Have you been to the secret waterfall room!?!?! 🤯 #ontogether #on_together #secret

Drop some HORSES 🐴 (Unicorns count, right? 🦄) YES THEY DO! #kidlitart #unicorns #horses

Full-doublepage spread for spring in the aspen forest from "Mother Aspen" PB w/by Annette LeBox and pics by me. Can you spot the mouse and owl? #kidsbooks #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitartist

From thumbnail to finished! 🐻 Spring in the aspen forest when the black bears show up 🌿 From "Mother Aspen" w/by Annette LeBox and pics by me. #kidlit #kidlitart #childrensbook #childrensbooks #illustration #kidlitartist

Cute things my leopard gecko did today 🥰😍🥺 (And yes, one of the photos is just him sticking his head of a log... lol)

🐋🐋🐋 Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm an illustrator addicted to nature & neon and wild stories. ⭐️ I illustrate fic & non-fic picture books, board books, covers & more. Open for projects! Rep'd by @jemiscoe.bsky.social at Starling Literary + Media 🎉www.heycrystalsmith.com

🦎🛼🦀Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm an illustrator addicted to nature & neon with wild stories! ⭐️ I illustrate fic & non-fic picture books, board books, covers & more. Open for projects! Rep'd by @jemiscoe.bsky.social at Starling Literary + Media 🎉www.heycrystalsmith.com

Superhero in sneakers. #illustration #kidlit #kidlitart

Going through my old art files trying to declutter (and make enough space to update my computer). 🫣🤯🥸I failed horribly at it, but I did bring up some old art like this mixed media rhino—fingers are now itching for some oils. #wildlife #wildlifeart #art #mixedmedia #sciart

Scroll cleanse!!! ✌🏼 *cutest tongue ever

#birbfest - my first year & an experiment of turning the birds into kids/outfits. 🦆=🧒🏼 Didn't get them all done (did I really think I would?*) Happy with my January though! Yay me!* To see the birds they go with, check out my OG posts. #birbfest2026 ----- *no *gotta celebrate when you can

This is who runs this account.

His feet are so cute.

Well, that’s it for today.

Beautifully said by @amandagorman.bsky.social #minnesota

Goodnight. May your dreams be as peaceful as a gecko’s.

"This is a real mess!" thought pig. #kidlit #kidlitart

I had to get this idea out of my head - it was getting too loud. The Italian Marching Band...🍝🎺 Trombone-y Macaroni Linguine Trumpet-iny Spaghetti Clarinet-y #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitartist #illustration #pasta

The sleep of the blessed. Awwwww. That’s his favourite rock.

Yay! ✨💫🧑🏽‍🚀🤿 A new book!! By @laurabontje.bsky.social & pics by me : Spring 2028. I can't wait...the ocean & space? Two of my favorite things. (Who doesn't love the ISS?) @owlkids.bsky.social @jemiscoe.bsky.social @starlingliterary.bsky.social #kidsbooks #kidsbookpublishing #kidlit #Kidlitart

Bird challenge #22 for #birbfest2026 = Galah Cockatoo 🌸 reimagined as a kid with a fabulous headdress going on! #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartist #characterdesign

Just a few seconds of an adorable gecko drinking…I love his tongue. 😛

Sharing this! 🤩 Illustrators - this is a fabulous article by Valerie Parizeault (@valparizeault.bsky.social) and one of the most robust and detailed I've seen, with tons of ideas and actionable lists! valparizeault.substack.com/p/how-i-make... #kidlit #Kidlitartists #illustrator #illustrators

Doing monster things. #kidlit #kidlitart

Bird challenge #16 for #birbfest2026 = Eurasian Wigeon 🤎 reimagined as a kid in a cool wool blazer with elbow patches! #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartist #characterdesign

Hi #PortfolioDay! 🛼🤖⭐️ I'm Crystal, an illustrator on the West Coast of Canada who loves nature, neon, & wild stories. 🎉 Daughter of a lighthouse keeper, picture-maker for kids books, whale-rider. 💌 [email protected] 🖼️ heycrystalsmith.com rep'd by @jemiscoe.bsky.social at Starling Lit

Bird challenge #12 for #birbfest2026 = The Common Redpoll reimagined as a girl in her snowsuit, ready to go skiing. #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartist #characterdesign

Bird challenge #11 for #birbfest2026 = Mountain Bluebird 🗻💙 I'm drawing all the birds reimagined as kids & their outfits. It's cold in those mountains... #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartist #characterdesign #birb #kidsbookart

