This blog was created to share art tips and tutorials, art resources, share cool things about other artists, and also let you know about upcoming learning opportunities and contests. Do you have something art-related you’d like to learn about? Let me know!
This July, I was so ecstatic to return to the Boyds Mills campus (formerly known as The Highlights Foundation) in the Poconos of Pennsylvania to get back to work on kids’ books! The Summer Camp for Writers and Illustrators was calling my name. Both sessions had people I adore as faculty, but I ultimately decided on session 1 with Katie Mazeika, Daria Peoples, Valerie Bolling, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, Kat Yeh, Alex Villasante, and Emily Rosenthal, and facilitated by the lovely Molly Chao. I already personally knew 2/3 of the faculty and I was sure these were people I’d love to spend time with and learn from again.
Mentors and Critique Groups
Victoria and Katie Mazeika
Each participant at summer camp was paired with a mentor and a critique group. I was so lucky to have the amazing Katie Mazeika as my mentor. Katie and I knew each other online, but had never met in-person. It was such a delight to spend time with Katie, receive her feedback and advice, and get to know each other better. Katie is the author and illustrator of books such as “Maybe Just Ask Me” and “Anette Feels Free”. Katie was a huge help in helping me find a solid direction for a manuscript and steps to improve my character design in illustrations. I am so grateful to her!
I also had the best little illustrator critique group, led by the awesome Emily Rosenthal (who also celebrated a recent book birthday with “Leroy Has Something to Say”). We shared manuscripts, art sketches, and story ideas with one another and were able to give each other meaningful and actionable feedback. I am so grateful to all of my critique group members, including Shadra Strickland, Chris Tebbetts, Salma Ali, Lesley Lim, and Chris Randall. We came from varying levels of experience and backgrounds, but that was one of the things that made this critique group so wonderful to work with. I loved seeing what everyone was working on and being part of their unique creative process.
Camaraderie and Support
Our author/illustrator critique group
Beyond the critique group and one-on-one mentor time, there was camaraderie and bonding with everyone attending summer camp. Plus, amazing breakout sessions and keynotes from the faculty that I found insightful and inspiring. To end the camp, we all took turns sharing some of our work during an open mic night. It was so lovely to hear bits of everyone’s stories and be able to stand up and share my own with an audience. I was nervous and anxious, but the feedback and encouragement I received afterwards was worth it.
To top it all off, Executive Director of Boyds Mills, George Brown took some of us on a special hike up to a beaver dam in the woods nearby. It was a magical early morning experience to see this exquisite piece of natural engineering. Plus, other nature sightings such as sun-lit spider webs, frogs, salamanders, and the beauty of Calkins Creek in the early morning light.
If you’re a children’s book creator and you ever have the opportunity to attend a workshop or personal retreat at Boyds Mills, take it! This place carries a magic that lifts creators up and moves them forward in a supportive, caring, and collaborative environment. Plus, the hospitality staff do the BEST job keeping you fed, housed, and cared for through your stay. I can’t say enough good things about them.
The beaver dam at Calkins Creek
Ways to Support or be Supported by Boyds Mills
Boyds Mills holds a scholarship application period during the winter. If you’d love to come to campus, but don’t know how to make it happen, applying for a scholarship could be a path to try. They also offer payment plans if a scholarship isn’t in the cards for you, like they did for me.
I have completed another rotation around the sun, which means it’s time to celebrate my birthday with another fundraiser! I started this tradition for my 40th birthday back in 2022 since I wasn’t able to have the party I wished for due to COVID’s Delta variant surge. Together we’ve raised hundreds of dollars for various organizations over the last few years. This year in 2026 I’ve chosen to fundraise for Mass Audubon.
Why Mass Audubon?
Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester, MA
There are so many organizations that need help right now and it was so hard to choose who to raise funds for. Our natural world and conservation are always so close to my heart. Caring for our environment, plants, animals, water supply, clean air, safe soil, and preservation of nature spaces is something that effects every single one of us. One of the most effective ways to advocate and care for nature is through local organizations who work on the city and state levels to make change right here at home.
Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Their website states that they are “focused on protecting and restoring resilient landscapes, providing inclusive and equitable access to nature, mobilizing to fight climate change, and protecting birds and wildlife.”
Mass Audubon’s work has resulted in 43,000 acres of land protected across Massachusetts with 110 wildlife sanctuaries and partner properties. They work with the public to educate children and adults alike about conservation, wildlife, and natural spaces.
I’ll ship the winners’ print once they send me their mailing address and print choice.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to each cause through the years and for donating this year too! And also thanks to those who share this with others to spread the word. I’m so honored to have you celebrate my birthday with me!
I’m so delighted to share that my watercolor mixed media illustration, The Forest Raised Me was selected for a Convention Chair Honorable Mention award at the Arisia Inc. Convention Art Show in January, 2026! Arisia has been a wonderful show for me each year and I’m always so happy to have my work hung among that of so many amazing artists. I feel so happy to have been honored with this award this year. Thank you to the Arisia Convention Chair who picked my piece, the Arisia convention staff and volunteers, and all of the attendees who made the art show so special.
Victoria grew up next to a large stand of woods and near other wild spaces that she enjoyed visiting. She often looked at the trees near her house as other people she could talk to and spend time with when human people were too much to be around. Being among the trees and the wildlife of the forest felt magical to her—and still does. It left an impression of wonder, reverence, and deep connection to the trees that she has taken into adulthood.
Hello, friends! It’s time for my 4th Annual Birthday Fundraiser Extravaganza! My birthday is at the beginning of March, but I’m starting my fundraising a month ahead of time. Each year, since I’ve turned 40, I have celebrated by hosting a fundraiser for organizations I care about or whose missions I believe in. This fundraiser is also a fun opportunity for you to get a free art sticker! In light of all the recent events in this country, this year I’ve chosen to fundraise for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Earthjustice. Because lots of people and the Earth need their rights defended right now.
