Pitch Your Portfolio
join pitch your portfolio
An art licensing course to get your portfolio organized and be fully prepared to pitch your art.
Hosted by Shannon McNab
join pitch your portfolio
This is your LAST opportunity to sign up – after June 30, it's gone for GOOD!
but maybe that version of you feels far away from where you are today. instead, you find yourself wondering:
- How do I find art directors that like my art?
- How do I stand out in such a crowded industry?
- Will I ever make any money in surface design?
- Set your OWN work schedule.
- Land licensing deals with your dream companies.
- And most importantly, get PAID doing what you love!
Or better yet... have your designs on their products!
Wouldn't it be AMAZING if your art actually got noticed by companies?
Want to hear the good news?
With Pitch Your Portfolio, you get that plan. And when you have the right system in place, amazing things can happen!
That's not only my own experience as a surface designer talking, but also the 750+ artists I've helped learn how to pitch their art using the EXACT system I created for myself...
Don't get me wrong — it takes time and practice to develop a surface design career. And luckily, you're already doing part of the work: creating designs for your portfolio. But focusing just on your artwork, hoping you get noticed isn't enough!
You ALSO need to send your art to companies regularly — without getting overwhelmed — and that means you need a plan.
Getting your work seen doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming.
Pitch Your Portfolio was a wonderful stepping stone for me to take myself seriously as a business, and it gave me the tools to start acting like it! If you are ready to take a serious step into an art business, this is a great place to start.
"Since taking PYP, I have signed a fabric licensing contract and had my first buyout with a major brand."
- Audrey Mann
Before PYP I felt overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start. But this course gave me clear steps to get organized and target companies. It’s a very extensive, practical, and straightforward course aimed at making seemingly complicated things easy and even fun.
"Now I feel organized and motivated to start pitching my work."
- Malika Buttinger
Pitch Your Portfolio is the equivalent of a beautiful and informative flow chart that I can reference at any point in the pitching process to determine what to do next. I'm incredibly grateful that this resource exists!
"This course was more than worth the investment. It filled in all the practical gaps I was missing in a clear and concise manner."
- maria rose adams
I’ve been an art director and project coordinator, but hadn't come up with a set of tools that worked for licensing until PYP. I honestly was ready to leave the business, but I sold 3 pieces during this course because I found the confidence to re-contact two potential clients at the right time.
"Taking more classes was on my list of don'ts this year, but this is the one I needed the most!"
- Susan Brand
She gives you step-by-step ways to organize your computer files, actual templates you can use to track all of the company research you do, and email templates to use when reaching out to companies. It really removed the stress of starting from scratch when I was ready to pitch.
"Even though I have a lot of experience from my previous career with reaching out to people, the tips Shannon shares are priceless.”
- usha mishra
Pitch Your Portfolio teaches you a simplified, repeatable system for finding, connecting with, and presenting your art to companies
In a way that is focused, less overwhelming, and makes it more likely that you'll hear “yes” from a company.
Inside pitch your portfolio, you'll get everything you need to find & pitch to companies so you can land licensing deals
Six easy-to-follow modules with practical video lessons that walk you step-by-step through the entire PYP system — without overwhelm.
MadLib-style intro & follow-up email templates so you can fill in the blanks, hit send, and make outreach so much easier.
Ready-to-use portfolio templates so you can easily make your designs perfectly polished and ready to present to art directors.
Actual screenshots of emails with art directors to take a lot of the guesswork out of pitching yourself.
Organization templates & set-up instructions using my favorite FREE software (Airtable) to organize your art business.
enroll in pitch your portfolio
Pricing course video excerpt to learn pricing basics that'll help you confidently start conversations with art directors.
Instant access to the course so you can get learn how to pitch right away. Access guaranteed until January 2027.
If you are ready to master the art of pitching your work, Shannon is the go-to person! If you are worried about the investment, I can tell you it is worth it (as long as it is within your means). Shannon knows the industry and shares with us sooo much!
"PYP gave me the key to boost my confidence, being simple but effective and landed me my very first licensing deal."
- Cris Pliego
She has a fresh yet practical approach, the course content is so valuable and generously shared. Also, Shannon and her team are always available to answer everyone's questions.
"I've taken other courses, but Shannon's are different. I love how she teaches because she goes straight to the point."
- Laura Lencioni
Even though I have been fortunate enough to have been sought out by companies, I still felt I had no idea what I was doing. I was struggling to understand the etiquette of contacting companies. PYP was well worth the investment as it covered gaps in my knowledge.
