An Artist’s Toolbox: Art Reference & Research

Many times through my life, I’ve heard this myth about artists: A true artist doesn’t need to look at pictures to help them draw—they can draw anything right from their own imagination. But, contrary to this tall-tale, reference images and research are wonderful assets for most artists, especially illustrators. And really, how many people actually have a photographic memory? Very few, if any.

Think about art schools. Life drawing is a basic foundation class most artists take. And what do they draw from? A live model—not just their imaginations. Artists don’t draw or paint in a void. Reference images and research are key tools to keep in your artist’s toolbox.

Collecting Reference Photos

Like many artists, you may first have an idea about something you want to draw or paint, and perhaps you’ll scribble a few rough sketches and jot down some notes to flesh it out. But, once you’ve got an idea, you need to develop it into a cohesive composition, whether it’s a one-off piece of art or part of a larger project, like a picture book or gallery series. This is when I turn to reference photos.

Reference photos are images you may find or take yourself to help you with accuracy in your drawing or painting. I usually use a mix of images found and images I’ve taken myself, depending on what I’m able to find and what my specific subject is. Once I have an idea of what the elements of my piece will be, I’ll start collecting reference images that help me accurately portray those elements. 

Final art of a woman floating underwater with moon jellyfish. Next to the final image, two reference photos taken for the piece: one photo of moon jellies at the Mystic Aquarium. The other photo is the artist posing herself with lines to help with perspective.
Final art of “Falling, Floating, Free”, next to two reference photos taken by me. Moon jellies at the Mystic Aquarium and me posing myself with lines to help me figure out perspective.

Taking Your Own Reference Photos

If part of my piece includes something I know I can find locally, I’ll go out and take some photos myself. Or if it involves a person in a specific pose, I’ll often pose myself or one of my family members to make sure I’m drawing that pose accurately. Sometimes, I’ll even use my dog as a reference (dogs are some of my favorite characters to add to a visual story). If a stranger were to look through some of the photos on my phone, they’d either think I’m a very interesting person, or downright crazy. Don’t worry though—it’s just reference photos.

A pencil drawing of a girl running next to a photo of the artist's daughter running used as reference.
A pencil drawing for a picture book dummy and one of several reference photos of my daughter running taken from the ground.

Drawing From Live Reference

Another option for reference images is drawing from a live reference. You can have a friend or family member hold a pose for you while you draw. Or, go to a zoo to draw the animals you’re hoping to capture. You could even sit in your back yard to observe the birds or flowers. 

Often it’s easiest for most artists to take photos of live references, so you still have that image to use back in the studio. But, sitting and enjoying the slow-down time of drawing a live reference can be a lovely experience in itself. I’m lucky to have places like the EcoTarium and New England Botanic Gardens at Tower Hill near me which I visit to find inspiration and references. 

I recommend exploring local opportunities near you that can provide some surprisingly wonderful reference opportunities. Here are some resources to help you find great places near you.

A sketchbook with ferns drawn in pen in front of ferns in the woods. Image by Victoria K. Chapman.
A sketchbook drawing done from live reference in the woods of a species of wood fern while at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

Collecting Found Images

For some subjects, it’s not always easy to go out and take or draw from live references. As nice as it would be to hop on a plane and travel to Hawaii to take reference photos of volcanoes, it’s usually not realistic, unless you live there. That’s when the internet comes in handy.

I don’t condone the stealing of other people’s images by any means, but looking at photos and other images for inspiration and to get a sense of what something looks like can be very helpful. As long as, in the end, your final piece of art isn’t a direct copy of somebody else’s work. Found reference photos are a means of practicing and finding inspiration, not plagiarism. Don’t steal the images—practice and learn from them, but then create your own composition from what you’ve found in your own style.

A northern saw-whet owl in a pine tree. Royalty-free photo by Chris Tolman via Pixabay.
"Happy Owlidays"! Three illustrated saw-whet owls wearing winter scarves on a tree branch.
An example of a reference photo used to help me learn what northern saw-whet owls look like, next to the final piece of original art. This photo is a royalty-free photo from Pixaby taken by Chris Tolman.

Keep it Legal!

If you love a particular pose or way of lighting a figure that you want to borrow to use in your art, there are ways you can legally do so without violating copyright laws. There are a number of royalty-free reference photo websites out there that won’t step on any photographer’s toes, and can also support them and their art. Some are completely free, but it may be harder to search those and they may not always have what you want. Others have a nominal fee to give you access and you support photographers and their art through that. Artists supporting artists. Its’ a win-win. 

Alternately, you can also reach out directly to a photographer and ask them for permission. Just make sure you get a clear “yes” and what their terms and restrictions are.

Here are a few pay reference photo websites:

And here are some free reference photo websites: 

IMPORTANT: Always be sure to check out the terms for use. Some photographers require attribution if you directly use their work. Others require you pay an additional fee if it’s something you’ll be selling commercially.

Lisa Clough from Lachri Fine Art also has this great video about using reference photos legally that you can check out:

Doing the Research

Often times, I’ll realize I simply need more information before I can finalize part of my composition. I started to draw a child lying in a field of flowers, but realized I wasn’t sure which flowers actually bloom at the same time. Sure, many people wouldn’t notice if you drew a spring daffodil blooming at the same time as fall mums (unless they’re like me), but you might feel better knowing that your piece doesn’t contain gross inaccuracies.

Places to do the research

There are a lot of ways to research your subject matter, a classic place to do so being your local library. Books are an excellent resource if you can find a book about your subject. Libraries also have access to newspapers, magazines, and sometimes videos, microfiche, and photo slides. Libraries are an important local resource for so many reasons.

There is also, of course, the internet. But, you also need to be careful that your searches make use of reliable resources. Here are some of my favorite reliable sources of information for my nature research:

A lot of reputable newspapers, magazines, and education organizations have websites with free information. Just be careful of where you find your information and double-check it against other sources.

Watercolor and colored pencil illustration by Victoria K. Chapman. A smiling Black child lies in the grass among dandelions, asters, and clover with a ladybug on their shirt.
For this image, I did some research to make sure dandelions, white clovers, and asters all bloom around the same time.

An example of why to do the research:

Perhaps you are drawing an echidna, a curious egg-laying mammal from down under as part of a non-fiction book you’re working on. It’s helpful to also find out where the echidna lives, its general size, its behavioral characteristics, and what its habitat looks like. If you draw an echidna in a New England forest, it’s going to seem awfully out of place. They’re actually from Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. Or if, for example, you draw an echidna next to a horse, but you draw them the same size, it’s also going to look rather odd. Echidnas are closer to the size of a large house cat.

A rough sketch of an echidna next to a horse, roughly the same size. The text reads, "Yeah, we're confused too..."
A rough sketch of a horse-sized echidna next to a horse. Or…maybe it’s a tiny horse? We’re all confused here.

Doing the research will save you a lot of headache later when you find you included some innocent, but terribly inaccurate detail. It may be a little extra work, but I personally find it to be one of the most interesting parts of my job as an illustrator. And if you do have the opportunity to go on-location to do research for a piece of art, do it! That is, if you enjoy traveling and learning. I sure do.

Reference is Your Friend

Reference images and research are amazing tools that can help your art not only be more accurate, but more interesting as well. Research can help with precision, but it can also help with inspiration. And what artist doesn’t like feeling inspired? I love looking at photos, going out into the world to see new things, and spend time really looking at the amazing things around me. Plus, learning something new in the process can bring a whole other level of joy to your work.

