Illustration

Coaching & Courses

Click on the course icons below for more information.

Check out our self paced online courses for picture book and chapter book illustrators, 1-1 coaching for all types of #kidlit illustrators, and portfolio reviews!

What you showcase in your illustration portfolio is crucial. The Illustration Initiative® offers coaching to illustrators in the children’s book market, offering both personalized guidance and on demand courses and portfolio reviews.

Work with Emily, a former illustration agent (formerly of Astound US Inc) who has guided hundreds from their first book to NY Times Best Sellers. Gain industry insights, enhance your visual storytelling, and attract art directors and agents with proven methods—all while building valuable industry connections.

… and gain a friend in the industry along the way!

Email us for pricing and payment details.

Join the class, now going onto it’s 4th year! Check it out here.
The Illustration Initiative offers
Middle Grade Masterclass, through Teachable - here.
Email Emily for more info!
We offer 2-3 month and 3-4 month coaching, as well as portfolio development intensives!
Click here to schedule your review.
Keep an eye out on social media. I answer questions for people all the time via socials and am always happy to lend an ear or answer your questions as best I can. DM me with questions, or email me!
I’m a friend in the industry for you to call upon.

Book

What Illustrators Are Saying

see more testimonials here >>

“Emily is amazing to work with. She helped point out my strengths and weaknesses in my portfolio and what to do to improve on it. She then helped me create an art piece for my portfolio and she was extremely helpful giving pointers and suggestions to it. I love how the final piece turned out and I know it turned out amazing because Emily was there guiding me along with creating it!”

— Jennifer Beam @jellie.beam

"I had the great pleasure of knowing and working with Emily for the past few years. She represented me as my agent and during that time always provided wonderful, supportive and kind feedback. As my agent, she helped me develop by illustration style as well as navigate working with publishers and clients. Within a span of 5 years I had illustrated dozens of books. I owe a lot of my success as an illustrator to her guidance."

— Kat Uno @katunodraws

“Emily is wonderful to work with. Her 1-1 reviews were spot on. She immediately recognized my strengths and weaknesses and she offered great tips to make my illustrations better. Even though the communication were purely through emails, she’s very prompt and clear. Her online class is super helpful too. She gave insider view of what makes a portfolio great. All the assignments are geared to achieve that and are broken down into manageable chunks. And of course, there’s that 1-1 review at the end of the class that’s invaluable. Love it. Thank you Emily.