Hillary Roedell

I'm Hillary, a self-taught artist and designer living near Orlando, FL. Born and raised in Florida, I spent much of my childhood playing outside, falling in love with the incredible biodiversity of Florida. Now my son and I spend our days exploring the microbiome of life that is our own backyard and the many preserves and State Parks of Florida. We're often on the hunt for green anoles, wildflowers, and caterpillars (always!)

Art is in my blood. Growing up, I watched my grandmother while she painted in her South Florida she shed, and I loved flipping through my father’s old sketchbooks filled with terrible monsters and comic book heroes. I knew I would be an artist too and would spend hours in my room, drawing and writing. As an adult, I didn’t pursue a degree in the arts, opting instead for a career in healthcare, but I thought about creating art every day for many years. It wasn’t until much later that I started working as a graphic designer and marketing coordinator for a landscape architecture firm. I learned a lot while designing environmental graphics for parks, submitting proposals, and working on building the company’s brand and culture through engaging design and photography. In 2022, I left the workforce to stay at home full time with my son and now I am working as a freelance designer.

I joined Domestika to help me discover what my style is and improve my skills in procreate. I'd love to start pursuing my dream career as a children’s book illustrator. I am really inspired by vintage children’s books featuring animals and nature (especially obsessed with Richard Scarry), old Florida ephemera like post cards and maps, and small treasures found while exploring the outdoors. I love wildlife watching and have always had an affinity for insects, especially giant silk moths in the family Saturniidae (like the well-known luna moth). I’m fascinated by stories that feature insect-sized people like Thumbelina or Arrietty from Miyazaki’s film the Secret Life of Arrietty. I’d love to use my knowledge of Florida’s native flora and fauna to write and illustrate books that are educational, beautiful and inspiring.

Check out my Instagram @royal_walnut to learn more about my passion for wild Florida.