I Just Like to Make Things: Learn the Secrets to Making Money while Staying Passionate about your Art and Craft

by Lilla Rogers

Gain a wealth of information, inspiration, and know-how on moving your artistic career forward from one of the most successful illustration agents in the industry!

I Just Like to Make Things is a dazzling, colorful volume of career and personal advice for artists, filled with ideas, playsheets (as opposed to worksheets), case studies, and tools for staying inspired and creative. These pages are grounded in the wisdom and experience gleaned from a long and buzzing career as creative juggernaut Lilla Rogers shares her analysis of leveraging various working styles and ways to keep your art fresh. Artist interviews provide inside details about the best jobs, as well as tips on how to work smart and stay creative. You’ll also find annotated case studies of several successful art jobs, in addition to coloring book pages, hand-drawn charts, and lots of crazy fun.

Acquire real-life, professional advice from an artist known for setting the trend with I Just Like to Make Things!

Genres: Art, Business, Nonfiction, Crafts, How To, Reference, Self Help

128 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Lilla Rogers is founder of Lilla Rogers Studio, one of the most successful illustration and literary agencies in the industry, managing the careers of high-caliber artists and author/artists.

Art and Literary Agent. Founder, Lilla Rogers Studio, international agency since 1994. Co-Founder and teacher, Make Art That Sells, with 30K students from over 104 countries. Author, I Just Like to Make Things. Teacher, CreativeBug; Treasure Hunt Your Artistic Style. Former illustrator for the GRAMMYs, New York Times, Vogue Magazine and hundreds more. Currently writing a creative self-help with memoir gems.

“Lilla Rogers is a colourful, creative juggernaut. How else to describe a
prolific artist who is not only a talented illustrator, teacher, lecturer, mentor,
mother and craft-maker, but also a respected agent who has been in the
business for 30 years? Rogers’ charming work and lush website featuring,
amongst other visual delights, the 38 other illustrators she represents, are
testaments to the fact that such a Herculean creative workload is not only
possible but grounds for a creative vision as powerful as it is unique.”
– UPPERCASE Magazine

Lilla is the queen of pattern and illustration licensing. She’s got an incredible eye
for design and is always on the cutting edge of what’s new and exciting.
--Grace Bonney, Author, In the Company of Women

Reviews

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was the e-book, which doesn't do it justice since the activity sheets were really hard to read on the ol' kindle and even on-screen the layout as an e-pub still had issues with all the illustrations and photos being cut off (hence the 4/5 stars). But, the main content was very dense with helpful information on how to adapt an illustration career into other markets such as the fabric industry, gifts, home decor, etc. It was very well organized and also very easy to read. The pacing and the information were very well balanced with entertaining and informative interviews. I know that when I get my paper copy in June it'll be a 5/5 star experience! Highly recommend, and I think the hard-copy version will be worth it!

[Stefanie Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a professional craft designer and how-to content producer this book really helps focusing and inspiring my creativity. We all have the "blank page" syndrom happen once in a while or the "what is my next step" this book answers that question...and more you don't even know you have!
There is an excerpt from I Just Want to Make things posted at http://craftside.typepad.com/craftsid...
Oh and it is soooooooo pretty!

[Julia Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

In many ways, this book is better for beginners, but I did come away from it with a few valuable ideas and tips. I wanted a more businesslike evaluation of making a living through art, but this book focuses on brainstorming and inspiration. Still, some fun ideas and definitely a good intro to the a diverse range of art businesses.

[baning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love making things. It makes me happy, it makes me feel like I'm spending my time in a good way, it satisfies me to be able to create something beautiful. That's why I picked Lilla Rogers - I Just Like To Make Things. Written specifically for them who has career as artists, but so related for every creative soul. Staying inspired is the best thing, because passion sells, and people buy our joy. She wrote down all informations on how the business are working from insider's point of view, what we can do to fit ourselves in the system, and what we need to do to make our artwork sell. Her advice is down-to-earth, many of it are applicable in another field of life even when you're not an artist. And the most important thing: action. "I think the only way to get better at something is to do it. Reading about it, studying it, and thinking about it are all important, but doing it is the only way to improve.” It's one of my best reads this year.

