What has been your favorite creative project and why?

One of my favorite creative projects was showcasing my art with 73 Art Agency in 2023. It was my first time showing my art in a gallery in Denver as a full-time artist. I had created 20 original works in watercolor and pencil, depicting a cohort of animals brimming with personality and character. They practically sold out on opening night, which was extremely encouraging to me. I gained so much more motivation and inspiration after that. It also kickstarted my commission work—a lot of people saw my art that night and wanted me to make a portrait of their own pets.

How do you balance your work between writing and illustration? 

It’s difficult to balance because I tend to prioritize illustration. Although I love writing, I find that drawing and illustration come more naturally to me. I illustrated over 10 books for other authors and recently finished writing my fourth book.

Did you get to meet the animals that are featured in your books? How do their stories compare to real life?

Yes! That’s the best part of my work! All the books in my animal series are based on animals I have encountered. The geography, peoples, fauna, and cultures I experience are the source of my inspiration. I wish to share those treasured moments with others through my creativity. They Call Me Lucky follows the trials of a cottontail rabbit that lived in my backyard in Colorado, Good Boy, Nicco is about my cousin’s ambitious German Shepard who lives in California, and Kaya Finds Her Home tells the story of a clever female African leopard that I spotted during a safari trip in Botswana. Each of these animals’ stories match as closely as I can to their real life. Of course, they are animals, so unfortunately, I am unable to speak with them or know their exact thoughts and feelings. Wouldn’t it be great if we could?! As any writer does, I have to embellish a little, and I accomplish that by giving them a voice.

What was your biggest creative outcome from the time you spent in France?

In France, I took a French writing class that forced me
to be more comfortable with expressing myself through my writing as well as sharing my writing with others. It was a small group and oftentimes, we would read our works to the class and give each other feedback for improvement. This collaborative environment taught me how to accept criticism and work well with others on creative projects.

I also had the opportunity to work alongside a local artist as her apprentice. I helped her with implementing marketing tools for her business. Together, we reorganized her massive inventory of paintings, rebranded her online presence, and successfully hosted a solo art show. She showed me what it’s really like to live as a full-time artist.

Finally, aside from school and work, the colors, history, and art that flourish in the south of France solidified my passion for writing and drawing.

How has being bilingual and growing up learning French influenced your creative practice?

Being bilingual and multi-cultural has helped me be more open-minded and think outside the box. I am able to create with the realization that non-native English speakers will come across my work and interpret it differently. I would also like to eventually publish a book in French because so many of my favorite books as a child were written in French. 

Where, geographically, has been your biggest source of inspiration?

I have visited well over 30 countries, and I still find so much inspiration in Colorado. My first published book was inspired by a Colorado cottontail rabbit, and my upcoming book is also about an animal that I encountered in Colorado. 

Outside of the United States, however, I have found a lot of inspiration in Botswana, a country that enacted strict anti-poaching policies. In 2017, I took a trip through the Okavango Delta, where I saw a number of animals and wildlife. It was an animal enthusiast’s dream! 

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer and illustrator?

One of my greatest challenges is knowing when a creation is complete. Even when I have decided that a work of art or writing is done, I’m left with the feeling that I could always add something else or tweak it a little more. 

How has your education in Media Studies, French, and Marketing enhanced your creative practice?

Throughout the courses I followed for Media Studies, my writing greatly improved, and I learned a lot about how to manage social media, which is invaluable for an entrepreneur in this digital age. My degree in Marketing has helped me understand how to sell my art to potential buyers or customers, as well as make informed decisions about the timing and strategies for an art show or the launch of a book. And as previously mentioned, French has helped me think outside of the box and view things from a different perspective, which is very important in creative practices.