Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. It's already July and I still haven't made it to the beach. But I have been at my desk with some more animal-based #nonfiction. May your summers be long and productive. #kidlit #nonfiction #picturebook

Wrapping up #junicorn2026. Quick color jobs because I had a lot going on, but it's my annual "detox" to paint some unicorns. Usually on fire. Wonder what that says.

Happy (belated) #kidlitartpostcard day. I'm tardy to the party because it's also my Mom's birthday, but good habits must be maintained. #picturebook #nonfiction #kidlit #illustration

Sometimes you need "that friend" to bail you out of a sketchy situation. And sometimes, very rarely, I fall in love with a sketch right out the gate. Poor Raven looks so done. Not sure wolf teeth are allowed in #kidlit, but he's a good doggo. #kidlit #nonfiction #raven #wolf #illustration #wip

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. I draw animal-centric #kidlit silliness, and I...research...all of the physical comedy involved. Art imitating life. #picturebook #nonfiction

I’m not allowed to write tonight. #blackcat #catshenanigans #cats

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. I live in animal-centric #nonfiction, but every once and a while I go back to my #fantasy muses. Especially when it's any combination of incendiary equines. Happy #yearofthefirehorse. #kidlitart #illustration

I disdain horoscopes, but...I really want this one to be true. Run, darling. This isn't nearly to the level of finish that I wanted, but I couldn't NOT draw something for the #yearofthefirehorse. Fiery magical horses are kind of my thing. Happy #Chinesenewyear

I've shared this before but sharing again since a lot of y'all are going through it lately 🫂

Snowy scenes for a snowy week. #kidlit #nonfictionillustration #animalillustration #middlegrade #ravens #wolves

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day, happy 2026. These travel buddies are somewhere nice and cold and remote--far, far away from any news feeds. I do #nonfiction animal-centric #picturebooks and #middlegrade #bookcovers to keep myself feeling warm and fuzzy in more ways than one.

Hey, artists remember this: No matter how many pieces you made this year you're an artist, even if you only made 1. If you are super active or if you only have time / energy to pop up once in a while, no matter how big or small, you are still part of the art community 🙌 I love u artists

Playing in the arena while we wait for the vet. Horses should never eat mown grass clippings, but sometimes, well-meaning neighbors think it is alright to spray said clippings through the fence. Infuriating. Dogs, horses, anything really…if it ain’t yours to feed, don’t feed it! #horsecare

Eeep! Nearly missed October #kidlitartpostcard day. Can't pass up an excuse to put this #blackcat house goblin on my feed; he just so happens to rep my love of animal-centric #middlegrade #bookcovers. Enjoy the #Halloween vibes.

One of the first of many glorious rants on the brain today. #scrubs #tylenol youtu.be/gD6olRJ8S3I?...

Hi #kidlitartpostcard day. Since real life feels like a circus right now, have a little OG Roman circus action, courtesy of my love for animal-centric #historical #nonfiction. #Picturebooks and MG #bookcovers with a little #graphicnovel flavor.

Last evening of the summer. Tenth year of teaching middle school. And best believe I’m bummed and a little stressed, but I am not scared. And I am supremely lucky for that.

Ceffyl Dŵr - Water Horse from Welsh folklore that lures lost travellers on its back before diving underwater, never to be seen again.

End of summer vibes. #blackcat #cat

Happy last minute #worldlionday post, #kidlit style.

Hi #kidlitartpostcard day! I do #nonfiction animal-centric #picturebooks and #middlegrade #bookcovers. <3 history and animal science! These #dolphins are giving this #shark the what-for. Probably for using obnoxious Chaloops type. Sharks aren't generally gifted at graphic design. He tried.

Sniff snarfin' for evidence. #sketch #sketchbook #kidlit #kidlitart #dog #drawing #illustration #characterart #animalart

Oh, like you would never. #artistproblems #weirdreferences #sketch I thought my obsession with ankle booties was just a personal problem; from now on it's "research."

And now for a nice quiet afternoon of getting…things…done…? #cat #studio

Dolphins can be real jerks. And if you feel emotional affinity for this hammerhead...same. #kidlitart #kidlit #bookcoverdesign #bookcovers #middlegrade #nonfiction #illustration #dolphins #shark

Some assets for a portfolio #bookcoverdesign in progress.

