Fresh Talent Needs Your Feedback

Courtesy Jo Rioux

It's been months since the last Fresh Talent post, where I highlight an illustrator you may not have heard of before. In 2014, I'd like to spend Saturdays a bit differently.

This year, you'll see

• Fresh Talent - lesser known illustrators, or artists from other art fields who have something to teach us in children's books
• Picture Book Influences - Illustrators of the past whose work informs my own
• Where Are They Now? - interviews with Fresh Talent artists of the past, to see how they've grown and where their careers have taken them

Saturdays are for you, so I'd love to hear your suggestions. Which illustrators would you like me to spotlight? What other subjects would you like to see featured here? In what ways does studying other illustrators' work help you? Send me your ideas. I'd love to link back to you. Maybe I'll even start a pinboard for your Fresh Talent suggestions.


Here is a list of all the Fresh Talent artists we've featured, or you can click the "Fresh Talent" label at the bottom of this post. Thanks for stopping by!

Courtesy Lina Dudaite

Rebecca Evans
Jennifer Meyer
Jo Rioux
Mike Lawrence
Alice Ratterree
Beth Bogert
Elisa Kwon
Lina Dudaite
Neiko Ng
Erin Kelso
Catherine Borodacheva
Amanda Kastner
Julia Sarda

Courtesy Michelle Henninger

Emily Thon
Val Jones
Marcela Staudenmaier
Therese Cilia
Kim Kincaid
Iloria Falorsi
Leen Christens
Elina Ellis
Kei Acedera
Michelle Henninger
Aurelie Neyret
Renne Benoit
Mardi Speth
Kelley McMorris
Joie Brown
Katie Kath
Jane Heinrichs

Courtesy Beth Bogert 

Illustrator Michelle Henninger

Courtesy Michelle Henninger

Today's spotlight falls on Illustrator Michelle Henninger. Her ubiquitous drawings of children pepper the internet. You've probably seen her art in the SCBWI Bulletin or on Watercolor Wednesdays. Now you can purchase her first published book, The First Easter (Candy Cane Press, Feb 2013).

Her airy ink and watercolor characters are perfect for today's picture books. Her whimsy is well-suited to the chapter book market too. Don't miss the captivating DVD covers she created for a local school, found on her latest blog post.

Michelle's story is an inspiring one. Thanks to Wendy Martin for this in depth interview.

Best wishes, Michelle! We can't wait to see where you're headed.

The First Easter,
by Jill Roman Lord
and Michelle Henninger, 

All artwork copyright Michelle Henninger