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

Lindley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve known since childhood that I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally! I’m a triplet and grew up in a home that encouraged creativity – my sisters and I were always kept busy with art projects such as coloring books, sidewalk chalk, clay projects, friendship bracelets, and any craft kit we could get our hands on. As I got a bit older, I remember using my mom’s computer to type my own short stories, which I would then print, staple together, and illustrate. I wrote about horses and monkeys and princesses, and the stories were always quirky and humorous, which is definitely a feature of my current illustrations, too. My decision to pursue a creative path was official when, in my fourth-grade yearbook, I chose “author/illustrator” as my future profession!

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 an illustrator and surface designer who specializes in children’s illustration and pattern collections! I just graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design at the beginning of June and am currently based in Washington, D.C. My artwork is full of whimsy, wit, and wonder, and is intended for kids and kids-at-heart in the forms of children’s books, greeting cards, stickers, and much more. I primarily work digitally in Photoshop and Procreate and love to create illustrations and patterns full of cute characters (especially animals), bright colors, and hand lettered text. My illustrations, whether a book illustration or repeat pattern, are almost always narrative because I love to use my characters and scenery to tell a story. I’m proud of my attention to detail, which allows me to create thorough and intricate artwork, and of my curiosity and desire to learn, which allow me to try new things and discover creative interests outside of my comfort zone of digital illustration. When I’m not drawing on my iPad or Wacom tablet, I also enjoy embroidery, bookbinding, and printmaking.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing my art translated from the screen to a physical product, and seeing how my art can be enjoyed by others. I’ve recently illustrated two children’s books and it’s been so exciting to see my artwork on a printed page instead of just a computer or iPad screen. Perhaps the most rewarding part is that this process also allows me to share my artwork with more people. It was so meaningful to share copies of the books with my friends and families, and I was even contacted by a teacher who purchased the book for her classroom, and a family friend who bought a copy for her son. It’s really gratifying and means so much to me to see how my artwork can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and how it can make people laugh and smile! The books are called “Eli and the Bug Catcher” by Danielle Kaplan and “Paw Prints of Love: A Rhed and Thatcher Beach Adventure” by Barbara Davis and Pam Davis-Webb, and both are available for purchase online.

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

My mission is to make more art! The more illustrations I create, the more I develop my own personal style, which leads me towards my goal of developing my own brand. I’ve participated in local art fairs, expos, and shows, but it would be a dream to have my own line of greeting cards, gift wrap, journals, and other products featuring my patterns and illustrations. Another mission of mine is to get my name out there so I can continue my freelance work. I’d love to license more artwork and work on more children’s book projects so, eventually, it would be possible to be a full time freelancer. I love traveling and exploring, so it’s a dream of mine to travel the world and work on my art remotely from wherever I’m visiting at the moment!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lindleywiesnerillustrations.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindleywiesner_illustrations/
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/lindleywiesner
• Other: “Eli and the Bug Catcher” by Danielle Kaplan: https://a.co/d/0gbcoJBS
  “Paw Prints of Love: A Rhed and Thatcher Beach Adventure” by Barbara Davis and Pam Davis-Webb: https://a.co/d/0jgZruIG