Something Beautiful
Available on June 7th, 2022!
The Making of Something Beautiful
When You Need Wings
When You Need Wings
is now available!
The Making of When You Need Wings
Creative Process Videos
The Wisdom of Trees
Mary’s Monster
Penguin Flies Home
Penguin loves everything about flying: the wind beneath his wings, the song that rises from his belly, and the sight of new and wonderful places. Still, he misses his penguin friends in the South Pole. So, he flips and flaps back home, ready to teach them the magic of flight!
But when he arrives, his enthusiasm for flying doesn’t get quite the reaction he expected. Will Penguin’s friends still like him, even if they don’t share his soaring dreams?
Please visit my Etsy Shop
A little part of me has always dreamed of living in the English countryside above a little shop where I could paint, and share creativity with whimsical pieces of art for sale. There’d be tea and cake, and shop kitties to greet everyone who entered! Alas, that will remain just a dream, but I do have an online shop. I can’t serve tea, but I can share creativity and art, and of course the kitties are here to greet everyone. I invite you to check it out. Please bring your imagination, and a cup of tea (or coffee if that is your thing) and join me there.
I painted this last summer, but we have a fawn exploring our garden again this year so I was in the mood to share. I love June so much with all the nesting birds and baby animals emerging. Have a lovely weekend all, and I hope you are in a place where you can enjoy nature today.
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#naturejournal #naturejournaling #sketchbookdrawing #naturedrawing #inspiredbynature #botanicalart #drawnature #botanical #sketchbook #sketch #artoftheday #sketchoftheday
#draw #drawing #dailyart #artistoninstagram #artlife
#kidlitart #kidlitillustration #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativesofinstagram #illustrationartists #animallovers #animalcreatives #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #showillustrations #childrensbooks #illustration
Jun 25

Sharing a glimpse of my studio and a little behind the scenes making of my book, Something Beautiful.
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#artisticprocess #creativesoul #creativespirit #illustration #illustrationartists #artlife #artstudio #childrenbookillustration #picturebookillustration #kidlitart #kidlit #mindfulness #artistic_share #artist_sharing #positivethoughts #positivelife #consciousliving #illustration_the_best #sketch #artoftheday
#artistsoninstagram #kidsbooks #bookstagram #childrensbooks #illustrations #wanderlustart #fairytale #beatrixpotter
Jun 19

Sharing a page in my sketchbook. I sometimes take my little mouse Pan for walks in the garden (but he mostly stays tucked in my sweater, sleeping when I do). But just for fun, I drew him on a garden adventure.
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#naturejournal #naturejournaling #sketchbookdrawing #naturedrawing #inspiredbynature #botanicalart #drawnature #botanical #sketchbook #sketch #artoftheday #sketchoftheday
#draw #drawing #dailyart #artistoninstagram #artlife
#kidlitart #kidlitillustration #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativesofinstagram #illustrationartists #animallovers #animalcreatives #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #showillustrations #childrensbooks #illustration
Jun 18

I've fallen in love with sketching fiddleheads. There is so much exquisite variety in the way each fern unfolds. They are almost all unfurled now, so I'll have to wait till next spring to draw more, but for now, here are a few from my sketchbook.
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#naturejournal #naturejournaling #sketchbookdrawing #naturedrawing #inspiredbynature #botanicalart #drawnature #botanical #sketchbook #sketch #artoftheday #sketchoftheday
#draw #drawing #dailyart #artistoninstagram #artlife
#kidlitart #kidlitillustration #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativesofinstagram #illustrationartists #animallovers #animalcreatives #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #showillustrations #childrensbooks #illustration
Jun 12

Sharing a piggy drawing from my sketchbook.
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#sketchbook #sketch #artoftheday #sketchoftheday
#picturebookillustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitillustration #booklover #characterdesign #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativesofinstagram #illustrationartists #animallovers #animalcreatives #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #showillustrations #childrensbooks #positivethoughts #consciousliving #piglove #illustration #draw #drawing
#myart #dailyart #artistoninstagram #artlife
Jun 9

It's book birthday release day for my newest book, Something Beautiful. I started this book when Willow was a wee kitten, and finished it nearly 18 months ago, so it's pretty wonderful to celebrate this book. It's close to my heart as it celebrates friendship, and friendships are what got me through the last year! I have signed books and art prints on my Etsy shop. See a link in my bio.
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#bookbirthday #positiveenergy #breatheinbreatheout #newthingstocome #newbeginnings #watercolor #creativesoul #creativespirit #illustration #illustrationartists #wanderlustart #fairytale #beatrixpotter #artlife #artstudio #childrenbookillustration #picturebookillustration #kidlitart #kidlit #mindfulness #artistic_share #artist_sharing#lovewins #worldpeace #revolutionofpeace #positivethoughts #positivelife #consciousliving #illustration_the_best #artoftheday
Jun 7

I've been taking some time away from my desk and the computer to regroup and restore. It's been a tough year, I'm not going to lie. But sketching outside, soaking in nature, has been really wonderful. Sketching from life reminds me how much I love creating and centers me. I'm thankful to have this practice. It reminds me of when I opened my first journal to draw a flower soooo many years ago. Each time, I fall in love all over again with how much beauty there is in this tough world..
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#sketchdaily #sketchoftheday #sketchbook
#illustration_the_best #illustration #illustrations #illustrationartists #iloveillustration #illustration_mag #illustration_best #the_world_of_illustration1 #artguide_illustration #illustration1000 #childrenillustration #showillustrations #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #newthingstocome #artisthome #artiststudio #artiststudiospace #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativespirit #animallovers
Jun 6

