A comprehensive all-in-one course that helps you bring ideas to life—taught by an illustrator behind 30+ published books.
A course taught by Adam Gustavson
A Hands-On Guide to Creating Your First Children’s Book with Adam Gustavson
Illustrating a children’s book is an exciting but complex journey. From designing engaging characters to mapping out dynamic page compositions, it requires more than just great drawing skills—it’s about visual storytelling, consistency, and crafting illustrations that bring a story to life.
This live, interactive online course prepares you to start and confidently complete your first children’s book illustration project.
Through hands-on assignments, direct feedback, and expert guidance, you’ll develop a step-by-step plan to move from idea to finished artwork. It gives you the skills to plan and launch your project on your own after the course.
Live Class Meetings
Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 pm PT (8:30-10:30 pm ET)
Difficulty
All Skill Levels Welcome
Mediums
Digital or Traditional
Course Dates
May 27 – June 24, 2025
Price
$499
Adam Gustavson’s paintings and drawings have appeared in over thirty highly praised and award winning books for children, as well as magazines, educational materials, advertising campaigns and galleries. He holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York, and a BFA from Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ.
His career in art education has led him to serve on the faculty of Seton Hall University and Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. Since 2014, he has co-owned the Renaissance Art Studio in Millburn, NJ, with his wife (and manager) Denise, offering individual art lessons in a variety of media.
Classes are live & fully interactive with lectures, demos, and guest artists.
Jump into our private community—share your work, get pro feedback, and swap ideas with artists like you.
Drop into live critique sessions for direct, no-fluff feedback and real talk with a crew of professional artists.
