Meet the Illustrator - Amara Gardner
Hi! I’m Amara (pronounced like “camera”).
I am a freelance illustrator focusing on artwork inspired by the outdoors. Through sharing traditional illustrations, paintings, sketches, and figure drawings, I aim to educate people on the importance of connecting with
nature/wonder/adventure.
I’m always exploring new approaches within my art practice, including
multimedia approaches and large-scale painting. I have a BFA in Illustration Children’s Books from Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design.
My methodology has involved creating different textured collages
combining tactile, traditional media and digital tools, regaling the nostalgia of outdoor experiences as a child.
I thru-hiked the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail in 2021 (it took 6 months!), so inspiration for this book came from that experience directly.
The Wild Stork Publishing - Can You Read Nature series resonates with me because I enjoy being outside, spotting wildlife, creating, hanging out with my friends and partner, swinging in a hammock by the lake, and using my sketchbook focusing on nature journaling.
Their mission of getting families outside and stewarding our natural
resources is important to me, so I loved the opportunity to share Can You Read in my own illustrative style.
Find my website at AmaraGardnerArt.com!