THE CLEVER SEED, Summer Edition 2025

The Anatomy of a Studio

Aug 05, 2025

Welcome to the fourth edition of THE CLEVER SEED, a quarterly newsletter where I explore inspiration and creativity in everyday life. As a writer and illustrator of children’s books and former design researcher—I’m fascinated by why humans tell stories and what makes creative minds tick.

This summer I’ve been tasked with fastidiously completing 23 handmade paintings for my next book with Little Brown, I AM HUMAN, about a boy and his AI bot. As my summer began and the family eased out of the hectic school year schedules, I eagerly purchased a stack of Arches Cold Press watercolor paper, refreshed my supply of Kuretake watercolor pans, and prepared to dive in.

(Title Page painting, I AM HUMAN, coming Fall 2026 from Little Brown Books for Young Readers)

Despite the state of the world and also, because of it, I’ve been hard at work in ‘the zone’ for the past several weeks holed up in my studio producing art for this book. Creating has been a salve for my worries and integral to my sense of well-being. As I’ve been working, I have been thinking a lot about what makes a creative environment, and the kind of space one needs to to feel safe exploring their innermost thoughts and feelings.

I’m happy to share what my own personal ‘safe’ creator space is like today. There are a few things that I noticed after reflecting upon my workspace:

- A creative environment is not perfect, but feels like a well-loved struggle. Functional but not entirely so, there are necessary elements that can slow you down and keep you from being a total robot creator. For some, it’s like a cat jumping on your desk and knocking off your pencils. For me, it’s a tiny robin that visits my courtyard every morning looking for seeds.

- Comfort is key. Whether it’s a cozy chair, or a dedicated spot for your favorite snacks and tea, you have to be comfortable and relaxed to create good work.

- Solitude but not loneliness. It’s important to feel free to be alone in yourself, but always good to know and feel that you have supportive creator friends closeby. It’s an energy thing. It’s easier to create knowing others have your back.

Anatomy of a studio

(My analog workspace.)

A- My desk. Covered with a green vinyl Vyco drafting surface that replaced the old one that I accidentally slashed with an exacto blade.

B- My drugstore hairdryer. The only one in the house, which leaps from my office to my bathroom whenever I need to dry my hair. One of the most important tools in my studio to quickly dry my paintings, but I refuse to get a new one!

C- Totally meaningless trash bin. Used for scraps, but rarely. Emptied once a year or so.

D- Two desk lamps. One warm, one cool, for lighting up paintings when the sky is cloudy outside. This one constantly gets unplugged. (Cord too short)

E- Brushes and pencils. Nearly everything that I need to make a painting. Erasers too.

F- Fancy stylish reading glasses. Needed for fine detail work. (hidden off pic)

G- Wall space. For pinning up drawings and ideas, color palettes and guides.

H- ‘Food and drinks’ zone. The right side of my desk stays flat when my drafting table is raised, allowing me to have a steady flow of tea, coffee, and snacks to fuel my brain and work. Total necessity. Every day, it’s an apple and a handful of nuts.

(My digital workspace.)

I- Scanner station. For computerizing my work and turning things into pixels.

J- Tiny zen garden. Constantly tips over and gets bits of tiny fine sand around my monitor.

K- Map of my high school campus, where I fantasize teaching someday.

L- Computer Workstation. For working in pixels.

M- Chair. This one goes up and down, like this desk which goes up and down.

Wall of motherhood. Letters and cards from the kids.

Encouraging notes. From friends, my agent, editors, a little door that Sophie Blackall painted for me on a visit to Milkwood last year.

Bookshelf. Filled with books I like to keep close on hand for visual reference. Some of my favorites are by: Guojing, Sophie Blackall, Jillian Tamaki, Isabelle Arsenault, Jon Klassen, Julie Morstad, Aimée Sicuro, Christian Robinson, Marla Frazee… Heavy books for pressing down paintings (thank you Rem Koolhaus S/M/L/XL!) Notecards and mementos. One very nice Caran D'Ache pen.

Supplies. Too many things. Pens, markers, paints, tins of office supplies. Ink. Papers. Notebooks. More paper. Tape. Leftover soy sauce from SOY SAUCE!

Flat File- filled with tiny books! Mini book dummies, which I love. Specialty hanji papers. A drawer of my kids’ best art. Color prints from the publisher.