Closing out #junicorn2025 today. My annual fantasy fix, with a heavy emphasis on #graphite this year (my first and forever love when it comes to medium). Just a smattering here to keep my BSKY kidlit-oriented. Insta's got the unicorns @ecraster #unicorn #fantasyart #fantasydrawing #conceptart

When the cat-shaped house goblin says you’re done being productive today. #cat

Aaaaand guess what stage I'm at now....

Ever been for an MRI? When they're done asking if you if you've ever touched metal or looked at metal the wrong way, they're gonna ask THE question: what kind of music do you want? Today I said "80's rock." And apparently that warranted further explanation. Feeling decrepit right now.

#junicorn2025 selections from Week 1. More on insta @ecraster #junicorn #artprompts #unicorn #fantasydrawing #fantasyart #conceptart #graphite

Unicorns will go a long way to protect their reputations for being the most noble and picturesque of beasts… but even they can’t resist a good gallop down a grassy hill. #junicorn #junicorn2025 #unicorns #unicornart #grasshoppers #unicornlore

Hi #kidlitartpostcard day! I do #nonfiction animal-centric #picturebooks and #middlegrade #bookcovers. Love some history and natural science!

The unicorn is the swiftest of all earthbound beasts...save for a cat that doesn't wish to be caught. Happy #junicorn2025. I likely won't be pushing every #fantasyart piece to BSKY; insta will remain the hub of all things #unicorn. #junicorn #artprompts #advancedjunicorn #fantasyart

Closing in on #junicorn2025, my annual #fantasyart fix. #junicorn #unicorns #creaturedesign #illustration #conceptart #artprompts

Looks like I’ll be busy this June… 😉🦄 #fantasyillustration #fantasyartist #junicorn

Bake-kujira, the ghost whale of Japanese folklore. #japanesefolklore #monster #whale #ghost #yokai #art #digitalart #artwork #ghost #fantasy

If you're heading to #Balticon this weekend, stop by the artists alley to say Hi! I'll have my prints, cards, stickers, and few other fun things for sale. I'm also bringing a couple of my older pieces and a few recent paintings along for the art show, www.balticon.org

I realize we're only halfway through #mermay. But some of us need lead time. This is my annual self-indulgence to scratch that #fantasy itch. Just as the Christmas merch creeps into the Halloween aisle, so too does #junicorn approach. #artprompts #narrativeart #conceptart

Heart of the Forest 🍂 #art #myart #commissions

Hey #kidlit, here’s 12 months of #kidlitartpostcard Bluesky post counts. The numbers do ebb and flow but my big picture take away is that the children’s book publishing community is thriving on Bluesky. 💙❤️

So how soon is too soon to post a #junicorn prompt list? I'm like the Christmas people the day after Halloween. Just let me draw some horses with swords on their heads, gawd.

Actually, quite shocked that I haven’t drawn more swords… we will have to settle for a screen grab from an old insta sketch #fantasyart #sketchbook

One last thumbnail sketch from a "we don't deserve dogs" type project. #nonfiction #illustration #sketchbook #kidlit #kidlitart #dog #sleddog

MerMay Day 2 - “Cosmic” Went with the ol’ Capricorn. I had a lot of fun just going wild with the hair and the tail shapes as well as the background colors. Can’t wait to share the next one! #mermay #mermay2025 #mermaid #cosmic #capricorn #astrologicalsign #seagoat #drawingchallenge

Life imitating art, or art imitating life. (Don’t come for me if the yard flag is AI art, I received it as a gift lol) #catphoto #blackcat #bestcat #cat

Sniff snarf. Thumbnail sketch. #nonfiction #illustration #sketchbook #kidlit #kidlitart #dog #bloodhound #picturebook

Hi #kidlitartpostcard day! I do nonfiction picture books and middle grade book covers. And I LOVE animal-centric history. Lot of us wishing for a little victoria. Victoria amat curam - victory favors care #kidlitpostcardday #kidlitpostcard #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #kidlitart

I’m glad so many people have found my “capybara method” for how to write alt text and image descriptions helpful! However, I know conflicting access needs exist and not everyone can write their own #AltText, so here’s an ongoing thread of tools that can help. Inclusion in thread ≠ endorsement