Picture Book Illustration: Create an Attractive Portfolio that Reflects You

Are you ready to start building a picture book illustration portfolio that reflects your voice and attracts agents and art directors?

In this class you’ll learn how to create and curate a polished children’s book portfolio—and you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of what to include, why it matters, and how to pull it all together.

If you’ve ever tried putting a portfolio together and felt overwhelmed by the variety of styles, characters, or layouts you could include in your portfolio… you’re not alone. It can feel intimidating when you’re just starting out. But you don’t need dozens of complicated pieces—you just need a focused set of illustrations that demonstrate your storytelling skills, your character consistency, and the kinds of subjects you want to be hired to draw.

And that’s exactly what this class is designed to help you create.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

• How to build a strong portfolio without overwhelming yourself.

• Which types of illustrations publishers want to see
• How do you design pieces that show storytelling—not just drawing skills?

WHO THIS CLASS IS FOR

This class is designed for beginning illustrators who want to create illustrations with a portfolio in mind, and intermediate illustrators who are ready to take their first real steps into picture book work.
If you have a handful of illustrations or are just starting, this class will guide you through what to draw and how to assemble a portfolio that feels professional, intentional, and uniquely yours.

No specific software experience is required. You can follow along in Procreate, Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or traditional media. The focus is on building strong storytelling illustrations, not using specific tools.

By the end of this class, you’ll not only understand what a picture book portfolio needs—but you’ll also have created illustrations that show off your characters, your storytelling, and the kind of work you want to be hired for.

Let’s get your characters moving, feeling, and telling stories—one illustration at a time.