Carlson, Kirsten 1968- (Kirsten M. Carlson)

Personal

Born 1968; married. Education: University of Missouri, Columbia, B.S. (biology; with honors), 1990; graduate study at California State University (marine science); University of California, Santa Cruz, certificate in scientific illustration, 1995.

Addresses

Home and office—Stuttgart, Germany. E-mail—[email protected].

Career

Illustrator and graphic designer. Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA, Web and graphic designer. Exhibitions: Work included in exhibitions for Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (Lisbon, Portugal) and for art shows in Monterey, CA, and Gig Harbor, WA.

Member

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, National Marine Educators Association.

Awards, Honors

First Place Award for Realistic Portfolio, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, 2003, 2004.

Illustrator

David A. Ufer, The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights, Sylvan Dell Pub. (Mt. Pleasant, SC), 2006.

Ron Hirschi, Ocean Seasons, Sylvan Dell Pub. (Mt. Pleasant, SC), 2007.

Mary M. Cerullo and Beth E. Simmons, Sea Secrets: Tiny Clues to a Big Mystery, Moonlight Publishing (Lafayette, CO), 2008.

Contributor of artwork to periodicals, including National Geographic and Phycologia.

Sidelights

Kirsten Carlson is an illustrator who combines her love of animals and nature using science, art, and design. Her creativity arises from direct experiences in nature, often observing animals and sketching them in the field. Back in the studio, she researches her subject using a variety of resources, including numerous visits to the local library and museums and talking with experts. In her classroom visits Carlson shares more about the subjects of her children's books, divulging behind-the-scenes secrets and introducing students to activities that combine both science and art. Her illustration projects include Ocean Seasons by Ron Hirschi and The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights, a picture book with a text by David A. Ufer.

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Children's Bookwatch, September, 2006, review of The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights.

School Library Journal, August, 2006, Maryann H. Owen, review of The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights, p. 99.

ONLINE

Kirsten Carlson Home Page,http://www.kirstencarlson.net (August 4, 2008).

Sylvan Dell Publishing Web site,http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/ (August 4, 2008), "Kirsten Carlson."