Frequently Asked Questions

Did you go to art school?

I didn’t go to art school, I attended the University of Missouri, where I ultimately studied art education. When I think about it now, the idea of going to an art school sounds amazing and wonderful, but at the time I wasn’t thinking that I would make a career as an artist. For me it was important to explore a variety of options, even though art and design classes were ALWAYS my favorites. I think I resisted the idea because in the back of my mind there was a voice saying “you can’t get a job with an art degree!” Even in the end I went the practical route and got an art education degree, so I could teach. But illustration ultimately found me, mostly because I made it a point to continue making my own work and putting it out in the world, and to continue to learn new skills and to push myself to get better. And I’m still doing that! I have never been asked to show my resume or a diploma to get an illustration job. Illustrators get jobs based on the merit of their portfolios. 

But this was just my own experience. If you have a clear idea of the path that you want to follow, art school might be perfect for you. Also, don’t forget that there are SO many resources in the world these days aside from formal educational settings where you can essentially design your own education - online classes (Skillshare is great), videos, workshops, etc. I would say I have learned most of what I know just through experience, putting in the time, and constantly looking for and being open to ways of improving and evolving. 

 How did you get started in the illustration world? Any tips for aspiring illustrators?

I’ve been drawing and creating my entire life, but my path to becoming an illustrator has been winding. I worked as an elementary school art teacher (K-5th) for six years. I truly loved that job, even though the life of a public school teacher can be challenging in the least. I was always in awe of the creativity that came out of those kids, and how they came to life in the art classroom. I think I learned as much from them about how to be curious and creative as they learned from me. During those teaching years a friend and I opened an Etsy shop where we sold our own work, mostly greeting cards and stationery, that we were creating outside of our full-time jobs. Our Etsy shop really began to flourish, and eventually I needed to make a choice between continuing to teach, and putting all of my energy into our growing business. I chose the latter, and over the course of the next five or six years we developed a thriving stationery line, and hired a team of employees as we grew. I served as the primary artist, among a variety of other roles, and during this time I found my artistic voice and began to fine tune my illustration and design skills. It was a whirlwind, and I learned so much about so many things. Eventually I stepped away to spread my wings and pursue other illustration related opportunities. It was scary! I really didn’t know how to find work at first, or really even what kind of work I wanted to do, but I did know that I needed to push myself and grow as an illustrator. My gut said “you love doing this, so keep going!” I was grateful for the small jobs that came to me initially, and each job taught me something along the way. I have done work in surface pattern design, greeting cards, fabric, a couple of editorial jobs, and I even had a gallery show at my local fine art gallery. I began to learn what kind of work I enjoyed taking on, and what kinds I didn’t. Over the past couple of years I have done some larger projects with various publishing companies, and I’m looking forward to more jobs in that arena. It seems to fit me pretty perfectly. 

Everyone’s path is different. When I look back on how I got to where I am today I never could have foreseen the route that I took, or even that I would end up where I am currently. For those who aspire to find a career in illustration, my advice is pretty simple. Make it a priority to draw all the time. Make things that you like and are quintessentially you, and share what you are making with the world. You never know who will see it. 

What inspires you? Where do you get your ideas?

I am especially inspired by the natural world, and how it is unbelievably complex, but how all the parts and pieces fit together in such harmony. I think most people walk around everyday oblivious to our dependence on the balance of nature, and how much better our lives could be if we all find the time to connect and live in harmony with the natural world. 

I also find a lot of inspiration in artists and illustrators that came before me. I love learning about their backgrounds and techniques, and reasons for creating their work. This is one reason that I am answering these questions - because I know how impactful learning about other artists and illustrators' experiences and creative processes can be!

Other things that I love: vintage children’s books, Wes Anderson movies, family stories, slow afternoons visiting art museums, hikes in the woods, flea markets, long walks on a sunny day, and traveling to new places.

How did you find your illustration style?

