Aspiring illustrators can follow along with the videos and instructions. Samples of my finished works and works-in-progress are on my website: have a YouTube channel under my name Rita Goldner, with videos of my animal sketches. I hope to inspire young people to love and respect the natural world, and when they grow up, to take action to protect and sustain it.ĭo you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork? I measure my success against the yardstick of effective communication with my readers. I feel that any valid art is communication between creator and audience. What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist? My subject matter is usually the natural world, and my style is colorful and whimsical, which supports my agenda to make learning fun for kids. I’ve taken innumerable webinars and classes, read how-to books and attended conferences, with the goal of improving my writing craft, but the drawing and painting came naturally to me. For me, the illustrating is the most fun part, and I’m often found on a folding chair at the Phoenix Zoo, sketching animals from life. I write and illustrate children’s picture books. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work? I’m a published member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. My recently published book, which has won a Nautilus Award, is “Orangutan: A Day in the Rainforest Canopy” and I have two works-in-progress: one about a drop of water riding the water cycle and one about a rhinoceros in Sumatra. I’m also an advocate for sustainable world ecology, and endangered species.

My agenda is to teach something about the world, or natural sciences, in a fun way. I’m a former elementary school teacher and am passionate about children’s literacy and quality in their literature. Rita, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rita Goldner.

Orangutan by Rita Goldner