Hi, it's me! 👋
illoguild question #19
Hi everyone!
You know what type of newsletter I’ve never sent to you? An introduction!
So that’s what I’m writing today. I’ll share a list of random facts about myself, and then I’ll tell you a brief version of my art journey. I invite you to share a random fact or a bit about your journey, too.
Some random facts:
I am a teacher turned illustrator. I taught elementary school for about a decade, so teaching is close to my heart.
I’m getting married to this guy in the fall!
I have a four legged studio assistant named Auggie.
In addition to being a dog mom, I’m a proud plant mom. I’m actively converting my home into a jungle (don’t tell my fiance about this grand plan)
I studied abroad in Florence, and have been obsessed with Italy ever since.
Speaking of eras, of course I am a Taylor Swift fan!
I went to surf camp but a poisonous fish bite landed me in two emergency rooms, so now I just visit museums on vacation 😆
But on a recent museum visit, I’m pretty sure I met a friendly ghost.
I’m a middle child, between 2 older brothers and 2 younger sisters.
I played soccer and lacrosse in high school (with my sisters), but I often got kicked out of games with a red card 😬
I enjoy getting outside (running, hiking, etc…), and fellow illoguilder,
and I just signed up for a half marathon before the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (anyone else want to join??)
How’s that for a list of random facts? Do we have any of these things in common? If we do, let me know! And if not, perfect, we have lots to learn and share with each other :)
And now here’s a bit about my art journey…
My creative journey:
Since forever: Like many of you, I’ve always loved to draw. My sisters and I went to a weeklong art camp every summer, and it was the best.
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2014: I graduated from college after studying Elementary Education and Art History, and I began teaching second grade.
For the next 6 years, I continued teaching, but still created art just for myself from time to time.
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2020: Covid meant long days of Zoom teaching, so I unwound with lots of Domestika online art classes. I started creating art more frequently.
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2021 - 2022: I took a Make Art That Sells class and started to believe I could truly have a creative career. I also met all the wonderful illoguilders this year! I worked on assignments for art classes in the evenings after teaching.
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2023: I illustrated my first two books, sold cards in stores, completed dozens of commissions, and wrote a weekly newsletter for nearly 500 of you here! I left my teaching job this year, too.
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2024: My third book is publishing this month, and I’m feeling excited and ready to continue growing and learning this year, alongside all of you!
Truly, thank you for being here and motivating me on this journey. I’ve learned that small, consistent steps really lead to growth, so I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store for all of us!
This post is part of the monthly illoguild question. This month we focused on Introductions.
Be sure to check out the illoguild page to read everyone’s responses! We started sending out monthly newsletters in July 2022, and now we host monthly lives as well! (Sign up for the January 8 Live here) It’s been so incredible to grow together, so I’m really happy that you’re here, too.
📚 This monthly illoguild newsletter is free.
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See you next week for a newsletter about kids books!
Katie
I loved reading about all your great achievements so far, here's to an amazing 2024 💕!
So awesome getting to know you better! Can’t wait to run the half in Italy with you!