Frequently Asked Questions
THE SPY IN THE MUSEUM
Press Kit and more information available here.
Interviews
For a good bit of background info on me, here are some interviews I’ve done:
Interview at Canvas Rebel
Illustrator Saturday Interview at the Writing and Illustrating blog
Podcast interview by Pencil Kings (slightly older interview but still relevant)
Unleashing Readers about my work on The Real Boy
Nerdy Book Club for my work on Breadcrumbs
Novel Novice about my work on Breadcrumbs
Literary Rambles with Jenn Bishop for my work on The Distance to Home.
Still curious? These are the questions I get most often from students and people who are curious about children’s books, illustration, and everything else.
Where did you go to school?
I attended Ringling College of Art and Design, and graduated in 2008 with a BFA in illustration.
In 2023 I began pursuing my MFA in Illustration at University of Hartford.
How did you get your start as an illustrator?
Most of this is covered in the podcast I linked, but here's the quick version: I interviewed with several companies while I was at art school, and was hired as an apprentice at Reel FX Entertainment. I worked there as a concept artist/designer for five years on a range of commercial projects and film projects. Eventually I did art direction there as well. There, I learned a lot about being a professional, getting work done on time, and worked on developing my art. In my spare time I updated my blog, sold prints of my work online, and started researching the publishing world.
In 2009, I was offered my first picture book deal with Candlewick Press, and offered representation with Writers House. I attribute both things to having a frequently updated online presence.
From there, I just did the best I could on the book jobs I was getting. Luckily the publishing industry is pretty small, and it was a snowball effect of me picking up more work. I started out by moonlighting as a freelancer, but quit my full time job in 2012 to freelance full time. I’ve now been a freelancer for over ten years.
How did you get an agent?
There are many resources online about getting a literary agent. Harold Underdown's website is one of the best and most informative. I got an agent the same way I started getting freelance work- I put my work online, updated my portfolio regularly, and had work that was relevant to the industry. I lucked out when Writers House found my work in 2009 and offered me representation.
General advice- Research which agents represent the work you like, and submit to the ones you're most interested in. Read and follow all submission guidelines. And listen to their feedback if they give you any.
Will you illustrate my children’s book?
I’m unable to accept personal commissions at this time. This includes self-published children's books, artwork for gifts, etc. If you are a publisher, please contact my agent- Lindsay Auld lauld@writershouse.com
What advice do you have for students who want to illustrate books?
Research! Go to book stores and see what sells. Go to the library and see what books are being featured. Read a lot of picture books, especially from the past ten years. Read a lot of middle grade books if you want to illustrate for slightly older audiences. Start following the publishing industry closely and get up to speed on trends and issues.
On the art side of things, you must hone your craft as an illustrator, but also learn to address the needs specific to the Kid Lit world. Work on showing kids at specific ages. Show characters in a scene, not just static portraits of people. Approach your images like a storyteller.
Once you have a solid portfolio, get it online! Be active in social media, and remember there is no one "right" platform anymore. I also highly recommend conferences like SCBWI if you are just starting out.
What is the best part of your job? What is the hardest?
Getting to make art for a living is such a privilege. I get a lot of satisfaction out of a job well done, and I am very grateful to be part of such a wonderful industry. I love books and I hope to spend my life writing and illustrating them.
The hard parts? The hours can be very long, depending on deadlines. Illustration is a very solitary profession. And, since illustration is an incredibly competitive market, it is easy to get discouraged and compare yourself to others. But I love my job and I think the benefits outweigh the negatives. I’m a lucky gal.
How do you paint your illustrations? What media do you use? Can I buy the originals?
I often start my illustrations with a pencil drawing or painting, and touch it up with digital painting. Almost all of my illustrations are finished in Photoshop, using a Wacom tablet, though I like Procreate on my iPad for a mobile work setup. Lately I’ve been relying on digital tools less and letting the analog media show more.
For black and white interior art I often work with a more rendered pencil sketch first, and add some Photoshop work on top. Because of the nature of this, I do not have many originals. Currently I am not selling any sketches or original drawings, this includes Nancy Drew sketches.
Will you send me a sketch of Nancy Drew?
I am not currently taking personal commissions or selling original sketches of Nancy Drew. But, prints of my cover illustrations are available here!
Who are your biggest inspirations?
Too many artists to name. But Shaun Tan, Adam Rex, Lisbeth Zwerger, and William Joyce are the big ones. Inspiration is one big soup to me, I find a lot of inspiration from nature, history, photography, fashion design, and architecture. I aim to always remain curious and always be learning.
What are your cat’s names?
Ginny and Loki! They say hi.