Illustrators Spotlight

How long have you been a member of SCBWI?

I've been a member for 4 years.

How long have you been creating artwork?

Like a lot of artists, I've been drawing since I could pick up the pencil. I was lucky that I had continual encouragement from friends and family to keep going every step of the way!

Have you had any work published?

JJ Levan wrote a book for a day in the life of children on the autism spectrum called He Meant You to Be You, which she invited me to illustrate. It was released by a small publisher in 2023, and you can buy it on Amazon right now! We're very proud of it!

How long have you been illustrating books? What other artistic endeavors have you pursued professionally?

I started illustrating picture books around the same time I joined SCBWI in 2021, which has become such a clear passion for me. I love working directly with authors, editors, and agents to tell a story as well as I possibly can. The other creative work I've been working on professionally, like hand-drawn animation and illustration, has often felt like the lonely work of a single artist for the benefit of a single business. It's been so refreshing to collaborate directly with other creative people in picture books for such a great purpose! A lot of the illustration work I do is digital, so lately I've been getting into commissioned wood burning art, which is a great way for me to step away from the screen for a while.

What was your inspiration for the banner?

This banner felt like a return to roots for me - throughout all of my childhood, all I was concerned with was animals. I wanted to see them, learn about them, and of course draw them. It seemed only fair that I used that as my jumping off point for this piece, since all we want to do as authors and illustrators in this industry is to touch the lives of kids. I felt like this was a small way for me to reconnect with that four year old inside of me scribbling comics of dogs and sheep on endless stacks of printer paper.

About how long did it take you to complete the banner? Did you do this on a computer or use more traditional techniques or a combination?

This piece took around 12 hours, and though I typically work in pencil first to give my work a traditional grit, this one was too big for my tiny 8 x 10 scanner to handle. Fellow illustrators reading this: how does one begin looking for a large, high-resolution scanner for art? Send me a message if you have any tips!

What did you do when you learned your artwork had been selected for the banner? How did you celebrate the news?

I had to share the news with my wife, Sarah, first and foremost. She teaches 7th and 8th grade special education, so we share that desire to benefit the minds and hearts of young people. It's because of her encouragement that I'm doing what I'm doing today! As for celebration, what would a good day in the Midwest be without Culver's frozen custard and cheese curds?