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Kyle Andrew Williams

@kyle.wendylynnco

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followers

397

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Owner & Art Agent — WendyLynn & Co.
I have good taste in illustrators (and I can draw too)

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Tomorrow is my 39th birthday, and around this time each year I find myself becoming a little more reflective.

For a long time I believed that if I were a real artist, it would mean making a living from my art. That felt like the proof.

Instead, my creativity led me somewhere unexpected. I helped friends open an ice cream and confectionery shop and became the manager. I thought it would be a way to learn business skills I could one day apply to my art.

About a year in, I remember standing behind the counter scooping ice cream and suddenly panicking. I had just turned 29 and thought, am I stuck? But strangely, it didn’t feel like the right time to leave.

Over time something surprising happened. I began to realize that I was still an artist.

It wasn’t that I suddenly decided to run the shop like an artist. I was already doing it. I just hadn’t recognized it yet.

I kept the store clean and arranged the products aesthetically. I believed the ice cream, chocolate, and fudge should look beautiful and taste amazing. I wanted customers to feel joy when they walked in. I tried to place employees where they could thrive, and the shop became a diverse and healthy workplace. Our store even ended up hitting some of the strongest performance and sales numbers in the franchise.

Eventually I realized that being an artist is more than making art for a living. It’s a way of seeing and engaging with the world.

I’m still not a full-time artist. But I’m more fulfilled in my career than ever—and I’m still making art so that I can truly live a full life. by @kyle.wendylynnco

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7 months ago

In case you wanted to know when I make art. ;) by @kyle.wendylynnco

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2 years ago

Here I am with my nephews! We are quite literally a bunch of silly geese.

Brooks tells his mom after making his drawing on slide 2–“Uncle Buddy is not the only artist in the family.”

💛 excited to make art with Brooks as he gets older.

I’m also going to frame his artwork and probably keep it on my wall till I die. by @kyle.wendylynnco

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2 years ago

by @kyle.wendylynnco

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2 years ago

Here’s my decision making process in selecting the creatives I represent 😜. #justkidding by @kyle.wendylynnco

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2 years ago

Submissions:

+ I like to see you have 12-15 illustrations in your portfolio.

+ Only show me current illustrations (Nothing older than 3 years old)

+ I want to see your website and social media platforms. I know you are trying to see what kind of person/agent I am through my social media posts—so know I’m doing the same for you. 😏

+ Do not think you only have one chance to submit your portfolio to an agency. I like receiving resubmissions but only if they updated their portfolio with new work.

+ I am an agent but I’m also in the children’s book community. So even if representation does not transpire between us—I hope I can give you constructive feedback to help you improve your portfolio!

+ Even if I follow you or like you, I’m not going to send you an owl with a letter wishing you to join the agency.

+ My agency is small so I’m choosing creatives whose style does not look like anyone I’m currently representing.

+ I pick creatives (illustrators) who know the stories they like to tell.

+ If I show interest in your work, know I’ll be asking to see your dummy.

+ I NEED illustrators with good communication skills. Please know that if you work with me we will have phone calls and zoom meetings.

+ Lastly, be kind, be yourself, and keep going!

I hope this helps you navigate the waters better as you submit to agencies.

Here’s a freebie: it’s okay to message creatives I represent to get a better idea of what it’s like being a part of the agency.

#kidlitart #childrensbooks #kidlitagent #kidlitagency #scbwi #scbwiillustrators by @kyle.wendylynnco

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2 years ago

Which spell do I use: by @kyle.wendylynnco

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2 years ago

I’ve taken over an established agency and things naturally change with different management. So it’s super important for me to communicate where we’ve come from and where we are going.
I’m focused on working with a small group of illustrators who are interested in telling beautiful stories. In this post I define “beautiful.”
#kidlitart #childrensbooks #kidlit #illustrator

I will be at #scbwiny24 on Friday! I’m excited to meet many new and wonderful people by @kyle.wendylynnco

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3 years ago

Hi! This agent Kyle. ✨🪿
I find there’s a lot of panic, comparison, envy, doubt, and not feeling good enough in our industry. Now if you are experiencing that, I recommend you deal with those issues in your own heart. Focusing on what you don’t have will rob you of what you can control right now. So many people tell me they want to be an illustrator but they never read children’s books and they draw infrequently. Those are two things you can do right now!
On this journey of being an illustrator—I want to encourage your heart to make choices that will help you move forward.
#scbwi #kidslitart #portfolio #childrensbookillustration by @kyle.wendylynnco

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3 years ago