Something Beautiful comes out next Tuesday! I'll have prints and books on my Etsy shop in a day or two. For now, I love sharing a little bit of my process for making a book. Hope you enjoy this very short video.
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#positiveenergy #breatheinbreatheout #newthingstocome #newbeginnings #watercolor #creativesoul #creativespirit #illustration #illustrationartists #wanderlustart #fairytale #beatrixpotter #artlife #artstudio #childrenbookillustration #picturebookillustration #kidlitart #kidlit #mindfulness #artistic_share #artist_sharing#lovewins #worldpeace #revolutionofpeace #positivethoughts #positivelife #consciousliving #illustration_the_best #sketch #artoftheday
Jun 4

One week till my newest book, Something Beautiful, comes out - it's hard to be patient after working on this for the past three years. But if my characters can be patient, well I guess I can be too. Hope this brings a smile to everyone's day! I'll have prints and books on my Etsy shop next week!
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#artlife #dailyart #artist_sharing
#workspace #creativeprocess #creativelife
#creativity #creativesofinstagram
#illustration_the_best #illustration #illustrations #illustrationartists #iloveillustration #illustration_mag #illustration_best #the_world_of_illustration1 #artguide_illustration #illustration1000 #childrenillustration #showillustrations #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #newthingstocome #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativespirit #animallovers #sketch #artoftheday
May 31

Thank you to my wonderful publisher, Atheneum for making another GIF for my book, Something Beautiful. (releasing June 7th) These characters have been sitting in my head, and then on paper for several years. So fun to have then nearly ready to live within the hearts of young readers!
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#positiveenergy #breatheinbreatheout #newthingstocome #newbeginnings #watercolor #creativesoul #creativespirit #illustration #illustrationartists #wanderlustart #fairytale #beatrixpotter #artlife #artstudio #childrenbookillustration #picturebookillustration #kidlitart #kidlit #mindfulness #artistic_share #artist_sharing#lovewins #worldpeace #revolutionofpeace #positivethoughts #positivelife #consciousliving #illustration_the_best #sketch #artoftheday
May 28

One of my favorite characters in my upcoming book, Something Beautiful. Thought I'd share a couple of the messy beginnings to building a character. There are literally dozens and dozens of drawings, that go into developing each character in a story.
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#positiveenergy #breatheinbreatheout #newthingstocome #newbeginnings #watercolor #creativesoul #creativespirit #illustration #illustrationartists #wanderlustart #fairytale #beatrixpotter #artlife #artstudio #childrenbookillustration #picturebookillustration #kidlitart #kidlit #mindfulness #artistic_share #artist_sharing#lovewins #worldpeace #revolutionofpeace #positivethoughts #positivelife #consciousliving #illustration_the_best #sketch #artoftheday
May 26

Only two weeks till my new book, SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, comes out! (Releases June 7th) So I'm sharing a little trailer I made. Getting excited!!
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#positiveenergy #breatheinbreatheout #newthingstocome #newbeginnings #watercolor #creativesoul #creativespirit #illustration #illustrationartists #wanderlustart #fairytale #beatrixpotter #artlife #artstudio #childrenbookillustration #picturebookillustration #kidlitart #kidlit #mindfulness #artistic_share #artist_sharing#lovewins #worldpeace #revolutionofpeace #positivethoughts #positivelife #consciousliving #illustration_the_best #sketch #artoftheday
May 24

Bahhh, sharing a work in progress. This is Wuddles, the sheep, a character in my next project.
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#sketchdaily #sketchoftheday #sketchbook
#illustration_the_best #illustration #illustrations #illustrationartists #iloveillustration #illustration_mag #illustration_best #the_world_of_illustration1 #artguide_illustration #illustration1000 #childrenillustration #showillustrations #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #newthingstocome #artisthome #artiststudio #artiststudiospace #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativespirit #animallovers
May 21

Anyone who follows me on FB knows I have a bear that visits my yard a lot. He even snoozes outside my window occasionally. It's one of my greatest joys to draw him, and YES, he will need his own story soon. For now, a quick sketch, and a character sketch in the very early stages of development.
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#picturebookillustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitillustration #booklover #watercolor #characterdesign #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativesofinstagram #illustrationartists #animallovers #animalcreatives #wildlifeonearth #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #showillustrations #childrensbooks #positivethoughts #consciousliving
#fantasyillustration #fantasy #watercolorpainting
#lovewinter #bearlove #bearlover #lovebears #ilovebears #sketch #artoftheday
May 17

In my upcoming book, Something Beautiful, I love porcupine, but I never feel like my characters quite come to life until small readers hold them in their hands. Thank you to my wonderful publisher for, Atheneum, for helping to make that happen, and for this delightful GIF.
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#artlife #dailyart #artist_sharing
#workspace #creativeprocess #creativelife
#creativity #creativesofinstagram
#illustration_the_best #illustration #illustrations #illustrationartists #iloveillustration #illustration_mag #illustration_best #the_world_of_illustration1 #artguide_illustration #illustration1000 #childrenillustration #showillustrations #moreillustrations #illustrationnow #newthingstocome #creativespaces #creativesoul #creativespirit #animallovers #sketch #artoftheday
May 14