Just remember that it’s okay to learn from other artist’ images, but stay away from plagiarism. Learn and practice, and then create something new and original that’s yours. If you want to copy another image, make sure to do so legally. And most of all, enjoy the time spent really looking at the world around you. This Earth is an amazing gift and there is so much to see!

Do you have other resources relevant to reference images and research that you’d like to share? Leave a comment here.

Do you have an art-related topic you’d like to hear about from me on this blog? Let me know!

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Illustrator, Luciana Navarro Powell

Light Speaks written by Christine Layton, illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell/Tilbury House 2023. A whimsical illustration of a child holding two fireflies in their hands while another catches fireflies in a jar.

I’m so excited to introduce the first KidLit Connection illustrator of 2023! Luciana Navarro Powell is a multimedia artist originally from Brazil and living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest of Washington. Her illustrations vary from colorful and fun to mysterious and moody. Luciana’s versatility in mediums and style has resulted in more than a dozen books and many magazine illustrations as well. Her love of the outdoors and observations from nature and the places she’s lived inspire her engaging compositions and color palette. Her illustrations bring to life so many great stories for kids.

Illustrator, Luciana Navarro Powell, smiling with her books in the background.

Luciana has a background in product design and graphic design, but began her full-time venture into illustration in 2001. Her most recently published book, Happy Birthday, Belly Button (written by Kalli Dakos) just released this week! So, happy book birthday to her! And she has another amazing book, Light Speaks (written by Christine Layton) releasing in April this year as well, available for pre-order. Plus, Two Measly Spots (written by Elaine Gast Fawcett and Sue Schwartzman) was also released earlier this year by independent publisher UpSpot Publishing! Luciana has been very busy with so many book projects. To learn more about all of Luciana’s books and upcoming releases, visit her website at www.lucianaillustration.com.

Be sure to read to the end to find out how you can get a signed art print from Luciana!

An Interview with Luciana Navarro Powell, Picture Book Illustrator

We’d love to know more about you as an illustrator. What inspires you and your art and what do you love about your job creating books for kids?

Thank you so much for having me in your blog! I loved drawing as a kid, and when I was 10 my parents enrolled me in a painting class with a local famous painter in the city I grew up in Brazil. I always enjoyed looking at art, loved Art History classes, but never thought about it as a career. A lot of things inspire me, I look at the world through my pair of illustrator glasses. What color would I use to paint the leaves on that tree, How would I illustrate the sun rays filtering through the tree branches, what shade of blue would I use to paint that tree shadow—that is my brain when I’m outside going for a walk. Absolutely everything is an illustration subject to me.

How did you start making art for picture books? What inspired you to pursue this type of work?

I started taking freelance jobs in illustration when I still lived in Brazil. When I was still in college—I majored in Industrial Design—I connected with an editor that worked with master and doctorate students at the University I studied. She edited their thesis, usually from Humanities majors, and made them into books. I designed the covers and sometimes illustrated interior pages. That led me to illustrate a series of educational materials she edited for a governmental institution that supported agricultural communities, and I really enjoyed doing illustrations for children. From then on illustration for kids publications became my focus.

Book cover art for Happy Birthday, Belly Button and Light Speaks, illustrations by Luciana Navarro Powell. Text reads, "Pre-Order Available"!

Happy book birthday this month to HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELLY BUTTON! Your newest book, written by Kalli Dakos, and published by Amicus Ink, is now available and I’m so excited! Can you tell us more about this book?

Thank you! Kalli Dakos is the author and she is a veteran poet for children with many books published, and reading specialist. The book is about a joyful child who celebrates being one year older, calling out body parts from head to toe that have grown since their last birthday. It’s fun and exuberant and a great read aloud with toddlers and preschoolers, to celebrate a birthday of just the wonderment of growing up!

For this book I used soft pastels, mostly white backgrounds and a bright palette to convey the energy and joyful moments for that kid’s special day.

"Happy Birthday, Belly Button" written by Kalli Dakos, illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell/Amicus Ink 2023. A small child runs through a hallway with a comb stuck in their hair, as a cat hides behind a plant.

You also have another book coming out later this spring, LIGHT SPEAKS, written by Christine Layton, and published by Tilbury House. I’m so excited about the art for this—it looks gorgeous! Would you tell us more about it?

Thank you! For Light Speaks I went almost the opposite direction, visually. Because the book is about light, a lot of the pages are dark—either night time or in the darkness of the universe with contrasting bright galaxies. The text by Christine Layton is beautiful—even though it’s nonfiction, it’s sparse and lyrical, and I approached it with a slightly less finished look and bolder composition to try to convey the different aspects of light through the book.

"Light Speaks" written by Christine Layton, illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell/Tilbury House 2023. A colorful and whimsical illustration of the Big Bang explosion, with stars and galaxies flying off into space.

What was your favorite part about illustrating these two books? Additionally, what was one of your greatest challenges working on them?

I love how completely different they are! Happy Birthday, Belly Button is playful and festive, a romp, with a delicious silliness to it. Light Speaks has a touch of mystery, almost—how light manifests in different ways, from the grandiosity of the Big Bang to the small tragedy of the baby turtles being led the wrong way by artificial light. The challenge for Happy Birthday was how to make the story about different body parts into something cohesive—so I created the second layer narrative of the child getting ready for the guests that show up at the party. That is the beauty of the Picture Book, the alchemy of text and pictures. 

A similar challenge was tackled in Light Speaks—I weaved a second narrative of the children in the seaside town. They walk at night, catching fire flies with their family and head to the bonfire party at the beach in the end.

Process images, including sketches and partially finished pieces from Happy Birthday, Belly Button. Art by Luciana Navarro Powell.
A peek at the process of creating Happy Birthday, Belly Button

We’d love to hear about your process for creating picture book art. Could you share more about your mediums and how you work?

For each book I use a slightly different approach. I always start sketching on paper. I create some parts of the art using analog methods, and everything gets scanned and comes together digitally in Photoshop. For Happy Birthday, Belly Button I wanted to convey a lightness and energy to that rambunctious child. I used pan pastels, color pencils and watercolors, as well as some acrylic for heavier brush strokes. 

For Light Speaks I used stencils and acrylic paints, creating some swatches of color and textured that I scanned and later composed on Photoshop. I also used some real light to illustrate! The stars were created by perforating a paper bag and photographing tiny spots of real sunlight inside—check the photo! The Big Bang light explosion is a real light reflection on walls, using some crystal pieces. It was super fun to play with real light to create art for this book about Light.

Process images of creating Light Speaks, including sketches, photographs, and partially finished illustrations. Art by Luciana Navarro Powell.
A peek at the process of creating Light Speaks

Could you tell us more about how nature inspires your work and what role it has in your art?

As I mentioned, I walk in the world wearing my Illustrator Glasses—I see everything as if I was going to illustrate it for a book: colors, shapes, peoples faces. I also LOVE plein air painting. My favorite thing to do with my family is adventuring outdoors. I often bring my watercolors and paint where we are! I have painted in a few National Parks, you can see some of my paintings in the Personal Work link on my website!

"Two Measly Spots" written by Elaine Gast Fawcett and Sue Schartzman/illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell/UpSpot Publishing 2023. A whimsically illustrated ladybug flies into a colorful landscape of mountains, trees, a river, and waterfall.

You also have other book projects you’ve been working on. Can you tell us more about them?

I am currently working on illustration for textbooks, and also a series of 4 board books that I’m preparing for my agent to start pitching to editors. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

What is your greatest hope for your work as a kids’ book illustrator?

My hope is that my illustrations help kids to get lost in the books they are reading—feeding their imaginations as they read, and after. When that happens, there is a good chance that this kid will become a lifelong inquisitive, curious, critical thinker reader—and consequently a better citizen and steward of this planet.

