Testimonials – ITSme

TESTIMONIALS

Are you looking to advance your creative career?

ITSme works hand in hand with top illustration agencies to source their next creative talent. For those who are developing their work, or for professionals looking to level up into higher paid projects, we offer courses and mentorships to provide direction and guidance so they may advance their creative careers. Have questions about our courses or mentorships? Just reach out to Kim at learning@itsmegroup.com.

Interested in representation?

We invite you to reach out to our talent scouting team and they will review your work alongside the ITSme Society agencies. Numerous illustrators are signed every month directly from their submissions to ITSme. You do not need to take part in a mentorship or course to be considered for representation. We invite you to submit your work for presentation by sending it in to Vicky at hello@itsmegroup.com.

Read some testimonials from represented artists & past students:

Justine Esagunde-Quinlan

ITSme Learning Alum

“Thank you to Ed, Harry, and the ITSme team for your time and insight. You gave me a lot to think about when it comes to experimentation, and I’m so happy you like my work. I really appreciate the support in helping me create a portfolio. As someone new to the industry, any help is invaluable. The program has been incredible—Harry’s fantastic, and I’ve learnt so much from the experience.”

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Iryna Lytovka

ITSme Learning Alum

“I’ve never had this kind of learning experience before, and I’m so glad it’s been with Christine and Ed from the ITSme team. Your feedback has been incredibly valuable to me. I feel very inspired to finish my portfolio, and I truly hope we’ll have the chance to work together again.”

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Zoe Hansen

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Advocate Art

“When Itsme talent introduced me to the Advocate Art team, I felt as though both parties truly cared about finding me representation that would best work with my illustration skills. I felt very supported and guided through the entire signing process and all of my questions were answered in a clear and timely manner. The Advocate Art team has been so welcoming and kind and I feel very seen as a new artist.”

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Rickie Wu

Represented by Illo

“The assistance that Vicky and Itsme Group provided was truly helpful. They offered detailed information and references, making the entire representation process smoother and instilling confidence in me when working with them.”

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Nadia Junoes

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Advocate Art

“My journey with ITSme has been incredible; I received a lot of guidance from my mentor, Amanda, to create industry-standard pieces, and I am very proud to say I have been offered representation by Advocate Art! Amanda gave me a lot of personalized feedback and has been absolutely wonderful to work with; she gave me a better understanding of what clients are looking for in a children’s book, and I was inspired to work on the pieces, while learning so much!”

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Shannon Henley

Represented by Astound

“Vicky Patoulioti was a phenomenal help in finding my agency, Astound! She helped me arrange meetings and facilitated the onboarding process so everything went smoothly! I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a renowned group of talented creatives. I couldn’t have done it without ITSme!”

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Patricia Edlyn Claresta

Represented by Yeon

“During the registration process, Vicky, ITSme Talent’s Search Manager, was incredibly helpful! She provided clear instructions, and every question I had was met with a satisfactory answer. Thanks to her assistance, the registration process went smoothly, and I successfully signed with Yeon agency!”

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Lorena Cerqueira

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Advocate Art

“When I applied for the mentorship with ItsMe Learning I was looking for a direction in my work, and thats exactly what it gave me. I learned what the market is looking for, with the help of my mentor Erin, I was able to explore my style for different audiences, and understand what I’m missing in my portfolio. My meeting with Edward Burns was extremely helpful and eye opening, it gave me the boost of confidenceI needed. I recommend this mentorship to anyone looking for a direction within their work or looking to get in the industry.”

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Chita Erayanie

Represented by Illo

“From our initial contact to onboarding, the process was smooth and straightforward. The submission requirements were clear and to the point, making it easy to get started. Since I wasn’t sure which agency would be the best fit, I left it open, and Vicky matched me with Illo Agency — a perfect choice! She answered all my questions, and the transition with my new agent was seamless. I couldn’t be happier with the experience.”

