A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME

I’ve been illustrating and designing professionally for 30 years (yikes!) and worked for a graphics imprinting company, a newspaper and an ad agency before I set out on my own. These days I have clients whose projects take me into book design, illustration, company branding, websites and collateral material in all forms. I've also designed, illustrated and written for educational exhibits and studied botanical medicine and cultural mythology. All of my experience in work and life has fueled the storyteller in me and collaborating with my clients to develop their ideas is a phenomenal way for me to share my talents. The resulting efforts put my clients in a position to connect with their audiences in a way no one else can.

Kristen Schwartz photo

Feel free to contact me if you have a project you would like to discuss, consult on or have me bid. Asking for a bid is always the best way to get a more precise cost breakdown and to discuss ways to get what you want for a specific budget.

Off to Otis Parsons

Heading to Otis Parsons at age 19

I grew up in an art gallery. (Yes I did.)

When I was 12 I made little creatures called “Nice Mice” & sold them from my own booth at the India Street Art Colony Jazz Festival.

I studied Illustration and Graphic Design at Otis Parsons and SDSU.

My first college art teacher was Hiroshi Miyazaki and to this day I can only pronounce Chiaroscuro as he did—with Japanese intonation layered on Italian pronunciation. I can still hear him say it clear as day—a fond memory of the most expressive and fitting pronunciation of Chiaroscuro I've ever heard.

I have been a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) since 2005.

I had the amazing honor to work with author/illustrator, Yuyi Morales in the 2009 Nevada SCBWI Mentor Program.

I have been using Apple computers since 1980.

I wasn't aware how much I use my hands when I talk until I was animatedly describing some illustrations during a live radio interview a few years back. I managed to unplug all the sound equipment I was connected to with one enthusiastic gesture. Sound techs sure can move fast!

I have been living, working and playing in South Lake Tahoe, California since 1988 and have illustrated and designed for people all across the U.S.

I wear many hats in my life and a lot of them are helmets.

When we got our dog she was afraid of trash cans, tree stumps, people, other dogs and shadows.

Our formerly terrified rescue dog

The most validating thing a publishing house art director ever said to me:
“You can obviously draw the hell out of anything.”