• Joan Waites Illustration
  • Washington, D.C.

Like most artists, I’ve been drawing, painting and creating for as long as I can remember. My favorite childhood things included crayons, coloring books, and dressing up for Halloween.

After pursuing work in another career, I returned to art and studied at The George Washington University, The Corcoran Museum School of Art and Design, The Maryland College of Art and Design and then competed my Illustration studies at The Maryland Institute College of Art.

I have illustrated more than 45 titles for the trade and educational children's market, and to date have author-illustrated five titles. My experience also includes work in textile design, medical, magazine and poster art.

I have been fortunate to win the following awards:

Teacher’s Choice Award
IRA/CBC Children’s Choice Award
IRA/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
Honor Title, Storytelling World Awards
Louisiana Young Readers Choice Award Ballot
Benjamin Franklin Award

Along with freelancing, I worked as an adjunct faculty member for The Corcoran Museum School of Art and Design in Washington D.C.. In 2011, I opened my own art studio for Children (Purple Crayon Studio), where I taught a variety of children's art classes for 10 years. I currently co-teach a picture book revision class at The Writer's Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and continue to teach art enrichment classes for children and adults.

I belong to the Children’s Book Guild of Washington D.C., SCBWI (where I was the long-time Mid-Atlantic Illustrator Coordinator) and the National Association of Art Educators.

For information about school/library visits and other presentations, please contact Sarah DeVore at:
How Now Booking
https://www.hownowbooking.com

Media Kit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19RL8uSRuAWCsqfBE2qINI2QsKjNMvNPA?usp=sharing

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