As a child, I was always drawing from my imagination. Most of my early pictures were of little bugs, mice, and other made-up creatures. These same inspirations are shaping my new illustrations and bringing me back to the fantasy art and stories I enjoyed creating. I’m currently working on a personal project including a middle grade novel that explores all of these small places. I hope you enjoy exploring them with me as they start to feel real again.

I can work in both traditional mediums (oils, gouache, and pencil) which influence how I create artwork on a Wacom Cintiq tablet.  It surprises some people that my second picture book, SILLY FRILLY GRANDMA TILLIE was illustrated digitally on the computer because of the traditional pencil texture.  My goal has been to retain the textures and colors from my traditional painting technique (gouache, salt and color pencils) which produced the look of my first picture book, THE WARMEST PLACE OF ALL. 

I studied illustration at Columbus College of Art & Design. There were always a few teachers that made that time feel more like a mentorship rather than a class.  I will always be thankful. And my years with SCBWI, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, has given a deeper understanding of the publishing industry – children’s magazines, picture book, middle grade and (young reader) graphic novel genres.   

I live in Florida with my husband Tim, and our two children.  I hope to always have that creative spirit I knew as a child.