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Cat Charm - Picture book illustrator

@catcharmillustration

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Cat Charm | children’s book Illustrator / graphic designer in New Zealand.
I draw picture book illustrations using procreate. Open for commissions.

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I had so much fun with this art challenge - The spooky swamp #cosycauldron2026 it feels so good to be making time for these and experimenting with my style again. I really am liking this messy pencil look. Wanted to make this piece spooky but also colourful! pretty happy with the result :D

Swipe to see art prompt, close-ups, and time lapse

Thank you so much to all the lovely hosts for inspiring me :)
@agata.ceramicorn
@carlottaillustration
@emmawiklund_art
@artbyingy
@lapin.here
@lipove_studio
@sarafandrey_illustrations
@drawntosean
@ozge._.alp
@lanalotthings
@rabbitandpencil

#artchallenge
#artchallenge2026
#cosycauldron by @catcharmillustration

Happy #KidLitArtPostcardDay! 🍄✨

Sharing an illustration I created for a client featuring Eco, a magical little mushroom on a mission to save the forest! 🌿🍄 I love creating whimsical characters and colourful worlds for children’s stories, especially when there’s a little bit of magic involved. ✨

I’m a New Zealand-based illustrator and graphic designer currently seeking representation. I’d love to connect with fellow kidlit creators, agents, authors, and publishers!

📸 Instagram: @catcharmillustration
🌐 Website: cat-charm.myportfolio.com

Looking forward to connecting! 💕

#KidLitIllustrator #ChildrensBookIllustrator #PictureBookIllustrator #KidLitArt by @catcharmillustration

#artvsartist2025 Wow, what a year it’s been! It honestly feels like so much has happened in such a short space of time. I want to say a huge thank you to this incredibly supportive art community — I truly wouldn’t be where I am without you and I love being able to share my passion with you all.

Not long ago, becoming an illustrator was just a dream. Just under two years ago, I nervously started posting on this account, scared to put my work out there. Thanks to the encouragement and kindness of this community, I’ve grown more than I ever imagined. 🥰😊

Earlier this year, I had completed around 6 books. Then in July, I was made redundant from my graphic design job — something that, at the time, felt terrifying. Little did I know it would turn out to be the best thing that could have happened. Illustration had been a side hustle, but that moment gave me the freedom to pursue it full-time.

Now I’m currently working on books 7, 8, 9, and 10 which I would not have been able to do if I were still working a full time job! But best of all, I get to be present for my daughter as she grows, and I wake up every day doing what I love. I’m so grateful — and it’s all thanks to this amazing Instagram community ❤❤🥰🥰😁😄

looking forward to growing together. ❤

#illustratorjourneydiaries #childrensbookillustratorlife #creativecareerpath #illustratorcommunitylove artandmotherhood by @catcharmillustration

I had SO much fun with this Art challenge! The prompt was to create a book cover for the film The Secret World of Arrietty. And I absolutely love Studio Ghibli, so I couldn't resist giving this one a go in my own style. 💛 :D

I did accidentally spell Arrietty wrong at first (missing an 'r' haha!), so note to self: double-check spelling before starting next time! I managed to fix it, but it's always a bit of a challenge when you're hand-drawing the lettering. 😅

thanks so much to all the amazing hosts
@martinab.illustrations
@sarafandrey_illustrations
@laura_illustrator
@elisa_bochicchio
@_loris_art
@valoyumi

Swipe to see prompt and time lapse

#ghiblinovember26 #ghiblinovember2026 #childrensbookillustration #bookcoverart #characterillustration by @catcharmillustration

🎃👻 Just a little repost of my Halloween artwork from last year!

Happy Halloween, everyone! 🧡🖤 Hope your buckets are filled with lots of spooky sweets and treats! 🍬🍭💀

#HappyHalloween #SpookySeason #HalloweenIllustration #SpookyWhimsy by @catcharmillustration

#ugeehalloween Saw the art challenge from @ugee_official and couldn't resist the urge to draw a weird and cute little monster! thanks so much for the fun challenge!

