About

 

 

I have been drawing animals since I was 5 years old, and photographing them with my first Brownie camera at 9, taking snapshots of dogs and horses, and ducks on the local pond. My best buddy as a child was Dutchess, a pit bull terrier, (alleged Boxer), who so influenced my love of bully breeds.

As a Fine Arts graduate of Pratt Institute, it made perfect sense that I majored in photography. Soon after, I studied the writing and illustrating of children's books postgraduate with Uri Shulevitz at the New School and discovered a new passion. A circuitous route followed in which I became degreed as an art therapist and then a psychoanalyst with my own practice. However, I soon resumed my artistic focus as the graphic designer and fundraising manager for the largest animal sheltering system in my state. Over the next 20 years there, I gained a wealth of wonderful experience while continuing to work on my art at home. In early 2006, I took a leap of faith to grow my own business in graphic design and animal art with a dream - at long last, I would return to children's books.

My soft spot for the bully breeds inspired my operating an American Pit Bull Terrier rescue for 13 years, and illustrating Just Frenchies and Just Terriers magazines. In turn, they inspired my small art business and a shop on Etsy. My love of drawing and photographing all types of animals has influenced both my artwork and children's story writing.

Artistically, I am growing digitally as well as with pencils, pens, and brushes, and am so happy to have returned to my dream, the writing and illustrating of children’s books. Through many efforts – becoming a member of SCBWI, participating in critique groups, and submitting what seems like thousands of manuscripts - my dream finally came true. In August 2022, my first picture book, Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? was published!

As I continue to grow in all areas of my life, I am aglow with the wonders that lie within and before me.

I am deeply grateful that I have/have had  devoted guides on my path in my emotional, spiritual, and creative life; here I must thank Len, Bill, Alaya, Chuck, Georgia, Linda Marie, Anysia, and Dr. C.
I couldn’t have gotten here without you.

Yá'át'ééh (All is good.)

Jeanne