When she was young, Siri was warned she’d ruin her eyes with past-bedtime sneak-reading under the covers. That’s been scientifically disproved, but not specifically for reading one word at a time by the glow-in-the-dark eye of an owl puppet, so maybe that is the reason for those glasses.
When Siri was old enough to write, she penciled stories inspired by late-night owl light. She kept at it, but really started to improve in 1992, after sending two abysmally clueless picture book manuscripts in a fan letter to Jane Yolen (who kindly recommended she join the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). Ever since, Siri's been learning, reading, writing, illustrating and critiquing during her own time. However, like anyone with a freelance career in children's illustration and graphic design, she was mostly busy with other's projects. It was a great excuse to not submit her own work. Until now. Siri's semi-retired, so if you see her and she's not busy snarfling up that extra time to write, revise, sketch, paint, research—and query—you're perfectly within your rights to roll your eyes and give her a nudge. |
SCBWI PAL Member
Past SCBWI CenCal Board Member and Event Co-Creator Represented for Children's Illustration by the wonderful Ann Remen-Willis for 23 years (Retired) |
SCBWI Workshops and Events
ArtBeats 2010
CenCal SCBWI illustrators' event featuring Martha Rago (HarperCollins Children's) and Dave Tabler (formerly of TheiSpot.com). Creator Carol Heyer, I assisted, along with Kathryn Hunley. ArtWorks 2007 CenCal SCBWI illustrators' event featuring Marika Kostiw (Scholastic, Arthur A. Levine Books) and Valerie Adams (Mosaic Licensing). Co-created with Carol Heyer. "Siri and Carol Heyer co-created a new and highly successful SCBWI event called ArtWorks: The Business of Illustrating for Children — for beginners eager to break into the business, as well as for published illustrators hoping to extend their reach into fresh arenas." ~Alexis O'Neill, SCBWI Regional Advisor 
Trading Spaces:
What Writers and Illustrators Can Teach Each Other 2005 CenCal SCBWI workshop featuring artist's tips for creating more marketable manuscripts and how to think like a writer for illustration with depth and greater meaning. Co-created with Carol Heyer. Awards, Education, Etc.
#KT250 Winner, Honorable Mention
SCBWI Kite Tales, Tri-Regions (L.A., CenCal, SoCal) of Southern California First 250 words, Tween/Young YA July 2018
People's Choice Winner 2008 SCBWI Los Angeles Illustrator's Day Portfolio Competition
Highlights Illustrator of the Month Pewter Plate Award Highlights Magazine 
Production Award
Haagen Printing, Santa Barbara for custom-die-cut full color bleed pocket folder with bound-in matching pages for Staal Gardener & Dunne, Consulting Engineers and Geologists University of Connecticut
Thomas J. Dodd Research Center Northeast Children's Literature Collection Red Riding Hood illustration BFA Graphic Design: University of Connecticut Independent Studies: Illustration, Pastels Juried Member: Design Center |
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