Meet Pip & Pickle! 💜🐸
Pip is a fluffy, three-eyed monster with giant teeth, a colourful wardrobe. Beneath his wild appearance, he's a big-hearted goofball who loves exploring, collecting weird little treasures, and eating anything remotely cheesy. His tiny best friend - Pickle the frog rides around in his front pocket, keeping an eye on things (and occasionally stealing his snacks). Pip might look like a monster, but he's really just a big softie with a little frog-shaped hole in his heart — and luckily, Pickle fits perfectly!

Wouldn't it be so cool to have this character in 3D? :D

Swipe to see time laspe.

#MonsterDesign #CharacterDesign #CreatureDesign #3DPrintedArt IllustrationChallenge by @catcharmillustration

8 hours of drawing in 30 seconds! 🎨✨

This was an opening scene for a children's book, and I really wanted to make it feel magical and full of life! 🌸🌿 So, of course, I couldn't resist adding LOTS of little details for readers to discover.

I love creating colourful little worlds that you can get lost in! 💛

#childrensbookillustration #childrensillustration #illustrationprocess #picturebookillustration by @catcharmillustration

#happydoodlesbyellie15k 🦇✨

This was such an adorable illustration that I just had to join in! 🥹💛 Thanks so much to @happydoodlesbyellie for the fun art challenge! and congrats on the 15k! :D

I don't think I've drawn bats very much before, so this was a fun little challenge! 🦇🖤

Swipe to see challenge and time lapse

#artchallenge #cutedoodles #batillustration #catcharmillustration digitalillustration artistsoninstagram by @catcharmillustration

👻 Just a cute little spooky illustration for the Halloween season! 🎃
I just came here for the boos 😂🍷👻
Love creating fun little characters like these! 🖤💜
#HalloweenIllustration #SpookyWhimsy #CuteGhosts #HalloweenArt #GhostIllustration by @catcharmillustration

🎃 Throwback to last Halloween, when I created this spooky little scene! 👻✨
Swipe to see the full scene :)

I’ve given the characters a little update with some extra light and shadows, and I feel like they fit into their environment a bit better now! 🖤

I love creating spooky atmospheres for the Halloween season! 🕸️🌙

#SpookyWhimsy #HauntinglyCute #HalloweenArtworks #AtmosphericIllustration #WhimsicalDarkness by @catcharmillustration

Another spooky art challenge! This one I actually started a while ago, as I didn't know if I would have time, so I was planning ahead. Then I got so into it and couldn't put my pencil down 😂

The prompt - The Pet-trifying Cemetery #cosycauldron2026
Swipe to see art prompt, close ups and time lapse.

Thank you so much again to all the lovely hosts
@agata.ceramicorn
@carlottaillustration
@emmawiklund_art
@artbyingy
@lapin.here
@lipove_studio
@sarafandrey_illustrations
@drawntosean
@ozge._.alp
@lanalotthings
@rabbitandpencil

#artchallenge
#artchallenge2026
#cosycauldron by @catcharmillustration

#sweetemberdays26 #sweetemberdays
This is the first art challenge I’ve taken part in for a long time! Thank you so much to all the lovely hosts for putting this challenge together! 💕
This prompt was - collecting leaves, I love all the different coloured leaves in Autumn and tried to capture a bit of that, even though it is spring here in NZ 😂

I’ve recently finished off a few projects, so I finally feel like I have a bit of time to get back to some personal work. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy doing these! It’s really starting to sink in that I need to make time for my own art too — it’s just as important as my paid projects. This is where I get to experiment, have fun, and grow as an artist. ✨

For this illustration, I tried taking a looser approach, and I feel like it worked pretty well! I might keep incorporating some of this into my work moving forward. :D

Always striving to learn, experiment and develop my style. 💕🎨

Swipe to see art prompts, close ups and time lapse

#childrensbookillustration #kidlitart #illustrationchallenge

HOSTS:
@nina.clausonet
@angelina_bambina_dsgn
@kittyo.illustration
@shariborba_designs
@yaelhofri
@galitskaya.illustration
@yetiglesias
@olga_caramela
@maryyy.illustration
@debi_hudson
@artbydolunay by @catcharmillustration