SVS Next Steps for Illustrators is the final class of the School of Visual Storytelling's Essentials curriculum, taught together by its three founding instructors, Lee White, Will Terry and Jake Parker. It answers the question every student reaches after learning the fundamentals: what now? The class shows how to evaluate the foundations portfolio you have built, explains the different specialties within illustration with their pros and cons, and outlines the steps towards working professionally. It has seven lessons with about an hour of video and a set of slides, and is included in the SVS Learn membership.

It is short, but it is the class that turns a curriculum into a career plan.

What You Will Learn

How to evaluate your foundations portfolio and what it can be used for
How the illustration industry is organised
The main specialty areas of illustration
The pros and cons of each specialty
How to choose one specialty to pursue
The next steps towards becoming a professional illustrator
A list of advanced studies to continue with

Who Is SVS Next Steps for Illustrators For?

The class is designed for students who have completed the SVS Essentials curriculum, but it is useful for any illustrator with a solid set of fundamentals who is unsure which direction to take, whether picture books, comics, editorial, animation or another field.

It is not a business course; SVS has separate classes on running an illustration business.

How the Class Works

The three instructors discuss the topics together, drawing on decades of combined experience in picture books, animation and comics. The class moves from celebrating the finished portfolio to understanding the industry, choosing a specialty and planning what to study next, with slides you can download and keep.

Course Structure

You did it: congratulations and overview
Foundations portfolio: evaluating your work
Understanding the industry
Illustration specialty areas
Areas of illustration in more detail
Next steps and an advanced studies list
Slides

What You Will Make

The class itself is not a drawing class. Instead, you will leave with an honest assessment of your foundations portfolio, a chosen specialty to focus on and a list of advanced studies, which together form a practical plan for the next stage.

Price and Access

The class is included in the SVS Learn membership. SVS lists its Studio membership at $29.95 a month, and class pages show a $300 annual option. A 14-day free trial is available with a card and becomes a paid subscription unless you cancel.

About the Instructors

Lee White is a children's book illustrator with more than 30 titles and a co-founder of SVS Learn. Will Terry has illustrated about 30 children's books after starting out in magazines and newspapers. Jake Parker has worked in animation at Reel FX and Blue Sky Studios, in comics and in picture books, and created Inktober.

How It Fits the SVS Curriculum

Next Steps for Illustrators is the only class in Level 5 and closes SVS Essentials. Natural continuations are the Pro programmes: Children's Book Pro for picture books and Graphic Novel Pro for comics.

Things to Consider

Time: about an hour of video.
Bring your portfolio: the class works best with your 12 foundations pieces in front of you.
Be honest: use the evaluation to find gaps, not just strengths.
Next steps: Children's Book Pro or Graphic Novel Pro.
Community: discuss your plans in the SVS community.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with SVS Learn?

Start Next Steps for Illustrators

For the full curriculum and membership options, visit the official SVS Learn website.

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Last verified: October 26, 2026

Next Steps for Illustrators by SVS Learn