What happens in the Boot Camp?

(tap arrows to expand modules below)

    1. Welcome to the Boot Camp!

    2. Meet Your Instructors

    3. Graphic Novel Boot Camp Syllabus

    4. Notebook Paper

    5. Mastering Sequential Art with Aurora Barlam

    6. Illustrating for the Right Age Range with Erin Tisdel

    7. Story Option: Age range 6-8

    8. Story Option: Middle Grade

    9. Story Option: Young Adult

    10. Brief: Creating Characters

    11. Brief: Character Line up

    1. Phases of a Graphic Novel Job: Tips for a Smoother Workflow

    2. Graphic Novel Design Set Up

    3. Brief: From Storyboarding to Inks

    4. Graphic Novel Covers

    5. Brief: Coloring your Art

    1. Breaking into the Market vs Growing in the Market with Emily Coggins

    2. Write & Storyboard your own scene / Choose a Scene from your Favorite Story

    1. Why Graphic Novel Art is Essential for Your Portfolio

    2. Brief: Final Project, Illustrating your Story from Sketches to Final Art

    3. Finalizing Files for Packaging

    4. Closing Remarks and Thank you for Joining!

    1. Setting Up Your Coaching Call (for coaching students only)

    2. Share Your work!

Boot Camp Summary

  • $215.00
  • 8 Video Lectures & Numerous Illustration Projects
  • Bonus: Downloadable Guides and Layouts
  • 1-1 Coaching Call at the End of the Class

Take this class to level up your graphic novel game

and most importantly learn how to:

  • Master your target audience and appeal to publishers

    You learn through lectures and illustration briefs for all children's book age ranges from early reader, to middle grade, to YA. The Graphic Novel industry is popular across demographics. Whatever your target demographic is, this class is for you.

  • Improve your sequential artwork and create a star portfolio

    By illustrating numerous briefs written and designed by a team of expert agents, authors, and art buyers, created specifically to help you win commissions. You will even be able to write and illustrate your own mini story at the end!

  • Win jobs and gain repeat commissions

    Gain confidence in the graphic novel workflow, get professional instruction on layout, learn to submit your work to clients professionally, navigate the challenges unique to graphic novel jobs, and become a pro, doing what you enjoy.

Publishers Our Artists Have Worked With Include:

More about the course:

Learn from industry professionals...

You learn from the best across multiple agencies, accessing decades of knowledge from agents who have developed and secured graphic novel deals with all levels of illustrators. This is proven industry experience. We don’t just share what you need to do, we share how to get ahead, and how to create a smooth workflow when embarking on a paying graphic novel job.

By joining, you will gain...

You come out of the class with new portfolio pieces, and the skills you need to be a professional graphic novel illustrator. We allow you access to these instructors by way of video lessons, briefs designed specifically to accelerate your graphic novel skills, build a top notch portfolio, tip sheets on layouts, and how to professionally prepare and send your work to clients once you land the job. In this class, you illustrate multiple stories written specifically for this class, to help you create unique illustrations for an eye catching, professional portfolio. You storyboard, character study, practice line art, and even have the chance to create your own mini story at the end of the class!

With years of experience...

Our team of professional agents hold a wealth of experience in the graphic novel industry, from developing artists’ folios to secure their first job, to agenting leading graphic novel series, to designing books and hiring / commissioning artists for graphic novel jobs on behalf of big name publishers.

Check out some projects our illustrators have won after developing with our agents!

Graphic novel illustration is for all illustrators, all styles and target audiences. See the range of styles / reader levels / subject matter below >>>

Meet Your Instructors:

Aurora Barlam, Agent Illo Agency

Aurora is an agent at Illo Agency, and prior to that she worked as Senior Agent at Astound US Inc for many years. Her background in illustration and education gives her special insight into both the creative process and target audience for children’s products, especially when she’s helping artists write and illustrate her favorite medium—graphic novels. Aurora has a degree in illustration from RISD and then worked as a painting and drawing instructor. She keeps learning herself, including completing the Comics Experience course Comic Editing and Project Management. Some key highlights include representing illustrators for celebrity titles Major Makes History, by Jill Twiss illustrated by Maribel Lechuga (HarperCollins) and The Seed of Compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, illustrated by Bao Luu (Penguin Random House, Kokila) and loves helping illustrators develop their portfolios.

Erin Tisdel, Agent at Advocate Art

Erin is an NYC based Agent for Advocate Art. Before starting with Advocate Art, most of her work experience was in art Museums and Galleries. Being an artist herself, Erin wanted to work closely with other artists and gain more experience in the commercial side of the industry. Since joining Advocate, she has had the opportunity to be a part of some wonderful graphic novel projects, included two big titles with publishers First Second and RH Graphics that will be out next year. Other graphic novel projects include “It’s Herstory: Amelia Earhart”, illustrated by Alan Brown for Sunbird Books, “The Library of Doom” series, illustrated by Juan Calle for Capstone, and “Ghostly Graphics” series, illustrated by Jason Millet and Maurizio Campidelli for Capstone. 

Kate Johnson, COO Collaborate 

Kate has over 20 years experience in children’s publishing, giving her invaluable insight into what makes a best-selling children’s book. After graduating with a first in illustration from the University of Brighton, Kate joined Advocate, one of the world's leading illustration agencies. Now a senior sales agent at both Advocate Art and Collaborate Design Agency, Kate has worked on over 5,000 children's books during her career, and worked with over 300 illustrators including Tom Percival, Sarah Horne, Simon Mendez, Nikki Dyson and Katie Abey. As well as curating and developing illustrator portfolios, Kate also uses her skills to work with major international publishers as and brands as an Art Buyer - assisting and directing on commercial style choices and helping clients make their illustration selections, including numerous graphic novel jobs. Kate is excited to share her vast experience in children’s content creation, and help you become a pro, doing what you enjoy.

Emily Coggins, Former Astound Agent & Director of ITSme Learning

Emily is the producer of the ITSme Learning Content, as well as producer of the ITSmeLearning Academy. Here she works with the ITSme Society agents in designing resources creators need to accomplish their career goals. Prior to ITSme, Emily was the Global Manager at Astound, from it’s inception until she moved to ITSme. At Astound, she helped the agency rise to one of top illustration agencies in the USA in just a few short years, helping 100s of artists achieve their career goals. She agented for many graphic novels including the POWER UP series for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Unicorn and Yeti series for Scholastic. Many of her titles were #1 NY Times Bestselling picture books and celebrity series. She brings her unique ability to understand marketing needs from an agent’s perspective, adding in her PR experience within the film industry; having assisted on major press events at International Film Festivals (Cannes, Venice). Emily serves as Director of Marketing for the ITSme Society Agencies, where she helps direct each of their agencies in achieving a unique global presence. She is passionate about bringing attention to artist achievements via foundational and innovative methods. 

Become a Pro at Graphic Novel Illustration

Take this course to learn from the best agents and art directors, who have helped countless artists gain success in the graphic novel industry. It's your turn to learn what it takes to be succesful in the field, and create star graphic novel illustrations.

Join the Class!

Still not sure?

We'd love to chat with you, take a look at your current portfolio and help you determine which ITSme learning option is best for you. Everyone is at a different stage of their career, and we are here to help you take your next step. Email us at [email protected] to set up a time to email or video call with an ITSme mentor.