"Happy Birthday, Belly Button" written by Kalli Dakos, illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell/Amicus Ink 2023. A whimsical illustration of a child moving about and playing a drum excitedly.

Learn More About Luciana

To learn and see more from Luciana Navarro Powell, visit her on her website and social media.

Review Luciana’s Books and Get an Art Print!

Luciana is offering a special promotion to anyone (US residents only) who purchases and reviews online any of her books. Follow her on social media (Twitter or Instagram) and DM her proof of purchase and screen shot of review (either Amazon, GoodReads, Indiebound, or all) and she will mail you 1 signed, 6×8″ fine-art paper print of any page you choose from the book you purchased/reviewed. 

Luciana is represented by Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency.

Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, or the environment? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.

Donate & Win Art!—Victoria’s 2023 Birthday Fundraiser for Mass Audubon

Artist Victoria K. Chapman holds up her art print and smiles. The text reads: Donate & Win Art! Through 3/20. Victoria's Birthday Celebrate. Benefits Mass Audubon. www.weyakindesigns.com

It’s that time of year again, where I’ve made another trip around the sun and turn another year older. My birthday is in early March and this year I’m celebrating by raising money for Mass Audubon (https://www.massaudubon.org). This wonderful conservation organization does great work preserving wild places in Massachusetts for all to enjoy and educating the people of Massachusetts about wildlife, nature, and conservation. I’m asking YOU to help me celebrate by donating! And in return, I’ll enter you in a raffle to win your choice of some art prints featuring my illustrations.

How Does The Fundraiser and Raffle Work?

  • Donate to the Facebook fundraiser for Mass Audubon.
  • Your name will be included in the raffle.
  • The fundraiser runs from now through March 20th, 2023.
  • I will pick winners on March 21st, 2023 and post it on the fundraiser or email you.
  • If you win, I’ll need you to contact me with your art print choice and mailing address so I know where to send your print.
Donate on Facebook

IMPORTANT: You cannot be entered if you donate privately. I need to be able to see your name to enter you in the raffle. Please make your donation publicly if you wish to be entered into the art raffle!

Can I Donate Outside of Facebook?

Yes! If you’d like to enter but don’t want to use Facebook, you can donate directly to Mass Audubon here: https://www.massaudubon.org

  • In order to be entered in the raffle, you MUST email me a screen shot of your donation receipt.
  • Please email me with the screen shot and your name at weyakin@weyakindesigns.com.
  • Please title your email: BIRTHDAY FUNDRAISER DONATION
Donate Directly to Mass Audubon

Don’t forget to email me your receipt so I can enter you in the raffle!

Which Art Can I Win?

I’ll pick TWO (2) winners for this birthday raffle! If you win, you can pick ONE (1) of your choice of the following art prints:

I can’t wait to see how much we can raise together for Mass Audubon! Thank you for sharing in the joy and spirit of nature with me for my birthday!

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Illustrator, Marie Hermansson

An older man and child work together to plant a seedling in a garden bed in an urban community garden. In the background, another group of people water some kale plants. Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.

I’m so excited for the fifth interview in the KidLit Connection series, where I interview illustrators and author/illustrators who create amazing art for kids. This series has a focus on illustrators who share the magic of the imagination and spirit of nature with children and their grownups.

A portrait of illustrator, Marie Hermansson.
Marie Hermansson,
Children’s Book Illustrator

This month, I had the great pleasure of hearing from children’s book illustrator Marie Hermansson. Marie is a multi-talented artist with an eye for design and color. With a background in garden design and landscape architecture, Marie’s illustrations for kids bring out the magic of nature and the outside world. This is especially evident in her latest book, Listen to the Language of the Trees (written by Tera Kelley, published by Sourcebooks Kids, 2022). We’ll hear more from Marie about the process of creating this amazing STEM themed nature book in the interview, plus more about her upcoming books and other art projects.

Marie lives with her family in North Carolina, including her two children (ages 9 and 7) who lovingly help her out with critiques. When she’s not working on books for kids or other art, she finds curiosity and inspiration in the natural world by going for hikes and gardening. I really loved hearing from Marie about what inspires her, about her projects and process, and more. I hope you do too!

An Interview with Marie Hermansson, Children’s Book Illustrator

We’d love to know more about you as an illustrator. What inspires you and your art and what do you love about your job as a KidLit illustrator?

A man, a child, and a dog walk through the woods near a pond with mountains in the background. Birds, squirrels, and deer look at them from behind the trees and bushes. A whimsical illustration by Marie Hermansson.

Thanks so much for having me here Victoria. Nature is my big inspiration, that’s pretty broad I know! Specifically, I love diverse environments, habitats, landscapes, oceanscapes and the flora and fauna found in those places. Children with their innate curiosity and love of nature are always an inspiration. I love how lighting and color set moods in an illustration. I am drawn to abstract fine art landscape painting and I think that I tend to create a bit of a fine art look for my landscape work in my KidLit illustration. In fact, I am always looking for ways to loosen up my art. With landscapes I can do that with more confidence but I am still trying to loosen up in how I draw my characters and creatures. It’s ever evolving!

Being a KidLit illustrator was (and still is!) my dream job. It wasn’t something that I set out to do, I found my way to it organically. Illustrating really lights me up and I feel like I am drawing and smiling at my computer the whole time like a crazy person. When I am drawing I think about the readers, the children who will be looking at the illustrations and hoping that they will bring them some joy. Maybe something in the drawing will be a talking point for them and their parent, caretaker or teacher. Maybe it will inspire them in some way. I know how much my own children love looking at and reading picture books so I hope that my books will bring that kind of happiness to other kids too.

How did you start making art for kids’ books? What inspired you to pursue this type of work?

As I mentioned above, my KidLit career developed naturally over time and wasn’t really planned. About 6 years ago I began illustrating on a daily basis. At the time I was having fun making greeting cards for my Etsy shop without any serious thought of making a career out of it. After a couple of months on Etsy I was contacted by the company that publishes all of the greeting cards for Trader Joe’s. They wanted to license artwork from me for a greeting card. This was a pivotal point for my illustration work for two reasons. First, I didn’t even know about art licensing and second, someone actually liked my art enough to pay me money to use it! It was such a confidence boost and I began to take my illustration work more seriously.

I started to get more clients for surface design but I realized as my style developed that I was illustrating in a way that lended itself to picture books. Telling a story visually was something that I was drawn to. I signed up for a picture book course, Skillshare, bought some books and began to learn more about picture book illustration and publishing. After about 6 months I had gained enough confidence to start looking for an agent. Soon thereafter I was approached by my first agency and started making my first picture book. I now am with a new agency and continuing to develop my career and making more picture books.

Your most recently published book LISTEN TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE TREES: A STORY OF HOW FORESTS COMMUNICATE UNDERGROUND (written by Tera Kelley, published by Sourcebooks Kids) is a beautiful STEM book with scientific facts about trees. Can you tell us more about this book?

Listen to the Language of the Trees was such a joy to work on and I am grateful that I was chosen to illustrate it. It was my first book project so I learned a lot about the process of making a picture book as well as working with a team at a publishing house. I did a ton of research on the topic and learned a great deal in the process.

The forest in the story is an old growth Douglas fir forest. These forests stretch from Oregon all the way into Canada. There are certain types of animals that live there, some of which you see in the book. The story is actually fiction but is teaching a nonfiction topic. It talks about how trees communicate with one another underground through a network, “the wood wide web” of fungi—helping and supporting each other as a community much like people do. It is an amazing story and I hope that people who read this book will think about forests and trees in different way, to respect them, to want to protect them and understand their importance. It’s not just the trees that make up the forest community but, all of the plants and animals that live there as well.

