Illustrator Spotlight: Debbie Meyer

© Debbie Meyer

 June 5, 2023

It's the beginning of the month, so we are excited to feature illustrator Debbie Meyer and her website banner design for Kidlit411.

© Debbie Meyer

Tell us about yourself and how you came to write and illustrate for children.

I've wanted to write for children since I was a child myself. The library was my favorite place and I love how you can get lost in another world when reading a great story. I started illustrating about 16 years ago after graduating with a degree in graphic design. Oddly enough, I liked to draw as a child but didn't think of  myself as an artist until about 20 years ago. 

© Debbie Meyer

 

Congrats on your banner design! Tell us how you approached the project. 

I love the birds on a wire concept and thought about them all chatting with each other about all the great information they receive from Kidlit411. 

© Debbie Meyer

 

What projects are you working on now?

Right now I'm working on 2 board books with Little Hippo Books and just finished an illustration for Babybug Magazine.

© Debbie Meyer

 

What is your preferred illustration medium and process?  

I normally sketch in Procreate on my ipad and finish in color using Adobe Illustrator. I'd like to learn more about Procreate, but haven't made time to do that just yet.

© Debbie Meyer

 

What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators?

I would tell anyone who wants to illustrate that it's important to draw every day to keep things flowing. Push yourself to learn new techniques and make your work unique. And definitely don't compare yourself to others - that's self sabotage. There is plenty of room in this world for your art!

 

What is one thing most people don't know about you? 

That's a tough one. Anyone who follows me on social media knows this, but if I wasn't an illustrator (or an office manager which is my day job), I would be a full time paper mache artist. I love creating with paper mache - creating something out of newspaper, wires, flour & water is pretty cool. The whole process makes me happy.

© Debbie Meyer

 

Where can people find you online? 

My website is www.debmeyercreative.com and on Instagram debmeyercreative

© Debbie Meyer

 

 

A doodler all her life,  Debbie went to Collin College to major in graphic design. That’s where she fell in love . . . with Adobe Illustrator. Since then, she’s been creating all sorts of silly pictures with loads of layers, textures, vibrant colors, and plenty of  F-U-N fun. 

Illustration clients include: Warner Press, Regular Baptist Press, Zonderkidz, Trillium Publishing, Scholastic School Publishers, Pearson, People's Education, Ladybug and Babybug Magazines, Little Hippo Books, Company Bookworm and Red River Kids Magazine.

Debbie is a member of SCBWI, Storyteller Academy, and the Created to Thrive Mentoring Program. She enjoys writing picture book manuscripts and is currently seeking representation. She lives in Texas with her husband, two sons, and two silly little dogs named Lucy & Winnie.

When not writing or illustrating, Debbie enjoys playing with her dogs, crocheting, creating with paper mache, binge-watching baking shows, eating cookies and listening to music.