Kathryn L. (Kate) Darnell is a freelance illustrator and calligrapher with 40 years of experience as a maker of pictures. Her illustrations have appeared in and on everything from mail-order catalogs and annual reports to children’s books. She is the Illustrator of Fibblestax by Devin Scillian and a series of state readers from Sleeping Bear Press, as well as a number of university press and independently published books.
Her calligraphic work includes company logos, private commissions and a font design: “Sweeney”. Recent work includes animated calligraphy and calligraphic poetry films that have been screened globally.
She has a degree in fine art from the University of Michigan School of Art and has done additional independent study in digital illustration, type design, color theory, and animation. She also shared her skills with students for over 30 years in independent workshops and as an adjunct professor of art.
Kate is a knitter and a gardener. Color rules and marigolds abound.
She is a native of Michigan in the U.S and lives with her husband (without a cat or dog) in East Lansing - a bicycle ride away from her downtown studio.