Laura
LightNews LightNews
banner
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Laura
@lauramakesthings.bsky.social
49 followers 87 following 22 posts
Freelance artist
Based in Upstate NY
https://linktr.ee/Lauramakesthings
Posts Replies Media Videos
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Some sketchbook pages from the year💭

#kidlitart #kidlitillustrator #picturebookartist
A picture carousel of Laura’s sketchbook on a yellow background with a pencil next to it. This page is full of sketches- one of a boy in a sailboat flying through the night sky pouring stars over a village below. Another sketch is a boy sitting in a spoonful of stars. The last sketch is a little girl with pigtails and an apron scooping stars out of a jar Small sketch portraits of children made in multi color magic pencil. Between each kid there are florals sketches filling in the gaps of blank space. A bunch of small sketches in multi colored magic pencil of a tiny boy swinging from the leaf of a plant, popping up from the inside of a flower, peering around a tall mushroom, snoozing under a large flower. “Flower + robot” another multi color sketch of a rectangular robot smiling as it picks a small flower and places it in an incubator in their chest. Another sketch is of a robot with a flower for a head standing alert and also laying in the grass
December 15, 2025 at 11:38 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Peachtober day 20.) TRUCK
A Japanese utility truck to carry some of my favorite things✨
Annual birthday portrait for peachtober🙂‍↕️

#peachtober25 #peachtober25truck #peachtober #illustration #kidlitillustration #kidlitartist #childrensillustration #freelanceillustrator
An illustration of a yellow Japanese utility truck carrying shelves full of Laura’s favorite things- coffee, records and a record player, plants, paints and brushes, a slice of birthday cake, books and trinkets- all covered in a striped awning with scalloped edges. Laura sits in the driver’s seat leaning out the window with her head resting on her arms. She smiles holding a paint brush. The illustration is inspired yellow paint and black ink on white paper. The piece lays on a yellow background surrounded by ink, paint and pencils. A closer look at Laura showing the texture of the paint and paper A closer look at the details on the shelving. Texture and different values of black ink are visible Rough concept drawings from Laura’s sketchbook laying on a yellow background
November 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Peachtober Days 7.) STRAWBERRY, 8.) LEAF, and 9.) ROPE

if your strawberries go missing in the garden, they were probably stolen by imps..🍓

#peachtober25 #peachtober25strawberry #peachtober25leaf #peachtober25rope #peachtober #illustration #kidlit #kidlitartist #freelanceillustrator
An illustration in black and red ink on white paper of impish creatures climbing up a rope clipped to a strawberry plant using a paper clip, to steal the berries. A second imp carries a strawberry on its back sneaking away from the plant. The illustration lays on a yellow background next to a bottle of paint and a couple of pencils A closer look at the illustration showing the texture and different values of the ink A page from Laura’s sketchbook showing messy notes and sketches of ideas for this piece
November 5, 2025 at 9:41 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Peachtober Day 6.) RING
Ringing a friend to say hi☎️

#peachtober25 #peachtober25ring #peachtober #illustration #kidlit #kidlitartist #childrensillustration #freelanceillustrator #picturebookartist
An illustration made with black ink on white paper of a little girl talking to a little boy on tin can phone. The little girl is black and wears her hair in a protective style. She wears a white flowing tshirt, smiling as she speaks into the tin can. The little boy is white with dark hair, wearing a white shirt with black stripes. He smiles as he listens to the message from his friend in the tin can he holds. The twine from one can to the other loops around the kids framing their portraits. The illustration lays on a yellow background next to a bottle of ink and pencils A closer look at the illustration showing the texture of the paper A picture of Laura’s sketchbook showing a rough sketch of the concept for this piece
November 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Peachtober Day 5.) POPPY ⚘
An alternate timeline where innocence is preserved and Frankenstein’s monster is living a peaceful life amongst the flowers..

