Let’s talk TEXTURE: an unsung hero of illustration. With the release of “Poppy’s Question”, written by @nicolemelleby , I wanted to share a bit of my process and some artwork from the book! 😊
This sweet book shows an internal story of our main character, Poppy. She feels a wide array of emotions, and I wanted to showcase that emotional journey visually through color and texture.
I did a lot of swatches and tests, and settled on using watercolor, pastels, and colored pencils for this story. Each material is so different in how it behaves, and each has a distinctive texture and look that was so much fun to play with!
I hope you check out this lovely story 😊 Thank you to @littlebrownyoungreaders and Nicole for letting me work on this story. We need diverse books now more than ever
#kidlitartist #diversechildrensbooks #picturebookillustration #kidlitillustration #bookillustrations
AI “art” is TRASH! For the love of god, STOP using it. If you want to be an author, then learn how to actually write. If you want to be an artist, LEARN. Use your BRAIN!
Just because you’re mediocre and you want to be an author so badly, doesn’t mean you deserve to be one. These “tools” don’t make you an artist. You’re just a hollow fool.
But hey, I’m just a Luddite author/illustrator terrified and angry at the world 🤪#bookillustrator #artisthumor #antiai #kidlitartist #writingcommunityofinstagram
Today I’m 33, and the best birthday gift I got this year was being told I was finally going to be an author 😭❤️ In what has felt like the longest year of my life, this was a much needed light.
I think many of us feel that this year (and the past few) has been awful, and frankly I’m unsure if 2026 will be better. But I think it’s important to find those moments of joy to hold onto so we can push against the darkness and be there for each other.
Wishing you all a wonderful end to your year ❤️✨🙏🏻
#kidlitartist #kidsbookillustration #watercolorillustration #picturebookartist cuteillustrations
Alt text: a series of gouache paintings depicting a frog in rainbow colored pants
Something I want to leave behind this year is: SELF DOUBT! I have pretty big self-esteem issues (as I’m sure many creatives do) and the pressures of capitalism can add to that quite a bit. Am I actually successful unless I have X? Do I deserve to be here? Did I earn this?
So much of this life is random (imo) and I think we’re all figuring it out as best we can. Even though I’ve illustrated several books, as well as recently sold my first book, I still feel like I haven’t “made it”. And while I can’t just shake away that feeling, I can at least try to be kinder to myself. So if you’re an artist, or really any professional, dealing with this, I hope you allow some grace for yourself. You don’t need to “earn” your place to exist. You are worthy just as you are ❤️✨
#artistprocess #coloredpencildrawing #prismacoloredpencils #artistlifestyle #artstudio #illustrator #bookillustrator #kidlitart #whimsicalillustration #sketchings #doodlingart #picturebookart #picturebookauthor
BIG NEWS!!✨I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m going to be an author! 🥹😭 This is something I have dreamt of since I was a child. I have wanted to illustrate and write kids books my whole life, and the fact that I will have my own in the world is deeply humbling. The book is called, “Sherman’s Magic Pants” and is expected to come out fall of 2027 with @simonandschuster
I do not take this for granted, especially because of how awful the world is. I won’t pretend that there are much more important things going on (ICE raids, the ongoing gen0 cide in Gaza, our Predator in Chief infecting us with his malice), and those things have made it very difficult to keep on going if I may be honest. But with this news, I feel like I have something to live for, and I wanted to take a moment to be joyful and share my dream coming true.
Thank you to yall for being so sweet and kind and supportive. I hope to continue to spread magic and whimsy in these profoundly tragic times. Please take care of yourself, and thanks for being here ❤️✨
#kidsbookillustration #cuteartwork #kidlitart #kidsbookauthor #bookillustrator #picturebookartist #authorannouncement
I can’t be the only one who’s constantly feeling like they’re on the verge of a breakdown, right? RIGHT?! 😵💫
Also, to all my fellow friends who are struggling with the darkness of the world, make sure you do something to care for yourself. Spend time with friends and family. Log off for a few hours. Find sparks of joy to inspire you to keep going ✨
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#comicartist #arthumor #politicalcartoon #dailycomic #leftisthumor #comicdrawing #leftistmemes
Let’s talk ✨character design!✨ This is one of my favorite parts of any book project. Building out the characters for a story is SO much fun, and when you get a book like @whatsupbuckley ’s The Weirdies, it makes it all the better! This book is filled with vibrant and weird characters, which made designing them and illustrating this book an absolute dream!