An early sketch idea for the cover of Listen to the Language of the Trees. Trees curve and flank the title. Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.
An early sketch idea for the cover of Listen to the Language of the Trees. An aerial view of trees in a circle around the title. Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.
An early sketch idea for the cover of Listen to the Language of the Trees. Tree roots growing underground, surrounding the title. Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.
The final color cover for Listen to the Language of the Trees. Colorful tree roots grown underground and surround the title. Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.
The three sketch ideas presented for the cover of Listen to the Language of the Trees, and the final cover art.

What was your favorite part about illustrating LISTEN TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE TREES? Additionally, what was one of your greatest challenges working on this book?

I realized how much I enjoy drawing forests and natural environments in general when I illustrated this book. There was an ah-ha moment when I thought to myself…this might be my thing! Drawing the animals was the challenge. I hadn’t drawn tons of animals previously, so it was just a matter of deciding how I wanted to draw them, how I wanted to stylized them, how much I wanted to stylize them. So they took longer to figure out. I understood that with more experience drawing animals, it would become less of a challenge over time, so I leaned in.

A double page spread of dummy book sketches from the book, Listen to the Language of the Trees. Lightening strikes across the sky and hits a tree. On the lower panel, animals scatter across the forest floor. Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.
A dummy sketch from the book, Listen to the Language of the Trees

Could you tell us more about how nature inspires your work and what role it has in your art?

An illustration of sharks underwater, seagulls overhead, and a fishing boat on the water. Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.

Just a simple thing as a walk in the woods has always been such a visceral experience for me. I have always noticed everything and been curious about it all, even as an adult. The dichotomy of the natural world is intriguing. On the surface it appears to be so simple, but in reality it’s infinitely complex and everything is connected. I think that the reason there are so many environmental problems today is that people have neglected to see and understand that complexity.

When I create illustrations for nature-oriented kids books I research quite a lot about that particular place or habitat or species. It’s a continuous education. There’s so much to learn and be inspired by. In a way, illustrating is my way of better understanding the world around me. I hope that the children looking at my illustrations can be inspired and learn from it as well.

We’d love to hear about your process as a picture book illustrator and how you work as an artist. Could you share more about that?

Process for me is ever-evolving. Different books require different processes.

Generally though, my process begins by reading and understanding the manuscript.  What is the author saying and is there anything to read between the lines? If so, how might I show that visually? Next, reviewing the art direction, and making sure that I’m clear on what it is that they are looking for. I’ll start sketching thumbnails, really small and mainly lines of movement and shapes thinking about how the readers eyes will flow across the page. I am always looking for ways to create interesting layouts and perspectives.

During all of this I am also conducting my research. I feel like I’m doing that the entire time through the process. I’ll sketch out characters until I arrive at something I like. Then, I’ll do a more refined sketch on paper and scan that into the computer to begin to put together the sketch files I will send to the art director and team. 

I love moving to color, which is a whole other bag of worms. 🙂 Deciding on color is its own process. Then, there’s deciding on which brushes I want to use to create textures. I have favorites, but Kyle makes it hard on me because he’s always creating new brush packs that I can’t resist! I love discovering new brushes and playing with the textures they can create. The possibilities are endless, but the time in my schedule is not so I have to show some self restraint.

You also have four book projects all coming out in 2024 (WOW)! Can you tell us more about those projects?

Yes! I would love to tell you about them! First, another picture book with Sourcebook Kids (I love them). It’s titled The Reindeer Remainders by Katey Howes. The book teaches math concepts, emotional navigation, and forest life all in a school day. It’s really a fun story and I am having a good time illustrating it. I’m working on the color finals as we speak!

The next book is I Am A Thundercloud by Leah Moser, published by Running Press Kids.  This is a book that aims to teach children about how to self-regulate a storm of big feelings. I’m thrilled to be working on this book because my son and I read a lot of books on this topic. It’s a new topic for me to illustrate, emotional landscapes, but I have enjoyed the challenge. Can’t wait for you all to read it!

The other two books are part of the Lucy Calkins nonfiction reader series for Heinemann a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Both of these book are about the ocean. The first one is following the life journey of green sea turtle and discusses the habitat of the Great Barrier Reef. These books are really great because they also address the issues that these animals and their habitats face due to climate change. I love that these topics are being discussed in a reader series and I am really proud to be a part of this particular book project.

What other work have you done as an illustrator that relates to your work as a nature artist?

An illustration of 8 different children playing on and around a treehouse, tire swing, and rope swing. A playful dog tugs on the rope swing. Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.

A lot of the greeting card work I did before starting to work in children’s publishing had nature themes. Although, I have previously done some larger canvas paintings before for personal projects. I studied garden design/landscape architecture in college, so I was designing planting plans like butterfly gardens, rain gardens, pollinator gardens and native plants that would attract and provide a habitat for local wildlife. It involved a lot of sketching and working in the digital programs that I use now to create my illustration work.

What is your biggest dream for your work as a kids’ book illustrator?

It’s such a dream come true to already be making children’s books, and I am so grateful to be doing it. I really want to continue to work on well-written, beautiful and inspiring books for children, to have projects coming in on a regular, consistent basis. I would love to work with a well known author and I have a bucket list of all the publishers I want to work with.

What is something you’d like to tell aspiring picture book illustrators?

There are so many things! Unfortunately, there is no magic formula. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. Developing your career is a process much like the one you use to create your art. It takes research, planning, effort and time. Research is really key. Read about the publishing industry, learn who all the publishers are, read interviews with agents, art directors and editors about what they are looking for in an illustrator, what type of illustrations are they interested in seeing? 

Being an illustrator is different from being an artist. With illustration you are hired to illustrate what the publisher is wanting. If you are interested in illustrating a certain topic, look at as many picture books as you can that are about that topic. It’s good to be aware of what is already existing and learn from it. Learn from people who are doing what you want to do. Take courses, look up instructional YouTube videos to get a handle on the art fundamentals, read illustration blogs and join the social media community of illustrators and watch process videos. There are so many helpers out there! People who have so much experience and are sharing what they know for you to learn from. Keep at it!!

A red squirrel holds a blue paintbrush by a piece of painted paper, which reads: "Rep'd by Caryn Wiseman. Andrea Brown Literary Agency". Illustrated by Marie Hermansson.

See More from Marie Hermansson

To learn and see more from Marie Hermansson, visit her website and social media pages:

Marie is represented by Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary.

Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, or the environment? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.

10 Picture Book Gifts to Give for the Holidays

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Three Kings Day, or any of the many holidays that happen this time of year, there’s often the opportunity to share gifts with loved ones. And children are some of our favorite people to share gifts with. One of my favorite gifts to share is books (of course)! So, for this month’s post, I’ve chosen 10 picture books to look for to give as holiday gifts. And these books are special, because I know or have met at least one of the people involved in creating each of these books. I can vouch that these are some amazing people who’s work you’ll definitely want to check out!

Swim, Jim! by Kaz Windness

Swim, Jim! book cover. A cartoon crocodile wears pool floats and snorkel mask while dipping his toe into the swamp water.

Jim can’t swim! A favorite in our house, this book follows a young crocodile named Jim on his journey to figure out how to swim in a way that works for him. A sweet story about conquering fears and the love of family, Swim Jim is full of colorful illustrations and fun text that kids will love reading again and again. Kaz even includes fun facts about crocodiles in the back of the book.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Kaz in one of my KidLit Connection interviews this past summer. If you missed it, check it out! Learn more about Kaz and her work on her website: http://www.windnessbooks.com

Purchase Swim, Jim! online through Bookshop.org. Or ask your local book retailer if they have it or can order it for you.

