Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katie Michael. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Katie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I have known that I’ve wanted to do something in the arts for the majority of my life. I was always an avid reader as a child, and loved picture books and chapter books and read as many as I could. My elementary school best friend and I co-wrote a book about our stuffed animals when we were in first grade, and I illustrated it. When I was about eight years old, I realized that there was a job behind all of the pictures in the books that I loved so much. I was so inspired and enthralled with people like Beatrix Potter, Dr. Seuss, and Eric Carle, and the idea that I could tell stories for children and create worlds for them through my illustrations. I also grew up watching Disney, Dreamworks and Pixar films, so storytelling through art was what I fell in love with from a very young age. From the moment I knew that being a children’s book illustrator was a job, I was set on that being my future career. I stayed pretty much constant with that goal all growing up, and ended up going to SCAD to study illustration and publication design, so I could realize my dreams of being a children’s book illustrator.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a children’s book illustrator and in-house print designer for a children’s apparel company. I’m currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, where I moved after graduating from SCAD in Savannah. I love to create everyday magic through my illustrations, and love to use color and texture in my pieces to create a warm and bright world for kids to enjoy. I have always loved telling stories, whether they’re my own or other people’s stories, and I am always inspired by endearing characters, nature, the world around me, and stories that seek to educate and include everyone in the beautiful world of books! I want to share the joys of being a kid and the magic that can be found in everyday moments, which is why I love to tell stories for children, who see everything in the world as new, exciting, and magical. I also want to tell stories that help all children feel seen in literature, both through fictional narratives and stories that educate them about history and the influential people who have come before us.

I’m constantly inspired by the world around me, so I love to get outdoors and spend time seeing the seasons change and the natural beauty that is everywhere around us! I also love exploring my creativity in other avenues, like crocheting, sketchbooking, and painting. When I’m not illustrating, you can usual find me with my cat, Burrito, curled up with a good book!

The project I am proudest of would be the book that I wrote and illustrated last year that I am currently pitching to publishers! The book involves swimming, which is a lifelong love of mine, and tackles anxiety and mental health which is a topic I am very passionate about. My other favorite projects have been illustrating classic books, like Anne of Green Gables, the Secret Garden, and Pride and Prejudice. I love to draw from history and reimagine stories that I grew up around.

I am seeking freelance children’s book illustration clients, and am seeking representation for my work. I would love the opportunity to tell more stories, old and new, and share the everyday magic that I see all around me through my art!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing my work in print. It is amazing to work both digitally and traditionally, but so much of the artistic process is a solo endeavor, created in my room or by myself in my apartment, staring at the cold blue light of my iPad screen. I love to see my work in the physical form, whether it’s a painting I made traditionally, a postcard design that I get to mail out, a bookmark with my illustrations on the front, or my own story, cover-to-cover filled with my art and my words, printed out into a book that I can hold. It makes it feel so much more real and exciting to see the physical representation of all the hours of effort and ideation that I put into each piece.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’ve always loved storytelling and grew up on children’s books and animated movies. I especially love the impact that words can have on us in our formative years. I can remember the first time I read Anne of Green Gables, the first picture book I ever read by myself (Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss!), or the Mother Goose poems that my mom read to me on repeat as a toddler.

Now, as an artist, I want to do the same for future generations of kids. I would love to illustrate stories that share our history and tell about the everyday heroes throughout time for kids to look up to. I want to reimagine the classic books I grew up with and create versions that future kids can continue to enjoy. I want to keep creating illustrations that help kids feel seen in books, be it a character with the same joys or fears that they have, or who looks and goes through the world as they do.

My dream projects would be to write and illustrate my own original stories, and to get to illustrate stories that have meant the most to me, like Anne of Green Gables.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://katiemichaele.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiemichaele/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiemichaele/
• Other: katiemichaele@gmail.com

Image Credits
Katie Michael