Shawna Galey Avanessian
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shawnazilla.bsky.social
Shawna Galey Avanessian
@shawnazilla.bsky.social
60 followers 41 following 44 posts
Children’s book writer and illustrator
Magic maker 🪄
Seeking representation
www.shawnazilla.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Happy Halloween 💀🎃🐈‍⬛

#illustration #kidlitart #halloween #cat
#gif
October 31, 2025 at 6:18 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
It’s Halloween week! Do you have your costume yet? This year I’m a grey Victorian ghost 👻

#kidlit #kidlitart #illustration #watercolor #halloween #graveyard
A illustration of a Halloween costume party, for bugs! They are all gathered in an old New England cemetery. There are lights streamed across the old gravestones, with all different sorts of bugs in costumes. There is a ladybug holding up its vampire cape, two earthworms, one dressed as Frankenstein’s monster, the other his bride. There is a queen spider, a rhino beetle with a unicorn horn, ants with witch hats, mosquitos with wizard hats, a praying mantis dressed as an angel. Above are ghost flies.
October 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m looking for rep as an author/illustrator and have a stack of projects to share!
Www.shawnazilla.com
A watercolor illustration of a little witch reading a book while leaning against a giant toad in the forest
October 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
I heard today was #grandparentsday! I lost all my grandparents when I was younger, but still remember the impact they had on me ❤️
#kidlit #kidlitart #illustration
A watercolor illustration of a grandmother and grandson as they sit in a garden of flowers, looking at each other knowingly. The grandmother has a hand on the grandson’s shoulder. It looks as if they planted a new seed.
September 7, 2025 at 3:58 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Unrequited love ❤️
I’m seeking rep and love to draw kids, interiors, and silly lookin’ anthropomorphic animals, but up to drawing most things. Did I mention I’m a writer too? I’ve got a handful of dummies, and if you love hijinks and magic, you might wanna take a look.
#KidLitArtPostcard #kidlitart
A girl with a brown hair, pink shirt, and green pants, with eyes closed and puckered lips, holds up her cat who is frowning and has wide eyes. The cat is tan/brown with a white belly, and has a green collar. To the side there is text information: Shawna Galey Avanessian. Author/illustrator. Seeking representation. Www.shawnazilla.com
September 4, 2025 at 4:49 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
The greatest witch that ever lived
August 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
I’ve been hunkering down and quietly working on dummies. Now I quietly wait months and months to see how this round of queries goes. And in the meantime I have more story ideas and hope to post more one-off illustrations 🤞🏻

#kidlit #kidlitart #picturebooks #illustration
Watercolor illustration of a smiling tiger wearing a crown and holding up a tea cup.
August 26, 2025 at 10:56 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
A character sheet for a new #picturebook idea I’ve just started working on. I’m very excited about this new project. And yes, I know about cotton and tail being separate words, heh heh 😅
#kidlit #kidlitart #illustration #characterdesign
Digital cartoon sketches of a toad, frog, snake, turtle, owl, salamander, cottontail rabbit, and bat
May 29, 2025 at 4:45 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
A chunky hummingbird and their friend, a happy bee. The plant is native SoCal yarrow. A few years ago I got into native plants and how important they are to help support the biodiversity of our planet. So if you want to keep critters happy, plant native plants!

#kidlitart #nativeplants
A watercolor illustration depicting a happy hummingbird with a happy bee perched on its beak. In the background there are white yarrow flowers.
May 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Oh wow- it’s #kidlitartpostcard Day! I’m a traditional illustrator who also writes #picturebooks and seeking representation.
Website: www.shawnazilla.com
Insta: @shawnazilla