So, how does this work?
Donate $10 or more to one or both of these organizations.
Share this fundraiser with the people you know.
Then, fill out this form to let me know you donated (include a screen shot of your receipt).
Include your mailing address in the form and I’ll send you a free “LOVE IS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE” art sticker (while supplies last)!
More About the ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union has been defending the rights of Americans for over 100 years. Their current work includes fighting injustice against immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, fighting for reproductive rights, upholding and continuing to fight for civil rights, racial justice, and voting rights. The list goes on. Your donation to the ACLU will go toward lawyers fighting court battles on these issues. It helps disperse information to Americans so they know what their rights are. It goes toward campaigns to help uphold civil liberties and get the public involved. Plus so much more. Read more about the ACLU on their website at www.aclu.org.
Earthjustice was founded in 1971 to preserve wildlife and wild spaces, protect people’s health, advance clean energy, and fight climate change. This is a premier nonprofit environmental law organization with more than 200 attorneys throughout the country working on cases to defend the Earth. They partner with hundreds of organizations, tribal communities, and other communities throughout the country whom they represent for free. Your donation goes toward the research and lawsuits they work on. These lawyers have done a lot of important work, including representing the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe during the Dakota Access Pipeline case. Read more about Earthjustice on their website at www.earthjustice.org.
Don’t forget the fill out the form and include your mailing address to get your FREE art sticker! There are only 100 available, so I’ll send them as long as supplies last. I created this piece with watercolors and colored pencils to convey a sense that caring for each other is how we will resist tyranny and oppression. And I’m getting my art put into sticker form to share with YOU!
The stickers are currently being printed and I’ll have them in hand within the next couple of weeks. These stickers are vinyl and weather-proof so you can stick them on all sorts of surfaces. They’ll be aproximately 3” wide. I’ve been printing my stickers with Vermont-based company StickyBrand, who also use eco-friendly inks in their printing process. Spread the word and do good! Now is more important than ever to stick together and share LOVE.
The art from the video framed and up on the gallery wall at the WSU Dolphin Gallery
A friend asked me for help on how to frame illustrations for a show. Since I thought it would be helpful for others as well, I put together this video to share how I frame and wire my illustrations. While illustrators aren’t always gallery artists, we do sometimes have the opportunity to show our work in galleries and other exhibitions. It’s important to know how to frame up your pieces for shows and how to wire it properly for hanging.
You’ll often find gallery shows and other events have specific instructions for framing that include “framed and wired for hanging”. It’s important you follow their instructions and make everyone’s lives easier.
This post outlines how to create a hinge mat, frame your piece, and wire the frame to be hung. It applies specifically to flat work on paper, such as watercolors, pen art on paper, digital art printed on paper, etc. If you’re framing pieces painted or printed on canvases or boards, you’ll need to find another framing method.
Watch the Video:
The Steps for Matting, Framing, and Wiring Art for Hanging:
Gather all of your materials
Create a hinge mat
Line up top of cut mat and backing board
Measure out hinging tape and cut
Place hinging tape across top inside of backing board and cut mat board
Flatten tape so it’s smooth
Fold mat board over onto backing board
Place art under mat board
Center art in your cut mat board
Carefully place photo corners on each corner of the art
Put art into frame
Open up frame back
Clean inside of frame glass (and let dry)
Place art inside from, face down onto glass
Be sure your art looks good from the front before closing it up
Place frame back back into frame and latch into place securely
Wire the frame for hanging
Find your desired placement of wire hanging brackets (mark with pencil if needed)
Hold bracket in place while screwing in screw to secure it
Repeat on the opposite side
Measure and cut your wire (leave extra on each end for securing)
Thread wire through bracket loops
Secure wire either with crimp tubes (squeeze into place with pliers) or by wrapping around itself until secure
Clean front of glass
Label back of your art as necessary according to gallery instructions
Materials List:
Your art
A frame appropriately sized for your art
A pre-cut mat board sized for your art
Backing board
Linen hinging tape (archival)
Photo corners (archival)
Framing wire, brackets, screws, and optional crimp tubes
The art being framed in this video is Sierra Nevada Red Fox and is available for purchase. Contact Me to purchase the original (including this frame). You can also buy prints and stickers of this piece in the online art shop.
Feel free to leave your questions or comments in the comment box below. Thanks for watching!
Right now, so many of us here in the United States and across the world are sad, heartbroken, angry, scared, worried, and so many other emotions. I know I am, especially worrying for my children. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of what is and what might come to be. Now, more than ever, it’s important that we stick together and keep shining our light. Let’s mobilize together to fight the good fight. For our children. For our planet. For our friends and family. For our communities.
Originally this November, I was going to hold a holiday sale on my art. But, I’ve decided instead to hold a donation sale. For every sale I receive on my art and art products, both online or in-person during the whole month of November, I will donate 30% of the entire sale. The three organizations I’ve chosen for this sale represent areas that are going to need our help in the coming times. These organizations are:
First, pick the art you’d like to buy in my online shop. When you go to check out online, use the “Comments” section at the end of your order to type in which of these three organizations you’d like me to donate to. If nothing is indicated, I’ll donate some to all three. I will total up and make all donations after the month of November, once all sales have come in.
**If there is something you’ve seen me have before that’s not on my website, or there’s an original you’d like that’s not currently listed, please let me know! I’m happy to work with you to get you what you want. I can even put together custom packs of cards.**
I wish I could donate more than just 30%. But, part of caring for others, is also caring for myself and my family. This is my livelihood and as a small business artist, it’s hard to keep things afloat. I’m doing what I can.
