Hi! I'm an artist from Arizona where I grew up on a diet of Tom and Jerry cartoons, Brady Bunch reruns and Star Wars films. When I was ten, I won the program cover contest for my elementary school’s Christmas musical, "Santa and the Snowmobile.” I've loved art and design ever since.
I graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and then moved to Los Angeles. I worked many years as an art director for agencies, large corporations and toy companies.
Now, I live in Portland, OR where I make art and write stories for kids!
Find me working at my desk with a large cup of coffee, while Mavis, my pet rabbit, yanks my shoelaces for extra greens.
Five Random Facts About Me:
1. I grew up on a cotton ranch in the Sonoran Desert.
2. I played the clarinet in high school and my first major in college was Music Education.
3. I love cooking and baking. I’m famous for my chicken and dumplings and banana bread.
4. I’m a major animal lover. I sponsor orphaned elephants and I volunteered at the Humane Society.
5. I love Halloween and I’m known for my DIY costumes made from cardboard.
GREAT NEWS!
I am SCBWI’s featured illustrator of the month for January 2023. See me discuss my journey as a KidLit illustrator and how I make picture books here.
Clients
Macmillan
Feiwel & Friends
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Sounds True Kids
Cricket Media: Ladybug Magazine, Babybug Magazine
Albert Whitman
Free Spirit Publishing
GoGo squeeZ
Member
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Awards and Achievements
SCBWI.org Featured Illustrator of the month: January 2023
SCBWI 2021 Annual Summer Conference: Portfolio Showcase Honor
SCBWI Central California Artworks 2018 portfolio showcase winner
SCBWI.org Featured Illustrator of the month: August 2017
SCBWI Southern California Agent's Day 2016: portfolio contest winner
SCBWI Illustrators Day 2015: Professionals Choice portfolio winner
SCBWI Los Angeles Chapter 2015 Mentorship Contest winner
