emailed feedback. You are able to choose between the two options. The first call is a review of your course work + time for a Q&A at the end. Your second call is to review your amended work and answer any final questions you may have. If you choose the video call option, each call is 30 minutes.

Click to enroll and schedule your private coaching

Meet Your Lecturers!

Emily and Bhavi are teachers in the self serve portion, but may not be your coach. Your coach will be a staff member from one of our ITSme Society Agencies: Astound, Advocate, Illo, Yeon, or Collaborate.

NOTE: Your coach will be assigned to you at the end of the class. Once you send in your completed assignments, the ITSme team will review your work and assign you to the best coach to match your style and talents.

Bhavisha Patel

Character Study Instructor/ Illustration Mentor

Bhavi is our Learning Academy’s Creative Director. Her experience in all things illustration began with Advocate when interning in university, where she studied Illustration. After graduating with a 1st Class Honours, she spent 2.5 years working at the Royal Academy of Arts as an Exhibitions & Art Sales Coordinator, before rejoining Advocate Art as an Artist Agent. Having worked with Publishing and Licensing clients across the UK over the last 5 years, she now works as the company’s Senior Art Director and Licensing Manager, where her main focus remains working with clients on a range of projects across Greeting Cards, Picture Books, Middle Grade Fiction and Chapter Books. Having built a strong rapport with artists, it’s equally important to Bhavi that she has a hands-on approach with our artists, helping to develop their portfolios to bring a range of commercial, on trend styles to the Publishing industry every year.

Emily Coggins

Former Astound US Agent & Current ITSme Society Director of Marketing

Emily is the producer of the ITSme Learning Academy. Here she works with the ITSme Society agents in designing resources creators need to become a pro at what they enjoy. Emily was the first agent and manager at Astound US Inc. from its inception until 2021. At Astound, she led the agency to become a top illustration agency internationally, helping 100s of illustrators secure their dream projects. Many of her titles were #1 NY Times & Amazon Bestselling picture books, chapter books, and celebrity series. She brings her unique ability to understand illustration needs from an agent and marketers perspective, adding in her PR experience within the film industry; having assisted on major press events for award winning films at top International Film Festivals. Today Emily is the Director of Marketing for the ITSme Society Agencies, where she works with each of our agencies every day to help them stay on trend and give their artists the best resources possible.

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