#peachtober25 #peachtober25poppy #illustration #kidlit #kidlitartist #childrensillustration #freelanceillustrator #picturebookart
A cute picture book style illustration on white paper in greenish brown shimmering ink of Frankenstein’s monster crouching down to look at a red poppy flower in bloom. The illustration lays on a yellow background next to a bottle of ink and pencils A closer look showing the paper texture and sparkle of the ink A page from Laura’s sketchbook showing early concept sketches for the piece next to pencils
November 5, 2025 at 9:36 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Peachtober Day 3.) SLUG + Day 4.) GINGHAM🐌🧺
A cemetery picnic for those that believe in friendship even beyond the grave..

#Peachtober25 #Peachtober25slug #Peachtober25gingham #illustration #kidlitillustration #kidlitartist #childrensillustration #freelanceillustrator
An illustration on white paper in black and red ink of a skeleton and zombie having a picnic in a cemetery. The zombie is popping up from a tombstone and the skeleton sits on a gingham picnic blanket pouring them tea. Tombstones, slugs, flowers and a picnic basket frame the scene. The illustration lays on a yellow background next to pencils and bottles of ink A closer look at the illustration showing the texture of the paper and details of the image. Laura’s sketchbook lays on a yellow background next to pencils showing a rough sketch of the concept for the piece
November 5, 2025 at 9:33 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Peachtober Day 2.) KITE🪁
A baby vampire that only plays outside at night🦇

#peachtober25 #peachtober25kite #kidlitart #picturebookillustration #kidlit #kidlitartist
An illustration in black ink with a pop of yellow depicting the silhouette of a vampire kid flying a bat kite under the moonlight. The illustration lays on a yellow background next to a bottle of ink and pencils A closer look at the illustration- this shows the texture of pencil on watercolor paper A picture of Laura’s sketchbook showing rough concepts of the vampire kid. Her sketchbook lays on a yellow background with pencils laying next to it
November 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Peachtober 2025 Day
1.) ACORN🐿️ A cozy lunch of acorn stew for two!

Not sure how much I'll be able to participate in peachtober this year, but I’m happy to make even a couple pieces:•)
#Peachtober25 #Peachtober25Acorn
An illustration in black ink on white paper of a squirrel and a chipmunk drinking soup out of acorn tops at a tree stump table. The paper is set on a yellow background next to ink, a paint tube, and pencils. Rough sketches from Laura’s sketchbook of the concept for this illustration. A progress picture of Laura’s desk with her art supplies laying next to the painting as the first layer dries.
October 2, 2025 at 4:36 AM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
Been in a serious creative burnout this year so I haven’t made a lot outside of a handful of paintings, but it’s nice to share some of those pieces here and connect with others over art and stuff:)

#peachtober #kidlitart #picturebooks #illustration #freelanceartist #painting
a painted illustration of Laura sleeping curled up in a jack-o'-lantern surrounded by unfinished sketches, a birthday cake, a backpack, a pencil, party garland, And winding yellow flowers on a grassy hill. The painting sits on a yellow background surrounded by tubes of paint and pencils. a painted illustration of a little boy hugging a flower pot with a blooming smiling flower bud that is pink. The little boy is white with light brown hair wearing a yellow shirt and pants closeting his eyes as he smiles. They stand on a grassy hill with a yellow starry backdrop with the quote "love helps us grow!" Lettered in deep yellow brown. The painting lays on a yellow background next to pencils and tubes of paint. a painted illustration of two fawns on a grassy hill with a forest of trees on more sloping hills next to mountains in the background. The illustration sits on a yellow background next to tubes of paint, pencils, and paint brushes. a painting of a red sleeping dragon curled around shiny gold treasures in a cave. The painting is surrounded by a border of a painted gold chain.
November 13, 2024 at 7:50 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
#peachtober prompt for “sketch”
Just a cute little piece with picture book vibes and happy reminders🫶🏻