Bird challenge # 10 for #birbfest2026 = American Purple Gallinule 💜 I'm drawing all the birds reimagined as kids & their outfits. #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartist #characterdesign

Bird challenge # 9 for #birbfest2026 = Indian Paradise Flycatcher 🪰 I'm drawing all the birds reimagined as kids & their outfits. Getting creative with that loooooong tail! #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartist #characterdesign

🦎🛼🦀Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm an illustrator addicted to nature & neon and wild stories! ⭐️ I illustrate fic & non-fic picture books, board books, covers & more. Open for projects! Rep'd by @jemiscoe.bsky.social at Starling Literary + Media 🎉www.heycrystalsmith.com

🐢🐋📚Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm an illustrator addicted to nature & neon and wild stories! ⭐️ I illustrate fic & non-fic picture books, board books, covers & more. Open for projects! Rep'd by @jemiscoe.bsky.social at @starlingliterary.bsky.social 🎉www.heycrystalsmith.com

Bird challenge # 7 for #birbfest2026 = Steller's Sea Eagle 🦅 I'm drawing all the birds reimagined as kids & their outfits. Such a tough looking bird! #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartist #characterdesign

Bird challenge #4 for #birbfest2026 = King Eider ⭐️💛 I'm drawing all the birds reimagined as kids & their outfits. 🦜🐦🐦‍⬛🦆 #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitartist #characterdesign

Bird challenge #3 for #birbfest2026 = Golden-Headed Manakin ⭐️💛 I'm drawing all of the birds reimagined as kids & their outfits (🦜🐦🐦‍⬛🦆 @birbfest.challenge - A bird drawing challenge for Jan!) #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart

Bird challenge #3 for #birbfest2026 = Razorbill 🖤 I'm drawing all of the birds reimagined as kid's & their outfits. (🦜🐦🐦‍⬛🦆 @birbfest.challenge - A bird drawing challenge for Jan!) #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart

Birbfest BIRD #2 - Many-colored Rush Tyrant Birds reimagined as children 🦜🐦🐦‍⬛🦆 #birbfest2026 - A bird drawing challenge for Jan! #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #cankidlit

Me, slightly unsure about the new year... #newyears #newyear2026?

Hello #birbfest2026 !! 🦜🐦🐦‍⬛🦆A bird drawing challenge for Jan! BIRD #1 - Bronzewing Pigeon - reimagined as a stylish kid! #Birbfest #BirdArt #ArtSky #SciArt #Illustration #kidlitart

#artvsartist for 2025! I felt like I hadn't done a lot and then I found I couldn't pick which ones to include because there were more than I remembered! These ones go well together with color & style 💜 #artvsartist2025 #illustration #illustrator #kidlit #kidsbooks #kidsbookillustrator #kidsbookart

Merry Christmas to all!! ❄️🎅🏼🎄

Check out my article on using color as story in your kid's books! I'm a little obsessed with color 😅🤪 #kidlit #kidlitart #kidsbooks #kidsbookart #kidsbookillustrators #illustration #illustrator #cankidlit heycrystalillustrates.substack.com/p/how-to-use...

This is me reminding you to watch the new Christmas special "The First Snow of Fraggle Rock"!🥰❄️ SOOO good -worth paying for Apple TV for the month if you don't have a subscription. Be sure to watch the "Night of the Lights" episode from season 1 (reboot) too! #fragglerock #kidlitart #illustration

Learned that the Prickly Pear Cactus's purple color is very specific pigments that also act like sunscreen, anti-freeze, and stop water loss. 💜🌵 Nature is cool. #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitillustrator #illustration #illustrator #science #sciart #cacti

Actual photo of me deciding whether to get out of bed this morning.

Keep warm everyone! Be cozy!! 🐦‍⬛❄️☕️ #illustration #kidlit #kidlitart #cankidlit #artist #winter #snow

Quote with your starry art ✨🌟 #kidlit #kidlitart

Was watching the Fraggle Rock Christmas special and then THIS came on screen. OMG. 😱😍🥹 Now I have to figure out how to make them!! #fragglerock #fraggles #henson #jimhenson

The magnificent walrus! ✨⭐️💫 They have air sacs in their throats that can hold up to 13 gallons of air, which allows them to rest in the water without sinking. 🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊 #walrus #Illustration #wildlifeart #illustrator #kidlit #kidlitart #sciart #scicomm

Did you know chameleons can see in two different directions at once? Their eyes move independently! Cool and useful! 🦎💚 #kidlit #kidlitart #kidlitartist #kidsbooks #kidsbookart #illustration #chameleons