My collaboration with Nancy Oswald is taking shape. We continuously work back and forth as we rough draft, revise and tweak the story and illustrations. It's exciting to watch it come together and take the form of an actual creative-nonfiction picture book. Not only is Nancy a multiple award winning author, she also taught in one and two room schools for over twenty years. She now lives on a family ranch near Cotopaxi, CO. She is a soil enthusiast as well nature lover. I grew up in a family of farmers and ranchers, plus had my very own worm farm. What can I say, I was -a nerd- ahead of my time ..read more

Much of this year I've been illustrating a fictional chapter book geared toward adults. This has been such a different project for me and so much fun to illustrate. I'd forgotten how much I love working in black and white. Without going into too much detail, it's a conglomeration of tall tales; running the gamut from funny, scary, poignant and just plain bizarre. It's a unique book, sort of feels like a cross between a modern Canterbury Tales and The Twilight Zone. I'll have more to tell next year toward the book's release date. Nancy Oswald and I are collaborating on a creative nonfict ..read more

Sketch Romania 2022 Have you ever heard of Urban Sketchers? It's a global community of sketchers dedicated to the practice of on-location drawing. We share our love for the places where we live and travel - one drawing at a time. We are committed to creating connections by sharing our work, engaging with one another and learning from everyone. Our global sketchbook is a space where diverse cultures, styles, backgrounds, and locations come together. Sketch Romania 2022 was created and organized by illustrator and educator, Christina Wald. She's also the new international Social Media ..read more

I've been fascinated by mummies since I was a kid. So to be offered an illustration project about mummies was super exciting. The author, Rhonda L. Donald, has included a variety of cultures from around the world, time frames and different methods of mummification. The mummies come in all shapes and sizes, from a baby wooly mammoth, beloved pets of pharaohs, Egyptian and Asian royalty, sacrificial Inca maidens, mysterious deaths and the list goes on. Through science and technology new discoveries are made every day. Soon we might even be able to recreate the voices from some of these long dead ..read more

Under the Sea, part of the Over/Under series Family Tree (18"x 24")  Puzzle Me This Above are a couple of new illustrations for my art licensing agency. They start as ideas that will become puzzles, beach blankets, home decor, murals and more. It's a different process than illustrating picture books, but still relates to kids. I do have more books coming, but it's way too soon for show and tell. Click on each image for an expanded view. Read Across America NEA (National Educational Association) launched Read Across America to encourage children to read more books. Thi ..read more

I've been a loyal follower of Miss Marple's Musings since her blog began in 2011. Joanna Marple travels the world exploring children's books that focus on nature, cultural diversity and storytelling at it's best. It was an honor to have her review Baby on Board which just came out this spring and also include me in her illustrator interviews. Miss Marple's Musings, A young adult and children's author celebrating the natural and cultural diversity in our world Below is I Spy Blackberry Pie, a book I'm writing as well as illustrating and will be submitting to publishers and agents ..read more

Here's looking at you, winter. On these cold Colorado mornings it helps when I'm stuck inside drawing summer themed illustrations. The Cintiq screen on the left shows a rough sketch from Wilma's Worm. The central monitor has the Indesign layout from Meet the Minibeast. Both are working titles for now.  Pitch Deck with illustrations from Meet the Minibeasts for The Seymour Agency Drum roll, please.... I have big news, for the first time in forever, it seems!  I'm beyond honored (and still pinching myself) to officially be represented by Lynnette Novak of the Seymour Agency ..read more

I love how museums and companies are thinking outside the binding to expand books way beyond their borders. As a volunteer for Fort Collins Museum of Discovery I've been able to share several of my creative nonfiction picture books through Storytime in the Dome. Wild Ones: Observing City Critters by Carol Malnor This program happens twice a month in the expansive 360° digital dome. The books always have a live narrator to keep it interactive for these young book lovers. The books are digitized with animated page turns and some include background sound effects! It's a fun, creative way ..read more

Thank you to Lydia Dody, the publisher of Style Magazine and journalist, Elissa J. Tivona for the article featuring "Storytime in the Dome" at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. This magazine reflects the heart and soul of life in Northern Colorado and it's an honor to be included. Style Magazine, January 2017 Click on Style Magazine's cover to get the Flip Book online magazine Storytime in the Dome at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery Click on the above logo to go the museum's site. Everybody at the museum works hard to put this program together - hopefully it's a labor of ..read more

World Read Aloud Day is an annual celebration of reading and story sharing that connects students with children's book illustrators and authors from all over the world. It's a fun event coming up February 2, 2022. Book creators volunteer their time that day visiting classrooms and libraries for a virtual read-a-loud plus sharing our book making experience. Thank you Jessica for this fun poster featuring 100 Days of School Projects. Please see more on Jessica's Pinterest.       As 2021 winds down I'm wrapping up some projects while starting others. Most are in various ..read more