Hello! My name’s Taryn.

I’m an illustrator working in children’s literature from my home in the windswept fields of Colorado. I grew up homeschooled, playing pretend between the chokecherry trees and drawing tirelessly from the moment I could hold a crayon. I later began my professional career as a digital designer, dabbling in digital illustration until finally returning home to dear old paint and paper. Since then, I’ve made my children’s book illustration debut in 2020 with the US edition of Embassy of the Dead (published by Walker US), manage an online shop, and follow my creative path wherever it takes me.

Inspired by nature and life’s simple joys, I aim to create a sense of wildness and childish freedom in my work. It’s a magical realm where girls fly away on wild birds, field mice cook tasty soups, and bears eat blueberry pancakes for breakfast.

I work from my small studio at home, where you’ll find me sat at a desk littered with old cheeseboxes filled with paint tubes, mismatched mugs of pencils and brushes, treasures collected on walks, and a half-drank cup of tea that’s probably gone a bit cold by now.

 
 

get in touch

Please feel free to contact me at tarynsketch@gmail.com if you have any questions, concerns, comments on the weather, etc. 

For book/publishing inquiries, please contact my literary agent, Molly O'Neill of Root Literary Agency: molly@rootliterary.com

Prints, pins, originals, and other goodies can be found in my Etsy shop or Society6 shop


Illustrated titles

Embassy of the Dead by Will Mabbitt - Walker Books US, 2020

Embassy of the Dead: Hangman’s Crossing by Will Mabbit - Walker Books US, 2021

Embassy of the Dead: Destiny Calling by Will Mabbit - Walker Books US, 2022

Press

In Her Studio, magazine feature - August 2023

Sideline, interview - May 2023

Instagram, Featured illustrator story  - June 2017

Vice Creators, "Monday Insta Illustrator" feature - June 2017

Time, Newsfeed feature  - June 2017

Ampersand Literary Review, interview - April 2016


 
 

Find me on Instagram