Though, I recognize there are so many more places that can also use the help, I chose to focus on these three for this moment. I’m sure I will be holding other donation sales in the future. I also encourage you to donate direct to these or any other organizations dedicated to helping the environment, fighting climate change, helping marginalized communities, disability rights, and fighting for bodily autonomy and women’s rights.
And if you can’t afford to donate, please don’t feel guilty. You must take care of yourself first. You can always share these causes with others, which is free. There is so much to fight for. And we are all in this fight together. Let’s shine our light together, take care of each other, and march forward.
The Trevor Project is a leading organization in suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ young people. They provide 24/7 crisis help and information. During these trying times, queer youth are negatively impacted more than most. Your donation will help provide counseling, peer support, crisis hotlines, and educating allies and families of LGBTQ+ young people.
Earth Justice is an impactful legal organization fighting for the rights of our planet. They provide top-tier legal representation for many clients fighting for land protections, clean water, wild spaces, and more. I believe they will help make a big impact for fighting climate change, pollution, and protecting vulnerable land in this country. Your donation will help support their lawyers who fight every day for the Earth.
The National Women’s Law Center has spent more than 50 years fighting for gender rights around the country, with special focus on women of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and low income women and families. A donation to NWLC will support advocacy for marginalized communities, legal cases for abortion rights, fighting sex discrimination in the workplace and beyond, and advocating for bodily autonomy.
Please, leave a comment to let me know of other international, national, regional, or local organizations that you believe are worth supporting. And if you donated directly, comment and let me know!
I’m so pleased to share this month’s KidLit Connection interview with children’s book illustrator, Shiho Pate! Shiho’s art has a playful and bold style that makes use of both traditional and digital mediums to convey a sense of warmth and fun. She is an illustrator who was born in Japan and now lives in Southern California. Shiho got her start in the gaming industry in New York City. While she has much gratitude for her years working as a game artist, she is so happy to be creating books for kids now.
Please join me in congratulating Shiho on not one but TWO book birthdays this month! Just this past week, THE RESCUES: BEST DAY EVER, written by Tommy Greenwald and Charlie Greenwald (Red Comet Press), was released! This is the second in the early reader book series THE RESCUES, both of which Shiho has illustrated. And earlier this month, BABY STEPS, an adorable picture book written by Kimberly Derting (Abrams Appleseed) also came out. We’ll talk more about these books in the interview, plus more about how Shiho got her start in illustration, what inspires her, and more about her illustration process. Welcome, Shiho!
An Interview with Children’s Book Illustrator, Shiho Pate
We’d love to hear more about you and your art! Can you tell us more about your work as an illustrator for kids?
Absolutely. And thank you for the opportunity! Hi I’m Shiho Pate. I love making all kinds of children’s books such as picture books, chapter books, graphic novels and science books! I tend to gravitate towards books that have great energy and lots of emotion. Yes, even science books have lots of emotion! When I’m done drawing my face tends to hurt because I (unknowingly) make the facial expressions that the characters make. I connect to the stories and characters by exploring beyond the words. If it’s not in the story, I think about settings, character personalities and histories, mood and so on. I also talk with my editor (who relays it to the author) about these things to make sure I’m aligned with their vision. My favorite part of the book making process is making the book as a team.
How did you get your start as a children’s book illustrator and what lead you down this path?
I change (improve?) this answer all the time because I’m not sure when I actually started. The technical answer is when I talked to my agent. My illustrator mentor introduced me to my lovely agent Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency. It felt real when I started talking to Deborah. But, I think my earliest influence was watching my mom make children’s books when I was a kid. She took several children’s book making classes from our local library in Japan. She did it because it was fun. That stuck with me. That’s when I realized I could make my own stories and draw them too! MAGIC.
The path to working professionally took a while though. I went to art college and took children’s book classes. I thought I was going to be a children’s book illustrator right after graduating, but because I needed a working visa, I became a full time game artist for an indie game studio. This was the best decision I could have made. I learned a lot about digital art, character design, graphic design, time management, working as a team and communicating effectively. While working I also started making book dummies, visited museums and attended conferences. My game studio art director also critiqued my book dummies. All of that helped me a lot when I met Deborah.
Take a look inside Shiho’s studio
Can you tell us more about how you work? What sort of tools and process do you use to create your illustrations?
I work in a studio filled with toys and loud music haha. I do have a spotify playlist if you’re interested in what I listen to while I work. Music is my favorite tool to get me excited to draw. My lines flow better. Oh and coffee helps. I use index cards to do thumbnail sketches. I feel like a detective because I lay out all of the spreads to the cork board. It helps when I see the flow of the book. Because the sketches are so small and quick, I try out different ideas. Then do the full sized sketches digitally. It’s the fastest for me especially when I get edits from my editor.
As for the actual art tools I use to create illustrations, I have two treatments. One is texture heavy treatment. I usually choose this treatment for picture books and chapter books. I use pencil, sumi ink and digitally color them. Sometimes I use watercolor. Sometimes I scan in textures. The second treatment has outlines and a simple color fill. I usually choose this treatment for graphic novels and science books. I love both treatments equally 🙂
From Index Card Thumbnails to Final Art Styles
Your most recent book, THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER, written by Tommy Greenwald and Charlie Greenwald (Red Comet Press) just released this week! Congrats! This is the second in a series about animals who were previously unwanted, found a loving new home, and have become good friends. Can you tell us more about this book?
