Hi! I'm Maddie. I write and draw for kids.
But I really make books to entertain myself and hope the kids like them too. I've been professionally making-things-up for about four years. Before that, I was an elementary art teacher. And before that, I went to art school for animation and worked nearly 30 different jobs. It's true, I counted. Being an author-illustrator was always my dream job. Except for when I wanted to be in Riverdance when I was ten.
I get my ideas for books from my ideas for characters. If the character feels real, I can give them a story. I just listen to what they want and follow them towards the plot. I trust the process and I also trust my characters. Most of the time, these characters come from doodles in my sketchbook. Other times they come from thin air, like magical gifts that follow me around and haunt me until I put them on paper.
I make my art in Photoshop with digital brushes and handmade textures. I work from home with my assistant, Mozzy The Dog, who answers the phone, shreds paper, and eats doughnuts.
But I really make books to entertain myself and hope the kids like them too. I've been professionally making-things-up for about four years. Before that, I was an elementary art teacher. And before that, I went to art school for animation and worked nearly 30 different jobs. It's true, I counted. Being an author-illustrator was always my dream job. Except for when I wanted to be in Riverdance when I was ten.
I get my ideas for books from my ideas for characters. If the character feels real, I can give them a story. I just listen to what they want and follow them towards the plot. I trust the process and I also trust my characters. Most of the time, these characters come from doodles in my sketchbook. Other times they come from thin air, like magical gifts that follow me around and haunt me until I put them on paper.
I make my art in Photoshop with digital brushes and handmade textures. I work from home with my assistant, Mozzy The Dog, who answers the phone, shreds paper, and eats doughnuts.
I live outside of Boston with my husband, Toby. Who always tells me my art is good and wipes away my tears when I can't draw horses.
My new book, SMUG SEAGULL, comes out this May. I think it's pretty funny and I hope you do too. If you don't, that's okay. I still think you're nice.
My new book, SMUG SEAGULL, comes out this May. I think it's pretty funny and I hope you do too. If you don't, that's okay. I still think you're nice.
