Children’s Illustrations
Cards & Borders
Still Life
About me
I create illustrations for picture books, gift books, journals, and greeting cards that range from magical flying horses to kangaroos and green pythons to the Nutcracker Ballet. For gallery exhibitions I focus on fruits, vegetables, and elegant still lifes.
My paintings utilize a variety of watercolor techniques: loose washes, glazing, drybrushing and varied textural effects. I also enjoy teaching watercolor and talking to all ages about the process of illustrating books.
One of my earliest horses
As a little girl in Philadelphia, I used to watch a children’s television show in which the host would tell fairy tales, illustrating them as he spoke. On a huge blank sheet of white paper, he would render flawless drawings, bringing the stories to life. I had no idea that he was tracing pre-drawn pictures – it was like magic. For years, I thought that drawings and paintings happened this way, perfectly formed at first try, and I would discard my paper the moment I committed an imperfect line. And while I now sketch many imperfect drafts to create a finished piece, I think that my drive for perfection of detail as well as my sense of magic spring from this childhood influence.
My love of design and detail are greatly influenced by medieval manuscript illuminators and leading artists of the late nineteenth century Arts & Crafts movement, particularly William Morris. From the moment I fell in love with Black Beauty as a very young child, animals and nature have always been my favorite subjects to draw and paint, and my life is filled with many, including a lovely Morgan mare, and two affectionate and opinionated cats who have me very well trained.
“The aim should be to combine clearness of form and firmness of structure with the mystery which comes of abundance and richness of detail….”
William Morris, 1883
I love to design as well as illustrate books, many of which have won awards:
Picture Books & Chapter Books
upcoming
A Wild WILD Hanukkah
Kar-Ben Publishing, Fall 2023
picture book written by Jo Gershman & Bob Strauss, illustrated by Jo Gershman
The TREES
Salus Publishing, 2022, book design
Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2022
The S.O.U.R.C.E.
Fulton Books, chapter book 2022, illustration & book design
2022 Nautilus Gold Award, Middle Grade Fiction
2022 Readers Favorite Silver Award, children’s fable
2022 Purple Dragonfly Awards, Honorable Mention, Green Books & Environmental, Middle Grade Fiction
2022 International Book Awards, Finalist, Animals & Pets
The Death-Defying Dare-Devilish Deeds of Buster & Mooney
Salus Books, chapter book 2019, illustration & book design
Artemis and the Violin
Screech Owl Press, chapter book 2018, illustration & book design
2019 Purple Dragonfly Award, First Place Chapter Books
2018 Silver Moonbeam Children’s Book Award
Jilly’s Terrible Temper Tantrums and How She Outgrew Them
Smart Love Press 2017, illustration & book design
2018 Silver Nautilus, 2018 Silver Feathered Quill Awards
2017 Seven Purple Dragonfly Awards:
First(3)-cover design, picture books age 6+, growing pains
Second(2); Honorable Mention(3)
The Land of Walloo
Mascot Books 2016, illustration & book design
2017 Two Purple Dragonfly Awards, Honorable Mention
Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream!
Smart Love Press 2012, illustration & book design
2013 IBPA Ben Franklin Gold Award for Children’s Books
The Adventures of Kingii
Teacher Created Materials 2013, illustration
The Snake’s Diary by Little Yellow
Teacher Created Materials 2013, illustration
Wind Dancers Series of 12 books
Feiwel and Friends 2008-2011, illustration
Welcome to the White House
Peter Pauper Press 2010, illustration
The Night Before Christmas
Peter Pauper Press 2008, illustration
The Nutcracker Ballet
Peter Pauper Press 2008, illustration
Silver Honor Parents Choice Award
Peter Pauper Press
1995-2010
Christmas Cards
Journal covers
Florentine Journal & cards
Wedding Anniversary Album
Friendship Bracelets
The Merry Christmas Tree
Irish Legends
Nature’s Miracles
A Simple Christmas
Blueberries from Heaven
First Aid for the Jewish Soul
Kabbalah: The Way of Light
History of Our Family
Celtic Sunrise
Chanukah
The Key to Friendship
The Key to Love
The Gift of a Rose
A Cup of Herbal Tea
The Key to Happiness
Noah’s Ark
Pearls of Wisdom
The Key to Life