"It has spurred me to treat this more seriously as a business rather than float along.”
- Melanie Pennell
The 12 most common surface design markets with a SUPER helpful chart showing which themes each market uses.
How to package your portfolio for maximum impact and organize your design files, so you can find and send things easily.
Real-life examples of how to evaluate your design style, plus a 70+ word cheat sheet if you don’t know where to start.
BONUS: Portfolio sell sheet template suite provided in PSD, AI and InDesign, giving you maximum flexibility when designing.
Module 1: Your Portfolio
How to organize your research from day one, using a single document making it easy to keep track of it all.
The #1 thing to remember during company research to make your search as efficient and effective as possible.
Company search 101: Demonstrations of 8 different methods for finding companies, including the one you should avoid — I’ll walk you through each step-by-step.
ALSO INCLUDED: Lists for 3 search methods to help you get a head start with your company research.
Module 2: Searching for Clients
Other job titles beyond art directors to look for because ADs aren’t the only ones buying art.
How to search for the right person to contact at a company with demos of 6 different methods and which approach is best for different companies.
The best tool for finding an art director’s email and exactly how to use it, plus what to do when you can’t find an email at all.
ALSO INCLUDED: Cold-call scripts for phone, DMs, and email so you know what to say to get a positive response.
Module 3: Finding Email Addresses
How to decide who to contact first and prepare your inbox before you send emails to help keep you focused and organized.
Top tips for writing killer intro emails and knowing exactly which art to send. Don’t worry, I'll make it easy and fun!
My #1 hack to boost your confidence and why not hearing back from an art director is never the full story.
BONUS: Mad-Lib style templates so you can fill in the blanks, hit send, and make outreach easier.
Module 4: Making Contact
20+ ACTUAL screenshots of my interactions with clients. Yup, I’m serious! I’ll show you exactly what art directors say and how I’ve responded to them.
How to write follow-up emails. I’ll hold your hand and walk you through the 4 different replies you’ll get and the subtle differences for each.
The 5 questions you’ll get asked most frequently. But don’t fret, you’ll learn how to respond to each request.
BONUS: A video excerpt from our Artful Pricing course covering the basics of pricing for licensing and buyouts.
Module 5: Following Up
The biggest mistake you can make and how to avoid it. No BS here — follow-up is where so many designers drop the ball. But that doesn’t have to happen to you!
Art newsletters and why I think every designer should have them. P.S. They don’t have to be complicated or lengthy, and using my method you can create one in under an hour!
How to regularly evaluate your entire pitching strategy so you can focus on what's working for you and stop doing things that aren't effective or are slowing you down.
BONUS: Mad-Libs style templates for your follow up emails.
Module 6: Long-term Success
pitch your portfolio
is broken down into six simple modules that will help fine-tune your portfolio, build relationships with companies, and successfully license your designs
You’ll walk away from Pitch Your Portfolio with all the knowledge and tools you need to get your designs in front of art directors so you can license your work & start earning.
I have received numerous licensing contracts since Pitch Your Portfolio and found out a few days ago my dream of getting into Hawthorne Fabrics has come true! Your PDF layouts, advice, and Airtable all made it happen for me. So thank you!
"Your classes have been the jumpstart of my career."
- mandy corcoran
If you have a decent amount of art that you are happy with, then it's definitely worth signing up! I’ve had one company license 3 of my designs and another company commissioned me to create 4 new designs. I certainly wouldn't be here without PYP!
"I didn't think my designs were good enough but Shannon has given me the confidence to go for it, and I'm so pleased I have!"
- Verity Lowry
Shannon gave us invaluable insider information like real-life scenarios that I haven't found anywhere else. Now I know how to approach potential clients, how to package my work in a format that meets art directors' expectations, and how to keep track of it all.
"Pitch Your Portfolio gave me the tools and confidence to shift my business from freelance & retail to more art licensing."
- Kristina Yu
SDR closes on July 1st
pyp won't be available much longer...
So this really is your LAST opportunity to sign up!
What pyp alumni say
I’ve been so inspired by the progress of my students. Here’s what a few of them have said about their experience…
It’s not preachy or overly optimistic where one feels encouraged but still gets lost when trying to do it…I started sending out my portfolio and within a month got 2 licensing contracts and 4 inquiries. I know I wouldn’t have had the confidence to start thinking on business terms if not for you.
"You give really realistic, relatable, and actionable content."
