NEW! #KidLit Illustration
Seeking Literary Agent
Hello, Fall! Are the leaves crunching underfoot where you are? Halloween is just around the corner, though it's been an unusual week here in Brooklyn with temperatures hitting 80 degrees. It's a strange mix of spooky season vibes and cranking up the AC.
📣 Seeking Literary Agent 📣
I'm excited to share that I'm seeking artist representation! I have never had an agent before, so this is all new for me. The first Thursday of every month is #KidLitArt Postcard Day, and to kick things off on October 3, I created my first piece, inspired by a real-life story.
I’ve developed a deep fascination with crows and stumbled upon a 2015 BBC News story titled The Girl Who Gets Gifts From Birds. It's about an 8-year-old named Gabi who began feeding crows, and in return, they brought her small gifts. Mostly, it's fragments of broken things, but one of her most cherished treasures is half of a best-friend heart charm. Gabi liked to imagine one of the crows held onto the other half.
“They are the prettiest and represent the friendship and love.” —Gabi Mann, Friend of Birds, Cricket Magazine, 2019.
In my research, I wondered if Gabi would grow up to become a scientist, which led me to my other fantastic crow discovery: Simona Kossak, a Polish biologist, ecologist, and professor of forest sciences. Simona is who I imagine Gabi will become later in life.
Kossak is known for her efforts to preserve the remnants of natural ecosystems in Poland. Her work dealt with, among other things, the behavioral ecology of mammals. She sometimes referred to herself as a "zoo-psychologist." (src)
I discovered Simona just in time—there's a Polish film about her, Simona Kossak (2024), coming out this November. I'm really excited to see it, though I haven't quite figured out how to watch it here in the States yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an English-subtitled release. Check out the trailer; it looks so cool!
My journey with picture books began behind the scenes. From 2018 to 2021, I worked as a freelance graphic designer for Macmillan, gaining first-hand experience in how picture books are created from start to finish. One of my favorite projects was laying out Art Is Life: The Life of Artist Keith Haring by Tami Lewis Brown.
The handlettering you see below is my work, marking my first designer credit in a picture book. It was art directed by Jen Keenan, and the result is truly beautiful. I highly recommend checking it out!
Art is life...
and life is art.
My portfolio is evolving, and I'm excited to share new projects as I delve further into children's literature. I specialize in historical fiction featuring strong female leads, and anthropomorphic animals. I love to blend a traditional style with a modern aesthetic, featuring a vibrant color palette, playful humor, and a touch of the macabre.
Join me next week for some horror recaps & spooky art treats—just in time for Halloween!
🖤, A
In 5th grade, my classmates brought back an injured crow to class and we kept her/him until she/ he recovered. It drove our teacher crazy lol. They are so smart💜
I love seeing your hand lettering in the Keith Haring book! (and feel if I'd come across the book randomly I would have been losing my mind trying to figure out where I knew that handwriting, lol). I also loooooooove your crow illustrations. And just going to admit I'm also obsessed with befriending a crow - gifting half of a best friend's charm, omg.