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Zhiheng Su

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Astound

“Joining ITSMe has made me feel incredibly fortunate. My mentor Bhavi’s professionalism and patience have helped me continuously improve on every detail, and Edward’s recognition of my style has been truly encouraging. ITSMe has made me feel certain that I found the ideal platform at the right time, and I am filled with gratitude. I am thankful for the team’s support and guidance, which have made my career aspirations clearer than ever. “

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Alina Slyshik

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Yeon

“Mentorship has given a huge boost to my career as an illustrator. I was a bit stuck with the way I used to work on my illustrations, but during the program, I was guided into the right direction, and it even led to my representation with Yeon Agency! I couldn’t be happier.”

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Toby Melville-Brown

Represented by Illo

“ITSme have been incredibly helpful in guiding me through my setup process with Illo Agency. I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome from their team member, Vicky. I understand they have a wealth of lecture options and I’ll be sure to take them up on those opportunities given their impressive reputation.”

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Christina Kavourinou

Represented by Yeon

“I met with Vicky at the book fair in Bologna and the feedback I got was spot on! Vicky helped me understand the direction I need to take before sharing my portfolio with an agency, focusing on my own strengths and artistic style. I had help throughout the signing process and I am super happy to now be represented by Yeon Agency! “

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Judy Willson

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Advocate Art

“The mentorship with ITSME was a brilliant learning experience. My mentor was the perfect match; Debs was both kind and knowledgeable, and it was a joy to work on publishing and licensing projects together. The advice I received helped me move forward clearly on projects, and I continue to refer back to her guidance in my new work. I am beyond thankful to my mentor Debs, to Ed for the insightful portfolio review, and to Vicky and the whole team at ITSME. My experience led to being offered representation with Advocate Art, and Debs has become my champion agent!“

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Shahab Shamshirsaz

Represented by Advocate Art

“ITSme has been invaluable in my search for representation, working closely with the biggest creative agencies worldwide to help artists like me find the perfect match. Throughout the process, they answered all my questions clearly and guided me smoothly to signing with my preferred agency. I’m thrilled to be joining Advocate Art, and I’m grateful to ITSme for their attentive support along the way.”

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Sofia Ossman

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Illo

“It’s been such an exciting journey being onboarded with Illo! As for the signing process, I found it smooth and really supportive. The ITSME team was incredibly helpful throughout the signing, and I especially enjoyed the signing pack material, where I could find all the answers to my questions and even more! It was very informative and made the whole process really easy to navigate.”

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Lana Tihonovich

Represented by Astound

“Working with Astound has been an amazing experience. The signing process was straightforward and supportive, and I felt confident at every step. I’m so excited to be represented by such a fantastic team!”

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Nadia Junoues

ITSme Learning Alum

“Working with ITSme Learning has been a crucial step in further developing my portfolio! Not only do I get personalised plans and feedback, the lectures and videos provided helped me understand so much in the world of children’s literature. I highly recommend joining the ITSme Mentorship program for anyone who is looking to break into the industry!”

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Gloria Shugelva

Represented by Astound

“Working alongside ITSme and Astound US has been an incredible journey. Receiving insightful feedback on my art and portfolio from AJ has been immensely valuable and I’ve gained so much knowledge about the publishing industry and illustration, right from the start. I can’t wait to dive into my next illustration project!”

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Vũ Thủy Ngọc Hà

Represented by Astound

“Thank ITSme for your patience and professionalism in the signing process with me! I finally had the opportunity to work with a professional agency. They are so friendly and they support me to find potential clients. I am also getting wonderful chances to develop my work.”

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Agnieszka Wajda

Represented by Astound

“Vicky was incredibly helpful throughout the entire recruitment process. Not only was she efficient in guiding me through each step, but also made sure every detail was handled with care and clarity. Her support was invaluable, and I’m truly grateful for her kindness and professionalism, I couldn’t have asked for a smoother experience!”

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Nathalia Takeyama

Represented by Astound

“ItsMe played a pivotal role in guiding me through the process of being signed by Astound, which has truly transformed my career. Thanks to their support, I’m now working on dream projects with renowned clients. The entire experience was seamless, and everyone I interacted with was incredibly helpful and insightful. I highly recommend participating in their programs and mentorships, if you have the chance. It can be a career-changing opportunity! A huge thank you to Vicky for her guidance.”

