character design

For thirty years, I was absolutely convinced I couldn’t draw.The idea of becoming a children’s book illustrator never even crossed my mind. Art was something other people did, the naturally talented ones, the ones who’d been sketching since they could hold a pencil. That wasn’t me. I was the person who doodled stick figures in meeting margins and thought that was my artistic ceiling. Then one afternoon, when I was thirty, I picked up a watercolor set on a whim. Maybe it was curiosity, maybe boredom, maybe something in me needed an outlet I didn’t know I was missing. I painted something simple – nothing remarkable – but something shifted. A door opened. Suddenly I was staying up until 2 AM watching YouTube tutorials, taking every online course I could find, experimenting with techniques, failing spectacularly, and trying again. The girl who “couldn’t draw” fell head over heels in love with creating. From Hobby to a Creative Living When I moved to Northern Spain, I decided to take a leap that terrified me: could I actually make a living doing this thing I loved? I began creating illustrations for stock sites – kawaii characters, whimsical elements, sweet graphics. Those first sales felt like pure magic. Enough to register as a small business, pay my taxes, and build something real from what started as a late-night hobby. You can find my work on Canva, Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Etsy now. It’s strange and wonderful to know my illustrations are out there in the world, being used by people I’ll never meet – becoming tiny parts of their creative projects. Stock illustration taught me so much: how to work professionally, meet deadlines, and create art that’s commercially viable. But more than that, it gave me confidence, proof that maybe I really could do this thing I once thought impossible. The Pull Toward Stories Here’s what I’ve learned about myself: I’m restless, creatively restless.I’m always experimenting with new styles, trying different techniques, never quite settling. Some days I work in flat, minimalist styles. Other days I’m drawn to detailed, textured approaches. I love kawaii aesthetics, but I’m also fascinated by more painterly, story-driven illustration. And increasingly, I find myself drawn to narrative work – to children’s book illustration. There’s something magical about telling stories across pages, about developing characters that children might fall in love with and creating worlds they want to return to. Illustrating stories that become part of bedtime rituals feels meaningful in a deeper way. I dream of illustrating picture books with gentle lessons, charming characters, and that quiet kind of magic that makes ordinary moments feel extraordinary. Creating in the Margins These days, I create during the quiet hours while my little daughter naps. Every moment at my tablet feels precious, a slice of time where I can pour creativity into new worlds and fairy-tale possibilities. Motherhood has changed how I see children’s illustration. I understand what captures a child’s attention, what comforts them, what sparks their imagination. I know which books my daughter reaches for again and again, which illustrations make her pause and truly look. This perspective now guides everything I create. I think about the children who might one day hold a book I’ve illustrated, the parents who’ll read it aloud for the hundredth time and the way the right image can make a story come alive in a child’s mind. What I Love to Illustrate I’m particularly drawn to: My style tends toward the whimsical and sweet, with soft color palettes and expressive characters, but I’m still evolving, still discovering what feels most authentically “me.” What I’m Looking For as a Children’s Book Illustrator I’m seeking opportunities to work on children’s book projects with authors looking for their first illustrator or small publishers building their catalogues. I know I’m still finding my voice in narrative illustration, but I bring reliability, professionalism from years of stock experience, genuine enthusiasm, and a commitment to serving the story first. If you’re an author with a manuscript that needs illustrations, or a publisher looking for new talent, I’d love to hear from you. Moving Forward If my work resonates with you, if you’re looking for an illustrator who will pour genuine care into your project, let’s talk. I promise dedication, open communication, and illustrations created with both professional skill and personal heart. Thank you for reading my story. I hope it’s just the beginning of ours.