Hi ya, I’m Jill!

I’m a graphic designer, illustrator, crafter and creative explorer. I love collaborating with clients, creating illustrations and surface patterns for licensing, and developing my own handmade art.

If you’re someone who likes to read, I’ve written my creative journey history below. For folks who’d rather look at pictures, I’ve created an illustrated version just for you. 

My Creative Journey — 

A high-school summer job as a sign painter lit a creative spark in me. I discovered a love for letterforms and layout, which ultimately led me to pursue a BFA degree in graphic design. 

To pay for college, I took a job as a production artist at a local textbook company (This was back when waxing Linotype and using photostat machines was still the norm!) Eventually, one of that company’s art directors took a job at Klutz Press, publisher of hands-on activity books. She asked me to join her there, offering to mentor me to develop my skills as a children’s book designer. I jumped at the chance. Eventually, after a few years and many books designed, I was promoted to art director at Klutz.

My work on one book in particular, about the craft of paper beads, led me to pattern design. As I worked with repeating color, line, and motifs to create custom papers for kids to make into beads, I found a new artistic infatuation. I took a five-year course in surface pattern design—attending night classes while working during the day. Finally, after 18 years and over 100 book projects at Klutz, I struck out on my own to begin a solo career. 

Now I’m a designer and content developer, producing handcrafted gifts and artwork, and adding to my surface pattern design portfolio every chance I get. That creative spark still shines brightly, as it has throughout my journey. I see a pattern here!