Kelsey King Illustration
@kkingillustration.bsky.social
Freelance illustrator and educator located in Saint Paul, MN.
-Kidslit artist and author repped by Chelsea Hensley at MWLA
-Minnesota Master Naturalist
-Tree enthusiast
www.kelseykingillustration.com
-Kidslit artist and author repped by Chelsea Hensley at MWLA
-Minnesota Master Naturalist
-Tree enthusiast
www.kelseykingillustration.com
Pinned
Hello #portfolioday! I’m a #kidlit #illustrator looking for work in book covers, picture books, and b&w interiors. My work focuses adventure in the natural world.
🌱www.kelseykingillustration.com
✨Rep’d by @chelseabigbang.bsky.social at @madwomanliterary.bsky.social for all publishing work.
🌱www.kelseykingillustration.com
✨Rep’d by @chelseabigbang.bsky.social at @madwomanliterary.bsky.social for all publishing work.
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
FYI, I have updated the section of my site where I give basic information about #kidlit agents--what they do, how to find one, how to assess their website, resources to use.
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
November 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
FYI, I have updated the section of my site where I give basic information about #kidlit agents--what they do, how to find one, how to assess their website, resources to use.
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
After 6 months of waiting and watching on ebay I have finally found and purchased a stack paper cutter. I used it for almost 2 hours straight tonight cutting down 8 months of risograph prints. Beautiful.
November 12, 2025 at 3:16 AM
After 6 months of waiting and watching on ebay I have finally found and purchased a stack paper cutter. I used it for almost 2 hours straight tonight cutting down 8 months of risograph prints. Beautiful.
Artists! Quote with your night art!
November 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Artists! Quote with your night art!
"The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times, for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald"
Thinking about this piece I made for the Light Grey Art Lab show "The End is Nigh" a few years ago as we mark the 50 year anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Thinking about this piece I made for the Light Grey Art Lab show "The End is Nigh" a few years ago as we mark the 50 year anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
November 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
"The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times, for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald"
Thinking about this piece I made for the Light Grey Art Lab show "The End is Nigh" a few years ago as we mark the 50 year anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Thinking about this piece I made for the Light Grey Art Lab show "The End is Nigh" a few years ago as we mark the 50 year anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
Seriously! If there's a piece of mine you like and want to use commercially licencing is an option. There are some images I can't resell but many I can! And it's far cheaper than custom work.
I can't speak for other artists but I'm sure many feel the same!
I can't speak for other artists but I'm sure many feel the same!
solution: ask artist to license existing artwork (that looks very similar in theme but WAY better) for one-time extremely limited use. Artist agrees. Artist gets paid, author gets non-AI, everybody is happy.
YES you can do this!!! See something you really like from an artist? Ask to license it!
YES you can do this!!! See something you really like from an artist? Ask to license it!
November 8, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Seriously! If there's a piece of mine you like and want to use commercially licencing is an option. There are some images I can't resell but many I can! And it's far cheaper than custom work.
I can't speak for other artists but I'm sure many feel the same!
I can't speak for other artists but I'm sure many feel the same!
Hello #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm Kelsey King, an illustrator and
storyteller who loves mysteries, adventures in the outdoors, and animals of all kinds!
www.kelseykingillustration.com
Rep'd by @chelseabigbang.bsky.social at @madwomanliterary.bsky.social
storyteller who loves mysteries, adventures in the outdoors, and animals of all kinds!
www.kelseykingillustration.com
Rep'd by @chelseabigbang.bsky.social at @madwomanliterary.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Hello #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm Kelsey King, an illustrator and
storyteller who loves mysteries, adventures in the outdoors, and animals of all kinds!
www.kelseykingillustration.com
Rep'd by @chelseabigbang.bsky.social at @madwomanliterary.bsky.social
storyteller who loves mysteries, adventures in the outdoors, and animals of all kinds!
www.kelseykingillustration.com
Rep'd by @chelseabigbang.bsky.social at @madwomanliterary.bsky.social
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
Hey illustrators/agents!
I’m a #kidlit art director starting work on a new picture book—we’re looking for: expressive, commercial, human characters; texture (printmakingish); AND BATS! Lively, active, swarming BATS!
Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.
💙❤️ #artcommissions
I’m a #kidlit art director starting work on a new picture book—we’re looking for: expressive, commercial, human characters; texture (printmakingish); AND BATS! Lively, active, swarming BATS!
Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.
💙❤️ #artcommissions
November 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Hey illustrators/agents!
I’m a #kidlit art director starting work on a new picture book—we’re looking for: expressive, commercial, human characters; texture (printmakingish); AND BATS! Lively, active, swarming BATS!
Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.
💙❤️ #artcommissions
I’m a #kidlit art director starting work on a new picture book—we’re looking for: expressive, commercial, human characters; texture (printmakingish); AND BATS! Lively, active, swarming BATS!
Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.
💙❤️ #artcommissions
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
(Paid Work)
I'm looking for artists that:
1) Are open for a commission this month
2) Work traditionally
3) Specialize in portraits and likeness
Drop me your portfolio here if that's you! 🩷
I'm looking for artists that:
1) Are open for a commission this month
2) Work traditionally
3) Specialize in portraits and likeness
Drop me your portfolio here if that's you! 🩷
November 5, 2025 at 7:34 PM
(Paid Work)
I'm looking for artists that:
1) Are open for a commission this month
2) Work traditionally
3) Specialize in portraits and likeness
Drop me your portfolio here if that's you! 🩷
I'm looking for artists that:
1) Are open for a commission this month
2) Work traditionally
3) Specialize in portraits and likeness
Drop me your portfolio here if that's you! 🩷
A new self portrait for 2025 (featuring the largest can of beans I've ever found in a grocery store)
November 1, 2025 at 6:56 PM
A new self portrait for 2025 (featuring the largest can of beans I've ever found in a grocery store)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Enjoying Halloween-week with some spooky drawing time!