Thank you for asking! I love talking about THE RESCUES series because it’s an invitation for readers to tell me their rescue animal stories! I’ve been having so much fun illustrating Tommy and Charlie’s stories because it’s filled with energy, humor and love. The first book THE RESCUES FINDING HOME is about two rescue dogs Moose and Bear finding their forever home. But, there’s actually a third character. Tiger the cat joins at the end of the book (sorry for the spoiler!).
In the second book THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER you get to peek into their bright daily lives. They get to go on a trip (to the vet?!) argue about their space (MY favorite couch!) and tackle monsters (stormy weather) together. It’s really fun to read out loud. THE RESCUES is an easy-to-read chapter book so it’s perfect for reluctant readers or kids that are transitioning from picture books. Or, read to your pets!
When working on THE RESCUES series, what was one of your favorite parts of the project? And what was something you found challenging?
My favorite part was collaborating with my art director Mike. He welcomed anything and everything! He pushed me to draw beyond the obvious and literal representation of the story. I always have the best time on video calls with Mike because we talk and understand each other’s visions. For example, I did a sketch of the vet waiting room. I got so excited about drawing all kinds of animals and their owners. I think I even started thinking about why they had to visit the vet. I thought squeezing Moose and Bear at the back of the room helped to visualize the pressure of going into the vet. When Mike saw the sketch, he gently nudged me and suggested it was more about Moose and Bear’s emotion. How they were worried and scared to go into the vet. But doing their best to stay because they trust Tiger and Cathy. That switch helped me focus.
Interior scenes from THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER
The challenges… hmm. Not really a challenge but Mike and I did figure out a specific color palette per chapter. Because THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER starts at the beginning of the day, we went with light blue and greens for chapter one. Then in chapter two we went with warm yellows and oranges to represent the later afternoon cozy feel. For chapter three we chose dark blues, purples and bright pinks because the storm comes and the story gets so hyper. It was so fun!
Some of the process of drawing and coloring THE RESCUES BEST DAY EVER
Yes! Kimberly’s story is so simple and beautiful! It was my first time illustrating a book where the character grows so much, literally. The story begins where the little sister comes home from the hospital, and the book is about how the boy becomes a big brother to the sister. So I had to draw the little sister from the baby phase to the toddler phase. It was challenging and so rewarding. I looked at a lot of my daughter’s photos, my sister’s daughter and sketched my friend’s kids. I’m the oldest sister in my family so I know what the big brother goes through. It’s not always ME FIRST or ME ONLY anymore, and it’s not always fun. BABY STEPS validates those feelings. When I read Kimberly’s story I felt like I got a warm hug. I hope the book invites conversations.
From Sketch to Finish, A Peek at Shiho’s Art Process and Style for BABY STEPS
Do you have anything else new you’re working on that you can tell us about?
Ooo, I can’t talk about my upcoming books yet but it’s happening! I’m so grateful! I’m also on submission with my first author-illustrator book.
What is one of your biggest wishes for your work as an illustrator of children’s books?
My biggest wish for my books is that kids will read the book over and over until the pages become wrinkly. And that those kids will read my books to their kids when they grow up.
What is something you would tell aspiring children’s book illustrators hoping to break into the field?
This is always a hard question, and my answer changes a lot, sorry. Draw things you’re passionate about. And, finish a book dummy. You will learn the most by making a book. You got this.
See More from Shiho Pate!
To learn more about Shiho Pate and see more of her art, visit her online at these links:
Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, the environment, social justice, or mindfulness? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.
Welcome to the latest KidLit Connection interview! I’m so pleased to introduce Angela Quezada Padron, an author and illustrator of children’s books, including picture books, board books, and novels. Her debut author-illustrated picture book, AS THE SEAS RISE: Nicole Hernández Hammer and the Fight for Climate Justice (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) just released this June! She’ll share more about this book in the interview.
Angela writes and illustrates both fiction and nonfiction stories. Her nonfiction work celebrates people in the Latino community who have made a difference in the world and within their community. Angela has worked as a freelance writer, illustrator, fine artist, and curriculum designer for educational publishers. She is a lover of nature, music, and sports. When she’s not writing, drawing, and painting, you can find Angela creating music, collecting seashells, and enjoying the natural world.
An Interview with Children’s Book Author and Illustrator, Angela Quezada Padron
First, we’d love to hear more about you as an illustrator and author. Can you tell us more about you and your work as a creator of books for kids?
Thank you so much for this opportunity to interview with you and share about myself. I write and illustrate fiction and nonfiction children’s books, mainly picture books but also board books and novels. In 2007, I started an illustration master’s program through the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and I graduated with my MFA in 2011. In 2012, I illustrated a few books for McGraw Hill, an educational publisher. Then in 2014 I was hired for two books—THE HERO IN YOU by Ellis Paul (Albert Whitman & Co.) and MY BODY BELONGS TO ME by Jill Starishevsky (Free Spirit Publishing). I was also a semi-finalist in the Tomie de Paola contest through SCBWI in 2014, and I was offered the chance to illustrate a story called FIREFIGHTER MOM in Cricket Magazine in 2016. I felt like I was on a roll! Then things died down and I didn’t have any luck until 2021 when Atheneum Books picked up my first author/illustrator book, AS THE SEAS RISE. Since then, I’ve had some other illustration projects with educational publishers, and sold three other books due out between 2025-2027.
How did you start creating children’s books? Was there anything in particular that inspired you to pursue it?
I’ve actually been creating books since I was little. My mom saved many of my “books” that I wrote and illustrated as early as four-years-old. Most of the books were about her when she was pregnant with my younger brother, me meeting Santa Claus, or Snoopy. I also saved my stories from my seventh-grade creative writing class. I didn’t realize, though, that this could be a legitimate path for me until I began teaching in my mid-20’s. Working in schools exposes you to more children’s books. As I read more books, I became more interested in studying about the authors and illustrators and how they got their books published. Some time in my early 30’s, I came up with a story idea but wasn’t sure how to format it or where to even get eyes on it to try and publish it.