- Sneha Jaiswal
But it totally has as I feel I have a roadmap on how I should go about building my portfolio and so many ideas have come to me, now that I know what the process is of how to go about pitching my portfolio to companies. This was a missing link for me.
"Since I didn't have a portfolio, I was a bit unsure if joining now made sense..."
- Rekha Krishnamurthi
Nothing was left for us to figure out on our own. It’s a game-changer and really equips you with the practical tools and confidence boost you need to approach businesses, and put your portfolio out there in a professional, yet accessible, way.
"It was real conversations that weren’t sugar coated."
- Kristen Steen
I am still in the portfolio-building stage, but when I have enough artwork, I'll be ready to put it out there immediately! With this class you learn methods to build your client list, that way when the time is right you won't waste time trying to figure out your next steps.
"PYP really helped by giving me actionable instruction on where to start."
- Michelle Schiro
I've known for a while I needed to start gathering company information but avoided it because it felt so overwhelming. But I've felt a shift in myself just in the past month since taking this class and my goals feel much more attainable!
"Seeing how you organize everything was a game-changer."
- Maria Bee
“I've studied many courses before, but PYP is a really great and 100% practical course!
I finished the course in summer 2022. In the fall, I signed two licensing contracts with bolt fabric companies. Plus in 2023, I became a freelancer for a children's clothing brand, which was my dream."
Julia Khimich
“Some courses I’ve taken have been very general, but PYP gives you a close up look into every small detail.
It helped my mindset and how I think about approaching companies. I have a clear way to present my work so I don't overthink it. Plus the templates alone are gold!"
Kat Campbell
“Utilizing your email tips, I submitted to 10 art agents and signed with one of them two weeks later!!
Everything in PYP is done in a way that makes sense for someone like me who doesn't have a ton of time or stress to their day. They want it to be simple. And it really is."
Melanie Stimmel
“In just six months, I reached out to over 30 companies and licensed 2 designs.
Now I’m more confident in pitching, and create strategic artwork for specific markets. This course is for anybody who wants to take action in developing his/her own creative career in surface design."
Natalia Zlateva
“I can't stress how empowering getting my portfolio organized has been! Knowing exactly what I have, what gaps I need to fill, and how to keep it organized has been amazing.
Since starting the course, I've signed licensing contracts with 3 new companies and am in negotiations with 3 more."
Janelle Coury
“I was ready to leave the business, but I sold 3 pieces during this course because I found the confidence to re-contact two potential clients at the right time.
And I have put much of the "business" part of my work time on auto-pilot and freed up so much of my time (and head-space) to make art."
Susan Brand
- You're still learning how to create proper repeats, use design programs, and haven't even started thinking about portfolios yet.
- You're looking for a basic overview of ALL aspects of surface design instead of deep knowledge on the one subject that'll help you most: pitching.
- You expect to be earning $100k per year from surface design within the next year instead of focusing on slow but meaningful growth.
Is Pitch Your Portfolio right for you?
Still unsure? Email my team and me at hello@sketchdesignrepeat.com and we'll give you our honest opinion on whether PYP is a good fit for you.
it won't be right for you if...
- You're new to the industry and dream of seeing your art out in the world, but have no idea where to start when it comes to pitching.
- You’ve been designing for a while, but are struggling to land licensing deals and need to generate more interest in your work.
- You enjoy making art but feel lost when it comes to organization and realize you need some help with the business side of art.
it'll be a good fit for you if...
a left-handed, left-brained artist, agent, & educator
Btw, have we met yet?
I’M SHANNON McNAB
Over the past decade, I slowly transitioned to my dream job as a full-time artist working for myself. And when I say “slowly transitioned,” I mean it! It was definitely not an overnight success.
One BIG thing that helped was that while creative, the other part of me is a total numbers nerd, so I thrived on testing different approaches, documenting my results, and creating streamlined systems.
Ultimately I arrived at the methods that led me to collaborations with brands like Papyrus, Cloud9 Fabrics, Trader Joe’s, and Pyrex. Now, I teach these methods to other surface designers so they don't make the same mistakes so many others do (myself included) when trying to build a successful surface design business.
My work here at SDR also gave me the opportunity to join Jennifer Nelson Artists as an agent where I put all I've learned over the past decade to good use!
I feel strongly about the value and support you’ll receive in this course, but I realize it’s sometimes hard to know if it’ll be a good fit.