October 31, 2025 at 2:04 PM
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
The key to realistically paint materials is to understand the "Specularity Spectrum" (term made up by me).
Once you understand how reflective or not something is, you can roughly deduce how much you need to emphasize form shadows vs reflections (highlights), or whether to combine both.
Once you understand how reflective or not something is, you can roughly deduce how much you need to emphasize form shadows vs reflections (highlights), or whether to combine both.
October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The key to realistically paint materials is to understand the "Specularity Spectrum" (term made up by me).
Once you understand how reflective or not something is, you can roughly deduce how much you need to emphasize form shadows vs reflections (highlights), or whether to combine both.
Once you understand how reflective or not something is, you can roughly deduce how much you need to emphasize form shadows vs reflections (highlights), or whether to combine both.
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
Print edition @theonion.com ads don’t miss
October 30, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Print edition @theonion.com ads don’t miss
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
The first book-length history of Halloween, from Celtic druids through to the customs and rituals of the British Isles which underpin the celebrations in early 20th-century United States: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-book-of-halloween/
October 30, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The first book-length history of Halloween, from Celtic druids through to the customs and rituals of the British Isles which underpin the celebrations in early 20th-century United States: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-book-of-halloween/
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
Book from 1911 showing that taking photos of cats and furnishing them with an amusing caption is far from being a phenomenon born with the internet. More here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/kittens-and-cats-a-first-reader-1911-cats-and-captions-before-the-internet-age #NationalCatDay
October 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Book from 1911 showing that taking photos of cats and furnishing them with an amusing caption is far from being a phenomenon born with the internet. More here: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/kittens-and-cats-a-first-reader-1911-cats-and-captions-before-the-internet-age #NationalCatDay
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
Guess what's happening next Thursday, November 6th? #KidLitArtPostcard day! www.ginaperry.com/postcard Don't say I never warned you! #kidlit
All about KidLitArtPostcard — Gina Perry Illustrations
www.ginaperry.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Guess what's happening next Thursday, November 6th? #KidLitArtPostcard day! www.ginaperry.com/postcard Don't say I never warned you! #kidlit
Enjoying Halloween-week with some spooky drawing time!
October 28, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Enjoying Halloween-week with some spooky drawing time!
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
If you're an artist wanting to break through in TTRPG illustrations and feel like you need an Art Directors feedback on your current portfolio. Feel free to reach out, comment or DM me here.
I feel like the industry is hard enough as is. I will reply slow but I'll do my best to support! 💜
I feel like the industry is hard enough as is. I will reply slow but I'll do my best to support! 💜
October 28, 2025 at 12:07 PM
If you're an artist wanting to break through in TTRPG illustrations and feel like you need an Art Directors feedback on your current portfolio. Feel free to reach out, comment or DM me here.
I feel like the industry is hard enough as is. I will reply slow but I'll do my best to support! 💜
I feel like the industry is hard enough as is. I will reply slow but I'll do my best to support! 💜
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
Hey #kidlit illustrators, if you’re not already following @dbuu.bsky.social I recommend that you do! He’s a fellow picture book art director. We’re on the same team at Scholastic, sitting nearly side by side.
💙❤️
💙❤️
October 21, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Hey #kidlit illustrators, if you’re not already following @dbuu.bsky.social I recommend that you do! He’s a fellow picture book art director. We’re on the same team at Scholastic, sitting nearly side by side.
💙❤️
💙❤️
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
October 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
October 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
Going to make a thread of free software that's useful for making zines (writing, illustrating, image processing, laying out, publishing...)
Different operating systems. Let's go...
Different operating systems. Let's go...
October 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Going to make a thread of free software that's useful for making zines (writing, illustrating, image processing, laying out, publishing...)
Different operating systems. Let's go...
Different operating systems. Let's go...
Reposted by Kelsey King Illustration
Philipp Otto Runge’s Farbenkugel (1810). The top two images show the surface of the sphere, while the bottom two show horizontal and vertical cross sections.
From our selection of colour charts, wheels and tables through the centuries: publicdomainreview.org/collection/c...
From our selection of colour charts, wheels and tables through the centuries: publicdomainreview.org/collection/c...
October 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Philipp Otto Runge’s Farbenkugel (1810). The top two images show the surface of the sphere, while the bottom two show horizontal and vertical cross sections.
From our selection of colour charts, wheels and tables through the centuries: publicdomainreview.org/collection/c...
From our selection of colour charts, wheels and tables through the centuries: publicdomainreview.org/collection/c...
Hello #portfolioday! I'm an illustrator and storyteller who loves all things nature. Please enjoy this fall/Halloween themed portfolio. Please consider me for your book covers or children's books that call for dramatic lighting, quirky animals, and outdoor scenes!
www.KelseyKingIllustration.com
www.KelseyKingIllustration.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Hello #portfolioday! I'm an illustrator and storyteller who loves all things nature. Please enjoy this fall/Halloween themed portfolio. Please consider me for your book covers or children's books that call for dramatic lighting, quirky animals, and outdoor scenes!
www.KelseyKingIllustration.com
www.KelseyKingIllustration.com