Buy Swim Jim! Online

How to Say Hello to a Worm, A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival

How to Say Hello to a Worm, A First Guide to Outside. Book cover by Kari Percival.

I absolutely adore this book! Kari Percival takes young readers through the process of growing various fruits and vegetables in a garden. Written for preschoolers, the text is simple, but informative, and the illustrations are colorful and fun. Speaking from personal experience, this book is engaging and interactive—my four-year-old loves it! And I’m excited to share a book written and illustrated by a fellow New Englander.

I had a wonderful chat with Kari in my KidLit Connection blog interview with her. If you missed it, be sure to check it out. To learn more about Kari and her work, visit her website: https://karipercival.com

Purchase How to Say Hello to a Worm, A First Guide to Outside on Bookshop.org. Or ask your local book retailer if they have it or can order it.

Buy How to Say Hello to a Worm Online

Moonsong by Denise Gallagher

Moonsong book cover by Denise Gallagher.

Fulki’s village lost its moon and Fulki wants to help. She befriends a tiger and creates beautiful music. But, befriending wild animals and making music are forbidden in her village. Can Fulki and her tiger friend help save their moon despite their forbidden friendship? Moonsong is a beautifully illustrated book with a folktale feel. Denise Gallagher creates a magical world of color and song with this story that is sure to delight readers both young and old.

I was so happy to chat with Denise for one of my KidLit Connection interviews recently. If you missed it, please check it out to hear more from her. You can also learn more about Denise and her work on her website: https://www.denisegallagher.com

You can buy Moonsong online at Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookstore if they can get you a copy!

Buy Moonsong Online

Small But Mighty, Why Earth’s Tiny Creatures Matter by Kendra Brown, illustrated by Catarina Oliveira

The illustrated book cover for Small But Mighty. A small ant holds up the book text and is surrounded by large leaves.

From the smallest frog to little millipedes, creatures of the earth all have important jobs, even if they are small. Small But Might, Why Earth’s Tiny Creatures Matter was written by Kendra Brown, and illustrated by Catarina Oliveira. With fascinating information about all kinds of little critters and colorfully fun illustrations, young kids with a mind for science will love this book! Catarina even has activity sheets to go with the book that are available for download on her website.

I was so pleased to have Catarina as my very first KidLit Connection guest. If you missed that interview, go check it out. To learn more about Catarina and her illustration work, visit her website: https://www.catarinaoliveirastudio.com

You can buy Small But Mighty, Why Earth’s Tiny Creatures Matter online at Bookshop.org. Or check with your local bookstore.

Buy Small But Mighty Online

BLOB by Anne Appert

BLOB book cover by Anne Appert.

Blob can be whatever they want to be—a giraffe, cotton candy, or even an octopus. Blob is a being of indeterminate kind. But, after the narrator continuously calls them “Bob”, Blob starts to question who and what they really are. Written and illustrated by non-binary author/illustrator Anne Appert, BLOB is an adorably silly, but also important story about being yourself. 

Anne Appert is a fellow author/illustrator who I’ve had the pleasure of knowing online through community events like #KidLitArt chat on Twitter and SCBWI. I hope to meet them in-person someday soon. And I feel so lucky that we have a signed copy of Blob! You can find out more about Anne and their work on their website: https://www.anneappert.com

You can order your very own signed copy of BLOB through Words Bookstore online.

Buy a Signed Copy of BLOB Online

You can also find BLOB online at Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookseller!

Charlotte and the Quiet Place by Deborah Sosin, illustrated by Sara Gómez Woolley

Charlotte and the Quiet Place book cover by Deborah Sosin and Sara Gómez Woolley.

Charlotte lives in a noisy home, in a noisy city, where she goes to a noisy school. There is so much noise, she just can’t seem to find a quiet place. Until she chases her dog Otto in the park when he gets loose, and then discovers the feel of her own breath. Charlotte realizes her quiet place is within herself. Written by Deborah Sosin, and illustrated by my talented friend, Sara Gómez Woolley, Charlotte and the Quiet Place became a fast favorite in our house. 

I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Sara Gómez Woolley at The Highlights Foundation this past summer where she was a resident artist. Sara is a professor of illustration, comic artist, and book illustrator. You can learn more about her and her work on her website: http://www.sarawoolley.com

Purchase a copy of Charlotte and the Quiet Place online from Parallax Press. Or ask your local bookseller if they can get you a copy!

Buy Charlotte and the Quiet Place Online

My Sister, Daisy by Adria Karlsson, illustrated by Linus Curci 

My Sister, Daisy book cover by Adria Karlsson and Linus Curci.

My Sister, Daisy is a beautiful family story of acceptance and love told from the eyes of an older brother, written by Adria Karlsson and illustrated by Linus Curci. He is so excited to have a little sibling and they do everything together. But, when his sibling goes to kindergarten, things change. His sibling tells him she is a girl and wants to be called Daisy. This beautifully written book is based on a true family story and handles a sensitive subject with care and compassion.

I was so fortunate to meet Adria Karlsson during my trip to The Highlights Foundation this past summer. We had chatted online and were so excited to meet each other in-person for the first time. Adria is an amazing human with a huge heart and a beautiful family. You can find out more about them online at: https://www.adriakarlsson.com

You can buy a copy of My Sister, Daisy online from Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookseller if they carry it or can order it!

Buy My Sister, Daisy Online

Rafa Counts on Papá by Joe Cepeda

Rafa Counts on Papá book cover by Joe Cepeda.

Rafa and his Papá love to count, measure, and weigh. They use all the tools they can to quantify the things around them, from the marbles in a jar, to the height of their jumbo sandwich. But, there’s one thing that Rafa and Papá can’t measure—their love for one another. This beautiful book, illustrated and written by Joe Cepeda, is perfect for kids who love to count and measure, or for kids who love their dad.

I am so fortunate to have met and spent time with Joe Cepeda during the illustration summer camp at The Highlights Foundation this past summer. Joe was my illustration mentor for the week and gave me some great advice and shared some wonderful stories. I even came home with a signed copy of Rafa Counts on Papá! To learn more about Joe and his work, visit his website: https://www.joecepeda.com

You can buy Rafa Counts on Papá online from Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookstore!

Buy Rafa Counts on Papá Online

Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow Adventure by Steve Light

Bear’s car needs a new headlight, so the friends of Whiskers Hollow take a road trip together to Elephant’s junk yard. With Rabbit, Mouse, and Donkey, the four friends encounter adventure and mishaps along the way. Beautifully illustrated and written by Steve Light, the characters of Road Trip! are full of charm that you and your young reader will be sure to love! I count us lucky to have our very own Steve signed copy.

This summer, I met Steve Light when he was a faculty member at the Highlights Foundation during the illustration summer camp I attended. Steve is a warm, friendly, and a super fun person to learn from. I had so much fun trying out new pen and ink techniques with him! To learn more about Steve and his work, visit his website: https://www.stevelightart.com

You can buy Road Trip! online from Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookseller!

Buy Road Trip! Online

The Turtle Ship by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage

The Turtle Ship book cover by Helena Ku Rhee and Colleen Kong-Savage.

A long time ago in Korea, Sun-sin played with his pet turtle and dreamed of traveling the world. But, as a poor villager, that dream seemed impossible. Until the King’s court announced a contest to design a new battleship to defend the land. The winner would travel with the royal Navy. Sun-sin got to work designing and after many failed attempts found inspiration in his pet turtle. Written by Helena Ku Rhee and illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage, The Turtle Ship is beautifully illustrated story that was loosely based on the real Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his Turtle Ship. Colleen’s paper collage creates a colorfully unique visual journey for young readers to enjoy.

