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Arpita Choudhury

@fernspikeart

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Marine Biologist turned Illustrator
W PA Chapter of SCBWI
PGH Society of Illustrators

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Saturday was SUCH a good day. I attended the @bath.book.bash this year with my @islandportpress editor hat on, and it was so much fun to see friends old and new— one (Natalie Dean!) who I hadn’t even seen since college, probably graduation day at @colgateuniversity! She’s now a school guidance counselor doing such important work, which I got to witness when a kiddo completely full of timidity and joy in equal measure hurried over to say hi to her. Educators are the best! I wish I had gotten even more pics of everyone there. Special shout out to @sussingoutbooks for helping me set up a story walk in stubborn ground, and for being the best shopping companion in downtown Bath afterwards. @mockingbirdbookshop has such gorgeously curated displays, and gave the perfect cap to the day when I found THE LOBSTER LADY (which I wrote) and WHO LOVES BLUEBERRIES(which I edited) together on a shelf! Such sunshine ☀️

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Our Kidlit Art Show was the perfect way to bookend August ☀️📖🎨 From hanging the artwork and the show opening in the beginning of the month to our closing this past weekend!

I really love this show we’ve been able to put together for the last few years 💛 Forever grateful for the friendships I’ve made through @scbwi, and so proud of all the artists who have been a part of it!

A big shout out to @fernspikeart and her amazingly cute food illustrations for this year’s show poster, and @redbuffaloill for all the help making this show possible!

#kidlit #scbwi #kidlitartshow @wpascbwi

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Thank you to all that came to the opening reception for the WPA SCBWI’s Kid Lit Art Show @spinningplategallery last Friday! Our closing reception will be Sunday, August 30th from 6-9pm! What an amazing art show!

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Meet the artists of the WPA SCBWI kidlit art show! Opening reception is this Friday from 6-9pm @spinningplategallery!

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Still buzzing from all the inspiration, fun, connection, and community at ICON last weekend! I am kicking myself for not taking many photos, but honestly—it just felt so good to soak in all the presentations, and the time with both old and new creative friends I saw/made there. I loved every minute!

A lot of us freelance illustrators work alone in the studio, and many friends/family don’t understand that what we do is a “real” career. So there’s really something special about being surrounded by fellow kindred artist spirits IRL for a few days. It totally recharges the soul and gets the creativity flowing! 💫

It’s hard to truly recap all the inspiring people I heard and the gorgeous work I saw. But my most impactful takeaways were about the power of the artist’s hand and personal experience in storytelling. And the importance of always staying curious, and passionate about the work we create.

Excited to process it all and pour this burst of new creative energy back into my work in the coming weeks! ✨
Also excited about all the cool illustrator swag exchanged, and the gorgeous new art I snagged at the Roadshow!

Can’t wait until the next @iconconference !

#illustrationconference #icon #creativecommunity #illustrationcommunity #artfriends

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Yesterday’s visit to one of my favorite Maine bookstores😍

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Still smiling over the sweetest launch for WHO LOVES BLUEBERRIES? written by Rebecca Rule (@rebecca.rule), illustrated by Arpita Choudhury (@fernspikeart), published by @islandportpress. Complete with blueberry pie from @helensofellsworth, a storytime with Rebecca, music and play thanks to the youth services librarian from @ellsworthpubliclibrary_maine, and the most wonderful venue thanks to Franklin Public Library (go see their new beautiful renovations!), the evening was bursting with joy. Extra special thank-you’s to @unionriverbookandtoy for selling books and to @lisa.t.herrington for sprinkling her magic fairy dust all over this event. She thinks of—and then makes!!—absolutely everything. Blueberry berets? ✔️ Blueberry pie sign for a pie cart? ✔️ Blueberry-coordinated cups and utensils? ✔️ What a night! It was an honor to edit this book. Stay tuned for what I hope will be many more to follow! 💙 🫐 💙

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You asked for more storytimes, you got ‘em! 🫐

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Happy pub day to WHO LOVES BLUEBERRIES? Written by @rebecca.rule and illustrated by @fernspikeart

We simply can’t imagine a more perfect book to kick off summer! Go grab your copy and a slice of blueberry pie 🥧 available at your local booksellers and online at islandportpress.com/bookshop

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We have some serious summer vibes happening right now in our lovely boutique! Do you have friends and family visiting this summer? Bring them in and introduce them to the coolest art collective in town!!!

Tumbleweed Art Collective
Boutique Hours Wednesday-Saturday 10-6
1333 Coffman St Longmont

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Your Pittsburgh indie loves ya. 😘

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It’s been too long… A new picture book from Islandport Press is finally here! IP veteran Rebecca Rule is back! She and debut picture book illustrator Arpita Choudhury, with their buzzing bees, slithery snakes, mischievous mice and graceful deer, gather to enjoy nature’s sweet-tart treasure. But who loves blueberries MOST of all? Find out just in time for summer, find WHO LOVES BLUEBERRIES? on bookshelves June 30th, 2026. Now available to preorder from your local booksellers and at Islandportpress.com/bookshop

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