[Shae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging to look at and easy to read, I found this an interesting look into making art a career. I enjoy Lilla Rogers's insight as an artist and then as an agent for other artists -- just a peek into a different world which has allowed me to see how much work and how varied a career as an artist can be.

[NayDoubleU · Rating 1 out of 5]

What...

Not at all what i expected wanted or needed. Way too wordy. I guess the journaling was cool. I dont know. Felt more like reading her diary. Was expecting to learn to actually make things

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I good steady business idea book for a home crafter.

[September Michaud · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat dated but still some good info.

[Ietrio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute work. I dislike the designs. And I think the book is a mess of ideas all over the place and of dubious quality in many cases. Still, nice try.

[Tristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has some really helpful, down-to-earth information on the various ways you can bring in new income streams with your art/craft. It begins on a more "how to get inspired" note that really misses the mark, including some really terrible exercises (cut these images out and re-arrange them? Why not have drawing prompts or a collage prompt where we find our own images?) but once you get past that beginning and get into the nuts and bolts of making as a business, this book is extremely helpful. She also features a lot of successful artists and isn't afraid to print their contradictory advice, acknowledging that there is no ONE way to do this. It's definitely geared toward artists who are already making art as a full-time practice and want to expand their business. It's not so great for artists who are just starting out and aren't sure which direction to go to next, but I'm definitely keeping this one around for future reference.

[Deena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource filled with insightful information, motivation, and tools for illustrators, artists and crafters first attempting to make their way in the marketing and licencing world. There are helpful 'playsheets' and there are useful interviews with tips from successful artists in their fields. It also focuses on different markets and which ones might be a good fit for your craft. I enjoyed this colourful book, and definitely picked up a few tips and great resources to look into further.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book even though I don't consider myself an artist and because I just like to fantasize and dream of an artist's life.....I've a day job I like but if I didn't, this book would be enough to kickstart exploring the working artist's life. Fun exercises and even more inspiring narratives from vendors and artists about what it takes to be marketable and solvent and also still remain true to your vision.

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Just Like to Make Things... a quirky guide to the art process, including deciding what to create and how to sell it, accompanied by interviews of art professionals and sample areas of expertise. A few activities to get warmed up creatively didn't make sense with the rest of the script, and the book mostly includes interviews with some good knowledge. I expected more of a detailed list, and the types of art included aren't relevant for my needs.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are selling your stuff, or want to sell, and get stuck...
While there are helpful 'playsheets' to foster creativity, this book could be about a third as long (and it's only about 140 pages as is). What is there seems basic.
I wondered if this is self-published since it seems to me that this is about Rogers getting a lucrative career,

[Toni Conn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book from the library so I wasn't able to cut anything out or write on anything. I still enjoyed the book though. This book is great for those just starting out their businesses. I found the details of the different markets to be highly valuable. The resources page in the back is my favorite. I wrote everything down so I wouldn't forget!

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly appreciate Ms. Rogers’ enlightened viewpoint: What a bonus to learn from her experience! I’ve dibbled and dabbled so blindly without helpful guidance for so long that I was really losing hope. It’s pretty high praise to say that this book is exactly what I needed to get back on track.

[tammie bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

you can find my review on my blog

[Hilary Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great content

[Samantha Grenier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource for illustrators and general crafters.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book on an arts and design career I've ever had the pleasure to read! I highly recommend this to anyone considering or interested in a career in art and/or crafts.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een bom aan informatie en inspiratie voor mensen die bezig zijn met illustratie. Mijn hoofd zit nu weer vol met ideeën.

[Wita Puspita · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a really pretty book. Not really telling me something I didn't know before

[Ashley Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. A fresh approach that any visual creative will appreciate! Great for inspiring you to start some new projects, as well as sound advice on how to hone your skills.

[Kelly Philpott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great resource for people who want to sell their art or craft.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book intended to help you narrow your artistic scope.

[Guin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book is very informative. I will be keeping it on my sewing/craft library shelves for reference.

[Marissa]

The bits about the different markets were helpful and gave me some ideas for where to start, but I found myself wishing for more details about some of the practical strategic steps. I understand that every case is different, but a lot of it boiled down to “just make the art ... something something ... results!” which is encouraging but only so helpful.

I loved learning that the author had illustrated one of my favorite Levi’s ads from the 90s!