During the summer camp in illustration at The Highlights Foundation, I met Colleen Kong-Savage as a fellow participant. When I saw her collage work, I fell in love with it! Colleen is a lovely human who I feel so lucky to have spent time with. To learn more about Colleen and her work, visit her website: https://ckongsavage.com

You can order a copy of The Turtle Ship online at Bookshop.org. Or ask your local book shop!

Buy The Turtle Ship Online

Whether you gift one of these books or one of the thousands of amazing picture books in the world, you’ll be giving something truly special when you share a story with a child. Supporting local book stores directly or through websites like Bookshop.org also helps the local families and economy around you. What a beautiful gift it is for everyone!

KidLit Connection: Getting to Know Author-Illustrator, Denise Gallagher


Denise Gallagher, author/illustrator of
Moonsong

I’m so excited for another KidLit Connection interview! This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing illustrator, author, and designer Denise Gallagher. Denise creates colorful illustrations with a folkloric style that tell stories through imagination, animals, and nature. Her love for animals and folktales really shine in her latest picture book, Moonsong (Little Press, 2021), where a young girl named Fulki befriends a tiger in order to save her village’s moon. Denise’s illustration style is truly unique, inspired by rare and endangered animals, folklore and mythology, and the natural world around her.

Denise lives in Lafayette, Louisiana, where she finds much of her inspiration for her art. She’s also the Illustrator Coordinator for the Louisiana/Mississippi chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her work has received numerous awards both for illustration and design. Denise hopes to inspire young readers and their grown-ups to find a love for art and literature through books and stories.

It was such a joy to hear from Denise. I hope you enjoy her insights and find inspiration in her words and her work.

An Interview with Denise Gallagher

First, I’d like to say thank you to Victoria for inviting me to be a part of her blog series. It’s an honor to share with you some of what I’ve learned along the way to becoming an author and illustrator of children’s books. So, thanks, Victoria!

Thanks, Denise! We’d love to know more about you as an artist and writer. What inspires you and your art and what do you love about your job as a KidLit illustrator and author?

Denise holding her copy of
The Sorcerer’s Apprenctice,
illustrated by Tomi Ungerrer

I’ve always loved art and literature. From a young age I’d lose myself in picture books— imagining living in a little house illustrated by Garth Williams, or exploring the sorcerer’s castle as illustrated by Tomi Ungerer. Inspired, I’d while away afternoons drawing, drawing, drawing and writing as well. As an adult I hold the belief that picture books are a child’s first introduction to art and literature. The illustrations of Maurice Sendak, the stories of Kate DiCamillo — this is art! The type of art that inspires me to create. My heart is full knowing that I now am an author and illustrator of children’s literature and I hope that my stories and pictures resonate as art and inspire children and their parents as well. 


How did you start working in children’s literature? What inspired you to pursue this type of work?
After graduating with a degree in art, which included creating a fictional children’s bookstore called Platypus Planet as my senior thesis, I went to work as an art director at an ad agency. After many years, I made the scary leap of starting my own business focusing on illustration. Part of my plan was to finally pursue my dream of illustrating for children. This meant getting serious about it. I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and attended my first conference. I won the portfolio showcase and took this as a good sign. But while there I also realized that there was SO MUCH to learn about the business of writing and illustrating for children! I set about learning as much as I could. I joined a critique group. I gave myself illustration assignments. Then I decided to write my own picture book in order to practice the art of emotion, character and story in illustration.

Your latest book MOONSONG is a colorful story with a folktale feel. What inspired this story? Please tell us more about it!
“Moonsong” actually started as a practice picture book. My first draft was titled “Claire de Loup” and was about a girl and a wolf in the forest. After many critiques, queries and workshops, “Claire de Loup” became “Moonsong,” the story of a girl and a tiger in the jungle. I love folktales. The language and story twists fascinate me. So I set about writing my own. “Moonsong” tells the story of a little girl named Fulki — a little girl a bit like me. She does her chores and her schoolwork, but has a rebellious streak. She challenges the status quo. She befriends a tiger and shares with him the things that she loves. And in the end, her ability to see the best in everyone, upends the old traditions and helps restore her village’s moon. 

A sketch from a spread from Denise' Gallagher's book, MOONSONG. A pencil sketch of a little girl talking with the people in her village.
A sketch of a spread from MOONSONG
A full-color spread from Denise Gallgher's book, MOONSONG. A little girl talks with the people of her village.
The final art of a spread from MOONSONG.


What was your favorite part about creating MOONSONG? In addition, what was one of your greatest challenges of the creation process?
My favorite part about creating “Moonsong” was also the greatest challenge. This was the lightbulb moment where I completely changed everything I’d already created and my manuscript became what it is now. I’d had little luck querying the story as “Claire de Loup.” I think the idea of a girl and a wolf in the woods just got lost in the shuffle. Then, I attended a workshop led by Leslie Helakoski, an author, illustrator and Highlights Foundation instructor. Leslie encouraged the workshop attendees to shake up our stale manuscripts and see them from a different point of view. I got right to work and reimagined my story. By imagining a new setting, revised characters and a bolder color palette, I got excited about my story all over again. I scrapped everything I’d done, rewrote the story and created fresh new illustrations. This time it worked and “Moonsong” became a published picture book!

An early concept sketch by Denise Gallagher. A girl hugs a wolf.
An early concept sketch of Claire de Loup.
A pencil sketch of Fulki from Denise Gallagher's book, MOONSONG. A little girl drawn in a folkloric style.
A pencil sketch of Fulki.
A full-color illustration from Denise Gallagher's book, MOONSONG. A little girl looks up at a large tiger.
A final color image of Fulki and the tiger.


Could you tell us more about how nature plays into your work and what role it has in your stories?
I LOVE animals. I love stories about them, videos of them, pictures of them. I love discovering an animal I’d never heard of — the more unique the better. Some of my favorites are the pink fairy armadillo and the pangolin. (Look them up!) I’m also concerned about our planet and the welfare of animals. I’ve mourned the loss of the ivory billed woodpecker (which was last seen in my home of Louisiana), the Tasmanian tiger and others. I hint at these themes in my writing, hoping to help children to understand the world and their place in it. Animals also play a big role in folktales and folklore. To me, that’s a perfect blend of storytelling.

You’ve also done illustration for children’s magazines in addition to books. Can you tell us about the differences and similarities between illustrating for magazines versus books?
The illustrations I’ve created for magazines have been to accompany short retellings of folktales. These typically include a large introductory illustration and a two or three smaller illustrations. I love the challenge of telling a complete story with just a few images. I also love researching the origins of the stories in order to include accurate details in my illustrations. These projects also tend to happen more quickly, so it’s fun to be able to share them with my audience. The publication of a book is a much longer process. It takes over a year at least and I’m really bad at keeping secrets!

Denise with her newest middle
grade novel manuscript

You also have some other projects in the works. We’d love to hear about them! Could you tell us more about what you’re working on?
As an illustrator, I also create magazine covers, festival posters and packaging. These are all fun projects that keep me busy in between books and allow me to work in different illustrative and graphic design styles. I am also currently querying a partially-illustrated middle grade novel. I never dreamed that I’d write a novel. But after finishing “Moonsong” I had an idea for a story that just demanded to be longer! I was inspired to write by my son who is a violinist. The manuscript is complete and I’m working on some color images and spot illustrations. I’m really happy about the story and I simply cannot wait for you all to read it!