I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in 2004, and I’ve been on this path ever since. I joined a critique group, of which I am still a part of (shoutout to the Aventura Critique Group in Florida)! My writing friends and critique partners have helped me so much with telling me what works and what doesn’t in each of my stories. They’ve shown me how to strengthen my work and tighten my word choices. Without them, there is no doubt I would never have been published.
Your most recent book, AS THE SEAS RISE: NICOLE HERNÁNDEZ HAMMER AND THE FIGHT FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) just came out in June—congrats! This is a powerful, lyrical biography about a Latina environmental scientist and climate activist who has worked for climate justice in vulnerable communities. Can you tell us more about this story and what inspired you to write and illustrate it?
Thank you so much! It truly was an honor to create this book about Nicole. After attending a 2020 SCBWI online conference about nonfiction children’s books, I became interested in writing a children’s book biography about a Latina figure who was involved in science in some way. After doing some searching online, I came across an article about Nicole Hernández Hammer where it stated that she was invited by First Lady Michelle Obama to attend the State of the Union address in 2015. Nicole was recognized due to her work advocating for climate justice in communities of color and educating others about how climate change was affecting the health of people in Latino communities. That inspired me to learn even more about her, as well as about sea level rise and climate justice. I wouldn’t call myself an advocate for climate change or justice, however I am conscious about how I’m contributing to climate change and climate justice and always looking for ways to support, adjust my ways and beliefs if needed, and learning what actions I can take to make this world better.
A spread from the book AS THE SEAS RISE by Angela Quezada Padron
When I was writing the book, I found her on LinkedIn and took a chance to message her and said: ‘Hi, I have this story. I would love to interview you.’ And she said, ‘Sure.’ So we set up a time on Zoom and we chatted. I wanted to verify things that I had read. She gave me other insight, too, that had not been in any articles. I told her I would share this story with her once I had finished writing it, which I did. Within two or three months I got an offer from Atheneum (Books for Young Readers). I kept Nicole in the loop the entire time. I paid her a consultation fee, to consult throughout the book. We stayed in contact throughout the entire creation of the book, which obviously lends more credibility to the book.
Angela painting for AS THE SEAS RISE
When working on AS THE SEAS RISE, what was one of your favorite parts of the project?
I really enjoyed my conversations with Nicole and learning about her life. Throughout the process, she sent me photos of her and her family to use as references for the illustrations. She also taught me a lot of the correct terminology to use when speaking about climate justice (for example, we shouldn’t say we want to “help” frontline communities but rather “partner with” frontline communities so they can get the services and support they need to stay resilient against climate change).
What was one of your biggest challenges when working on AS THE SEAS RISE?
A nonfiction 48-page biography is probably one of the hardest books to make, especially as my author/illustrator debut. Most books are 32 pages, with fictional stories you can make up the characters and places, and you have more freedom to stylize the characters and backgrounds. With biographies, you have to be as accurate as possible with the facts and the depiction of the person. And, when the person is still alive and you’re communicating with them, you want to be EXTRA exact to do them proud. I had the pressure on myself to try to make it as perfect and accurate as possible.
In addition, my father was ailing and passed away in 2021, right in the middle of me working on the final text. Then I was dealing with some health issues in the spring of 2022 that affected me finishing the art. But I pushed through it and got it done!
From reference photo, to line drawing, to finished color page from the book AS THE SEAS RISE.
We’d love to hear more about how you work! What sort of process and tools do you use to create both your illustrations and writing?
In the past, including for AS THE SEAS RISE, I would do most of the illustrations by hand using pencil. First, I do a lot of research and find photos that will inspire some or all parts of a drawing. Sometimes it’s the right background or object I needed, and sometimes it’s just a pose I needed. I often look at videos and then take screenshots while videos are playing because that allows you to capture a person in action rather than a posed shot. For the cover of SEAS, I saw a Twitter post about kids making models of their communities protected for climate change. Nicole and I thought that would be a good theme for the cover, and the editor agreed!
Thumbnail sketches from AS THE SEAS RISE
After I had my ideas, I would draw thumbnail sketches to get a sense of layout and how to paginate the text. Then I did more refined thumbnails. Once I had the layouts decided, each part of an illustration was drawn by hand on vellum using Prismacolor Col-erase pencils. I find vellum to be a beautifully smooth surface that doesn’t smear, and the col-erase pencils have a nice texture as well as don’t smear like regular pencils. I would scan them into my computer, clean them up and adjust as needed. Once the editor saw the sketches and gave feedback, I made necessary adjustments and then drew the final outlines.
Then I would print all of the parts – people, objects, backgrounds – onto several pieces of BFK Rives paper which is mainly used for printmaking. It’s thick, doesn’t really warp and can hold a lot of layers of paint and coloring. Plus it has a nice texture to it. I would tape the paper down onto wooden boards and then color in the drawings with gouache, watercolor, pastel and/or colored pencil. After that, I would scan all the painted papers back into Photoshop, put each part on its own layer (meaning, the people and objects would be placed on individual layers in Photoshop) and then add in my original sketches as overlays to make sure the lines were clean. I would then finish in Photoshop to clean up, resize, and change color of any part if need be.
From AS THE SEAS RISE: A scanned in drawing, background painting, and painted figures before they are assembled together digitally.
However, after doing a 48-page picture book like SEAS in this style, I realized that I need to work digitally more to save time and to save my aging hands from tiring out! So, now I tend to draw parts by hand still on vellum, scan them in and then redraw over them in Photoshop or Procreate. I do a combination of coloring digitally and scanning in painting or textured paper to fill in the illustrations like digital collage. Some of my work on my website was created with digital collage in this manner, and some were done by drawing and coloring by hand, then scanning in and putting them together digitally.