I don’t think style is really something we can set out to “find” because so much feeds into how our work looks. I would say my style is a product of who I am, how I think, and what I like. It is a slow and ever-continuing process, and it’s something that develops and evolves over years of working. In some ways it is like my handwriting - it is just what comes out. But it is also molded by the things I consume, the visual information that I take in, and a lot of time spent practicing and experimenting. The trick is to not force anything, or try to steal someone else's style. We shouldn’t think of style as something that is concrete. It is more of a process, and it should continue to change and evolve as we do. 

What tools and materials do you use? Do you work digitally?

I love to experiment and I am constantly trying new tools and techniques. Some of the tried and true materials that are constants in my work include: gouache (I like Winsor & Newton or Holbein), Blackwing Pearl pencils, Strathmore bristol board (vellum finish), and lately I’ve been drawing on Strathmore marker paper for an extra smooth surface. Last year I got a large 19x26 inch light table for transferring sketches, and that was a game changer.

Yes, I do include digital techniques in my work. My final illustrations are almost always a combination of traditional and digital. I love my Ipad Pro and Apple pencil. Sometimes I do initial sketches in Procreate on my Ipad, and then move to traditional materials for the bulk of the work, and then back to Photoshop on the computer to fine tune and prepare files for delivery to the client. I used to be hesitant to incorporate too much digital technology into what I do, because I wanted to retain the traditional hand drawn look to my illustrations. But I’ve found that I really don’t need to sacrifice my paint or pencils, and by incorporating digital tools into the process I gain so much more efficiency and flexibility. 

What’s your favorite color? How do you choose a color palette?

Color is huge. I could talk a lot about it here - and maybe I will eventually. I LOVE playing around with different color combinations. Color has the power to create emotion, define the feel of an environment, and to almost be a character in itself when it comes to picture book illustration. I wouldn’t say I really have one favorite color (although when I look at my work as a whole, I’d say I use green quite a lot), but I do have a set of colors that I gravitate toward, and they tend to be a little bit muted. Warm mustard yellows, coral pinks, greens in all shades, neutral browns, and blues that lean toward green. I don’t use much red but when I do it is usually an orange tomato red. When it comes to color palettes for projects that I am working on it is driven by my taste, the context of the project, and what kind of emotion I’m wanting to convey. I also really love limited palettes that only include two to three colors. Limited palettes require more creative problem solving and lead to more interesting compositions, which in my opinion are oftentimes much better than those that use an entire rainbow of colors. 

How do you overcome creative block, or burnout? 

Burnout can be real - especially in the later stages of a large project. Even though I love what I do, sometimes I just cannot sit at my desk and draw any longer. When I feel like this I know I just need to get out of the house (studio) and reset my thoughts and clear my head. Oftentimes that just means going for a nice long walk - preferably on a trail in the woods. If I’m in the midst of trying to solve some sort of creative problem, there is something meditative about walking for me that will often open up my mind and thoughts. Many times I have returned from a walk with a slew of new ideas that I wouldn’t have come up with while just sitting at my desk.

Is being an illustrator fun?

Most of the time, yes! I do love my job. I like the challenge of solving visual problems, and creating something that didn’t exist before. I like working with my hands, and the freedom that I have to set my own schedule, and arrange my days however fits best for me. There are a lot of nice things to be thankful for, but there are also parts of being an illustrator that can be stressful - like not having a consistent paycheck. The work can ebb and flow. Sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day, and other times I’m hoping that I can find enough work to meet my needs.  Just as with any job, there are good and bad things, but overall I love it.

Who are your favorite illustrators?

There are so many...Bill Peet, Richard Scarry, Gyo Fujikawa, Robert McCloskey, Dahlov Ipcar, Carson Ellis, Miroslav Sasek, Leonard Weisgard, Roger Duvoisin, Jon Klassen, Charley Harper, and Alice and Martin Provensen just to name a few.

Can I hire you?

I’m always looking for challenging new opportunities, so maybe! I don’t do personal commissions, but if you are an editor or an art director working in publishing or a related area please email my agent or myself with some details about what you are looking for.