Changing artistic styles and techniques

I love all the books I’ve illustrated. Each and every one of them (I’m working on book 34). Sometimes I’ve illustrated people realistically, as in the true non-fiction story of Astro: The Steller Sea Lion, written by Jeanne Walker Harvey. Astro is a celebrity Sea Lion! You can see him in person at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. 

Other times I illustrate whimsical, playful people, as I did for the fictional storybook, A Family Walk, written by Jennifer Butenas. This is the delightful story of a family who spend precious moments together, creating lifetime memories - captured by their Mom with her camera. 



I was recently asked which style I prefer. I honestly answered this way. I truly don’t have a favorite style to work in. I look at each book as a new clean canvas. I read the manuscript and ponder it for a while. The words direct me one way or another. Non-fiction books typically are realistic, while fictional tales slide to whimsy. This isn’t hard and fast, and sometimes the editor/art director requests a specific style or technique. Working in a wide variety of styles and techniques is what makes my job so much fun!