When I design characters, I try to break down their personality in simple terms and then think of how someone like that might look. If they’re shy, how would they dress? If they’re confident and mean, how would they style their hair?
Also, when illustrating, thinking about the characters as simple shapes can do so much! A person’s silhouette can say everything you need and make the impression you want for them.
This book was an absolute delight to do. It comes out very soon!! (The 26th! 🥳) Big thanks to @littlebrownyoungreaders@andreacolvinkc for letting me be a part of this, and Michael for trusting me with this world!
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#kidlitartist #kidsbookillustration #middlegradebooks #illustrationprocess #bookillustrations #characterdesigns
It’s been extremely difficult to see how much hatred there is in the world. And I have struggled quite a bit to try to find what, if anything, is there to keep living for?
Then the answer came to me in the song of a child’s laugh. In the look of two people falling in love. In the grace and beauty of the earth around me.
Yes, there are deplorable things happening right now: ICE raids, the unspeakable gen ocide in Gaza, the rich and powerful destroying our planet for greed. I won’t pretend the world isn’t dark. But the good things, the simple things, the REAL things are worth fighting for.
Find your community. Volunteer. Boycott/buy local if you can.
And remember that you matter, you are loved, and you aren’t alone ❤️
#whimsicalart #artcomics #illustrativeart #hopefulart #illustrationdrawing #comicartwork #graphicnovelartist #cuteartstyle #hopefulart
✨new video✨ Hello friends! As we dive further into the apocalypse, I’ve been thinking more and more about the idea of “success”. I’ve spent most of my life feeling badly about not “being further along” or having money, and then it hit me: alllllll of this is MADE👏🏻UP👏🏻
We obviously need money in order to living in capitalism 🙃 but you’re not a bad person for not having money. I’m 32, I have 3 roommates, and not much money. But I’m telling myself that I still matter. You’re not lazy or a waste. The corporate leeches who drain your life away for profits are. You deserve to be happy and enjoy life.
Please be kind to yourself, and to one another. This world is dark, but it’s brighter when we come together ❤️
#paintingprocessvideo #whimsicalart #kidlitartist #kidsbookillustration #bekind #watercolorillustration #coloredpencildrawing #artistprocess
“That’s why they call it the American *Dream*, because you have to be asleep to believe it.” -George Carlin
There’s a lot I’m angry about and scared of lately. The world seems to just be getting darker every day. But I also see a bit of good, whether it’s in my community or glimmers of hope in the news. While I am a realist, and I often don’t think things will actually get better, there is a (very) small part of me that does. I hope we can build a new “American Dream”, one that’s built on empathy, community, and caring for the earth.
#comicstrip #politicalcartoons #politicalhumor #leftistmemes #artcomic
I wrote a book! ✨ I just finalized my dummy for this picture book I’ve been working on the past year and my agent and I are going on sub! It’s a humorous romp about a frog and his lucky pants. Really hoping it finds a publisher, so we shall see!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 In the meantime, I’m going to start writing my next project 😅
The piece I’m working on in the video is a process of one of the final art pieces in the dummy. I decided to use a mix of watercolor, gouache, and colored pencils!
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#bookillustrator #kidlitillustration #kidlitart #cuteartwork #picturebookartist #picturebooks #bookillustration #artprocessvideo
Me every 👏🏻single👏🏻day👏🏻 Anyone else tired of living through constant “unprecedented times”?
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#artiststruggles #leftist #funnycomic #funnyart #artisthumor #dailycomics #ihateithere #politicalcartoon
