Diana Magnuson

I'm a published illustrator of 100 books.

From an early age, I drew animals on recycled paper from my father's school. I checked out every animal story in our small Minnesota town library and practiced drawing each one until I felt I had it technically and had given it a personality. At first, I thought ceramics would be my future -briefly. Illustration was fit for me. I could tell stories. with the art -could augment the writer's story.

We moved five times. Drawing was my safe place -and, I got attention for how well I could render people and animals. 

After high school, I spent a year in Germany attending a Gymnasium (German school). A year off from college brought me to teaching in Tanzania. My dream: to see African animals not confined in a zoo. A catholic priest brought me over the hills and grasslands on his motorcycle. Giraffes flow in their moves, an elderly lion had only a hyena for a meal, wildebeest move as one waterhole to waterhole.

I graduated with a BA degree in Art, German, and education. Taught fifth grade for one year in Southside Chicago and a year with Headstart in Santa Barbara, CA. When we returned to Chicago, I began schlepping my art portfolio up Michigan Avenue to advertising agents and publishers. Got a wonderful children's publishing agent and quit schlepping. 

Lived in: Corvallis, OR for remote work with the NYC agent;  Seattle, WA freelancing with the Wright Group and still working with my agent.

We moved to Upper Peninsula, MI. My agent died suddenly. Somehow, I still did books, but the sadness of the move and her death brought me also to gallery work. I taught illustration at NMU and presented for ten years at schools. 

Now, I'm 100% studio time. Nature and all her creatures inspire me.