A peek into Angela Quezada Padron’s creative workspaces
You have three other books you’re currently working on which will be out in the future. Can you tell us more about them?
I would love to! FROM THE FIELDS TO THE FIGHT: HOW JESSICA GOVEA THORBOURNE ORGANIZED FOR JUSTICE comes out with Atheneum Books in 2026. Jessica worked with Cesar Chavez during the grape boycott to fight for equal rights for farm workers and labor unions. That is being illustrated by the talented Sol Salinas. The next book, AN ISLAND CALLED HOME (Eerdman’s Books, 2026) is a fictional story about a girl who visits her father’s home country for the first time and learns about her extended family and her bilingual and bicultural heritage. It’s based on my life with my father who is from the Dominican Republic, and I will be illustrating that one. Lastly, LUCIA’S GOALS (Lee & Low), which is being illustrated by Christina Barragan-Forshay, is about a girl who wants to play soccer but battles through sexism, racism, and inequality to make her dream come true. The publication date is not finalized yet but should be out in the next couple of years.
Some people might wonder why an illustrator wouldn’t illustrate all their books. The truth is my style doesn’t always fit with the stories I write, and I don’t want to be limited to only pursuing books that I could best illustrate.
What is your greatest wish for your work as an illustrator and author?
What a great question. I focus on the stories that have an emotional tie-in that will allow readers to connect to the story in some way. I think about how a particular story will inspire and impact kids and encourage them to read more. For example, I hope books like SEAS and FIELDS inspire kids to take action against injustice, while LUCIA can show what perseverance is, and ISLAND can show readers another culture or family situation they may never have known about. Some of my other stories I hope to publish will just make kids laugh or entertain them and others may warm their hearts. In the end, I create the stories because I love to and want to share my ideas and creations with the world. But to me, it’s most important that the kids enjoy reading them and connect with the stories. Otherwise, there’s no point in doing them at all.
Is there something you would like to tell aspiring children’s book illustrators and authors who hope to be published someday?
Definitely look into organizations like SCBWI to learn about the industry and connect with others. Do your research before submitting to agents and editors to make sure your style and goals match with theirs. Write and illustrate what you love, not what the trends say you should do. Illustrate in the style and medium YOU want to, not in the style others tell you you should. BUT, always be open to feedback and suggestions. Find other creators to connect with so you get that honest feedback and encouragement. Most importantly, never give up. It can take years to get your first book deal or project and when you do, all the hard work will have been worth it!
I also want to acknowledge Giuseppe Castellano from The Illustration Department. A few years ago, I was feeling like my work wasn’t good enough and doubting myself. I signed up for a portfolio review and mentorship with Giuseppe, whose advice and encouragement were essential to help me rebuild my portfolio and come up with ideas for the compositions for AS THE SEAS RISE. Publishing really is a collaborative effort!
Learn More About Angela Quezada Padron
To learn more about Angela Quezada Padron and to see more of her work, follow her on social media and visit these links:
Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, the environment, social justice, or mindfulness? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.
The latest KidLit Connection interview is here! And I’m so excited to celebrate a very happy book birthday with illustrator, Acamy Schleikorn! This past week, Acamy celebrated the release of her debut book, NOT MY CAT, written by Stacy Patton, published by Simon & Schuster for Young Readers. Acamy is an illustrator and writer from Las Vegas who creates stories and art that celebrate diversity and joy in the Black community. Her illustrations have a focus on family, friendship, joy, and imagination with a unique and playful style, using digital tools with a textural, traditional feel.
In this interview, Acamy shares more about her process, what inspires her, and more about her new book and upcoming projects. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Acamy as a critique partner in the past and it’s been a joy to see her grow and bloom in her picture book career. I can’t wait for you to learn more and read her new book!
An Interview with Children’s Book Illustrator and Author, Acamy Schleikorn
Can you tell us more about yourself? What do you love about illustrating books and what inspires you and your art?
For those that don’t know, my name is pronounced uh-kay-me and I absolutely love my name! I’m a wife and mom. When I’m not illustrating, I’m spending time with my family, practicing piano, or baking anything sourdough. My favorite thing about illustrating picture books is that I get to include snippets of my own world into my art. I love expressing myself in that way. The very things that make me who I am can be seen sprinkled throughout a lot of my art. For example, I love laughing, so you’ll see a lot of joy and heartwarming scenes depicted in my art. I think it’s awesome because we can never have too much joy in our lives, right?! It’s truly my favorite thing to illustrate. Honestly, all kinds of things inspire me like nature, my family and other art. I like reminding myself that there is inspiration all around me if I take the time to notice it.
How did you get your start illustrating picture books? We’d love to know more about the path you took to get here.
Before I was an illustrator, I was a hand lettering artist that focused on weddings. I’d hand letter wedding welcome signs, seating charts, table cards, and all kinds of other things. It was cool, but it became repetitive for me, and I just wasn’t fulfilled. Once I discovered the world of picture books, it was a wrap. I was hooked and in love. I have a heart for children, so this was a perfect way for me to do something that would impact them in a positive way. I posted a lot of my artwork on social media when I was just starting out. My agent actually found me using the #PortfolioDay hashtag on Twitter. It was truly a blessing, because I didn’t even realize I had that kind of potential at the time. My agent is awesome, because she is able to draw out the gold in me that I didn’t know was there. When my agent emailed me about an inquiry she received for me to illustrate NOT MY CAT for the first time, I was shocked! The amazing journey I was on became so much more real!
