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Merrill Rainey

@littlerainey

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Award winning picture book creator • paper toy maker
My First Town @odddot & ON THE AIR WITH DR. DOODLEBUG @hippoparkbooks both out now!
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A sketchbook, a historic setting, and a new way to see what’s around you. ✏️🎨 This October, join award-winning author and illustrator Merrill Rainey for a two-part Urban Sketching experience that begins at 577 before putting those new skills into practice on location at historic Fort Meigs Union Cemetery. The first evening is all about getting comfortable with Urban Sketching. Merrill will introduce techniques using pen, graphite, and watercolor, including ways to capture the shapes, details, light, and shadows of tombstones. Then, during the second session, the group will meet at Fort Meigs Union Cemetery to sketch on location. Take in the historic surroundings, spend time creating alongside fellow artists, and receive guidance and feedback from Merrill before returning to 577 for a brief show-and-tell. New to sketching? No problem. This class is open to all skill levels, and no drawing experience is necessary. Bring your own travel art supplies or borrow supplies from Merrill. Urban Sketching with Merrill Rainey: Cemeteries • Monday, October 5 & Monday, October 12 • 5pm to 7pm • Ages 18+ | Registration required Come ready to slow down, look a little closer, and capture a place in a completely different way. 577 East Front Street | Perrysburg, Ohio #577Foundation #PerrysburgOhio #UrbanSketching #Sketching #CommunityClasses Photo Description: An artist’s sketchbook featuring a colorful cemetery scene sits among pens, pencils, and watercolors, with historic gravestones in the background.
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This art displayed at Bologna Children's Book Fair could be yours next year! Here's how: Enter the portfolio showcase. **Special showcase opportunity at the Bologna Children's Book Fair for each of the winners!** Images from the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners’ portfolios will be displayed in a special showcase in the SCBWI booth at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair along with their name, website, and country of origin. There will be more than 30,000 people and 1500 exhibitors from 100 countries attend this renowned book fair. Our annual Summer Portfolio Showcase is a career-launching opportunity for children's book illustrators! This juried showcase is a terrific way to get your illustrations in front of top publishing professionals. This year’s format will be a three-image portfolio, with links to your SCBWI Member Profile Illustrator Gallery. PLEASE NOTE: There are no refunds given for the Portfolio Showcase once judging begins on July 20th. Portfolios are judged as a whole, not on any individual image. The judges are looking for: Children’s book publishing appropriateness. Consistency of a strong illustrative “voice” throughout. Fresh and unique styles. SCBWI reserves the right not to award any prizes at its sole discretion. Register at scbwi.org or with the link in our bio Art displayed by @littlerainey @amydsharp.art @kara_m_mitchell @katriaraden @cancanjin00 @thejoshabraham @kristinmakarius @keikohayner and the logo and artwork was done by @johnhendrix #artistopportunity #childrensbookillustrator #kidlitart #artist #childrensbooks
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Do you want to get your art in front of top publishing professionals and a chance at having your art showcased at the Bologna Children's Book Fair? Then be sure to enter the portfolio showcase! What is the Portfolio Showcase? Our annual Summer Portfolio Showcase is a career-launching opportunity for children's book illustrators! This juried showcase is a terrific way to get your illustrations in front of top publishing professionals. This year’s format will be a three-image portfolio, with links to your SCBWI Member Profile Illustrator Gallery. PLEASE NOTE: There are no refunds given for the Portfolio Showcase once judging begins on July 20th. Portfolios are judged as a whole, not on any individual image. The judges are looking for: Children’s book publishing appropriateness. Consistency of a strong illustrative “voice” throughout. Fresh and unique styles. SCBWI reserves the right not to award any prizes at its sole discretion. Register at scbwi.org or with the link in our bio Art by @hee_cookingdiary #scbwisummer26 #kidlit #scbwi #artistopportunity #portfolioshowcase
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Hippo Park is at American Library Association’s annual conference in Chicago! If you’re here, please stop by the Astra Booth!
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Visit Astra Books for Young Readers at the American Library Association Conference in Chicago! ✨ Head to Booth #2726 for a dynamic schedule of author signings and lots of perks, including ARCs, samplers, promotional materials, free books, exclusive swag, and more. We can’t wait to see you there! 📚
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A few more Sea Creatures for this month’s #SCBWIDrawThis challenge Also included: - an official declaration that this summer, in addition to heading off to several exciting workshops and residencies around the Northeast, I’ll also be working as a mentee in the @pbrisingstars program. I credit all of this manifestation of picture book magic to @littlerainey & the @scbwi_nohio new year’s vision board sessions at the beginning of the year. After all, I do stare at my board declaring 2026 as my year to “establish” during all of my zoom sessions. But however it all came about I’m just thrilled to be entering into an productive summer of kid lit creativity! - a few pages of exercises from this month’s @artgymworkshop session with @adammingstudio & @katiestackillustrates featuring a round up of some of the best hits from 5 of my very favorite sessions Supplies: 🖌️ Pan Pastel ✏️ Pastel Colored Pencils 🖌️ Tempera Paint Sticks 📄 Finch’s Opaque Bright White 📖 #procreate with #MaxPacks & #vintagevoyagedesigns brushes
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📚🤓🧡 Looking for assistance with your children's book project? Stuck in the endless revision cycle? Need advice on navigating the publishing process? The Book Nerds have your back! Book us for a consult today! ⭐ VISIT us at www.thebooknerds.net "I just finished my one hour meeting with the Book Nerds (Jane and Merrill). Seriously, it felt like I had just sat down with two dear friends. I could tell instantly they had genuinely read my work and reviewed my art. They were spot-on with their suggestions—providing helpful advice about character development, branding, and the key aspects of good storytelling. Both were encouraging, informative and enthusiastic about my project. Delightful to the max!!!" —Christine Carr 😍🙏 THANK YOU, @chriscarr1 for the glowing testimonial! We're cheering for you and your tender-hearted Corwin book series! @littlerainey #booknerds #kidlit #childrensbooks #picturebooks #bookconsulting #portfolioreviews #manuscriptcritiques #askanything
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Thank you everyone that made Independent Bookstore Day and day 1 of the Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl so fun! We are grateful to so many, including our wonderful weekend booksellers Christina, Kristen, and Maryan! We are open Sundays 12-5pm. Come by and say hi to Christina on day 2 of the crawl.
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A tremendously fun afternoon was spent with illustrator Merrill Rainey and his Dr Doodlebug! 🐜 Big thanks to Merrill and to all who came to enjoy this special story time extravaganza! 📖 Missed out? We have SIGNED copies in stock now! ✍️
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Next Tuesday at 1:00 we have our first Spring Break event - award winning illustrator Merrill Rainey will be here!! 🎨 If your child is: ✍️ even a little bit creative 🐛 into the creepy crawlies 🍃 a lover of nature 📖 a fan of dynamic story times then you need to put this one on your calendar!! There will be a Dr Doodlebug story time, a draw along with Merrill, and then the kids will get to create their own little nature journal to take home! Please come - you absolutely will not regret it! You can register for this free family fun on our website. ✅
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What a magical day at the Grand Lake Area Literature Festival! The fest hosted 1,400 attendees, 218 Reading Excellence Winners and 25 authors & illustrators. Every winner choose their own free book thanks to generous donations from area clubs, organizations, groups, and individuals!
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