What is your biggest dream for your work as a creator of art and stories for kids?

Maurice Sendak, one of the children’s artists that I most admire, worked in musical theater. My biggest dream is to also one day see one of my stories adapted as a musical theater production. I’m inspired by music and it plays a large part in my work. Both of my picture books use alliteration, onomatopoeia, and whimsical language to tell different musical stories. My novel is a magical tale about a young violinist in search of the truth about his past. Music fills me with so much emotion that to see one of my works musically grow beyond the page would be a dream come true.

A pink carousel with a horse and three dogs jumping around it, illustrated by Denise Gallagher.

What is something you’d like to tell aspiring picture book authors/illustrators?
One thing that is important for aspiring picture book authors and illustrators to realize is that getting a picture book published is NOT easy. It can be rewarding and exciting, but there is a LOT of work that goes into it and the process can take a long time. I’d recommend for anyone just starting out to do your homework. Join SCBWI and go to conferences. There are often local events for authors and illustrators that non-members can attend. Find and attend a critique group. Listen to what the group participants say about other work as well as your own. Follow authors, agents and publishers on social media, especially those whose work you admire. Social media is a great place to hear about the ins and outs of publishing. Publishing is a business, though, so be professional. Read. Read. Read! Especially current picture books. Spend a day at the library and take note of what grabs your attention. But most of all, put in the hard work. Take it slowly and don’t be afraid to fail, then get up and start fresh. Publishing really is a learning process and there is a lot to learn! Good luck on your journey!

See more from Denise Gallagher

You can see more from Denise Gallagher by visiting her website and social media pages:

An illustration of a smiling book holding a cupcake and saying, "Thank you"! Created by Denise Gallagher.

Are you a published or soon-to-be published children’s illustrator or author/illustrator who’s interested in being interviewed as part of the KidLit Connection series? If your work has a focus on nature, the environment, animals, or mindfulness, I’d love to chat with you! You can get in touch with me using the contact form on my site.

KitLit Connection: Getting to Know Author-Illustrator, Kaz Windness

A spread from Kaz Windess’ latest release, Swim, Jim!
Author-illustrator Kaz Windess smiles for a portrait with pink hair and a hot pink animal print shirt.
Kaz Windness

I’m so excited to introduce the next illustrator in the KidLit Connection series! Kaz Windness is an author and illustrator of picture books that use both humor and heart to help kids embrace their own unique qualities. Kaz often uses animal characters to explore emotion and challenging situations that kids might encounter. Her most recently published book Swim, Jim! (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books) features a crocodile who is afraid of the water and the creative ways he figures out how to conquer his fears. The fun and colorful illustrations and relatable story make this a favorite for many kids, including my own. Kaz is proudly queer and autistic and also uses her stories to advocate for autistic kids or anyone who might be a little bit different.

Kaz lives in Colorado with her family and graduated from the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) in 2002. She is a mentor and advocate for illustrators, having volunteered for the Rocky Mountain chapter of SCBWI for many years. She is also a professor of illustration at RMCAD.

In this interview, Kaz tells us about what inspires her, how she hopes to help kids through her work, shares a bit about her process, and about her new books coming out next year. Thank you, Kaz for sharing more about you and your wonderful work as an author and illustrator!

An Interview with Kaz Windness

Early Swim, Jim! concept art on Twitter

We’d love to know more about you as an author and illustrator. Could you tell us about what inspires you and what you love about being a kidlit book creator?

It might be easier to tell you what doesn’t inspire me! I get inspiration from just about everything. I’ve always had an inquisitive and curious mind. I love drawing animals, so you’ll see animals in most of my work. All my characters are me in some way, so I’m always examining my childhood, my struggles, and my joy through my characters. 

“Swim, Jim!” is about my fear of the water. I love that telling my stories can help kids face their own fears and also know they are not alone. 

How did you first get into creating children’s book? What made you want to pursue this type of art?

I’ve wanted to be a children’s book author and illustrator since very early childhood. Even before I could write, I was telling stories with my drawings. 

My mom read to me and my younger brother every day and even used illustrations cut from Scholastic Book Fair purchases to decorate our apartment. 

I especially fell in love with “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak and I wanted to be like him when I grew up. (I’m still working on the Caldecott and the beard.) 

My four-year-old son absolutely loves your latest published book that you wrote and illustrated, SWIM, JIM! Can you tell us a little more about the book and what inspired you to write it?

That makes my heart so happy! Hello to your son! 

I had a bad swimming lesson experience when I was your son’s age, and never learned how to swim. When I saw a Miami Herald new article about a real crocodile swimming across a channel using a pool noodle, I immediately saw myself in that little crocodile and drew the first picture of Jim. I showed the drawing to my agent, and he said to write the story, so I did!

Swim, Jim! book cover. A cartoon crocodile wears pool floats and snorkel mask while dipping his toe into the swamp water.
Swim, Jim! Book Cover
A screen shot of a Miami Herald article about a crocodile swimming with a pool noodle.
The Miami Herald article about a crocodile with a pool noodle.
Swim, Jim! book cover and inspiration. Click to view full size.

What was your favorite part about creating SWIM, JIM? And what was one of your greatest challenges in the process?

My favorite part is the fart joke. PLURP! 

This was my first experience working with an editor and art director, so there were multiple learning curves. My team was WONDERFUL, but the anxiety about messing things up kept me up many nights.

One of the challenges I didn’t expect was struggling to get the color green to reproduce well. There is something called the “pea soup effect” where green likes to turn into mud when printed. I spent a lot of time fighting with green—color correcting, adding flecks of other colors to make sure it was rich and vibrant. As Kermit aptly said, “It’s not easy being green!” A book about swamps and crocodiles is full of green, but I’m beyond happy with the results.

A peek into the process of creating Swim, Jim! Thumbnails, dummy sketch, and final art. Click to view larger.

You also have two new books coming out next year, which is very exciting! Could you tell us more about those books and what they’re all about?

Sure! Thank you for asking!

WORM AND CATERPILLAR (Simon Spotlight/Jan 2023) is about a friendship that is tested when Caterpillar goes through a BIG change and Worm learns to accept Butterfly. It’s a Level 1 reader in graphic novel format, but I think that means the book will stay off the radar of groups that want to suppress the important message of acceptance.

A preview page from Worm and Caterpillar

BITSY BAT, SCHOOL STAR (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books/Summer 2023) is a “Bat to School” autism acceptance book starring a little bat whose world is turned upside down when she tries to fit in at a school for nocturnal animals. She’s the only flier and the only student who hangs from her toes, and tries to hide her differences but learns to celebrate her specialness and helps her classmates do the same.  

I’m autistic and so is my oldest child, so this book has special meaning to me and I’m so grateful to my editor, Catherine Laudone, for taking a chance on the book and me, too!

You obviously have a love for animals, which is wonderful! What is your favorite animal to draw and why?

BATS! I love drawing bats. I also love drawing pugs and I’m secretly working on a book that will give me the opportunity to draw lots and lots of pugs.

Kaz with a young reader fan of Swim, Jim!

What is your biggest hope for your work as a creator of books for kids?

Having a positive impact on children and giving them the safe space to explore big feelings and have a good laugh in the process has always been my goal. My career hope is to keep on having the opportunity to create meaningful books for young readers.

What is something you’d like to tell aspiring picture book authors/illustrators?

Quit if you can! 😉 But if you can’t, your persistence will pay off. Keep going. 

Get the feedback. Take the classes. Network. 

