Monthly Meeting: May 2025 – Illustrator Panel

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:

Keiko: 

• Illustrations by Keiko are done by hand, with minimal digital clean-up at the end
• Inspiration often comes from her daughter and from her cats
• Currently, she’s working on a book with Random House and Dr. Seuss
• Advice: “Business cards are a must”
• She was discovered by an art director who saw her work at the New York and Austin conferences and on Instagram
• #KidLitArtPostcard Day takes place once a month—you could be discovered this way, since art directors are on the lookout
• #KidLitArtPostcard was created in 2021 by illustrator Gina Perry as a way for any illustrator to share their artwork, so that editors and art directors can find and potentially hire illustrators; this event occurs the first Thursday of every month (to participate, type in the hashtag on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, etc.)
• Great ideas can come anyplace/anytime: in the shower, when just waking up, or when busy doing other things
• Read more about Keiko, illustrator of our 2025 chapter website banner, in our Member Interview Series

Laura:

• Being both author and illustrator is attractive to publishers—and it is Laura’s personal goal
• Being agented is encouraged; Laura’s agent is Rachel Orr (who likes to represent author-illustrators) 
• Advice: It’s okay to get messy, especially when beginning an illustration; don’t let naysayers intimidate your path as an illustrator; in your portfolio, show the work that you want to do
• Laura illustrated SLEEPING BAGS TO S’MORES (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020), which included 100 illustrations, completed in five months
• “The Texas Coloring Book” is her next project 
• Researching to inform illustrations is time consuming, yet it is both beneficial to and necessary for the best illustrations
• Blue Genie Art Bazaar is a great place to sell your work or products based on your illustrations
• Consider a side business as a way to sell your work; check out Laura’s business: FISK AND FERN, which includes products featuring her illustrations such as dish towels, mugs, greeting cards, coloring books and giant coloring sheets
• Creating picture books is a S-L-O-W business
• A lot of patience is required, with long periods of waiting
• Don’t let doubts rule; refocus and prioritize
• Celebrate small milestones
• Note that Laura served as our chapter’s former Illustrator Coordinator

Greta:

• Attended Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
• Prior to becoming an illustrator, enjoyed a graphic design career
• Led a corporate design team at Indeed; has worked with many corporate brands
• Advice: balancing work life with family life is important; it can take years to develop a portfolio—stay the course; practice, practice, practice; be optimistic
• Newly agented with Natascha Morris
• Greta was discovered after entering a contest called Picture Book Party—which was reviewed by 50 agents
• Favorite influences: Richard Scarry and Graphic Design
• Favorite medium: Blackwing pencils
• Favorite technique: layering textures
• Don’t be too precious about your work; you can always just do it over 
• Be at peace with the ebb and flow of the creative process