Illustration Portfolio

Bringing Ancient Heroines to Life ~ Illustrating Brave and Beloved

Project: Character Illustrations for "Brave and Beloved"
Client: Paper Peony Press, Author Meredith Storrs
Role: Illustrator
Challenge: Create relatable, culturally authentic illustrations of ancient women for a modern audience while maintaining a minimal, contemporary aesthetic.

Approach:

Developed a unique illustration style balancing historical accuracy and modern appeal
Used reference imagery of culturally appropriate women for each profile
Collaborated closely with author Meredith Storrs to ensure authenticity
Incorporated author's costume design expertise for accurate styling
Created eyeless illustrations to represent rather than literally depict historical figures

Process Highlights:

Extensive research on historical clothing and appearances
Utilized Meredith’s costume design background for art direction
Iterative design process with author feedback
Balancing detail with a minimal, modern style

Results: A series of illustrations that:

Make ancient heroines feel relatable and identifiable to modern readers
Maintain historical and cultural authenticity
Present a fresh, contemporary take on timeless narratives
Enhance the reader's connection to the stories without overpowering the text

The illustrations in "Brave and Beloved" serve as a visual bridge between ancient stories and contemporary readers, inviting a deeper engagement with these timeless heroines.

Learn more about how I designed the book here.

“Brave and Beloved” is available for purchase here.

Visualizing Scripture ~ Bible Study Card Illustrations

Project: Books of the Bible Study Cards
Client: Mary Wiley, Bible teacher and author
Role: Illustrator and Graphic Designer

Challenge: Create visually compelling illustrations representing each book of the Bible for study cards, while also designing the card layout.

Approach:

Developed a cohesive minimal line art style
Utilized bold background colors to categorize topics
Applied white watercolor washes to add depth and unify the set

Results: A visually striking and educational set of Bible study cards that:

Represent each book of the Bible with a unique, memorable image
Organize information clearly through thoughtful graphic design
Offer an engaging tool for Bible study and memorization

The "Books of the Bible Cards" are available for purchase here.

Micro Marvels ~ Illustrating Nature's Tiny Powerhouses

Project: Microgreens Product Illustrations
Client: Essential Microgreens
Role: Illustrator

Challenge: Create distinctive, eye-catching illustrations of microgreens that balance realism with artistic appeal, aligning with the wellness industry aesthetic.

Approach:

Developed a unique illustration style combining realism and artistic interpretation
Utilized bold, bright colors to capture the vibrancy of microgreens
Incorporated layered designs to add depth and visual interest
Maintained a modern, minimal aesthetic appealing to health-conscious consumers

Results: A series of microgreen illustrations that:

Accurately represent each plant variety while maintaining artistic flair
Attract attention with vibrant colors and dynamic compositions
Align with the wellness industry's visual language
Appeal to conscious consumers through modern, minimal design

These illustrations serve as powerful visual assets for Essential Microgreens, enhancing product recognition and brand appeal in the competitive health food market.

Decoding Literacy ~ Letter Clue Illustrations for Teach Me to Read

Project: Letter Clue Illustrations for Children's Reading Book
Client: Modern Kid Press (imprint of Paper Peony Press)
Author: Welsley Jongko
Role: Illustrator

Challenge: Create engaging, educational illustrations that support the science of reading methodology while appealing to both young learners and design-conscious parents.

Approach:

Developed a unique illustration style blending whimsy and modern aesthetics
Utilized a watercolor effect to add texture and visual interest
Incorporated bold, sweet colors to attract young readers
Designed illustrations to serve as visual clues for letter sounds and word blending

Results: A series of illustrations that:

Enhance the learning experience for young readers
Support the science of reading methodology
Attract children with cute, engaging visuals
Appeal to parents with a contemporary design sensibility
Seamlessly integrate with the book's educational goals

These illustrations serve as both delightful artwork and practical learning tools, making Teach Me to Read an attractive and effective resource for early literacy education.

You can learn more about how I designed the book here.

Teach Me to Read is available for purchase here.

Alphabetic Scripture ~ Illustrating Bible ABCs: People of the Word

Project: Bible-themed ABC Board Book
Client: Skyhorse Publishing
Role: Author, Illustrator, and Designer

Challenge: Create an engaging, educational board book that introduces young children to biblical figures through innovative alphabet-based illustrations, while appealing to design-conscious parents.

Approach:

Developed a unique illustration style combining modern aesthetics with biblical themes
Integrated each letter creatively into the illustration of its corresponding biblical figure
Utilized bold, bright colors to attract young readers
Maintained a whimsical yet sophisticated design to appeal to both children and parents

Results: A board book that:

Introduces children to biblical figures in a memorable, alphabet-linked format
Engages young readers with vibrant, playful illustrations
Satisfies design-conscious parents with its contemporary aesthetic
Combines educational value with visual appeal
Offers a fresh approach to teaching both the alphabet and biblical stories

Bible ABCs: People of the Word serves as both an entertaining read and an educational tool, making biblical characters accessible and exciting for young children while providing a visually pleasing experience for parents.

The book is available for purchase here.

Critters of Creation ~ Illustrating Bible ABCs: Animals of the Word

Project: Bible-themed Animal ABC Board Book
Client: Skyhorse Publishing
Role: Author, Illustrator, and Designer

Challenge: Create an engaging, educational board book that introduces young children to animals mentioned in the Bible through vibrant illustrations, while providing a fresh approach to biblical storytelling and alphabet learning.

Approach:

Developed a unique illustration style combining modern aesthetics with biblical themes
Created bright, lifelike animal characters with a playful, friendly appeal
Designed illustrations to make animals appear to "pop" off the page
Paired each animal with its corresponding letter and a relevant Bible verse

Key Features:

Vibrant, modern illustrations of biblical animals
Lifelike yet child-friendly animal depictions
Diverse selection of animals, including both familiar and less-known biblical creatures
Integration of Bible verses to provide context and educational value
Comprehensive involvement in both writing and illustrating the book

Results: A board book that:

Introduces children to a wide range of animals mentioned in the Bible
Engages young readers with bright, lively, and inviting illustrations
Combines alphabet learning with biblical education
Offers a unique way for families to explore biblical narratives
Appeals to both children and adults with its modern, high-quality artwork

Bible ABCs: Animals of the Word offers an innovative approach to biblical storytelling and alphabet learning offers parents, grandparents, and caregivers a fresh, visually appealing way to engage young children with biblical content.

The book is available for purchase here.