I’d like to plug Cuddlefish Academy here if that’s okay. If you’re struggling to break into children’s publishing and want to take your illustration and storytelling skills to the next level, our advanced kidlit online illustration school is designed specifically for you. All of our instructors are successful children’s book authors and illustrators and college art professors. We are launching VERY soon and specialize in personalized feedback and coaching. https://linktr.ee/cuddlefishacademy

And feel free to stay in touch with me on all your favorite social media sites here: https://linktr.ee/KazWindness
My portfolio website is here: www.WindnessBooks.com

Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, or the environment? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.

10 Things to Consider at a Highlights Foundation Workshop

Stones on the ground that read, "the happy twist in spirit may open small inspiration" in the Word Garden at The Highlights Foundation. Poem and photo by Victoria K. Chapman.
A short poem created in the “Word Garden” at The Highlights Foundation

Earlier in July, I went away for almost a week to stay at The Highlights Foundation at The Barn at Boyds Mills in Pennsylvania. I attended the Summer Camp in Illustration intensive in order to grow my craft, learn from others, and make new connections in the children’s illustration field. Being there physically gave me the chance to really be immersed in the work and connect in a way I couldn’t if it was online from home. After two and a half years of everything online thanks to the pandemic, this was a welcomed change.

After my six days at The Highlights Foundation, I found myself struggling to succinctly and clearly describe my experience there. It was such a mind-opening and spirit-lifting time, it’s hard to put into words. Knowing that everyone’s experience is different, I’m speaking from my own perspective. And since my head is still buzzing with so many things I could say about my trip, I narrowed down to this list that I hope you find helpful.

Ten Things to Consider When Attending an In-Person Highlights Foundation Workshop:

  1. Be open to experience. Don’t arrive with a specific expectation. Arrive with your mind and spirit open to receive whatever it is that happens. I couldn’t predict how my week would go. And it was so much better than I might have guessed.

  2. Arrive hungry. Because they feed you three meals a day and snacks in between. And it’s not just any old food. It’s amazing, local, fresh, and different every day. If you have a special diet, don’t worry—they’ve got you covered. I’m a vegetarian and I had one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had in a while.

  3. Be social. I know not everyone has an easy time with being social among strangers. But, believe me—people at Highlights who attend a workshop with you will not be strangers for long. Connecting with other kidlit illustrators and author/illustrators was one of the best parts of my trip. It made the experience so much more worthwhile. I had the pleasure of getting to know not only my fellow participants, but also the teaching faculty, and the staff. They were all amazing people and I’m so glad I got to spend time with them.

  4. Give yourself time. Time to rest. Time to process. Time to be alone if you need it. I had the privilege of being able to add a personal retreat day to the beginning and end of my trip in order to let myself settle in and decompress. It was a great decision and if you have the ability to do so, I really recommend it. It allowed for some more quiet time, but also some more intimate time with the handful of others who stayed extra time. And if you can’t do that, make sure to give yourself time during the day or evening to take a break alone somewhere, especially if you’re an introvert like me. There are plenty of great places to do that.

  5. Take advantage of the outdoor spaces. The Barn at Boyds Mills is full of outdoor trails and places to sit. Be sure to visit the brook and sit down to enjoy the sound of the babbling water. Take a hike up one of the trails if you’re able to (but be sure to put on bug spray to avoid the ticks and flies). Or just enjoy time at one of the outdoor tables to quietly sketch or write. And if there’s a fire in the evening outside at the Barn, enjoy the time to sit by it and chat with others. Fireside times with fellow illustrators were some of my favorite moments.

  6. Document your time there. You’ll want to take notes, you’ll want to draw, you’ll want to write. There’s a lot of information to take in. Make sure you have your favorite ways to take down and process information with you. I brought both a writing notebook and several sketchbooks and I ended up with notes and sketches in both. I’m glad I have them to refer back to. I also took photos to remember some of the spaces and people I spent time with. Looking back at them makes me smile.

  7. Be present and in the moment. While you’re documenting your time there, also remember to be present and in-the-moment. It’s easy to jump ahead in your mind to what you’ll do when you get home. But, it’s also an experience you’ll really want to savor. It goes by quickly! Enjoy each moment while it’s happening.

  8. Unplug and disconnect. From your regular life that is. It’s okay to check in with the family, especially when you have kids. But, be mindful of how often you’re checking your phone, email, or social media. Fortunately, the cellular service at Boyds Mills is pretty spotty and the wifi can be touch and go depending on where you’re standing. That can be frustrating if you’re doing research online. But, for the most part, it wasn’t a huge issue for me, and it allowed me to remember to unplug for a while and focus on the workshop and the people.

  9. Be open to feedback. For many of these workshops, there is a critique or mentor component to it. One of the most helpful things you can do for yourself is to be open to the feedback you receive. It doesn’t mean you have to use all of the feedback if you don’t agree with it. But, at least listen. And thank the people who took the time to look at your work with you. They are there for the love of children’s books just like you are.

  10. Exchange information with colleagues. You’re going to meet people there and you’re probably going to want to stay in touch. Be sure to ask others for their information, such as social media handles and email addresses. To make it easy to share your information, you could bring business cards or postcards with the info you want to share. I was so glad I brought my business cards with me so people could find me later.

And the biggest piece of advice I can give for a Highlights Foundation workshop trip is that the experience will be what you make it. People I know who have gone before have told me there’s a magic to the space that they haven’t found in other places. I found that to be true myself. But, being open to experience and present in the moment made the trip even more pleasant and remarkable. I hope you’ll find the same is true for you.

One of the amazing breakfasts I had at Highlights.
A quiet place to sit by the brook.
Appetizers by the brook with friends. Selfie by Mallory Grigg.
Isabel Roxas presenting at the Illustration Intensive
The front of The Barn where much of the action takes place.
I enjoyed sketching in the morning with a cup of tea outdoors.

You can learn more about The Highlights Foundation and their work at https://www.highlightsfoundation.org

Primavera Mother—Time-Lapse Painting Demo Video

A watercolor mixed-media illustration of a young mother gazing lovingly at her newborn baby. Her hair is filled with flowers and butterflies and a bumblebee hover around them. Art by Victoria K. Chapman.
Primavera Mother by Victoria K. Chapman

I was recently inspired by Mother’s Day, which just passed, and my experience as a mother myself to create a new painting. I was also inspired by the beautiful flowers that are now emerging in the spring. One morning, I visited our local New England Botanic Gardens at Tower Hill in Boylston, MA. I found so much joy in all of the amazing flowers and pollinators sipping up their nectar. I created a sketch from these two sources of inspirations while I was there. The next two days after, I created this new hand-painted illustration, “Primavera Mother” and then made this time-lapse painting demo video to share.

I set up a camera to run while I worked in order to create a time-lapsed video of the illustration process. I always find it so interesting to watch other artists and illustrators paint, draw, and work their craft. I know others enjoy this too. I hope you also enjoy this new video of the process to create “Primavera Mother”.

“Primavera Mother” was created using watercolors, gouache, gel pen, and colored pencils. It took approximately 15 hours to create from drawing sketches to finished painting. There were several hours of video footage to edit down and compress into 4 minutes, which was quite the challenge!

The music in the video is a song I wrote called “Love at First Sight”, which was originally written as a lullaby for my son when he was one year old. The lyrics are about how one loves their newborn baby so deeply and quickly even though they just met. It is the true “love at first sight”. You can hear more of my music at aquaence.com and aquaence.bandcamp.com/music.

If you’re interested in purchasing prints of “Primavera Mother”, you can find both 9×12″ matted prints and 5×7″ matted prints in my online art shop. If you’re interested in purchasing the original, please contact me.

Thanks for watching!