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Linhan Huang

Represented by Advocate Art and Yeon

“I discovered my strength during the signing process, and I want to practice and improve my style in my future work. Vicky’s guidance is particularly detailed and I am honored to join the team.”

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Aronne Nembrini

Represented by Illo Agency

“They know what’s best for you! They gave me very good advice in terms of style and good suggestions about subjects to represent in my work. It’s such a welcoming environment filled with wonderful people. My agent Marie helped me a lot to find confidence in myself and my career as an illustrator, helping me develop even further with my art.”

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Anna Jones

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Yeon

“Signing with Yeon Agency through Itsme has been a seamless process! Vicky was so thorough and answered all of my questions without hesitation. I really appreciate them because they have helped me take a huge step toward my career goals as an illustrator.”

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Tiémoko Sylla

Represented by Advocate Art

“My experience with ITSme has been amazing, especially thanks to Vicky’s invaluable support throughout the process, from submission to securing my representation. From the very beginning, the process was smooth and highly professional. Vicky guided me with personalized and relevant advice. Each step was clear and well-explained, which allowed me to fully focus on creating while knowing I had solid support. I now have a clearer vision of my future as an illustrator, and I’m excited to continue collaborating with Advocate Art on future projects.”

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Christophe Gomy

Represented by Advocate Art and Yeon

“I would like to thank ITSme for their support during the signing process with my two agents. The team was responsive and efficient, offering invaluable support every step of the way. It was a real pleasure to talk to them and benefit from their sound advice.”

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Kaynat Zehra

ITSme Learning Alum

“I had a lovely experience through this mentorship! It definitely gave me an idea of what it feels like working with industry professionals and responding to a brief! I would recommend it to anyone who feels confused about how to enter the illustration agency and wants help with understanding what to add to your portfolio!”

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Helen Bryant

ITSme Learning Alum

“The art direction provided has helped boost the overall quality of my portfolio. The direction my work has gone in and the overall quality has really helped boost my portfolio, a fabulous experience.”

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John P. Roberts

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Illo

“My favorite part of the mentorship was definitely the 1:1 meetings with Bhavi. She has so much knowledge and I learned something new from her each time we met. Through the mentorship, I learned how to create work that represented my skills and is more attractive to buyers in the children’s market. This was an amazing experience and I appreciate the opportunity to learn from Bhavi and the entire team!”

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Jimena Sanchez Sarquiz

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Advocate Art

Great program! I was struggling to get signed at an agency even when people told me the quality of my work wasn’t the issue. This program was great at telling me how to tailor my portfolio and social media for the type of clients I’m looking for. They also gave me great advice on how to continue regarding my style and the work it’s best suited for.

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Tamara Domuzin

ITSme Learning Alum

“I can better see the things that I need to work on in my portfolio, and it’s something that will help me develop better pieces and focus on the specific areas that I’m lacking in.”

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Rekha Krishnamurthi

ITSme Learning Alum

The ITSme Mentorship Program has truly enriched my development as both an illustrator and an artist. The opportunity to receive feedback from seasoned industry agents who possess current market insights has been invaluable. Their guidance has steered me towards refining my portfolio, aligning my creations with my skills, artistic style, and passions. Thanks to this program, I’ve honed my artwork, cultivating a distinct visual identity and moving away from the scattered approach I once had.

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Ana Aguir

ITSme Learning Alum

“It’s been amazing to work through the summer mentorship with ITSme learning. I’ve learned so much and in such a short amount of time. I also feel more and more confident about the direction to take and the steps that need to be done after the mentorship ends. I’m very grateful to each and everyone I’ve been in contact with in this journey, especially to Ed and Harry who have been guiding me in such a supportive way.”

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Jacque Ferrara

ITSme Learning Alum

“I’ve learned how an art director looks at my work, and what they want to see. The mentorship has taught me where to go, how to improve and where to focus my skills.”

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John Knell

ITSme Learning Alum

“I’ve been a part of the ITSme mentorship program and have found the content and feedback from not only the course materials but art directors and mentors highly valuable and insightful. Highest possible recommendation If you are an aspiring creative.”