MY 7-DAY GUARANTEE
If you decide it’s not for you* email me within 7 days of your purchase. My team will send you a simple refund request form and once completed, we’ll process your refund within 5 business days.
*See our FAQ section for more info.
Believe me, I’ve been burned by courses myself – so I’ve got your back!
A few more of the student wins inside PYP...
How long is enrollment open and when will PYP be offered again?
still got questions?
Enrollment for Pitch Your Portfolio is open through Monday, June 30. Also, since Sketch Design Repeat is closing on July 1st, this is the LAST time it will ever be offered.
Is there a time limit for course access? And how much time do I need to complete this course?
You'll have guaranteed access until January 2027, allowing you the time to complete it when you can. However, enrollment ends on June 30 and it is your LAST opportunity to sign up for this course.
The course itself is completely self-paced and the time commitment you’ll need every week depends on how quickly you want to work through the course and its resources. Our suggestion is one module per week (the modules range from 30-80 minutes to watch), but we encourage you to go at whatever pace you’re most comfortable with, given your current schedule.
How much does this course cost? Are there payment plans?
The course enrollment fee for is €499 (approx. $510 USD). Prices are in Euros and exclude VAT (which is collected for EU customers). USD prices are approximate and based on the current exchange rate.
We no longer offer monthly payment plans (click here to read why). However, we understand that some prefer to pay in installments so we've enabled payment options at checkout like Klarna and PayPal Pay Later that will allow you to spread payments out over a few months. Note: Some payment options may not be available depending on where you live.
Do you offer refunds?
Yes, you can request a refund within the 7 days of purchase by emailing us. We'll send you a simple refund request form. Once completed, we’ll process your refund within 5 business days. However, we reserve the right to refuse a refund if our system shows you have watched more than 25% of the course.
Do you teach how to design in this course?
No; this course is about pitching your completed work to companies.
Can I take this course if I already have some art licensing deals?
Yes — we've had several veteran artists join PYP! Especially if you're unhappy about the lack of work or licensing deals you’re getting OR you want to be more organized in your business, then Pitch Your Portfolio will be useful.
Will this help me if I don’t live in the US?
Absolutely! Pitch Your Portfolio has alumni from nearly 50 different countries spanning 6 continents like Australia, Qatar, Germany, India, Nicaragua, and Thailand, who've used what they learned to further their design careers.
Will this help me get freelance work or is it just for licensing?
Yes, the process for finding and contacting companies for licensing vs. freelance client work is very similar, so what you learn in Pitch Your Portfolio will help you no matter what your focus is. You’ll find several examples of both licensing and freelance throughout the modules as I've done both throughout the course of my career.
How much art do I need before I’m ready for this course?
A lot less than you think. If you have a portfolio with 10 good designs, you have enough — yes, really!
Do you provide captions or transcripts for course videos?
Yes! Every course video has captions and downloadable transcriptions to make it easier for you to learn the material in whatever way works best for you. There’s also a full course workbook you can download or print out so you can follow along through each module.
What’s the difference between Pitch Your Portfolio and Artful Pricing & Negotiation? Which one should I take?
Pitch Your Portfolio teaches you how to find companies and pitch your art to them while Artful Pricing & Negotiation teaches you how to price your work and negotiate contracts. I recommend taking Pitch Your Portfolio first — because if you’re not pitching, there’s no one to negotiate pricing with!
What’s the difference between this course and other surface design business courses from other designers?
The biggest difference is that Pitch Your Portfolio is a deep dive into one specific (vital) business skill for surface designers: Finding companies and successfully pitching your work to them.
Other surface design business courses broadly share how to launch a surface design career, and many even start with teaching the craft of design for complete beginners. This is helpful if you’re just starting out and want an overview…. but in my experience, if you already know how to design, mastering pitching is the most efficient way to help you land licensing deals.
Because we go deep, everyone walks away with an actionable plan that generates income, not just a bunch of knowledge (which can feel overwhelming to implement).
What if I have more questions before I sign up?
What makes Pitch Your Portfolio unique?
I'm known as an organizational maven, so whether you need help gathering your artwork, client details, or company research — all that is possible with the tools & training you get inside PYP.
learn to organize your entire art biz
The words my students most often use to describe my teaching style is honest, knowledgable, and encouraging. Everything inside PYP is built to keep you grounded, yet excited to be a working artist.
realistic view of the industry
My only focus in PYP is teaching you how to get your art in front of the people who matter because regularly reaching out to companies is truly the MOST effective way to land licensing deals.
laser-like focus on getting clients