Your debut picture book, NOT MY CAT (written by Stacey Patton and published by Simon & Schuster), is a funny story about Staceypants who says she doesn’t want a cat, but somehow finds herself with a cat who chooses to adopt her. Can you tell us more about this book?
Absolutely! The thing I love about NOT MY CAT is that it is based on real events that happened between Stacey Patton (AKA Staceypants in the story) and the cat who “wasn’t hers”. This made me feel as though I was putting a new lens on reality with my illustrations as opposed to creating my own world. There’s definitely a greater level of care that goes into projects like this because you want to represent the things that happened both accurately and creatively. The publisher sent me several images of Stacey with her cat, so I took it upon myself to bring some of that to life. The cat yoga scene in the book is based off of a real photo! So fun!
What were your favorite parts about working on NOT MY CAT? Was there anything you found challenging with this project?
I actually enjoyed so much about working on this book! But if I had to narrow it down, I’d say I loved the fact that the main character had locs and crazy pants! I also have locs, so it was a connection point to the author for me. And drawing crazy pants… well, that’s just fun! I was really able to let my creativity shine and come up with different patterns and colors that I could only dream of having on my pants.
The challenging thing about this project is that… believe it or not, I had never really illustrated a cat before this! It’s one thing drawing a cat, but it’s another thing drawing the same cat in different poses and making sure it’s consistent throughout. Sometimes the body would be too long or wouldn’t be hairy enough in some scenes. So it was basically trial and error for me to figure out what worked best. I actually love these types of challenges, though! You say yes and figure out the details along the way!
A spread from the book NOT MY CAT, by Stacy Patton and illustrated by Acamy Schleikorn
You also have another book you illustrated coming out at the end of the year called I’M ALWAYS LOVING YOU (written by Kathy Wolff). Can you tell us more about illustrating this book?
Of course! This book is so personal to me. Once I read the manuscript, it was an immediate yes to illustrate this book. As a mother myself, I could relate to every single word (well almost, because there is a line about coffee in there, and I am definitely not a coffee person at all, haha). For the illustrations, I decided on following three different family units throughout the story. I wanted to be as inclusive as I could because all families are different. The first family is a family of four that consists of a mother, father, son, and daughter. The second family is a single father with his daughter, and the third family is a grandmother with her grandson. I cycle through each of these families throughout the pages to show how love expresses itself in different ways. Some of the scenes have a bit of humor that I believe many parents/caregivers can relate to while other scenes are very sweet. I poured my heart out onto those pages!
How would you compare illustrating your first book to your second book? How were the experiences different or similar?
I loved both experiences, but they were very different! For NOT MY CAT, since it was based on a true story about the author, there were certain qualities about the main character, the cat, and the surrounding environment that I needed to make sure I incorporated into the art. So I had a little bit of art direction with that one, but it wasn’t so much that it was overbearing. I was still able to pour myself into the art like I usually do. I really enjoyed it!
For I’M ALWAYS LOVING YOU, it was more of a free for all! I was able to simply read the manuscript and illustrate whatever I wanted to. That felt like a lot of freedom compared to my first book and allowed me to incorporate even more qualities from my life into the story. For example, one of the family units shown in the book… is a direct reflection of my own family! I was very intentional about every little detail and finding ways to tell a separate story from the manuscript itself.
We’d love to know more about how you work and make your art. Can you share more about your creative process and tools?
All of my illustrations are created digitally using an app on my iPad Pro called Procreate. It’s a powerhouse! My favorite thing about it is the ease of working anywhere. If I want to work at my desk, cool! If I want to work on the couch, also cool! It’s convenient because I don’t have to worry about cleaning up any art supplies; I can easily grab my iPad and go! I recently just built my own desk out of butcher block, and I absolutely love it. I’ve fallen asleep way too many times on my bed while “working” on my iPad, so this will be helpful. It’s way easier to focus at my desk!
What is your biggest hope for your work as a children’s book creator?
Honestly, my biggest hope for my work is that children will be able to see themselves in my art. I am a firm believer that representation in picture books is so important. I didn’t see enough of myself growing up and I want to ensure that children today have a bunch of options! And as a Black woman, I want to be able to connect to Black girls specifically. That’s also why I love drawing natural hairstyles! I want to remind them that however their hair grows out of their hair is perfect and beautiful! Another one of my dreams is to have my author-illustrator debut! I don’t yet have a polished story for my agent to start querying yet, but I’ve been trying to work toward that.
What is something you’d like to share with other illustrators wanting to break into this industry?
Be yourself! Your art should be a reflection of you and have a unique voice. If you are weird, show that in your art! If you love drawing food or astronauts, make sure those specific things can be found in your portfolio! And don’t include anything you aren’t 100% happy with or anything you don’t enjoy drawing. Always keep working on your craft and asking the right people for feedback! Be okay with making mistakes and creating art you aren’t proud of. It’s all a part of the process, and sometimes you have to crawl through the mud to find some gold.
Learn More About illustrator and author Acamy Schleikorn
To learn more about Acamy, see more of her work, and follow her on social media, check out these links:
Acamy is represented for children’s books by Claire Morance at Painted Words.
Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, the environment, social justice, or mindfulness? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.
Welcome to the first KidLit Connection interview of 2024! I’m so pleased to have been able to talk with Julia Mills, an illustrator and author of picture books with fun animal protagonists, a warm heart, and a touch of whimsy. Julia’s debut picture book I AM STUCK, published by Clarion Books, came out in September of 2023. This adorable story about a turtle who is stuck on their back shows readers and their grown-ups how a friend can help in a difficult situation just by being there for them.
