A bit about me...
Stroll through life with a happy heart and an open mind!
As a 5th generation Californian and a granddaughter of a pioneer homesteader, the Golden State has always been my home. I grew up spending summers hiking through Redwood forests, riding horses and learning to appreciate my family’s independent spirit and gift for storytelling.
I attended UC Berkeley and received my BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
When I started my creative career, it was working as an Art Director in advertising. As time went by though, I found myself less and less interested in selling products I didn’t necessarily believe in. After a bit of soul-searching, I picked up my camera and became a photographer. I also began designing and illustrating book covers for publishers in NYC. My creative journey took me down many interesting paths and kept me inspired.
Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs by Susan Bernardo, was the first chance I had to explore the world of children’s picture book illustration and it was pure joy from start to finish! As luck would have it, the book found its way into the hands of LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow and we were soon hired to work with him on his first children's book, The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm. That beautiful book was sent to the International Space Station as part of the Story Time From Space program and was read by astronaut Kate Rubins.
Needless to say, finding various ways to communicate stories and ideas, in whatever medium, keeps me on my creative toes and makes my heart and mind happy.
When I’m not busy making art, I enjoy getting outdoors, taking road-trips with my family, visiting museums, listening to old jazz, and daydreaming about time-travel…and books in space!
putting love & healing into the world
One of my missions as a creator of books to help children cope with grief and trauma, is to work with organizations to get books into the hands of those who need them most. Here are just a few wonderful organizations we’ve partnered with over the years to help children heal:
A WINDOW BETWEEN WORLDS
A PLACE FOR GRACE
HIGHMARK CARING PLACE
VOICES FOR CHILDREN OF SAN ANTONIO
GET ON THE BUS
TTTS SUPPORT
