My Work

My best work comes directly from the heart and I have learned to trust my

intuition and create work I am passionate about.  As a

self-motivated artist, I am open to new styles, ideas, and trends. I search

for inspiration everywhere to provide that creative spark that makes my work unique. I generally work digitally so that my images can be easily tailored to fit a manufacturer’s product requirements.

 

 

History

I have been an artist all my life.

Early inspiration came from my grandmother, who was also my

kindergarten teacher!  Even though she did make me color

inside the lines, she was quite the artist herself.  She planted

beautiful, magical-looking flower gardens, created craft projects,

and meticulously painted and fired her own china.

 

As a child, my favorite things were reading, drawing, cutting and pasting,

putting puzzles together, dreaming of far-off places, and

allowing my imagination to soar.  As an adult, my favorite

things are drawing and painting my own picture books and greeting

cards, creating art for puzzles and games, visiting far-off places

and. . . allowing my imagination to soar.

 

In 1984 I received a B.A. with High Honors in Graphic Design and

Illustration from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.

As a comprehensive art major, I also studied photography and worked

as a freelance photographer for several years following graduation.

 

In 1985  I officially began my professional illustration career at

Good Apple Publishing Company working as a staff artist.

 

I began freelancing by creating illustrations for the greeting card

market on assignment.  The World Wildlife Federation chose my

illustration entitled “Peaceful Kingdom” as a part of the Helping Hand

Card Collection.

 

In 1991, I achieved my dream of becoming a full-time freelance illustrator.

I was commissioned to create art for children’s floor puzzles by the Judy

Instructo Company.

 

“Life in the Coral Reefs” received the 1992 Editor’s Choice Award from

Early Childhood News.  This was the beginning of what would

become a major development in my career as I began creating

commissioned art for 1000 piece puzzles for Great American Puzzle

Factory.  Ravensburger/F.X. Schmid commissioned me to illustrate

puzzles and game boards.  The game “Elephant Ride” received  the

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal “Best Toy” Award and the

“Toy of the Year” 1999 Parenting Winner Award from Parenting

Magazine.  I was then commissioned by Ravensburger/F.X. Schmid to

create the very challenging animal shaped puzzles.

 

My puzzles have appeared in National Geographic, National Wildlife, The

Smithsonian Gift Catalog, as well as other gift catalogs and nature stores.

 

In 1995  I illustrated my first picture book, “The Birth of a Whale” by

John Archambault, which won a 1996 National Parenting Publications

Gold Award, and in 2006 I illustrated “Turtle Song” also by

John Archambault.

 

I authored and illustrated my first picture book, a reinterpretation of

the classic story “The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,” released in

2005, and “There Was an Old Woman,” was released in 2008. Both titles

published through Childcraft Education Corporation.

 

 

Barklie Sue

In March of 2013, I had to say good-bye to my best friend, Barklie Sue, for whom the Little Black Dog Studio is named. I am thankful to have shared my life with her for nearly 19 years. She will remain forever in my heart and will forever represent the Little Black Dog Studio.

 

 

 

Licensing Clients

Leanin’ Tree - greeting cards

Amia - stained glass

Lindy Bowman - gift bags and boxes

Anagram - balloons

Amscan

Seastone - gift cards

Jeanmarie Creations - gift bags

SunsOut - puzzles

Plaid Enterprises - needlework kits

Toland Home and Garden - decorative garden flags

Evergreen Enterprises - decorative garden flags

Chesta Company Lowe’s - decorative garden flags

Wincraft - decorative garden flags

Creative Converting - party tableware

Berwick Offray - gift bags

Paper Magic - vinyl window clings, gift tags

Ravensburger/F.X. Schmid - puzzles, games

Current - greeting cards, stickers, address labels

International Playthings - games

Murals Your Way

Hobby Lobby

Dimensions - needlework kits, color by number kits

Chesapeake Wallcoverings - wallpaper borders

Autom - advent calenders, ornaments

Stave Puzzles

Air Waves - t-shirt transfers

Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Independent Can Company -decorative tins

Masterpiece Puzzles

Great American Puzzle Factory

Impact Innovations - vinyl window clings

Unique Industries - party tableware

Bits and Pieces Puzzles

Elms Puzzle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publishing Clients

Oxford University Press

Scholastic

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pearson Learning

Childcraft

Simon and Schuster

Hampton Brown

McGraw-Hill

Humpty Dumpty

Macmillan

Scott Foresman

Dover Publications

Rigby

Silver Press

Steck-Vaughn

The Wright Group

Brown Publishing Network

Quarasan

Standard Publishing

Bill Smith Studio

Modern Curriculum Press

Silver Editions