Julia’s illustrations are playful and colorful with a soft simplicity perfect for storytelling. She loves creating books with animals characters because of the joy she finds from researching more about each critter. When she’s not writing and illustrating books for kids, Julia is a school art teacher, mom, and knitter. She lives with her family near the shores of New Jersey.
An Interview with Julia Mills
We’d love to know more about you and your work as a creator of books for kids. What inspires you and what do you love about writing and illustrating picture books?
I think my biggest inspiration is that I vividly remember what it is like to be a kid. I remember the magic of playing with toys all day. I remember the joy of painting whatever I wanted to paint just because painting is fun.
How did you get your start creating picture books? We’d love to know more about your path to being a published author and illustrator.
I wanted to be an illustrator and an art teacher when I was four years old. I ended up studying illustration in college but soon thereafter veered down the path of fine art. I studied in a atelier and then got an MFA in visual art. After all that school I realized that illustration was what I really wanted to do. By that point I had two small children so I was reading a lot of picture books. I took a workshop at the Highlights Foundation which really opened my eyes up to the publishing industry. From there I joined SCBWI and started building my portfolio and making connections with other illustrators. I was simultaneously going back to school to become a certified art teacher! In 2020 I realized that if I wanted something to illustrate I should write it. I AM STUCK was my second dummy, and when I finished it I knew it was the one that would get published. I pitched it during a Twitter event which is how I ended up working with my agent, Rebecca Sherman. She sold I AM STUCK to Clarion and it was published in September of 2023. I’m now working on my second book for Clarion which is set to be released in Winter of ’25.
Your debut picture book, I AM STUCK (Clarion Books), is an adorable story about a turtle who gets stuck on their back and the variety of critters they meet along the way (some more helpful than others). Can you tell us more about this story and how it came to be?
This story actually started with Tara Lazar’s Storystorm! This is an event where you try to brainstorm an idea for a picture book every day in January. Well I got to the last day and I couldn’t come up with anything. So I wrote “stuck” on the page. In the letter “u” I saw …TURTLE! I immediately started writing (and checking to make sure that book didn’t already exist). I knew that I wanted to explore how hard it is to feel stuck. This was winter of 2021, and at that time many of us were feeling stuck. I wanted to create a story that honored that feeling but also opened the door to getting “unstuck”.
What was your favorite part about working on I AM STUCK? And what was something you found challenging during this project?
My favorite part about working on I AM STUCK was experimenting with techniques to make Turtle’s shell. I knew I wanted a simple design but I also wanted to echo turtle shells in nature. I ended up layers dark green over bright yellow paint and then sprinkling it with coarse salt. I probably painted that shell 15 times to get it just right! I still love the combination of randomness and structure. The most challenging part of this book was probably the page where Turtle almost rolls over. I actually did this page first because I knew if I could draw him perfectly 18 times I would be set for the rest of the book! I ended up drawing it like animation, layering paper over each previous layer. I also had a model of Turtle I made with air dry clay to help me visualize how his body would move. I’m really proud of that spread.
A test spread from I AM STUCK where Julia experimented with positions and coloring.
You seem to really love animals! Can you talk more about your connection to animals and nature in your work?
I never set out to be an author who wrote about animals, but here I am! I like using elements of how animals act into the personalities of my characters. I knew that I AM STUCK would feature a turtle, but when it came to the secondary character I pretty quickly settled on a possum. I think possums are really cute but a lot of people don’t like them. So I wanted some good press for possums! Right now I’m working on a book that features a raccoon. I guess I better write one about a skunk to complete the “trash panda” trifecta! Growing up my Mom always told me a lot about the natural world. I learned about names of plants, behaviors of bugs and how to spot birds from a very young age. I hope that the children who read my books become curious about the animals and seek out more knowledge about the natural world.
Shop talk time! We’d love to hear more about how you work. Can you share more about your creative process and tools?
The best way I could describe my work is traditional materials with digital collage. I like to use lots of different materials but mainly I use black colored pencil and watercolor. After I create my watercolors I scan them and put them in Photoshop. From there I clean the watercolors (remove the paper usually) and add other elements like digital drawing, layers of pastel or even children’s paint sticks! I tend to choose my materials based on the story. I AM STUCK has a very simple, graphic look because I wanted Turtle to really pop on the page. My next book has more natural elements, including a lot of grass that I’m creating by layering watercolor, colored pencil and digital drawing.
What other types of work have you done that relate to your work as an artist and author?
To start off I’m an elementary art teacher. I get a lot of art inspiration by playing with different art materials that I present to my students. I also get writing inspiration from my interactions with my students. Being a teacher reminds me that kids are the reason I write. I want to write books that they will be excited to read. Prior to being a teacher I created a lot of “traditional” art like landscape and portrait paintings. While I enjoyed working on my skills, that kind of art never brought me the joy that illustration brings me. To me there is no higher art compliment than a child telling me they love my book.
What is your biggest dream for your work as a children’s book creator?
Honestly I just want to keep making books and reading them to kids. I absolutely love school visits and hope to do more of them. I just hope to keep creating stories that make kids laugh and make them think.
What is something you’d like to share with your readers?
I think honoring your creativity can be so hard. We often feel like we need to do BIG things to be artists and creators. But sometimes being creative means scribbling on a sticky note. Sometimes it means letting yourself write or draw something terrible. So dear readers, if you feel like the mountains are too big to climb, don’t be afraid to study some pebbles. Who knows where they might lead you?
Learn More About Julia Mills
To learn more about Julia Mills, her art, books, and latest projects, be sure to check out her website and follow her on social media:
Julia is represented for children’s books by Rebecca Sherman at Writers House.
Are you a published or soon-to-be published illustrator or author/illustrator who loves creating books about nature, animals, the environment, or mindfulness? I’d love to chat with you for a KidLit Connection interview! Send me a message.
