I’m so excited to share some behind-the-scenes magic from my latest book, Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea, written by the incredibly talented John Schu. When my agent called about this book, I may or may not have done a little happy dance in my studio. Not only have I admired John’s work for so long, but this book is all about creativity and poetry. I’ve been writing poetry since my teenage angst-filled days, so this felt like the perfect match! In this newsletter, I’ll take you through my creative journey, from the very first sketches of Ruthie to the final, detailed illustrations that brought this story to life. You’ll get a peek at the tools I can’t live without, my cozy workspace, and the joy that filled every moment of creating this book. So grab a cup of tea, get comfy, and let’s dive into the colourful world of Ruthie Rose!

From the moment I read the manuscript, I could see the whole book in my head—glitter, bold colours, and a sprinkle of magic. Who doesn’t love glitter?!

The first step in illustrating a picture book is always the character design. This is where the story starts to come alive, as the characters are the heart and soul of the book. For Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea, I went through multiple iterations to capture Ruthie's joyful and eclectic spirit. Typically, I provide the publisher with 4-8 different designs for the main character, each with unique features and personality traits. This gives the creative team options to choose from and helps refine the vision for the book.

As you can see from the sketches, I experimented with various looks for Ruthie—from her wild, curly hair to her colourful, mismatched outfits. Each version reflects a different aspect of her personality, whether it’s her adventurous spirit, her love for creativity, or her playful nature. Once the publisher and creative director reviewed the designs, we narrowed it down to the one that best captured Ruthie's essence. After the character design is approved, I move on to sketching the interior scenes, where Ruthie’s world starts to take shape.

Meet Ruthie Rose, the joyful little spark of energy who won our hearts! With her mismatched socks, rainbow-inspired outfit, and those big, bright glasses, Ruthie is the embodiment of creativity and confidence. She’s that quirky friend who lights up any room and isn’t afraid to be herself.

When the creative team saw this design, we knew she was the one. She’s ready to spread joy, inspire ideas, and remind us all that a little bit of glitter and a lot of imagination can go a long way!

The team loved each of the character sketches so much that they all made it into the book! As you turn the pages, you’ll find these joyful, eclectic kiddos sprinkled throughout, adding even more magic to Ruthie’s world.

Once the character design is finalized, the next big step is creating the interior sketches. This is where the story really starts to take shape on the page, as I lay out each scene and bring the world of Ruthie Rose to life.

Creating these sketches can take months. The process involves a lot of back and forth with the creative team—often requiring multiple rounds of revisions to fine-tune everything.

While the revision process can be challenging (and yes, sometimes exhausting), it’s all about ensuring the book comes together beautifully. Each revision is about getting closer to the prefect balance - adjusting the composition, refining the character poses and ensuring the emotional tone of the story is captured on every page.

The goal is to make sure that every page not only tells the story but does so in a way that’s engaging, cohesive, and visually interesting.

It’s a time consuming process, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see the story start to come together, piece by piece.

Step Three: Final Illustrations

Once the sketches have been approved and I get the green light, it’s time to move on to the fun part—painting! This is where the book truly comes to life, as I add colour, texture, and all the tiny details that make each page sparkle. For Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea, I wanted the illustrations to have a vibrant, magical quality, full of bright, bold colours and glittery touches that would capture the creative spirit of the story.

I do all my final illustrations digitally, using Photoshop and Illustrator. The process starts by blocking in the basic colours, setting the overall tone for each scene. From there, I build up the layers, adding depth, shadows, and highlights to give the characters and environments a sense of dimension.

One of my favourite parts of this stage is searching for the perfect textures and photography to incorporate into the artwork. These elements add richness and detail, making the illustrations feel more tactile and immersive.

While painting, I also love to include little Easter eggs—tiny details that might not be obvious at first glance but add an extra layer of fun for those who notice them.

Those Easter eggs I sneak into the illustrations? They’re totally for the parents. After all, they’re the ones who will be re-reading this book a million times! 😝 I figure if you’re going to be flipping through these pages over and over, you deserve a few hidden gems to keep things interesting. Just don’t expect any secret symbols or codes—this isn’t a scavenger hunt, but a little something to make those bedtime readings a bit more fun!

This stage can take months (sometimes, years) as I carefully refine each illustration, making sure everything aligns perfectly with the story’s mood and message. It’s meticulous and time-consuming, but when I see kids reading my books, every bit of effort is worth it. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that the illustrations I’ve poured my heart into are leaping off the page and into the imaginations of young readers. That feeling? It never gets old.

With the final illustrations complete, the book is out of my hands and into the capable hands of the designer, who works their magic to lay out the text and illustrations. Once everything is perfectly designed, the book is sent off to the printers. And then... the waiting begins. It’ll be months, usually at least a year, before I finally get to hold the finished book in my hands. When those advance copies arrive, it’s like Christmas morning—there’s nothing quite like seeing all that hard work come to life in a real, tangible book!

Now, let’s talk about the tools that make all this magic happen!

Meet my trusty sidekick, Artimus Prime—named for its ability to transform my creative ideas into something extraordinary. Just like the heroic Transformer, Optimus Prime; Artimus Prime helps me take my ideas and turn them into fully realized illustrations with ease. Plus, the name is a nod to my son’s love for Transformers.

Artimus Prime allows me to draw directly on the screen as if it were a piece of paper. All my art is done digitally. Before I became a professional illustrator, I used to create all my art traditionally. I have so much admiration for traditional artists, but I honestly couldn’t imagine illustrating an entire book that way.

With digital illustration, I have the luxury of working with layers upon layers of art. If a creative director asks for a revision, I can simply delete or tweak what’s needed and draw the new version, without having to start over from scratch. Traditional artists often have to redo entire sections or even the whole piece.

Welcome to my cozy creative haven! My husband worked his magic and built me the perfect little nook where a closet was supposed to be. This is my morning sanctuary—where I start my day around 5–5:30am, with meditation, a good book and a steaming cup of tea. It’s also where I’ve been known to sneak in the occasional nap! Whenever I hit a creative block or just need a break, I head straight to my nook. It’s my go-to spot for writing, dreaming, and just being.

And just this past summer, my husband added another cozy touch by building me a fireplace! Christmas is going to be extra special this year—I can already picture the stockings hung with care.

Behind my desk, you’ll find my walking pad. Years of sitting and drawing at my desk have gifted me with chronic neck and shoulder pain (not exactly the gift I asked for), so I make sure to get up every 30–60 minutes and walk it out. It’s my way of giving my body—and my creative juices—a little recharge.

And that’s a wrap on this little tour of my creative world! I hope you enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at where the magic (and sometimes madness) happens.

If Ruthie Rose’s story brought a smile to your face, you can pre-order your copy now and be among the first to experience her big, bright idea.

Thanks for being here, for supporting my work, and for joining me on this journey.