The series included a special two hours with Rebecca Sherman, an agent with the famous literary agency Writer's House (workshop #4.) Rebecca set up New York publishers' bidding auction that led to a two book contract for Girllustrator Vanessa Roeder (beginning with her debut picture book Lucy and the String, published last year by Simon and Schuster)

Workshop, #5 introduced Girllustrator Shelley Ann Jackson who now heads the children's book illustration department at Cambridge School of Art in Cambridge England. She presented on her school's curriculum and joined in the Girllustrators group group critique and debate on the question, 'is art school really necessary?' and the merits of college and community art classes.

Who are The Girllustrators?

Patrice Barton is the illustrator of the award-winning picture books MINE! by Shutta Crum (Knopf, 2011) and The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (Knopf, 2013). Her chapter books include the Junior Library Guild selections The Year of the Three Sisters, an Anna Wang novel by Andrea Cheng (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015) and The Naming of Tishkin Silk by Glenda Millard (FSG, 2009). She's represented by Christina Tugeau of The CAT Agency.

Marsha Riti has illustrated 12 books and all of the covers for the popular The Critter Club series of picture books for Simon and Schuster Publishing.

Lalena Fisher has designed characters and backgrounds for TV’s Blue’s Clues and The Wonder Pets, and created graphics for The New York Times. Her educational press clients have included Oxford University Press, McGraw-Hill, and Benchmark. Her first picture book, Pursuit of the Magic Piece was published in 2015. She's represented in children's books by Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Girllustrator Vanessa Roeder on the publication of her debut picture book "Lucy and the String" (Simon and Schuster)

Luz Marie Iturbe, fine artist, graphic designer a native of Mexico is writing and illustrating a series of apps that helps children learn Spanish as well as picture books teaching children about craft and traditions.

Shelley Ann Jackson is an author-illustrator, former Austin SCBWI regional adviser, and the founder of the Girllustrators. Still a member of the group she created, she now heads the MA Children's Book Illustration Program at the Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England.

Rivkah LaFille is an Illustrator, designer, and writer living in Manhattan and Austin, TX. Her graphic novel series, Steady Beat was nominated by the American Library Association for their Great Graphic Novels for Teens list. Rivkah's specialties are children's illustration, book cover layout and design, and hand-illustrated typography. Her clients have included Harper Collins, St. Martin's Press, The Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, Cricket Media Group, Vertigo/DC Comics, Tokyopop, and various fashion, tech, and publishing companies.

Vanessa Roeder, aka Nessa Dee, has illustrated six picture books, including The Angel Guardian, Varla’s Gift, and Useless and for Highlights Magazine. A muralist, too, she creates art for children's magazines, picture books, and homes. She's represented by Rebecca Sherman of Writers House Agency.

Emma J. Virján is a graphic designer the author-illustrator of the popular Pig in a Wig picture book series, published by HarperCollins. She's represented by Edite Kroll of the Edite Kroll Literary Agency.

To end beginner's syndrome...

Hi Mark,

"I just had to let you be the first to know (well, after my husband)...I sold 5 illustrations!!!!

"I will retain the rights to the illustrations too.They are for online use by author Susanna Hill (she has about a dozen books) She has developed an online how to writing course.  She wanted to have some illustrations to complement the text and be story-starters.  She has work from 6 or so artists included - and WOW, I'm one of them! She saw an illustration (Grumpy Cat) on my blog.  One thing led to another ...She asked to see more illustrations and was very complimentary. Anyway - just wanted to share the news and thank you so much for all you have done for me -instruction wise, confidence wise and career wise.   I am polishing some pieces and hoping to submit somewhere for
consideration in a month or two.

"I've joined SCBWI and will be working on my artist page. Thanks again, Mark.  I'm off to do a happy dance."

Blessings,
Laura Miller
http://grandmamiller.wordpress.com/

Your video's are like gold treasures!

I'm taking drawing 2 as one of my electives in school. My instructor is a young ____ woman who is going back to ___ after this class, she has been here 5 yrs to gain her masters degree.

She is a wonderful artist but can not teach. It has been so frustrating giving up 6 hrs every Sunday and not learn anything new. She gives an assignment and expects the class to figure it out looking at her example.

Last Sunday was perspective and I left there so confused.

Your perspective videos are so clear and help to put into practice what you are teaching that I am able today to draw the bedroom where Rosie (the puppy in my book) is hiding under the bed, there is a dresser and a window in the room and it is totally believable! I'm so excited!!

Honestly, I believe you are God sent in my life.

Thank you for all that you are giving to your students!

A very grateful 60 yr old,

Mary Martin

P.S. Use part or all the text and use my full name if you want.

Heck, I'll provide my first born if that will help get the message out about the value of every email, tutorial or feedback you provide.

I really believe you are one of the most valuable assets in my life, Mark, especially on my journey to getting that first children's book out of me and on paper.

"I'm contacted from time to time by illustrators who are starting out or need a jumpstart and want to know where to begin. If they are remotely local, I always highly recommend your AMOA class. I took it over 8 years ago (WOW) as my first introduction to children's book illustration and it's still the most helpful resource I've ever tried. I learned SO much."

“Now that you may be offering it online, the "local" bit won't matter!"

“I have always felt like you taught me how to do a jigsaw puzzle--taking the mystery out of the pieces of the process and giving me the technical know-how so I could put it all together and focus on the creating.

Laura Logan, Illustrator, Austin, Texas
http://www.lauralogan.com

"If there is anything you want to learn about illustrating children's books, Mark Mitchell is the teacher for you. I took his course at Laguna Gloria Art School in Austin and it was fantastic. He taught us everything: laying out the book, making the drawings, creating and using a color wheel based on a four-color process, using water color techniques, getting published, and marketing your book. Mark appears to be very laid back, but he has a real knack for organizing and presenting information, and he gives excellent feedback to help his students build their skills. I am so looking forward to his online class."

Linda Seder, Artist, Austin, Texas

Your course has given me a new burst of energy and excitement. I feel like a child again playing with the paint and my own imagination, but with a much firmer foundation. I can now actually understand why a painting I gave up on didn't work. It's amazing.
It's a sense of freedom I've never known before.

Thanks again,
Linda Bray
www.lindabray.mysite.com

"In all of my research (on-line and in books) in the last several years, I have never come across a clearer, more work-able approach to color that can be applied practically to a painting...and I have looked far and wide for this information, recognizing that it was of major importance.... The need for a sustainable, predictably successful approach to color, for illustration as well as fine art, became crystal clear to me when I switched from oil painting to watercolors...the old 'keep messing with it until it's right' approach just was NOT working with watercolor... (Is this the 'shadow' side of watercolor's wonderfulness...unforgiving??)

"As you predicted, the results are immediately recognizable. I heave a huge sigh of relief!

"In HUGE appreciation,

"Mark Mitchell is a delightful teacher. Each class brings a wealth of practical information yet coupled with plenty of time for releasing your creativity to produce viable images. His sense of humor makes the time fly by and you quickly forget how bad your back hurts from sitting on those bar stools!"

Diane Carr, counselor and life coach, Austin, Texas