Meet Your Instructor: Astound Senior Agent Aurora Barlam
Published on 05/02/2024
Meet one of our Graphic Novel Bootcamp instructors, Aurora Barlam. Aurora has been with Astound US Inc. for over seven years working in a range of industries. As an Astound senior agent, Aurora has specialized in graphic novel projects, helping many illustrators improve their portfolios and land new graphic novel jobs.
Q- What is your #1 tip for those interested in working in graphic novels?
A- Master the basics of sequential art and paneling. Once you master the basics, there are lots of fun ways to bend the rules, like showing characters fall out of panels or getting rid of the panel borders altogether.
Q- What are some graphic novels you enjoyed agenting?
A- I have worked on many graphic novel projects with Astound illustrators. Some that I’ve really enjoyed include, the “Adventure Kingdom” series illustrated by Pedro Rodriguez, five of the “Far Out Fairy Tales” series illustrated by Alex Lopez, and “The Haunted High-Tops” illustrated by Fran Bueno.
Q- What is your illustration/art background?
A- I graduated from RISD with a degree in illustration, then before joining Astound, I worked as a painting and drawing instructor. I have been with Astound now for over 5 years working closely with artists in the children’s publishing and graphic novel industries.
Q- What are some memorable projects you have agented?
A- I’ve had the opportunity to agent many wonderful projects, including Major Makes History, about President Biden’s dog – written by Emmy award winner Jill Twiss, and illustrated by Astound’s Maribel Lechuga for HarperCollins, and The Seed of Compassion, written by his Holiness the Dalai Lama, and illustrated by Astound’s Bao Luu for Penguin Random House.
Q- How do you make sure you stay up to date with the industry?
A- I make sure to keep learning. I have recently completed the Comics Experience Course Comic Editing and Project Management. This course has been very helpful in managing graphic novel projects for our artists.
Learn more about our Graphic Novel Bootcamp and other course offerings here.
Other News
Opportunities are Out There, Here’s How to Make Sure Your Work is Seen
Are you an illustrator looking for open calls and opportunities? The work is out there, and you are not invisible, although sometimes in such a competitive environment, we understand it is natural to worry that you are going unseen. The fact is, you just need to know where to look and how to show up…
Why Graphic Novels Are Booming – and Why Now Is the Time to Get Them Into Your Portfolio
Graphic novels are having a moment and it’s no passing trend. From classrooms to bestseller lists, graphic novels are dominating shelves and reading time across all ages. What was once seen as a niche format with a distinct, heavy-lined “comic book” aesthetic has exploded into a dynamic, expressive medium that spans every style and genre…
No Client Work? No Problem. Here’s How to Build a Portfolio That Gets You Hired
“I don’t have any client work, what do I even put in my portfolio?” This is one of the more common worries we hear from illustrators who are new to developing their portfolios, but we want to encourage you to reframe this question: Having no client work isn’t a weakness, try to view this as…
Make the Right Connections – Be the Name they Remember
How do you connect with clients and agents? It’s a question that comes up again and again, and often you will hear people focus on visibility, being seen at the right events, posting your work constantly and having a strong presence on social media. But connection isn’t just about being visible. It’s about being remembered,…
How to create a perfect freelance Illustrator biography!
Learn how to write a powerful professional illustrator biography that attracts the right clients. Discover structure tips, examples, and how to create a compelling artist bio in 150–250 words.
What Happens in an ITSme Mentorship? A Week-by-Week Breakdown
Imagine having a guide who not only understands the creative path an individual wants to walk, but also has the knowledge and tools to help them get there – successfully. That’s the core of the ITSme Learning Mentorship. Whether someone is a student, a young professional at the beginning of their career, or an artist…
