Angela Matteson
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angelamatteson.bsky.social
Angela Matteson
@angelamatteson.bsky.social
1.5K followers 800 following 500 posts
#KidLit Illustrator / Surface Designer
Obsessed with color & inspired by nature
Represented by James McGowan at BookEnds Literary Agency
bio.site/angelamatteson
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angelamatteson.bsky.social
Last week some classmates were cruel to her and called her Smelly Nelly. Now she’s worried about what they may say about her Bubble Magic costume.

The 8th in my costumed character cuties series.

#KidLitArt #KidLit #CharacterDesign #illustration
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a standing skunk character, looking worried, dressed as a Bubble Magic bottle with attached bubbles and bubble hat, and holding a bubble wand and pumpkin treat bucket.
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Little mouse may need some assistance extracting himself from his gumball machine costume after the party. Yes, there are ventilation holes!

The 7th in my costumed character cuties series.

Happy Thanksgiving week! I’m grateful to know you all and for the support!

#KidLitArt #kidlit #illustration
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a standing mouse character wearing a gumball machine costume holding a black cat treat bucket.
November 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Happy #Caturday from Colby, Lucy, and Penny!
3 cats sitting on swivel chairs looking up at viewer.
November 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
It’s not a party until a raccoon dressed as a bunch of grapes shows up, right?

The 6th in my costumed character cuties series.

#KidLitArt #kidlit #HalloweenCostume #characterdesign #HalloweenIllustration #illustration
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a smiling standing raccoon character dressed as a bunch of grapes holding a raccoon ghost halloween treat bag.
November 20, 2025 at 6:34 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
While everyone was scrambling for candy, this halloween party-goer was already thinking about her grandma’s homemade pumpkin pie that would be at her family’s Thanksgiving feast!

The 5th in my costumed character cuties series.

#KidLitArt #HalloweenCostume #characterdesign #HalloweenIllustration
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a girl in a pumpkin costume walking with a Frankenstein's monster treat bag.
November 13, 2025 at 8:05 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Halloween has passed, but the party's not over! Avocado toast bear has just arrived fashionably late.
4th in my costumed character cuties series.

#KidLitArt #HalloweenCostume #HalloweenArt #characterdesign #HalloweenIllustration #Halloween
An illustration by Angela Matteson of an upright bear character wearing a giant avocado around it's head and a toast halloween costume carrying a purple glitter pumpkin.
November 8, 2025 at 8:33 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Hello! #KidLitArtPostcard! The magical autumn baking season is upon us with sweet treats and warm spices!
angelamatteson.com
I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social @bookendsliterary.bsky.social

#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #art #ChildrensBooks #picturebooks
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a young witch baking chocolate chip pumpkin cookies with the ingredients swirling overhead and an unplugged stand mixer blending the batter.
November 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Miss squirrel is excited for the Halloween party dressed in the lily of the valley costume she made herself.
3rd in my costumed character cuties series.
Yes, gardener me went with another flower theme.

#KidLitArt #HalloweenCostume #HalloweenArt #HalloweenIsComing #HalloweenIllustration #Halloween
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a squirrel character dressed as a lily of the valley holding a halloween pumpkin pail.
October 31, 2025 at 1:52 AM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Violet fox is ready for the Halloween party dressed as her favorite crayon.
The second in my costumed character cuties series.

#KidLitArt #HalloweenCostume #HalloweenArt #SpookySeason #HalloweenIsComing #HalloweenIllustration #Halloween
An illustration by Angela matteson of a standing fox character wearing a purple crayon halloween costume, and holding a treat bag with a black cat face on it.
October 29, 2025 at 11:02 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
This bunny is ready for the Halloween party dressed as an orange zinnia.
The first in my costumed character cuties series. 🎃

#KidLitArt #HalloweenCostume #HalloweenArt #SpookySeason #HalloweenIsComing #HalloweenIllustration #Halloween
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a standing bunny character with flower petals surrounding its face, holding a halloween treat bag with a pumpkin on it.
October 28, 2025 at 10:06 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Seriously, I don't know how I managed this whole project a few months ago. It did take several weeks. I expected this little 9 block extension to take 1 day, but it took a few days to also add the edging and cut some overgrown mazus, and use it to fill in the new area. 🌱
#landscapedesign
The completed paver project with the 9 extra charcoal grey pavers. The view looks out into the garden which is still filled flowers in October! The completed paver project looking towards the house. The mazus groundcover in the foreground has been trimmed off the pavers, and used to fill in the new area. A closer view showing how the new 9 pavers meet up with the large cement block path by the porch. Heidi, the garden cat, rolling around on the pavers as usual. View looking towards hose to garden hose. The pink begonias were a bit choked by the mazus groundcover, but still looked cute all summer into fall.
October 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
I thought I was done with this project, but through the summer it became obvious that we needed 9 more pavers to connect to the path going to the porch. Finally, in October the weather was cool enough to get back to work, but I was out of practice. 🌱
#landscapedesign #gardendesign
I dug out the weeds and grass, and estimated how much dirt to remove to accommodate the paver base and leveling sand. Then tamped the ground. This is my least favorite part of the process! (That excess mazus groundcover growing over the pavers in the background I'll later move to fill in by this new area.) Poured the paver base, and tamped it down. Laid in pvc pipes and square dowels to screed the sand. I probably should have only used 2 dowels and screeded the whole area together instead of row by row. On my first attempt I sloped down to meet the large cement paver, but it didn't walk well since it didn't meet up to the adjacent grey pavers and looked wrong. I added more sand, and now the walkability is smoother.
October 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Teen vampire serenading his beloved in the moonlight. Of course, I had Peter Gabriel’s ‘In Your Eyes’ on repeat in my head while working on this. Also, Teenage Wasteland.

#KidLitArt #vampire #HalloweenArt #SpookyArt #SpookySeason #HalloweenIllustration #Halloween
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a teen vampire holding a boombox over his head in a moonlit cemetery.
October 22, 2025 at 4:20 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
I overwintered the red majestic in the garage, and was about to throw it in the compost with the rest of the non-survivors when I saw a bit of green sprouting. 🌱
A mostly brown year old red majestic bell pepper with 2 sprouts of green showing it’s still alive!
October 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Thanks! It’s our first year growing the yellow trailblazer variety. The walls of the peppers are so nice and thick, and the plant is 5 feet tall!
Ripening trailblazer bell peppers growing out of the tomato cage
October 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
#SixOnSaturday October blooms, bees, butterflies 🌱
It's odd but lovely to see active pollinators and so many blooms in mid October here in the northern midwest zone 6.
#BloomScrolling #gardening #gardensky
Photos of bumblebee on red nasturtium, monarch butterfly, salmon pink zinnia, yellow zinnia with red specks and stripes, pink anemone, bee on yellow nasturtium. Photos by Angela Matteson
October 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
#SixOnSaturday vegetable edition 🌱
I'm grateful for the extended growing season since the peppers didn't start producing until September due to an overly hot summer here in the northern midwest zone 6.
#gardening #gardensky #vegetables
Photos of green Red Majestic Bell Pepper, delicata squash, Fordhook zucchini, Big Bertha Bell Peppers growing skinnier than usual, 1 Fordhook Zucchini plant growing vertically with 3 side vines growing horizontally, Yellow Trailblazer Bell Pepper. Photos by Angela Matteson
October 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Hello! I’m Angela, a nature loving midwest illustrator, creating for #PictureBooks, #BoardBooks, #magazines, #puzzles, and #SurfaceDesign.
Open for inspiring projects! 💌 angelamatteson.com
Rep'd by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social

#PortfolioDay #KidLitArt #kidlit #illustration #ChildrensBooks
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a firefly character holding a lantern while a smaller firefly looks on in amazement. A kid with wings and a fire-inspired paper crown flies overhead with a moth in a night scene. An illustration by Angela Matteson of a young witch baking chocolate chip pumpkin cookies with the ingredients swirling overhead and an unplugged stand mixer blending the batter. An illustration by Angela Matteson of 4 kids in a staghorn sumac forest looking worried about 3 ghost puppies approaching them. An illustration by Angela Matteson of a mother and daughter lighting New Year's sparklers under a decorated tree under the night sky.
October 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Inspired by Mike Lowery’s Big List of Sketchbook Stuff (1 A Witch Cooking) + #Peachtober (4 Gingham).
She's making chocolate chip pumpkin cookies!

#SpookySketchbook #SpookySketchbookStuff #peachtober25gingham #peachtober25 #kidlitart
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a young witch baking chocolate chip pumpkin cookies with the ingredients swirling overhead and an unplugged stand mixer blending the batter.
October 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
A warm hello with a sprinkle of cinnamon! Gather your pumpkins, it’s time to decorate for #KidLitArtPostcard!

I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social
@bookendsliterary.bsky.social

#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #ChildrensBooks
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a front porch being decorated by Dad who is hanging a pumpkin and leaves wreath on the door, a younger sister placing a pumpkin atop another pumpkin in a pot, and a boy carrying a pumpkin and gourd who has just been surprised by an alarmed moth sprite.
October 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Hello Brian!
Thanks for the open call for one of my favorite themes!

Portfolio:
angelamatteson.com/
September 16, 2025 at 7:14 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Hello! #KidLitArtPostcard! A snippet from my archives to welcome the autumnal vibes, although I'm still enjoying late summer blooms and garden tomatoes!
angelamatteson.com
I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social
@bookendsliterary.bsky.social

#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #ChildrensBooks
An illustration by Angela Matteson of a chipmunk setting a fresh baked pie on a shelf from inside her pumpkin house.
September 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
How wonderful they grew from old seeds! These are African marigolds, and I love the giant puffball blooms which usually grow 2 feet tall. Here’s some I bought in case my seedlings didn’t come to anything. I like the small french marigolds in the vegetable garden for pest control. 🌱
Photo of Bali Gold African marigolds. Photo of Bali Gold African marigolds with Watermelon Double Scoop coneflower between them.
August 30, 2025 at 6:45 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
I never expected the Bali Gold marigolds I started indoors from collected seeds to grow taller than the zinnias snd tomatoes! A couple of them have grown over twice as tall as the 24” originals. 🌱

#gardensky #gardening
Photo of Bali Gold marigold towering over Autumn Joy sedum and zinnias. Instead of round puffballs the blossoms are more like singles with less petals. Photo of Bali Gold marigold growing taller than the Amish Paste tomatoes and squash. Photo of Bali Gold marigold towering being support by a shepherd’s hook. Photo of Bali Gold marigold in 1 foot tall raised bed with half of it collapsing before I propped it back up.
August 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
angelamatteson.bsky.social
Blooms have been abundant in the garden this year! 🌱

#GardenSky #gardening #bloomscrolling #flowers #SundayYellow
Garden photo of nodding onions in front, peach daylilies with pink centers, white lilies and some kind of pink lilies that were supposed to be double roselilies. Photo of giant white lilies - maybe 'Pretty Woman' variety? I ordered pink 24" tall lilies on clearance. These giant 5.5 feet tall white lilies bloomed instead. Photo of pink daylilies Photo of Yelloween lilies
August 10, 2025 at 6:30 PM