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Olga Urbanowicz

ITSme Learning Alum

The mentorship program has been a wonderful experience. I received valuable feedback on my portfolio and great advice on how to align my illustrations towards the work I would like to do. Working with my mentor gave me clarity and a sense of direction. The briefs for my assignments took into account my interests and strengths, and I felt motivated to push my skills much further to create great illustrations for my portfolio. The team is composed of very knowledgeable and experienced agents. Through webinars, online videos and working directly with my mentor, I feel better prepared to work with illustration clients.

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Catherine Worlsey

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Advocate Art

I recently took the Character Study Intensive course with ITSme Learning, it’s such a fantastic course and has taken my portfolio to another level! The briefs and inspiration are really well put together and helped me focus on what I needed to do to enhance this area of my portfolio. I’ve been looking to improve my character design skills for a while, I’ve now been able to add some pieces which I’m really proud of, and I’ve already had some interest from publishing clients so I’m over the moon! I would highly recommend taking this course if this is an area you want to get into.

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Salma Ali

ITSme Learning Alum

As a part of the ITSme mentorship program, I have had the pleasure of working directly with members of the ITSme team to refine my illustration portfolio and jumpstart my career in illustration. I have truly benefited from the thoughtful insights the team has shared with me, in particular Bhavi and Ed, as well as the wealth of knowledge ITSme has made available across its learning platform, YouTube channel, and Instagram accounts. Thank you to ITSme for creating pathways and opportunities for illustrators and creatives like myself!

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Andreas Bernstein

ITSme Learning Alum

“The pieces I’ve worked on have helped me to develop a consistent style. My portfolio is now better designed and up to date.”

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Yulia Zolotova

ITSme Learning Alum

I’m thrilled to share my experience with the ITSme International Talent Search mentorship. Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about finding this program. The mentorship has been transformative for my career, offering invaluable guidance, industry insights, and support from a skilled professional who truly cared about my progress. The matching process was spot on. Highly recommend it for anyone serious about taking their career to the next level!

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Hamnah Rizwan

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Astound

I had a wonderful experience attending the mentorship program where I gained incredibly valuable knowledge and insight into the illustration field! I feel so much more confident as an illustrator with the new pieces I’ve developed for the program and looking forward to utilizing all the skills I’ve gained for future projects.

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Clarice Diamantino

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Advocate Art

The It’s Me mentorship program has been an amazing experience! I’m so impressed with how much I’ve learned in such a short time. The mentors are fantastic – their guidance and support have been invaluable to my artistic growth. The assignments, videos, and especially the one-on-one meetings were all incredibly helpful. The feedback from the It’s Me team was honest, insightful, and always delivered with a positive and encouraging tone. I can’t recommend this program enough! If you’re an artist looking for guidance on your career path, It’s Me is absolutely the way to go.

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Malory Bedoya

ITSme Learning Alum

“The mentorship is great! When I started as a freelance illustrator, I was confused and overwhelmed about which industry my style belonged to. The ItsMe program pointed me in the right direction with the help of an experienced agent, Imogen. Everything fell into place, and I was able to identify the specific market I could work for and how to build my portfolio for that market. Before I had no idea, and no matter how much advice I took, like for free from other creators and stuff like that, administrators, I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t be able to put a finger on where my style will fit. It has been a great investment! I was supported by their professionals in every aspect that needed fixing to market myself and my work.”

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Francesca Coen

ITSme Learning Alum

“I was encouraged to explore more areas of illustration that I didn’t know could actually bring me work. The mentorship really does cover all the aspects that I hoped to learn more about.”

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Noor el Sehnawi

ITSme Learning Alum

“The course definitely helped me to identify my own style in a natural way and still took me out of my comfort zone. It offered me an idea and the ability to see what’s missing in my portfolio and develop it, allowing me to fully show my abilities and flexibility. This webinar has marked a before and after in my work, it helped me build up more confidence over my abilities, and encouraged me to cross every limit that I used to put into myself during the creative process.”

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Amanda Rizqi

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Yeon

“Bhavisha explained in detail my illustration’s strengths and weaknesses so that I can learn based on that and fit my style more to the market.”