#illustration #painting #kidslitart #picturebooks #freelanceartist
a painted illustration of a little girl sketching with a giant pencil on pieces of paper with the quote "share your ideas with the world" written in pencil in the left hand corner. The little girl is Black with her hair styled in an Afro with hair clips, she wears a yellow plaid dress with Apples as pockets. She smiles looking at her sketches of sparkles and plants and apples more. The illustration lays on a yellow background surrounded by pencils and tubes of paint. The next images show a closer look at the pencil texture and colors of the painting. The last image shows rough ideas from Laura's sketchbook next to an eraser and pencil The next images show a closer look at the pencil texture and colors of the painting. The last image shows rough ideas from Laura's sketchbook next to an eraser and pencil The next images show a closer look at the pencil texture and colors of the painting. The last image shows rough ideas from Laura's sketchbook next to an eraser and pencil The last image shows rough ideas from Laura's sketchbook next to an eraser and pencil
November 13, 2024 at 7:29 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
#peachtober prompt for “apricot” loved playing around with simple under painting on these pieces.

#illustration #painting #kidslitart #gouachepainting #freelanceartist
a painted illustration of a green produce basket of apricots with expressive and cute faces. One of them is grumpy and has a produce sticker stuck to them with the apricot hex code on it. The painting is on a yellow background next to pencils and tubes of paint. The next two images show a closer look at the texture and color and under painting of the piece. The last two images are WIP progression shots from sketch to underpainting The next two images show a closer look at the texture and color and under painting of the piece. The last image is WIP progression shot from sketch to underpainting The next two images show a closer look at the texture and color and under painting of the piece. The last image is WIP progression shot from sketch to underpainting
November 13, 2024 at 7:23 PM
lauramakesthings.bsky.social
A piece I made during #peachtober for the prompt “River”. Happy with how this little scene came out:)

#illustration #kidslitart #painting #freelanceartist
a painted illustration of tall grassy hills surrounded by a river with an origami boat floating in the water. The hills have peaceful smiling faces, and atop is a small house and a little girl with deep brown skin and black hair in pigtails sitting and fishing into the river from the hilltop. There is a pink, yellow and blue rainbow in the sky with fluffy clouds floating by. The painting lays on a yellow background next to pencils and tubes of paint. The next two images show a closer look at the painting and its texture and layered colors. The last image shows thumbnail sketches of ideas from Laura's iPad and sketchbook a painted illustration of tall grassy hills surrounded by a river with an origami boat floating in the water. The hills have peaceful smiling faces, and atop is a small house and a little girl with deep brown skin and black hair in pigtails sitting and fishing into the river from the hilltop. There is a pink, yellow and blue rainbow in the sky with fluffy clouds floating by. The painting lays on a yellow background next to pencils and tubes of paint. The next two images show a closer look at the painting and its texture and layered colors. The last image shows thumbnail sketches of ideas from Laura's iPad and sketchbook a painted illustration of tall grassy hills surrounded by a river with an origami boat floating in the water. The hills have peaceful smiling faces, and atop is a small house and a little girl with deep brown skin and black hair in pigtails sitting and fishing into the river from the hilltop. There is a pink, yellow and blue rainbow in the sky with fluffy clouds floating by. The painting lays on a yellow background next to pencils and tubes of paint. The next two images show a closer look at the painting and its texture and layered colors. The last image shows thumbnail sketches of ideas from Laura's iPad and sketchbook a painted illustration of tall grassy hills surrounded by a river with an origami boat floating in the water. The hills have peaceful smiling faces, and atop is a small house and a little girl with deep brown skin and black hair in pigtails sitting and fishing into the river from the hilltop. There is a pink, yellow and blue rainbow in the sky with fluffy clouds floating by. The painting lays on a yellow background next to pencils and tubes of paint. The next two images show a closer look at the painting and its texture and layered colors. The last image shows thumbnail sketches of ideas from Laura's iPad and sketchbook
November 13, 2024 at 6:34 PM