I’m currently working on color selection for some final spreads of a new dummy.
Feel free to stop by and say hello 😎
Watercolor illustration of a dad, daughter, and son enjoying a book under the light of a lamp, while their dog and cat listen in. Details of artist listed to the side of image: Shawna Galey Avanessian- illustrator and writer. Www.shawnazilla.com @shawnazilla
May 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Hello hello!
I’m Shawna a #kidlit #writer and #illustrator seeking rep. I love drawing nature, kids, and silly animals. I’m a traditional artist who loves watercolor, texture, and emotion. I hope to catch the eye of editors, art directors, and/or agents.
Stop by and say hello!
#kidlitartpostcard
Art postcard of a watercolor illustration where three kids are helping a red headed girl climb a tree.
April 3, 2025 at 6:27 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
What it takes to get through the day sometimes.
☕️🫖🧋
#processillustration #photoshop #kidlitart #sketch
A digital illustration of a princess on the ground crazily pouring tea from a tea pot into her mouth. Beside her is a spilled cup of tea and pieces of broken plates.
March 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
This is your sign to head to the desert before it gets too hot
March 28, 2025 at 2:58 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Every day I work like I already have a career as a picture book author/illustrator 😂 That’s the creative life for you!
#querytrenches #kidlitart #illustration #picturebooks #process
Photograph of a drawing being done in Photoshop.
March 25, 2025 at 9:50 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Tulips on this first day of Spring
Photograph of a tulip field
March 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
The Canadian geese are back in town and posing in trees which I have never personally seen. Silly goose!
@descansogardens.bsky.social
Photo of a Canadian goose in a California live oak tree
March 10, 2025 at 10:57 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Why do I want an agent? Well, you kinda need one these days. I love the idea of having someone cheering me on, and even helping to collaborate! I know it’s up to me to do the creative heavy lifting, but the idea of having a partner in an agent is very motivating!
#kidlitart #kidlit #manifesting
Watercolor illustration of two beavers in a row boat, on a lake with fish swimming underneath the water. The beaver in the front caught a fish as the beaver in the back of the boat is relaxing. In the background there are trees topped with snow.
March 7, 2025 at 6:09 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Tulip season has arrived! My favorite flower 🌷 This new illustration is inspired by all the fun that goes on at Descanso Gardens- where I volunteer actually! It’s a beautiful garden in the Los Angeles foothill area. Can’t wait to see these tulips in all their glory in a few weeks!
#kidlitart #kidlit
Up close watercolor illustration of two children running in a tulip field with bees buzzing around. Photograph of freshly blooming tulips.
March 4, 2025 at 6:42 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
“Signs of life” is what I’m calling this piece. Spring is still a few weeks away so hang in there!
I sketched this one up in procreate but I painted it by hand because I don’t really like the brushes all that much in procreate. Any recommendations on brushes to buy?

#kidlit #kidlitart #illustration
Muted watercolor illustration of a girl sitting with her scruffy cat and a book on a window bench seat, inside, looking outside at a gold finch sitting on a branch with two tiny leaves sprouting. Procreate sketch of previous watercolor illustration. A girl is sitting with her scruffy cat and a book, inside, on a window seat, looking outside to a finch on a branch with two leaves starting to sprout.
February 28, 2025 at 5:38 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Hehehe I crack myself up with my sketches sometimes.

#kidlit #kidlitart #process #sketch
Photograph of a screen with a digital sketch of a monster wearing a crown and a table with clouds around it.
February 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Hello! I’m Shawna Galey Avanessian. Once a preschool teacher, I spent the last 10 years studying and refining my voice as a #kidlit author/illustrator. My art is traditional and I love silly/sweet/weird stories. Follow along as I try to break the curse of not having an agent 😵‍💫!
#kidlitart
A watercolor illustration of three kids hanging out on the floor of a room. They are looking at a picture book and surrounded by building blocks, an iPad, dominos, a video game controller, and a cardboard pizza box with one slice left.
February 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Yes, this monster is about to eat a lit candle- maybe because it doesn’t know the difference between spicy and hot?
Anyway, I’m officially in the query trenches again. This is some character development for my next dummy book.
Also, if this is your vibe, let’s be friends.
#kidlitart #kidlit
Digital illustration of a monster swinging from an arm and a leg- about to eat a candle.
February 21, 2025 at 10:10 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
I’m Shawna Galey Avanessian, a writer and illustrator of picture books- currently seeking representation. I love to draw kids and funny animals. I hope to illustrate my stories, other writers’ stories, and all things #kidlit
www.shawnazilla.com
A watercolor illustration of three kids hanging out on the floor of a room. They are looking at a picture book and surrounded by building blocks, an iPad, dominos, a video game controller, and a cardboard pizza box with one slice left.
February 20, 2025 at 5:36 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Ok- totally get the procreate craze.
I’m committed to making my next dummy in procreate to see if it can speed up my process.
#kidlitart
Photo of an iPad surrounded by books. On the screen is a sketch of princesses and a prince
February 15, 2025 at 6:13 PM
shawnazilla.bsky.social
Happy Valentine’s Day!
In this big, bad, bizarre and beautiful world we live in, remember to love yourself 🌹
#kidlitart #illustration
Watercolor illustration of a boy in a thorny red rose bush, crying from a cut on his cheek.
February 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM