CRAWFORD, K(aren) Michael 1959-

Personal

Born August 23, 1959, in Lancaster, PA; daughter of Cal (a business owner) and Virginia L. (an executive assistant) Fry. Education: University of Maryland, B.S., 1984.

Addresses

office— K. Michael Crawford Studio, 7534 Cherry Tree Dr., Fulton, MD 20759. E-mail— happilyart@earthlink.net.

Career

Illustrator of books and educational products; freelance illustrator for Special Olympics, Disney, Scholastic, and Hanna Barbera. Exhibitions: Works have been exhibited throughout the United States.

Member

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Awards, Honors

Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles (SILA) West 40 award; SILA West 42 award; Parent's Choice award.

Writings

ILLUSTRATOR

Diane Ampeliotis, Sebastian the Star, University Editions (Huntington, WV), 1995.

Chicken Little, Ideal Children's Books, 1998.

Ambika Mathur-Kamat, Miss Panda in England, Windstorm Creative (Port Orchard, WA), 1999.

Ambika Mathur-Kamat, Miss Panda In China, Windstorm Creative (Port Orchard, WA), 1999.

Ambika Mathur-Kamat, Miss Panda In Egypt, Windstorm Creative (Port Orchard, WA), 1999.

Ambika Mathur-Kamat, Miss Panda in Russia, Windstorm Creative (Port Orchard, WA), 2001.

Ambika Mathur-Kamat, Miss Panda in India, Windstorm Creative (Port Orchard, WA), 2001.

Ambika Mathur-Kamat, Miss Panda in France, Windstorm Creative (Port Orchard, WA), 2001.

Ambika Mathur-Kamat, Miss Panda in Japan, Windstorm Creative (Port Orchard, WA), 2001.

Hillary Hayden Burri, Bedtime Safari, 2004.

Skunky's Skill, Perfection Learning, 2005.

Sneaky Jean, Perfection Learning, 2005.

Ike Takes a Hike, Perfection Learning, 2005.

Also illustrator of Timbo and the Butterfly and A Christmas Story, both 1981.

Work in Progress

Birds of a Different Feather.

Sidelights

K. Michael Crawford told Something about the Author: "I was lucky, I always knew very young what I wanted to be, a children's book writer and illustrator, when I grew up and it didn't hurt that I had a sense of humor and love to have fun in life. I have always viewed life in a different way than others and that helps when it comes to my work. I see the magic in things around me and put that into my work.

"I began my career back in 1981 while still in college. A friend of mine and I decided to self-publish two books, Timbo and the Butterfly and A Christmas Story. They didn't hit the New York Times best-seller list, but they gave us a good knowledge of the publishing world. We even got a half-page article in the Baltimore Sun about the books.

"Then life got in the way and it wasn't until 1991 that I went back into children's books. I got my first illustrated book published in 1995 with a small publisher in West Virginia. Then in 1998, I illustrated Chicken Little for Ideal Children's Books. Ever since, I have been illustrating for children's books, educational books, and children's products.

"What do I hope to achieve through the books I illustrate and write? I always kind of thought it was to paint the world a little brighter, because I am known for the bright colors I use in my work. What I would like to achieve through my work is to have made a child's life a little sillier and gotten them to laugh at least a few times by looking at my work, and just maybe I'll have made the world a little better.

"I look at the things around me in life and those things seem to inspire the things I paint and write. I could be talking to a friend and get an idea, or it could be something I see while moving through my life. Creativity is a very special gift and I make sure that I take very good care of it. I have now started writing my own books to publish and have taken my creativity to a new, magical level.

"I am inspired by all types of art, writers, performing artists, musicians, illustrators and artists. There is not just one source I can credit with all my inspiration. A long time ago, another artist told me that if you want your art to be two-dimensional, then only surround yourself with a few things. But if you want your work to be three-dimensional, then go out and get as many experiences as you possibly can. Your work will show your experiences and be all the better for it."

Biographical and Critical Sources

ONLINE

Absolute Arts Web site, http://www.absolutearts.com/ (October 21, 2004), "K. Michael Crawford."

K. Michael Crawford Web site, http://www.happilyeverart.com/ (October 21, 2004).