About Jessica Cooper
Illustrator & Surface Designer
Email: Jessica@IllustratedByJessica.com
Hi! I’m Jessica Cooper, an illustrator, author, surface pattern designer, and arts educator based in Los Angeles. I create narrative-driven illustrations for children’s picture books, middle grade, and young adult publishing, with a special love for historical fiction, folklore, fantasy, science, and nature conservation themes.
My work blends nature-inspired realism with fantasy and storytelling to create imaginative, atmospheric worlds that encourage curiosity and creativity. I also write and illustrate my own picture books
and have several book dummies available for review.
I hold a BFA in Illustration & Design from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco and began my career as a texture and surfacing artist in animation and VFX at studios including Digital Domain and Nickelodeon.
Alongside my freelance illustration work, I have experience teaching and leading visual arts enrichment programs for children and teens. I am passionate about helping young artists build creativity, confidence, and visual storytelling skills,
and a connection to nature through art education.
I currently live in Los Angeles with my husband and three daughters and serve as the Illustration Coordinator for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I am actively seeking illustration, publishing, and arts education opportunities.
Awards & Associations:
- Imagine America Scholarship Winner 1998
- Vice President of The Illustration Club of The Academy of Art University
- Finalist in the 2007 Artist's Magazine Art Competition
- President of Friends of Serrania PTO 2020-2022
- Runner Up in the #KTIllustrates 2021 Kite Tales contest
- Illustration Coordinator for SCBWI Los Angeles
Select Client List & Notable Projects:
- Texture Artist Intern at Digital Domain on Tron
- Texture Artist at Digital Domain on Transformers II
- Texture Artist at Nickelodeon on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Painted Over 50 Portrait Commissions
Select Illustration Clients:
Salon Builder, Beauty Seeker, Matt Lewis and The News, Bill Scher for DMZ Podcast, The House of Bagels,
The Adventures of Jack Middle Grade Series, SF Weekly and LA Weekly
Work With Me
Message me if you would like to collaborate on a book project with me! Also, please sign up for my email newsletter where I send updates on all the new projects I'm working on. See my contact info and links below...
Jessica Whiteside Cooper
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