Crayons, Chaos, and Creativity: How Being a Mom to a 1-Year-Old Shapes My Life as a Children’s Book Illustrator
Becoming a mother has changed everything about how I approach my work as a children’s book illustrator — in the most unexpected and heartwarming ways. My daughter, all 30 inches of her, is now my most honest art director. If she looks at one of my sketches and says “ba!” (her universal word for everything), I try to interpret whether it’s excitement or confusion. Her reactions, as unpredictable as they are, have become part of my creative feedback loop. If she gives attention or even attempts to eat the page (lol) , I take that as a compliment. If she gets distracted or simply walks away? Either it is not her cup of tea or may be it is time to add more sparkle.
My productivity has done a complete 180. Before baby, I could leisurely sip my tea and spend hours refining a single page. Now, my golden work hours are during nap time — which means I’ve got roughly 40 minutes to go from sketch to semi-masterpiece. There’s no room for procrastination anymore. Motherhood has turned me into a creative sprinter. I’ve learned to focus sharply, make faster decisions, and trust my instincts more than ever.
Living with a toddler is like living inside a picture book. Every moment is a little story — the way she waddles like a penguin, how her eyes light up at bubbles, or how she claps when she sees a dog - Oh no a bow bow. These everyday details are now the inspiration behind many of my characters and scenes. There’s more authenticity in my work now than before — because I’m not just imagining childhood, I’m in it.
Our bookshelf looks very different these days. Gone are the mystery thrillers I used to unwind with — now it’s Goodnight Moon, My Little Bear, and a growing collection of board books. When my daughter giggles or gazes wide-eyed at a page, I’m not just soaking in her joy (though that alone is magic); I’m also learning — almost effortlessly — what captures a child’s attention.
These deceptively simple stories have taught me more about storytelling and visual pacing than any design course ever could. I’ve come to understand the true power of rhythm, repetition, and bold, clear imagery. With every illustration I create, I ask myself: “Would my one-year-old want to turn this page?” If not, I know I’ve got work to do. Now, every book I illustrate has to pass three tests — it has to delight me as an artist, honor the author’s vision, and most importantly, win the approval of my tiniest, most honest critic.
Of course, it’s not always smooth. Some days I’m balancing deadlines with tantrums. There are times when my digital pen is in one hand and a teething toy in the other. But in all that chaos, there’s unexpected inexpressible beauty. Being a mom has made me more playful, more observant, and more patient — all of which spill into my art.
So to every creative parent out there: I see you.
The tea is cold (which I hate), the days are long, and the balance is tricky.
But these tiny humans we’re raising? They’re also raising us — into more thoughtful, imaginative creators.
And in my case, into a better illustrator than I ever thought I could be!