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Sara Ly-Tan

ITSme Learning Alum

“The overall development process has been a wonderful experience! What I really appreciate was the guidance and support from both teams during the entirety of the journey and to becoming a represented artist. I always felt that I could reach out and there was always something positive to takeaway from the feedback. It is a constant learning curve. My portfolio has developed since starting the Itsme mentorship, I can convey storytelling through illustration on topics important to younger minds. It also encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, to explore different topics in order to foster a stronger portfolio relevant to the field.”

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Saulo Santana Cabrera

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Illo

“My experience in the ITSme program has been invaluable. I’ve noticed significant growth in my work and have been able to go deeper into portfolio development with your videos from the ITSme team. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all members of ITSme, with special recognition to my mentor Amy.”

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Eszter Miklos

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Bright Agency

“The Illustration Mentorship was a fantastic opportunity to develop my portfolio with the help of my lovely mentor, Bhavi. I truly recommend this program for illustrators who are ready to take the next big step in their career.”

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Alysha Dawn

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Illo

“These past 3 months were life changing, and full of artistic growth, thanks to great feedback and fantastic contact with Alice, the best Mentor I could ask for I am also very grateful to Mr. Burns for his feedback, his faith in me and the presentation of my portfolio. I am honored to have such support.”

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Koustubha Jagadessh

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Illo

“I would 100% recommend it to fellow artists. It would have taken me a lot longer to get where I am today without this mentorship. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Bhavi. The briefs were very helpful. I was able to create characters and full work without losing the main focus. Overall, it was an amazing experience.”

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Akiva Bakst

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Illo

“I was pushed out of my typical norm in regards to my subject matter. My mentor knew where my potential was at and challenged me to go beyond what I thought I was capable of.” “My experience doing the ITSme Mentorship program was an amazing learning opportunity that has expanded my skills sets in such a short period of time. I was pushed by my mentor to go outside of my comfort zone to further expand my artistic potential. I truly felt that I had the resources and guidance to succeed. With my new knowledge and connections, I’m confident that I can take the steps in the right direction with my career as a professional illustrator.”

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Francesca Cosanti

ITSme Learning Alum

“I finally had the opportunity to work on briefs for different clients than usual, with topics that interest me a lot. Thanks to this I was able to give my best and demonstrate how I work with interesting commissions. Being able to interface with a professional like Amy and follow her suggestions was the best.”

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Gabriela Grave

ITSme Learning Alum

“I would like to mention that it was a pleasure to learn with Bhavisha and Harry.”

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Monika Kucharska

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Advocate Art

“These past 3 months were life changing, and full of artistic growth, thanks to great feedback and fantastic contact with Alice, the best Mentor I could ask for I am also very grateful to Mr. Burns for his feedback, his faith in me and the presentation of my portfolio. I am honored to have such support.”

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Sarah Brown

ITSme Learning Alum

“The ItsMe Mentorship Programme has been such a positive and enjoyable experience throughout. It’s provided me with a valuable insight into the industry and with Bhavi’s expert feedback and guidance I’ve been able to take my illustrations to the next level. The tailored brief gave me a unique opportunity to put my practical skills to the test and become a more confident illustrator. I would thoroughly recommend this course to anyone looking to gain experience in Children’s Book Illustration. Thank you to all at ItsMe”

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Saulo Santana Cabrera

ITSme Learning Alum Represented by Illo

“1-1 Meetings with Amy & Portfolio review with Edward. Extremely helpful to exchange impressions with professionals related to the illustration industry.” “I just want to add that my experience in ItsMe program has been invaluable. I’ve noticed significant growth in my work and have been able to go deeper into portfolio development with your video-recommendations from the ItsMe team. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all members of Itsme, with special recognition to Amy. Sharing thoughts with Amy has been crucial to the development of my work, and I greatly appreciate the desire to continue working together on this new path at Illo :D”

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Sebastian Timpe

ITSme Learning Alum

“Having a brief to follow was very helpful. Having my mentor tailor the briefs specifically to missing pieces in my portfolio really helped bring my portfolio together in the end. The briefs were both open ended enough that I could creatively work with them but specific enough that I knew how to produce the image my mentor was looking for.”

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